Chapter 8: Whispers Beneath the Moonlight

"Tonight, the residential area beneath the academy will be hosting the annual welcome party for new students,"

Ta Tham said enthusiastically, his eyes lighting up as if he had just remembered something exciting.

"I heard about it,"

Luc Diep replied calmly, giving a slight nod of agreement.

"Then let's all go together tonight—the four of us."

Ta Tham laughed and suddenly threw his arms around the shoulders of the other three—Hao Thien, Luc Diep, and even Luc Duong—pulling them close.

"Let's make it official—we're a team from now on!"

Ta Tham declared, his face glowing with pride like he'd just announced something truly important.

"A team, huh? That doesn't sound too bad."

Luc Diep narrowed his eyes, a spark of curiosity flickering across his calm face.

"Yeah, that sounds good. From now on, we can support each other and face whatever comes—together."

Hao Thien smiled, his eyes steady and warm.

The three of them laughed, the atmosphere around them suddenly lighter and more relaxed.

Even Luc Duong—the ever-cold and distant one—let the corner of his lips curl into a faint smile.

It was subtle, rare… but enough for everyone to see:

He, too, had accepted them as comrades.

At the end of the path, the four of them came to a fork in the road.

Ta Tham and Luc Duong waved goodbye and turned right, while Hao Thien and Luc Diep continued walking toward the dormitory on the left. Evening had gently fallen, and a soft breeze passed beneath the warm glow of the streetlights.

Luc Diep glanced over and saw Hao Thien walking beside him with a quiet, distant expression in his eyes.

"What are you thinking about?"

Luc Diep asked in his usual calm tone, though a hint of concern flickered in his gaze.

"This world…"

Hao Thien looked up at the star-filled sky.

"…there's still so much I don't understand."

Luc Diep stayed silent for a moment, then softly asked,

"You're… not from this planet, are you?"

Hao Thien stopped, turned to look at his friend, and smiled faintly.

"You're right. I come from a place called Dia Cau—or Earth, as we usually call it."

"Never heard of it,"

Luc Diep replied bluntly, as straightforward as always.

"Try checking the academy's library. There are lots of old archives… even some about planets beyond this one,"

Luc Diep suggested, hands in his pockets, eyes still looking ahead.

"Really? Then… I'll go take a look right now."

With that, Hao Thien turned and ran back toward the academy, eyes gleaming like he had just found the key to a mystery he'd been chasing.

"Need any help?"

Luc Diep called out, not loudly, but enough for Hao Thien to hear.

"No need!"

Hao Thien waved without looking back, his figure fading into the trees on campus.

Luc Diep stood still for a moment, watching.

"…Earth, huh?"

he murmured, then turned and continued walking toward the dorm.

At the Library

Hao Thien quietly walked along the towering shelves, his eyes scanning each book spine with quiet determination. He picked out a stack of books related to planets and cosmic history, then made his way to an empty table near the window.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass, casting soft shadows across the pages. He flipped through each book, reading every line carefully. But one book after another, page after page—still, nothing gave him a clue about Earth or the mysterious red crystal embedded in his chest.

His eyes strained, his mind a blur. Finally, Hao Thien rested his head on the desk, hands covering his forehead. Just then, a gentle voice—soft as a spring breeze—spoke beside him:

"Excuse me… if you've finished with that book, may I borrow it for a while?"

He slowly lifted his head.

Standing before him was a girl—like someone who had stepped out of a dream on a quiet afternoon. She held a book to her chest, eyes warm yet tinged with a hint of shyness.

Her long silver hair shimmered faintly, cascading over her shoulders with a soft lavender hue toward the ends, catching the golden sunlight just right. Her skin was as pale and smooth as moonlight on porcelain, so delicate it made everything else fade into the background.

A small, delicate face with refined features—eyes the color of amethyst, clear and glimmering with curiosity. A petite nose, and lips naturally tinted rose-red, gently curved into a soft, unassuming smile.

