2.15.

After a scrumptious breakfast, Ro, Lilian prepared to leave the apartment. Their uniform gave them a professional look. Ro's dark blue hair styled to standard while Lilian lavender coloured hair tied into a bun, was held together with a net with a bow on top.

Sequencee was also preparing to leave the apartment when..

"Where are you going?" Schwii stood between him and the door. Her cold expression reflected the turmoil in her heart.

"Judy called me to the office," he said as naturally as he could.

"I didn't hear anything about that?"

"I met her earlier in the morning. She was apparently having a morning walk."

'Do mages take morning walks at 4 am? I highly doubt it.'

"Schwii," Iona called out, as if hinting something. Her eyes shifted between Sequencee and Iona before it lit up, as if an epiphany struck her.

"Right. Then stay safe," Schwii said and moved out of the way.

"You too."

He stepped out of the door and as he peeked at Schwii one last time, she noticed that her ears had reddened. He shut the door, reminding himself that he shouldn't come back to this place until later at 5 pm.

"Schwii seems to be in a bad mood today.." Lilian said, clutching her bag tight. All her items for the day like her water bottle, notepad, glasses case and extra change of clothes were inside.

"Do you know anything about it Sequencee?" Ro asked.

"It's something between her and Iona. It's not a big problem. No one forgot anything right?"

"Forget? No. All my stuff is here."

"Nope."

"Alright."

"Why are you here? You said you need to meet with one of your instructors right?" Lilian asked.

"Yeah– that's sorta a lie," Sequencee confessed. The appointment would be

"Then?"

"I'm just giving the two some space to work out their problems." Sequencee lowered his voice and glanced at the apartment door. Lilian and Ro, as if they had finally understood, nodded in unison. "I'll find something to do with all this time. You guys can go first."

"If you say so. Take care Sequencee."

"See ya."

Lilian and Ro left waving. The two chatted among themselves in a low voice as they made their way to the elevator. Sequencee stood there and pondered for a moment before deciding to head towards Leticia's dorm, unit A317.

He knocked on the door. It didn't long for the entrance to fling open, Leticia on the other side stunned in surprise.

"Morning," Sequencee greeted.

"Why are you here? Morning."

Behind Leticia, he could see her other dormmates waiting for breakfast. Nynim and Quora looked like they had just woken up while Daizo was arranging the plates. Dorry was in the kitchen dealing with the food and Leticia– Sequencee noticed that she was wearing an apron over her white blouse. Not to mention, her hair was tied into a loose ponytail which highlighted a 'dependable wife' kind of character.

"It's complicated. Anyways, I thought to ask if you're free today– sorry for disturbing you so suddenly."

"No. No, it's alright– come in and wait for a bit.. have you eaten? I need to go back to the kitchen, hold on–" Leticia said in panic. Though it was the truth that she left the food sitting on the stove, her flusters came from beyond her worry of the ingredients becoming charcoal.

'Why all of a sudden?!'

Leticia had never seen Sequencee act in this manner. What was he implying when he asked her out.. a date?! He was indirectly stating that he wanted to have a date?! The thought of it caused blood to rush to her cheeks.

"Morning," Dorry greeted, eyes still focused on the pot of stew before him.

"Good morning," Daizo greeted.

"Moorning–" Quora drawled, almost a yawn.

"Ugh.. why is this guy here?" Nynim, who was clutching her head on the table, struggled to look up at him. She's having a hangover.

"Morning," Sequencee greeted briefly.

"So, what brings you here today? Finally picking up on her hints?" Nynim's voice was raspy and dull, yet despite this, the frisky vibe wasn't lost in the tone.

"I have free time. That's all," Sequencee stood near the door, watching as Dorry guide Leticia in cooking.

'I didn't think he was a cook.'

Beginning from that time he showcased his 'death ray', to the tranquil air that surrounds him, to his knowledge in guiding Leticia in something like cooking, Sequencee thought that Dorry had always been a surprising box of chocolates.

"Free time, free time.. what happened to the other.. mn.. nevermind. So what are your plans for today?" Nynim said with a lull.

"I'm going to the training theater to practice my sword," Quora said even though the question wasn't directed at her.

"Same here," Daizo added.

"Not sure. Maybe explore the rest of the campus," this had been Sequencee's initial plan to begin with. At the same time, he thought maybe he could kill two birds with one stone by mending his relationship with Leticia.

