Nivis's eyes widened at the sound of his name.
"Merlin Clay? Are you the champion my mother told me about?" she asked, wide-eyed with surprise.
Just a few days ago, the academy held a test to identify the true geniuses among its students.
It was the first test of its kind in the academy's history, and news of it quickly spread throughout the city.
Even she, confined to this room, had heard about it.
Who would have thought that the annoying boy in front of her was Merlin Clay—the champion of the test?
"Good, you know me," Merlin said with a satisfied nod. "But honestly, Nivis Astrala, I really hated your attitude earlier."
His tone turned cold as he reprimanded her. "You were too harsh on your mother. Didn't you see how sad she was?"
Nivis's face darkened. She clenched her teeth and shot back angrily, "How could I not know? I know it very well!"
Her voice echoed through the room, but Merlin showed no fear.
