A few minutes later, they were both eating in large quantities. They did not utter a word.
She looked as indifferent as ever. She didn't even look at Klaus, so he wondered. 'What is she thinking?'
'I've clearly sensed that she kept looking at me before. She feels interested, but at the same time, she looks so indifferent towards everything that she doesn't seem to care even about the interest she feels. What a curious person.'
At first, the feeling this woman gave him was of an arrogant person. She didn't look like someone amiable, but contrary to his expectations, she was friendly for no reason and even agreed to teach him, despite her indifference showing that she wasn't that interested in him.
'If I remember correctly, she asked me if I was a Reared in the Mist. Could it have something to do with that?' he thought.
Since arriving here, he has naturally been curious to learn more about her. Her eyes were too beautiful, too indescribable to ignore.
In addition, the most curious thing about her eyes was that they seemed to have a similar characteristic to his purple eyes: they shone naturally, which enhanced their beauty somehow.
All these characteristics added to the fact that she was a beautiful, indifferent, ethereal-looking woman who did not seem to be particularly interested in the beauty of the opposite sex but was so perfect that even the most incredible beauties of the earth did not compare to her, she would naturally attract Klaus' attention.
And that woman, who is also powerful, still decided to teach a stranger on her own.
There had to be a reason for this, and Klaus couldn't help but feel that she might be cheating on him, but the reality was that the training she made him have had been very effective, and it wasn't like she needed to cheat him out of anything, if she wanted to kill him, she could easily do it.
That's why, in a way, he felt it was just a whim she had. Her indifference showed it.
When she noticed him looking at her, she looked at him too. Both pairs of eyes met at that moment, making neither want to avert their gaze.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Klaus smiled. "I was just curious as to why you decided to teach me. I don't look like someone who can replay this for you, you know?"
She shrugged.
"I have enough money and strength that I don't need a little Reared in the Mist to pay me for something I wanted to do on my own. So don't worry."
They both stared at each other, allowing the pressure in the air to ease gently. If she decided to kill him, he was sure she wouldn't be able to help it. The difference between her and him was a lot; he had noticed it before when they clashed swords. Still, that didn't detract from his wanting to learn a little from her.
"That makes it stranger."
"Can't you accept that I had a whim of the moment? You looked pitiful eating that, and I realized those guys were sending people to die, so I decided to help you. Whether you can survive or not is up to you. That's all."
"Looks like it's not the first time they've done this." He spoke.
She sighed.
"Well, they do it to eliminate unnecessary people or test their new inventions. You're unusual, though. You don't have the seal put on you by those guys, which means they couldn't put it on you. That's why I decided to help you. Maybe you have potential and can pass the First Bath. If I can break those guys' plans, even a little bit, with something so small, then I'll do it. I think you'll like that answer better." She smiled.
Klaus sighed. "So, in the end, I'm a guinea pig on one side and the other, huh."
"The weak are meant to be."
"Isn't that too cruel?"
"New Earth is a cruel world. The weak have no right to complain because the strong cannot hear their complaints. You can only nod, work, and get paid."
Her words seemed to indicate otherwise, so Klaus smiled.
"The Rebellion of the Weak tends to dethrone the great Empires; do not underestimate them. When you least expect it, they may be biting the hand with which you suppress them, seeking their freedom."
The two of them hadn't stopped looking into each other's eyes the whole time, but she had to be startled and avert her gaze this time. Somehow, she couldn't stand the pressure of the words.
His words had rightly hit where they were meant to hit. So she couldn't reply.
She was silent for a while until she looked at him sideways. "My name is Jasmine; what is your name?" She asked.
Klaus, surprised, looked at her for a few seconds before answering. "My name is Klaus. Nice to meet you, Miss Jasmine."
She nodded.
'Klaus...' She said to herself, but she didn't answer anymore.
Her appearance returned to indifference again; she seemed to have lost all the interest she had a moment before.
After that, they both went to sleep.
Before dawn, a round of training began.
Klaus has a habit of getting up early, so today, he got up even earlier and started training.
Adaptation is not difficult to achieve, or at least he doesn't see it that way. It simply allows the body to adapt and live harmoniously with the energy within.
Since he can't absorb Cursed Energy, he has to do it with Positive Energy, which his body doesn't seem too compatible with due to his living most of his life in the Cursed Mist. Still, it is enough for him as long as he is a little compatible.
But, as he trained during the morning, he realized several things.
'Understanding Adaptation allows me to advance my speed in summoning energy in my body. Even when I have such small amounts of energy and don't feel much difference in my strength, I can feel how I move each particle of it faster.' He smiled.
He didn't stop; he continued his training, seeing that it was paying off.
At an indeterminate moment, Jasmine joined him. But she wasn't training with him; she was teaching him various things.
"I can see that you have awakened as a Soft Class Sorcerer, so you must understand the importance of the Rings from now on. It will be your best friend from today on."
"Stop for a moment." She spoke. Klaus did as he was told.
"The first thing you should know is that the quality of a Soft Class Sorcerer is that he has a Ring inside him. I could see that you seem to have it awakened. Can you show it to me?"
Klaus frowned but nodded and raised his right hand. Soon, a perfectly rounded golden ring flashing a bit of Positive Energy appeared floating above it.
The Ring seemed to be constructed with intricate, beautiful, magical inscriptions.
"Good Ring." Jasmine seemed amazed at the perfection of that Ring.
'It looks as perfect as the perfection of his eyes. It's amazing.' She couldn't help but praise them internally, though it showed nothing on her face.
"Well, this Ring characterizes you as a Soft Class Sorcerer, of course, so does your Positive Energy, which you use to become strong. Now, you should know that Soft Class Sorcerer can only use this Ring to fight. The most basic way is to imbue it into your weapon using Positive Energy. That's the one you'll practice until I leave."
Klaus nodded. "I understand. But what is it that characterizes a Cursed Class Sorcerer besides their cursed energy?" he asked, curious.