“Put it down already.” Iana followed closely behind Yiserin, trying to find the perfect moment to snatch the sign from her hands.
But Yiserin seemed to have some kind of supernatural ability; every time Iana made a move, Yiserin noticed it beforehand, causing Iana to fail every single time.
As time passed, Yiserin and her group were approaching Saint Roland Magic Academy, and more people gathered around them—some even recognized them.
“Isn’t that Senior Yiserin?”
“Who’s that beside her?”
“Senior Sephiroth? Wait, why is she dressed like a guy?” Two girls whispered among themselves.
Thanks to the dragons’ sharp hearing, Iana clearly caught their conversation.
She had been so focused on getting the sign from Yiserin that she hadn’t stopped to question why Sephiroth, a demon spy disguised as a man, was wearing a dark gray shirt.
Frowning at the thought, Iana glanced over at Sephiroth, only to find the latter looking back at her with an awkward expression.
‘Forget it. What she wears isn’t my concern’. Iana gave up on the thought.
“Hey, what does Senior Yiserin’s sign say?”
“‘Welcome back to the world’s second cutest Iana and the third cutest Lillian.'”
“I know Lillian, but who’s this Iana? I don’t remember her at all.”
“Do they really think this isn’t embarrassing?”
Hearing the gossip around her, Iana bit her lip nervously, her fingers trembling.
She wished she could knock Yiserin to the ground, snatch the sign from her hands, and tear it to shreds.
“Hand me that sign now.” Iana whispered fiercely in Yiserin’s ear, her face darkened with frustration.
“Eh, why?” Yiserin dodged Iana’s grabbing hands.
“This was a welcome ceremony carefully prepared for you both by Sephiroth and me just yesterday.”
“Sephiroth was involved in designing this ceremony too?” Iana turned to look at Sephiroth behind her, her sharp gaze interrogating like an investigator.
“Yeah, I was involved,” Sephiroth said nervously, fidgeting with her luggage, a look of grievance on her face.
“I originally wanted to put you as the ‘cutest number one,’ but Yiserin was adamant that she was the cutest.”
“Is that really what’s bothering me?” Iana felt overwhelmed.
She stared at Yiserin and issued an ultimatum: “If you don’t put the sign down, I’m not talking to you anymore.”
“Eh, is it really necessary to be so ruthless? This was a heartfelt effort from Sephiroth and me.” Yiserin pretended to wipe non-existent tears from her face.
“Why don’t you ask Sephiroth what she thinks?”
Sephiroth stiffened at being suddenly addressed, feeling awkward.
“I think… if Iana doesn’t want it, then we should just put it away.”
“How could you say that?” Yiserin acted as if she’d been betrayed by her closest friend.
“You said just yesterday that Iana would be really happy to see this sign!”
Sephiroth’s cheeks flushed red.
“That… that was because I thought Iana would like this surprise, but since she’s upset now, we shouldn’t force her.”
“Traitor!” Yiserin dramatically clutched her chest and took two steps back.
“See? Even Sephiroth agrees. Now give me that sign already.”
Yiserin sighed helplessly, her eyes scanning the group.
Her hand holding the sign tightened, loosened, then finally she shook her head in resignation and reluctantly handed it over.
“Take good care of it, okay?”
The moment Iana took the sign, she gave a slight smile.
Overcome by an intense wave of embarrassment, she immediately tore it to pieces, shredded so thoroughly it looked like it had gone through a paper shredder.
Yiserin watched the torn sign with regret, her spirit dampened all the way back to Saint Roland Magic Academy.
When they reached the academy’s main gate, Lillian parted ways since her villa was in a different area from Iana and the others’ dormitory.
“Bye-bye.” Lillian waved at Iana and the others, then turned to walk away.
“Wait.” Iana caught Lillian’s arm and handed her a yellowed scroll of parchment.
“This is a Teleportation Scroll. You’ll probably need it tomorrow,” Iana said earnestly.
“A Teleportation Scroll?”
“This… this is far too precious. I can’t accept it,” Lillian hurriedly waved her hand, trying to push the scroll back, but Iana stubbornly pressed the scroll into her palm.
“Keep it. Use it tomorrow to teleport to your teammates.”
Without waiting for Lillian’s refusal, Iana ran back to Yiserin’s side.
Lillian stared at the faint magical glow emanating from the scroll, mouth opening as if to say something, but Iana was already too far away.
She carefully tucked the scroll away and whispered a soft “Thank you” toward Iana’s departing figure.
Seeing Iana give Lillian the Teleportation Scroll, Yiserin stretched out her hands teasingly: “Iana, what about me?”
“You? You should be grateful I’m not charging you for emotional damages.”
“Hmph, how can you be so heartless?”
While they joked around, the three of them reached the dormitory.
Back in her room, Iana reactivated the Bloodline Suppression Function of the Senro Breath Pearl.
A flash of white light, and the beautiful silver-haired girl disappeared, replaced by a clean-cut young man.
“So exhausting.” Ian rubbed his shoulders and lay down on the bed.
Before he could rest properly, there was a knock on the door.
“I’m coming in, Iana,” Yiserin said.
Ian mumbled a vague “Hmm” in response.
“What’s with that? Why turn back into Ian as soon as you’re back in the dorm?”
Though Yiserin was also wearing male clothing at the moment, she didn’t hold back on teasing him.
“Get to the point.”
“I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”
“Bad news first.”
“The bad news is my sister, Serinveia, has joined Ethelrina’s team, making it even harder for us to win the championship.”
“What?” Ian shot upright, shocked as if he’d heard something utterly impossible.
“And the good news?”
“The good news is the reward for this Holy Trial has been increased again, personally funded by Headmaster Isabella.”
“The winner of the first trial will receive an Epic Weapon in addition to the original reward.”
“The runner-up will get a Bloodstone to aid in bloodline development.”
“The reward’s been increased again? And it’s Headmaster Isabella personally footing the bill?” Ian couldn’t figure out what was really going on with her.
***
Headmaster Isabella’s office at Saint Roland Magic Academy.
“Someone from the Church—a Red-Robed Bishop—has arrived. Should I stop her?” the Vice Principal respectfully asked Isabella.
Isabella looked at the Crystal Ball displaying Ian, lifted her teacup, and took a sip. “Not for now.”