Celina

Leila lost in her thoughts continued to slowly nibble on the pink sweet cake held in her hands, the shouts and cries coming from the youths nearby Silen Waldenker was completely ignored by her.

She quickly came back to her senses as soon as Cyney called Nelson and waved at him.

Leila's eyes flashed through a trace of surprise as she saw Nelson arriving with Lucas, but soon she returned to her indifferent face.

Lucas smilingly walked over to Leila and nodded. In return Leila just gave a slight node and ignored him after that.

Lucas calmly sat near Leila and asked, "Aren't you interested in Silen Waldenker?"

"Should I?" Leila with the same indifference replied.

Lucas awkwardly smiled and changed the topic, "I thought you would have left the City of Datura early. Skyline city is in the opposite direction of Starline College, So why are you heading to Skyline?"

Leila gave Lucas a sidelong glance and said, "We have been arranged for attending the Entrance Exam at Skyline City."

"Arranged?" Lucas immediately understood. Generally the students and other youngsters who wish to attend the Entrance Exam participate from their own school they studied. But still there are some who wish to participate from other areas due to all sorts of circumstances, so it was possible to arrange and attend the Entrance Examination from other locations.

"So why are you going to Skyline City?"Leila asked.

Lucas poured himself some water and drank it. He replied, "Well….my Uncle told me to go and participate in some kind of conference or something like that."

Leila nodded and said, "You must be going to see the conference held by the Nine Great Schools….if I remember correctly the name is 'Conference for Interactive Exchange for Higher Learning.'"

"Conference for Interactive Exchange for Higher Learning?" Lucas slowly mumbled under his breath.

Leila for a moment gazed at Lucas with a strange expression but quickly covered it. She took a glass filled with orange juice and sipped it, with a calm yet cold expression she continued.

"Interactive Exchange for Higher Learning and Exploration, every time before the Grand Continental Entrance Examination, the Nine Elite Schools will jointly hold a conference in many of the key places around the whole world. The intention is to show off how awesome the Nine Elites are to the exam candidates and to attract the interest of self-candidates among the genius cultivators. There is a total of nine booths where cultivators from the Nine Great Schools will directly exchange words with the exam candidates."

Lucas interestingly looked at Leila.

"It seems you're quite familiar with this conference. Which Universities do you wish to attend?" Lucas didn't ask which one will she attend, because every youth whether male or female wish to attend one of the Nine Schools, but only a few genius and talented people could finally pass the last hurdle of examination and reach the top ranks.

Leila coolly replied, "I attended the last convention. Each university is unique and different. If someone truly have capability and wish to seriously walk the path of cultivation and attend the University, he or she have to take the location of the universities into consideration."

Lucas nodded understandingly, "Yes, all the Nine Great Schools are near a Forbidden Zone or something similar."

Leila's eyes shone and she started to look at Lucas differently.

Detecting the change in Leila's gaze Lucas was surprised inside. 'What happened? Why the sudden change?'

The noting point and the relationship between the Forbidden Zone and Nine Schools wasn't something known by the common people. The casual way Lucas phrased his words caused Leila to look at Lucas in a different manner, still she didn't ask Lucas anything further since he never talked or revealed anything regarding his own background.

They continued to talk casually while waiting for Nelson and Cyney.

After a brief amount of time,

"Yes my father comes from Asklar Continent, he…" Leila paused and directed her gaze to behind of Lucas.

Lucas turned his head and saw a gorgeous woman in a elegant and shimmering purple robe, walking towards their table.

"Celina…Your.." Lucas with his sharp ears caught on some words dropped from Leila's lips.

Lucas could vaguely remember her sitting among those youngsters.

Lucas moved his eyes from Celina and gazed towards where Richie and Rein was. He could immediately sense their hostile gazes directed towards him, it seems that their hostility increased, unknowingly an almost imperceptible smile appeared on his face.

Celina walked gracefully and sat near Leila and said."Leila, long time no see." Leila's eyes were filled with uncertainty and complications. She released a long sigh and smiled in return.

"Yes, it's been long. You're as graceful as ever, Celina."

"Your presence is really thin....as expected of you. So….how are you?"

Lucas didn't interrupt their awkward conversation, he calmly sipped his drink and observed the ladies. Celina, she was in her early twenties, with beautiful skin, ample bosom and a perfectly enchanting figure. Her graceful yet wild demeanour combined with the slight arrogance emitting from her was tempting for any male.

Lucas had only praises for her, her each movements held an inexplicable grace and nobility. If someone observed her for some time, they will automatically avert their gaze due to the shame and inferiority they feel.

Lucas's mind wasn't disturbed, he with a praising eyes looked at her.

Similarly Celina was also observing Lucas, she was surprised at his clear and calm gaze, usually any normal young man once saw her, will completely be lost in her beauty and his eyes would be filled with lust or at least their gaze won't be this calm and composed.

"Celina.." Leila paused for a moment then continued, "What are you doing here?"

Celina smiled gently at Leila and shook her head, "Nothing important. I am just here for sightseeing."

For sometime both of them didn't talk, Lucas lowered his eyes and thought, 'It seems they have some history.'

Breaking the awkward silence Celina asked, "I heard that you're participating in the Entrance Examination?"

Leila recovered her composure and spoke with a smile, "Yes, I have decided."

"Are you prepared?" Celina still with the gentle smile on her face asked.

"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have joined the fun." Leila replied.

"Mm. I am planning to will visit Uncle, will you be available?" Celina in a low voice asked Leila.

Leila's eyes widened hearing Celina, she quickly lowered her head and gave an almost imperceptible node.

Celina beamed and clapped, "Don't worry about the Examination, I will help you. For sure you will be on the top ranks in the ranking list."

Celina then turned her face and looked at Lucas, "So who is this friend with you, Your boyfriend….he is too fragile?" Celina joyfully asked.

Lucas almost choked at the drastic change in direction.

Cough! Cough!

Leila blanked out for a second due to the drastic change in Celina's attitude. Quickly recovering her senses she blushed and said, "No…he is a….he is just a friend of a friend."

Celina gave a brief glance at Lucas, "A friend of a friend…Hmm"

Lucas smiled politely and introduced himself, "I am Lucas. Due to a coincidence we met each other in City of Datura and fortunately acquainted with Miss Leila."

Celina looked at Lucas for sometime and thought aloud, "Lucas? City of Datura?"

"Are you Lucas Arsln?"

Lucas was taken aback, he never thought to hide his identity nor to reveal it to everyone but was still surprised when his identity was this easily found. So after a brief moment, he nodded back and said, "Yes, have me met?"

Leila was surprised for a brief amount of time when she heard the family name Arsln, but didn't thought too much. There are many who has surname Arsln in City of Datura. She was confused how Celina know Lucas.

"Big Sister, do you know him?"

Celina laughed lightly and spoke to Leila "Lucas Arsln is a famous name in City of Datura. He is one of the 8 prodigies among the new generation in Arsln family. I haven't thought that I would have the fortune to meet one of the prodigies from an Ancient Trueline Family like Arsln Family. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Lucas was still confused, he returned a polite smile and said, "You're overpraising me my lady. It's all unnecessary titles made by common folk in their past time."

Leila had a weird look on her face when Celina said that Lucas was a prodigy. She easily joined the dots and understood. But she was still doubtful about how Celina knew about Lucas, so she asked, "You're not from Ezhern Continent, so how do you know about him. Is he that famous that his fame even spread to other continents?"

Celina's smile stiffened for a moment but she quickly hid it and said, "Well I just happened on a conversation about Arsln family and so I got to know about the 8 prodigies." She pointed at Lucas's SmartWatch on his wrist and spoke, "Also the PLUTO is a very rare High MagiTech device that will only appear on market after some years. Since he have it, he must be enormously strong or have a huge backing."

"And from what I know Lucas Arsln's grandfather is a powerful Maxim Level powerhouse and heavily dots upon him. So it is not surprising for him to have PLUTO."

Lucas was startled, he quickly focused on the SmartWatch on his wrist and carefully observed it. The SmartWatch looked the same one he used to wear earlier. There was no difference to be viewed.

He doubtfully cast a glance at Celina.

Celina smiled and spoke, "It seems to me that you have only acquired the item recently. You have to change your settings and setup a secure link and firewall, right now anyone having PLUTO is able to detect your system."

Celina casually told Lucas about PLUTO and taught him its functions. Lucas quickly adjusted his settings on PLUTO. "Also SmartWatch is the old trend…" Celina pointed to a pink band on her wrist and continued to speak, "this is the new fashion. Change it into a band in your custom works."

Leila was irritated when both of them ignored her. She snorted and sullenly looked at her glittering white band which had a MagiTech logo.

In a short time Leila and Celina talked like bosom buddies.

Lucas thought, 'Where did the initial awkwardness gone?'

Soon Nelson and Cyney came back with autographs in their hands. Nelson's eyes sparkled brilliantly when he saw Celina sitting near Leila.

He extended his hand towards Celina and said, "Nelson, Nelson Nervilla. Nice to meet you Miss Goddess."

Celina gave a glance to Nelson and politely smiled and nodded, "Celina. Nice to meet you too." After that she ignored him chatted with Leila and Cyney. Nelson took his hanging hand and scratched his head in embarrassment. Cyney straightforwardly laughed at Nelson without any politeness.

Nelson after giving a glare to Cyney walked over to Lucas and sat near him.

Since Nelson and Cyney has arrived they ordered their dinner. Celina joined them, the girls talked with each other whereas Lucas and Nelson talked among themselves.

…..

…..

"So are you saying that, it was a fight between just two individuals? Just two of them caused this much destruction!"

"Uncle Glen told me that it was most likely due to some kind of items and some arrays."

"So did they captured those two fighters?"

"No, some say that they died in the fight….some rumors say that they have already escaped."

Nelson laughed knowingly. Lucas raised his brow and asked, "Do you know some inside information?"

Nelson lowered his voice and said, "I think the fight was between Maxim level cultivators and-"

"Hey, if the fight was between Maxim level cultivators it would have at least ruined half of the city." Celina calmly interrupted them. She was also interested in the battle taken place last night.

Nelson and Lucas turned their head and saw Celina shaking her head. Nelson was irritated and spoke aloud. "Does Miss Celina have a different opinion?"

"It was most likely a Maxim level cultivator intervened between their fight and caused the destruction or someone would have used a high level magic item related to poison."

Leila and Cyney also joined and expressed their opinions.

Lucas narrowed his eyes and many thoughts flashed past his mind.

Ting! Ting!

The notification sound immediately distracted Lucas, when he looked at where the sound came from, he found Celina with a grave expression which quickly changed into a calm one.

"Sorry Leila, I have to go now. Lets meet tomorrow. Also.." Celina directed her gaze towards Lucas and spoke to him, "Be careful of them. They are planning to give you some trouble." Celina directed her gaze into a particular direction and left hurriedly.

Lucas followed Celina's gaze and found Richie and Rein and a couple of youths around a table. The group of dozen of them have now reduced to only a couple of them.

Nelson's eyes quickly started to become colder and colder, "So it's Richie Rolnslin and his gang."

"You know them." Lucas casually asked.