Leaning on her black cane and nearly dozing off against the doorframe, the white haired girl quickly drew the attention of everyone inside the martial arts hall.
Wow, where did this beauty come from? Is she in our class?
Didn't see her during military training. Maybe she is one of the professors' daughters.
I swear the gods were biased when creating humans.
Lyria was both exhausted and troubled.
Exhausted because she barely slept last night.
Troubled because her grandfather sent her to attend school so she could learn independence and basic social skills, but Miss Jiang knew only how to swing a sword.
All because of that guest earlier. Lyria recalled the day a certain visitor came to the Stormveil estate. Ever since then her grandfather sighed whenever he saw her, and shortly after he decided she needed social training in P City. The tasks during this period were apparently arranged specifically for her by both him and that guest.
After finishing the shop visiting task, she was meant to select a university within a set time frame, following the plan arranged between her grandfather and that person. She had to switch schools once a month, visiting three universities total and roughly fifteen swordsmanship classes.
The martial arts hall was a massive three hundred square meter training arena, taking up half the students' weekly curriculum. Everyone sat cross legged near the entrance.
It is her. Jace she is here.
Jace grabbed Maxwell's shaking wrist and whispered, She is blind, not me. I can see perfectly well.
If last night he was ninety five percent sure their meeting was just coincidence, now he was only sixty percent sure.
Stay calm. If she does nothing, I do nothing. Jace tried to comfort himself.
Leaving now would look far too suspicious. If she really had found out his identity, it would be impossible to explain.
An elderly man in a suit whispered something to the martial arts professor, who immediately nodded respectfully. The sleep deprived Lyria tapped her cane, searching for a seat.
Suddenly her ears twitched. She became slightly more awake.
That voice.
And whether by coincidence or fate, the empty spot she felt out happened to be beside Jace and Maxwell. She sat down next to them.
Jace squeezed out a painful whisper. Maxwell, when is Willa getting here? She is a girl. Have her take this spot instead of me.
Maxwell was drenched in sweat. How should I know she would show up? She never came home last night.
You useless idiot. Aren't you the one who has a crush on her? How do you not even know where she went?
Maxwell panicked. Wait what how did you know?!
Jace's mouth twitched. I only suspected it. Thanks for confirming.
Maxwell stared at him in speechless punctuation marks.
Back in high school, Jace had noticed something odd in the way Maxwell looked at someone, but he thought he was imagining it. Now the case was solved.
Jace snorted. No wonder you've been so gossipy lately. Turns out you have a crush and are too scared to act, so you keep projecting your nonsense onto me.
When a coward likes someone but is too afraid to confess, they tend to turn every conversation into gossip.
It really is him.
Lyria felt a small burst of joy.
It was the barista from the café. How lucky. Grandpa arranged someone I already wanted as a friend to appear right next to me.
But then she felt a little discouraged.
Why does he not seem happy to see me? Is it because I came here? We met just yesterday, yet he is pretending not to know me.
The sadness faded quickly. Yesterday's fatigue pulled her consciousness down, and her head began to bob as she drifted off.
All Grey Hat's fault. I could not sleep last night. I am so tired.
The embarrassing whisper made her cheeks flush even in her dreams. She had never lost sleep before. This was a first.
She had no idea her breathing was becoming slow and rhythmic.
Nor did she know that she was scaring the two guys beside her half to death.
Lost in half sleep and still thinking about how to get closer to Jace, Lyria's body kept tilting toward him.
So.
Jace stared down at the white haired elf who had curled up on his thigh and felt his soul leave his body.
Too much. This is too much. Why would you fall asleep like this?!
Maxwell quietly turned his head away and pretended he saw nothing.
Inside, he thought, I heard everything clearly. You are the reason she did not sleep. Do not drag me into this mess.
So Jace was forced to attend the entire first lecture like this.
The first university lesson was exactly what he expected, laying out common foundational knowledge.
The military instructor, who also served as their martial arts professor, Quill, began in a steady tone.
The five professional paths are martial artists, swordmasters, thieves, machinists, and espers. Despite their differences, the foundation of all paths is the breathing method, supported by combat arts.
Do you know why breathing methods are considered the core?
A student called out, Because increasing your level depends on breathing methods.
Quill shook his head. Not quite.
A girl answered, Because breathing methods shape the meridians. Once you train in anything beyond the basic breathing method, your meridians will change, and every combat art requires meridians suited to it.
What is your name?
Lilith.
Quill nodded. Lilith is correct. That is why high school instructors never allow students to learn advanced breathing methods. Ordinary people should not reshape their meridians before understanding their own strengths and weaknesses. Meanwhile elite family children begin shaping theirs at birth with advanced breathing methods that have far more advantages than flaws.
Jace agreed silently. Before exchanging for his current breathing method using the Grey Hat, the basic breathing method he had learned was awful. Even if he outperformed his peers, he was nowhere near as efficient as he was now with the Oneheart Breathing Method.
The old man said this method could greatly extend lifespan and refine the body toward perfection. It was essentially stealing from heaven.
Quill continued.
Breathing methods expand the internal reservoir that holds one's energy. This reservoir's size defines one's level. Level is the simplest measure of overall strength.
Of course, level does not equal absolute power. Within five levels, there should be no absolute suppression in theory.
Combat arts are simpler. Every professional usually studies one main combat art and one secondary art. High school rarely leaves time for secondary arts, but you can try them in university.
Main arts usually have ten moves or so, while secondary arts have three or four. Their purpose is to support your primary art or cover your weaknesses. For example, machinists often learn martial artist techniques to deal with close range combat.
Half the lesson passed and Quill finally got to the real purpose of the day.
Assessment.
Even prodigies needed proper evaluation so he could plan their training.
When I call your name, come up front and spar with me.
Quill tapped the ground with his wooden sword. Do not look so nervous. I am a level thirty swordmaster. Plenty of people wish for a chance to spar with me.
Classes are divided by profession. Whatever profession you registered for during the martial exam determined your placement.
Next, Lilith.
Here.
Jace remembered her. She was a local student like them and a former high school classmate.
He whispered to Maxwell, I remember my student number comes after hers, right?
Maxwell thought about it and nodded with malicious delight.
It was almost Jace's turn. Meanwhile Lyria was still fast asleep on his leg, drooling a little.
Next. Jace.
Silence.
After a moment, Quill frowned. Is Jace here?
Skipping the very first class. Bold.
I am here, professor. Jace raised his hand stiffly.
Then stop talking and come up. Let me see your ability.
Jace awkwardly pointed at his thigh.
For a moment the entire class, professor included, turned to look.