“I will keep that in mind, Senior,” Astron said while still holding the hand.
“That’s good.” Trevor continued without leaving his hand alone as he looked at Astron with a slight smile. But both were well aware that it was artificial. “It is good for freshmen to have a desire to learn new things.”
Maya intervened, her tone curt, “Trevor.”
One word and look was enough for Trevor to understand what she meant. The other students were already looking at the scene, and some of them didn’t have a welcoming expression.
After all, even though it was a good show, at the end of the day, the commotion had already taken too much time, and the appearance of Trevor and his brutality actually made the students uncomfortable.
Every one of them was well aware that even though Trevor was one of the most famous students because of his lineage, what he did was purely outrageous and disregarded the Academy’s authority.
And Maya didn’t like it either.
“Junior, come with me.” She shot Astron a quick, concerned look before grabbing his arm and pulling him away from Trevor.
Astron’s eyes, momentarily locked with Trevor’s, could see the small shakiness inside them as if he wasn’t even a bit happy about it.
FLINCH!
Even a little bit of a murderous intent was oozing from him, and it was directed to Astron. He was able to pick it with his strong senses.
“Where are you going?” Trevor attempted to follow, the same smile playing on his lips, though the intent leaking from him made it evident that his expression was different than what he had in his mind.
“!”
But a single glance from Maya, a glare that could freeze the fiercest flames, halted him in his tracks. The unspoken message in her eyes was clear: stay away.
Just like that, Astron was dragged away by Maya while other students only watched with their eyes wide open.
Senior Maya was a bit eccentric with her forceful attitude most of the time, but it was the first time they had seen her this forceful.
It was as if something was special about that Astron guy.
“Did you see that? What just happened?” whispered one student to another, their eyes still fixed on the retreating figures of Astron and Maya.
“Senior Maya usually keeps to herself. Something must be up with that first-year,” another student replied, curiosity evident in their tone.
“Don’t tell me-”
“You don’t think the same?”
“Nah…Ain’t no way….”
“…..There is no way, right?”
“I hope so. Our precious Maya wouldn’t be seduced by him, I don’t believe it.”
“He wasn’t that handsome either.”
“…..”
“Well, maybe a little?”
“…..”
“Okay, he was indeed handsome, but there are a lot more handsome students in this academy.”
“You aren’t wrong about that. And I don’t think Senior Maya is that shallow.”
As the students continued their speculative chatter, unaware of the unfolding drama in their midst, Trevor overheard their conversation. His jealousy, fueled by the unexpected turn of events, prompted him to approach the group.
“What are you all gossiping about?” Trevor grumbled, his usual arrogance tainted with a hint of irritation. The students exchanged uneasy glances, not expecting Trevor to be perturbed by their conversation.
“Well, we were just wondering what’s going on with Senior Maya and that first year,” one brave soul tentatively explained.
“Maya? She can handle herself. No need to waste your time on some insignificant junior,” Trevor retorted, looking at the two. “You also shouldn’t waste your time with such meaningless gossip either.” His glare made it evident that he wasn’t in a good mood.
‘You just smashed a student because you couldn’t stand him, and now you are talking about meaninglessness?’
The student wanted to retort, but he was well aware of who this guy was. So in the end, she shut her mouth and nodded her head.
‘Astron Natusalune, Astron Natusalune. How dare you!’
Trevor was fuming inside as he was constantly reminded of the scene where her hand was touching him.
‘How dare you touch her.’
He wanted to go and kill him right away, but he knew he couldn’t do that inside the academy. If it was that easy, then every other male entering her sight would be dead already.
“Tch.” He was about to leave as his appetite was ruined, but he couldn’t.
“What happened here?” Just like the police, the instructor came quite late after everything was finished.
“…..” And now he was going to be stuck while explaining whatever was transcribed here…..
********
Meanwhile, Astron was uncomfortable with getting dragged by Maya outside of the academy cafeteria.
It was both because she was forceful and because she was famous.
Everyone’s eyes were on him, and he disliked that fact. He already preferred life without any bothersome situations, but Maya wasn’t making it easy for him.
“Senior.”.
“Not now.”
However, Maya’s determined pace made it clear she was adamant about dragging him off.
“Sigh….”
And her grip was weirdly strong, stronger than almost a close combatant.
‘What is this strength?’
It was interesting for a mage to possess this amount of physical strength, but Astron didn’t have time to question it right now.
“Should we stop now? We are already quite far away.”
Maya halted abruptly and looked around. Just like he said, they were already far enough.
Releasing her grip on Astron’s arm, Maya turned to face him, her expression a mix of concern and seriousness.
“Are you okay?” She asked as she looked into his arm. “That student was serious about attacking you.”
“Isn’t it a little bit late for that?” Astron mumbled.
However, Maya’s eyes narrowed at his response, as if she didn’t like how he talked.
