Upon hearing his name called, Ren rose quietly from his seat. "Please don't ask anything too difficult," he silently prayed, beads of sweat trickling down his brow as anxiety tightened its grip around him.
"Could you explain what codes are, along with their principles and familiar elements?" inquired Professor Miss Ann, her hair glowing like the sunset.
"I only know how they function," he thought, his heart racing, panic creeping beneath his skin. "Um," he stammered, feeling the weight of every gaze upon him.
He averted his eyes to the left and closed them momentarily. "Hey," a voice whispered in his ear. He opened his eyes to find Elara, her cheerful smile illuminating the room.
The sight of her smile steadied his heart and calmed his breath. "Alright," he murmured, straightening his posture, his eyes now gleaming with newfound focus.
"Let me recall what I've read in 'The Book,'" he whispered to himself.
"Codes, also known as EEC (Elemental Execution Code), are akin to DNA. Just as DNA serves as a manual for our brains to follow instructions and manage bodily functions, EEC guides us in controlling elements.
EEC encompasses molecular behavior inputs that aid in familiarizing ourselves with these elements. Each EEC is designed for a set of similar molecular particles that share common characteristics, such as Water and Ice.
However, just as every DNA is unique, so too is each EEC. This is why, typically, a single individual can master only one type of element—the familiar element—connected to our DNA prints, indicating which base elements we are most likely to resonate with."
Finally, he lowered his gaze, taking a deep breath to brace himself for what lay ahead. "Incredible," Miss Ann exclaimed, praising him. Applause erupted around the room, echoing the enthusiasm of those who had come before him.
"It was absolutely amazing," Elara chimed in from beside him.
"Thank you—" Ren began, but was cut off by the professor.
"Now that we have grasped the fundamentals of Artificial Magic, it is time to explore your familiar elements," she declared.
A wave of excitement surged through the hall, students buzzing with anticipation.
"Now," she continued, "I need your blood samples." With that, she produced a syringe from her pocket.
Silence fell over the class. "No," murmurs erupted from the back, fear of the needle sending shivers through many like frightened toddlers.
"It's just a needle," the large boy from earlier asserted.
"Yes, I don't understand why they're all so afraid," muttered a blonde-haired boy, trying to maintain a strong demeanor despite his trembling legs.
"It's not so bad, right?" Ren laughed, glancing at Elara's expression.
Despair was the perfect word to describe her face, as if her very soul had fled her body. "Uh—are you scared?" Ren inquired, noting her end-of-the-world expression.
"N-n-no," she stuttered, her voice quaking. "We'll start from the back," the professor announced.
Elara nearly jumped out of her skin, her color draining as fear washed over her. "Elara!" Ren shouted, concern flooding his voice.
***
"Blood sampling has been completed; your results will be available by the end of the day," Miss Ann announced, taking her leave as the bell rang for break.
"Are you alright?" Ren inquired, his gaze fixed on Elara, who appeared to be lost in another realm. "It's break time; would you like to grab something to eat?" he suggested, breathing life back into her spirit. "Yes!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm rekindled.
"Hey, you two!" called a boy from behind, his blonde hair glinting under the light, thin glasses perched on his nose. "What's your name?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone.
"Didn't you hear it during the introductions?" Ren replied, a hint of irritation in his voice. "I have no interest in everyone's introductions," the boy retorted, his pride evident.
Both Ren and Elara exchanged glances, annoyance creeping into their expressions. "Shouldn't the one who asks introduce themselves first?" Elara pointed out, deftly undermining his haughty demeanor.
"Ricchie Brown, you must have heard of me," he declared, adjusting his glasses with a flourish. "No," they replied in unison, the swift rejection piercing Ricchie's pride.
"It's your father who is famous, not you," chimed in a larger boy who had just arrived, smirking at Ricchie.
"Apologies for the trouble; he only wants to befriend you both because he's a lonely brat," he said. "What did you just say?" Ricchie protested, but fell silent under the larger boy's gaze.
"Um, you're really tall," Elara remarked, tilting her head back to meet his eyes.
