Days pass by and now the day of the competition arrives.
"Good luck" said Shin.
"Thanks"
"Go get that price"
"Right"
"Please, get first place"
".....", Alaine shook her head at his desperate plea and went inside leaving him to stand there in shock while Clara just pat his shoulder.
"It's alright, she will win for sure"
"Yeah, I hope so"
(Or else I won't get a chance to make up with Alexia!!!!!)
"Well, let's go" said Clara heading off to the audience side of the building.
"Yeah, got it"
_____________
"And....done"
Placing the last cage down, Callum (Assistant) turn to Rualan.
"Great work, now we just have to wait for our turn"
"You know I'm not going up there right?"
".....", hearing this Rualan turns to him.
"You're not?"
"I'm supposed to?"
"Well, since, you're my assistant I thought.." Rualan trailed off, realizing that wasn't the case since the start of their partnership.
"...You got this head researcher. And besides I don't think I can handle the looks people gonna give me, I don't remember being in front of so many smart people before"
"You're not wrong, you only get flustered whenever you're around me"
"Woah, that was on you at that time"
"I know" she replied, a small smile on her face.
(She really enjoys teasing me huh?)
"Geez, get a room you two," said Alaine who appeared from the backstage looking cringed at the sight.
"Oh, no, not you again"
"Got a problem?"
"Yes"
"Ugh. Wait, till I wipe that smile off your face"
"Funny, I don't have a smile right now"
As Alaine was about to say something, Rualan cut in front of Callus and faced her.
"I hope we have a good display of knowledge on stage soon, Ms.Gear"
"...Yes, you too Ms.Mavik"
"You're going down" added Callum from behind Rualan, peeking in from the side.
"...
Alaine quickly left to calm herself while Rualan chuckled at her assistant's playful trash talk.
"Looks like your trash talk tactic is doing wonders"
"It's part of my arsenal"
"But I think that is enough, I want to show her my knowledge and research by myself"
"Alright, but in case she tries anything I'm gonna go guard the cages"
"Thank you, but they're safe where they are, so just stay with me until my turn alright?"
"Yes"
"And then after the competition?"
"That's alright"
"And after dinner?"
"What dinner?"
"Right after the competition"
"I guess that's fine"
"Great, it's a date then"
"Wait, what?"
"Hihi, just kidding....or not?"
"..."
"Just think about it alright?", Rualan then heads off somewhere leaving a baffled Callum watching her walk away.
"..."
(...A date? Do I have to change clothes or something?)
"Are you not coming?"
"Yes, I'm coming" Callum would have to figure that out later, now he needs to focus on staying with Rualan until her turn arrive.
____________
As Alaine began explaining her research; a large-scale miniaturized spell that has multiple functions, high mana cost but efficient and all sorts of stuff related to magic, power, spells ranking.
Rualan listened and watched her side profile in silence, and admiration.
(She really outdid herself) she thought, the same could be said to herself as well but it wouldn't hold a candle to hers, the sheer volume of research, testing and time invested are larger compared to hers.
It was also related to the resources that the two have access at the time as well, which in Alaine case has been since birth, while Rualan starts out later on and the said resource is not as great as hers.
(And to think I'm supposed to be a leading role model to a first year) she wanted to laugh at herself, but couldn't find the energy to do so.
"...."
She felt it in her stomach as well at the thought of losing.
"Head researcher?"
"Nothing"
"...But your stomach"
"What about it?"
"It just rumbled, just now"
"..."
(...Really?)
Taking a few seconds to ask that question she began to feel her stomach then feeling something churning, another sound came out.
"....."
"....."
"How embarrassing," she said quietly.
"Ah, it's okay, I get hungry like that as well"
Saying so, Callum took out an apple from a bag and handed it to her.
"Here, it's an apple I bought this morning, so it's fresh"
Looking at the red apple in his hand, Rualan looks up at him, where his eyes should be(?), she couldn't tell due to the hood adding a few vertical length to his height.
"Callum"
"Yes?" he asked hearing his name.
"Nothing just wanted to try saying your name"
"Okay"
"I don't think I have to show you my gratitude for helping me all this time"
"You did though"
"Really? Like what?"
"By being here, right here and now. You're here to show those researchers and other smart people who you are and what your research is about, that's enough for me as it is"
Rualan's eyes remain fixed on him as he continues.
"You're going after that person over there who is going on and on about spells and stuff which to me, is not as interesting as your research"
If someone heard him said that they would have called him crazy, a crazy person just compared Alaine's multiple functional spell that could flip the whole magic ranking system, calling it boring compared to another student's research who few know of.
Even Rualan have to blink a few times just to make sure she's not dreaming.
"So, go for it, and we can have dinner or lunch after this to celebrate your presentation"