Chapter 9: A Mystic’s Morning Routine

That night, Bai Yu slept soundly, even dreaming of things that typically eluded her slumber.

“Hehe, Xingyao, stop touching me.”

Sprawled on the bed, Bai Yu’s long, silver-white hair fanned out around her, a blissful smile gracing her face as she hugged a cup to her chest.

“Time to wake up, Bai Yu! The sun’s already high in the sky.”

Lu Xingyao gently pinched Bai Yu’s soft cheek, genuinely envious of her skin. ‘Was this how it was for everyone who awakened a Witch’s Core?’ she wondered, marveling at its flawless, mutton-fat jade-like perfection.

“Mmm~”

Bai Yu rolled over, pulling the blanket over her head, leaving only an adorable, errant strand of hair poking out.

Witnessing this, a mischievous thought immediately sparked in Lu Xingyao’s mind.

She reached out, placed her fingers on the silver-white strand, and tugged it upwards.

Instead of pulling it out, however, she merely startled the sleeping Bai Yu awake.

“Ow, ow, ow! That hurts!”

Bai Yu jolted awake, her eyes darting around the room, instinctively scanning for any lurking danger.

Having only just encountered the true Mystic world the day before, she found herself constantly on edge, apprehensive of potential threats.

After all, in the films she’d seen, Witches were invariably portrayed as antagonists, figures relentlessly pursued and vanquished by Paladins and Demon Hunters.

Bai Yu turned her head, only to find Lu Xingyao standing there.

The girl was squinting at her, her expression silently chiding, ‘Look at the time, and you’re still in bed?’

Bai Yu glanced at the window; the sun indeed soared high, confirming her suspicion that she was undoubtedly late for school.

She scratched her head, offering a sheepish, embarrassed smile.

“Xingyao, good morning!”

“Good morning? What’s so good about it? Haven’t you bothered to check the time?”

Lu Xingyao gestured towards the clock, which clearly indicated it was already well past noon.

Forget about attending classes; school had already let out for the day.

Their afternoons were typically free of lessons, dedicated instead to club activities or independent study at the library.

As for the homebody Bai Yu used to be, she would typically sequester herself in some quiet corner of the library, engrossed in novels or manga.

Yet, she knew that lifestyle was likely gone forever; in her current form, even attending school posed a significant question mark.

“Hehe, I had a bit of trouble sleeping last night, so I slept in a little.”

“Honestly, I’ve already informed the principal about your situation, but to suddenly become like this…”

“Wait, is the principal a Mystic too?”

Bai Yu felt a pang of confusion, having been entirely unaware that her school was, in fact, an institution dedicated to nurturing Mystics.

“Of course! All the high-ranking staff at our school are Mystics. However, we’re merely a junior academy; only after reaching Tier Four can students gain admission to the true world-class academies elsewhere.”

“It’s that complex? Being a Mystic doesn’t sound easy at all.”

Bai Yu felt a ripple of apprehension, given her notoriously lazy disposition.

“Precisely. Now, quickly put on your school uniform. This morning, seeing you hadn’t woken up, I specially arranged for the school to expedite the creation of a new set for you.”

“Wait, that fast? And how did they even know my current measurements?”

Bai Yu’s eyes widened, fixated on the uniform skirt before her, a trace of resistance still lingering.

“Mystic arts are quite remarkable, aren’t they? As for your body measurements, they were discreetly taken while you were asleep.”

“Alright then…”

Bai Yu took the clothes, held them up to gauge the fit, and then began to slip them on.

‘It feels so breezy underneath,’ Bai Yu thought, a shiver running through her. ‘I feel incredibly exposed.’

This was her true concern: what if she accidentally exposed herself?

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you some safety shorts. Hurry and put them on.”

“That’s a relief.”

Feeling a newfound sense of security, Bai Yu donned the white stockings and small leather shoes, instantly feeling revitalized.

She had initially felt a little hesitant about the stockings, but once they were on, the silky-smooth sensation proved surprisingly comfortable.

After washing up and eating what should have been breakfast but was, in fact, lunch, Lu Xingyao carefully fastened a hair ornament onto Bai Yu’s head.

“Bai Yu, you’re so adorable, just like a doll!”

“Adorable… really?”

Bai Yu’s cheeks flushed as she listened. Being called “cute” so many times was starting to make her genuinely question herself: was she truly that endearing?

She was slowly coming to terms with her new appearance, finding genuine joy in the compliments she received.

While she had been quite dashing in her former life, she had never experienced such an overwhelming sense of happiness as she did now.

Their trip to school was, as usual, via a Didi ride. Since neither Lu Xingyao nor Bai Yu had anyone at home, a personal chauffeur was out of the question.

Their driver was a rather chatty auntie who spent the entire ride effusively praising Bai Yu’s beauty.

The relentless compliments left Bai Yu feeling genuinely flustered.

Throughout the journey, Lu Xingyao communicated with Bai Yu via a messaging app, discussing matters related to the Mystic world.

Given that there were still ordinary people in the car, all information concerning the Mystic world had to remain strictly confidential. Every certified Mystic was required to sign a nondisclosure agreement.

This measure was crucial for maintaining societal stability.

“So, the school doesn’t actually have anyone specifically teaching Mystics?”

Reading the message on the app, Bai Yu felt a twinge of disappointment. It turned out the school’s supposed Mystic education department was merely a club, directly overseen by the principal.

“It can’t be helped, really. High-tier Mystics are simply too few in number, and we are, after all, just a junior academy.”

Consequently, Mystics like them were compelled to rely on self-study or collaborative research and discussion, a skill deemed essential for every practitioner.

This revelation instantly dampened Bai Yu’s enthusiasm; she had envisioned a fantastical school, much like those depicted in films.

Yet, she realized she had been overly optimistic, for reality, after all, rarely mirrored fantasy.

“Alright, in a moment, I’ll take you to meet the principal. As a newcomer, Bai Yu, you’re entitled to learn one general Mystic art for free.”

“Huh? Does learning Mystic arts actually cost money?”

Bai Yu was utterly astounded.

“Of course. After all, they’re the school’s assets. Alternatively, you can complete tasks assigned by the academy. There are also Mystic organizations outside the academy that hand out missions, but those are extremely perilous. You absolutely must not take any of those, Bai Yu.”

“Oh, I definitely won’t!”

“Exactly. We’re only low-tier Mystics, after all; it’s always best to avoid dangerous endeavors if we can.”

As their chat app conversation concluded, the car pulled up to the entrance of Xixiang International High School.

After settling the fare, Lu Xingyao swiftly grabbed Bai Yu’s hand and practically dragged her towards the principal’s office.

Bai Yu’s short legs churned furiously as she struggled to keep pace.

‘How is Lu Xingyao’s stamina so incredible?’ Bai Yu wondered, panting. ‘Are all Mystics’ physical capabilities this absurd?’

Being pulled along like that utterly exhausted Bai Yu.

Come to think of it, Bai Yu had never actually met the principal, only heard that she was an elderly woman.

Whenever she had passed by the office previously, its door had always been securely locked.

Lu Xingyao stood before the office door, placing her left hand on the lock, whereupon a golden flash of light shimmered into existence.

Beside her, Bai Yu stood gasping for air, utterly worn out.

With a soft click, the door swung open.

After a quick glance around to confirm their solitude, Lu Xingyao swiftly ushered Bai Yu into the office.

The heavy door then shut with a soft thud, the lock engaging automatically, restoring the office to its usual, undisturbed state.