Valtair was in a place that looked like an old bar, with dark wooden walls, time-worn tables, and a light smell of alcohol and smoke in the air. The lights were yellowish and flickered softly, giving the place a suffocating and suspicious atmosphere.
People whispered in corners, dealing with things that clearly weren't legal.
He was sitting at a corner table, talking to a woman.
"You're going to keep your word, right?"
He asked the woman across from him.
The woman had short, messy hair dyed black with a bluish tint. She wore tight black clothes full of small leather details, and several piercings adorned her ears and eyebrow.
Her entire appearance screamed "trouble" to anyone looking.
"Of course..."
She replied with a crooked smile, playing with a ring on her finger.
"I already told you, if the director isn't at the academy, there's nothing to worry about."
"Tsk... it better be true... I'm going to pay a heavy price if you idiots screw this up."
"Heh..."
A low chuckle escaped her lips.
"You must really hate her to go this far... I'm starting to feel sorry for the poor thing."
"I already told you to mind your own business..."
"Alright, alright... but you mentioned it's going to be in an open area. Don't blame me if some students end up getting involved and... don't come out so well."
She then stared him in the eyes while putting the ring back on her finger.
"And once you get what you want... don't forget to do your part."
"Do whatever you want. Just get rid of that annoying woman already... I can't stand seeing alchemy classes and projects being handled by someone like her anymore."
He said this while standing up, pulling his hood over his face and leaving the place without looking back.
It was clear Valtair was talking about Professor Maelis.
He truly hated commoners, but what fueled his hatred even more was having to take orders from someone like her — a "commoner" occupying a position he believed was reserved for nobles only.
And the start of classes was the best time to get rid of her.
Since the director and vice-director always left for short meetings during this period.
'I won't endure another year putting up with someone like her...'
===
09:26 in the morning
The open training field stretched under the soft morning light.
The ground was covered by low, firm grass, perfect for combat. Magical stone pillars surrounded the space, and a few trees around it cast irregular shadows across the terrain.
In the center of the field, Elena was manipulating her flames with an almost natural grace.
The flames flowed around her as if they had a life of their own, slithering from side to side in smooth, precise arcs. Every movement of her hands guided the fire, which spun, undulated, and molded itself as an extension of her own will.
Any amateur watching would say it wasn't impressive, that it didn't have much destructive power, that the flames weren't big...
But casting fire spells was one thing... freely manipulating fire, as an extension of one's will, was something entirely different.
Whispers started to spread among some nobles seated farther away.
"Incredible... the flames obey her every gesture."
"As expected from someone of the Elrien lineage."
"Think I should ask her to teach me how to control flames like that?"
"Pfft! You?? She's high-class, man."
She heard the murmurs around her.
For Elena, all of it was just a headache.
In her past life, she would have been happy with the compliments. But now, she knew most of them were just empty flattery, clumsy attempts to please her, or admiration aimed not at her but at her bloodline.
Of course... she was still proud of her lineage... but that strong pride, that childish desire to impress others... had long since disappeared.
Clap, clap, clap!!
Sitting nearby, Lyra clapped with a cute, excited smile.
Elena blushed lightly and canceled the spell, visibly uncomfortable.
"Stop it, you're embarrassing me..."
"What? I'm enjoying the show."
Sigh...
"I'm not performing for you."
She sat down on the grass, resting a bit after the intense training.
Lyra, still smiling, leaned closer and asked:
"Where's that handsome boy?"
Elena blinked, confused.
"...Handsome? Which boy?"
"That one... with white hair and..."
Lyra widened her eyes, showing her teeth like fangs and curving her hands forward, trying to imitate a vampire ready to attack.
"...vampire eyes..."
Elena pushed her away lightly when Lyra tried to get too close.
"How should I know?"
Lyra let out a little giggle.
"Ahh... you should know! You two have been pretty close lately."
"What?? Where are you getting that from?"
"Ahn... I heard you even bought him a drink the other day."
Elena froze for a moment, remembering that scene she'd rather forget.
====
"...."
Kaen was fighting with a vending machine after inserting a few coins and trying to get a drink.
The problem? Insufficient balance.
On impulse, she paid for a drink for him...
But the worst part was that even after getting the drink, Kaen went back to the machine trying to recover his lost money.
'Is this for real...? He's really impossible...'
She asked how much he had lost.
Four copper coins....
And he was willing to destroy the machine over that.
Trying to avoid a scandal, Elena patiently pulled some coins out of her pocket, and luckily, she had copper coins.
She then gave him the exact four copper coins, hoping that would solve the problem.
He looked at her...
She looked at him...
"What am I supposed to do with four copper coins?"
".."
"...."
"..."
=====
"Hey..."
"Hey... Elena...!!"
Elena snapped back to reality.
Lyra was watching her with a mischievous little smile.
"Hmmmm... who were you thinking about?"
Elena looked away, huffing, and pushed her again.
"~... You imagine too much, Lyra."
Her, close to Kaen?
It was weird to think about.
But also... she couldn't deny she had been getting pretty close to him in the past few days.
She wanted to see up close how Kaen behaved.
And the conclusion she kept coming to...
'He seems even crazier than before.'
To her, Kaen was changing.
But she still needed to find out if it would be for the better... or for the worse.
====
Meanwhile, in another part of the academy — more specifically, outside it.
Kaen scratched his ear, distracted by the sounds of nature.
"Someone's talking about me? Hope it's something good..."
Kaen was sitting on the grassy ground, surrounded by the sound of birds and the fresh scent of the trees.
Beyond the academy's limits, there was a vast forest, and farther ahead, a quiet and peaceful grove. There, a small lake reflected the blue sky, and the gentle breeze made the leaves dance in soft movements.
He had gone out once again to store mana in the grove. After losing almost all the energy he had accumulated over the past days, he had no choice.
'I hope that dwarf doesn't make me waste all my mana again.'
It was annoying to have to leave the academy and walk a few kilometers to the grove.
Of course... he could very well do the whole process inside the academy, but it was harder and more exhausting.
The more distractions around, the harder it was to store mana.
And he could feel that the environment outside the academy was filled with pure mana, something he couldn't sense inside the academy walls.
He went back to focusing, closing his eyes while gathering mana.
"..."
A soft sound of wings flapping reached his ears. Like a small, persistent buzz, blending with the sound of the wind in the leaves.
"Hello... Hello... Can you hear me???"
Kaen opened his eyes slowly.
'Not that damn fairy again...'