"What is it with you and being three minutes late for our meetings, every single time?" Seraphina regarded the haggard youth before her. Areii's countenance was composed of creased brows, unsmiling lips, and eyes of confusion.

"Did something come up? Again?" She continued to question.

In return, she got a sigh. "Yes. How did our quest go? Did you turn in the Hawk Rider's Silver Medallion successfully?"

Seraphina couldn't help but shake her head as she watched the commoner before her take a seat at her table. The eyes of the nobles in the café had enough malice to make her scalp tingle—and that was when it wasn't directed at her. Yet, Areii Layvann had no care for them whatsoever.

Ever since she chose him as her combat partner, Areii had ceased to be a ghost that everyone ignored. Instead, he became the target of envy. Seraphina wanted to help, yet, whenever a malicious force went on to provoke Areii, the boy would simply stare them dead in the eye. The lifelessness of his gaze would always send shivers down his aggressor's spine.

Even Seraphina had experienced such a chilling gaze once—that was when she approached him to be her combat partner.

If such a thing were not enough to deter them from acting, Areii would simply run and hide. He had no care for his reputation, nor for his name. That was why he became a ghost in the first place—all the nobles that tried to poke fun at him had been met with absolute apathy. 

There was an exception, of course, and that was when people started encountering the boy in the Virtual Realm. Areii was a type of crazed calmness. A manic tranquillity that bordered between insanity and strategy. His movements were seemingly random, yet so well-calculated that it would leave one questioning the lessons they were being taught at school.

After her thoughts reached this point, Seraphina signalled the waiter to bring Areii a cup of tea.

"The quest went well, and we can proceed with the next one after today's assessment." She smiled, satisfied with Areii's latest performance. "Annihilating almost a dozen nobles with just the gun I won for you at an auction has become quite the topic at school."

Seeing Areii's frown, Seraphina giggled. Glancing around her, she continued. "You're famous! Though, I had never expected anything less."

Now, it would be easier for her to face her family whenever they visited. 

"The rewards?" Areii asked with a flat tone. His lifeless eyes seemed to gaze straight into her soul, uncaring for her mortal coil.

A pout surfaced on Seraphina's soft, red lips. Her expression caused the surrounding students to steal glances at her. It was rare for the only daughter of the Duke of Gryphons to make such a face. She usually carried herself with the highest of etiquette, leaving little for critique.

"After almost half a month, you still keep such an unfriendly tone. The rewards are as bountiful as our informants have claimed. I left your half in our shared warehouse. You can grab them when you log back in."

Areii let out a dry chuckle as he took a cheeky sip of his tea. A bit of life streaked through his eyes as he did. "As I have said; fighting stresses me out. Let me keep my sanity when I'm not fighting."

Seraphina rolled her eyes. Lies, all of it. All I hear is a pile of bull excrement. I'll figure you out eventually.

"Finish your tea as soon as you can, or we'll be late for class."

Walking through the boring white halls of Grand Lord University with Areii beside her was an interesting experience. Seraphina had never thought that nobles could transmit so much hate through their eyes. She was so used to their fawning smiles and pleasant words.

It was only when she was walking with a 'talentless' commoner that she truly perceived the severance between social classes. Not one person in this portion of the university was a commoner, after all.

Fortunately, none of them dared to make a move while she walked beside him. Otherwise, they would definitely be late for class.

"Have you ever visited the lower rings of Grand Lord? To perhaps meet people of similar standings and make some acquaintances?" Seraphina couldn't help but pose a pair of questions.

"I have," Areii answered simply. "But I have no need to make acquaintances."

"And why is that?"

"Everyone there knows me as the 'out-of-place-commoner' or the 'guy-who-thinks-he's-so-cool' or the—" Areii caught his tongue mid-sentence. "Actually, why don't you ask one of your maids? They would know."

Seraphina made an expression. Oh.

After a bit more walking, the duo eventually arrived in front of their classroom doors. With a light push, Areii opened the door and allowed Seraphina to enter first.

"Thank you," Seraphina nodded, still as surprised as ever that Areii was educated on bits and pieces of noble etiquette. It made the boy's background all the more intriguing.

Areii simply nodded in return before making his way to his seat. At the same time, she found her own and began reviewing her notes for the day's assessment. She used her watch to unlock her desk's screen and watched as lines of text filled her vision. Her own, neat handwriting and clean diagrams were a therapeutic sight.

Every piece of text was new knowledge to her. She enjoyed the lessons very much.

Eventually, when the bell rang, their homeroom teacher made her iconic entrance. Helen Montclair strode into the room with her signature aura of dominance. Despite the fact that everyone in the room had ascended from the mundane to become mages of the Energy Sorcerer Inheritance, her own students were still ants before her presence.

Looking at her students in A-1 Leviathan, Helen couldn't help but sigh. She scanned their expressions like an eagle hunting for prey, lingering only for a bit longer on a certain student before continuing around.

Areii Layvann... To think half the class would be inferior to a commoner! She thought to herself, her brow twitching ever so slightly at that thought. Her position among the teachers had already taken a hit when people learned that there was a commoner in her class. Even the reputations of her other students had worsened. 

Associating with the lower class had left a stain on Helen's and her students' records. They were now perceived to be bearers of filth.

Worse, as the days went by, her reputation continued to plummet. The sole commoner in her class was somehow better than her own noble students. He excelled in written tests and live combat. If not for the fact that the quality of his energy indeed reflected his status, he would have left the other students far behind in the Virtual Realm.

It was honestly baffling to her.

I just need to let time run its course. Helen calmed the aversion in her heart as she logged into the teacher's digital desk. He will soon reach the ceiling of his abilities. From there, I can have him returned to his rightful place as per the rules.

After sending one last indifferent glance at the boy in question, her lips parted, and her voice flowed out like a tranquil stream. Instantly, the class was drawn into her aura, enchanted once more. Her body radiated a warmth that could captivate.

As a powerful Barrier Mage, Helen's control over the energy lingering around her had grown to influence even the emotions of people. People even had a name for this characteristic she wielded.

[Conqueror's Allure]