As the smoke enveloping it dissipated, the winged creature remained unshaken. It had sustained no significant damage, and with its wide mouth, it prepared its next attack. A roll of lightning gathered from the very essence of nature.
"Its body must be incredibly hard. Ruby, run. I'll hold it off as best I can." With blood already trickling from his mouth, Liam raised his right hand once more.
Ruby rushed to stop him. "No. No. You could get mana shock. Your body can't take it anymore." She tried to lower Liam's hand, which was already gathering mana.
"Don't worry about me. Go ahead."
From any angle, Liam had reached his limit. His vision might already be blurring. In peak condition, he could have shattered one of the Wyvern's wings, but now his injuries were clinging to his body.
A flash of light suddenly appeared in the dark sky. It streaked quickly like a falling star. Liam, seeing it, instinctively pulled Ruby into his embrace and pushed himself back as far as he could.
Something like a falling star had indeed landed right in front of them. It struck the Wyvern's hard body, causing cracks in the ground beneath it.
"Are you okay, kids?!"
Perrene hurriedly jumped down, leaving the dead Wyvern behind.
Ruby moved herself beside Liam's body. Just before Perrene struck the creature, Liam used the remaining mana to create a shield and ended up unconscious.
"I'll take him to the medical room."
-o0o-
[Liam, how about we buy some pancakes?]
[You really like sweet things, don't you?]
[What about that ride? Do you want to try it?]
[Okay. I'll go wherever you go.]
Who is that? Why does she look so much like me? And what is Ruby?
The next moment, everything disappeared. The unfamiliar scene was replaced by the white ceiling of a medical room.
"Does your head hurt?"
A woman with her hair in a bun sat right next to him. She was still wearing a white medical coat. A stethoscope hung around her neck. The name on her left chest read Dayi.
"I'm feeling better. May I ask how long I was unconscious?"
Liam forced himself to sit up, leaning back against the bed.
"Three days. Oh, by the way, is that blonde girl your girlfriend?"
Blonde? Does she mean Ruby?
"No."
"I see. She's been visiting you often. I thought she was your girlfriend. Too bad, she's so beautiful."
After saying that, Dayi left with a bitter smile. Her wide strides led her to the door, and she disappeared.
The media room was empty. Out of the ten available beds, only one was occupied, and that was Liam inside. Each bed had a thick fabric partition.
Liam sighed while holding his head. His last memory was when he was hugging Ruby before the object fell from the sky.
What kind of dream was that? When was I that close to Ruby?
Click!
The door to the room opened again. This time it was Ruby who appeared. She was carrying a basket of fruit. She paused in the doorway when her eyes met Liam's.
"How are you? Still in pain?"
Leaving the door closed, Ruby stepped closer. She placed the basket of fruit on the small table next to the bed.
"I'm feeling better. Did you bring me here?"
Ruby held an apple in her left hand and a fruit knife in her right, peeling the fruit as she answered.
"No. Master Perrene helped you. You were almost in mana shock."
Liam only responded with a soft murmur. He was completely focused on Ruby, who was busy with the fruit in her hands. Today she looked different with her hair styled in a mini bun tied in two. Her ears were visible, though her bangs remained the same.
Her appearance was different from the one in his dream. In the dream, she looked more mature with hair that was even bluer at the ends than it was now.
What was this feeling?
Liam shook his head slowly, trying to shake off the unfamiliar feeling.
"How about you? Are you hurt?"
Ruby didn't answer right away. She finished what she was doing first, then brought a piece of apple shaped like a rabbit to Liam.
"I'm just slightly injured. Eat this."
Ruby placed a small plate on Liam's lap, not forgetting to take a piece of apple and eat it. She sat down on the chair next to the bed.
"Then, how's the situation outside?"
"All students were given a three-day break. Today, they've returned to school. Luckily, the number of casualties wasn't high, and all the damaged buildings have been repaired," Ruby explained.
While listening, Liam chewed the apple in his mouth. This was the first time he had heard Ruby speak at length.
After that, there was no further conversation. Liam had no topic to discuss, nor did Ruby.
Should I ask about that?
"Since you're feeling better, I'll be going now."
"Y-Yes, thank you for coming." Liam replied awkwardly as he watched Ruby leave.
The room was empty again. Liam put the plate on the table and lay back down. He put his right arm over his eyes.
"What's wrong with me? My heart..."
-o0o-
Less than a day after regaining consciousness, Liam decided to return to his dormitory. Staying there would only make him more anxious.
However, he didn't attend class the next day. He decided to go on the second day after taking a day off.
"Liam! How are you?! I heard you were injured? Oh my goodness!"
Even before entering the classroom, Kyla stopped him. With a string of worried questions in front of several students in the classroom hallway.
"I'm fine now." Liam answered lazily.
After that dream, Liam didn't dream it again. That only made him more curious. He felt he had to try to ask Ruby. But, on the other hand, he didn't want to be seen as an oddball who thought he was too close.
"Isn't it only five days since you got hurt? You should rest more."
Kyla puckered her lips, looking worried at Liam. Inside, she smiled because her actions had made her the center of attention this morning.
"Look at that."
"Wow, fighting already in the morning."
"Are they dating?"
"I don't think so."
Liam sighed heavily. The voices were loud in his ears and made him even more annoyed.
"I'm going to rest in class, so move aside."
Liam's response was cold, not what Kyla had expected. Without realizing it, she moved aside.
"What are you doing in front of the door? Hurry up and come in."
The deep voice of an adult man echoed behind Liam. The two teenagers instinctively turned and bowed their heads.
Dandellion, the master who would teach them about the theory of the magic circle. He had a scar on his right cheek. His hair was short, and thick-framed glasses perched on his nose.
He flashed a smile, but it wasn't warm—it felt cold.
Liam and Kyla hurried into the classroom. Today was a combined class of A and B, so they used a larger room with tiered seating.
Kyla went to her classmates, while Liam took a seat at the front with Ruby and three other girls.
"Alright, I'll start today's lesson. Everyone, open your books."
The lesson lasted two full hours. Dandellion also took the time to check the students' magic circles by asking a few students to come forward and show their magic circles.
Two of them were Kyla and Liam.
As far as I know, nothing major has happened so far. But since I wasn't in the same class as them before, I don't know much.
Kyla's magic circle is blue, a common color shared by all wizards. What sets hers apart is the engraving within the magic circle. She has two magic circles floating above her right hand.
By simply looking at the number of magic circles, everyone can determine and categorize the user's rank. The more magic circles one possesses, the higher their rank.
And Kyla is at the High rank with two magic circles.
The same applies to Liam. What sets Liam's magic circles apart is that they rotate around each other, acting as axes for one another.
"This year's class is truly remarkable. We've already found two students with High ranks in our class. Thank you both, you may return. Give a round of applause for your classmates."
"Wow!"
"Amazing!"
Kyla smiled proudly, flipping her hair. Unlike Liam, who didn't notice Ruby staring at him. The girl was busy with the book in front of her. Whatever she was writing, it seemed she couldn't be disturbed.
Am I disappointed?