Elian remained puzzled by how Yuri knew about his rapid progress in controlling aetheric essence, as they hadn't discussed it in detail. However, his annoyance outweighed his curiosity, so he chose not to inquire further. Yuri's persistent questioning had become a constant irritation, and he was growing tired of her relentless pursuit of his secret.
The day after the principal's visit, Elian was surprised to find out that Yuri had been assigned to the room right next to his. While he had expected some privacy, the situation turned out to be far from what he had imagined, and it felt like it might be more challenging than he initially thought.
Elian couldn't contain his frustration any longer. He turned to Yuri, his anger bubbling to the surface. "Why do you care so much? Why are you so obsessed with being the best?" he demanded, his voice laced with irritation. "What are you even fighting for? Do you think annoying me like this makes you superior?" His words were sharp and pointed, a clear expression of his exasperation with her constant pestering and competitiveness.
Yuri always carried an air of steadfastness and resolve. She had an unwavering determination that set her apart from others. While she often seemed detached when dealing with people, her commitment to strength and excellence was unmatched. Yuri had little patience for those who didn't give their best, and her competitive spirit made her look down on those she deemed to be lacking in dedication. She was a force to be reckoned with, and her pursuit of greatness was relentless.
Elian had braced himself for another confrontation with Yuri, expecting her to persistently demand his secrets. However, to his surprise, Yuri's demeanor shifted. She momentarily looked down, her teeth biting into her lower lip in a moment of vulnerability. But this vulnerability was swiftly replaced by a resolute expression, as if she had resolved to prove something. With determination in her eyes, she finally spoke, "Because I need to get stronger."
Elian, taken aback by Yuri's unexpected response, couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
With a determined look, Yuri responded, "There's something I must accomplish, and I need strength to achieve it."
Despite his curiosity, Elian decided not to press any further. He let out a sigh and said, "Even if I wanted to tell you, I can't. Because, honestly, I don't know why. I can't find any reason why I would hide my talent in the first place. On the contrary, I think I should willingly expose it to gain more resources and support. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those talented people, and even if I don't want to admit it, perhaps I'm even lower than F- in talent. What you heard was true; I'm probably an F-- talent, but for some reason, I can control aetheric essence much easier than others, which is quite a contradiction. Now, please step aside."
Yuri kept quiet for a moment, then asked, "So, where are you going if you're not hiding anything?"
"I want to go to the library, perhaps I can find the reason behind why my talent seems to be inconsistent. And also, why do I have to explain myself to you?" he replied, a hint of frustration still in his tone.
"Can I go with you?" she inquired, her tone less demanding and more sincere.
"Are you going to respect my decision if I say no? Frankly, your habit of following me and snooping around is rather unsettling," he replied, not mincing any words.
Yuri's face flushed with embarrassment. She had thought she was stealthy enough to remain undetected while secretly following him, especially when he went out with Arthur. However, she didn't respond and simply turned away, deciding not to press the matter further.
Knowing that Yuri would likely follow him regardless of what he said, Elian simply sighed and muttered, "Suit yourself." He then walked past her and continued on his way to the library, with Yuri trailing behind.
. . .
As the darkness settled outside, Elian exited the library feeling somewhat disappointed. He hadn't found the answers he was seeking; all he had encountered were books filled with common knowledge and autobiographies. When he glanced behind him, he noticed that Yuri was still with him, but this time she made no effort to hide or stay inconspicuous.
She also enjoyed reading, which explained her nearly perfect score in the written assessment. The library didn't bore her at all. Observing that Elian's reading material mostly consisted of books on general knowledge and personal life stories, she couldn't resist the urge to inquire, "Is there a specific person you're trying to find in these books?"
Yuri's question caught Elian off guard. He hadn't expected her to strike up a conversation, especially after their earlier confrontation. He hesitated for a moment before responding, "No, not exactly. I was hoping to find something that might explain my talent, but it seems like the library doesn't have what I need."
