"The name's Ariana. What's yours?" Ariana asked, settling into the front seat with her hand extended toward the blonde girl.
"Rizel," she replied, accepting the handshake with a smile that drew appreciative glances from half the classroom—both male and female students alike.
"Sorry about the scene back there. I just lose it whenever I see that bastard," Ariana said, her expression darkening momentarily.
"You two have history," Rizel observed, not really asking.
"Nothing major. Just don't let his intimidating look fool you—he's probably the weakest person in our entire year. Hell, maybe in the whole academy." Ariana's tone carried bitter satisfaction.
"Right," Rizel murmured as Ariana shook her head, collecting herself.
"So what level are you? Or is that classified information?" Ariana's eyes flicked to the bandana covering Rizel's meta-watch.
"Oh, this?" Rizel raised her arm with a soft laugh. "I wanted to see if I could make friends without scaring them off first." She untied the cloth with a weary smile.
"Level 6.8? We're practically twins. High ranker territory," Ariana noted, her interest piqued.
"Yep," Rizel said, pumping her fist. "What about you?"
Ariana smirked and revealed her meta-watch. "Level 7."
"Seven?" Rizel blinked in surprise.
"Obviously. You didn't think you were the only high ranker around, did you?" Ariana laughed.
Both girls possessed the kind of beauty that made others feel inadequate just being in the same room—works of art that commanded attention without trying.
"How about I call you Zelly?" Ariana asked with a mischievous grin.
"Zelly? Isn't that a bit weird?"
"Nonsense. It's perfect. You can call me Aria or Ria—whatever works."
"Alright. I'll go with Ria," Rizel said, matching her smile.
They continued chatting while waiting for class to begin. Eventually, Rizel leaned in closer.
"When you said that guy from the elevator was the weakest in our year... what did you mean exactly?"
Ariana stretched, her expression conflicted. Despite hating him enough to "accidentally" target him in sparring matches, she couldn't bring herself to reveal his secret—something only a handful of people knew.
"It's okay if you don't want to share," Rizel offered kindly.
Why do I even care what happens to him? He can die for all I care, Ariana thought furiously.
"No, it's fine. He's had this problem since childhood, probably since awakening," she whispered.
"What kind of problem?"
"He can't sense his manacore. It exists, but it's like it doesn't. I don't know the exact cause, but he's never been able to break through."
"So he's still stuck at Level 1?" Rizel's eyes widened.
"Technically, he's not even Level 1 strength. By international standards, he'd probably be classified as Origin Level 0."
"That shouldn't be possible..."
"But it's reality," Ariana shrugged. "I think it's related to whatever blessing he awakened."
"What blessing—"
"Isa, over here!" Ariana suddenly stood, waving enthusiastically at someone across the room.
Rizel followed her gaze to a girl whose ethereal beauty seemed almost otherworldly. But despite the girl's emotionless expression, Rizel's sharp perception caught the waves of pure hatred radiating from her stare.
"Where is she looking?" Rizel traced the girl's line of sight and froze. "Him again."
It was Lorelle, apparently fast asleep.