Chapter 63: Day Before the Exam
"Hahh... hahh... and you still have the audacity to say that you’re not cheating..."
With sweat flowing down her fair forehead and a slightly less disheveled look on her beautiful face compared to the one she had when the two of them first ran together, Medea said with a hint of mockery in her tone, staring at the person who just beat her in a race once again.
’Fucking monster... just what kind of Unique Magic does the Argenta Family has?’ she told herself as she stares at the junior, the young man in front of her, whose face is still just as the same as when the two of them first raced each other all across the Regia Floating Island, he might be sweating, but only a few droplets here and there compared to her.
"Didn’t you use mana now as well, Senior Medea?" meanwhile, the target of her slight mockery replies as he stretched his body after that long run, a faint, amused smile on his face as he takes a look at the slight disbelief in the lady’s gaze, his words causing her to grit her teeth as she knows that she cannot deny it.
"Tsk, you’re sharp..." she said in annoyance as she averted her gaze away from his, taking a look at the female dormitory, as she wanted nothing more than to relax and clean herself up after that intense run the two of them just did.
"I’ll take it as a compliment."
"It was not meant to be one."
"I’ve taken it as a compliment."
The two of them chattered around just a little bit more as the sun began to break free from the horizon, only parting ways after they were quite satisfied as the lady pulled another deal for him to fulfill once again.
"This isn’t even a deal anymore, I just show up and get beaten up."
"Don’t care, see you the same time tonight~~"
With that, it goes on as it did the past couple of days, the two of them parting ways for now with the intention of sparring against each other later in the night.
Time passed quickly when one enters a certain routine.
For Novus, it is the cycle of waking up in the morning, trying out just how much he had improved over his night meditation by running around the entire Regia Floating Island, which becomes surprisingly lively with someone else in tow, that same person being part of most of these past few days, as said person is there both early in the morning and later in the night.
Maris Medea Heavenblade.
If it were before he could even fight, before he acquired the system and the Evolution Domain that goes with it, he sees no reason for him not to act just as he currently did with her; however, the premise is whether that version of him will even cross her gaze.
That is no longer the case, though, as it just feels like he is getting more and more comfortable with her during these past few days of interaction, making him look forward to their meetings a little bit more.
Those were the thoughts in his mind as he proceeded to cool down after a satisfying amount of running, the young man taking his time to clean himself up and take a refreshing bath after all that, before proceeding to return to meditation once again.
"Novus Helion van Argenta..."
While Novus himself takes a quick bath before returning to improving his own strength, the lady who was just with him this early in the morning is granting herself a longer time in the relaxing, warm bath water, a smile that even she herself doesn’t realize appearing on her face as she muttered that name.
It was the first time she interacted with a younger student, or even just other students in general, like this, the once awkward feeling she was often getting as he replied in a short, concise manner now gradually disappeared as she found out more and more about him, making her feel like she’s finally found a peer among the outsiders surrounding her within the academy.
Closing her eyes as she goes on to enjoy her little me time just a little more before she practices, she hums a faint, happy little tune to herself, all while thinking of how she’s looking forward to beating, or rather, fighting him again this coming night.
Perhaps it is utter cluelessness, or perhaps it is just because of the confidence of the strong, but if others were to hear how easygoing they are despite the short remaining time before the exam begins, they wouldn’t be able to help but question these two individuals.
Just how are they able to find themselves this calm right now?
The Sword Princess continues her practice, improving her magic along with her blade while the freshman who is basically the center of all negative yet amusing rumor focuses on his foundations, gradually increasing his own strength with each resource, each Evolution Crystal being absorbed into his being.
This happens all while every other student continues to prepare themselves as much as they can for the upcoming exams, the upperclassmen already having some kind of plan for what to do and what they need to prepare during this free time.
And it clearly shows who are the ones most experienced as well, the second and third years still finding some trouble preparing for it, while some less composed ones even panic, just a little less obvious than the clear panic on most freshmen’s faces.
Meanwhile, fourth-year seniors, especially those smarter, kinder ones, are even finding the time to play as guides for the freshmen who just seem so lost in thoughts, all while making sure to abide by the non-disclosure between themselves and the academy with regard to this surprise exam.
Time continues to flow on, as the sun rises itself completely above the skies, before it eventually sinks down the horizon once again, day turning into night and waking Novus out of his meditation as the E Tier Evolution Crystals he had previously taken out are now completely absorbed, the improvement making him smile as he continues to grow at such a fast rate.
[Novus Helion van Argenta]
[Combat Rating: E Tier Mage (Assessment Ongoing)]
[Talent: True Immortal Blood (EX-Rank Growth-type Innate Talent)]
[Current Evolution Domain Location: Verdant Expanse: Verdant Forest (1.5-star danger level)]
[Immortal Energy: 985/985]
[Strength: 585]
[Agility: 585]
[Vitality: 585]
[Arcane: 585]
[Harmony: 585]
[True Immortal Blood (EX-Rank Growth-type Innate Talent)]
[Growth Progress: 1.49% (98.51% before Talent Rank Up)]
[Mastery: Entry-level (64.27%)]
"You’re here, Junior Novus~"
Walking down the path outside of the male dormitory and finding himself on the crossroad where the male dormitory and female dormitory meet, Novus was snapped out of his thoughts regarding his growth as he heard that familiar, mischievous yet ever-so-melodious voice, his mind already seeing the owner of the voice’s playful smile even when he had yet to take a look at her.
And just as he expected, she truly sports that familiar smile on her face, her eyes shining with amused light as if she’s truly looking forward to what is going to happen tonight as well.
It is already their third duel, each one of them happening in a row, yet even then, she doesn’t even seem to start getting tired of it, as if she enjoys their nightly exchange a whole lot.
