"Take it. Do you really think I'd hesitate to part with something so trivial?"

Coline whisked Lilina back to the arena, tossed out those words, then vanished again.

*Man, that teleportation spell is such a flex for travel—(isn’t that your real thought? →_→) absolute must-have!*

*What tier is teleportation magic anyway? When can I learn it? Ugh, I wanna learn it so bad!*

"...Eh..."

Lilina clutched the Mind Essence Potion tightly, staring blankly at where Coline had disappeared. After a moment, she bowed deeply and tucked the potion away.

"Alright, Little Dark, let’s go! First stop—Teacher Stephanie’s!"

"Gurgle!"

...

"Hey, how’d you do?"

"They were so unfair! Ganging up in teams—some defending, some attacking. How could I possibly win against that..."

"Yeah... most of us can’t match them one-on-one. Teaming up just made it hopeless..."

"Sigh... I doubt anyone from our class will advance."

"Advance? We might not even crack the top hundred..."

"Enough," Stephanie cut in gently. "Today showed us the gap. We’ll work harder next time."

"Yes, ma’am!"

"S-Stephanie-sensei..." Alimi whispered, head bowed. "Lilina still hasn’t come back..."

"Oh! I haven’t seen her since the matches started!"

"Was anyone paired with Lilina?"

"She was on Platform Six, but no one else from our class was there!"

"How’s that possible? Assignments were random! With so many of us, how could Lilina be the only one on Six..."

"All alone... Oh no. Did something happen to her?"

"Lilina..."

Hearing this, Alimi choked back a sob.

"Stop worrying—I see her! She’s fine. Should be here any—"

Stephanie’s words died as Lilina’s voice rang out behind her.

"Teacher Stephanie!"

Stephanie turned to see Lilina waving with one hand, the other cradling Wu Yan.

"Sorry I’m late, Teacher Stephanie," Lilina said sheepishly.

"Lilina..."

Alimi swiped tears from her cheeks and rushed to hug her.

"You’re okay... Thank goodness, Lilina..."

"...Eh?"

*Air... I need air... Drowning in generous bosoms...*

Wu Yan’s blissful inner monologue floated up.

*Seriously rivals Teacher Stephanie’s assets!*

*(What about Lilina’s? Are you calling her flat-chested?!)*

"Lilina, Alimi was so worried about you," Stephanie chuckled.

"Alimi..."

Touched, Lilina gently wiped the lingering tears from Alimi’s face.

"Thank you... truly."

*Perfect! The stronger their bond, the more harmonious my harem! Heh heh!*

*But first—*

"Gurgle!"

*Can you two separate? I’m actually suffocating here!*

*(See my cleaver yet?)*

...

Once Alimi calmed down, Lilina approached Stephanie.

"Teacher Stephanie, earlier I—"

"—was taken by the dean? I saw. Congratulations, Lilina!" Stephanie beamed.

"This is all thanks to you, Teacher. If not for your—"

"No," Stephanie cut in firmly. "No one carried you. This victory is yours alone."

"But you gave me the Mind Crystal! And Scottia helped me so much—"

Scottia shook her head. "The crystal was payment for borrowing your Contract Beast. My help? I only aided someone with true potential. Every bit of this—you earned it."

Wu Yan silently agreed.

Even with resources and no financial worries, Lilina never slacked. Not once.

*With a pure heart, one travels far.*

He believed that deeply.

Lilina’s eyes glistened. She understood Stephanie’s wish to free her from obligation.

She bowed again. "Then... let me thank you for teaching me all this time."

"Eh?"

Stephanie blinked, then laughed softly—warmth flooding her chest.

*Lilina... I believe you’ll walk a path that leaves even me looking up.*

*May this heart of yours never change...*