Nova

"Nope, I had a Master" Asher Eli said with nostalgia.

"HAD...ahh, who was he?" Nova asked curiously.

"Well, nothing just another commoner" Eli said.

"So you won't tell...is he the one who taught you Trident"? She was not backing out.

"Nope, that's self-taught" Eli was also careful.

Her brown eyes started to shine as she clutched her hand and said "You are good with your words"

"I take that as a compliment" Eli smiled slightly.

"sigh....let me get this straight, you are not the disciple of Duke, right?" she sighed as she loosened herself.

"I can't say no because he did teach me something and he only said about the token that, if I have this I can be selected as a student in Nex Academia" Eli said while playing with the token.

"Well that is right, if you have the token, whether you have talent or not, we will let them in" Nova said truthfully.

"Talk about fairness....corruption" Eli said as covered his mouth.

"So what?" Nova squinted her eyes.

"ahem....well then everything is over right, the sun is about to set so...." Eli cleared his throat while looked at outside.

"Why, Do you really want to end the Date?" she tried to tease him.

Eli turned and looked into the brown eyes and said flatly, " I don't mind; we can continue our date and if you want, you can pay for the dinner also"

Her eyes twitched and said with an irritated tone, "Brat, If you act like that, not a single girl will like you"

"sighs...Nova, If you really want to have a date, I don't mind. But you do know that you are investigating me under the order" Eli said softly.

"What? Who wants to have a date with you?" Nova glared at him.

without care, "Also I am a married man....see" Eli said as he showed his obsidian Ring on his left-hand ring finger.

"WHAT? I thought it is just a new type of storage ring.....so people wear the ring for marriage now...ahh" Nova pondered and dazed at the ring.

'snap'

Eli snapped his finger, as she was dazed out and a little bit embarrassed "W-Well I have to report, so let's end this". They walked out of the Royal restaurant.

While Eli thought 'I guess, no dinner today...at least I had delicious lunch....hmm....If she is here, her expression will be cute....heh....'.

"So, what kind of woman is your wife?" she asked curiously and inwardly 'what does she see in him? Handsome? average, character? not so good, talent? ok but not that much.....ahhh...maybe she has some kind of kink'

"Well, she....is a wonderful woman, that I have ever seen in my life" Eli said while rubbing the ring with his finger with a rare gentle smile.

When she saw that smile she also smiled but stopped as she looked at the burn scar which was hidden under his curly auburn black hair was moved due to the strong wind.

'I guess, it's love..ah' she didn't say anything and just smiled from her heart and seeing the first time her heart felted smile, Eli said,

"Nova"

"hmmm?"

"I think you should smile more"

"Is that so?"

"Yes"

"hmmm"

<Next Day-Morning>

Inside the Stadium,

"See that 100s of platforms, you will be battling in that; once every candidate arrived" Nova wore the same formal suit again.

Once every other area candidate arrived, a Man in his 30s wearing a formal white shirt and pants as he flew towards the middle of the stadium and his voice sounded throughout the stadium,

"I will be announcing today's battle's Rule,

First, your battle will be random within your rank.

Second, It is not compulsory to win the battle, you can surrender at any time but you must show us your skill just like yesterday.

Third, Scholars have to inform 'I am a scholar' before their battle begins, whether they did well or not, they have to take written tests immediately after their battle.

Fourth, Soulless candidates must also inform 'I am soulless' unless they really want to die and their battle will be any rank.

Fifth...

...

And lastly, If you want, you can kill your opponent without destroying the soul crystal. We can revive them later" he said with a dangerous smile.

Everyone chatter.

"Let's the Battle begin" He souted.

The big display started to show different paired-up IDs and the last test begin today.

****

Eli sat on the corner as he waited for his number and he heard some noise,

"Oh..it is Hero of Dawn Kingdom!"

"Oh my goodness, He is so handsome!"

"Hey, I heard he reached the 7-star rank at the age of 17!"

"No way! 7-star rank, are you kidding me? there is no need to take the test like the rest of us"

"Yeah, right? I think that guy is showing off"

"Ohh ohh someone is jealous"

"Yeah, so what? That guy has everything, unlike us"

'chatter'

"Oh..Mr. Eli, why are alone?" Nova walked toward Eli.

"hmm? Madam Nova, how are you?" Eli smiled.

"I am fine" Nova also smiled.

"hmmm...I asked why are you alone?" Nova tried to hide her laughter.

'Tsk, Brownie' he muttered inwardly and said "What can I do? I am a lone wolf and I don't like a bunch of brats"

"haha ahaha, I heard from someone that you tried to talk but they ignored you...don't worry, during the test everyone is an enemy..... hahaha" she laughed.

"sighs...what do you want now?" Eli irritated.

"ahem...nothing much"

As he glanced at her and he asked something to pass the time, "Can you tell me about the cultivation ranks?"

"hmm? so you don't kn...aahh....I forgot you are just bumpkin who came upon luck..hah.." she laughed at she thought about yesterday.

Eli's eye twitched but he didn't say anything.