"Please hold on for a moment!"
I raised my voice and sprinted behind the man who departed from the training area after teaching me.
He came to a halt and positioned himself in such a way that only half of his body was visible. As I hastened my pace to catch up with him, the distance between us narrowed down to approximately five meters. In that moment, our gazes locked onto each other, engrossed in an intense exchange of stares.
"I...I have a favor to ask of you."
I said quietly.
He made a disapproving sound with his tongue and furrowed his eyebrows, "Denied."
"Please! Teach me how to use my ability."
I humbly beg, with my head lowered in deference.
I have an underlying hope deep within me that he will ultimately agree to help me, as I find myself without any other viable options for assistance except for him. The reason behind my reliance on him stems from where he extended his support to me, which made me believe that I could establish a strong rapport with someone like him. I am drawn to his genuine nature, unlike the others who merely put on a facade and prioritize preserving their public image. In contrast, he appears to be unencumbered and unaffected by societal expectations.
"Have you thought about asking others for advice and learning from them? It could be helpful to reach out to people."
He spoke with a noticeable tone of annoyance in his voice.
I looked up and looked into his red eyes again. "There's no one to turn to for help."
"Why do you believe it is appropriate for you to ask me for a favor?"
In a tone that was laced with arrogance and a hint of playful teasing, he posed the question, insinuating that my expectations were set too high.
"Okay.."I avoided his eyes. "I…" I fidgeted.
"I'm leaving."
With a final declaration and a dismissive turn of his back towards me, he made it abundantly clear that he was departing from my presence.
"Wait! OK! Uh!" I grabbed the hem of his clothes. "Ugh! Alright, I'm gonna spill the beans, even though it's super embarrassing. It's just that I feel more at ease with you. I get the sense that you're genuine and don't really care about all those formalities. You just seem like a free spirit, and that's probably why I'm so into you."
In a rather embarrassing manner, I found myself instinctively concealing my face, a reaction that I am hesitant to admit. However, if it means having the opportunity to capture his heart, I am willing to put forth the truth without any deception. Being in his presence allows me to truly embrace my authentic self, as I no longer feel the need to put on a facade or pretend to be someone I am not.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, he sighed. "...Alright."
I came to a sudden halt, releasing my tight grip on the edge of his clothes, as a mix of astonishment and relief washed over me, causing me to let out an audible gasp and exhale deeply.
"Thank you--"
"I have absolutely no desire to teach someone who is difficult to teach or who lacks motivation. And, I expect that anything I ask or instruct, you will promptly and unquestioningly carry out."
He made a statement.
I couldn't stop nodding with enthusiasm, my excitement evident in every continuous nod. My face lit up with an unwavering smile that remained plastered on my face for the entire duration.
"My name is Astria. I go by the name Astria Visterio."
A smile spread across my face.
After a brief pause that lasted for 5 seconds, he responded, appearing to be unsure as he turned his head away before speaking.
"...Cole."
He said softly.
"I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to collaborate with you, Cole!"
"The dynamic between us can be likened to that of a mentor and a mentee, rather than simply two equals interacting."
He placed great importance on it.
"Oh, absolutely! I completely agree with you."
All of a sudden, a shift in the wind caught my attention, causing a tingling sensation in my senses. It was as if my internal radar had detected the presence of two distinct and familiar sources of energy. A surge of mixed emotions swept over me, and I unconsciously pressed my lips together in response. The power held within this mana truly had a way of commanding the attention of all those around it. As I glanced over at Cole, it was evident that he too had noticed the arrival of these two individuals. The look in his eyes spoke volumes, conveying a sense of annoyance and irritation at the mere sight of them. I couldn't help but wonder what emotions were driving his reaction - was it jealousy, perhaps? Or maybe even a deep-rooted hatred? Whatever it was, it was clear that he held a strong dislike towards them.
"Oh? You're the one outside the library!"
The voice that I am acquainted with, the occurrence that will forever remain etched in my memory. If my recollection serves me right, this particular voice belongs to...
I shifted my gaze towards the source of the voice, only to find a man standing there, a wide grin on his face as he pointed his index finger in my direction. His bleached blonde hair perfectly complemented his royal blue eyes, giving off a distinct playboy vibe. Letting out a sigh, my attention then shifted towards the man standing beside him. With his dark jet hair resembling the night sky and his emerald eyes resembling the enchanting moonlight, he exuded an air of mystery. Both men were clad in pristine white uniforms, adding to the intrigue of their appearance.
I can't help but wonder about the peculiar timing of this situation.
I let out a long, audible sigh, filling the room with my exasperation.
"Hey, try your best to conceal any signs of disappointment upon seeing us, don't make it too obvious"
In a lighthearted manner, he playfully remarked and dramatically placed his hands over his heart, feigning injury caused by my preceding action.
"Yes... What brings you here...?"
In a voice filled with a lack of energy and enthusiasm, I made my inquiry.
"That's a secret." He winked. "Do you even remember my name?"
"Yeah. It's Adam Vaughn, right?"
"That's fantastic! I'm glad you remembered! However, there's still something that you need to do to make up for it. You forgot to mention your name to me."
I shifted uneasily under his intense glare, doing my best to avert my eyes. Trying to gather my thoughts, I hesitated before finally speaking.
