Kaelen was moving around the room, pulling on a fresh pair of sweatpants and a loose t-shirt. The sound of fabric rustling was sharp in the quiet space, but my mind was elsewhere.
I sat on the edge of his bed, my hands gripping the edge of the mattress, my knuckles white.
He's hot, the thought echoed in my head, bouncing around like a rogue firefly. He's hot, he's hot, he's—
I squeezed my eyes shut. Stop it. I'm not gay. I'm a girl in this life. A girl who likes men. That's normal.
Kaelen turned, his silver hair damp and tousled from the towel he'd used to dry it. The new haircut I'd given him, the comb-over fade, suited him perfectly, accentuating his sharp jawline and high cheekbones. He looked effortlessly handsome, a fact that did nothing to help my internal crisis.
"You okay?" Kaelen asked, his voice pulling me from my spiral.
I blinked, looking up at him. He was standing a few feet away, his emerald eyes scanning my face with a look of mild concern.
"Y-yes," I stammered, forcing a smile. "Just... thinking."
Kaelen nodded, seemingly accepting the answer. He walked over to the mini-fridge and pulled out two bottles of water, tossing one to me. I caught it, the cool plastic a relief against my warm palms.
He sat down on the floor, leaning back against the bed frame, his legs stretched out. He took a long drink of water, his throat working as he swallowed.
Then, he looked at me, his expression shifting to something hesitant.
"Hey, umm..." he started, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not to sound rude, but... how should I say this?"
I tilted my head, curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
Kaelen took a breath, as if steeling himself. "From the background you described yourself of, I was wondering how you managed to get enrolled in the Luminara Magic Tower. I mean... it's a prestigious place. Most students come from noble families or elite academies."
I felt a spark ignite in my chest. This was it. The moment I had been waiting for.
I stood up abruptly, my height making me just tall enough to look down at him while he was sitting. I puffed out my chest, placing my hands on my hips.
"You, mister," I declared, my voice ringing with confidence, "are looking at the number one scorer in Theoretical Knowledge!"
Kaelen's eyebrows shot up. He looked genuinely surprised.
"Really?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Really," I said, a smug smile spreading across my face. "I aced the entrance exam. My theoretical knowledge is unmatched."
Kaelen stared at me for a moment, his green eyes wide. Then, a thoughtful look crossed his face.
"So," he said slowly, "how did you not make the top ten?"
The air left my lungs. The spark in my chest fizzled out, replaced by a cold splash of reality.
I looked down at him, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. Kaelen immediately realized his mistake, his eyes widening in panic.
"Wait, no—that came out wrong," he said quickly, holding up his hands. "I didn't mean to—"
I dropped to my knees in front of him, my head bowing low. My skirt fluttered around me.
"Kaelen," I said, my voice muffled by my hair. "You are absolutely right."
He froze, his hands still raised in a defensive gesture. "Bell?"
I lifted my head, my eyes burning with determination. "I didn't make the top ten because I failed the physical assessment. Miserably. I ranked dead last."
Kaelen blinked, processing this. "Oh."
"But that doesn't matter," I continued, grabbing his hands. His hands were large, engulfing mine completely. "Kaelen, just you watch! I will surpass everybody in this magic tower one day! Whether it be the stupid Dukes, the King, or even that stupid Valerius Thorne!"
Kaelen's expression shifted from surprise to amusement. A small, meaningful smile touched his lips.
"You do know you just insulted my father, right?" he said softly.
I froze. My brain short-circuited.
Wait. Duke. Supreme Duke of the Eastern Marches. Kaelen's father.
My face paled. I released his hands and scrambled back, bowing my head again.
"I—I apologize!" I stammered. "I didn't mean—"
Kaelen chuckled, he reached out and patted me on the back, his touch gentle.
"Relax," he said.
I let out a shaky breath, looking up at him. "Really?"
"Really," he confirmed. He paused, then his expression turned thoughtful again. "Hey, could I hire you as a tutor?"
The question caught me off guard. "A tutor?"
