"You are really something." The curly blonde Ascendant turned to look at her with a small smile playing on his lips. "I mean, I'll give you some acolytes for the courage, but don't think that the heir of the Velmire faction is all talk just because he likes to come off as a playboy. Ezrik Veyne is dangerous. And you've been provoking him quite frequently."
Willow raised a brow and tilted her head to the side. She already knew Ezrik was dangerous, but… "And why are you telling me this? Didn't you already put me in more trouble with him?"
"Actually, I saved you by taking the vial and destroying the tracker on the suitcase," the Ascendant corrected, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. "Did you think he was going to leave the Cyro cells he won in an auction without any form of security?"
Willow's eyes widened. "What? You even know he got it from an auction? I mean, I know because I was actually looking for it, but how do you know? Are you here for it too?"
"What?" He blinked, genuine confusion softening his features. His brows drew together as he stood a little taller. "I'm only here to learn."
Willow sighed, shaking her head. Of course, he was an Ascendant. What was she expecting? For him to be a poor weird stalker? "Who exactly are you? Can you at least tell me your name?" she asked.
"I'm Evren Veyl. And yours?" He smiled brightly, a smile that actually reached his eyes, which Willow found unsettling.
"Willow," she muttered, eyeing him warily.
"Nice to meet you, Willow." Evren nodded, still smiling. "Though I already know your name, I just asked because I probably already look like a creep to you."
"'Probably' is a strong and unnecessary word. You are already a creep to me. And a stalker too." Willow crossed her arms on her chest, but Evren's expression didn't even twitch. He just smiled, completely unfazed.
He was definitely a creep. But all she cared about right now was the vial. The sooner she got her abilities, the better. "Okay, fine. Shall we make a compromise? You can keep it. But I just need a little bit of the content.. just a little."
A smirk curled Evren's lips, his dimples appearing slowly. "I was right about you," he whispered.
Willow stared at him in disbelief. "What? You were right about me? What do you even know about me?"
Evren chuckled, leaning against the window, the cold wind blowing his curls gently. "You sneaked into Ezrik's room on the first day of resumption, ran into Navian Grimm, and you were somehow able to convince Navian not only to keep quiet, but to even protect you. So yes, I was right about you."
"How do you know all this?" Willow's voice sharpened. The amount of information he had on her was horrifying.
Evren just laughed softly. She squinted at him. "What are you? An information dealer? Or just a creepy stalker?"
"No. I'm just someone who somehow happens to know everything that happens around here," he replied with no sign of pride at all. It was like it was a completely normal thing to him but it wasn't.
Willow eyed him warily, stuffing her hands into her hoodie pocket. "Okay… so where's Ezrik right now?"
"In his room, waiting to get the restored video footage of you stealing from him," Evren said casually.
"Heh…" Willow laughed nervously. "You seem to have accurate information. But why did you want to see me? You've already taken the vial. Even if you don't need it, you could've tossed it away.. though please don't. That's just a thought."
Evren pulled the vial out of his pocket, holding it up between his fingers. "I don't need the vial," he said. "I was just saving you. Here, take it."
Willow froze, blinking rapidly as her brain processed his words. "I should just… take it? Really? Just like that?"
Evren cocked his head like he was thinking about it, then he just nodded. "Yes."
Willow narrowed her eyes and stepped forward cautiously. "Are you sure? There are no conditions? Nothing? Really?"
Just as she was about to take it, he withdrew the vial. "Oh yes. The conditions. Forgive me, I forgot about that."
"What the..." Willow stared at her hanging hand, disappointment twisting her face. Was he doing this just to provoke her? What on earth was his problem?!
When she looked up, he was smiling cheekily, his dimples in full display completely at odds with his words.
Her jaw clenched. She screamed in her head, Bloody hell! Do they actually admit normal students in this school?
Evren studied the vial in his hand. "The color looks strange… You mixed it with something already."
Willow swallowed hard. She really had to be more careful. She had underestimated Nexus Academy's students, especially the Ascendants. And now she'd caught the attention of three of them.
"Did you?" Evren asked, curiosity swirling in his bright blue eyes.
"Is that your condition? To know if I mixed it with something? Because I'll answer that," Willow said sternly.
Evren shook his head with a smile. "No."
Willow nodded stiffly. "Okay then. What's the condition?"
"It's just one, don't worry."
"Oh?" Willow almost laughed. Don't worry, coming from him, was the most worrying thing she'd ever heard. One condition from an Ascendant could be worse than ten.
"Okay then," she breathed. She felt like she could have just answered the mixing question, but it seemed like he already had something more in mind, which meant that even if she answered that as the condition, he wouldn't let her go. "What is it?"
Evren slid the vial back into his pocket. "Tell me what you want to use it for… and then you can have it."