She was like a star that had fallen from the dark sky of his dream. For a moment, Dio forgot how to breathe. Her face was before him, her wide black eyes staring at him in shock, and strands of her silky black hair were touching his cheeks. His mind was only registering small, meaningless details: a delicate mole above her upper lip, a scent like rain and wild herbs emanating from her.

  What are you staring at, you idiot?

  Her voice came out sharp, shattering the magical crystal that had enveloped them. The words brought him back to reality. He tried to respond with his usual sarcasm, to throw out a charming comment, but all that came out of his mouth was:

  I... I... you...

  She raised an eyebrow, a look of cold disdain replacing the shock in her eyes. Um. Um. Uh-huh. What? , imitating his stammer Did your brain break from the fall?

  She pushed herself up in a single graceful motion and brushed non-existent dust from her school uniform. She picked up her black cloak from the floor and quickly put it on her shoulders, as if trying to hide herself from the world again.

  As she turned to leave, the words rushed from Dio mouth without permission. Wait! I'm Dio! What's your name?

  She stopped and turned her head slightly to look at him over her shoulder. Pervert.

  Then she continued on her way and disappeared down the corridor without looking back again.

  Dio remained sitting on the floor, feeling the emptiness she had left behind. Then he heard a sound. Cairo burst out laughing, a deep, genuine laugh that made him bend forward.

  I don't believe this! The first-ranked, the Demon's Servant, the great Dio van der Wood... gets tongue-tied because of a girl! My god, this is the best day of my life!

  On the other side of the corridor, Dio saw Isabella Revimont. She was staring at the scene, and on her icy face, a small smile appeared, as rare and fragile as a snow-flower. She quickly hid it with her hand, turned, and left, but Dio had seen it.

  he muttered as he stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes. ,Damn it, What just happened to me?

  Dio said as he walked beside Cairo on their way to the dormitory ,It's not the first beautiful woman I've spoken to . Well, she is definitely the most beautiful, but that doesn't justify...

  My friend, Cairo interrupted him, patting his shoulder with feigned sympathy. You were a disaster. 'I... I... you...'? I almost died of second-hand embarrassment for you.

  Okay, I want to ask you something. Can you tell Eva to unblock me? Please, Dio.

  Dio laughed.Fine, I'll tell her. But I can't guarantee you anything.

  Suddenly, a man stood before them, blocking their path. He was wearing the academy uniform but looked older.

  he asked in a calm, formal voice ,Are you Dio van der Wood?

  Yes. Who are you?

  Professor Gabriel sent me to get you.

  Oh, right. My appointment with the specialist. Dio turned to Cairo. I'll see you later.

  Alright, Cairo said, and left, muttering, Don't forget my issue with Eva..

  Dio began to walk behind the student. So, who is this specialist that Professor Gabriel was talking about?

  The student looked at him over his shoulder. He's a mad professor. That's all I know about him. Maybe you two are from the same mad species.

  The student led him away from the shiny main buildings of the academy. They took side paths, then dirt trails that began to appear between the trees. The air grew colder and more humid, and the general atmosphere became wilder, as if they were leaving the boundaries of civilization. They finally arrived at an old wooden hut that looked as if it were on the verge of collapse. The paint was peeling, and the windows were covered in dust.

  I'm going now the student said and turned to leave quickly, as if he were afraid to stay here for another minute.

  Does a professor really live here? Dio thought. He cautiously approached and knocked on the door. After a moment, the door opened with a loud creak. A man who looked like a homeless person appeared before him. A long, unkempt gray beard, worn-out clothes, and a foul smell like that of moldy books and cold coffee.

  Hello. I'm Dio. Gabriel sent me.

  The man looked at him with sharp, intelligent eyes, which scanned him from head to toe in a second. "Enter."

  The inside was worse than the outside. It was literally garbage. Piles of books reached the ceiling, papers were scattered everywhere, and leftover food was on old plates. There was barely a path to walk.

  So, the old man said, looking at Dio empty waist. A close-range specialist, and a manipulative sorcerer. How strange.

  Dio replied sarcastically ,Yes, I'm strange, . But I'm certainly not as strange as you.

  The man ignored his comment. Do you see that book over there? he pointed to a thick volume on top of an unstable pile of books. Move it.

  Dio concentrated. He extended his invisible hand of will and grabbed the book. Then he pulled. The book moved and fell to the floor with a muffled thud.

  From the outside... I don't believe this. And with such incredible speed.

  In an instant, the old man was directly in his face, his eyes shining with a mad excitement. Come back tomorrow after your lectures are over. And don't be late. I don't have time to waste. Call me Professor Philip. An Eighth Circle sorcerer.