"For theory," Kaelen clarified. "I'm... not the best at it. And since you're the number one scorer, it makes sense."
I stared at him, my mind racing. He was offering to pay me? To teach him?
"No!" I said abruptly.
Kaelen blinked, looking taken aback. "No?"
I shook my head vigorously. "No payment. You're helping me train without charging me, so it's only right I help you study!"
Kaelen looked at me, a strange softness in his eyes. He smiled, a genuine, unguarded smile that made my heart skip a beat.
"Alright," he said. "No payment. Just... help."
"Deal," I said, standing up and dusting off my knees. "Let's start now. I'll test you on your theoretical knowledge."
Kaelen nodded, shifting to sit more comfortably on the floor. I sat across from him, pulling out a notebook and pen.
"It's basic stuff," I said, trying to sound encouraging. "If you don't understand something, feel free to ask. Don't be pressured."
He nodded, his expression serious. "Okay. Hit me."
I cleared my throat. "Question one: What is the fundamental law of mana conservation?"
Kaelen frowned, his eyes scanning the air as if searching for the answer. "Mana cannot be created or destroyed, only converted into different forms of energy."
I nodded. "Correct. Question two: What is the difference between elemental mana and spiritual mana?"
Kaelen paused. "Elemental mana is... the stuff in the air? And spiritual mana is... inside us?"
"Close," I said, scribbling a note. "Elemental mana is ambient mana found in nature, while spiritual mana is the mana generated by living beings. Good enough."
I continued with the questions, keeping them simple at first. But as the session went on, Kaelen's answers became increasingly bizarre.
"Question five: What is the primary function of a mana core?"
Kaelen nodded confidently. "It stores mana and releases it when you cast a spell."
"Technically correct," I said, "but the textbook defines it as the organ that regulates mana circulation."
"Same thing," Kaelen shrugged.
I moved on, my eyebrows furrowing. "Question six: What is the recommended breathing technique for mana compression?"
Kaelen thought for a moment. "Hold your breath and push?"
I stared at him. "No. You're supposed to take deep, rhythmic breaths to maintain a steady flow."
"Oh," he said. "I just hold it. It works for me."
I continued, and Kaelen's knowledge was... rudimentary at best. He seemed to rely on instinct rather than theory, which explained why he was so physically powerful but academically weak.
Finally, I decided to ask the question that had been burning in my mind.
"K-Kaelen," I said, trying to sound as friendly as possible. "Do you know what you got on the... Theoretical Knowledge section?"
Kaelen smiled proudly, completely oblivious to my dread.
"Of course I know," he said. "I did better than I expected. I got 22 out of 100."
My mind shattered.
22?!
I stared at him, my mouth hanging open. How was this possible? How had he gotten into the top five? Wait, top ten? He was ranked number one in physical assessment, but still... 22?
Then, the realization hit me like a physical blow.
I looked down at my own hands, remembering the physical assessment I had taken just yesterday. I had failed miserably, ranking last in the class.
I shivered.
I have no right to act shocked, I thought. I'm just as bad at physical assessment as he is at magical theory.
But then, a wave of determination washed over me. I looked up, meeting Kaelen's emerald eyes. I reached out and grabbed his hands again, my small fingers wrapping around his large wrists.
"Kaelen," I said, my voice firm. "I'm sorry."
He blinked, looking confused. "For what?"
I bowed my head, my hair falling forward. "For a moment I started thinking I was better than you just because I know theory. I'm was being intellectually arrogant. I'm sorry!"
Kaelen stared at me for a long moment. Then, he reached out and flicked my forehead with his finger. It wasn't hard, just a light tap, but it made me look up in surprise.
"You worry too much," he said, his voice calm. "I know I'm not the brightest when it comes to theory. That's fine. I'll get better, and so will you."
I stared at him, my cheeks flushing with heat. The casual way he accepted his flaws, the way he encouraged me without judgment... it was endearing.
"Thanks," I whispered.
He smiled, a small, genuine smile that made my heart flutter.