Razin wakes up… and begins a new day.
Razin: Alright… today is the day I'll learn the truth… I'm excited… and I think Verina is even more excited than I am.
He begins getting ready to head to the meeting.
---
Elsewhere…
Tark: Alright… everything's perfect… today the teacher will praise my achievement!!… and everyone will applaud me.
Tark: Father… I won't disappoint you… I'll come back for you and I'll save our family…
---
Razin leaves his room and heads toward the meeting building… and on his way, he runs into Verina, who's walking too.
Razin: Verina!
She turns toward him as she walks.
Verina (smiling): Oh, Razin… hello!
Razin (walking beside her): How are you? Are you okay?
Verina: Ah… yes. And you?
Razin (smiling): I'm fine too!
Verina: So… did you try training yesterday?
Razin (face showing frustration): Yes…
Verina (curious): What's wrong? Was it difficult?
Razin lowers his head to the ground.
Razin: I tried practicing heart control like the teacher said… but after many attempts… I didn't succeed… I couldn't control it… this is my second failure in a row.
Verina: Don't be upset, idiot… we haven't even been at school for a full week… and the teacher said during the orientation that this usually takes a week and a half to master.
Razin (tearing up): But you… you mastered it in three days or less… and I still can't.
Verina (upset): Do we really have to compare?… Maybe I was just lucky.
Razin: No… you're talented… it's not luck.
Verina: Listen… it doesn't matter what happened with me. Everyone learns differently… and it's completely normal for the timing to vary… like I told you, maybe I was just lucky. What matters now is that you finish it by next week.
Razin (wiping his tears): …Maybe I need to focus more on studying my body… I think that's the issue.
Verina: That's good then… that's the simplest kind of problem… so all you need is time.
Razin: Yeah… thank you… I'll do my best.
Razin: So… what about you? Did you make more progress?..
Verina (thinking): I don't know… should I tell him about my new progress?… or will he end up comparing himself again and slow down?… But I don't want to hide things from him either… he's my friend.
Razin: Verina! (waves his hand in front of her)
Verina: Umm… sorry, I got lost in thought.
Razin: So?
Verina (smiling): I won't tell you anything about my progress… it'll be a surprise!
Razin: Hmm… that's fine then.
---
As they walk…
Tark comes out of his room.
On his way to the main building… his mind is elsewhere.
Tark: Father…
He bumps into someone.
Tark: I'm sorry, I didn't mea—
He opens his eyes.
Tark: You two… Razin and Verina, right?
Verina: Yes. And you're Tark?
Tark: Yeah.
Verina: So what, are you here to ask something from the "lovebirds" or whatever?
Tark (nervous): No, no… I don't even believe you two are actually a couple.
Verina (surprised): Why?
Tark: I always sit in front of you guys… and I've never heard you speak like people in love. You're just friends.
Verina (relieved): Good… someone normal in this class.
Razin: So… do you need something, Tark?
They keep walking.
Tark: Aren't you going to do something about all this? It's unacceptable.
Verina: Don't worry… we're already dealing with it.
Tark (smiling): I'd like to help. If you need anything, just let me know.
Razin: Yeah… thanks. No need to rush. You can walk with us if you want.
Tark: Oh… thanks.
He walks alongside them.
Tark: I think everyone's just jealous of you two for having the highest accuracy in class… don't let it get to you.
Razin: Yeah, we're trying. Anyway, it'll all end soon… and everyone will know the truth.
Tark: So how's your training going?
Verina: We're both working hard.
Tark: Ah, of course… good luck to you both.
Verina: You too.
Tark: I want to master this quickly… so far, training is going great.
Verina: No need to rush… take your time.
Tark: I try… but I can't slow down.
Verina: Keep your spirit burning… your passion shows!
Tark (to himself): I wish… if only it were that simple…
---
They all walk into the hall.
Just like before, students start mocking Razin and Verina as the "lovebirds," all because of the rumor.
Until now, all their meetings since the intro to techniques have just been Q&A sessions… just for checking student progress.
All students are still in the first stage — controlling the heartbeat… only Verina has moved past it.
Teacher: So… any progress?
Most students just talk about their focus and efforts… no one has mastered heartbeat control yet… until—
Tark raises his hand.
Teacher: Go ahead, Tark.
Tark: Yesterday… I managed to control my heartbeat. After a lot of effort… I did it.
Applause breaks out across the class… everyone is shocked.
Teacher: That's amazing, Tark… well done… you've passed the step that usually takes the longest… great job.
A little later:
Teacher: So… what about Verina?
Verina: No progress so far.
Teacher: Hmm… no problem… what matters is that you passed the first stage.
Verina: Yes. Thank you.
Teacher: And what about our star?
Razin (thinking): Why does he keep calling me a star? It's annoying… I'm not a star… I'm someone who hasn't even passed the first stage… I think Tark and Verina are the real stars… I'm nothing compared to them.
Razin lowers his gaze… his face dull, filled with disappointment, lifeless.
Razin: Nothing… no progress.