"I'm Darren Heart; he and I are childhood friends," he said. "Nice to meet you, I'm Elara Selena," she replied, her smile radiant. "Renaris Aurelith," Ren added, his tone formal.
"Selena? By any chance, do you know Sir Arlyn Selena?" Darren asked, his interest piqued by the name.
Elara regarded him with a puzzled expression. "Yes, he's my father," she said. "Oh, I don't mean it, I was simply curious about your name," Darren said, a hint of guilt within voice.
"Don't worry about it. But how do you know him?" she pressed, her gaze sharp.
"I've read his articles; they're exceptional," he replied, a smile lighting her face as she basked in pride for her father's work.
"Do you know about the floater skates?" he asked. "Yes, and I even have the copy of first prototype," she answered, her enthusiasm matching his as they delved into a discussion about his mechanical inventions.
"Why do I feel a twinge of annoyance?" Ren mused, observing their joyful exchange. His gaze shifted to the blonde boy with glasses, who appeared crestfallen.
"Ricchie, right?" Ren asked, "Why do you want to be our friend?" he probed directly. "Who said I wanted to be your friend?" Ricchie retorted, his denial ringing hollow.
Ren scrutinized him, the falseness of his claim evident. Finally, Ricchie relented. "I— I just thought that being friends with smart people would make me smarter," he confessed. Ren erupted into laughter at his earnestness. "What's so funny?" Ricchie shouted, but Ren couldn't contain his mirth.
"Anyway, I'm going for a walk," Ren declared. "Aren't you going to eat?" Ricchie asked, puzzled. "No."
Ren sidestepped his question and exited the classroom.
***
"Why did I come out here?" Ren pondered as he strolled along the hallway, his gaze drifting towards the open garden. The enchanting scenery captivated his mind.
Yet, a lingering discomfort nestled in his heart as he inhaled deeply, watching the leaves dance in the breeze.
"Are you alone today?" a voice called out, startling him. Ren scanned his surroundings but found no one. "Who was that?" he murmured to himself.
"I'm down here," the gentle voice chimed again. Leaning towards the open side, he looked down to find a woman sitting against the wall, clad in a soft white dress, her golden-brown hair cascading around her.
She met his gaze with a warm smile, her silver-grey eyes sparkling. "Where is the sparkling girl?" she asked, her sketchbook in hand, adorned with drawings of birds.
"Sparkling girl?" he thought, quickly realizing she referred to Elara. "Why?" he inquired, his expression turning somber.
"Isn't she always with you?" she asked, studying him closely. "Always? We just met yesterday," he replied, confusion evident in his voice.
"Watching you both, it doesn't seem that way," she teased, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Don't overthink it," she added, causing Ren's eyes to widen in surprise at her insight.
"How do you—" he began, but was interrupted by a familiar voice calling from behind.
"Ren!" Elara exclaimed, breathless from her hurried approach, reminiscent of their first meeting. "What's wrong?" Ren asked, concern etched on his face.
"You left without a word," she said, annoyance flickering in her expression. "Ah, I—" Ren stammered, unsure how to respond.
"Anyway, what are you doing here?" she asked. "Oh, a lady called out to me unexpectedly," he said, gesturing outside. "A lady?"
Elara leaned out the window, but found no one. "No one is here," she said, leaving Ren perplexed as he searched for her but found nothing.
"But we just spoke a moment ago," he murmured. Elara chuckled lightly, "Looks like hunger is making you delusional. Before it worsens, let's grab something to eat," she said, her smile brightening the moment.
Ren looked at her, feeling the weight of his worries lift. "Sure," he agreed, and together they made their way to the university's food court.
"I want to eat Takiyoki again!" Elara exclaimed. "But you just had it yesterday," Ren replied, bemused. "So what?" she shot back.
"I don't believe the food court has Takiyoki," he speculated, observing her face contorted in a pout of frustration. "Now what?" he inquired, a look of bewilderment crossing his features. "Nothing," she replied, turning her gaze away.
"Did I say something wrong?" Ren pondered.