Razin: Verina... please forgive me.
Razin's eyes were sleepless... weary... both mentally and physically exhausted.
Razin: I will definitely apologize to her!
The time for today's meeting was approaching.
Razin moved toward the main building.
Colin saw him in this state.
Colin: Really, what happened to you?! You look like a dead man.
Razin: I messed up with Verina... I couldn't sleep.
Colin: So you actually caused a problem... that's unfortunate.
Razin continued walking toward the main building.
He entered without caring about anyone's gaze and went straight to the hall.
The hall was full, and he was the last to enter.
Verina looked at him with a sad expression.
Teacher: You're late, Razin... but this time you won't be punished because this is a free meeting—nothing specific is being taught.
Razin: Thank you, sir.
He walked and sat down next to Verina.
Verina kept looking at him.
Razin couldn't bear to look at her face after having hit her in a moment of anger. He didn't want to see the mark on her face, and he lacked the courage to apologize.
Verina was a bit upset; she was waiting for an apology.
Teacher: We won't do anything today... just try to absorb yesterday's meeting... and if anyone has a question, ask.
Razin, with tears in his eyes, looking down: ...I...
Verina looked at him.
Razin: ...I...
Verina waited.
He looked at her.
He saw the bruise on her face... his tears turned into full crying.
Razin, crying, looking at her: I... I'm sorry... I'm really sorry, Verina.
Verina smiled: You don't have to apologize... I was the one who was wrong.
Razin: No! I... I hit you in the face... surely you expect me to apologize... and I will apologize to make things right with myself as well... I can't pretend nothing happened.
Razin kept crying: I'm sorry... please accept my apology.
All eyes in the hall turned toward Razin and Verina... everyone saw Razin crying... but no one knew what was really going on.
Verina: I already accepted it... and I'm sorry too...
Before she finished her sentence, Razin hugged her while crying.
Razin: I never meant to hurt you... I won't forgive myself for what I did.
Verina was a little touched but also embarrassed because he hugged her in front of everyone.
Verina: I didn't know you cry this easily.
Razin tried to calm his tears and wipe them, but his guilt overwhelmed him.
Verina: I apologize too... my way with you was terrible... I'm sorry.
Everyone was watching... Razin hugging Verina... comments started coming out.
Students: What's this? Do we have lovebirds here? Aren't those the two strongest in the class? What's happening here? Why is he crying?
The teacher also noticed but was shocked and didn't comment.
Verina put her hand on Razin's shoulder: You really are an idiot... stop crying please... this is very embarrassing.
Razin stepped back a little... trying to wipe his tears.
Verina: I know how you feel... I felt the same... I'm sorry... I couldn't express my intention well.
Razin wiped his tears.
Razin: That bruise on your face... because of me... how can I forgive myself after doing that to you?
Verina: Don't be stupid... it's not a big deal... it will fade with time... it's enough that you apologized... thank you!
Razin: It was my fault... so it's natural to apologize... no need to thank me.
Verina: No... you don't understand... just having the courage to apologize to me means a lot to me
Verina internally thought: Even though I'm going to kill you soon because you did it in the middle of the meeting.
The whole meeting passed without anything interesting happening... students still struggled to activate their cores.
The students left the meeting, and Razin and Verina walked together.
Razin: Thank you... I think I now understand what you meant about my father... your words were right.
Verina: That's good... don't think too much about it... but... now we have another problem.
Razin: ...?
Verina, angrily: Our other problem is your stupid behavior, you idiot! How do you do all this in the middle of the meeting in front of everyone's eyes?
Razin: Hmm... is that a problem?
Verina, angrier: Of course it's a problem, idiot... this is very embarrassing... especially since I didn't expect you to cry and hug me... (she blushes) you're really an idiot... I really have to teach you how to behave.
Razin: Is hugging in front of everyone wrong? I don't know... I just felt like doing it... I didn't think there were people around me.
Verina: Hugging itself isn't the problem... but doing it in front of everyone is very embarrassing... everyone is watching us! You simply can't do these things publicly, especially when it involves me too!
Razin, upset: Sorry... I didn't mean that.
Verina: No... no problem now.
Verina: I wonder...
Razin: ...?
Verina: Aren't you ashamed to show this weak side of yours to me? You cried twice with me... in the last two days.
Razin: Aren't we friends?
Verina: Yes.
