CHAPTER 43— Joint class training (5)
The instructors stood casually near the entrance of the Tree Garden while the afternoon wind drifted through the enormous forest behind them. Sunlight filtered through the towering trees, painting shifting patterns of gold across the ground.
For the first time since the students had entered the forest—
The area outside felt lively again.
Suddenly—
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed from within the forest.
Valeria smirked faintly as she crossed her arms beneath her chest.
"Well," she muttered under her breath.
"looks like they finally figured out how to return."
One after another—
Students began emerging from the Tree Garden carrying pieces of wood in their arms, on their shoulders, or strapped to their backs. Some branches were thick and polished-looking while others looked rough and uneven, clearly cut in haste.
The glowing watches on their wrists emitted faint light, revealing that they had used the map function of their Aether Watches to navigate back toward the entrance.
A few students looked exhausted.
Some looked proud.
So some were clearly not sure about their own choices.
"Well done, students," Valeria said loudly as her voice spread across the area.
---
Soon—
The students lined up while academy workers collected the wood pieces one by one.
Each branch or log was carefully tagged with the student's name before being placed aside for later use in wand and staff crafting.
Nearby, the Mage Smiths observed the collected materials with thoughtful expressions, occasionally whispering among themselves while inspecting the mana flow within the woods.
Meanwhile—
The students themselves remained gathered outside the Tree Garden. While conversations slowly started spreading across the area.
Some compared the quality of their woods.
Others bragged about fighting monsters.
And a few simply collapsed onto the grass dramatically after spending hours inside the forest.
Rowan stood there holding his axe down while looking around curiously.
"Hm…"
His eyes scanned the crowd.
"Where did Damon disappear to all of a sudden?"
The black-haired boy who had been beside him moments ago had completely disappeared without a trace.
The moment the thought crossed his mind...
His gaze landed on a familiar figure standing alone nearby.
Ritvik.
The boy stood there with slightly slumped shoulders and a dead expression behind his glasses, looking as though his soul had partially left his body.
Rowan immediately walked toward him while raising a hand.
"Hey!"
Ritvik slowly lifted his head.
"Oh… hello, Rowan."
Even his voice sounded dry.
Rowan frowned slightly.
"What happened?" he asked. "Why do you look so depressed?"
"Ah…" Ritvik opened his mouth as if about to explain.
But before he could—
Another figure suddenly approached them.
"Huh?"
Both boys turned simultaneously.
Sarina walked toward them with visible irritation written all over her face. Even though she usually remained calm and composed, right now annoyance was practically radiating from her.
Her brows twitched faintly while she rubbed the back of her head.
Rowan blinked.
"What happened? You look angry."
Sarina rubbed of her temple slowly while exhaling deeply.
The irritation still hadn't left her face.
A faint twitch near her brow revealed just how frustrated she currently was.
Ritvik adjusted his glasses slightly before speaking.
"Is it because of your partner?"
"…Yeah," Sarina finally admitted with a sigh.
"Who was your partner?" Rowan asked curiously. "And what exactly did they do to make you this angry?"
Sarina closed her eyes briefly before letting out another long sigh.
Then she slowly raised a hand and pointed toward a direction.
Rowan and Ritvik followed where she was pointing.
At some distance away—
A blond-haired boy stood while rubbing one of his cheeks dramatically.
A large group of girls surrounded him from all sides.
A dazzling but cheeky smile remained plastered across his face despite the obvious handprint visible on his cheek.
It was Zephyr Stormholt.
"Oh my lord, Zephyr!"
"What happened to your face?!"
"Which bitch hit you?!"
The girls surrounding him looked furious on his behalf practically exploding with outrage while cursing the mysterious person responsible.
Meanwhile—
Zephyr simply stood there smiling brightly like the protagonist of a romance drama
He merely laughed lightly before brushing his golden hair back.
"Don't worry, girls," he said proudly. "A mere slap cannot damage the beauty of my handsome face."
The girls around him practically melted at his words.
Some covered their mouths.
Others sighed dreamily.
One nearly looked ready to faint.
Rowan and Ritvik slowly turned back toward Sarina.
Sarina simply sighed again.
Then she started explaining what happened.
Apparently—
While walking through the forest together, Zephyr had spent almost the entire time saying ridiculous flirtatious nonsense nonstop.
Not once.
Not twice.
But continuously.
According to Sarina, he kept saying all kinds of ridiculous things while following her around the forest.
"The flowers look beautiful today."
"But not as beautiful as you."
"Do you think destiny paired us together?"
"Our future children would definitely inherit your eyes."
Compliments.
Winks.
Bad pickup lines.
Dramatic poses.
And many more things Sarina clearly did not wish to repeat aloud.
At first she ignored him.
Then she tolerated him.
Then she threatened him.
But when her irritation finally exceeded it's limit—
SLAAAP!!!
She slapped him across the face.
When the explanation ended—
Rowan and Ritvik continued staring at her silently for a few seconds.
"…So you actually slapped him?" Rowan asked carefully.
Sarina waved her hand dismissively.
"He was being incredibly annoying."
Ritvik stared at her with genuine disbelief.
"Wow, Sarina…" he muttered. "I can't believe you slapped the heir of House Stormholt.
He paused briefly adjusted his glasses while looking genuinely impressed.
"You are actually pretty brave."
Sarina ignored the comment before looking toward him instead.
"What about you?" she asked. "Why are you looking so miserable?"
"Hahhh…"
Ritvik let out a deep exhausted breath before finally beginning his own explanation.
"What do I even say…" he muttered tiredly rubbing his forehead.
"I got paired with that Seraphine girl and she annoyed me to the bone. She kept dragging me around everywhere and ordering me around like I was some servant. Oh gosh, she's such a—"
Suddenly—
A hand landed on his shoulder.
"I'm what?"
Ritvik froze instantly.
His body stiffened mechanically before he slowly turned his head.
Standing behind him—
Was Seraphine Ignis.
Her crimson eyes glowed dangerously under the sunlight while her smile looked far too calm.
"…Ehh?"
"You," she said slowly, "talking behind my back?"
"N-No," Ritvik replied immediately trying to maintain composure. "Who said that?"
But before he could continue—
Seraphine grabbed the back of his collar.
Then started dragging him away.
"W-Wait—!"
Ritvik helplessly looked toward Rowan and Sarina.
His eyes silently screaming for help.
But both of them simply stood there watching the scene unfold.
Ritvik looked utterly betrayed.
Meanwhile, Seraphine continued dragging him away like an angry Mommy disciplining a troublemaker.
Rowan watched them disappear into the distance before quietly muttering—
"I'm starting to feel bad for him."
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CHAPTER ENDS