Yuri seemed perplexed as she questioned Elian's choice of reading material. "I don't get it. If you're looking for information about your talent, why are you reading autobiographies and general knowledge? I doubt you'll find what you're looking for in those books." Her confusion was evident in her voice.
Elian found himself at a loss for words. He couldn't explain that he was reading those books because he was still trying to understand this world, despite having the memories of it in his mind. He wanted to cross-reference the knowledge from his memories with the information available in this village. So, he simply shook his head.
Yuri raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Your talent? You mentioned earlier that it's inconsistent. Care to share more?"
Elian sighed, unsure if he should divulge this information to Yuri. But then he figured that she would probably keep pestering him until he did. "I can control aetheric essence quite well, but my talent itself is... below average. I'm not even sure what grade it is. It's like I have the ability to control something I shouldn't even be able to sense in the first place."
Yuri frowned, processing his words. "That's unusual, to say the least. But it doesn't explain why you're so secretive about it."
Elian shrugged. "I honestly don't know. Maybe it's because I didn't want to stand out, or maybe there's something else I'm missing. Regardless, it's not something I'm eager to discuss."
Yuri nodded, accepting his answer. "Fair enough. We all have our secrets, I suppose."
With that, they continued to walk through the darkened campus, each lost in their own thoughts, their conversation having created an unexpected bond of understanding between them.
Elian noticed Arthur waiting for him outside his quarters.
Arthur, seeing Elian with Yuri, couldn't help but tease him comically. "Hey hey, bringing a beautiful powerless woman to your room? You should treat her like a princess and take her to a hotel!" he quipped, a mischievous grin on his face.
Elian quickly corrected Arthur's misunderstanding, "What do you mean powerless woman? This girl here is more powerful than the both of us combined. Her name is Yuri, one of the A grade talents in this year's assessment." He felt the need to clarify, aware that Arthur was unaware of Yuri's previous interactions with him. It was Arthur's first time seeing her up close.
Arthur was taken aback by the revelation. "What? Are you serious? The one who killed the beast in the assessment?" His face paled, and a shiver ran down his spine. He quickly tried to make the situation less awkward.
With a rigid smile, he quickly added, "Uhhh well, Hi Ms. Yuri. I was just kidding, hehe. How are you?" He was cautious because rumors had circulated that the woman with the A grade talent had a barbaric nature and wouldn't hesitate to attack or harm someone she didn't like.
With a stoic expression, Yuri simply nodded at Arthur. Then, she turned to Elian and asked, "Tomorrow?"
Elian facepalmed and sighed, "What do you mean tomorrow? Your words will make people misunderstand. But it depends, the school starts in two days, so I think I'll just rest and focus on training my control and improving my ability to feel it better."
Yuri simply turned and entered her room.
Once Yuri had disappeared into her room, Arthur couldn't resist but inquire, "So, what's the deal with 'tomorrow'? Are you and her, you know, dating or something?"
Elian nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Nah, she was just referring to going to the library together tomorrow."
Arthur looked puzzled and exclaimed, "You two were at it in the library? You guys are wild!"
. . .
So, over those two days, Elian devoted himself to honing his control over Aetheric Essence, with Arthur frequently visiting his quarters. Eventually, Elian couldn't resist asking Arthur why he was there so often. It became apparent that Elian was one of the few individuals who treated Arthur as an ordinary person.
In their village, while the noble status wasn't as extravagant as depicted in stories, there was still a certain division due to social status. This led to very few people forming personal connections with Arthur, as many nobles tended to look down on commoners. Since Arthur was a noble without any discernible talent, he often faced criticism and gossip behind his back.
However, this unique friendship with Arthur had its advantages for Elian. It allowed him to integrate into the village more seamlessly, as he could freely ask Arthur about anything he didn't understand or was curious about.
Then came the day of their first class, filled with anticipation and curiosity...