Chapter 76: Attraction

“By this point in the year, all of your spirit hearts should be at the second stage of development: Synergism.

Your hearts should have fully fused into your bodies. I wouldn’t be surprised if you hadn’t already begun to notice the effects on your physical appearances.”

Yari looked out into her classroom at her students.

Compared to nine months ago, they are noticeably more eye-catching than before.

The men’s features have become more defined and their skin has turned to jade. The women’s hair has become like luxurious silk of no comparison. Their features are sharp, giving them a dangerous and beautiful air.

They all have much healthier complexions than normal. Their sweat, no longer bitter and unpleasant-smelling, instead gives off a scent like sweet sap.

Their bones are stronger than in the days before. Their muscles are much denser as well.

They may not be able to physically match the knights in their year… but at least they will no longer fall over unconscious after receiving a single punch from them.

“From this point forward, your hearts are like your own. Meaning that they will grow as much as you push them. You need no longer fear death or spontaneous rejection. Only mediocrity.”

Yari glances at her hourglass. The last bit of sand has finally run out.

“…Tomorrow, we will begin going over methods to reach the third stage. For now, you’re all dismissed.”

The students slowly stood up from their seats and filed out of the classroom.

Save for all but one, that is.

The silence between the two is utterly deafening.

“…We should probably get to it then.” Yari gently pushes her hair behind her ear and opens the door behind her desk.

A tense air surrounded the elf as she began the task of setting up for the day’s experiments.

“Today, I’d, umm… like to study a bit of your magical energy if you don’t mind.” Yari’s voice was unusually nervous-sounding.

“As long as it’s not more bone marrow…”

The table beside her creaked slightly as a heavy weight was laid upon it.

“I’m aware that might’ve been unpleasant for you… But you sat remarkably well.”

After grabbing a glass ball, Yari turns back to the person sitting beside her. Despite preparing herself mentally beforehand, her breath still flees her.

Solomon and Yari lock eyes.

His hair is longer than before, now bound in a singular bun behind his head. His eyes still possess an orange light, but now they are complemented by underlying highlights of gold.

His beard has grown fuller and now covers most of his jaw and circles his mouth. A simple hoop of gold pierces his left nostril.

Yari spends an embarrassing amount of time staring at his lips before turning away to find something else to do.

The atmosphere between the two of them had been awkward for nine whole months.

After the day Solomon left the classroom in anger, their conversations were never the same.

Yari told Solomon what to do. After doing it, he left. Occasionally, he would come to ask her for favors or advice, and he would leave immediately after receiving it.

Yari still didn’t know who Solomon was more angry with the day he walked out on her. She wasn’t going to ask either.

The only persistent problem with their relationship was how increasingly aware Yari had become of Solomon in the days that passed.

These new interests only fueled the resentment that she felt for her father. Yari couldn’t have known if her feelings were her own or whether they were another of her father’s machinations.

No… perhaps that wasn’t the truth.

Yari went to see Abel often to ensure that her mind was still hers.

The person she was truly the most upset with was herself. Because she was weak.

Too weak to stand against the man who called herself her father. And too weak to suppress a shameful attraction.

’Why does this keep happening to me of all people..?’

She could only thank the great tree that he never asked her why she behaved strangely. She did not want to be compelled to spit out the truth.

“I… have made a decision.” She finally said. “I’m… I’m not going to revive Nila’s mother. I’m going to let her rest.”

Solomon raised his brow. “But you said you were so close..?”

“I believe I am, but… I no longer believe it to be the right thing to do.”

If Solomon was surprised by the change of heart, he did not show it.

“Wait… so have I been getting tortured for nothing?”

Yari blinked. “We’ll still be advancing the boundaries of magic for not just humanity, but all of the races in all the realms. Is that not worth a bit of physical discomfort?”

“…No.”

Yari snorted. A genuine smile threatens to appear on her face for the first time in months. “Well thank you for your sacrifice, regardless.”

Their eyes meet once again.

Both of them have so much that they seem to want to say that neither one of them notices that the other wants to speak as well.

“Hey, medicine elf! You in here??”

Solomon and Yari look up when they hear a familiar voice enter the classroom.

They both put down what they are doing and step outside to meet her, surprising her slightly.

“Oh. You two are hanging out again?”

“The term ’hanging out’ does not fit with what we are doing at all, Jiaoying.” Yari rolled her eyes.

“Yes, I thought as much, but since I am at present unaware of the nature of why you two are spending so much time together, I merely assumed that you were making idle chatter. Should I perhaps broaden my imagination to something more scandalous?” Jiaoying winked.

Solomon folded his arms. “Would it make you jealous if that were the case?”

Yari almost fell flat on her face.

She knew from Jiaoying that Solomon had become bolder in his pursuit of her, but she never expected to see him flirt with her while she stood in the same room with them.

She was filled with all manner of complicated feelings she didn’t understand.

Meanwhile, Jiaoying seemed to find all of Solomon’s words laughable.

“Jealous..? I see I’ve entertained your delusions for so long that you have started to become increasingly committed to them. Why would I be jealous of you when I can simply go and find a suitor my own age? It isn’t that difficult for me, you know?”

Solomon’s jaw tightened.

He was beginning to feel that annoying little bug Raizel had talked about. Jealousy.

In an instant, he had crossed the room and boldly placed his hand on her waist. Jiaoying no longer reacted. This was not the first time.

“As if some old man would ever be a fit for you. You’re just saying nonsense.”

“And what makes you think that?”

“He couldn’t handle you like I can. And I know he couldn’t fight me.”

Jiaoying found herself snickering.

However, Yari was not fooled by her attempt to laugh off his words.

She could see the flush in her old friend’s cheeks. The luster in her eyes.

She was moved. Possibly even aroused.

This turn of events made even Yari blush. Even though this was her classroom, she felt as though she was watching something that she shouldn’t have been.

Humans were so incredibly lewd…

“I must admit…” Jiaoying wiped a tear of laughter from her eye. “I believe I’m going to miss having a younger man stroke my ego when I’m gone. It’s been good for my spirit.”

Solomon’s brow quivered. “Gone..?”

Jiaoying’s smile became slightly sadder.

“The term ends the week after next… You didn’t think I was going to stick around here forever, did you?”

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