For a brief moment, Hao Thien forgot to breathe—like the entire library had fallen into silence, and all that remained was her gaze… and the book he hadn't yet turned to the next page.

"Ah, I've finished this one too."

Hao Thien regained his composure and gently handed the book on the table to the girl in front of him. His voice was calm but warm.

"Thank you."

She smiled softly, reaching out to take the book. Before turning to leave, she gave a polite little bow. Her silver-purple hair swayed lightly in the breeze, leaving behind a faint shimmer in the quiet air.

Hao Thien watched her graceful figure as she walked away, then let out a dreamy sigh.

"…She's like an angel descended to this world."

He glanced at the clock on the library wall and frowned slightly.

"It's getting late. I should head back… I promised to hang out with the others tonight."

He murmured to himself, neatly stacking the books and returning them to their shelves. Then he quietly walked out of the library, his steps slow and unhurried, blending into the soft light of the setting sun falling over the campus.

On the way back, the sun continued its silent descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in a gentle shade of orange. Hao Thien walked along the stone path, his eyes unconsciously drawn to the vast sea in the distance, reflecting the golden hues of twilight.

"You're back? Did you find anything?"

Luc Diep looked up from the book he was reading at his desk in the dorm room as Hao Thien stepped inside.

"Nothing useful at all…"

Hao Thien collapsed onto the bed, as if all his thoughts had condensed into a single weary breath. He buried his face into the pillow, his voice muffled with exhaustion.

Luc Diep sighed, got up, and pulled him up with one hand.

"Come on. Shower and change. Don't forget we've got that welcome party tonight."

"Yeah, yeah… I know."

Hao Thien grumbled, but didn't resist, letting himself be pulled up with a resigned expression.

A little while later, the two of them left the room together, dressed and ready. As they walked side by side under the twilight sky, their young silhouettes moved toward a night full of promise and energy.

As Hao Thien and Luc Diep arrived, they spotted Luc Duong and Ta Tham already waiting at the entrance of the residential zone. Multicolored lights strung across the area cast a shimmering glow on their faces, making the whole campus feel like a grand festival.

Ta Tham waved energetically from a distance and ran over, a bright smile lighting up his face.

"You're finally here!"

He said excitedly. Though Luc Duong didn't show much emotion, he quietly stepped forward and gave a subtle nod in greeting.

The four of them stood together like a group that had long since bonded. In front of them was the bustling festival held every year to welcome new students—a long-standing tradition of Arkaion Academy.

The entire plaza sparkled under hundreds of floating light strands. Upbeat music echoed from the central stage, where senior students performed captivating dances in outfits representing each elemental division. Every move flowed with spiritual energy, creating glowing trails that shimmered through the air with the rhythm.

Lining both sides of the walkway were colorful stalls—offering everything from traditional food to bizarre off-world delicacies. Smoke curled up from sizzling grills, and mouthwatering aromas drifted through the crowd, drawing heads to turn. Some booths sold glowing spirit fruits, while others offered floating candied skewers that flew into your hand the moment you called for them.

Hao Thien's eyes widened as he looked around, like a child stepping into a fair for the first time.

"Wow… I didn't expect the academy to go all out like this."

Ta Tham laughed and threw an arm over his shoulder.

"Just wait till the spirit-fireworks show later tonight! It's legendary!"

"Let's eat first. I'm starving,"

Luc Diep said, already pulling the group toward a spicy noodle stall steaming with heat and spice.

The four of them stepped into the heart of the festival—under the lights, amid laughter, and surrounded by an air buzzing with spiritual energy. Every step they took felt like the start of a brilliant new journey ahead.

The group merged into the lively stream of people moving through the festival, twinkling lights casting shimmering reflections on every step they took.

Ta Tham was the most enthusiastic of the bunch, dragging the other three from stall to stall as if he'd been waiting for this day all year long.

"Try this—Triple Flame Noodles! They say it makes your mouth blow smoke!"

