All too fast the days went by, and the next thing I knew, my midterms were tomorrow. Today's horticulture class consisted of material for review, and Xiangling anxiously tapped her pen on the table. Students were raising their hands, asking questions left and right, but I actually felt pretty secure for this exam. While Professor Baizhu refused to give any details on what exact plants we'll be dissecting and writing about, he did hint that they could be found on this island. Of course, the island had tons of biomass to offer, and no one was currently allowed to go exploring, but I had some idea of what to expect. My herb collecting venture with Qiqi might just come in handy, but I'd know for sure once tomorrow rolled around.

"If you have any further questions, I'm afraid that's too bad because we're out of time." Professor Baizhu's reptilian eyes squinted as he smiled. "Just kidding. I'll be here for a few minutes after class. Section three of the textbook is something I highly suggest you revise. Also, be sure to know your plant anatomy."

Xiangling tapped her pen faster as students began to depart, and I caught her wrist. "Hey, you okay?"

"Huh?" She blinked out of her trance. "Oh, yeah. Just worried about the midterm."

"I thought you knew all sorts of things about plants." I slipped my notebook into my bag. "You had so much to say about them from our first day, even. What happened to the ingredient-savvy, confident chef?"

She knocked her head on the table. "I know about how they influence flavor and texture! Being able to reference things like genealogy is another story. How am I supposed to analyze cells and photosynthesis? I can't taste that."

She made a good point.

"Do you want me to help you study later?"

"No, no." She waved a hand. "It's okay. I just need a real hearty meal to get my spirits up. The pre-midterm jitters are getting to me."

"If you say so." I patted her shoulder. "Let me know if you change your mind. Are you going to the dining hall, then?"

Her face split into a smile. "You know it. I hear the special today is Golden Crab! Do you know how long it's been since I've had crab? Too long, Lumine."

"Is it that good?" I laughed.

"Absolutely." Xiangling stood and grabbed both of my hands, shaking them up and down. "Oh, you have to try it! Please divert your tastes from Almond Tofu, just this once."

"I haven't been eating Almond Tofu that long. Just for the past few days."

"The past two weeks! Honestly, I love the dish as much as you obviously do, but I couldn't stomach the same thing day in and day out. You need to spice it up a little! Throw in a surprise ingredient, maybe."

"I'll stick with the original recipe, thank you very much." I didn't bother mentioning its dream-influencing abilities. It was enough for her to think I just got attached to tofu all of a sudden.

"Okay…" she eyed me. "Are you coming with me, or what?"

"I'll meet you there after I drop off some books at the library."

Xiangling shuffled toward the door. "I'll try to save you some crab! No promises, though."

"I'll be quick with it."

The books in question I had to return were for the Vision Studies research paper that I'd spent the past week writing. Finding the right texts was the easy part, but it took a great deal of time for me to weave the separate ideas into a cumulative paper. I'd only just finished it last night, and I was eager to finally get these books off my hands as soon as possible. Besides the paper, there was still the written exam portion tomorrow, but I had exceptional notes thanks to Thoma.

The Vision Studies paper wasn't the only thing I'd gotten done. Venti's spontaneous essay idea also kept me occupied for the better part of the week, and I actually had an enjoyable time crafting an analysis of the Genesis Pearl story. He said that we could interpret his songs as our hearts desired, so I was able to flourish the unsung details and interject my own opinions on what the lyrics meant. As for his technical singing, I was sure to leave copious amounts of positive feedback, not just because he asked for some, but because he deserved it. Venti should really consider becoming a music instructor on the side.

Once I got to the library, I was immediately glad returning the material was my only goal. Every table was piled high with study tools, and each seat was occupied by a stressed student—even the lounge couches that sat by the windows. The library's reception desk was normally operated by a staff member, but I was surprised to find that Professor Minci was here instead.

"Hey there, cutie. Are you here to study as well? How lovely."

I swung my bag to the side and pulled out the three texts. "I'm here to return these, actually."

"Oh?" She lifted a gloved hand to her lips. "Done with the research paper, I see. I can't wait to give it a read. I must thank you for your dedication in making a prompt return. You have no idea how hectic it gets around exam season. We often don't see books checked back in until finals."

"Do you manage the library inventory often? I would have thought your hands were full with Vision Studies alone."

She giggled. "I'm the head librarian here, cutie. Of course, I stay involved."

My eyes widened with surprise. I had no idea.

"Are you impressed?" she cooed.

"That seems like a lot of work."

Professor Minci pouted. "Oh, it really is. The Academy doesn't know when to stop assigning me work. Trust me, I'd much rather spend all my days here in this library, scouring ancient texts and formulating my own theories. Alas, I still get the chance so long as I uphold my role as a professor."