"That sounds like a good date plan. I'm rooting for you whoop, whoop," Nynim slammed her head back on the table, causing the ceramic wares to jump.

"Careful!" Daizo exclaimed.

"Clear the center space. The food is ready," Dorry said, and Quora quickly got into action.

It was simple stew, bread toasted with butter, sausages, and reheated meat leftovers from yesterday with some snow lettuce. It was a hearty meal, except that Sequencee had already eaten his fill earlier in the morning.

"I don't have any plans for today either, so it should be alright?" Leticia said, chewing on toast.

"Then we'll go after you finish breakfast then."

"You can eat some if you like," Leticia pushed her bowl of stew over to him.

"I've eaten already," Sequencee shook his head.

"Mn.." Leticia wasn't sure herself if she was making a groan.

"At least try some of what she made, right?" Quora prodded.

"True. It's very delicious, you know?" Nynim said with a suspicious smile on her face– despite the fact that she hadn't recovered enough to eat much.

"At least try some. We should have more than enough," Dorry said, downing the stew by the bowl.

"Hm.."

"Or do you want her to feed you?" Daizo said with a grin.

"H-Hey, watch your words," Leticia warned him with a trembling voice.

"Fine, fine.." Sequencee relented.

"Here you go," Quora pushed Leticia's bowl closer to him with her own suspicious smile.

Sequencee and Leticia had shared their saliva through food back at Mane's Home, so he was already used to this indirect kiss thing between them but– doing it in front of these dubious people brought with it the inconvenience of self-awareness.

'When Leticia offered me her bowl earlier, was it out of reflex or on purpose?'

"Is there another bowl somewhere?" Sequencee asked.

"Ah, no we ran out of them."

"We have extra in the…" Dorry who was trying to be a rational, helpful chap had been restrained by Nynim's breast. All escape routes were blocked. ".. Cupboard.."

"Don't.. misunderstand.." Nynim said with a bashful smile.

"Oh no we won't. Right?" Quora grinned.

"Um.. I can get you another plate if that's what you want.." Leticia responded in reluctance.

"No.. If.. you're alright with me using the same plate then.."

"I don't mind.."

'Right. She's definitely doing it on purpose.'

Resolving himself, he offered Leticia an indirect kiss.

The stew turned out to be quite tasty.

===

"Do you have any plans for where you'd like to go?" Leticia hopped off the elevator before Sequencee did.

"I'm thinking to take a look at the alchemy building and maybe the hospitals," Sequencee followed Leticia's pace as they made their way out of the building. Unlike Schwii, Leticia didn't have that seductive allure that would garner a lot of attention, which was a relief.

"Why the alchemy building?" Leticia found this decision odd. If she remembered correctly, Sequencee barely understood the concepts of chemistry taught at the home. With alchemy being another branch out of chemistry, there was no way Sequencee would go there with the intention of learning about the influence of magic on atoms.

"I want to see if I can locate the demon lord horns they took from me."

"Eh? Is it there?"

"Not sure. I remember the vice-principal saying that they kept it in the vault of alchemy ingredients."

Leticia nodded. "Speaking of which, you never told me where it is that you got the horns from–"

Sequencee pondered over her question. He hadn't told

"I got it from my mother."

"You're mother is.. Anna, right?"

"Did I tell you last time that Anna is my mom? It's been so long, maybe I forgot," Sequencee was surprised by Leticia's guess.

"Y-Yeah.." Leticia felt strained and annoyed that he didn't recognize that she was the baron's daughter that would often visit his mansion in the past. Sequencee gave her an odd gaze.

The sky was bright with white clouds drifting across the sky in gentle waves. The sun was up, shaded by the cirrus clouds which made the heat less intense. A cool breeze blew by, reminding Sequencee that the Black Ravine Dungeon wasn't far from where they were.

Similar to how the sea and land works to stabilize the temperature of both domains, The Black Ravine functions as a heat sink, bringing forth chilly winds from within. As Rika Nation was built right beside the Black Ravine, the temperature of the region is much cooler.

'The trainee dungeon is connected to the Black Ravine. I wonder if we'll need to explore that dungeon in our later semesters.'

At the moment, the semester schedule had no information regarding The Black Ravine. If he wanted to know, he could go ask his seniors– except he knew none of them at the moment.