"Well..."
"Well?"
He echoed my words, leaning in closer to me and fixing his gaze upon me with a deliberate intention to incite discomfort and create tension in our interaction.
"I didn't think my name was that important so..."
"What was not important? I asked because I wanted to know."
I let out a small sound of annoyance with my tongue, "If I tell you my name, will you just stop bothering me and go away?"
"Yes!"
Without any hesitation, he responded promptly. "Though, I can't promise the last part." He mumbled.
"What?"
"It's nothing."
He grinned.
I once again locked my gaze onto his eyes, this time with a deep crease forming on my forehead, as I meticulously scrutinized his words, desperately seeking the truth behind them.
To be completely honest, I don't think my name carries much significance or importance. However, if he happens to be one of the few individuals who is familiar with my name, down to the very last detail, that could potentially lead to some unfavorable consequences. The mere thought of this possibility left me feeling rather awkward, causing an awkward smile to creep onto my face.
"...Astria...Astria Visterio."
I softly uttered under my breath.
His eyes widened and he looked frozen. "...Astria...?" he muttered to himself.
My eyes narrowed in his direction, a mixture of anger and apprehension coursing through me. My heart rate quickened as I felt a wave of unease wash over me, causing me to audibly gulp. The air in the room seemed to grow heavy with an indescribable tension, as if the atmosphere itself held its breath, rendering the silence almost tangible.
"...Is there something important? In my name?"
I inquired, consciously endeavoring to avoid any hint of suspicion.
"No..." He forced himself to smile, and smile perfectly, as if the face he had just shown was not there. "It's like I just remembered something."
"I see, so that's how it is?"
I quietly spoke under my breath.
Without a doubt, he possesses knowledge about Astria and is familiar with me. It is highly likely that he detected the resemblance in our backgrounds, prompting him to approach me. This very reason could also explain why the guy beside Adam approached me.
I attempted to hide my inner thoughts by wearing a mask of a fake smile on my face.
Who the heck are you, Adam Vaughn?
My attention turned to the man with dark blue jet hair, who exuded an air of arrogance and expressed a desire to accompany me.
"I was wondering, would you mind sharing a little bit about yourself? It seems like we haven't had the chance to properly get to know each other yet."
I maintained a façade of a smile, attempting to project an image of friendliness and warmth, yet beneath the surface, a sense of panic was consuming me.
"I introduce to you a gentleman named Rashid, a man of rather reserved and stoic demeanor, but deep down a man of truly admirable qualities and characteristics."
Adam provided me with an answer to my inquiry.
I maintained my smile, but at the same time, I shot a piercing glare at Adam. Through this non-verbal communication, I clearly conveyed to him that I had no intention of engaging in conversation with him. Instead, my gaze was directed towards the individual whom I truly desired to receive an answer from.
As I witnessed Adam's body involuntarily jerk in response to my signal, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, knowing that my transmission had been successfully received. With a renewed focus, I redirected my attention towards the individual known as Rashid, eagerly anticipating his response to my query. Upon observing his countenance, it became evident that he was experiencing a certain level of unease, as his facial expressions betrayed a slight hint of hesitation. Subtle furrows formed on his forehead, a subtle detail that could easily go unnoticed by the casual observer.
Upon my observation, I have come to realize that this individual possesses a unique demeanor. It is not that he lacks emotions entirely, but rather he portrays his feelings in an incredibly nuanced manner, giving off an impression of coldness.
"Rashid."
All of a sudden, he opened his mouth and words flowed out effortlessly, as if they were as clear and pure as a crystal. This was the extent of his speech, neither more nor less than what was needed in that moment.
I found it amusing and perplexing as to why he chooses to be so reserved in his communication.
"Hmm, well... I must say, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well, Rashid."
I couldn't help but display a triumphant smile, as a sense of satisfaction washed over me. Strangely enough, this particular triumph evoked a profound sense of joy within me. However, I couldn't shake off the feeling that the whole situation was incredibly uncomfortable and awkward.
I glanced in the direction where Cole had been standing, only to realize he had vanished. Confused, I scanned my surroundings, desperately searching for any sign of his presence, but he seemed to have disappeared without a trace. It dawned on me that he had completely slipped off my radar, leaving me bewildered as to when this had happened and why I hadn't noticed sooner.
"The guy who was here earlier has already left. It seemed like he really didn't like us, but I have no idea why. "
Adam lifted his shoulders in an indifferent manner, displaying his lack of concern or interest.
The way he spoke is too casual... Really, he doesn't seem to be hiding it anymore.
I shifted my gaze in his direction and arched my eyebrow inquisitively.
"Has he always been like this? ?"
I posed the question.
"Yeah. Throughout our interactions, he constantly treated us this way, or at least that was my personal experience."
I pondered the situation, placing my thumb beneath my chin, deep in thought. It struck me as peculiar how his response deviated from his typical demeanor. There was an undeniable intensity to it, surpassing the usual reactions I had witnessed from him. However, I couldn't help but notice that he had seemed somewhat softer, more amiable, when he had offered his assistance earlier. Yet, despite this, I couldn't shake the feeling that his aversion towards me was distinct from the disdain displayed by the Elite Students.
Although I acknowledge that this is not my concern, I am intrigued and would like to know further.