As time flowed on, the final class of the day drew to a close. One by one, students began to filter out, yet not everyone was in a hurry to leave. After the sixth class, there remained one final opportunity for students to attend an optional session.
"Ren! Let's head to the Terra-forming class!" Elara exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Terra-forming?" Ren echoed, recalling the previous day's lesson.
Just then, a voice called out to them, prompting them to turn. A woman with hair the color of a sunset stood before them, holding two sheets of paper.
"Miss Ann," Elara greeted, her tone brightening. "Here are your results. I took the liberty of bringing them myself," she explained.
Both Ren and Elara expressed their gratitude, bowing slightly in acknowledgment. The professor handed them their results from the 'familiarity test.'
The paper was filled with various details, primarily their biographical information. At the bottom, encased in a bold box, were their results.
"Pyro-elemental," Elara read aloud, her expression a mix of bittersweetness—neither joyful nor despondent. Ren noticed her lack of enthusiasm, a flicker of concern igniting in his mind. He turned to examine his own results.
"Earth-elemental," he stated. "That's good," Elara chimed in from behind, glancing at his paper. "It means you can manipulate nearly every earth metal, even the ground itself," she continued.
"And what about you? I'd say yours is even better—you can control gases at high temperatures."
"I don't know," she replied, her expression unchanged.
"Is it not what you wanted?"
"It's not that. I just wish I had a metallic affinity; it would aid me in my work."
Ren pondered how to lift her spirits, and after a moment of thought, an idea sparked in his mind.
"I think Pyro elements are actually better," he asserted, meeting her gaze. "You can shape metals, create wires, and even construct electric circuits without relying on an external energy source."
Her eyes widened in surprise; she hadn't considered it that way. A smile blossomed on her face, spreading effortlessly across her cheeks.
"Come on, we're going to be late for class!" Ren urged, and together they hurried towards the Terra-forming class.
***
"Did you go to the garden again?" a voice growled from behind a steel door. "Yes."
"I warned you to stay away from there." The tone was heavy, tinged with anger, but silence followed.
"Don't ever do it again."
As the voice faded, so did the silhouette of a figure retreating from the creaking door. A soft murmur lingered in the air.
The room was cloaked in darkness, with only slivers of light spilling through the cracks beneath the door. In the dim glow, the outline of a hand could be seen resting on the floor.
It belonged to a woman with silver-grey eyes, curled up on the ground, her knees tucked close to her chest. Golden-brown hair fanned out around her. Her white dress appeared almost grey in the absence of light.
Scattered around her bare feet were sheets filled with sketches of birds, butterflies, and grasshoppers. A little further away, another drawing lay suspended in the dim light.
It depicted a shy boy with curly hair and a lively girl with pearl-black eyes, walking side by side.
***
Among the many lecture halls of the institute, one stood out above all—a hall unlike any other, with circular, stadium-like seating reminiscent of a coliseum. At its center lay a flat platform, upon which a holographic cube floated, casting an ethereal glow.
Ren and Elara entered the hall, where only a handful of students had gathered for an optional class.
They made their way to the back of the room, settling into their seats. "Don't you want to sit at the front?" he asked.
"No, I've come to enjoy sitting at the back," she replied, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
After a short while, Professor Henry arrived. Clad in a long white coat adorned with three stars on its shoulders, he positioned himself beside the floating hologram at the center of the hall.
He scanned the room, his eyes tallying the students before he began the class.
The session was brief compared to others, as the optional class only spanned two-thirds of the usual time. Yet, in that short duration, Professor Henry imparted a wealth of knowledge.
Throughout the lecture, Elara seemed thoroughly engaged, diligently noting everything on her phone, which transformed into a tablet. "Don't you want to write anything down?" she asked Ren, who appeared unfazed by the noise around him.
"I don't like writing everything," he replied, leaving her momentarily puzzled.
The bell rang, marking the end of the session. "Ah, that was exhausting," Ren sighed, weariness evident in his voice.
"I wouldn't call it exhausting—more like exhilarating," Elara countered, her energy as vibrant as ever. He chuckled at her seemingly boundless stamina as they exited the hall.
As the professor left as well, he glanced at them, nodding in appreciation for their presence.
They strolled through the hallway at a leisurely pace, the emptiness surrounding them stark, as most students had already departed. Only a few remained in sight.
Suddenly, Ren halted, captivated by the sight of leaves cascading from the apple trees in the open garden just outside the hallway.
Elara turned, puzzled by his abrupt stop, her gaze drawn to the breathtaking scene before them.
The clouds enveloped the sky, draping the vast blue expanse in a gray shroud. A brisk breeze stirred the leaves, the sound of rustling filling the air.
Yet the sun peeked through the clouds, casting a warm glow on a small part of the campus—a stage crafted by nature itself, where a boy and girl stood, observing the beauty unfold.
Then, a droplet fell, followed by countless others, heralding the arrival of rain and shattering the tranquil silence. Startled by the sudden downpour, they turned their heads inward.
"Should we head inside?" Ren suggested, a heavy weight settling in his chest. "Hmm," she nodded, her hair brushing against her ears as she tucked it behind them.
***
The rain was relentless today, showing no signs of abating.
Yet it hadn't deterred anyone; cars zipped effortlessly through the air, illuminating the city with vibrant lights, while trains whistled their horns as they glided through the metropolis.
Inside one of the many soaring trains, a man sat beside the window, marveling at the glorious view from above.
He perched on a crimson red seat, sipping tea from a foldable table in front of him. In one hand, he held a book made of real paper—a rarity in this modern age.
Dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit embroidered with intricate designs and accented by a red bowtie, he exuded sophistication.
"Is there anything you need, sir?" a waitress inquired, standing nearby. "No, I'm comfortable," he replied with a gentle demeanor, his gaze causing her heart to race the moment it met hers.
His crimson red eyes were sharp, capable of piercing through anyone who dared to meet their intensity.