"So, did you find anything interesting on your solo trip around campus?"

Kaeya and I walked down the corridor that led to the dining hall.

"Nothing much," I shrugged. "Just a greenhouse and some extra sparring circles."

"That's all? Y'know, there's a school legend that great treasure was hidden somewhere nearby just after the academy was established."

"Oh?" I raised a brow. "What kind of treasure?"

"Who knows," Kaeya mused. "It could be a trove full of luxurious chests, or perhaps even a magical artifact. Whatever it may be, there's also a chance that someone has already gotten to it. This academy is nearly five hundred years old, after all."

"Well," I thought about it, letting the adventurer in me wonder. "It's not improbable that the treasure still exists, right? Do you know anything about who left it behind?"

"I thought you might be curious," he smirked. "I can't reveal what I know, for now, the walls have ears. But please, feel free to join me on the treasure hunt. It would be far more entertaining than any of the usual stuff."

"You mean like completing the tasks you were assigned?" A voice I didn't recognize came from behind us.

I swiveled around to face a woman with crossed arms and blonde hair tied up in a ponytail. She looked stressed.

"Jean," Kaeya greeted her. "So good to have the student president back here with us. I wasn't expecting your return to be so soon."

She sighed. "Right. However, I am only here on a brief reprieve. There are additional meetings scheduled for tonight. Lumine, how was orientation?"

"Oh! It was alright. Kaeya has been an excellent guide. Wait, how do you know my name?"

"As student president, it is my job to commit to memory all of the names and faces of Celestia Academy's attendees," she replied with sincerity. "It's nice to finally meet you in person. I am Jean Gunnhildr."

"You see?" he grinned, resting a hand on my shoulder like we were the best of buds. "I am very dedicated to the job that's been handed off to me."

"Then tell me, have the schedules been distributed to the student dorms?"

"Ah," Kaeya breathed. "You wouldn't happen to be talking about the stacks of envelopes that were left in front of my door this morning?"

"Yes," her eyes narrowed. "I am."

"Well, I thought they were letters of confession. I can't help that I'm popular."

"Per Katheryne's instructions, those schedules should have been handed out before students left for dinner," Jean sighed and massaged her temples.

Kaeya stepped away reluctantly. "I'll be right on it. Sorry Lumine, you'll have to go to dinner without me."

"I'll be fine." It was just dinner. "See you around."

The dining hall hummed with conversation as I pushed open the doors. Immediately, my head turned to where the delicious scent of hot food was coming from. I instinctively followed the line forming at a counter where it food was served, and I shuffled forward with everyone else. Once I'd made it to the front of the line, an empty tray was slid towards me.

"What would you like?" The woman at the counter asked.

"What is there?"

She listed off a handful of specials for the day and was kind enough to point out the individual side options at the food bar further down. Not wanting to hold up the line, I quickly piled up my tray with a Teyvat fried egg, some Puppy-Paw hash browns, and the Universal Peace special. Satisfied with my tray, I turned away from the counter only to be met with an obstacle I hadn't anticipated.

Where should I sit?

It occurred to me, just then, that students were grouped up with their elements. At this point, I wasn't surprised by this development, but it kind of irked me how sectioned off this school was, intentional or not.

Spotting Ellin sitting with a group of other non-Vision holders that I didn't recognize, I thought about sitting with her before deciding against it. I wouldn't let this school's social dynamics isolate my options.

"Hey there," a voice cooed as a minxy girl with green hair and a purple hood stepped in front of me before I made a decision.

An almost identical girl slid up beside the first, except she had white hair with a blue hood. "You must be a first-year."

"I'm Cici," the purple one introduced and pointed to the blue girl, who waved. "And that's Cicin."

"You can come and sit with us if you want." Cicin gestured over to a table in the far back. "What's your Vision?"

"Are you strong?" Cici piped in.

"None to the Vision question, and I'd like to say I'm strong."

Cici and Cicin's faces pinched in unison as they turned to look at each other. After an unspoken conversation passed between the two, they turned to face me again.

"It's okay if you don't have a Vision!" Cici's purple hood bobbed.

"Neither do we," Cicin admitted with a bite in her tone. "But it's not like we want to sit with them." Derision dripped from her voice as she glanced over to the table where Eliin sat. "The Visionless aren't worth our company," she chuffed. "Pathetic weaklings."

"We can tell that you're strong." Cici nodded at me. "But you can be stronger. Just like us."

