Baek Yuseol finally began to enjoy his winter vacation two weeks after it had started. Though most of his time was spent sleeping, leaving him feeling a mix of regret and despair, he found solace in the remarkable improvements he achieved during his slumber.

Stella Academy was nearly deserted during the holidays. Even **Flame**, who usually stayed around, had decided against spending her vacation at the school. Like many students, she followed the seasonal norm—beaches in summer, ski resorts in winter. She left abruptly one early morning, announcing her trip to a ski resort with a group of nearly twenty …