  And suddenly, Dio found himself standing outside, on the dirt path. The hut had disappeared. There was only an empty space between the trees.

  What just happened? How did I get here? Was it an illusion? But I didn't feel anything. He stood there for a moment, completely confused, then he sighed and began the journey back to the dormitory.

  On his way, he saw her. She was walking in front of him, her black cloak swaying with her steps. She was walking fast, as if running away from something. Without thinking, Dio quickened his pace until he was beside her.

  Hello.

  She looked at him and sighed with annoyance.What do you want?

  Don't get nervous, Dio. You're the best at talking. I didn't apologize to you properly for our collision. It was clearly my fault. I opened the door without checking my side.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  She stopped and looked directly at him. No, it was my fault. I was running. Now, do you want something else?

  It's not that I want something... just... let's be friends He extended his hand. I'm Dio. And you, beautiful?

  She looked at his outstretched hand, then lightly slapped it away. Get out of my face.

  She continued on her way. But Dio decided not to give up. He started walking beside her again.

  she said through her teeth ,What are you doing?

  I'm not doing anything. I'm going to the dormitory, and we're taking the same path.

  Stay ten meters away from me. That is the minimum.

  Dio laughed. What? Are you shy because a handsome man like me is walking beside you?

  She laughed too, a short, sarcastic laugh. Handsome? I think a pig is more beautiful than you.

  And I think the stars are certainly not more beautiful than you.

  She suddenly fell silent. For a moment, Dio saw something in her eyes, a flash of confusion, before it disappeared.

  Dio tried to start other topics all the way, but she completely ignored him. They finally reached the dormitory elevator. She pressed the button for the seventh floor.

  Dio thought ,The seventh floor. Noted. I think the first-ranked's floor is nicer. Do you want to see it?

  The elevator reached her floor. The doors opened. No, she said, and got out. The doors closed in his face.

  What a sharp-tongued woman.

  When he reached his apartment, he found that Cairo was calling him.

  Dio answered What? .

  Cairo's desperate voice came through ,Did you tell Eva to unblock me? .

  Not yet.

  Come on! Tell her now! Tell her!

  Alright, alright! Dio hung up and called Eva. She answered immediately, and Leonardo's voice was in the background.

  ...you foolish brother, give that back to me! Eva shouted, then her voice suddenly changed. Hello, Dio! Did something happen? Is someone bullying you? If anyone scares you, just look at them with that golden glare, okay?

  No, I'm fine. But Cairo asked me to ask you to unblock him.

  Eva was silent. I will not unblock that rude person. He didn't come to visit us once in four years! And where did he get my number from, anyway?

  I gave it to him. He just wanted to check on you.

  Eva let out a long, theatrical sigh. Fine, fine. I'll unblock him. And she hung up.

  A second later, Dio phone rang again. It was Cairo.

  What happened? What did she say?"

  She said she'll unblock him.

  Cairo let out a cry of joy and hung up.

  Why is he acting like a sheep? Dio thought with annoyance. What a fool. Then he paused. Wait... was I also acting like a sheep with that girl? No. Impossible.

  Damn it! I'm late!

  Dio woke up from his sleep to the sunlight hitting his face. He threw on his clothes with frantic speed and rushed to the elevator. This damned elevator... why did it stop on the seventh floor? Who is this bastard who is late other than me?

  The door opened. It was her.

  Wait. The seventh floor. It's her.

  In an instant, Dio changed his posture. He stood up straight and leaned his back against the elevator wall with feigned laziness. The girl entered, and when she saw him, she let out a deep sigh.

  My unlucky day.

  Dio laughed. And my lucky day. It seems some girl who is not organized with her time wakes up late.

  She had her back to him, her black cloak hiding her. He decided to make a bold move. He approached her, and in a swift motion, he pulled the hood of her cloak off her head.

  That's better. Let me see my star.

  She turned to him, her face burning with anger. Don't touch me again. And don't touch my cloak.

  The elevator opened on the ground floor, and she started running to make it to the lecture on time. Dio started running beside her.

  she shouted angrily ,Why are you running next to me? , Run in front of me!

  Dio said innocently ,This is my top speed.

  Who are you kidding? I saw your fight. I know you can run much faster than this.

  Dio laughed happily. I have a fan! How happy I am! He noticed that her ears had turned a little red.

  They reached the lecture hall, but they were two minutes late. They entered to find Mathis had already started. He looked at them coldly.

  You two are late. Stay standing outside.

  the girl shouted ,Professor! the girl shouted. It's all because of this man! He made me late!

  Dio was shocked. What a liar! What do I have to do with you waking up late? Then his eyes gleamed. You want to embarrass me? You'll see what happens when you cross me. No, professor! She is the one who made me late! She kept telling me 'Harder! Harder!' since last night, and she didn't want to stop in bed. What did you want me to do?

