"Why did all of you come to the Technique and Spell Association? The Academy would have brought you here later," Amanda asked. Her expression remained unchanged, seemingly unbothered by the people she had just burned, but her brows furrowed as she looked at the two groups.
Like other top academies on the lower floors, the Light Academy always brought students who had become Rankers to the Technique and Spell Association every year. There, students could attempt to comprehend any technique or spell free of cost—the Academy covered the expense, regardless of the technique's rank, thid was one of the reason the top academies were so sought after.
"Miss Amanda, we came here to get ourselves a few extra techniques before the Academy brings us here. We saved money by doing adventurer missions from the guild," Jasmine explained hurriedly.
"Yes, we also came for the same thing," Ruby added, sneaking glances at Victor.
"I see," Amanda nodded. She had expected this. There were always wealthy individuals or nobles too impatient to wait for the Academy, willing to spend their own money to get ahead.
"Anyway, Miss Amanda, why are you here with Victor?" Jasmine asked, looking at Victor uncomfortably. She also sneaked a few glances at Olivia, who seemed genuinely surprised.
When everyone heard the question, they all turned their eyes toward Victor, who smiled awkwardly. He could feel three gazes boring into him. He easily guessed two of them—Olivia, and Kevin, who looked uncomfortable seeing Olivia staring at her ex and clenched his fist. The third gaze puzzled Victor until he noticed a red-haired girl smiling at him. That left him confused since he didn't recognize her.
"Hmm, we just came here for him to relearn his previous technique," Amanda said neutrally, though she was amused by Victor's awkward situation. Everyone was surprised but didn't think too much of it, assuming he had simply forgotten his technique.
"It looks like you're injured, Blaze. Sit down, I'll heal you. In the meantime, you go and learn the technique," Amanda instructed.
"But Miss Amanda, I don't know which technique it is," Victor said with a tight smile. Amanda was about to reply when she got interrupted.
"Miss Amanda, I'll go with him," Ruby, who had been watching from the side, suddenly rushed forward and grabbed Victor by the arm. This caused Victor to raise an eyebrow.
"Fine," Amanda rolled her eyes but didn't object. She then turned and began casting healing spells on Blaze.
Ruby dragged Victor away, but not before looking back and smirking at Olivia.
Jasmine noticed this and glanced at her best friend. Olivia's expression didn't change, but Jasmine caught sight of her clenched fist.
---
"So, who are you again?" Victor glanced at the girl walking beside him and couldn't help but ask.
"Victor, you seriously forgot about me? I was your classmate. Don't you remember? Olivia and I both had a crush on you and pursued you," Ruby said without a hint of embarrassment. Victor almost choked on his saliva when he heard her words and looked at her in disbelief.
'Hah, why does this feel like the story of two princes fighting for a princess?' Victor thought with twitching lips. Except, in this case, he was the princess.
"I apologize, but I really don't remember," Victor said, noticing her pout.
"Sigh, it's good you forgot your memories. That means I can try my luck again," Ruby whispered, then added aloud, "My name is Ruby Vermillion. I'm a Fire Sorceress."
Victor ignored the first part, but he was surprised to learn she was a Sorceress like Olivia.
"Huh?" Ruby's head snapped in a certain direction. Victor followed her gaze and saw a large grimoire floating nearby.
"This… an S-rank fire spell," Ruby said in awe as she looked at the grimoire.
"Victor, can we go over there before I take you to your destination?" Ruby asked. Victor just nodded.
"Sure, I don't have a problem. I'm also interested," Victor said, wanting to check if he could analyze spells with his Akasha Eye.
Ruby hurriedly walked toward it, leaving Victor behind. He shook his head and followed after her.
They arrived and found a crowd gathered in front of it.
"Excuse me," Ruby said as she pushed her way forward. Some people looked displeased, but when they saw her Light Academy uniform and realized she was a Ranker, they stepped aside. Victor followed close behind her.
As soon as they neared the grimoire, they felt intense heat radiating from it, forcing them to stop right at the boundary.
"Hey, do you know when this grimoire appeared? I didn't see it the last time I came here," Ruby asked a nearby person.
"When was the last time you came?" the person asked.
"It's been more than a year," Ruby replied.
"Hah, no wonder. This grimoire was found in a dungeon, and since the person who discovered it was a knight, he couldn't comprehend the spell. He sold it to the Association around nine months ago. Many mage bloodline users with fire affinity have tried to comprehend it since then, but all of them failed," the man explained which caused Ruby to raise an eyebrow.
Victor, on the other hand, used his Akasha Eye and tried to see what kind of spell it was.
[Ding Dong]
[Akasha Eye detected: Knowledge Transmission]
[Learning Transmission Technique…]
[1%... 2%... 100%]
[Ding Dong]
[You have learned: Knowledge Transmission]
[Ding Dong]
[Akasha Eye detected: Flame Dragon Burial]
[Learning Flame Dragon Burial…]
[1%... 2%... 100%]
[Ding Dong]
[You have learned Flame Dragon Burial]
"Two techniques?" Victor raised an eyebrow when he saw this.
"Sigh, it's useless. I can't learn it, let's go," Ruby said as she looked at Victor and began walking.
"Is it really that difficult?" Victor asked curiously.
"Of course. Even top Rankers fail to learn S-rank techniques. That's why it's so rare for someone to have one," Ruby explained.
"But I learned it," Victor said, which made Ruby look at him strangely.
"You… hah, good… joke—" Ruby thought he was joking but her voice weakened when Victor raised his finger, and a beam of white light erupted from his fingertip, shooting straight toward her head.
"Huh? Victor, what are you doing?" Amanda, who had just finished healing the others, walked over and was about to scold them for not being where she sent them, but she froze.
'When did he learn the Knowledge Transmission technique?' Amanda thought, narrowing her eyes.
"What… you… this… how—" Ruby's jaw nearly dropped to the ground as she looked at Victor in disbelief, unable to form a complete sentence.