Colin: What? You want me to check people's handwriting?
Verina: Only the students from our classroom. This rumor definitely came from one of us... because of the idiot standing next to me.
Razin: I'm not an idiot!
Verina: You are. But I'll admit, your level of idiocy is decreasing day by day. Well done.
Colin: So? How am I supposed to do this?
Razin: Hmm...
Verina: I haven't thought about that part yet.
Razin suddenly gets an idea: What if we organize a handwriting contest? The person with the best handwriting wins a prize. That way, we can lure everyone to write.
Verina: That's brilliant! Well done, Razin!
Colin: But... where are we going to get the money? You think we're rich?
Razin (nonchalantly): Verina will pay. She's rich.
Verina: ...Hey..? What?
Verina gets angry and yells: What?! Are you using me, you idiot?!
Razin (calmly): No... but I wasn't lying.
Verina lightly hits him on the head: You idiot... even if I'm rich, who said I'd waste my money like that?
Razin: Ow!
Colin: Calm down, both of you. Let's try to find another solution...
Verina: No. I've decided. I'll pay. But Razin, you idiot, don't think I'm that rich. I only have a little.
Razin: Okay, I believe you.
Colin (to himself): Liar!
Verina: So? What will the prize be?
Razin: Hmm... I haven't thought of that yet.
Colin: Razin, have you ever explored the city?
Razin (confused): Huh? What does that have to do with anything... No, I haven't left the school walls since I got here.
Verina: Really? You haven't explored the city? Idiot.
Colin: Then, how about you two go out... Let Razin get to know the city. And while you're out, you can choose a prize from one of the shops.
Verina (excited): That's a great idea! What do you say, Razin? I'll give you a tour of the city.
Razin (not excited): Sure. I don't mind.
Verina: Good. Then let's leave now... before you start overthinking.
Verina: What about you, Colin? Aren't you coming?
Colin: I'm a bit busy... I'll prepare for the contest and get the papers and pens.
Verina (suspicious): Hmm... Fine then. See you later. Come on, Razin, follow me.
Razin: I'm coming.
Colin (to himself): I don't think I really fit in with them... I'll probably just make things more awkward.
Razin and Verina left the school — it was Razin's first time out in the city.
Razin: I didn't notice this when I arrived, but... the city is actually really beautiful.
Verina: Yes, yes. Follow me, I'll show you around!
Verina began guiding him through the city, explaining each place and its purpose.
Verina (looking at a shop): This is called the currency exchange. You can trade one type of coin for another. For example, one gold coin equals 45 silver ones. A diamond coin equals 45 gold coins... but only rich people carry those.
Razin: Hmm. So what can I buy with one silver coin?
Verina: Not much. Just small things like candies and such.
Verina: But if you add more silver coins, you can buy food with varying prices. The average is 5 silver coins for a decent meal... just like at our school.
Razin: Right... what about gold coins?
Verina: Gold is for bigger things. You can buy clothes or medium-quality weapons. You can even buy a carriage if you collect around 30 gold coins — but that's not easy.
Razin: Interesting...
As they walked, people in the streets greeted Verina — clearly, she was known.
Verina: Diamond coins aren't very common, but they're used to buy houses or very large things.
Razin: Hmm, I see... But how can I earn money properly?
Verina: There are many ways. You can do part-time jobs and get rewarded. Or you can get a permanent job like being a teacher. And if you're a skilled technique user or swordsman, you can earn money by taking on missions or adventures.
Razin (excited): That's exciting... I want to become an adventurer!
Verina: Don't get ahead of yourself. First, we need to activate our cores, idiot.
Razin: I'm not an idiot...
They continued walking through the city.
Verina: We need to choose a gift from some shop... it should be valuable so everyone wants to participate.
Razin: Yeah.
They walked more as Verina kept pointing out places and explaining them.
Eventually, they reached a massive building.
Razin: Whoa... what's this giant building?
Verina: That? That's my home... the Alethiar family palace.
Razin: That's your house? I wasn't wrong calling you rich...
Verina: Don't think it's all mine, you idiot... every Elythiar lives here.
Razin: Well, I don't live here...
Verina: Except you.
Verina (smiling): If you want, I'll give you a tour of the palace later and introduce you to the family. What do you think?
Razin: That's exciting! Deal!
Verina: Alright then...
[Heartbeat sound]
Razin felt as if rain suddenly poured on him — he looked up.
Razin: Huh? I thought it rained...
Verina: Don't be an idiot, it doesn't rain this time of year.
Razin: Hmm... yeah, maybe you're right.
Verina: Now we have to decide on the gift... we're running late.
They kept walking, looking left and right... Razin was enjoying the city views, but his focus was on finding a proper prize.
They wandered through alleyways, walked by shops, and chatted — until Razin finally got an idea.
Razin: ...I got it!
Verina (looking at him): What?
