Razin: Okay... a new day... I hope it will be good!
Razin left his room and started walking toward the meeting building.
On the way, he met Colin.
Razin: Hey... how are you?
Colin: I'm fine... you? Did you solve your problem with your friend?
Razin: Y-yes... it wasn't really a problem... just a misunderstanding and a mistake on my part.
Colin: Well, that's good then. It's better you both resolved it.
Razin smiled: Yes.
Colin: So... how is your training on activating the core? Have you made any progress?
Razin: ...Not much... actually I haven't tried much... but I trust I will activate it... today I will ask the teacher more about what I should do to start real training.
Colin: Okay... good luck then.
Razin: See you... I don't want to be late for the meeting.
Colin: See you.
Colin (to himself): This is the first time he says "see you" when he leaves... seems like he's learning how to behave.
As Razin headed to the meeting room, he saw Verina walking as well.
Razin: Hey! Verina.
Verina looked at him and smiled: Hello!
Razin ran to stand beside her and they continued walking.
Razin: How are you?
Verina: I'm fine... I've started making noticeable progress in activating my core.
Razin: Hmm... that's good... so far I still don't know how to start... I'll ask the teacher about it in today's meeting.
They entered the hall.
Strangely, whispers began spreading among the students around them.
"Here come the lovebirds."
"Those two really like each other, right?"
"Why did they come together? They'd be better off alone."
Razin and Verina kept walking until they reached their seats.
Razin didn't think much about the whispers, but when he wanted to speak, Verina turned to him.
Razin: Veri—
He found Verina very angry because of the rumors around them — false rumors that damaged her reputation and annoyed her, since neither she nor Razin liked each other that way. It was harming their relationship.
Razin: Calm down, please... we'll solve this problem after the meeting, okay?
Razin said this even though he wasn't really bothered—not because he believed the rumors, but because he was simple and didn't care about such things.
Verina, angrily: Whoever spread this rumor, I won't forgive them! We have to find them and punish them.
Razin, shocked: Yes... if it upset you, I want to take revenge too.
Verina: Thank you... now let's focus on the meeting.
Teacher: Students... do you feel you've made any progress today in activating your cores?
Teacher: I know it's early, but just as a precaution.
Creek (a student): Yesterday I tried to calm my heartbeat and focus. This is what I reached.
Teacher: That's very good... well done... you're on the right track.
Lance (a student): I also sat in meditation for half an hour to clear my mind.
Teacher: Very good... you're on the right path.
Students started sharing their achievements over these two days.
Teacher: You're all doing well... well done.
Verina raised her hand.
Everyone looked at her.
Most of the class disliked her because of the rumors.
Teacher: Go ahead.
Verina: Yesterday, I tried to control my heart as a prelude to activating the core... I stopped the contraction and relaxation for a full second.
Teacher was impressed: Really? That's amazing and excellent! You managed to control your heart within just a few days? That's very impressive. Usually this step takes about a week and a half... well done... you're really special, Verina.
Creek, Lance, and other students became jealous of Verina's achievement.
Creek: How did you do that? Aren't you busy with your boyfriend Razin?
Lance agreed with the others.
Verina got angry: Shut up! You don't understand anything... you're just jealous of my achievement.
Teacher: Stop it, students! Creek... keep silent. This behavior is inappropriate here. You will be punished for this.
Creek: Whatever.
Razin stayed silent... didn't react to what this guy said.
Verina got angry at Razin: Why didn't you defend yourself? He insulted you too... don't let them do that!
Razin: But... what does it matter what people say? Isn't it enough that I know my truth?
Verina, angry, lightly slapped Razin's face: No, you idiot... you don't understand at all.
Razin: Sorry... but I also won't forgive them because they upset you... and that bothers me... but... after the meeting, it will be better.
Verina sighed inwardly: This idiot... his view on the situation is really twisted.
Teacher: So... what about the school's most precise student? How's your progress? I expect a lot from you.
Razin, nervous: Actually... I haven't achieved anything yet... just a little meditation yesterday.
Teacher, upset: Really? That's a bit unfortunate... but it's okay... you still have time.
Razin: But... I wanted to ask you today about... how to start... how do I begin? Can you help?
Teacher: Of course... no problem.
Teacher: Listen, everyone... this will benefit you all.
Meanwhile...
There was a boy named Finn sitting behind Razin and Verina.
He was bothering and teasing them.
Finn: You two lovebirds are shining... keep it up, strong ones.
Finn: But Verina... don't you think this guy is an idiot to be your boyfriend?
Verina was very angry but kept silent.
Razin was annoyed by everyone's behavior but didn't want to cause trouble.
Teacher: To start... focus on what your colleague Verina did.
Everyone was unhappy because they had to do what Verina did.
Teacher: Try lightly controlling your heart for a short time... like Verina did by stopping the expansion or contraction. Don't overdo it because it can be very harmful to the body, but just enough to test your control.
Teacher: After mastering this initial step, start focusing on controlling the blood flow. Use your imagination of your body's structure and the network of arteries you visualize in your mind to direct blood flow to a specific artery and block it from another. This is useful later when you decide to flow blood toward the core artery.
Teacher: Repeat these steps for a while until you get used to them.
Teacher: After you get used to it, we'll move to the next step.
