They spent another three hours in this exciting world, a world separate from time and the rules of the academy. When Dio finally decided to leave, he felt a sense of disconnect. The outside world, with its students, professors, and rules, seemed dull and trivial.

  Philip said without lifting his eyes from a paper he was drawing on ,When you finish your daily plays, go and sleep . And when you wake up, come here. I don't care what time it is.

  Dio went out. And as usual, the hut disappeared behind him. Clever bastard. He felt something strange towards Philip, not just respect, but a hunger for knowledge. A desire for more, and more, and more.

  He arrived at the lecture hall just as Mathis was leaving, shooting him a fiery glare. Luckily for him, Gabriel had not arrived yet.

  Cairo whispered as he approached him, pinching his nose ,Where in the hell have you been? .And what is that smell? I swear it smells like garbage! Didn't you bathe?

  I was busy. There was no time.

  Well, 'Mr. Busy,' Professor Mathis said you are summoned to his office after lectures are over. It seems you're in big trouble.

  What a headache. All I want is to sleep.

  Gabriel entered with his usual thunderous voice. Alright, you little ones! Today, you won't be fighting me. You'll be fighting each other!

  Suddenly, Dio felt four gazes pierce him like four icy spears. Clara, Isabella, Alessandro, and Matthew were all staring at him, and on their faces was a single expression: I will kill you.

  Dio looked at Cairo, who was the only one looking at him with a friendly smile. He felt a strange happiness.

  Gabriel announced One person will fight Dio! . Surely you don't want to take turns with him when he's tired from fighting you one by one, right?

  Clara said in a cold voice, as if spitting the words out ,I don't care .

  Gabriel said with boredom ,Decide it with rock, paper, scissors.

  To Dio surprise, the four of them began to play with deadly seriousness, as if winning this silly game was the greatest honor in the world. In the end, Alessandro let out a cry of victory.

  Finally! I will fight you, my rival!

  Dio looked at him with surprise. Me, your rival? When did we even fight for me to become your rival?

  Alessandro laughed loudly. Two close-range specialists, two geniuses in the same place! Of course we'll be rivals!

  They went out to the outdoor arena and then, without warning, he attacked.

  Alessandro was a force of nature. He was one of the few who surpassed Dio in raw physical strength. He would coat his fists with earth magic to increase their hardness and use bursts of wind magic to increase his speed. Dio, exhausted and sleepy, was dodging with difficulty.

  Alessandro shouted ,Fight me! Don't dodge like a cat! .

  And here, something inside Dio happened. He surrendered to the exhaustion, to the euphoria, to the instinct. He stopped thinking and started fighting. They became like two hurricanes colliding in the middle of the room.

  The sound of Alessandro's fist clashing with Dio sword thundered like hammers on an anvil. There were no complex plans or cunning tricks. It was simple: strike, defend, dodge.

  Dio knew that Alessandro was a fool and impulsive, and that he could easily defeat him with some trick. But he didn't want that. He wanted to beat him at his own game. He felt his body changing. His movements, which were sharp and straight at the beginning, became more fluid and circular to adapt to Alessandro's fierce attacks.

  He wasn't thinking about it; it was just happening. His body was learning, adapting, evolving in the midst of battle.

  I remember my voice screaming at her grave. If only I had changed, Mia! If only I had changed! You... you are the one who granted my wish. Thank you, Mia.

  The intense fight continued for half an hour. All the other students stopped fighting and formed a circle around them, watching this savage dance in stunned silence. Finally, the two of them stopped, panting, sweat pouring from them.

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  Alessandro started to laugh. You really are my rival!

  Dio smiled.I think so. But I don't think we can determine who is stronger in a place like this, right?

  Alessandro said, extending his hand to shake his ,Of course .

  Gabriel looked at them with eyes shining with pride. You two are some of the best talents I have ever seen in my life. Destiny has a lot in store for you. And you, Dio, I think you've understood your advantage, haven't you? Or should I say, your talent?

  Dio looked at his sword, then at his hands. He understood. Yes, he said quietly I've understood, My talent... is change.

  After the lectures were over, Dio went to Mathis's office. He knocked on the door. Enter.

  Mathis was sitting in an arrogant, aristocratic posture. Why didn't you attend my lecture?

  Dio said with brutal honesty ,I thought I wouldn't benefit from it. The topics are simple for my level. So, I decided to use my time and take a private lecture with Professor Philip.

  Mathis's eyes narrowed with anger, as if to say, how dare you? He threw a piece of paper on his desk. Solve this problem then. Let's see your level.

  Dio looked at the problem. It was about dimensional fluctuations in transitional magic. Child's play.

