After a few minutes from that heavy conversation that took place between faiser, shirin, and shin…
Faiser did not head to his room as any normal person might expect, nor did he even think about returning to training despite having spent two full days in isolation.
On the contrary… he calmly changed direction, as if a very simple decision had formed within him without any deep thought.
Faiser said to himself calmly:
"I haven't eaten in a while…"
Inside his mind, the book immediately exploded and said in an exaggerated shocked tone:
"Whaaaat?!"
Then it continued while laughing:
"No, wait… is this real? Did you finally decide to act like a normal human and eat like the rest of living beings?!"
Faiser did not respond, he simply continued walking with steady steps.
The book kept mocking:
"Honestly, I started to believe you live on problems instead of food. Every time you cause trouble, you get full, and every time things calm down, you starve. That makes more sense than you actually going to eat now."
Faiser sighed slightly and said:
"Aaah… annoying, you talk too much…"
The book immediately replied:
"And you think too little. Perfect balance."
Faiser kept walking until the atmosphere gradually changed.
The sounds became louder, the smell of food began to appear, until he finally arrived at the large hall…
The sect's dining hall.
He opened the door—
And in a single moment, noise rushed toward him.
Voices of disciples, laughter, discussions, shouting, dishes moving… as if the place was a separate world from the rest of the sect.
The book said with sarcastic admiration:
"Ah… the arena of collective hypocrisy."
Then it continued:
"Look at them, some laugh with those they hate, some praise those they fear, and some just eat because they have nothing better to do. Truly a wonderful place."
Faiser didn't care much, he just cast a quick glance across the hall.
He quickly noticed the clear difference between the groups.
On one side—
Third-generation disciples, sitting normally, their voices lower, their movements measured.
On another side—
Second-generation disciples, more confident, speaking more freely, as if they truly belonged here.
And in the middle… there was a clear gathering.
The book said:
"Ah… there."
"The center of the show."
Faiser looked slightly.
And saw—
Lin laughing loudly, explaining something with his hands as if telling a battle story, and Daren was beside him, calm, occasionally intervening to correct or add details.
And a third chair… empty.
The book said:
"They're missing someone…"
Then laughed:
"Let me guess… that beautiful girl from before. Don't you think she's prettier than shirin?"
Faiser didn't comment on the book's words, nor was he interested in sitting with them.
He chose a table a bit far from the center of the hall, a relatively quiet place.
He sat, took simple food, and began eating… calmly.
But despite his normal appearance… he was watching everything.
The book suddenly said:
"By the way… don't you think shirin has changed a bit?"
Faiser said:
"Hmm… yes, I think she has changed."
The book said:
"And not just a little."
Then added in a more serious tone than usual:
"Her way of speaking… her gaze… she's no longer the same. She no longer looks at you as someone who just saved her, but as someone she's trying to understand. And that kind of change is rarely simple… and usually leads to problems later."
Faiser said calmly:
"I think that's fine."
The book said:
"Fine?! Which part of this looks 'fine'?!"
Then added:
"People who start thinking about you become either annoying allies… or smarter enemies."
Faiser said:
"I'll see."
Before the book could continue—
The hall door opened again.
But this time… the entrance wasn't normal.
Some voices quieted, some disciples turned.
Then she entered…
Mira.
Her steps were normal, but carried clear confidence.
Her gaze wasn't scattered, it quickly swept across the hall.
Lin… Daren… then—
It stopped on faiser.
She narrowed her eyes slightly and thought:
"So this is him… the one who challenged kael… and provoked the sixth elder."
Then continued in her thoughts:
"Strange… he doesn't look strong… but why do I feel his presence is unsettling… not like an obvious danger… but like something unpredictable."
She paused for a moment.
She could ignore him.
She could go to her table.
But—
Curiosity began to grow.
She thought:
"Then… I'll see for myself."
She moved… and began walking directly toward him.
In the hall—whispers started.
"Where is she going?"
"Is she going to sit with him?!"
"This is crazy…"
Even Lin paused for a moment, Daren raised his gaze, while faiser… kept eating.
She sat directly in front of him.
Without permission.
Without hesitation.
The book immediately said:
"Well well well… now things are getting interesting."
Then added:
"Be careful… this girl isn't like the others, and she's not like that idiot kael either. She seems truly strong… and more dangerous than she looks."
Faiser raised his gaze to her, then said calmly:
"Do you want something?"
Mira looked at him directly and said clearly:
"Yes. I want to understand something. Honestly, since I walked in and saw you, I feel something is not normal about you. Not because you're obviously strong… but because you act in a way that doesn't match your level. And that makes me uncomfortable."
She paused, then added:
"So I'll be direct… do you not understand what you're doing, or do you understand it well and act like this on purpose?"
In the hall—
The sounds quieted slightly.
The book laughed:
"I like her… she didn't waste time."
Faiser said calmly:
"And why do you think one of those options must be true?"
Mira said:
"Because someone at your level, if they were in your place, wouldn't speak to kael that way, wouldn't provoke an entire elder, and wouldn't act as if they don't care about consequences. So either you don't understand what you're doing, or you understand too much. And in both cases… you're not normal."
