Ren froze, his breath caught somewhere between panic and awe. In his entire life, he had never spoken casually to a girl. The suddenness of the moment left his tongue heavy and his mind blank.
"Re– Renaris Aurelith, also an intern student," he managed at last, the words tumbling out awkwardly. His heart pounded violently — a rhythm of anxiety tangled with something unfamiliar: admiration.
"Oh, then, Renaris, do you love Terra-forming?" Elara asked, her gaze locking onto his.
"Um… Y– Yes," he replied, the lie escaping before he could stop it. Ah, I lied, he screamed inwardly.
"Really? That's good. Why don't we go together then?" she said cheerfully, taking two badges from the man standing by the entrance.
She extended one toward him. Ren hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to accept. But when he saw the brightness of her smile, his hand moved almost on its own, taking the badge from her.
"Then let's go," she said, her voice carrying that same warm lilt.
Ren nodded faintly. "Yeah," he whispered.
They clipped the badges to their chests and stepped into the lecture hall. The sight that met them silenced every thought.
The space stretched vast and circular, with rows of seats spiraling upward like a colosseum. At the center hovered a cubic hologram, suspended mid-air, its faint blue light reflecting off the white metallic walls.
Ren's eyes wandered to Elara, whose expression glowed with childlike wonder.
"Renaris, isn't this place amazing?" she asked, her tone expectant.
"Yes… and you don't have to say Renaris. Ren is fine," he replied quietly.
"Alright then, Ren," she said with a soft smile.
The growing crowd filled the hall, and Elara rose slightly on her toes, scanning the area.
"Ren, you're taller — do you see any open seats?" she asked, a hint of impatience in her voice.
Ren looked around. Most of the seats were already taken. "Only a few left at the back," he said.
"Then let's take them," she replied, and they moved together toward the upper rows.
Moments later, as the noise settled, a man entered the hall. Shorter than average, with chestnut-brown hair and thin glasses perched above sharp brown eyes, he carried a digital pad under one arm. A small beard framed his mouth, giving him a scholarly look.
He strode to the central platform beside the floating cube. "Welcome, young minds," he began, his voice firm and deliberate. "I am Henry Segura, and I will be your instructor in Terra-forming today."
At his words, the hologram shimmered, shifting its form until it resembled a rough, uneven sphere.
"This," he continued, gesturing toward it, "is Earth — as it once was, during its early stages. Terra-forming, in simple terms, is the art and science of making a planet habitable."
He paced slowly, scanning the class. "Currently, five nations are actively pursuing this research. Can anyone name them?"
Several hands rose — some hesitantly, others with confidence. He pointed toward a girl seated near the back.
"You there. Please introduce yourself first."
"Yes, sir. I'm Elara Selena," she said, standing with composure that commanded attention.
"Very well, Miss Selena. Please, name them."
"In Rumericas, AUTA; in Atussia, RAKN; in Marisha, MOSEN; in Espiana, EURA; and in Ariella, ATUSA," she recited effortlessly.
"Excellent," Professor Segura commended.
Elara smiled, cheeks tinged faintly pink.
Ren watched her, astonished. She's incredible… and I know nothing about Terra-forming, he thought, panic swirling inside.
"Amazing," he murmured before realizing the words had escaped his lips. Elara heard and turned slightly, a blush of her own forming — not from pride, but from something softer. Ren turned away, mortified.
The lecture went on, the professor guiding them through concepts and principles with practiced clarity. Time slipped by unnoticed until, at last, he posed a final question.
"I have told you why Terra-forming is important," he said, his tone deepening. "Yet we won't need it for at least two centuries. So, tell me — why do we race toward it now?"
Silence fell. Some students whispered among themselves; others frowned, lost in thought. Even Elara sat motionless, uncertain.
And then, without realizing why, Ren's hand rose.
"Oh?" the professor said, intrigued. "Please, stand."
Ren rose slowly, his mind distant, his body moving on instinct. He took a deep breath, words forming without conscious thought.
"There isn't any grand reason behind it," he began quietly.
"Our curiosity to know the unknown, the hunger to test our limits, and the greed that drives us to reach further — that's why."
For a heartbeat, no one spoke. The hall remained utterly still.
"Ren…" Elara whispered under her breath, eyes wide.
"Excellent," Professor Segura said at last, a faint smile breaking his scholarly demeanor. "A simple, yet profound answer, with no hesitation."
Ren blinked, the sudden praise snapping him back to awareness. "Oh— I, um— Renaris Aurelith," he stammered when the professor asked his name.
