Delilah remained facing away from Vicius. The three nobles mumbled as they walked away, wanting to complain but couldn't quite bring themselves to curse the Luminary.
Indeed, the Luminary was more than just a title given. It was a title earned through hard work and dedication. It took someone with incredible amounts of willpower to achieve such an echelon of prestige.
Yet…
She couldn't quite bring herself to turn around. Her cheeks still flared up, even spreading to her ears.
But Vicius didn't push her, afraid that she would simply summon gales to escape once more.
And finally, after several arduous seconds of silence, she cast her calm gaze upon him.
"The reason I have been avoiding you was because… of the kiss. I've been embarrassed." She kicked her feet and played with strands of her hair until it became frayed and disheveled.
Vicius stared in disbelief.
'This damn girl! You think I am not embarrassed chasing after you across the campus?!'
But he chose to keep it inside, and took a deep breath.
"I understand how you feel. But could I ask why you kissed me?"
"You said you liked me. And, well… I just felt like it."
A vein throbbed across Vicius's forehead.
It was not like it was that big of a deal. He had gotten EXP from a quest he hadn't know he had. So it wasn't as if it hurt him in any way.
But rather, her lack of reason did peeve him. Greatly so.
"Whatever. Just, maybe don't do that again. Or at least give me a heads up."
He couldn't stop a blush of his own creeping on his face. Now they looked like a real couple, matching.
A deep silence descended on them again. Distant cheers and screams of students in sport clubs kept the academy alive.
Vicius turned to a close vending machine, taking out two drinks and tossing one to Delilah.
"Hope you like apples."
She looked down at the can.
'Green Apple'
"It's tasty."
"Right? At least you get it, Rowan always insults my taste in drinks."
He smiled faintly, looking back at the academy building.
"Vicius?"
"Yes?"
"I need to disclose some information to you. It's rather secret at the moment, so keep it under wraps."
"Sure."
She took out a piece of paper and pushed it into his chest.
Quickly scanning the entire thing, he turned back to the Luminary.
"So the headmaster is returning this Friday? And there will be an exam. What is so crazy about this? You made it sound serious."
She sighed and ripped the paper from his hands.
"The issue is that the exam will be in the Isle-lands. The academy is experimenting with the idea of sending students on more expedition to push the guilds to explore the Isle-lands more often."
She pointed at a map on her watch.
"The expedition would be using the rift the academy owns. A relatively safe zone with little beasts and a stronghold. We would have to form, teams of maximum five people and survive for about a month. The time period is undetermined as of yet."
Vicius looked at her, a smile creeping on his lips.
"And how does the honorable miss Luminary have the details on an exam before it was announced? This seems a little underhanded no? "
Delilah scoffed at him, itching to slap his insolence.
"You damn- anyway. I received this from the spellcrafting club president. His information network within the academy is unparalleled. Even the teachers are surprised with the sort of secrets he knows."
Before she lost herself in talking about that, she whipped back to Vicius.
"What I meant to say is. Would you like to form a team with me? We could bring on others if you would like, but I feel as though us two could perform well enough."
She pulled up two lists.
"My strengths are of course in the field of alchemy and potion crafting, but I am also adept in cooking and the preparation of food. Additionally I have studied the surroundings of the stronghold and am aware of the locations to camp for the duration of the event."
Then she flicked the page over. A smaller list of items.
"As for your strengths that I have perceived. Your strength lies in your shadow magic and close range sword fighting."
Vicius slumped his shoulders forward.
"Do you only see me as some kind of brute?"
"Of course not. But if it were just the two of us, I believe stealth is a bigger priority than just firepower. Shadow magic is close to invisible in the night, and your sword skills would be plenty during the day. The key to surviving is to attract little attention."
She smiled warmly at him, hoping her words were enough to uplift him.
Because in reality, she did actually think he was just a brute. Everyone who scored lower than her in the exams would therefore be a muscle brain.
"Fine Fine. I understand your reasoning. Not bad logic."
"Then you will make up a team with me?"
"Nope."
Delilah clicked her tongue. Going to rip the papers up in frustration.
"Actually, I have a different request. Would it be possible for you to form a team with my friends instead?"
Her eyes widened a little.
"It would be possible. But what are you playing at? And who do you want me to recruit?"
She crossed her arms.
"I would like if you would take Evie, the mage. Rowan, the Knight. Sherry, the close-quarters fighter. And Kathrine, the alchemist."
"And their strengths?"
"Evie is a brilliant mage with a mana pool larger than my own. She is a fire magic user with a secondary element she rarely uses. Rowan is a hardworking knight, the one I can call my rival. Sherry is from a wealthy family from the Venetian Empire, she has potential to what you wanted me to be on your team. And Kathrine…I don't know much about her, but after hearing that she wasn't very good in the combat department, I grew worried she wouldn't pass."
Delilah smiles in a cocky manner.
"And you want me to babysit your dear friends?"
Vicius nodded happily.
"Sounds fun. But you owe me one."
"Deal."