All the way to the examination room, Liyn tried hard to calm herself down. Her breathing went up and down irregularly, while her footsteps felt so heavy. Some of the students they passed by had glanced at them, probably because of the cold aura emanating from Leith's figure. However, as usual, Leith ignored them completely-her gaze was straight ahead, as if the world around her meant nothing.
Until they finally arrived.
The room was spacious and grand, adorned with ancient ornaments beautifully carved into the walls and ceiling. In the center of the room, there was a white marble table with a clear water container on it. Leith stood before the table, then subtly beckoned Liyn to come closer.
"Well, you're new, aren't you?" Leith opened the conversation with a calm yet authoritative tone.
Liyn only nodded slowly, her head bowed, her eyes not daring to look at the man before her.
"Since you don't know the basis for checking Veyra's level, I'll explain first," Leith continued, then pointed at the water container engraved with ancient symbols. "The darker the color of this water after mixing with your blood, the higher your Veyra level."
Liyn nodded slowly, still not daring to speak.
"Give me your hand," Leith said softly.
Liyn was slightly startled, reflexively looked up at Leith's face, then hurriedly looked back down. With a slightly trembling hand, she extended her hand to the table. Leith touched it carefully, grasping it with a warmth Liyn had not expected. Slowly, she held her index finger.
"This will hurt a little," Leith said in a low voice.
Liyn closed her eyes, trying to prepare.
The small needle gently pierced the tip of her index finger, and fresh blood dripped slowly into the water container. Instantly the clear water darkened.
"Level 6..." muttered Leith inwardly, slightly confused. "Wasn't it just checked and the result was Level 7?"
Liyn opened her eyes, still hesitant. "Sorry... What level am I?"
"We will proceed to the next stage first. The previous examination was only a level check, not a division." Leith explained, then dripped Liyn's blood into a second container.
"This examination determines the dominant flow in you-which division will be your path as a Veyra user."
A few minutes later, a blue color appeared in the container.
"Blue?" asked Liyn with curious eyes.
"Blue means Magic Division," Leith replied. "There are three other colors: green for the Medical Division, brown for Fighters, and red for the Memnorya Division. You haven't learned the basics of these divisions yet, huh?"
Liyn only gave a small nod, still not daring to look at her directly. "Sorry... I haven't understood it yet."
"How long have you been here?"
"It's only been two weeks, sir. I'm still adapting... moving from Science school to Syntara was... a lot of differences that made me a bit shocked."
"I see. Then... how deeply have you studied Science?"
Liyn thought for a while. "I don't know the exact level, but I like astronomy."
"...Astronomy? Seriously?" Leith looked surprised, her eyes widened slightly. "To what extent? Do you know about constellations? Or how the universe was created?"
Liyn gave a small smile. "About that... I know."
There was a moment of silence. Then a faint smile appeared on Leith's face-not a formal smile, but a sincere and warm one.
"Interesting... very interesting. How about we trade?" he said enthusiastically.
"Trade...?" Liyn repeated in confusion.
"I'll teach you the basics of Syntara, and you teach me about Science-especially astronomy. How's that?"
Liyn fell silent. Her heart was beating wildly again. She wasn't even sure if this was real. Teaching Leith? That cold and mysterious figure? Was she dreaming?
"Is Mr. Leith sure...? I'm much younger than you," she said softly.
Leith laughed lightly. "Age does not determine how far one can learn. How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"Geez, we're only three years apart," Leith said casually. "I'm eighteen. Isn't this a fair business?"
Liyn looked at her with widened eyes. "De... eighteen? So young..."
"My batch used to graduate in 7th grade, just like you are now. Due to Syntara's need for war, I had to be faster." He then continued with a warm smile, "So, how about it? Want to barter knowledge with me?"
Liyn did not blink for a moment. When their gazes finally met, she froze. Leith's winter-cold face now looked more... human. Warm. Even... very charming.
"AAAAA BEAUTIFUL!" the voice shouted in her mind over and over again, though her lips remained tightly sealed.
A few seconds passed before she finally nodded.
Leith offered a hand. "I am Leith Orien. Please cooperate."
She bowed slightly. Liyn, with trembling hands, welcomed the hand. Her heart pounded, her cheeks heated up.
"Big, white, warm... Oh my God what favors I'm denying you..." her mind cried out hysterically.
"Oh, and don't call me 'sir'. It's too old. How about... 'senpai'?"
"Leith... senpai?" Liyn tried to say it, a little awkward but sounding sweet.
Leith smiled again. "Well, that's more pleasant to hear."
Liyn smiled too. "Thank you... senpai."
"Okay, the examination is over. Now go back to class and tell the class president to call the first five students."
Liyn nodded "Alright I'll tell you, I'll leave senpai"
Leith looked at the examination result liquid, he saw that the blue color was getting deeper.
"Level 10...? But the result was Level 6 earlier..." Leith muttered, his eyes narrowed.
He stared at the darkening water-more intense than anyone else's today.
"...how interesting."
His smile expanded softly. Like someone who had just found a needle in a poisonous haystack.
On the way back to class...
Liyn met Nico and Viola who seemed to be waiting for him with impatient faces.
"Hey! Where have you been? The examination took so long!" Viola snapped in a high tone, her face looking annoyed and her brows furrowed.
The shocked Liyn could only stand stiffly.
"I... just finished checking Veyra," she replied nervously.
Viola snorted.
"Lies! How could it take that long to check!" Her tone of voice grew higher, mixing worry and annoyance.
Nico quickly stepped between them, trying to calm things down.
"Liyn, you're not going anywhere, are you? We've been waiting for almost half an hour," he said in a calmer tone.
"Sorry... I had a brief chat with Mr. Leith earlier," Liyn replied softly, almost in a whisper.
"Chat?" Viola looked at her wide-eyed. "What did you talk about all that time with Mr. Leith?!"
But before Viola could ask further, Nico intervened again.
"I see... So, did Mr. Leith leave any messages for us?" he asked, maintaining the typical calmness of a class president.
Liyn nodded.
"Mr. Leith said to call the first five students in order of attendance," she explained.
Nico nodded in understanding, then turned to Viola.
"Then, everything is clear. Let's go back to class together."
His voice was calm yet firm, creating a more stable atmosphere after the tension just now. Viola still clucked her tongue, but finally followed their steps reluctantly.
Liyn could only walk behind, staring at Nico's back while letting out a sigh of relief.
"Again why is Viola that angry, it's only half an hour" could only be said silently.
"Liyn stepped slowly behind them. But the steps of her heart? It still lingered in that room. Under the gaze of a pair of eyes so deep... and a hand that still feels warm in her fingers."