The next day, I was attending Eleonora’s magic class.

There was nothing special about it except the part where she explained flawlessly everything that she needed to explain.

Her words were brief but consistent.

And maybe because of the huge amount of questions that she would ask throughout the class, the students seemed to pay more attention to class.

Turning back to the board, Eleonora parted her lips:

“…Next is mana pathway stability. This requires you to understand the flow of mana within your body. If your pathways are obstructed or irregular, your incantations will reflect that. Does anyone know how to stabilize their mana pathways?”

A girl sitting near the middle hesitated before raising her hand. “Um… through consistent spellcasting and mana circulation exercises?”

“Correct,” Elenora said.

“But there’s more to it. Mana stabilization also involves understanding your limits. Overloading your pathways can cause long-term damage, so don’t push yourself recklessly.”

Her gaze flickered over the class, pausing briefly on me as if to emphasize her point.

Gosh…

I know my limits, woman.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

“Finally, consistent practice,” she continued.

“There’s no shortcut to mastering incantation speed. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes. It’s like muscle memory for mages.”

She paused, letting the information sink in before clapping her hands together.

“Now… how about w—!”

—RIIIINGGG!

My savior!

The bell finally rang, signaling the end of class.

It was lunchtime now.

“Well… class dismissed,” Elenora announced with a small sigh, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance.

She looked like she was genuinely enjoying teaching today.

I wasted no time reaching for my books and other belongings, but before I could grab them, another hand moved faster.

“I’ll do it, Master,” Alaine said softly, as she quickly gathered my things.

In the blink of an eye, she tucked everything into her spatial ring.

Having servants in class wasn’t unusual, but Alaine had little to do outside her role as my servant, so I brought her along.

“Ah, Alaine!” I remembered something as I adjusted my coat. “Isn’t today your checkup with the Saintess?”

She paused, blinking as if caught off guard. “Yes, but it’s not until 2 o’clock.”

“You should go now,” I told her casually.

“But, Master—”

“Just go,” I cut her off, waving dismissively.

“Also,” I added, handing her my credit card, “buy yourself some food or clothes. I don’t mind. Just have fun, okay? You don’t need to come back right away.”

Her emerald eyes flickered with hesitation, and she opened her mouth to say something, but I didn’t give her the chance. Turning away, I started walking out of the classroom.

“Master…” Alaine called after me softly.

Yeah, ignoring her was the best way to get her to follow an order she didn’t like.

I made my way toward the academy’s cafeteria. But the moment I stepped inside, my eyes widened in disbelief.

It was surprisingly full.

“Damn it…” I muttered under my breath, scratching my head in frustration.

“Might as well get lunch outside.”

There was no way I was going to wait in line for who knows how long just to grab a meal. So, I turned back and headed for the exit.

But as I made my way out, I wasn’t exactly paying attention to where I was going.

Thud…!

So, I bumped into someone.

“Could this day get any worse?”

I grumbled, glancing down at the person I’d accidentally bumped into.

“Fuck…” A voice from the ground hissed angrily.

I froze.

Of all people…

It had to be fucking him.

“Who the fuck bumped into me?” he spat coldly.

He pushed himself off the floor, his dark brown eyes narrowing into sharp slits filled with hatred as soon as he saw me.

The moment his gaze met mine, I could almost feel the air around us heat up. His jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides as if he was holding himself back—barely.

It was Telmo, Ella’s loyal little lapdog.

“…It’s you…” he snarled.

“Fucking BASTARD!!”

Without warning, he spun around, aiming a surprise kick at my legs.

I barely had time to react, leaping a few meters back to avoid the strike.

“The fuck is your problem?!” I shouted, glaring at him.

“You’re the damned problem!” he growled, his voice cold as ice but carrying the heat of his rage.

And just like that, he charged at me.

Fwoop!

His fist shot forward, aiming for my face.

I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow, and countered with a quick jab toward his ribs.

He twisted his torso, deflecting my punch with his forearm, and swung a heavy right hook toward my jaw.

Thud!

I ducked under it, feeling the wind of his punch graze my hair. This guy packed a lot of pure strength, but his movements were too obvious, too straightforward.

“Are you this weak?” I taunted, stepping back to create some distance.

“I’ll wipe that smug look off your face!” Telmo growled as his face turned red in anger.

He lunged at me again, this time leading with a high kick aimed at my shoulder.

I blocked it with my forearm, but the sheer force of it sent a dull ache through my arm.

Thump!

Using the momentum, he followed up with a spinning backfist aimed at my temple.

I ducked low, letting the attack whiff over my head, and quickly retaliated with a sweeping kick to his legs.

Whack!

It connected, and Telmo stumbled, but he didn’t fall. Instead, he planted his foot firmly on the ground and countered with a powerful straight punch aimed at my chest.

I twisted my body, letting the punch glance off my side, and used the opportunity to grab his wrist.

With a quick pull, I used his own momentum to throw him off balance, sending him staggering forward.

“Bastard…!”

Telmo recovered quickly, as he rushed at me again, this time faking a left punch before throwing a right uppercut aimed at my stomach.

Bam!

I managed to block it with both arms, but the sheer force sent me sliding back a few feet. My arms tingled from the impact.