Razin (miming a sword): What if we buy a sword?
Verina: Idiot. We can't buy a sword ourselves unless we finish our school training or have an adult with us. It's illegal.
Razin (disappointed): But we're technique school students... we need swords!
Verina: The school has practice swords.
Razin: Hmm... no ideas, then.
Verina: How about we just buy some expensive candy? Everyone loves candy... and everyone loves expensive things. What do you think?
Razin (excited): Yeah, yeah! Great idea.
They reached a candy shop.
Razin: Hmm... what should we pick?
Verina: No need to overthink it. Let's just ask the man for his most expensive candy.
Razin: Yeah, okay...
Verina's expression turned sly: Surprise test!
Razin (nervous): Huh?! You're scary...
Verina: You'll be the one asking the man. Show me what you've learned from your time with me.
Razin (nervous): ...Okay...
He went to the shopkeeper.
Razin: S-sir... could you tell me what your most expensive candy is... please?
Shopkeeper: Of course. Follow me.
The two followed the man deeper into the shop.
Verina (surprised): Wow... you've really improved. Good job... for an idiot.
Razin: I'm not an idiot! Thank you...
The shopkeeper stopped.
Shopkeeper: This... is my most expensive candy. But why would a kid want something like this? Do you have the money?
He held a large candy wrapped in gold foil.
Razin (nervous): Y-yes, yes...
The man glanced at the person with Razin.
Shopkeeper: Oh... now I get it. Hello, Verina.
Verina: Hello, sir!
Shopkeeper: That'll be 30 silver coins.
Both of them froze in shock.
Verina (to herself): That's way too much! For candy...
She handed over the coins.
Verina: Thank you...
Shopkeeper: Have a good day.
They left the shop and returned to the school.
Verina: Where would Colin be now?
Razin: I don't know... I don't know his room number. I just see him randomly on the street... let's walk around, maybe we'll run into him.
Verina: Sure.
They found Colin shortly after.
Colin: So this is the prize?
Verina: Yep. Now let's plan... we'll do it tomorrow.
Colin: I'm ready. I've got paper, pens... and the original handwriting sample to compare.
Verina: Good. Tomorrow at 9 a.m., I want you near the meeting room. When students come out, they'll notice you and participate. If you find the person, just tell me. Bring them to me or just point them out — up to you.
Razin: You've planned everything... you're amazing, Verina.
Verina (smiling): Yeah, maybe...
Colin: Alright then... I'll follow the plan. See you tomorrow.
Verina: Yes. See you.
The three of them went back to their rooms to continue their day as usual.
Verina (in her room): Whoever did this... tomorrow... I'll catch you.
Razin (in his room): Now... I'll begin the serious phase of activating my core!
Verina: I'll continue my progress... yesterday I controlled my heart. Today, I'll control my blood flow... but I won't overdo it. I'll guide my blood to one artery just for a second.
Razin: So... I'll do what the teacher said. I'll control my heartbeat for a short while... just like Verina did.
Razin: Thinking about it... Verina managed to control her heart so early... that's really impressive. She's a fast learner.
Razin: Okay... time to try.
Verina started... the atmosphere was calm. Nothing filled her thoughts except her arteries and blood. In her mind, Verina saw only red and black... and all she could hear was the flow of red inside her.
She was calm, focused... meditating on the structure of her body — her arteries, her blood flow... her goal: to make blood flow, just briefly, into a place it shouldn't naturally go.
She maintained control... staying calm.
Then suddenly, it was like a storm struck her red rivers — the blood in one artery surged more than it should. That was Verina's goal.
But she didn't break her focus.
Pain appeared on her face — this wasn't supposed to happen.
Still focused, she tried again... wanting to repeat the process in a different place to prove her control.
After more concentration and enduring the pain from the last attempt, it happened again... another artery in the center of her body flooded unnaturally. Verina started losing focus from fear... and pain...
She collapsed suddenly, breathing heavily in pain.
Verina: This hurts... and it's exhausting... but... I did it again! I'm progressing fast! Not much left to activate my core!! I did it... throws up in the middle of her words
Meanwhile, in Razin's room:
Razin was focused. In his imagination, he saw his heart... contracting, relaxing... His goal was to control that... just for one second.
His room was silent... not a breath in the air... His concentration peaked... but...
...Razin failed. He couldn't do it.
He stopped and felt disappointed.
Razin: I tried for a full ten minutes... and still couldn't do it. I think I need to study my body more... I guess that's normal, but I really wanted to achieve it fast like Verina!
Razin: ...This is disappointing... I need to focus more on studying my body. Yeah...
Razin: But that's enough for today. I'll continue tomorrow...
He lay down on his bed...
At the same time, Verina also lay down on hers.
One of them was in pain... but smiling from progress.
The other — calm... but overwhelmed with disappointment.
Tark (another student): This is great! I'm making progress!