Faiser smiled slightly, then said:
"And you? Why did you come to me?"
Mira said without hesitation:
"Because I don't like there being something in this place that I don't understand. Especially if that something could turn into a big problem later. And I don't like surprises."
Then she leaned forward slightly and said:
"And you look like a potential bad surprise."
The book said:
"Wow… I like this girl more the more she talks."
Faiser said:
"If you want a clear and quick answer… you won't get one."
Then added:
"I don't explain myself to people."
Mira said:
"Then I'll understand you myself. Because what you're doing isn't normal. The way you speak, the way you deal with things, even your calmness… none of it fits someone at your level. That makes me think you're hiding something… or you see things differently."
Faiser looked at her directly and said:
"I'm not hiding anything."
Then added:
"I just don't act like others."
Mira was silent for a moment, then said:
"And that's exactly what makes it disturbing… because people who don't act like others are either truly exceptional… or problems waiting to explode."
Faiser said:
"You'll know the answer soon."
She said:
"You mean… the tournament?"
He said:
"Hmm… maybe."
Inside his mind, the book said:
"No, not maybe… definitely."
Then laughed:
"And I think this small table… has now become the start of a new problem."
In the hall—
The gazes were no longer scattered.
They focused… on one table.
And Mira… did not stand up.
Instead, she sat more comfortably, as if she had made a simple decision:
"Fine… I'll watch you closely, faiser… so you don't become a problem that's hard to handle inside the sect."
As for faiser… he continued eating calmly, as if everything happening was completely normal.
But in truth—
It wasn't normal at all.
The gazes remained fixed on that table, as if the entire hall revolved around it.
Before things could settle—
A chair moved forcefully on the other side.
Lin stood up.
He wasn't openly angry… but his expression wasn't comfortable.
He walked with confident steps toward faiser's table, and whispers rose again.
He stopped beside the table, looked first at Mira, then at faiser, then said in a tone he tried to keep calm but carried clear pressure:
"Mira… I haven't seen you since we returned, and instead of coming to sit with us, I see you choosing to sit here… with someone weak like him who causes trouble because of his excessive confidence. Don't you think that's a bit strange?"
Mira didn't move, didn't change her posture.
She simply raised her eyes and said coldly:
"Hah? Lin… go sit in your place."
Lin paused for a moment despite his surprise.
Mira continued while looking directly at him:
"And also… don't interfere in something that doesn't concern you. I don't need anyone to decide where I sit or who I talk to. If you have something to say, say it to yourself or keep it, but don't try to impose it on me."
A brief silence fell.
Some disciples exchanged glances.
Lin clenched his jaw slightly, but didn't explode.
Instead he said less calmly:
"I'm not interfering… I'm just saying that this person—"
Before he could finish—
Faiser said calmly, still seated without raising his voice:
"Alright… if you're going to talk about me, it's better you look at me directly."
Lin's words stopped.
He looked at him.
Faiser slowly raised his gaze, put the spoon aside, and said in a very normal voice… but clear:
"Because the way you're speaking now… sounds like you're explaining a problem you don't even understand, and that makes your words less valuable than you think."
Whispers ignited.
Lin narrowed his eyes and said:
"You… talk too much for someone at your level, you bastard!"
Faiser smiled slightly, then said:
"And that's exactly what bothers you, isn't it?"
Then he leaned forward slightly and continued in a slower, longer tone, as if explaining calmly in an annoying way:
"Because you return from outside, you fight, you struggle, you train, you raise your level, and build a clear image of yourself… then you come and find someone who doesn't seem to have made the same effort, doesn't have the same level, yet doesn't look at you with admiration, doesn't fear you, doesn't even acknowledge you as you expect… and that creates a strange feeling inside you. A feeling that you don't understand why things aren't going the way you're used to. And that feeling is very annoying… isn't it?"
The hall fell silent.
Lin didn't respond immediately.
Faiser continued as if he wasn't done:
"And what bothers you most isn't my words… but that I don't treat you as a 'senior brother' or someone above, but as just an ordinary person. And that takes something away from you… something you're used to… the feeling that you're always above others."
Silence.
Then he said calmly:
"And that… is not my fault."
Lin clenched his fist slightly and said in a more dangerous tone:
"You really love provoking people…"
Faiser said:
"I just speak clearly. If you see clarity as provocation… that's your problem."
Inside Faiser's mind, the book burst out laughing:
"Hahahahaha! You crushed him with words before he even started!"
As for Mira… she was watching silently.
But this time… her gaze wasn't just cold.
There was something faint within it… interest.
She thought:
"Hahaha… this guy doesn't retreat… doesn't try to calm things down… he pushes more the more the other tries to take control…"
Then she looked at faiser again.
"This… isn't stupidity. This is an unusual method of psychologically breaking the opponent… interesting… very interesting."
Outside—
Lin was still standing, looking at faiser.
And the tension between them… was no longer just passing words.