Echo set his knife and fork down on the empty plate, then looked across at the woman in front of him.
The Soul Absorber ate as if time itself revolved around her. Slow, but not too slow; fast, but not too fast. Every movement was calculated, her hands moving with precision as she cut her vegetables and brought them to her lips. Paired with her beauty, it was an elegant sight that Maxwell felt he could watch endlessly.
Maxwell watched with a faint smile on his face, though it quickly vanished when she looked up at him.
"I'm done," Dianne said, pushing her plate away.
"You didn't finish it," Echo remarked, noticing the leftovers still on her plate.
"I'm done," Dianne repeated. She snapped her fingers, and the server entered, collecting their plates and cleaning the table until it was spotless. A moment later, he returned with two cups of tea.
"Thanks," Echo said as he took his cup. But the server ignored him, acting as if he wasn't there. Shaking his head, he turned to the Soul Absorber. "So, tell me, why did you want me here? There's no way you invited me just for a meal."
Dianne took a sip of her tea, her gaze fixed steadily on Echo. The faint clink of her cup echoed as she set it down on the ceramic table. "Like I said, I don't trust you. I have doubts, suspicions. You belong to them."
"Belong to whom?" Echo asked, a frown forming on his face.
"The Magician Hats," Dianne replied.
Echo laughed, shaking his head. "That's impossible. But what makes you think I'm part of one of these villain organizations?"
"A hunch. A gut feeling I've never once doubted," Dianne said. Though her voice was cold and emotionless, Echo caught a note of unwavering confidence, as if her words were fact.
"Is that so… well, my gut tells me I'm not one of them," Echo smiled, raising his cup and taking a sip. Instantly, he recognized it as a tea made from rare, high-quality flora that grew in treacherous terrains infested with Spectral Untamed. A heavy atmosphere and cold climate brought these plants to life.
The tea leaves, if exposed to a rise in temperature, would wither and die within a day or two. To drink it, one needed a specially crafted container that preserved the ideal temperature and atmosphere for the plant's survival.
This tea was among the most expensive in the world. Echo didn't stop at one sip; he finished it in one go, familiar with its taste, drinking it as if it were ordinary water.
Echo set the cup down on the ceramic table with a slight clink. "Now, tell me, why did you really come looking for me?"
The Sentinel Princess glanced at his empty cup, her eyes momentarily widening—a reaction Echo instantly noticed. Dianne then fixed her gaze on him with renewed coldness. "You saved me; there's no doubt about that. That's the story everyone believes, so I'll give you a reward. It's from my father. He wanted to thank you personally, but he's a busy man."
"Reward?" Echo repeated, letting out a sigh. "There's no need for that. I'm more than satisfied with you doubting me."
"What do you mean by that?" Dianne asked, and as the temperature around them began to drop, the faint sound of wails and whispers filled the air.
"Sarcasm! It's called sarcasm!" Echo raised his hands, wary of being hit by her smoke attack again. "What I said was nothing more than a passing thought."
"Hopefully, your words are true," Dianne said, emotionless as ever as the temperature returned to normal.
"So, what's the reward?" Echo asked, curiosity lighting up his face.
"You'll become part of my team," Dianne replied, taking a sip of her tea.
"Team? What kind of team? Power Ran—" Echo began, but the Soul Absorber cut him off.
"Mock Examination," Dianne said.
"You already have a team this early? The Examination isn't for a few more months. What's the rush?" Echo voiced his thoughts.
"Are you in or not?" Dianne raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I'm in," Echo chuckled. "I'm just curious why it's happening so early."
"Good," Dianne nodded. "It's better to build the team's strength and understanding before the time comes."
"That makes sense. So who are the other members?" Echo asked.
"You and me," Dianne said, her gaze drifting away from him.
"Come again?" Echo leaned in, his ears perked up.
"There's only you and me… currently. What's important is that the team has been formed. We'll just need to find three more members," Dianne's eyes returned to meet his. "There's no turning back now. You already agreed."
"So this is the reward for saving you?" Echo raised an eyebrow.
"Part of it," Dianne lifted a finger. "I'll grant you one request. I'll use my influence, my power, my connections to fulfill it."
Echo's expression turned serious. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with one finger tapping on his arm.
"I thought you had doubts about me?" he asked. "Aren't you worried I'll ask for something outrageous?"
"I'm not a fool. It still depends on me whether I grant it or not," Dianne said. "If you want money, I can give you a million right now. Do you want superpowers? I can give you a vial of Enhancer. But if you want me to harm someone innocent, that's out of the question. UNT Powder? I'll send you straight to prison."
"Hey, I don't do drugs. That's for people who think standing on a parking spot reserves it," Echo replied, feigning hurt.
"Maybe you are," Dianne said coolly.
"I don't stand on parking spots," Echo clarified.
"I meant drugs. Maybe you're a user," Dianne corrected.
"I told you, I'm not!" Echo sighed. "So, a request within your means that's also legal?"
"Yes," Dianne nodded.
"Even though you suspect me of being one of the Magicians?" Echo raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Technically, you saved my life. Even my father believes that." The Sentinel's princess replied.
"I must thank your father, then," Echo said. Just then, their Aether Brace sounded an alarm, signaling the end of their break and calling students back to the lecture hall.
"Think about it, and tell me your request once you've decided," Dianne stood up and, without another word, headed toward the gate.
"Alright," Echo shrugged, rising from his seat.