"We've been told to scout out potential in the newest class," Cicin continued. "And we think you have it. Sit with us."

Cici took my hand and cocked her head to the side. "What was your name, again?"

Politely, yet firmly removing my hand from her grasp, I took a step back and tried to not sound nearly as appalled as I felt. "I will not be sitting with you."

"What?" Cici blinked in surprise before souring. "You think you're too good for us?"

"I don't think I'm too good for anyone," I countered, annoyance creeping in. "How could you be so dismissive of the other students? They have no Vision, just like you!"

"La Signora took us in." Cicin crossed her arms. "As long as we are loyal to her, we can have power equal to having a Vision. You can too."

"If you know your place." Cici narrowed her eyes. "Last chance, blondie. Do you want to sit with us or not? Don't you want to become better than those worthless humans?"

"I can't believe this," I muttered and squared my shoulders, walking away from the pair.

I made a beeline towards Ellin's table and couldn't help but feel the sharp glares stabbing me in the back. Those girls...well, I can't say I'm surprised that power would be important in any social setting, but I didn't think there would be those who think so little of non-Vision holders.

"Hi Ellin," I sat beside her.

"Hey Lumine," she eyed me warily. "I see you've met the Twin Mages."

"Is that what they're called?" Stabbing a fork into my egg, I chewed with vigor. "What a nasty duo."

"No kidding, they cornered me in the hallway earlier today," she sighed and looked down at her plate.

"You turned them down, too?"

"What?" Ellin looked surprised. "Gods, no. They didn't offer me anything but the promise that I'll never amount to anything."

"Seriously?" my jaw dropped. "That is so out of line, Ellin. I'm sorry that happened to you."

A boy sitting next to Ellin had already laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "They do this every year," he informed. "Everyone knows about it, but the Twins never push far enough for the higher-ups to do anything about it."

"What about other students?" My fist clenched. "Don't they stand up for each other?"

"Getting involved with Singora and her groupies is, well, not something to look forward to," he shrugged. "We make do, though. I'm Timaeus by the way. You're Lumine?"

"Yeah."

"Welcome to Celestia Academy. This is my second year here now, but I've spent a lot of spare time studying the intricacies of this place. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

"Thanks, Timaeus," I smiled and turned back to my meal.

"As I'm sure you've noticed, this is where all the students without Visions typically sit. Most of the elements stick to their own tables as well, but they have mingling friend groups every now and then."

"Based on how the Twins act, it doesn't look like any Vision holders would want to be seen with one of us," Ellin sighed. "I was worried things might turn out this way."

"They aren't all that bad." Timaeus shook his head. "Just a few bad apples."

"If you ask me," she mumbled in between bites. "I think those Twins are so...so…"

"Ignorant? Wicked? Childish?" I supplemented.

"Did somebody say my name?" I felt a familiar presence behind me. "I didn't realize I'd made such a lasting impression."

"Hello, Childe," I swallowed a forkful of rice. "What brings you here?"

"Didn't you see me waving?" he pouted. "I saw you there, standing alone with your tray. It's your first day here, after all. I was hoping we could catch up on details for our big match."

"Lumine," Timaeus whispered. "How do you know Tartaglia?"

I frowned."Tartaglia? His name is Childe."

"Only to those who can beat me in a fight," Childe chimed in. "Or they don't know any better, in which case they'll soon learn."

"But we haven't—"

"Not yet, girlie. But I have a feeling that you'll impress me. Call me Childe, I insist."

"Will please stop calling me that?" I rolled my eyes. "It's Lumine. Do you need me to spell it out for you? L-U-M-I—"

"Alright Lumi," he chuckled and lowered himself to sit by my side. "If you won't come over to my table, I'm fine with staying here with you."

I sensed a hush fall over the rest of the table at Childe's unprecedented action. The atmosphere of the dining hall itself even shifted, as if everyone was holding a breath.

"Are you sure you're supposed to be sitting here?" I eyed him.

"People here know my strength." He rolled his shoulders and swiped a hash brown from my plate. "I'll sit where I what."

"Hey," I protested and reached out to grab it back, but I was too late. "That was my last one."

He grinned. "You've got to be quicker than that, Lumi. Especially if you ever want to win against me."

"Whatever," I huffed and guarded the rest of my plate with my life. "But take any more of my food and I might have to get serious."

"That's what I'm hoping for."