As Liam scanned the area, his voice broke the silence. "Where is Mystica?"
Dylan, leaning casually against a tree, waved him off. "Relax, she'll show up soon enough. She likes to make an entrance."
Liam let out a quiet sigh, his eyes drifting back to the trees. The place had a strange charm—serene, yet brimming with untapped energy.
'This doesn't feel like part of the school,' he thought, studying the towering trees and their faintly glowing bark. 'It's almost like we've stepped into another realm.'
While Liam's thoughts were on the surroundings, someone else's were fixed on him. Sheila stood near the pond, occasionally stealing glances in his direction. Her composed exterior masked the wary thoughts racing through her mind.
'Liam Hunter... There's something unsettling about him,' she mused, watching his every subtle move. 'That aura he unleashed that night... no ordinary student should have that level of intensity. And yet, here he stands, looking completely normal—just another ambitious student trying to climb the ranks.'
Sheila's gaze flickered away when Liam turned slightly, but the tension in her posture lingered as she continued walking near the pond.
A few minutes passed, the silence growing heavier as the group waited. Then, without warning, a playful, velvety voice echoed through the clearing, carrying an unmistakable edge of mischief.
"Extra students joining us? My, my, this will certainly make things interesting. Don't you agree, Ariana? Especially with these two."
The air seemed to shimmer as Mystica materialized before them, stepping out of nothingness like a shadow peeling away from the light.
Her long dark hair flowed like liquid night, and her piercing purple eyes sparkled with amusement as they scanned the group.
Ariana immediately bowed her head slightly. "Welcome, Ms. Mystica."
Sheila mirrored Ariana's gesture, her movements graceful and respectful.
Dylan, however, stood frozen in dramatic awe, his mouth slightly agape as if beholding a divine vision. His eyes twinkled with a look that could only be described as shameless admiration, his thoughts veering into territory better left unspoken.
Mystica raised an eyebrow, clearly aware of Dylan's internal monologue but choosing to ignore it. Her gaze shifted to Liam, who stood silently, meeting her eyes with his usual stoic expression.
"Well," Mystica began, her lips curling into a teasing smile, "aren't you the picture of enthusiasm, Liam. No bow, no greeting?"
Liam's response was simple, his voice steady. "Sorry to disappoint you but I don't think that is necessary."
Dylan snorted, barely holding back a laugh. "That's Liam for you. Always blunt."
Mystica chuckled, her voice like silk. "I suppose I'll let it slide—this time. But don't think you can get away with that attitude in my sessions."
She turned her attention to the group as a whole, her tone shifting to something more commanding. "Now then, shall we begin?"
As the students prepared themselves, Mystica's gaze lingered on Liam for a moment longer, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
'He seems more intriguing than I thought,' she thought, 'so much power hidden beneath that calm exterior. Let's see what he's really capable of.'
She began with her voice carrying both authority and a mischievous undertone. "Since you two are joining us, there's something specific I need to teach you before we all start working on the same level."
She paused, her gaze flickering to Sheila and Liam with a smirk that suggested she already had plans for them. "Ariana, Dylan—continue your usual practice. I need to check something with these two."
Ariana nodded immediately, her voice steady. "Understood, Ms. Mystica."
Dylan, however, stood frozen, his jaw slack in exaggerated disbelief. 'Great. The stoic guy gets to wander off with my queen. I'll be watching you, Liam,' he thought, his expression morphing into a comedic blend of jealousy and despair.
"Come along, you two," Mystica instructed, already turning to head deeper into the verdant surroundings.
Sheila hesitated for a brief moment, her gaze flitting to Liam. 'Why him?' she wondered, her thoughts clouded with irritation and a vague sense of unease.
Still, she said nothing, following Mystica into the dense greenery. Liam trailed behind her, his steps measured and indifferent.
As the three disappeared into the trees, Dylan collapsed dramatically onto the ground, throwing an arm over his eyes like a tragic hero. "Can you believe this?" he groaned, rolling onto his side. "That guy is about to live my dream! My dream!"
Ariana, watching his antics, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "You do realize I'm still here, right?"
Dylan froze mid-roll, lifting his head just enough to look at her. A mischievous, borderline perverted grin spread across his face as his eyes scanned her.
"You know what, Ariana? You're absolutely right. You are still here," he muttered under his breath, his tone dripping with exaggerated realization.
Ariana sighed, but her lips twitched in mild amusement. "You're impossible, Dylan."
Dylan jumped to his feet with an energy that made it seem like his sulking had never happened. "Sorry about that, Ariana. Let's go practice!" he declared, brushing off imaginary dust from his clothes.
"Good. No more baby antics," Ariana replied with a small shake of her head as she turned to walk toward their usual training spot.
As she moved, a thought surfaced in her mind. 'I still can't believe he is going to train with Princess Sheila. Do they have some kind of relationship going on?'
She glanced back at the direction Mystica, Liam, and Sheila had gone, her expression somewhag that of jealousy. 'What's so special about him anyway?'
Meanwhile, Dylan trailed behind her, muttering to himself about "missed opportunities" and how unfair the universe was, but already plotting ways to turn the day in his favor.
Mystica came to an abrupt halt in the middle of a vast clearing. The space, encircled by towering trees whose branches intertwined like a natural dome, had an almost otherworldly quality. It felt deliberate, as though this place was shaped by magic itself.
Without a word, a jagged rock emerged from the ground in front of Mystica. She gracefully lowered herself onto it, crossing her legs as her piercing purple eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Now then…" she began, resting her chin on her hand. "…let's start simple. Tell me—what do you know about Myst?"
Sheila blinked, her brows furrowing slightly. 'She brought us all the way here just to ask that?'
The question seemed too basic, almost absurd, considering the distance they had traveled. Mystica's sly grin, however, hinted at something deeper.
"Myst is the very essence of the world we live in," Liam replied, his voice calm and unruffled.
Sheila turned to him, surprised by his swift and confident response. She had expected silence or, at best, a vague answer. His tone, indifferent yet sure, made her momentarily forget her irritation.
Mystica's lips curled into a small, approving smile as she chuckled softly. The sound carried a hint of amusement, like a teacher pleased with her student yet still withholding full praise. "Not bad, Liam. You've grasped the textbook definition quite well."
Her gaze flicked between the two of them, her tone taking on a playful edge. "But what I want to know is this: how much do you truly understand Myst?"