The teacher notices how down Razin looks.
Teacher: That's fine… keep working hard.
Verina looks at Razin, shocked at his voice and expression…
Verina (thinking, stunned): T-this idiot… if he keeps acting like this… he'll never activate his core!
---
Despite everything… the bullying and rumors surrounding Razin and Verina just won't stop.
Time passes and the meeting ends… now their plan begins.
As students leave, they see Colin organizing a competition.
Colin: Join the contest and win candy worth 30 silver coins!
He repeats the call… and people rush over, all eager to try.
Colin: The rules are simple… just write a word. The one with the prettiest handwriting — in my opinion — wins!
He shouts energetically and people start trying.
One by one, everyone writes and joins in.
Everyone's in line — including Razin and Verina.
Colin: Alright, when everyone's done… I'll compare the handwriting to the original note… and I'll tell Razin and Verina.
Everyone participates… the line gets shorter… everyone's excited to see if they'll win.
Then, someone arrives wearing a cloak, covering their hair…
He writes.
Colin (shocked): T-this is it… it's the same handwriting from the note… I found the culprit! I'll tell Razin and Verina after this ends!
The event finishes… everyone wrote.
Everyone stands waiting to hear the winner.
Colin: So… the winner is…
Everyone's thrilled… each hoping to hear their name.
Colin: It's… Link!
Some cheer… some frown… reactions vary… but the real goal is discovering the one who spread the rumor.
Colin: Come, claim your prize.
Link, the cloaked boy, walks toward Colin… it was him.
He takes his prize.
Link: Thank you.
Colin: You're welcome… you deserved it.
---
Verina: Razin…
Razin: (silent, mind still stuck on failing to activate his core)
Verina (shouting): Razin! Focus with me!
Razin: Sorry… yes?
Verina: I'll scold you later for what you're thinking… right now… do you think Colin found the one who did it?
Razin: I don't know… maybe.
Verina: We shouldn't meet him now… I don't want anyone to see us.
Razin: Ahh…
---
Time passes… the place is now empty.
Razin and Verina are outside.
Razin: So when should we talk to Colin?
Verina: I think now's the right time… let's go find him.
---
An hour later
Verina: So… did you find the culprit?
Colin: Yes… it's Link.
Verina (angry): What?! You let the guy spreading rumors about me win the contest?!
Colin: He really had the best handwriting.
Verina (still angry)
Razin: So… Link is the one.
Razin: Verina… what do we do now? How do we solve this?
Verina: … We'll track him down… and threaten him… and make him confess to the whole class that he lied.
Razin (surprised): That's a harsh idea.
Verina (calm): My reputation is a red line… idiot.
Razin: Honestly… I don't mind… but what exactly will we threaten him with?
Verina: Hmm… we'll say if he doesn't confess, we'll tell the teacher and show the evidence… he might get punished, maybe even expelled.
Razin: Great idea.
Colin (internally, joking): These two kids are evil!
Razin: So… should we look for him now? Or leave it for tomorrow?
Verina: I doubt we'll find him now… let's leave it for tomorrow.
Verina: Tomorrow before the meeting, we'll wait for him… when he arrives, we'll pull him aside and confront him… and make him confess in front of everyone.
Razin: Alright, good plan.
Razin: So… I guess that's it for today.
Verina: Yeah.
Razin: See you later… I'm heading off.
Verina (without looking at him): Razin… don't fill your head with things that won't help you…
Razin is surprised… but keeps walking.
---
Everyone returns to their rooms… now it's training time.
Verina: Today, my goal… is to reduce the blood flowing to the heart as much as I can.
Verina: This is the most dangerous step… the one that sometimes causes death during core activation… so I won't take big risks… I'll reduce the blood, but not to the level needed for activation… I'll lower it just enough to make sure I don't die.
Verina steadies her breath… calms herself.
The room is silent… she's focused.
Verina closes her eyes… this time, her focus is split across multiple things… she wants to redirect the blood flow, so less blood reaches the heart… this training will help during the transfer of blood to the core artery… but she's doing a simplified version now.
No sound… only her breathing and focus.
In her mind…
She imagines every artery that leads to the heart… her goal is to stop the blood from reaching it beyond a certain level… her focus isn't at its max yet… one mistake in this could cost her her life.
Verina envisions her arteries…
She hesitates… but then makes a decision — she'll try!
The blood begins to destabilize because of her manipulation… its flow becomes uneven… it hurts… but Verina keeps going…
She tries to stay composed… all I have to do is reduce the blood to my heart for a short time…
Then suddenly—
Verina alters the flow… the blood flows out from the heart more, and she cuts off incoming blood to the heart too… all of this from her deep understanding of her veins and arteries.
This was her goal… now the blood inside her heart is reduced… but—
Heavy breathing… breathing… breathing… breathing… should I continue… or stop… continue… stop… continue… stop… the tension builds… breath… breath… breath… continue… stop… continue… stop…
Suddenly—
Everything stops.
Verina collapses onto her bed… silent.
---
Razin: …I failed again..