  He took a magic slate and solved the complex equation in less than two minutes, leaving behind an elegant chain of glowing symbols.

  So, Professor Mathis?

  Mathis looked at the solution, then at Dio, then let out a long sigh. Yes. You are superior to your peers in theoretical magic. That is true. But there is no use for theory without practical application. It was a pathetic attempt to preserve his dignity.

  When Dio returned to the dormitory, all he wanted was to sleep. He didn't even have the energy to mock Clara if he saw her. He entered his apartment, took a quick shower, and threw himself on the bed. Suddenly, he heard his phone ring. It was Cairo.

  Dio answered in a tired voice ,What?

  Cairo shouted with excitement ,Eva! I talked to her for a full half-minute! Half a minute! .

  Dio hung up on him, threw the phone away, and sank into sleep.

  ...Darkness. A void. A sword in his hand.

  Cut. Cut. Cut.

  But this time, there was a new feeling mixed with the loneliness. A heavy, sticky feeling that clung to his soul. Regret. He was regretful. Deeply regretful of something he couldn't remember...

  He woke up suddenly, hot tears streaming down his cheeks. His body was trembling. He sat up in bed and put his head in his hands. He was crying.

  Crying because of a dream? What is this foolishness? He mocked himself and violently wiped his tears, but the feeling of regret remained, weighing on his chest. He couldn't go back to sleep. He put on his sportswear and went out.

  It was two in the morning. The academy grounds were empty and silent under the silvery moonlight. Dio began to walk aimlessly, trying to clear his mind. Then he saw her.

  Clara was running. She wasn't wearing her cloak. She was wearing simple sportswear, and her long black hair was tied in a ponytail that swung with her movement. She was painfully beautiful.

  For the first time, he didn't feel the urge to joke or mock. All he felt was a strange calm. She saw him as she approached. She expected him to start his usual harassment and began to quickly search her bag for her cloak. But Dio stood silently. As she passed him, he said quietly:

  Hello.

  And continued on his way.

  Clara stopped running. She looked at him as he walked away, his back looking as if it were burdened with the weight of the world. Then, she caught up with him.

  Wait.

  Dio turned. "What?"

  She took out a small thermos from her bag. She hesitantly extended her hand towards him.

  Take it.

  He looked at her with surprise.

  , she said quickly ,Manners compel me, her face slightly flushed. When I see someone sad, I should give them a hot drink.

  Dio took the thermos. It was warm. He opened it and smelled the scent of chamomile tea. He took a small sip. Then he looked at her and smiled. A real smile, free of sarcasm, that reached his eyes and lit them up.

  he said quietly ,Who's sad? Why would I be sad when I see a star running in the middle of the night?

  Her face turned redder. Pervert. You don't deserve the drink. She tried to take the thermos back.

  Dio said, taking a step back ,Never , sticking out his tongue in a childish gesture, and continuing on his way, sipping the tea.

  [Clara's Perspective]

  Strange. This man, Dio, is strange.

  The first time I saw him was in the testing hall. It was clear to everyone from the first glance. He was a commotion. He was the center of the world. When I watched him fight from the stands, I thought he was weak. Handsome, arrogant, and truly weak. But he held his ground.

  Then came his moment of madness. When he saw his friend fall, I looked into his golden eyes and thought to myself, why does he look so sad? Then that killing aura exploded from him and made even Professor Gabriel back away.

  I had formed an opinion of him: a strange person, and frighteningly strong. But when I collided with him and looked at him up close, I didn't see a handsome man or the Demon's Servant. I saw a fool who didn't know how to talk.

  Then he started following me. Mocking me, joking with me. Why was he doing this? The more I pushed him away, the more forcefully he came back. That fool who didn't know how to talk was a thousand times better at talking than me. Every time, he would try to get me out of my cloak.

  My prison. I am a coward. I don't like anyone looking at me; I don't like them seeing my face. But he would look. He would look directly at me with a strange gaze. A gaze of foolish joy.

  He was the center of the world, and I was the shadow. A side character. I wasn't the strongest, and I certainly wasn't the most beautiful as he would say. But he kept looking at me.

  His fight with Alessandro today... was another proof. He was stronger than me, and his talent was better. I decided, I will work hard to become better than him.

  But when I saw him tonight... he looked sad. A sadness deeper than anything I had ever seen in my life. As if the whole world was resting on his shoulders, and as if he were a fool who didn't even understand why he was sad. I felt that he needed a hug. But I couldn't. Coward. All I could do was give him hot tea.

  And because of something so silly, he smiled. He smiled happily, like a fool.

  Why, I wonder?