Then, he aimed a heavy kick at my side.

Swoop!

I sidestepped and retaliated with a quick jab to his solar plexus.

Thud!

The hit connected, and Telmo grunted, doubling over slightly. I followed up with a spinning kick aimed at his shoulder, sending him staggering back.

“Gah… your damned fucker!”

His eyes went mad in rage as a faint layer of mana enveloped his body.

Oh… he really wanted to get serious with me.

I shook my right hand slightly, as I was enveloped with my silver-colored mana.

Then, we both threw a punch at each other…

But just before our fists could collide.

Bam!

A blur of motion appeared between us.

A delicate hand caught my fist effortlessly, while the other stopped Telmo’s punch mid-swing.

It was our instructor, Zeva.

“That’s enough,” she said, her voice firm but not loud.

Her green eyes pierced through both of us, making it clear that she wasn’t here to negotiate.

“Do you two have nothing better to do than fight like children?” she asked coldly, with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Telmo glared at her for a moment, his fiery rage flickering, but her gaze didn’t waver. It was like staring into the eyes of a predator that had already decided you weren’t worth the hunt.

“Tch,” he muttered, yanking his hand away from her grip.

He mumbled something inaudible under his breath and turned to walk away, his shoulders stiff with unspent frustration.

I sighed, rubbing the hand she had just released, and scoffed.

“Who are you to lecture us about fighting like kids?” I said sharply. “When we first met, you literally attacked me like some madwoman and tried to force me int—”

“—MHMM!”

Before I could finish my words, her hand tapped my mouth, making me let out muffled noises.

“That.. kind of thing shouldn’t be discussed in public,” she leaned in closer, her breath brushing against my ear.

From a different angle, the position she was holding me, could have been considered…

Ambiguous…

“Let go, you crazy bitch,” I finally grumbled when I wriggled free of her grip.

Her emerald-green eyes glinted, and a vein popped on her forehead.

Clearly, she didn’t take the comment lightly.

“You’ll pay for that, Aestrea,” she said, her voice chillingly cold.

Her gaze bore into mine like a predator toying with its prey.

“After today’s classes, go to the training camp. I’ll give you a special training.”

Something about the way she said “special training” sent a faint chill down my spine.

“…Ah, hell n—”

“—If you do, I’ll grant you a favor.”

“Deal.” I immediately accepted.

A favor from Zeva, a s-rank awakened?

That was not something to pass up.

Her lips curved into a small, almost triumphant smile.

“Good. Have a nice meal,” she said, her voice returning to a more neutral tone, before walking away.

“Yeah, yeah…”

Taking a look around, I finally noticed that everyone’s gaze was on me. It seemed that my little fight with Telmo had attracted quite the attention.

Or was it my interaction with instructor Zeva…?

Well, I didn’t actually care.

So, I took the opportunity that everyone was distracted and talking to each other, to pass the crowd in the cafeteria.

I got a tray and put a lot of food to my liking there before lifting it and taking a look around, hoping to find an empty table.

But like I said before, it was pretty stacked, so I didn’t exactly find one.

Then I spotted a hand waving at me from across the room.

It was Lucas, smiling faintly as he gestured for me to join his table.

Along with him, was his small party group.

Gosh.

I really don’t want to sit with them.

But as I ignored it and took another look around…

I realized that I had no choice but to sit beside Lucas.

“Hah… You were injured just a day ago, and you’re already causing trouble?” Lucas asked as soon as I sat down in the chair, putting my tray on the table.

“…I was the one causing trouble? Last time I checked, I wasn’t the one throwing punches first.” I blinked innocently.

“Fair enough.” Lucas chuckled softly.

“Well… it was satisfying enough to watch,” Rose muttered softly, barely audible over the noise of the cafeteria.

I turned my gaze to her, arching an eyebrow. Her cheeks immediately flushed, the red creeping up to her ears.

She seemed to have remembered our little interaction in the dungeon.

“Also, Aestrea! How about joining us for the Snow Festival?” Lucas interrupted me just as I was about to tease Rose, his cheerful tone cutting through the moment.

“…Joining in what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Well, isn’t it obvious? The activities!” Lucas replied, his grin as bright as ever.

His words immediately brought the realization crashing down on me. The Snow Festival activities—most of them—were team games.

And knowing Lucas, he’d already decided that I was their missing piece.

I hesitated slightly.

“Don’t worry! Everyone here doesn’t mind having you on the team!”

“Of course not!” Maya chimed in, puffing out her chest like a proud rooster as Iris nodded gently with a small smile.

Rose simply let out a low ‘yes’, and then there was Ella.

She just stared at me.

Not for a moment, not for a few seconds, but for what felt like an eternity.

Her eyes bore into me as if she were trying to uncover some mystery.

Until she finally spoke:

“Sure.”

Just at that moment, Lucas turned to me.

“So, what do you think?” He asked eagerly.

“Isn’t your team strong enough?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Not really,” Lucas admitted, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. “The fifth-year students are participating too, and let’s be honest, it’s going to be tough beating them.”

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just a bit.

“But with someone like you—strong, experienced—it’s the perfect addition to our team!”

He looked at me, awaiting my response

And of course, my reply was…

“No.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep