On the dark backstage, the more Liya waited, the more uneasy she became.
In the empty backstage, she counted her accelerated heartbeat and the whisper Mary had just left echoed in her ears.
“Number 10, Gentle Blessing of Warmth—”
Even standing on the scientific research competition stage, she felt somewhat unsettled.
She looked out.
In the distance was a pale sky, and up close was a dark crowd.
Everyone sitting here was a stranger; perhaps one or two of them were teachers she had passed by at school.
Some looked at her attentively, some had fallen asleep from waking up too early, and some were looking down, writing who knows what.
There were quite a few eyes on her, and receiving so much attention in a scientific research competition was already quite good.
But for some reason, Liya only felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.
“My research project is called Gentle Blessing of Warmth. It comes from the fifth chapter of the ancient magic book ‘Candle of First Creation.’ According to the original text, it was a magic intended to provide a manufacturing environment for the raw materials of the Candle of First Creation.”
He’s not here, he’s not here, he’s not here, he’s not here, he’s not here, he’s not here—
“As an ancient magic, some materials are difficult to restore. Based on research into ancient magic literature, similar substitutes have been found in modern times to recreate the magic.”
Liya raised her head. Although her heart was pounding in her chest due to the Blood Mint and her magic circuits were spinning within her body, she couldn’t feel any joy at the moment.
He’s not looking at me, he’s not looking at me, he’s not looking at me, he’s not looking at me, he’s not looking at me, he’s not looking at me—
“The entire process is divided into the following steps…”
Where did he go? Where did he go? Where did he go? Where did he go? Where did he go? Where did he go? Where did he go?—
“After processing this material, we will also need to…”
Hurry up and come, hurry up and come, hurry up and come, hurry up and come, hurry up and come, hurry up and come, hurry up and come—
“Finally, when we obtain the deep blue matrix solution, the goal is to ignite it for a long time to maintain high temperatures…”
I want to see him, I want to see him, I want to see him, I want to see him, I want to see him, I want to see him, I want to see him—
Liya felt as if she was being dragged forward by the inertia of “needing to complete the competition.”
A magic tested countless times.
A magic that would absolutely not go wrong.
A perfectly executed magic.
She turned around and dropped the Witch Coin into the solvent.
That coin…
The coin that forged the bond between her and Will.
Then, she slowly recited the incantation of an ancient magic that had spanned at least five hundred years—
“A great wind once carried away the warmth of the earth.”
“A heavy snow once covered the brightness of the sky.”
“A solid ice once sealed the inclusiveness of the ocean.”
“Here, in human form, I return warmth to life, heat to nature, and moisture to consciousness.”
“This is Gentle Blessing of Warmth—”
As if resisting the rising sunlight outside the venue, the coin within the deep blue solution on the platform burned, creating an extremely rare form of combustion and beautiful fireworks.
The temperature measurement also yielded a high-temperature evaluation exceeding the limit.
Thunderous applause erupted in the venue.
But for some reason, this competition, which had become successful and bright, felt as if it were covered by some Black Magic in Liya’s eyes.
Like a thin black mist enveloping the gazes projected onto her.
Like a thin membrane blocking the applause that echoed across the heavens.
Because the eyes watching her did not include him.
Because the applause celebrating her did not include him.
…
The segment where judges and contestants exchanged pleasantries.
…
The question-and-answer segment from guest and student attendees.
…
The segment where judges and leaders offered comments and mutual praise.
…
Round after round passed. Liya felt like a puppeteer inside a large automaton, listening to her violent heartbeat, feeling her surging magic circuits, uttering perfunctory words, while in reality, she was observing the outside world through the hollow eyes of the automaton.
I really want, I really want, I really want to get his gaze.
I really want, I really want, I really want to get his praise.
I really want, I really want, I really want to get his…
…His…
His?
His what?
“Congratulations! Liya Ferrumel Eremont!!”
“Her Gentle Blessing of Warmth is simply a major breakthrough in fire and fire-like attribute magic in recent years. This magic breaks the boundaries between ancient and modern magic and is a highly successful piece of research. It can be used in multiple aspects, including forging and fluid attacks. This award, which has been held for eight years and has always been vacant, is undoubtedly hers! Let us congratulate her and present her with the winner’s magic robe—”
Liya put on the robe.
The trim of the special robe for this competition was red, belonging to the fire attribute. The back of the robe was also printed with the emblem of Entak First Academy—only the winners of very large competitions were awarded such robes, and those who received them often kept them in a cabinet as treasures.
“Congratulations!”
“Indeed!”
“Quick, say a few words of acceptance!”
…
Amidst the crowd, she walked onto the podium, and the “Ice Array (Attack)” she had been longing for was now in her hands.
This book was something she had desperately wanted.
It felt so heavy in her hands.
But now, Liya, holding it, felt that merely obtaining this book was far from enough.
In front of the podium, the Gentle Blessing of Warmth she had ignited was still burning. The magic itself was designed for prolonged ignition.
“I…”
Looking at the results she had finally achieved, Liya could only think about the story behind it.
Why had she felt so lost since the beginning?
Was it because Will might be choosing a mentor today?
Even though she had told herself… that he did have better options…
But…
— “Look at this burning flame, so beautiful, so lovely, so powerful, as if it could burn through all the ice, melt all the snow, and ignite the last candle flame in the cold wind.”
— “It belongs to you now. Although I contributed a little, this was all achieved through your own efforts, Liya, my teacher.”
— “You must be as passionate as this flame, with this kind of enthusiasm, to get everything you want, to hold onto him tightly, and with your brilliance, to capture all of his attention.”
“I… I want to be as passionate as this flame, with this kind of enthusiasm, to… to get… to get what I want to get…”
For some reason, Liya inexplicably spoke these words.
Instead of the long, formal acceptance speech she had prepared beforehand, she spoke her true feelings—
“That’s… that’s all! I… I have something very important to do—”
Saying this, Liya rushed out of the venue.
“Wait… wait a minute… the acceptance speech is just… like that? This is the first time in several competitions that someone has won the vacant grand prize!”
The Blood Mint Essential Oil had been completely consumed, but the more Liya ran towards the sports field, the more she could feel her heartbeat quicken.
Almost there…
Almost there, and she would arrive…
She could already see the shadow of the sports field.
“Hoo… hoo…”
She ran with all her might towards the noise in the sports field.
Her clenched palms seemed afraid that he would be snatched away.
