Crimson light and shadow sliced through the morning mist.
Qiye plummeted, clutching a rope of magic.
The little witch hung upside down in the air, her skirt fluttering to reveal slender calves.
Yet.
Far from panicking, she tilted her head back, her eyes reflecting Qiye’s tense profile.
The wind howled past their ears.
Qiye lightly touched her toes down, gracefully landing on the edge of a teaching building at Qinghe High School.
The fiery magic swirling around her cradled the bound little witch in her arms.
Immediately afterward.
Qiye brandished her magic sword, severing the three magical chains binding the little witch in just a few swift strokes.
“Whew… that was tight. Honestly, Zhennu Yibai actually played at binding me. Hmph~ One day, I’ll tie her up like a pretzel too…”
The little witch stretched her long-bound arms, then gave a languid yawn.
Only then did she revert from her transformed state, doing so right in front of Qiye, which clearly indicated the nature of their relationship…
As the hazy magical glow dissipated—
The arrogant little witch shed her dark attire, revealing her true form.
She wore a white shirt, a gray pleated skirt, white socks, and small leather shoes.
This was the same student uniform worn by the Primary Colors Squad.
The little witch was also a student at Qinghe High School… and Aisi Aimu was merely a codename.
Her real name was… Ling Cheyin.
****
Meanwhile.
The flaming magic sword was plunged into the concrete, its sputtering sparks illuminating Qiye’s pale cheeks.
The fiery magic surrounding her flickered faintly, and with it, her transformation dissolved.
She seemed lost in thought.
“What are you spacing out for?”
Just then, Ling Cheyin suddenly leaned in close, her warm breath brushing against the tip of Qiye’s ear.
She reached out and hooked her fingers with Qiye’s.
“Let’s go, Sister is waiting for us.”
Seeing this.
Qiye froze for a moment, staring at their clasped hands, then remembering the strange green flames that had flickered on her magic sword earlier.
Her throat tightened as she murmured:
“Weizhan and Xincheng…”
“Just say I was rescued by a mysterious dark figure~ It’s easy enough to make up an excuse.”
Ling Cheyin swung their joined hands.
“Unless… you want them to know—”
She lowered her voice, her words like fragrant orchids, yet each one sharp as a thorn.
“That ‘magic training’ Qiye-senpai attends every now and then, is actually you borrowing power in the Great Witch’s laboratory?”
Upon hearing this.
Qiye abruptly pulled her hand back, glaring at Ling Cheyin, but found herself speechless.
She knew that once her secret was exposed.
The Magical Girl Association would surely expel her.
And afterward, she would face a warrant, imprisonment, trial, and ultimately… execution.
The morning breeze ruffled Qiye’s shirt.
Through a gap in the buttons.
A faint mark was visible on her lower abdomen—a delicate blood-red sword.
At the hilt, a dark green eye swiveled, and sixteen pitch-black wings unfurled along her waistline.
It subtly rose and fell with Qiye’s breathing.
“Hmm? Qiye-jiejie, your mark is burning hot again.”
Ling Cheyin reached out and pressed her hand against Qiye’s lower abdomen, even slipping her fingers into the gap.
Her fingertips brushed over the wing patterns, and the dark green eye blazed with an eerie green flame.
“Sister said that when it fully awakens…”
She paused deliberately, her tongue lightly tracing her lips.
“Your flames will be completely tainted by demonic fire, and by then, you’ll forever be one of us.”
“I…”
Qiye was speechless, her memory flashing back to that late night—
The same mark had pulsed on Professor He’s fingertips, staining her flaming magic sword with an ominous green glow.
****
“Let’s go.”
Ling Cheyin stepped forward.
This time, she directly encircled Qiye’s waist, deliberately leaning her body weight against her.
She chuckled softly into Qiye’s ear:
“If we dawdle any longer, Sister might get worried~”
At this point.
Qiye gazed at the spiral staircase behind Ling Cheyin, leading into the teaching building.
Shadows clung heavily there.
Yet now.
She could only allow Ling Cheyin to pull her along.
****
Fourth floor.
It was 7:55 AM; classes wouldn’t officially start until 8:30.
The teaching building remained quite deserted.
The nameplate for ‘Professor’s Office – He’ gleamed with a cold light, but Ling Cheyin didn’t bother knocking.
She simply twisted the brass handle, and the door hinges let out a soft creak.
The cool scent of ink, reagents, and paper mixed together wafted out, assailing them.
On the desk, ancient books, parchment scrolls, and modern manuscripts were stacked in an interwoven jumble.
And in the chair sat a black-haired woman.
Ling Qinghe set down her fountain pen, a half-finished graded paper pressed beneath a broken red quill.
Her fluffy, airy bangs and high crown accentuated her cool, elegant aura, with a few strands of hair casually resting on the strap of her plain white dress.
She removed her wire-rimmed glasses, revealing a tear mole at the corner of her eye, her expression serene and aloof.
Beneath the simple skirt, a pair of long legs were crossed, the slender heel of a high shoe gently tapping the floor.
“Jiejie~”
Ling Cheyin called out sweetly, stepping forward and throwing herself into her arms, wrapping her hands around Ling Qinghe’s neck.
Her face buried itself into the soft expanse of the other woman’s chest.
“I was bullied until I cried…”
She drew out the last syllable, her calves beneath the pleated skirt restlessly rubbing against her sister’s thigh.
As she spoke.
The little witch even tilted her head up to peck Ling Qinghe’s chin, then immediately buried her face once more.
Ling Qinghe stroked her sister’s short black hair, soothing her, when she suddenly extended a hand towards Qiye.
Her voice was like a blade wrapped in honey:
“Little Yezi, aren’t you coming over?”
Beneath her plain white skirt, her long legs parted slightly, inviting Qiye to approach.
“Let me see, today… were you not a good girl? You didn’t answer the first email, do I need to send a second one?”
At these words.
Qiye’s breath hitched.
Professor He’s aura was too oppressive, an unshakeable shadow in Qiye’s heart.
Her weakness, her very lifeline, was held firmly in control.
As she drew closer, Ling Qinghe abruptly pulled her into her embrace.
The Great Witch He’s fingers traced Qiye’s collarbone, then tugged at her neckline.
Exploring freely.
Qiye remained silent, yet subtly resisted.
“Be a good girl, don’t squirm. You promised to be my most obedient student, didn’t you~ Is this already too much for you?”
At this.
Qiye’s eyes narrowed, and she ceased her resistance.
****
After a moment.
Finally, Ling Qinghe’s hand rested on the mark on Qiye’s lower abdomen.
“Hmm~ The mark has faded?”
She leaned in close, her breath ghosting over Qiye’s ear, causing Qiye to tremble.
“It seems I’ll have to give you some new ‘rewards’…
Beside them, Ling Cheyin lightly bit her lower lip, her eyes flashing with jealousy and yearning.
****
Ling Qinghe gently lifted Qiye’s chin, her thumb stroking the girl’s flushed cheek.
She lowered her gaze, observing the panic in Qiye’s eyes.
“Go to the room for confinement… Remember, don’t bring your clothes in.”
Her voice was cold and clear, the tip of her high heel casually pressing against the top of Qiye’s foot.
“You are not to leave without my permission. Is that clear?”
Qiye shivered, then murmured:
“I… I understand.”
She felt almost suffocated by that gaze, at once gentle and icy.
She could only obediently turn and leave.
And she was already unbuttoning her shirt.
****
The moment the door softly closed, only Ling Qinghe and Ling Cheyin remained in the office.
Oh, and Qiye’s clothes.