Fifi and her friends were already sitting inside a small cafe near the school.
The place was actually quite nice, with sugary smells around and soft music playing in the background.
Fifi had ordered many sweets, like pudding, cookies, chocolate rolls, and something covered in cream she didn't even know the name of.
Zara, as usual, ordered a pot of tea, enough for the three of them to drink.
Liora didn't order anything and just leaned back in her chair. "I'll eat whatever you two don't finish."
Even though she said that, she already stole a cookie from Fifi's plate.
Fifi saw it and smacked her hand lightly. "Hey! At least pretend to hesitate."
Liora grinned and stuffed the cookie into her mouth anyway.
Zara calmly poured the tea into three small cups and gave one to each of them.
"You ordered enough for five people, so don't complain, and here, take this cup of tea."
Fifi pouted but then smiled as she took the cup from Zara and drank the tea.
After that, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"So, what do you guys think? What kind of talent do you think you awakened?"
Zara didn't hesitate and revealed it. "I already know mine."
Fifi froze. "You already know? Didn't the principal say it could take up to twelve hours?"
Zara took a small sip of tea before answering. "The principal said at the longest, not at least."
Fifi blinked, realizing it. "Oh... yeah, I forgot about that."
Liora suddenly leaned forward too, resting her chin on her hand with a smug grin. "I also already knew mine."
Fifi's head snapped toward her and then began to smirk. "Is it the [Dragon Strengthening] talent you wanted?
Liora's smile twitched. "No..."
Zara quietly laughed as she turned to Liora. "Do you really think awakening something like [Dragon Strengthening] is that easy?"
Liora crossed her arms and huffed. "I know it's rare, okay? But mine isn't that bad either."
Then she narrowed her eyes at Fifi. "What about you then, Fifi? What kind of talent did you awaken?"
Both of them looked at her, and it made Fifi check on her talent again.
She closed her eyes and focused to see what it was, and no matter what she did, nothing happened.
She opened her eyes and sighed. "Not yet. I still don't know what's mine."
Liora blinked. "Seriously? Noting at all?"
Fiif gave a helpless shrug. "Maybe min really takes a full twelve hours or whatever. Let's ignore it for now."
She straightened up and looked at both of them. "Let's talk about... what are you going to do? Are you going to receive the school beast or not?"
Zara and Liora went quiet as they looked at each other before turning back to Fifi.
Before answering Fifi's question, Zara asked back. "What about you, Fifi? What will you do?"
Fifi paused, thinking for a moment before answering. "Honestly, I don't really know yet."
She tapped the table lightly. "I think it depends on what kind of talent you have."
Zara tilted her head in confusion. "Depends on how?"
Fifi tapped her fork lightly against the plate. "If your talent is something basic that a lot of people awaken..."
She turned to Zara and smiled. "Then it's fine to tell the school. Sooner or later, people will figure it out anyway."
Then she flicked her fork and stabbed one of the cakes, turning serious. "But if your talent is rare or unusual... it's better to hide it."
The table went quiet as she looked at both of them while eating the cake.
After eating it, she pointed her fork toward both of them. "So the real question is... are your talents rare or just normal?"
Liora frowned, thinking hard, while Zara lowered her eyes for a moment and smiled after considering it carefully.
"Fifi, you are right, and that's why I'll take the beast from the school."
Both Fifi and Liora stared at her in shock.
"You will? You really are?" Liora asked.
Zara nodded calmly. "Yes, but let me add something first before you two judge me."
She turned to Fifi and explained. "The principal only said we have to declare our talent."
She then shrugged, smiling. "He didn't say we have to declare the exact form of it."
Fifi frowned slightly, not understanding what she meant. "What do you mean?"
Zara folded her hands neatly on the table and answered. "Some talents have similar effects, but their levels are different."
She raised her finger to act it out. "For example, [Ice Strengthening] and [Ice Lord]."
Liora blinked. "Those sound a bit similar."
Zara nodded. "They are. Both strengthen ice attribute beasts, but [Ice Lord] is a stronger version."
Fifi's eyes slowly widened as she began to understand what Zara meant.
"So you could just say that your talent is something like [Ice Strengthening]... even if the real talent is [Ice Lord]."
Zara nodded and smiled. "Yeah, it is. Truthfully, I wouldn't be lying. I'd just simplify it."
Fifi stared at her for a second, and then she smiled. "You really are smart, Zara."
Liora's eyes widened as it finally clicked. She turned toward Zara. "So your talent is actually a stronger variant?"
Zara smiled and nodded calmly. "Yes."
Fiif and Liora both stared at her in amazement. "...Wow."
Zara continued gently. "I can just report the simpler version. For example, I could say something like [Nature Strengthening]."
Fifi blinked. "I see, so yours is related to nature, huh? It's actually good, knowing nature is better than wood attributes."
Liora whistled lowly. "That's actually kind of cool, and also I can do that too."
Fifi turned to her. "You can?"
Liora nodded proudly. "If I say the simple version, mine would be [Ice Strengthening]."
Fifi paused as she heard it from Liora. "You really are a lucky one. Ice can be said to be a better version of water attributes."
Then she laughed softly. "Wow. My friends are kind of amazing."
Liora immediately pointed at her. "Hey, don't act like you're normal. You probably have something crazy too."
Fifi just smiled mysteriously. "Maybe... but for now..."
She picked up her fork and cut a big piece of cake. "Let's eat and celebrate our awakening!"
Liora raised her cup. "To powerful and bright futures!"
Zara lifted her teacup slightly. "And smart decisions."
Fifi lifted her fork high in the air. "to whatever we've become."
The three of them laughed. The tension earlier was completely gone.