  A deadly silence fell in the hall. The girl's eyes widened with shock and horror. You pervert! That's a lie!

  Mathis screamed, his face red with anger Out! Out! Now!

  They went out and stood next to the closed door.

  Dio said with a triumphant smile ,An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

  she whispered angrily ,You are the biggest pervert my eyes have ever seen! . 'Harder! Harder!'? I don't believe this embarrassment!

  Liar! You are a deceitful woman! You have betrayed my tender heart! What do I have to do with you waking up late?

  If you hadn't delayed me with your talk while we were running, I would have arrived on time!

  And if I wasn't running at the speed of a certain woman, I would have arrived on time!

  Dio leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear. I have fallen in love with a liar.

  She quickly moved away from him, her face blushing. Falling in love is not that easy! You're just a pervert who looks at the body!

  Then let's look at our bodies. I am very handsome, and you are very beautiful. Love has happened, and that's that. And we've done the forbidden.

  she exclaimed in a low voice ,What forbidden?!

  Dio laughed. Even if you are lying, I think everyone inside believed my words.

  Pervert! Rude! She moved away from him and stood next to the other door of the corridor. Dio went and stood next to her. She returned to the first door, and he followed her. After several times, she gave up and stood her ground, staring at him with fiery glares.

  It seems she has learned not to fight me with words, Dio thought with a smile.

  The lecture ended, and Mathis came out. He looked at the girl with disappointment. I expected it from him, but I did not expect it from you, Clara. You were one of my best students. What a pity, you have fallen into the trap of pleasure.

  Clara shouted He's lying! Nothing happened! , tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

  Mathis looked at her with pity, then left.

  Clara... so that's her name. Dio laughed. Didn't I tell you? Everyone believes me.

  She looked at him, and a single tear slid down her cheek. In a move he didn't expect himself, Dio extended his finger and wiped away her tear. Then, out of a strange curiosity, he put his finger to his tongue.

  he said quietly Salty . But, beautiful, don't cry. Please. Because I will cry if you cry.

  Clara stared at him for a moment, then turned and entered the hall.

  Dio had to go see Professor Philip. He went to the same place in the forest and found that the hut had returned. He knocked on the door, and Philip opened it for him.

  Enter.

  Philip said directly ,I heard you destroyed the illusion I created .

  The test illusion? That was child's play compared to your hut. It disappears and appears without me feeling anything.

  Philip muttered ,It's all because of that short one,. She told me 'Hurry, hurry! It doesn't matter if it's not perfect!' Dio said sympathetically ,What a sad man. As expected of that short director.

  Philip looked at Dio with intense focus It doesn't matter. Let's begin . You control energy from the outside. How?

  I am exceptional. I can control it directly from the outside.

  Philip gave him a strange look, as if examining certain data, then said, This is madness. Do you know the extent of the possibilities this opens up? To form magic without it entering your body...

  They spent the next five hours in a deep theoretical discussion, drawing on old papers and analyzing concepts that Dio had never thought of before. It was exhausting and exhilarating.

  Philip finally said ,I think I've explained the principle to you. But the problem is the practical application. You must start with water magic. It is not the easiest, but if you master it, the rest of the elements will become easier.

  You're right. But how will water magic work without it entering the body?

  Philip said with excitement. ,I'll bring more papers

  The first threads of dawn were seeping through the dirty window of Philip's hut, carrying with them the scent of the dewy earth. The light didn't illuminate the room; it revealed the extent of its chaos. Dio woke up on a worn-out sofa, his back aching, and he felt a strange euphoria he had never felt before. It was the euphoria of mental exhaustion, the feeling that his mind had expanded to be filled with ideas and equations that were impossible twenty-four hours ago.

  So, the basic principle is not to create energy from nothing, Philip said as he poured himself a coffee that was black in both color and smell, but to convince the surrounding reality that the energy has always existed in this form. You don't create a wave; you reveal the wave that is latent in every drop of water.

  And that requires a deep understanding of the structure of matter itself, not just the flow of Stone energy, Dio completed, his mind working at full speed despite the lack of sleep.

  Exactly.

  Dio said suddenly ,Wait, Philip. What time is it?

  Philip took out an old pocket watch. Seven fifty-eight.

  Dio shouted ,Damn it! . The lectures start at eight!

  Philip looked at him with indifference. You're not going to Mathis's theory lecture. You're better than him. Let's sit and continue.

  Dio looked at the papers filled with new equations and ideas, then at the door. For the first time, he felt he had found his place.

  You're right. He sat down, and the discussion continued.