Teacher: Here, you will try to reduce the amount of blood near the heart... not in a very dangerous way because any mistake could be fatal. So just lightly... to get your body used to the bigger attempt.
Teacher: After getting used to this... try to gain more awareness of the core artery. This artery is inactive... it doesn't naturally get blood pumped to it.
Teacher: So... trying to pump blood to it will be much harder than other arteries... it requires very high concentration and great calmness... of course, how easy these steps and the core activation are depends on how well you study and understand your body. Without a good understanding of the body's structure, this will be much harder... if not impossible.
Razin: That's a lot... but... honestly, I'm not very scared anymore... I think I can do it... I exaggerated when I learned there was a chance of death.
Most students were generally hesitant and fearful... which is natural.
Razin wasn't scared because he trusted himself... didn't want to disappoint his father... and was calm.
Verina was a bit nervous, but her actual progress made her more comfortable than others.
Teacher: I'll repeat again to emphasize... whoever fears death and lacks strong confidence in their mind and abilities... better to leave the school. Your life is not something cheap to waste just to become strong. Also... don't overdo every step you take... if you overdo, it will become very dangerous. Do everything in balance.
---Heartbeat sound---
Razin breathed and maintained his focus: inhale... exhale... inhale... exhale.
Razin closed his eyes and calmed down... as if isolated from everything around him.
Verina looked at him, surprised at what he was doing.
After a while of concentration... Razin opened his eyes.
Razin, determined: I can do it!
Verina, amazed at Razin's determination:
Verina: Razin..! You're amazing.
Razin smiled innocently: Thank you... you're amazing too.
Whispers rose around them: These two lovers just keep praising each other all the time... it's annoying.
Verina's mood flipped because of the comments.
Verina: When will this meeting end already!
Teacher: As a closing remark, I want to say... core activation usually takes about three weeks on average... so don't worry... you're not late or anything... put in effort without exaggeration.
Class: Yes... thank you, teacher.
Teacher: When you activate your core... things will be more exciting... we'll train you... you'll have training fights... everything... so put in effort.
Fearful looks turned into moments of enthusiasm... then back to normal... because this is about their lives.
Teacher: So... now you may leave... our meeting for today is over.
Everyone started leaving.
Verina and Razin left together, with whispers around them:
"There go the lovebirds again, why do they even love each other?"
Verina got angry and Razin annoyed.
They left the hall and stopped a little outside the building.
Verina: Now... we have things to deal with... someone spread that we're romantically involved... that's disgusting... and very annoying.
Razin: Yes... although I don't see the problem... as long as you and I don't believe that.
Verina: Good thing you reminded me, idiot... focus... don't think it's better to ignore what people say. No, care what they say about you. This is your reputation to everyone. If they say something bad, you have to defend yourself and prove them wrong. I know you shouldn't give too much attention to people's words... but when it reaches this level... you have to respond... your reputation is very important... don't be an idiot thinking only your own opinion about yourself matters.
Razin: Calm down a bit... okay, I understand what you mean.
Verina: Good... that's why... we have to find who spread this rumor and punish them... and you will work with me on this.
Razin: Agreed!
Verina: Good.
Razin (thinking): So... I have to act... in a way that pleases people too, not just what pleases me... Is this why there's a difference in style between daily life and formal places? To improve how people see you?
Verina: Razin... Razin... Razin! (raising her voice)
Razin snapped out of his thoughts.
Verina: What are you thinking about, you idiot?
Razin: Nothing... just thinking about what you told me a little while ago.
Verina: Hmm... okay...
Verina: Razin... I want you to get angry... I want you to be annoyed by them... anyone who speaks badly about you and spreads rumors is a bad person... get mad at them.
Razin: Okay, you already told me and I understand.
Verina: Do you promise to stay like this? To never forgive those who damage your reputation in front of everyone?
Razin: Yes, I promise!
Verina smiled: Then... let's think about how to find this person.
They started walking, and while walking, Razin noticed a paper posted on one of the poles by the road.
Razin: Verina! Come here... look what I found.
Verina: What?
Razin handed her the paper.
Verina's expression changed and she became very angry.
Verina: What kind of idiot writes a whole paper spreading that we love each other? And not just love... but trying to ruin our reputations to the fullest?
Razin: Why would someone do that?
Verina: Because people are jealous... they're jealous that we're the most capable in the first year.
Razin: Hmm... I don't feel it's worth the jealousy... it's just precision.
Verina: No, you idiot... it's very important... but now... we have to find out who wrote this paper... this is very annoying... and it's spreading a lot.
Someone from afar was talking to his friend: They are the love couple of the first year...
Verina was very annoyed by what people were saying.
Razin: So... what's the plan?
Verina: Shut up a little, I'm already thinking.
Razin, curious: Hmm...
Verina: I got it! ...Let's keep this paper with us... and ask people to write a certain word on it... and whoever writes it will be the one who wrote the original paper.
Razin, surprised: Hmm... don't you think people will complain if the love couple asks them to do that?
Verina realized this and understood how silly her idea was: ...Ah yes... what stupidity.
Razin smiled: So... what do you think about letting Colin do it?
Verina: Colin?... You mean your friend?
Razin: If you want to consider him that, yes.
Verina: That's a good idea... but we have to convince Colin first.
Razin: He will agree... don't worry.
Verina: Okay then... let's go find Colin.
Razin: Yes!