Under the flickering orange light at the elevator entrance, a crowd waited impatiently.
“What’s taking so long?” A short-haired woman with golden locks frowned in irritation.
“No idea, Lina. Yawn~” Her companion yawned as she stayed absorbed in a comedic video on her personal device.
“Haha, look at this guy—he’s hilarious!” Her exaggerated laughter, mixed with the noisy video, drew frowns from those nearby.
“Let me see,” Lina leaned in, and the two began critiquing the person in the video, deriving a sense of superiority from their mockery.
After an eternity of flickering lights, an announcement finally played overhead.
“Finally, after ten minutes,” someone muttered.
“Probably another large ship arrival causing ground control delays,” an experienced resident speculated.
“But those usually take at least an hour to unload,” another pointed out.
“Could be something else. Last time, when ‘Fiery Sugar’ Princoco came through, they held us up for half an hour to let her pod descend into the underground hangar.”
“Whatever it is, let’s just get in before it gets too crowded,” someone urged as they began boarding the elevator.
…
Outside the immense central shaft of Arpeggio City, a massive gray aircraft resembling a steel bird landed, its vector nozzles scattering dust before finally powering down.
Moments later, a group of soldiers in white exoskeleton armor secured the area around the aircraft.
People exiting nearby elevators gathered at the railings, curious about the military-grade craft. Its broad, iron-gray wings and reinforced hull bespoke formidable defensive capabilities, though it wasn’t the latest model.
“Who could it be? These military transports require federal clearance. Even high-ranking officials don’t usually use them unless necessary,” someone speculated.
“Beats me. This is Arpeggio City, after all—a backwater. The last time we got any buzz was two months ago when Princoco came through. Everyone was envious,” another chimed in, snapping photos and chatting.
…
Another batch of people exited the elevators as they continued cycling open and closed.
“Ugh, disgusting having to cram in with all those gross men,” two young women complained as they stepped out, covering their noses in exaggerated disdain.
“What’s going on over there? Why is everyone crowding around?” one of them asked, tugging Lina along.
“Probably maintenance or something. This backwater place is always like that. Just wait—when I have the money, I’m moving to the South,” Lina waved dismissively, expressing contempt for Arpeggio City. She considered herself worldly, destined to leave such a place behind.
Ever since being exposed and humiliated at a recent gathering, Lina had been simmering with anger, eager to escape.
She couldn’t stand being here another second. It was disgusting, she thought to herself repeatedly.
Lina never saw herself as wrong in that incident; she believed Hestia had used underhanded tricks, even bringing friends to gang up on her. It was unfair—she was the victim of bullying.
“Just wait. Let’s see if you even get into Erin Academy. Even if your classmates still pity you now, give it a few years—no one will care about you. They only put up with you because they think you’ll be useful as a doctor someday. Otherwise, who’d bother with a gloomy, scheming recluse?” she often thought bitterly.
Imagining herself graduating and landing a coveted job while Hestia remained stuck in Arpeggio City gave Lina some petty comfort, easing her frustration.
As the two inquired about the scene outside, someone suddenly shouted, “Look! Three vehicles just drove over!”
The ground’s armored layers lifted, revealing three hovercars approaching the gray aircraft. The lead and trailing cars seemed to be for security, while the middle one presumably carried someone important.
Suddenly, Lina caught a fleeting glimpse of a silhouette inside the middle vehicle. Though obscured by dark glass, it reminded her of a name she loathed.
It can’t be. I must be seeing things. It’s just the stress getting to me, she thought, quickly dismissing the idea. She regretted not taking earlier advice to move to Southern 3rd District. But without help covering rent, it wasn’t worth spending her own money. She’d wait until school started.
Since the incident, her connection in the company, Senquild, had cooled toward her, growing impatient and distant. Fortunately, Lina had ensured her close circle kept everything secret, leaving him unaware of her struggles.
Now she fantasized about her bright future in high school—moving south to a warm, comfortable climate, leaving behind the acidic rains of the north, and perhaps meeting a wealthy young heir. The thought thrilled her.
And when she imagined Hestia, stuck in Arpeggio City because she failed her entrance exams, Lina couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
See? I made the right choices, she thought smugly, reveling in her supposed superiority over her peers.
Meanwhile, the three vehicles stopped beneath the aircraft, and the doors slowly opened.
“Who’s that?” a passerby’s astonished voice broke Lina’s daydreams.
“A beautiful girl, though we can only see her back,” someone said, angling their high-definition camera to capture the moment. Others crowded around to catch a glimpse, and Lina followed.
