Luxy stared at Ren with wide eyes, her angel wings fluttering slightly in the dim light of the academy's hidden alcove. They were alone, away from prying eyes, but the tension in the air was thick. "I'm really surprised things didn't go as you planned," she said, her voice a mix of relief and concern. "It was really dangerous, Ren. You could've been caught by anyone—teachers, students, or worse. But... it's like some kind of special luck saved you."
Ren leaned against the wall, scratching his head with a puzzled frown. "Yeah, it's weird. I'm pretty sure everything went okay by luck, but it was Meiling's ability that mostly saved me. I even got to see a side of Meiling that I didn't expect—she was all flustered and vulnerable. But... why did she tell me that last line? You know, the one about not talking to her anymore? That came out of nowhere. If only I had something I could use to see how well I am doing with these girls."
Luxy averted her gaze, her face changing from normal to rather anxious looking. She fiddled with the hem of her dress, which shimmered like starlight. "I... I think I have...no! never mind!"
Ren pondered her words, his mind racing. *She's hiding something,* he thought. *But I need to know if this worked.* Aloud, he asked, "Is there a way for me to see if this seduction is complete or not? Like, some kind of check?"
Luxy paused, thinking for a minute. Her expression grew serious as she nodded slowly. "There's a way."
Ren blinked in surprise. "Why didn't you say that from the beginning?"
Her face hardened, showing a rare seriousness that made Ren straighten up. "Because it's still not there with you. But... I can give it to you."
"So, what's the problem?" Ren pressed, crossing his arms.
Luxy hesitated, biting her lip. She glanced around as if afraid someone might overhear, even in their secluded spot. Finally, after a long moment of silence, she sighed. "Doing this will make one of my angel wings disappear. I'm literally going to give my power to you. I could sacrifice one of my wings so you could have your wish."
Ren's eyes widened, staring at her delicate wings that glowed faintly. "Are you willing to do that? What are the consequences?"
She looked down, her voice soft but resolute. "I won't be able to hide anymore. I'll have to live like a half-mortal with you all. My full angelic form... it'll be gone, at least partially."
Ren's heart sank. "Now that's a problem. Luxy, I can't ask you to do that. It's too much."
But as he spoke, his eyes caught movement at the end of the hallway. Meiling was walking toward the classroom, her steps confident and her expression as cold as ever. Unlike what he'd expected after their intense encounter, she looked unchanged—uninterested, even. She didn't spare him a glance, her long hair swaying as she passed by without a word.
*What the...?* Ren thought, his stomach twisting. *Did it not work at all? Or is she just hiding it?*
Before he could dwell on it, Kaito and Greg sauntered over, their faces lit up with mischievous grins. They were his classmates, always in on the latest gossip, and they'd been the ones giving him "advice" on girls earlier.
"Hey, Ren!" Kaito said, slapping him on the back. "How'd things go with that girl you wanted to get attention from? Spill the details, man. Did our tips work?"
Greg chuckled, leaning in. "Yeah, come on. Was she swooning? Or did you crash and burn?"
Meiling, who had just entered the classroom door nearby, paused slightly. Ren caught it—she was overhearing. He gave her a quick glance, noticing the subtle tilt of her head. *She's interested?* Playing it cool, he smirked at his friends. "Looks like she's not interested in that friend of mine I wanted those advices for. You know, the one I was talking about."
Kaito and Greg exchanged disappointed looks, their shoulders slumping. "That's sad," Kaito muttered, shaking his head. "Man, that woman has no taste at all."
Greg nodded vigorously. "Totally. If she's passing on a guy like your 'friend,' she's missing out big time. Alright, catch you later—we gotta grab our seats before Ms. Jenny starts yelling."
They wandered off, leaving Ren to slip into the classroom. He took his usual spot, his mind buzzing. As the bell rang, Ms. Jenny strode in, her clipboard in hand and her glasses perched on her nose. The class quieted down, but Ren's ears perked up as she began the lesson.
"Alright, everyone, settle in," Ms. Jenny said, her voice firm but enthusiastic. "Since you're all in your awakening stages, the academy has discussed with the Adventurers' Guild and decided to enroll suitable students with them. The guilds themselves requested it, especially with the appearance of the new dungeon—as you all saw on your televisions. This is a big opportunity for hands-on experience."
Whispers rippled through the class. Meiling sat up straighter, a knowing look tugging at her lips. *She already knows which guild she'll be working for,* Ren thought, glancing at her. Sure enough, Ms. Jenny called out a few names. "Meiling, you've been recommended to the Guild Sirius Guild. And a few others—Lila, to the Black Moondrop; Sara, to the Valkyria Fangs and few others to rest. The instructors handpicked you based on your skills."
The named girls stood up briefly, acknowledging the class with nods. Kaito, sitting next to Ren, leaned over and whispered, "Hey, isn't your sister in Valkyria Fang? That's one of the top guilds, right?"
Ren nodded, his thoughts drifting to his elder sister, Kyouka. *Yeah, she is. But she's been making things rather awkward lately.* He remembered her recent visits home, where she'd casually drop lines like, "Next month, you need to do a semen extraction again. Don't forget—it's important for your health." It was said so matter-of-factly, like it was no big deal, but Ren could tell she was looking forward to it in some weird way. *Why does she have to phrase it like that? Is she attracted to me? I really need to find out.*
Ms. Jenny wrapped up her announcement. "That's it for now, class. We'll have more details soon. Does anyone have questions?"
The room was silent for a beat. Then, impulsively, Ren shot to his feet. His heart pounded, but he couldn't hold it back anymore. "I... I'm an awakener," he muttered, loud enough for the whole class to hear.
Gasps echoed around the room. Heads turned, eyes wide with shock. Meiling's uninterested facade cracked—she stared at him, her mouth slightly open in surprise. Ms. Jenny froze, her clipboard slipping from her fingers. "What did you just say, Ren?"
Ren swallowed hard, feeling the weight of every stare. "I said I'm an awakener. I've... I've awakened my powers."