As Rai and Gale finished piling their plates high with food, they began searching for a place to sit among the seemingly endless tables. In the distance, something caught Rai’s eye—a brilliant shade of burning red. It was Rose.

Without hesitation, Rai steered them in her direction. Gale, noticing their intended destination, quickly tugged at Rai’s sleeve and whispered, “Are you sure this is a good idea, Rai?” Rai, his face lighting up like a child on Christmas morning, gave a goofy thumbs-up, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

As they approached, Rose sat alone at a table meant for six, her elegant posture unyielding as she delicately handled her meal. She noticed them, her piercing gaze meeting theirs, but her expression remained neutral—neither welcoming nor dismissing.

Rai waved cheerfully, saying, “Hello, Rose!” She acknowledged them with the barest of nods, her demeanor indifferent. Taking this as an invitation, Rai and Gale placed their plates down across from her.

It wasn’t until they sat that Rose truly noticed the mountains of food they had gathered. Her fork froze mid-air as she glanced from one plate to the other, her disbelief growing by the second. Finally, she set her fork down, her composure breaking ever so slightly. “How on earth are you two going to finish all that?” she asked, her voice tinged with equal parts shock and curiosity.

Rai and Gale exchanged knowing grins before bowing their heads and murmuring a brief prayer of thanks for the food. What followed could only be described as a spectacle. Like two whirlwinds, they vacuumed their plates clean in mere minutes, leaving no trace of their mountainous feast.

Rose sat frozen, her eyes wide as saucers, caught between amazement and horror. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. “I…I don’t know whether to be impressed or disgusted by what I just witnessed,” she finally admitted, her tone uncharacteristically flustered.

Rai leaned back, patting his stomach contentedly, while Gale gave her a sheepish grin. Together, they had managed to turn a simple meal into yet another unforgettable moment.

Once their plates were finally empty, Rai leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped behind his head in a relaxed posture. With a mischievous grin, he looked at Rose and asked, “Why are you alone? You’re so stunningly beautiful, you should be surrounded by some idiots, right?”

At his words, Rose’s cheeks flushed bright red. Her eyes narrowed as she shot up from her chair, fury and embarrassment clear on her face. “Wh-what do you think you’re saying, you fool?! You think you can make me fall for you with that smooth talk?” she yelled, clearly flustered.

Rai, ever the carefree soul, simply shrugged with a sheepish grin. “Just saying what I see, geez, sorry,” he said, rolling his eyes as if it was no big deal.

Rose’s face turned an even deeper shade of crimson. She sat back down, her posture regaining its usual elegance, but her voice softened, betraying a moment of vulnerability. “When people look at me, they don’t see me, you know? What they see is the daughter of the Elmag. No one sees Rose Scarlett.”

But in the quiet of her heart, she couldn't help but think, Well, I guess it’s not really no one anymore, is it? At least one person does now. She glanced at Rai, who, for reasons she couldn't quite explain, had somehow managed to see past her title.

Rai glanced at Gale, a chuckle escaping his lips as he said, “Well, what did I tell you, Gale? All these idiots around here, with eyes brimming full of magic, and not a single one able to see”. He turned his attention back to Rose, his smile widening as he spoke, his words laced with lighthearted confidence.

Rose, however, found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions. A mixture of confusion and something deeper stirred within her as she listened to Rai. For the first time, someone had truly seen past the façade that her title and magic often created. Despite the unexpected stir of feelings she was experiencing, she refused to let it show. She maintained her usual elegant composure, her prideful strength never wavering, though deep down, she was battling with something unfamiliar.

Gale and Rai continued to laugh, their banter light and carefree, when Rose suddenly spoke, her voice laced with a trace of curiosity. “I’m surprised you’re not nervous, Rai. For all we know, tomorrow could be your last day pursuing your dream of becoming the Elmag.”

Rai, still smiling confidently, was about to respond when Gale cut in, his tone brimming with conviction. “Well, Miss Rose, you of all people should know that Rai is no ordinary person. My bet is we’ll see the dawn of a new era tomorrow.” His words were filled with such unwavering confidence that even Rose was momentarily taken aback. She hadn’t imagined that someone could vouch for Rai with such certainty in just a few short hours. As the realization dawned on her, she thought to herself, “He is not ordinary, indeed.”

The moment was brief, but the weight of Gale's words lingered in the air. With time running out, it was time for them to return to their respective dorms and prepare for the challenge ahead. They all stood up, Rai flashing a warm smile as he waved goodbye to Rose. Rose, her cheeks flushed with a soft red hue, responded with a cool but intrigued tone. “We’ll see tomorrow if you’re all talk or not.” But in her heart, a part of her was already looking forward to seeing Rai again, unknowingly hoping for his success. It was as if her feelings were forming their own silent thoughts, separate from her conscious mind.

As the three of them made their way to their separate directions, a familiar figure caught Rai’s attention. A few tables away, sitting alone, was none other than Mammoth Stark. The moment Mammoth’s eyes locked with Rai’s, his friendly demeanor vanished, replaced by a burning fury. His smile faded into an expression of anger, and his very presence seemed to make the air around them heavy with tension. Rai, however, remained unfazed, his smile never wavering as he cheerfully waved at Mammoth. “We’ll be seeing each other tomorrow, man. Good luck.”

The cafeteria fell into a hushed silence. Mammoth’s magic aura emanated like a powerful wind, its force palpable, almost capable of tearing down walls. Students cowered under the weight of his presence, but Rai remained calm, unaffected by the pressure. Gale, standing next to him, followed Rai’s lead, showing no fear. Though deep inside, he could feel the urge to cry and flee like a frightened child, he held his composure, determined not to show weakness in front of Rai.

With that, the two of them left the cafeteria and made their way back to their dorms. Rai turned to Gale with a smile. “Well, I better get some shut-eye. Tomorrow’s gonna be wild.” Gale chuckled, the tension of the evening lifting slightly. “Ha ha, yeah.”

And with that, they both turned in for the night, their thoughts drifting to the challenge that awaited them the next day.