The bell rang, echoing across the vast hall, signaling the end of class. Students rose, the air filling once again with chatter and footsteps.
Elara turned to him, concern flickering in her eyes. "Are you alright?" she asked softly.
"N-no, I mean… yes. I'm fine," he said quickly, unsure himself.
As they reached the door, the professor called out, "You two — Elara Selena and Renaris Aurelith, correct?"
They both stopped. "Yes," Elara replied.
"I'd like to invite you to continue attending Terra-forming classes during your internship," he said, smiling warmly.
Ren and Elara exchanged a confused glance.
"I mean," he clarified, "you may attend as optional sessions."
"Oh, then yes! I'm taking Mechanical AM branch, and our last period's is free," Elara said eagerly.
Ren blinked in surprise. Mechanical AM? Same as me…
"Excellent," the professor said, pleased. "And you, young man?"
"I— I'm also taking Mechanical AM, so… yes, I may join too," Ren replied awkwardly.
"Really?" Elara said, eyes lighting up with delight.
Professor Segura chuckled. "Splendid. I'll be expecting great things from you both," he said before taking his leave.
As they stepped out of the hall together, the noise of the corridor swallowed them — but Ren could still feel his heart racing, not from fear this time, but from something far more uncertain.
***
Ren and Elara strolled side by side toward the Morning Hall, the resonant chime of the bell heralding the close of yet another day.
"That felt rather short, didn't it?" Elara ventured, glancing at Ren. "Indeed," he replied, a hint of awkwardness hanging in the air between them. "Only one class today."
As they walked, a gentle, cool breeze wafted by. Elara turned her gaze toward its source, her eyes sparkling at the sight of the breathtaking garden, adorned with vibrant yellow-green leaves.
"It's absolutely lovely, isn't it?" she said, her hair dancing in the wind. "Yes," Ren replied, though his attention wandered elsewhere.
"Well," he murmured, "if you don't mind my curiosity, why do you aspire to become a Mechanical AM engineer?" He avoided her gaze, his shyness palpable.
"Because my father cherished it," she replied, her eyes lingering on a beautiful lily blooming before her. "He always said that Artificial Magic would transform the world. That's why I fell in love with it too."
"He must have been quite the mechanic. It's wonderful to have someone to admire," Ren remarked, a fleeting moment of admiration crossing his face.
"Yes, he was," Elara said, her expression softening. "Was?" Ren whispered, a note of concern creeping into his voice.
"He lost his life working on a project twelve years ago," she answered, her eyes avoiding Ren's.
Ren's features clouded with regret. "I'm so sorry, I—" he faltered, struggling to find the right words.
"You don't need to apologize," Elara interjected quickly, her spirit brightening. "That's why I want to be the greatest mechanic—to carry on his legacy." A smile graced her lips.
Ren's heart warmed at the sight of her smile. "The greatest mechanic? That does sound impressive," he chuckled.
"Oh, but you never shared your reason," Elara said, nudging him gently as they resumed their walk toward the Morning Hall.
"Me?" Ren echoed, grappling with the truth of his own motivations. "I can't possibly tell her that I chose it on a whim," he thought.
"Well, I just like mechanics," he finally said after a pause, noting the faint blush that crept onto Elara's cheeks. "The way he said that sounded a bit misleading," she laughed softly.
"What's so funny?" Ren asked, puzzled by her reaction.
"Nothing," she replied, barely suppressing her laughter.
"Come on, you have to tell me," Ren insisted.
Just then, a low rumble of thunder rolled through the sky. "Where did that come from?" he wondered, his eyes darting to Elara, who was now clutching her stomach, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Are you hungry?" Ren blurted out, feeling foolish.
"N-No," she stammered, turning her gaze away.
In that moment, an idea sparked in Ren's mind. "Um, if you don't mind, I know a really good place to eat," he said, his words tumbling out in a rush.
Elara paused, her silence stretching into an eternity. "Why isn't she saying anything?" he thought, a sheen of sweat forming on his brow as anxiety crept in.
"Well, we have the whole afternoon free, so… okay," she finally said, her cheeks coloring for reasons he couldn't quite understand.
A wave of relief washed over Ren, a smile blooming on his face. "Then…" he hesitated, searching for the right words, but Elara repeated with him, "Then?"
"N-Nothing!" Ren exclaimed, laughter bubbling up as they continued their journey toward the Morning Hall, the promise of the afternoon stretching before them.