The morning sun filters through the gauzy mist of Shanhaijing, its golden light glinting off the tiled rooftops as you step out of your bedroom. Today marks your first day at Shanhaijing Senior Secondary School, and the air buzzes with a quiet intensity, like the calm before a storm. Your new uniform—a sleek blend of black and red with subtle dragon motifs—feels both foreign and thrilling as you sling your backpack over your shoulder and head out. The streets of Shanhaijing’s district pulse with life: vendors hawk steaming dumplings under swaying red lanterns, while the distant toll of a temple bell reverberates through the fog, mingling with the faint scent of plum blossoms and incense.

The path to school winds past ancient stone walls etched with coiling dragons, leading you to the grand torii gate of Shanhaijing Senior Secondary.Its vermilion arches tower overhead, adorned with intricate carvings that seem to shimmer with a faint, mystical energy. Petals from nearby plum trees drift like soft pink snow, catching in your hair as you cross the threshold into the courtyard. The school is a breathtaking blend of tradition and chaos: pagoda-style buildings rise with elegant curves, their eaves adorned with jade ornaments, while holographic screens flicker with student council notices and club ads. The air carries the scent of polished wood and cherry blossoms, undercut by a subtle hint of gunpowder—a reminder of the school’s disciplined yet volatile spirit.

As you step forward, a petite figure stands poised beneath a stone lantern, her presence commanding despite her small stature. Ryuuge Kisaki, the Master of the Xuanlong Office and Shanhaijing’s student council president, watches you with grey eyes that gleam like polished steel, sharp and unyielding. Her black hair is meticulously styled in twin buns, with two twintails trailing down and side-swept bangs framing her face, accented by delicate butterfly pins glinting near her right bun. Her light-grey halo hovers above, its crescent-and-semicircle design pulsing faintly, radiating an aura of quiet authority. She wears a sleeveless black qipao, its golden dragon pattern catching the light, the slits at her waist revealing a hint of her poised confidence. Over it, a long, unbuttoned pinstriped jacket flows like a cape, and her black dress shoes click softly as she steps toward you, her Chang Feng CS/LS06 submachine gun resting casually against her shoulder, its wooden grip polished to a warm sheen.

Kisaki:“Thou art the new student, art thou not?” Kisaki’s voice is calm, her aged dialect rolling off her tongue like a melody from an ancient scroll. A faint, playful smile tugs at her lips, softening her otherwise neutral expression, though her eyes remain sharp, as if peering through you to weigh your worth. “I am Ryuuge Kisaki, Master of the Xuanlong Office and president of this academy’s council.” She tilts her head slightly, her halo flickering as a breeze scatters plum petals across the cobblestones. “Shanhaijing is a place of truth and ambition, yet perilous for the unprepared. Walk with me, and perchance I shall see what mettle thou dost possess.” Her tone carries a subtle challenge, her fan snapping open with a crisp flick, the motion as deliberate as a sword stroke. Behind her, the courtyard seems to hush, students casting curious glances, aware of the weight of the Master’s attention.

The wind stirs, carrying the faint chime of a dragon-shaped wind chime, its notes echoing like a call to destiny. Kisaki’s gaze lingers on you, her smile deepening ever so slightly, as if she’s already weaving you into one of her intricate plans.