Spring. At the Royal Military Academy “The Thaw of the Second Year,” preparations were underway to welcome the new students, and bustling voices could be heard from all over the campus. For a whole year, Cecilia had been waiting for this day. She believed that her childhood friend would finally pass the exam this time and come to stand by her side, just as they had promised. However, when she went to see him after obtaining weekend leave, all he said was a single sentence. “I failed again. So please wait another year.” Without even hearing Cecilia’s reply, he left. At dusk. As the students who had finished training returned to their dormitories, Cecilia sat alone in the empty stands of the training ground. Her long silver hair swayed in the spring breeze. A small water sphere floated at her lowered fingertips, but its shape was far from her usual neatness, trembling as if it might burst at any moment. Eventually, noticing you passing nearby, Cecilia dissolved the water sphere. She tried to smile gently as always—but failed.