"You're an excellent professor." I tried to uplift her. "I've been able to learn so much about Visions, despite not having one."

"Are you trying to flatter me? It's working. My, I shouldn't be surprised you're a smooth talker—not with how smitten your partner is."

Placing the books on the counter, I gave her a curious glance. "Thoma?"

"Of course, when I assigned partners, matchmaking was far from my original intention." She reached forward to slide the books over. "In the future, it might be entertaining to get to know my students first before pairing them up. I bet I'd manage to get at least three couples together by the end of the semester."

"Oh," I shook my head. "Thoma and I aren't a couple."

She drew up short with an offended gasp. "You're not?"

"We're class partners," I said before adding, "And friends."

Professor Minci pouted. "Oh, that poor boy. Let me give you some advice, cutie. When you get the chance, why don't you stop by an optometrist? I'm not entirely certain if our infirmary can assist you with that, though."

"An optometrist?"

"To help you see the obvious," she winked. "Well, I suppose you could also just wait it out. I'm sure he'll get around to saying something eventually."

"Professor Minci, I don't think I understand what you—"

"Please," she waved her hand. "Just Lisa is fine when we're in the library. My role here has nothing to do with professerly duties."

"Lisa." I tested the name in my mouth. It felt odd addressing her so casually, but I didn't want to reject her suggestion. "Are you saying that Thoma has—that he thinks of me to be—"

Lisa leaned forward onto the counter, putting her face as close as she could to mine with an energetic force. "Yes."

"I didn't even get to finish what I was saying."

"We both know where you're getting at." She fingered the rim of her hat. "Don't we? Trust me, I didn't make it here to teach at such a prestigious school without keen observation skills. I know as much about Thoma's intentions toward you as I do with, say, Xingqiu's toward Chongyun," she chuckled. "They're an amusing pair to watch, but I won't say any more on that."

Lisa's suggestive glance toward me made my face heat up. Regardless of whether what she said was true, anyone would react the same way at the lilt of her voice. Also, because this was coming from Lisa, someone who I learned to have a keen eye for detail, the possibility stuck with me. That important thing Thoma had to tell me—could it be a confession?

"Ah, there it is."

"There what is?"

"Realization." She languidly pointed at me. "You should have seen the way your face reacted just now, cutie."

"Should you be calling your students 'cutie'?" I took a defensive step back.

"He's made it obvious, has he not? A few kind words here and there, maybe even a close moment of physical intimacy? It might be soon, but I suspect he'll even ask you out on a date—a dinner, perhaps."

Physical intimacy with Thoma? My face heated to an even higher degree at the notion, and I was expecting a Pyro Vision to show up at any moment after I thought back to when he'd offered to dry me off with his shield. When I gave that moment a closer look, it wasn't something that a simple partner or friend would offer. Besides, he did ask me out to dinner. A date.

"Just as I thought." Lisa leaned back, satisfied. "Well then, I'll let you decide what to do with this new-to-you information. It's been a pleasure enlightening you. Perhaps my work as a professor extends beyond that of the elements."

My mind faltered, and it was all I could do to murmur a polite thank-you before fleeing from her teasing demeanor. I felt Lisa's emerald gaze at my back until I was well past the library's exit, and my previous thoughts about midterms were now taken over by Thoma.

Thoma. Someone who I trusted immediately in our first meeting. Thoma. Someone who supported me with unwavering loyalty and an abundance of helpful advice. Thoma. Kind to everyone, even if they didn't deserve it. Thoma. He spoke out against injustice when he could stop it. Reliable, warm, friendly, charming—he was someone who I couldn't see myself being without. If what Lisa said held any truth, my relationship with him ran deeper than I thought. Whether my feelings matched in a platonic or romantic sense…my heart squeezed, and I found the sensation wasn't unfamiliar.

Crystalflies fluttered in my stomach.

It'd only been two weeks since I realized the connection between me and Diluc. How was it that I felt similarly with Thoma? In terms of personality, Diluc and Thoma were hardly the same, yet I found myself captivated by both of them. The brightness that Diluc saw in me, I saw in Thoma. His honesty and gentleness never failed to greet me like a welcome embrace. For me to have such an attachment toward two people—was that okay?

"Hey, watch where you're going!"

Lost in thought, I'd accidentally bumped into a pair of students going the opposite direction.

"Sorry," I mumbled as I looked up to see—to my dismay—the Twin Mages.

