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‘What does he want,’ Noah thought ignoring the cheers still happening around him. Elder Adonis remained focused on his figure but said nothing, this of course made ideas run through Noah’s mind and doubts started to fill his mind.

‘Is he able to see my core,’ Noah thought feeling his heart skip a beat. He remembered the system’s explanation on that matter, but the thought couldn’t leave his mind. In a world filled with thousands of experts all advancing on different paths, there had to be exceptions.

‘Or can he notice my affinity,’ Noah wondered again. He clearly recalled the waves of different elements that flowed out of the elder’s figure the day they met him, and he understood that individuals of like elemental affinities could sense each other.

Although he couldn’t tell if the man had an affinity he possessed, maybe even two, the same couldn’t be said for the elder. Being someone of such high caliber and immense cultivation level he had to possess a far superior sense.

That thought rang in Noah’s head for what felt like hours but were mere instants. He eventually decided to lower his gaze, but even that failed to stop the elder from gazing at him.

Worry and a deep sense of unsafety permeated Noah’s mind. What could he do against an expert who he identified as the strongest he had ever seen in Cregar. Noah felt certain that if the expert wanted to get him, even his speed would be unable to save him.

Thankfully the man’s heavy gaze eventually left his shoulders, and Noah could only thank the white-haired maiden for that. The duo once seemed to converse, but their expressions remained mostly shadowy due to the light shining on their backs and the height they floated at.

“I believe this is it,” Elder Adonis’s voice rang out in that stadium shutting the mouths of all and drawing attention to himself.

“This will be this year’s successful aspirants, and I’m glad to see that there are many extraordinary experts amongst them. The heights of the Divine Lightning guild can only increase as a result of this,” the expert explained while pin-drop silence existed around him.

“The trials are done. I congratulate you all on your success. Welcome to the Divine Lightning guild,” elder Adonis announced smiling, and the whole place went wild.

The lights of many inscriptions shone on the platform the 187 experts stood upon, and once again the light of a teleportation wrapped around their bodies and they quickly disappeared from that loud place.

*

*

*

Opening his eyes in a different location, Noah felt mildly surprised to find that he had arrived inside the room allocated to the aspirants for sleeping. Only this time it remained almost empty.

Glancing at his only room partner, Noah inspected the young-looking woman and she did the same. Their gazes locked for a few seconds, and to his surprise, she beamed a gentle smile at him, before walking toward her bed.

“You all have been given a day to rest. You are now guild members, but there are still a few processes to be done. However celebrate yourselves for you have accomplished something only a tiny portion of the nation’s citizens has,” a man’s voice boomed in the rooms of the experts, riling up their excitement.

“After the day is complete you all shall be given a tour of our guild’s environment; one that I believe you will never forget. For now, enjoy. And also you are allowed to move between rooms to meet each other. Goodbye,” the man explained before his voice was cut off from the transmission.

Needless to say, excitement bubbled in the minds of the successors, when they saw that the doors had opened partially, meaning they had unhindered access to the other rooms. Many immediately left their rooms to go look for the friends they had made during the trials that had succeeded.

Noah quickly found himself alone in his room, but he showed no excitement at the announcement. The issue of Elder Adonis still weighed on his mind, and it felt too early to relax.

Laying atop his bed with one of his legs dangling off one edge of the bed, Noah ignored the sounds of the chattering experts moving down and forth the passageway.

His mind kept pondering the matter, but he felt unappeased and annoyed by the lack of certainty about the issue. This back-and-forth thinking eventually led to frustration which eventually gave rise to more worry.

The sliding open of the door brought Noah out of his thoughts and he immediately glanced at the entrance to find Ariana there.

Her face revealed a charming smile, forcing Noah to notice the changes in her appearance from what he remembered.

She looked neater than ever, heck she seemed to have just exited a bath. The young lady let her wet-looking hair fall on her shoulders. She currently had a yellow; black horizontally striped gown on, and the attire failed to touch her smooth knees.

“What are you doing brooding,” her voice rang out as she walked into the room closing the door behind her. Picking a random bed adjacent to Noah’s she sat on the lower bunk to stare at him on his higher bunk.

“You wouldn’t understand,” Noah replied sitting up.

“That’s understandable,” Ariana revealed a wide smile causing Noah to shake his head.

“In honesty, I had expected a scene like this to play out in your room, but the emptiness of this place remains shocking nonetheless,” she shook her head walking about the place. Noah’s eyes followed her every movement. 𝓫𝒹ℴ𝓿𝓵.𝓬ℴ𝓶

“Then I guess the situation is different in yours,” Noah replied.

“Far different. I had to escape that place before any of my admirers came knocking,” she explained staring at the food platform.

Silence fell in their midst at that point, and it lasted for what felt like hours to Noah even if only a few seconds passed.

“What do you want?” Noah eventually asked heaving a slight sigh. “I’m certain you didn’t search each room for me only to come and chat.”

Ariana remained silent at those words, and she even stopped inspecting the room to have her back turned on Noah. And she even stood close to the entrance.

“You’re right, I didn’t simply come here to chat,” she eventually began, her back still turned on Noah.

“But you are also wrong. I indeed came here to talk,” she said, confusing Noah; who limited himself to furrow his brow.

“I like you Aiden,” Ariana suddenly announced before silently, half hastily walking out of the room. Successfully avoiding eye contact.

Needless to say, Noah remained stunned beyond reason. ‘Was that a confession!’ he screamed inwardly