“…”
‘I am doing it again.’
Feeling that he was being rude, he slightly bowed his head.?”My bad, senior. Yes, I am okay.”
“Hmm….Good.” Maya nodded her head as she waved her hands. Following her hand movements, small vines started moving, forming two chairs made by nature itself.
“Come sit.”
It was an evident display of mana mastery, and she was using it for such a normal moment.
“Thank you.” Deciding that it was better to welcome the hospitality Astron sat down.
As the two settled, Maya looked intently at Astron her angry and serious expression slowly returning to her normal state.
How was the mid-terms?” Maya inquired.
“Mid-terms?”
“Yes.”
“It was good.”
“Were you able to climb any ranks?”
“Well, I am now ranked 1729.”
“Hmm… 1729 from the last rank. That is quite impressive.”
“It is thanks to you. If not for your help that time, I wouldn’t be able to improve this fast.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself. It was you who put that effort into your own training.”
“Of course, that is true.”
Maya observed Astron with a slight smile as if she were proud, her blue eyes reflecting genuine interest. She leaned back in her vine-crafted chair, seemingly at ease in the impromptu natural setting.
“Something changed about you.” She said her eyes were boring right through Astron’s.
“What do you mean?” Astron feigned ignorance, but inside, he was slightly surprised.
‘She is sharp. I guess she isn’t a prodigy for no reason.’
“…I am sensing something dormant inside you.”
“You must be mistaken.”
“Hmm?”
Without warning, Maya suddenly stood up, her slightly ‘different’ nature evident as she approached Astron. Unaware of the proximity, she leaned in closer, her eyes focused on his chest.
“What is it?” she mused, her fingers lightly tapping his chest. “There’s something interesting here. I can feel it. Is it a magical artifact or maybe a hidden talent waiting to be discovered?”
Astron was taken aback by her boldness, the space between them shrinking without him realizing. He tried to maintain composure. “Senior, you’re getting too close.”
‘Also, why is she so fast?’
His speed and senses were one of the strongest aspects of him, but he couldn’t even escape back.
“Hmm? Oh, am I?” Maya finally registered the proximity, taking a small step back with a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that. I just got curious, you know? What’s hiding in there, Astron?”
“Senior, I really think you are mistaking something; there is nothing here. Also, it is rude to probe other people’s secrets.”
“So you are admitting there is something there.”
“No, I am not. I am just saying that even if there is something there, you shouldn’t ask about it. That doesn’t imply there is something there.”
“Then, why are you trying to defend yourself.”
“…..Sigh….”
Astron sighed, a subtle display of frustration. Maya, on the other hand, smiled triumphantly, seemingly unfazed by Astron’s attempt to maintain secrecy.
“Well, if there’s really nothing to hide, why not share it with your dear senior?” Maya teased, her eyes gleaming with playful curiosity.
Astron, still maintaining his serious demeanor, couldn’t help but feel the pressure of Maya’s persistence.
He knew her airheaded charm was a facade for a sharp and determined mind; after all, he experienced firsthand how good she was with mana and good at controlling it.
‘There is no way I will reveal it.’
Even if Maya had invested things in him and taught him how to control mana, that didn’t mean he would disclose everything.
“Senior, some things are better left unknown,” Astron replied, trying to end the conversation.
However, Maya’s determination only seemed to grow, and she continued to press him with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“Come on, Junior, I am your teacher, right? A student shouldn’t keep secrets from her master.”
“When did you become my master?”
“Hmm? Am I not your master? After all, I taught you how to control your mana.”
“You did teach me how to control mana, and I am grateful for that. But that doesn’t make you my master.”
“Yes, it does.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Sigh….You are so boring. This master was just curious.”
“If I had answered everyone’s questions, I wouldn’t be there.”
“Am I just everyone?”
“…”
“Right.”
“But, still.”
Maya couldn’t contain her amusement any longer and burst into laughter after seeing Astron’s expression. The sound echoed through the impromptu natural setting, drawing the attention of a few curious birds.
“You have that same exasperated look every time I try to pry something out of you,” Maya said between laughs, her cheerful demeanor in full force.
Astron simply watched her, but he was a little bit annoyed.
‘Why do I feel like I was played with?’
For some reason, he felt like he had lost, and it was quite a new feeling. Most of the time, he would win when it came to such talks, after all.
Maya stood up with a bright smile on her face, her innocence radiating like a beacon. “Well, that was fun! I’ll be looking forward to our club meeting next time, Junior. We can have more talks and maybe unravel some of those mysterious secrets of yours!”
With that, she waved cheerfully and strolled away, leaving Astron behind with a weird feeling of longing and sadness.
“She really does resemble her a lot.”
He was once again reminded of a certain girl.
“Astron! You should smile more!”
‘I wouldn’t be able to win against her either.’
He looked around the place with a sigh and stood up.
‘At least it was refreshing.’