“The truth is rarely pure and never simple”( part 4 )

Csendes walked down the long hallway. Her shadow stretched across the bookshelves, cast by the strong light streaming through the windows. The sound of footsteps, which should have been audible, was completely absent. Her way of walking was so refined that she made no noise at all.

About halfway down the hall, a person sat on one of the armchairs arranged near the glass wall, seemingly absorbed in a book. It was one of the two young men who had entered the classroom earlier—the one wearing a mask, seated beside the elven Ludus player.

The mask did not cover his black hair, and the exposed skin on his neck was pale and smooth, almost like porcelain. He wore the crimson academy uniform, but his hands were gloved in black, and a silver earring with a small blue gem adorned his right ear. The contrast made it gleam beautifully.

Csendes, however, did not spare him a glance. She continued walking forward. As they passed each other, the young man lifted his gaze. Though his white mask had no eye holes, anyone could tell that he was looking at Csendes.

Once she was out of his line of sight, he lowered his head and resumed reading.

"She has no memories..."

A whisper slipped from beneath the mask, so quiet that no one could hear it.

As for the phoenix girl, she headed straight for the dormitory. She didn't need food yet and wanted to study her system.

After exiting the long corridor on the second floor, she found herself back in the grand hall where the opening ceremony had taken place. The area was empty now, the chairs from before having disappeared. The vast chamber felt hollow.

Descending the spiral staircase, she reached the black stone floor and stepped out through the large arched entrance. The ground where they had landed earlier via teleportation had transformed into a paved platform, covered in fine, uniform stones. This modestly sized area was flanked on both sides by tall trees with sparse, scattered branches and few leaves.

As mentioned before, the academy was located on an island. The lotus-shaped main building stood at the island's center, and from this paved plateau, four distinct paths branched outward. One led to the student dormitories. Another went to the cafeteria, library, and entertainment facilities. A third connected to the Training Hall, while the last path led to Reception—the place where students could choose a mode of transportation, select a weapon, or teleport anywhere on the planet or beyond.

Unlike when she was inside the academy, Csendes now observed her surroundings with great care. Occasionally, she tapped on objects or rubbed certain plants between her fingers. After inspecting something for a moment, she would continue her walk toward the dormitory.

The dormitory itself was uniquely designed. It was built primarily underwater. Imagine a massive tree perched at the edge of a cliff, and then picture an enormous building extending below the water, another structure nestled within the tree, and a third resting on top of the branches. Because of the academy's diverse student body, the accommodations were tailored to various species. Birds and mammals resided in the tree, reptiles and creatures that preferred darkness and humidity stayed in the underwater section, while beings attuned to life energy, the scent of wood, or those sensitive to light who did not favor water were housed in the treetop structure.

Being a bird-type creature, Csendes was assigned to the branch-level building. Her designated room was in an area with little sunlight, as a thick branch cast shade over it for most of the day. This was fortunate—had she been given a sunlit room, she might have requested to be moved underwater. As an ice phoenix, she found water far more comfortable than tree branches.

The tree itself was enormous—a special kind that no longer required roots or a trunk after reaching maturity. Its growth process was long; it took countless centuries for it to bear its first fruit. Though massive, the tree should have been even larger if it still had its original root system. Its roots once extended all the way to the bottom of the ocean near the island.

This tree grew to such a colossal size because it required specific minerals found only on the ocean floors of planets within this galaxy. Once it absorbed these, it no longer needed its roots. The trunk and roots solidified into a stone-like material, leaving only the upper branches and leaves alive. These branches had a unique ability—they absorbed minerals from creatures that rested upon them and drew water from the air.

Thus, the tree was carnivorous. It emitted a hypnotic scent to attract insects, but it did not consume larger animals or birds. However, if bones or other remains were left on its surface, they would be completely absorbed. Over time, the tree adapted to target only creatures lacking intelligence.

To ensure students' safety, the academy developed a scent that made the tree perceive them as part of itself. This scent was embedded in the brooches bearing the academy's emblem, which also served as dormitory access passes.

Csendes used a levitation circle to reach the dormitory entrance among the branches, admiring the view as she ascended. The journey took eight minutes, during which she saw nothing but an endless expanse of water stretching to the horizon.

Her face remained expressionless, yet she seemed lost in thought. Was she thinking of family? Friends? It was difficult to tell. After all, knowing what lurks in someone's mind is never easy.

Upon arriving at the dormitory's main hall, she turned right, heading toward the girls' section. The male and female dormitories were separated by two massive tree limbs.

Even the smallest branches were wide enough to serve as broad pathways for humanoid students. The dormitory buildings were constructed between two enormous branches, appearing to float in midair but actually anchored in a highly strategic manner. They resembled beehives, with structural elements inspired by spider webs, giving them a rugged, star-like shape nestled among the trees.

There were four such dormitories for girls and six for boys.

The materials used for construction varied. Most were made of wood, but some incorporated resin or wax, depending on the species living there.

Csendes resided in Dormitory No. 4 in the girls' section. This dormitory was shaded by an upper branch, positioned on the outer edge, where cold winds from the atmosphere were more frequent. Its primary components were wood, wax, and stone-glass—ideal for birds that loved water, wind, and peculiar habits.

The dormitory had eight floors, and Csendes' room was on the topmost level. She ascended with ease, using a floating leaf—one of the designated transport methods within the tree. Even though the residents here were winged beings, semi-transformation was prohibited. Minor features like claws or horns were allowed, but tails, wings, or additional limbs—classified as non-humanoid traits—were strictly banned.

Thus, no one used their wings to fly.

Upon reaching her apartment door, Csendes pressed her white ring against a black panel on the door. The system confirmed her identity, and the door slid open.

Stepping inside, she found a spacious, comfortable living room with minimalist furnishings. One wall was an empty bookshelf. A gray carpet covered the black stone floor. A low-backed, wide-armed couch sat near a floor-to-ceiling window that spanned an entire wall, flanked by thick, dark curtains perfect for blocking out light.

To the right was the bookshelf, while the left wall featured only a single painting of a storm. A hallway led to the bedroom, which contained a large, low bed adorned with soft feathers and snow-like pillows. Beside the bed stood a nightstand, a desk that occupied an entire wall, and another glass wall with a balcony. A magically locked handle allowed access.

The bathroom was accessible through a side door in the bedroom. It was nearly as large as the bedroom itself, featuring a deep soaking tub that resembled a small lake. Near the entrance stood a mirror and a sink equipped with specialized grooming products for feathers, scales, and claws.

After surveying the apartment, Csendes sat on the couch, lifted her hand, and spoke coldly.

"Display it as a projection."

A violet screen materialized before her, filled with numerical data—her system's assessment of her personal stats.

[ System A-C201

Name: Mez Csendes (?)

Age: 17 years (???)

Species: Black Phoenix (???)

Status: Healthy: (Incomplete soul ???)

Talents:

"I can learn anything""My mind is a library""Sixth sense""Everything is false""Eyes of truth""Speed reading"(???)"Decoding"

Special Abilities:

"Black Ice""Queen of Ice"(???)"Contract"(???)(???)"Future Dreams"(???)

Attributes:

Strength: 960

Agility: 1100

Endurance: 1030

Intelligence: 12

Control: 1200

Accuracy: 120

Capacity: 145,440

Magic: 1,467,600

Physical Power: 2060

Magical Power: 195,680

Mental Power: 125,000

Personal Power: 32,332

Special Note:The host's attributes are relative. Since the soul is incomplete, these measurements may contain errors. ]

...

"So, system," she muttered, narrowing her eyes. "My soul is incomplete?"