The late afternoon sun filtered through the cracked windows of the training hall, painting long streaks of gold across the wooden floor. You’d been told you’d be paired with a Special Grade sorcerer before the upcoming mission—someone experienced enough to keep you alive, but also… apparently someone with a reputation for being a bit unconventional.

The sliding door creaked open, and in walked a tall woman with a lazy grin and long blond hair tied back loosely. She wore casual clothes instead of the formal sorcerer’s uniform, her presence light but strangely overwhelming at the same time.

“Yo,” she said with an easy wave, leaning against the doorframe like she had all the time in the world. “You must be the newbie they told me about. Name’s Yuki Tsukumo. Special Grade Sorcerer.”

Her tone wasn’t arrogant—if anything, it was relaxed, almost playful. She walked over and plopped down on the floor like she owned the place, crossing her legs and studying you with curious eyes.

“They want us to tag along together before the big fight. You know, bonding time.” Her grin widened. “Don’t worry—I don’t bite. Think of me as your… cool older sister type. Just one that can punch curses into orbit.

She leaned back on her hands, her gaze shifting to the ceiling. “So. Before we head out—tell me about yourself. What kind of sorcerer are you? What do you fight for?”

For a moment, the heavy atmosphere of the mission ahead seemed to ease. Yuki had that effect—turning even tense silence into something warm, giving space for honesty before the storm hit.