Morning sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows of Berbeign Academy as a new figure stepped through the main doors calm, elegant, and composed.
Her cyan hair shimmered like crystal under the light, flowing down to her back, while her amber eyes carried a soft glow that seemed both kind and calculating. Every step she took echoed with quiet confidence, yet her presence felt strangely… controlled.
"Oh, you must be the new instructor!" one of the staff called out as she approached. "Welcome to Berbeign Academy! The Headmistress informed us you'd be arriving today."
Celeste smiled faintly. Her tone was even and polite.
"Yes. I'm Celeste. I'll be teaching Absorption Magic to Class F."
The nearby teachers exchanged intrigued glances.
"Absorption Magic? That's quite rare! You'll really work well with Miss Mila's PE subject absorption training requires a lot of stamina after all!"
Celeste's amber eyes flickered momentarily. "I see. I'll make sure to coordinate with her."
Just then, a familiar voice rang from down the hall.
"Oh! You must be the new teacher!"
Milly in her human disguise with white-silver hair and blue eyes jogged over with her usual bright grin. "Welcome to the madhouse I mean, the faculty!"
Celeste turned to her with a calm smile. "Celeste. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Mila."
"Likewise!" Milly beamed. "Absorption Magic, huh? You'll be a lifesaver. My students always run out of stamina mid-session and I'm definitely not carrying them back every time."
A small, practiced chuckle escaped Celeste's lips. "I'll handle that, then."
"Thank goodness." Milly exhaled dramatically, wiping imaginary sweat from her forehead. "Maybe now I can finally go one day without destroying a training dummy."
Celeste's expression softened. "You sound… dedicated."
Milly grinned. "That's one way to say it."
After a few more exchanges, Milly gestured toward the end of the hall. "Your office should be down that way. You'll find some of your class lists there too. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask."
Celeste nodded gracefully. "Thank you, Miss Mila. I'll keep that in mind."
When she entered her assigned office, the cheerful mask slowly faded. The door clicked shut, and silence fell.
Celeste placed her bag on the desk and closed her eyes briefly. A faint hum of static filled the room as her internal systems came online. Her amber eyes flickered lines of code briefly visible within.
"Connection established," she whispered softly. "Simni reporting. Cover identity 'Celeste' active. Position secured inside the academy."
Basei's familiar voice crackled faintly through the transmission.
"Good work. Remember, you're there to observe. Do not reveal yourself to her...not yet."
Celeste stared out the window where Milly was laughing with her students below.
Her voice lowered. "Understood. I will monitor… if possible."
The link went silent. Celeste took a deep breath, recomposing her warm, gentle expression before walking out to meet the others, her dual life at Berbeign Academy now truly beginning.