The following day, after class, Elana was invited by her favorite professor to his workshop regarding a work-related matter.

    Naturally, she agreed without hesitation. After a brief stop by her room, she arrived at the workshop.

    Her hair was tied in a neat high bun, and she wore a crisp white shirt tucked into tailored black trousers—an ensemble that lent her a refreshing elegance and subtly accentuated her youthful allure.

    She paused at the threshold, her gaze sweeping across the cluttered space. Although this wasn''t her first visit, the workshop seemed considerably more disordered than before.

    "Ah, come in," the professor called out, not bothering to lift his head from the intricate piece he was engrossed in.

    Elana skipped lightly toward his desk and remarked with a playful concern, "Can you even find the right tool when you need it?"

    Her question prompted him to glance up, then around at the chaotic expanse of his work area. As if suddenly aware of the disarray, he offered a sheepish smile.

    "Well, I do clean up occasionally. Please bear with the mess and have a seat."

    Elana offered help without missing a beat. "If you''d like, I can assist with organizing. I''m quite good at it."

    She knew how particular he was—even a single misplaced screw might be critical to his work. Confident in her ability to sort everything meticulously, she was certain her help would be appreciated.

    However, he gently declined, "That''s kind of you, but I prefer my own system—chaotic as it seems. I place things where I know I''ll find them, without having to search."

    Elana nodded in quiet understanding before her gaze drifted to the object he was meticulously shaping.

    "Another artifact?" she asked with interest.

    "Yes," the professor replied, "a cooling system with an adjustable switch."

    Elana blinked, clearly intrigued. "Cooling artifacts aren''t exactly novel, but a temperature adjustment switch? How would that even function?"

    Her curiosity brought a flicker of satisfaction to his face.

    Adrian extended his hand toward the artifact and channeled mana into the embedded Heartstone—a rare material renowned for its ability to sustain rune functions autonomously, without the need for continuous mana input or an activating wielder, unlike traditional armaments.

    The Heartstone pulsed with light, gradually illuminating a series of delicate runes etched onto its surface.

    "You see this rune?" he pointed out, his tone instructional yet animated. "This one regulates temperature by controlling the mana output. The principle is simple—the lower the mana flow, the weaker the cooling effect, and vice versa."

    Elana nodded again, this time more slowly. While she grasped the fundamental concept, the deeper intricacies of its application still eluded her.

    "Hmm~ so I just sit here and let myself be used?" Elana teased, her tone light but laced with meaning.

    Adrian flushed, flustered by the phrasing. "Don''t put it like that… and this time, I''ll make sure to give you something in return for your help," he promised earnestly.

    Elana opened her mouth, tempted to say something that would surely deepen his embarrassment—but she held back. Instead, she simply nodded with a soft smile. "I understand. Then, shall we begin?"

    Adrian returned her nod and, without further delay, got to work.

    There was, in fact, a need for twelve artifacts. The hall Scarlette had described was expansive—its dimensions far beyond average—so covering the entire space required multiple units.

    Scarlette hadn''t objected to the quantity, but she had been mildly curious about what Adrian intended to ask for in return.

    He hadn''t yet decided.

    With the upcoming exchange program—the next arc in the story, both long and potentially perilous—Adrian was treading carefully. He didn''t want to make any rash decisions. Instead, he chose to finish the task first and reflect afterward.

    Two hours passed. Focused work filled the time, and at last, twelve functional artifacts sat on the table—ready for delivery.

    Adrian leaned back, removed his glasses, and rubbed the fatigue from his eyes. "Now… what would you like as a thank you?" he asked, his voice low with weariness.

    "Just a cup of coffee," Elana replied, almost too quickly.

    He gave a faint nod, beginning to rise, but she gently stopped him. "Let me brew it for you."

    He tilted his head, puzzled. "But wouldn''t that defeat the purpose of a thank-you gift? You''d be the one doing the work."

    Elana offered a small, almost wistful smile. "Getting to spend time with you is reward enough for me. Don''t worry about it, Professor."

    Adrian stood frozen in place, momentarily at a loss for words.

    He watched Elana make her way to the boiler with casual ease as if she had always been familiar with his workshop.

    A few moments passed in silence before he finally asked, his tone quiet but thoughtful, "Elana… what are your plans after graduation?"

    She didn''t seem surprised by the question. Her voice remained calm and certain as she replied, "I want to become an instructor—like the Headmistress."

    Adrian gave a contemplative hum. "I can actually see you as a Warden. Have you truly never considered gaining field experience?"

    Elana was, without a doubt, the strongest student in her year. With her innate talent, disciplined training, and formidable elemental affinity, she had the potential to break into the top thirty within a few years—especially under the mentorship of a high-ranking Warden.

    Yet she shook her head, resolute. "My goal has always been to teach. That''s where my heart lies, and that''s where I''ll focus."

    There was no wavering in her tone—only conviction. No space left for argument or persuasion.

    Adrian nodded slowly. "Then pursue it wholeheartedly. Stay the course, and become the kind of instructor others aspire to be." sea??h thё n?vel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Before long, Elana returned to the table, offering him a steaming cup of coffee with a warm smile. "Here."

    Adrian accepted it with a quiet "Thank you," then gently blew over the rim before taking a sip.

    "It''s excellent," he said almost immediately, a hint of surprise in his voice.

    Elana chuckled. "The coffee powder was yours—I just blended it in water."

    Adrian shrugged with a small smile. "Timing matters too. Knowing when to add the coffee makes all the difference. That''s your talent—turning something ordinary into something this good. You did well, Elana."

    Elana smiled warmly, "Professor…praising someone for something so trivial and then expecting them not to fall for you…I think that''s unfair no?"

    Adrian''s breath was caught in his throat as he realized that he might have made a mistake(?).

    But before he could have said something,

    "AAAAAHH!"

    Someone cried from outside before the duo instantly got up and rushed outside.

    Lying on the ground was the familiar black-haired teenager—a huge wound on his stomach and blood making a pool under him.

    Adrian''s widened eyes looked up from where he fell and spotted a pale-faced Sylvie standing there.

    ''What…just happened?''

    ------**------

    A/N:- Thanks for reading.