From the grainy, distant footage, they saw a girl with long gray hair in a white dress. When she moved to lift her luggage, a nearby attendant stopped her, taking it instead.
“She seems to be saying thank you, how adorable,” murmured a bystander as they watched the footage, sparking lively chatter.
Seeing the girl in her snow-white dress surrounded like a princess, Lina felt jealousy gnawing at her like a venomous snake. It made her furious.
Why? Why does someone like her—awkward, shy as a mouse, clueless about how to charm others—get so much adoration, while I get publicly humiliated?
It has to be lies. Yes, she’s a liar. How foolish I was to fall for her fake facade before. She must’ve already latched onto some bigwig…
Heh, just wait. Once I find out who she’s clinging to, I’ll send them all the dirt and photos from school. Let’s see how “unbothered” he stays. Men always claim not to care about a girl’s past, but deep down, they’re petty. I’ll plant a seed of doubt between them, ruin their bond.
As the girl boarded the colossal aircraft, the soldiers in white armor dispersed. Moments later, the roar of the engines echoed across the ground. Blue flames surged from the thrusters, propelling the massive vehicle skyward until it vanished into the boundless blue.
Inside the aircraft, Hestia sat by the window, watching the city’s open atrium shrink below. Her fingertips lightly traced the glass.
“Miss Hestia, this document outlines the Federation Government’s arrangements for the protection of your residence and family,” said a woman in a white military blouse, approaching with a record board.
“If you find everything satisfactory, please sign here.”
Given how rare people with the Songstress gift are, federal laws from centuries ago ensured they receive special protections. These extend to their families and living conditions. For Hestia, who lived alone, this mainly pertained to her old house.
After signing, she handed the record board back, thinking the matter was concluded. However, the officer had more to discuss.
“Additionally, regarding your previous experiences, the Federation has implemented confidentiality measures for your files, school, and associated individuals. During our investigations, we discovered some unique circumstances.”
The officer swiped to another screen, displaying profiles of Lina, her associates, and Senquild.
“For those who insulted you, fabricated stories, or spread false rumors, we will address the matter seriously.”
“Those people…” Hestia murmured. Truthfully, she had almost forgotten about them.
Graduating meant she no longer had to see them, rendering their past conflicts irrelevant.
“Let’s give leniency to those whose actions weren’t severe. I know they were wrong, but being overly punitive would feel like abusing power, which would make me no different from them,” she said, her voice steady but soft as her gaze returned to the window.
“Let the past fade away. I don’t want it to leave such a deep mark.”
“Understood. As you wish,” the officer responded with a respectful bow, admiring the young Songstress’s mercy.
The officer straightened.
“However, some consequences must still be enforced, especially for the two primary offenders. Ignoring them would undermine federal law and our accountability to the Region Governor and senior officials.”
Seeing Hestia hesitate, the officer reassured her.
“Rest assured, Miss Hestia. The penalties are justified and won’t tarnish your reputation.”
“Thank you for your effort,” Hestia replied with a faint nod.
Not long after, the steel-gray aircraft ascended into the stratosphere, disappearing into the faraway sky.
On the ground, the atrium’s lockdown lifted, and the crowd dispersed, still buzzing about the mysterious girl they had glimpsed. Nearby, Lina’s personal terminal suddenly buzzed.
“Sweetheart~” Lina answered in a practiced, syrupy tone.
“Cut the nonsense. Tell me, what exactly happened at that class reunion? Why is my company president calling my boss to demand I get fired?”
“If I didn’t have a good rapport with my boss, I wouldn’t even know the reason!”
“Uh, that day—it was just a regular class reunion, nothing special,” Lina stammered, trying to dodge the question.
“Oh, really? You think I’ll believe that now?”
“Let me tell you, Lina. The admission you got to Vortex Academy? That was me. My referral letter. I can just as easily call them back and revoke it. You’re not officially enrolled yet, and without a student ID, it’s a piece of cake!”
“No, wait! Let me explain…” Lina clutched her terminal, her voice desperate as she spun her tale, trying to shift the narrative in her favor.
But the call abruptly ended, and moments later, a message appeared on her screen:
“Dear Miss Lina, we regret to inform you that, following a notification from the Federation’s Planetary Investigation Bureau, your conduct has been deemed severely unsuitable for our institution. Your admission has been revoked. Please do not contact us further.”
“How… How could this happen? I’m supposed to be above them! I’m supposed to stand above that nobody and look down on her! Why…” Lina leaned against the wall, her face a portrait of disbelief.