Ta Tham grinned widely, holding out a steaming bowl of fiery red noodles.

"You go ahead. I'd rather not burn my throat tonight."

Luc Diep chuckled, accepting a glass of sapphire snowflower tea instead. The chilled drink glowed with a soft blue light, and just one sip sent a refreshing coolness through the entire body.

Hao Thien picked a skewer of grilled spirit-beast meat—the sweet, savory flavor with a hint of spice spread instantly from the first bite, and he felt a wave of warmth ripple through his spiritual energy.

Even Luc Duong, usually quiet and stoic, didn't refuse when Ta Tham handed him a rolled Spirit-Flame Pastry. He ate in silence, eyes fixed on the stage performances ahead.

One show followed another without pause: dazzling sword dances blended with elemental arts, light illusions forming vivid 3D images midair. A senior student from the Sound Spirit Division played a jade zither, its music infused with spiritual energy, wrapping the entire plaza in a dreamlike haze.

"That level of spiritual control… and they're just students?"

Hao Thien stared in awe, eyes wide as waves of glowing energy danced through the sky above the stage.

"Welcome to Arkaion Academy,"

Luc Diep said with a faint smile. "If you don't give it your all here, you'll be left in the dust."

"Then…"

Hao Thien clenched his fists, determination flaring in his eyes.

"…I won't let myself fall behind."

Ta Tham, still chewing on a bite of pastry, laughed and patted him on the back.

"Exactly! You're one of us now—we're heading to the top, together!"

The four of them continued wandering through the festival's vibrant atmosphere, beneath the glowing lights, wrapped in music, laughter, and the sweet taste of youth.

"Fireworks are about to start. Let's find a good spot to watch."

Luc Diep spoke up, his eyes lifting toward the night sky slowly filling with stars.

Ta Tham immediately nodded with excitement, and even the normally stoic Luc Duong gave a slight nod of agreement. The three of them began moving toward an open area near the front of the plaza.

Only Hao Thien remained still, holding a skewer in his hand, seemingly uninterested in the festive atmosphere around him. He took a bite in silence, his gaze drifting into some distant, unfocused place.

"You're not going to watch the fireworks?"

Luc Duong turned back to ask, his voice cool as always, but with a hint of curiosity.

Hao Thien flinched slightly, then forced a small smile and shook his head.

"You guys go ahead… I—I just need to use the restroom."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and slipped into the bustling crowd, his figure quickly swallowed by the sea of people.

The remaining three stood in place for a moment, watching the direction he had disappeared.

"What's up with him?"

Ta Tham frowned, concern faint in his voice.

"No idea…"

Luc Diep murmured, his gaze still fixed on the path where Hao Thien had vanished—between the lights, the music, and the laughter that no longer seemed as bright.

Hao Thien quietly made his way up the stone steps leading to a small hill above the festival square. The bright lights, cheerful chatter, and festival music gradually faded behind him, replaced by the gentle stillness of the night.

He stopped in the middle of a grassy clearing, where the vast sky stretched endlessly above. The full moon hung high, glowing softly in the night sky, casting a calm light that seemed to ease every weight in his heart.

"What's so great about fireworks anyway…"

He muttered, folding his arms as he gazed at the moon.

"Just fleeting flashes of light that vanish in a blink… and way too noisy."

A voice, soft as a passing breeze, spoke from behind him:

"You really think so? While everyone else is excitedly waiting for it to start…"

Hao Thien turned around, startled.

Standing there was a girl—like she had just stepped out from the moonlight he'd been staring at. Her long silver hair swayed gently in the breeze, with soft purple hues at the ends shimmering faintly under the moon's tender glow. Her large violet eyes sparkled like amethysts, reflecting the moonlight as she looked at him with quiet curiosity and a gentle smile.

She clasped her hands behind her back and tilted her head slightly, as if patiently waiting for his reply. The air around them seemed to slow down, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the grass, and the silent gaze shared between two strangers under the moon.