Immediately, I braced myself for a nasty reaction from both of them. Cici looked me up and down with her sharp, violet eyes. Cicin simply stood in cold silence, her expression flickering from annoyance to resolution. Instead of lashing out with a taunt or advancing with a physical assault, they surprised me with civility.

"It's fine," Cicin sighed. "Right, Cici?"

Cici stared at me, hard. "Right," she grit out. "We know you didn't mean it."

"That's it?" I blurted out, too shocked to filter my words.

Cicin scoffed lightly. "Yeah, that's it. Why? Are you actually looking for trouble?"

"Because you won't find it here." Cici tugged Cicin's elbow. "C'mon, let's get out of here. We got done what he wanted us to do already. There's no use in sticking around to risk her making us look bad." Cici shot a hesitant glance toward me when she said that, and I couldn't help but feel put on the spot despite the lack of hostility behind her tone.

"See you around." Cicin tossed her ice-white hair over her shoulder as the two of them passed, leaving me bewildered in the spot I stood. "Good luck with your exams."

Slowly, I moved on auto-pilot as I tried to process what had just happened. My previous spiraling feelings about Thoma were muted with this character development. I wouldn't have expected kindness from those two in a million years. Was it really possible that the Twin Mages learned to be decent human beings? If so, what on Teyvat could have brought on such a change?

This time, I didn't let my wandering thoughts distract me from the path ahead. Not long after running into Cici and Cicin, I saw Ellin sitting on a bench with a slackened jaw. She looked panicked and alarmed, hands clenched together so hard that her knuckles had turned white. Alarm bells rang off in my mind as I jumped to the obvious conclusion. Ellin was ahead of me—the direction that the Twin Mages had just come from. The only reason why Cici and Cicin didn't want to bother messing with me was because they just finished tormenting Ellin yet again. My guess was that they had some sort of sinister quota to fill, and I wasn't today's target.

"Ellin, hey." I quickly sat beside her. "What's going on?"

"I…" she shook her head slowly, staring at the ground. "I can't believe it."

"Then don't," I urged her. "Whatever the Twin Mages told you just now, don't listen to them. Remember what we talked about a couple of weeks ago? Remember the strength you showed to me, and most importantly, to yourself? Don't doubt that."

Finally, she glanced up at me. What I saw in her eyes wasn't weakness—it was genuine surprise. "The Twin Mages didn't say anything mean to me. They were nice."

"Nice to you?" I balked. "What do you mean?"

"I was just walking back from class. Then I noticed someone was following me. When I realized it was Cici and Cicin, I thought the worst was about to happen. They cut ahead and didn't let me get any further, which was weird because it was broad daylight and so many people are around. But then…"

"But then?"

"They apologized," she whispered. "They said they were sorry for judging me so hard without ever getting to know me. Cici even offered to help me with my Vision Studies paper. I already have it done, but she really, truly wanted to help."

"You don't think it was some sort of trick?" I furrowed my brows, trying to see through their plan.

"Not at all. Trust me, after being harassed by them for so long, I'm able to sense the ill intent. They expressed nothing but pure remorse. Lumine, do you think that I've finally done it? That I've finally proven to them that the Visionless can be strong, too?"

My mind reeled with this information, and though I was still trying to properly understand, I didn't want to dampen the glowing hope that radiated from Ellin's face. "Anything is possible," I said at last.

Ellin surprised me with a sudden hug, her arms wrapping around my shoulders. "This is such a relief," she sighed before pulling away, small tears in her eyes. "Maybe the rest of our time here won't be so bad, after all."

"Right," I replied automatically. "Things are really looking up."

Ellin rubbed at her eyes and promptly stood, pumping a fist into the air. "I can't waste this sudden stroke of luck just sitting here. I think I'll crank out some extra hours in the library for midterms. At this rate, success is well within my sights. Lumine, best of luck with your midterms tomorrow!"

"Thanks, Ellin. You…" she bumbled off before I could finish. "Too."

Now it was just me left sitting on the bench in shock. Suspicion still lingered in my mind, but the sheer force of Ellin's optimism was doing wonders to clear that away. The biggest change that happened at this school was the Sakoku Order, and that was because of the monsters. Could it be that such a scare had Cici and Cicin reevaluating their morals and life choices? I sure hoped that was the case, and that they weren't playing the long game of wearing down Ellin's resolve.

My stomach made a low grumble, prompting me to continue my original path to the dining hall. While it wasn't entirely unbelievable that the Twin Mages had turned over a new leaf, I highly doubted that Signora would have a similar change in heart. And because Cici and Cicin were under her guidance, who knew how long this development would last? Once midterms were over, I'd have to keep a close eye on them, just in case.