The music intensified, and Klaus decided to push a little further. He lifted her slightly off the ground for a brief moment before setting her back down with grace. Lucy gasped softly, but she quickly recovered, her smile growing wider.
She looked up at him. “I didn’t know you could dance like this,” she said, her voice breathless but filled with admiration and something else.
Klaus chuckled, his grip on her waist tightening just a little as they moved together. “Neither did I,” he admitted, his voice low. “But I’m glad it’s working out.”
It really is working out just fine, or perhaps, a little too fine. The fluidity of their movement was in sync making the moment just too right and lovely. However, while he was enjoying the dance, Lucy’s mind was somewhere else.
‘Isn’t he holding my waist a little too much’ She wondered, ‘It feels nice though…Lucy what are you thinking, just focus on the dance’ Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.
They continued to dance, the tango now becoming second nature to them. Klaus led her into a series of quick steps, each one precise and perfectly timed. Lucy followed without hesitation, her trust in him unwavering.
The music slowed again, and Klaus took the opportunity to pull Lucy closer. Their faces were inches apart, their breaths mingling as they moved in perfect harmony. There was something electric in the air, something neither of them could explain.
Lucy’s heart raced, but it wasn’t from the dance. It was from the way Klaus looked at her, the way he made her feel like she was the only person in the room. She hadn’t expected to feel this way, but she couldn’t deny it.
The white-haired young warrior is full of surprises. He has shown he is not only all brute strength but also intelligent and thoughtful. All those qualities brought his reputation up a notch. Now, however, he will be known as the Master of Tango.
Klaus noticed the change in her expression, the softness in her eyes. He felt a similar pull, something unfamiliar but not unwelcome. For a moment, he wondered if she could feel it too—the strange connection that had formed between them.
Well, who is he kidding? Lucy is a disciple at one of the most prestigious cultivation academies in the world. She is someone with great influence and would soon be taking the final step to become an inner disciple, someone of her status wouldn’t like someone like him.
Well, that was what he was thinking, a stark contrast to what Lucy was thinking.
Klaus knew that, but who is he if not the bane of every young prodigy? Only someone of his status will get this lucky. But since he is not comparing notes with anyone, he lets the moment be even more magical as he eases further into the dance making everyone look at him in a new light.
As the music neared its end, Klaus slowed their movements even more, guiding her into a gentle finish. He dipped her gracefully, holding her steady before pulling her back up to stand. Their eyes locked, and for a brief moment, everything else disappeared.
The room erupted in applause, but Klaus and Lucy barely heard it. They were still caught in the moment, their gazes locked as they caught their breath. Slowly, reality began to return, and Klaus smiled down at her.
“Not bad for a country bumpkin huh,” he teased lightly, his voice playful.
Lucy laughed softly, her cheeks still flushed from the dance. “You’re full of surprises,” she said, her eyes shining with warmth.
Klaus chuckled, releasing her gently from his hold but keeping her hand in his. “I guess we make a good team,” he said.
Lucy nodded, still smiling as they stepped off the dance floor together. The crowd parted for them, offering nods of approval and admiration. Klaus could feel the stares, but for once, he didn’t mind. He had done well, and he knew it.
As they made their way back to where Anna and Emily stood, Klaus caught Anna’s eye. She smiled at him, and he returned the gesture, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. Everything had worked out better than he could have imagined.
Well, at least that was what it looked like…
Lucy squeezed his hand lightly, and he looked down at her, his smile widening. “Thank you,” she said softly.
Klaus shook his head. “No, thank you,” he replied. “You made me look good out there.”
Lucy laughed again, a soft sound that made Klaus’s heart feel lighter. For the first time in a long time, he felt truly at ease. His mother’s teaching didn’t fall on deaf ears. Well, he can’t wait to brag and exaggerate things to his mother.
The night continued around them, but for Klaus, the best part had already happened. The dance had been unexpected, but it had left a mark. Something had changed between him and Lucy, and while he didn’t fully understand it yet, he knew it was something special.
As they rejoined their friends, Klaus couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement for what was to come. The night wasn’t over yet, and he had a feeling there were still more surprises in store.
As the evening progressed, Klaus continued mingling with his friends, the atmosphere lively and full of energy. They shared jokes, laughed, and enjoyed food and drinks.
A while later, some seniors from the Celestial Mountain Academy who came from the Eastern Region began to share some details with them.
It was the same things they knew, but hearing it from people who went through the trials was rather eye-opening and slightly tasking. Per the requirement, each city will only take 200 prodigies. Thousands will apply and take the test but only the top 200 will be selected.
Then at the Regional level, it gets even harsher. Out of over 12,000 from all over the cities within the Eastern Region, only 1000 will be selected. Harsh but necessary if humanity wants to look for the best from the best.
As they listened, Klaus could tell his friends started to despair, but he held back from saying anything encouraging. They needed to hear that if they wanted to grow stronger and become part of the prodigies that would be entering the academy.
For the Union Selection, only 2000 will be selected. It means from the five regions in the Northern Union, 3000 will be eliminated. Harsh but necessary.
“Finally,” the senior said, “the world selection happens at the Academy. Out of 16,000 hopefuls from the eight Unions, only half—8,000—will be granted permanent positions at Celestial Mountain Academy.”
Hearing this, Klaus couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. That is like seeing the fruit but you can’t touch it. The numbers were staggering. Out of tens of thousands of hopefuls from all over the world, only 8,000 would make it. It was a harsh, unforgiving process, but it was also the only way forward for someone with dreams as big as his.
Around him, others began murmuring to one another, their voices tinged with anxiety. Klaus could sense the fear in the air.
Even he could feel the pressure mounting in his chest. But he pushed it down, reminding himself of what he had accomplished so far. He was no stranger to struggle. Life had been unforgiving to him from the start. Yet, he had survived and grown stronger. He would need that same strength now more than ever.
‘It’s cruel,’ Klaus thought, shaking his head slightly. ‘But this is the reality. If I want to make it, I can’t afford to hesitate. I have to push myself beyond my limits.’
He glanced at his friends and gave them a look of assurance that everything would be alright. If they can’t make it on their own, he will drill the will into them.
“It’s just a test, all we can do is do our best and we can walk out smiling,” Lily said quietly.
Anna smiled softly. “That’s right. We can only do our best”
Klaus nodded. The road ahead would be brutal, but he wasn’t alone. He had his friends with him, and that made all the difference. Together, they could push through the trials that awaited them. No matter what, they all wanted to make it true the trials and secure their spots within the 8,000 that will be making it to the registers of the Academy.
As the night wore on, the conversations returned to lighter topics. Laughter filled the air once again, and the tension began to ease. But the words of the seniors still lingered in the back of Klaus’s mind. The road to Celestial Mountain Academy was long and perilous, but Klaus was ready to face it.
No matter how difficult the process, he vowed to give everything he had. His dreams and his future were on the line, and he wasn’t about to let fear stop him. After a night of laughter and socialization, the night came to an end, but before everybody left, some friends left Klaus with a few words of wisdom-ish