Razin: Then why would I hide something from you that's part of who I am? (smiles)
Verina smiled: You really are an idiot... but your idiocy is starting to grow on me.
Verina: I didn't know you were that sensitive.
Verina noticed Razin's face.
Verina: By the way... your face looks very tired... why?
Razin: ...Hmm... maybe because I spent all last night thinking about what I did and how to apologize to you.
Verina felt a little relieved by his words.
Verina: ...I'm sorry... but you really didn't disappoint me.
Razin smiled at her.
Verina: Sometimes I feel like you're just a child.
Razin: Hmm... aren't we children already?
Verina, annoyed: No... we're special kids... kids of this school.
Razin: I don't think there's much difference then.
Verina: That's because you act like a mere child... you idiot.
They started walking.
Razin thought: Will our friendship stay like this, I wonder?
He looked at Verina.
Razin: By the way... how's your core activation coming along?
Verina: I feel optimistic... I can do it... I feel progress... all I do is focus on what's inside my body... I feel confident I can do it... all I need now is to increase my concentration.
Razin: Hmm... you're amazing... I still don't feel I'm making progress... I think you'll activate your core before I activate mine.
Verina: Thank you! But it doesn't matter who does it first. The important thing is that we activate it within the month we have... and I definitely have great confidence you'll do it too.
Razin smiled: Yes... I'm excited now... not scared at all.
Verina: I feel I never regret choosing you as my friend... you're really a good person.
Razin: Yes... I feel the same way too.
Verina: But don't get arrogant, idiot... you're my student.
Razin laughed: Yes, that's true.
Verina: Also... although you're still an idiot... you've started to improve... your manner is getting better... that makes me happy.
Razin, happy and excited: Really?!
Verina smiled: Yes.
Razin: Thank you... it's thanks to you!
Verina: Now... how about you go and take a short break... your face really looks tired.
Razin: That's true... I will then... thank you! See you.
Verina smiled: See you...
They parted ways.
Razin went to rest in his room.
Verina went to think about activating her energy core.
Time passed.
Razin took a nap.
Verina sat quietly in her room in deep meditation and focus.
Verina thought: The heart contracts and relaxes once every 0.8 seconds... my goal now is to delay the heart's relaxation for an additional second... if I manage to do this today, it will be a great success.
Verina entered a state of extreme concentration, trying to ignore everything around her, focusing inside. She imagined her heart contracting and relaxing in front of her. She controlled her breathing—inhale, exhale.
She focused intensely on the heart's contraction and relaxation, trying to control her heart for a moment.
Verina: I will make it stay contracted for one full second before it relaxes... that's my goal.
She concentrated fully. The atmosphere was calm and silent around her.
She waited for the right moment to control her heart. Her focus was very high now.
...
Sound of heartbeat — contraction... relaxation... contraction... relaxation... contraction...
Verina: Now...
Her heart stopped contracting for a full second before relaxing again.
Verina exited her concentration.
Verina: That's painful!! But... I did it!!
Verina was very happy with her achievement: I did it! I did it! I did it! I'm the best!!
This was a great achievement for Verina... the first step toward activating her core.
Verina: With this progress... I think I can activate my core within a week... that's really great.
Verina: I trust Razin too... I'm sure he won't have trouble doing it.
Verina: Well... that's enough for today... I will go to sleep now.
On the other side...
Razin woke from his nap.
Razin: Damn... it's already night! What should I do? I overslept.
Razin: Hmm... about five hours left before school... but I don't feel like sleeping anymore.
An idea came to Razin.
Razin: I'll try training a bit to sharpen my concentration...
He sat quietly in the early dawn's calm.
He focused, imagining his body's arteries based on the teacher's description.
Razin breathed quietly...
He imagined his heart, energy core, and core artery.
Silence...
Razin's concentration was suddenly broken: I don't even know where to start... I should plan my training before I begin.
Razin: Should I focus on my heartbeat? Or on stopping my blood? Or on my core artery? Do I need to do something specifically with the core artery before I start heart and blood exercises? I don't know... I'll ask the teacher today.
Razin: But on the bright side... I think my control over my concentration and calmness is improving... that's a good sign... I have a whole month so no need to rush.
Razin ate a light snack and went back to sleep a little.
Hours passed.
Razin woke up.
He performed his morning routine.
Razin: Okay... a new day... I hope it will be a good one like yesterday!