Chapter 11

The enigmatic smile on her full rosy lips dazed Kai, and it took him a moment to process Cecil's words. By that time, Cecil had already started training by herself again.

"If you do not want to show me how you control it, that's fine too. I'll figure it out eventually." Cecil stated, wiggling her finger and the rock rolled around.

Kai observed the rock, it was the same rock he spent thirty minutes finding, and he had marked it with a small, black dot too.

Kai looked down, still recovering from her pretty smile and he felt something tickling at his heartstrings.

He smiled softly to himself, slowly raising up to his feet. "Since you aren't telling me whether you are enrolling or not, I guess I'll leave this as a parting gift."

"Mhmm." Cecil hummed, neither confirming or denying.

"Watch carefully." Kai stood in front of Cecil and she looked up at him.

Cecil watched an orange-red aura enshrouding his body before descending rapidly to his feet. He proceeded to walk in a circle around Cecil, and stopping right in front of her again.

The aura from his feet dispersed, and she saw the scorched marking on the ground, forming a circle around the area she was seated down at.

"You burned the grass," she furrowed her eyebrows. "What are you doing?"

Kai revealed his trademark toothy grin, stepping away from Cecil. He pointed his finger beside the circle, and Cecil observed in rapt attention as the elemental energy coalesced at the tip of his finger.

It shot out a line of fire and Cecil jolted back in surprise.

"Don't worry, I'll never let it hurt or burn you."

Cecil blinked, leaning in as she noticed Kai writing something on the grass, she felt pitiful for the scorched portion of the ground.

Kai's favourite spot.

Cecil read the words, widening her eyes as she glanced down at herself. It was where she was sitting down at!

"You are burning everything, how cruel." Cecil remarked, not responding to the burned words on the ground.

Kai paid no heed to her disregard, grinning. "You could always fix it, earth evolves into nature after all."

Cecil smiled gently at his words, nodding. Of course Cecil knew that, she knew almost everything there is to know about this world.

"Did you manage to catch anything from watching me?"

"Transferring the energy to different points of one's body. I understand, but the problem is not knowing how to transfer it."

Kai leaned down towards Cecil who was still seated down, cross-legged. "Come enroll into the academy, they'll teach you well."

Cecil didn't respond, moving away from the circle and standing up.

"You...you are heading back now? Right now?" Kai asked, his voice holding a hint of sadness.

Cecil could imagine the big, fluffy ears on him drooping.

Aw.

This silly man.

I'll be wherever you are, since you are Xue...and Xue is you.

"I had a rather exhausting day today."

"Oh..." Kai ducked his head down, depressed.

He wanted to spend more time with Cecil.

...if I teach her how to actually do it, will she stay then?

Cecil grinned inwardly, walking towards Kai and patting his head. Kai felt the soft and petite hand on his head, rubbing a little at his hair.

"I'll be back to fix this place someday." Cecil offered another smile, spinning around and heading off when Kai grasped at her wrist.

"Wait, is this really the last time I'll be seeing you?"

Cecil pretended to ponder, tapping on her flawless chin as she maintained the smile on her face.

"I wonder."

Cecil extricated her wrist, walking away without another word.

Tomorrow will be your fateful day, Kai. Your beloved wife will be there, hehe.

Kai watched her go, his eyes fixed on her lithe figure growing smaller and smaller.

It was hard to tell what he was feeling at that moment.

The popular restaurant, "Plik" was rather empty today. Upstairs, a handsome, ash blonde-haired man sat, on the oak table laid a pamphlet about "Eagle Academy". His arms were across his chest, cogitating.

"You are enrolling."

Hearing a familiar lukewarm and gentle voice, Xue snapped his head up.

Cecil stood in front of him, her hands behind her back with her usual demeanor. She was wearing a pink gown this time, its design similar to her long-sleeved gowns.

"No."

"No?"

"...yes."

"Ah, you are conflicted about Hana."

Xue paused, looking away in silence.

It was exactly like in the novel, it was only at the very last moment that Xue decided to enroll. There was something calling out to him, beckoning him to the academy, hence he decided to enroll in it.

Cecil decided to join Xue at the table, sitting down.

"...why are you sitting down? And why are you here?"

"To talk about Hana."

Xue was interested. "What about Hana?"

Cecil laid her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her palm, her fingers tapping her chin. "I am enrolling in the academy too, and I was looking for you to care for Hana while I was gone, but..."

Cecil was lying, she was only here to see her precious puppy and to convince Xue to attend the academy.

In the original novel, part of the reason why Hana never accompanied the protagonist was because of Cecil Lan.

She couldn't bear to leave her best friend behind. Another reason was because Hana was never one to be interested in training or fighting. She has no ambition in life, and she was satisfied with her life, except for missing the protagonist from time to time.

This time was different, since Cecil would be enrolling in the academy along with Xue.

Maybe, I can convince the heroine to attend the academy...and it will groom her!

She won't be a useless, airhead, damsel-in-distress any longer!

"You are enrolling as well?" Xue stated in disbelief, interrupting her train of thoughts.

"I drank the Widerlich."

"...you were interested from the start."

Cecil hummed in response, tugging her hair behind her ear as Xue eyed her intently.

"Seems like we are both enrolling, and Hana will be here...alone."

Xue's face grew dark, his grey eyes swirling with emotions.

[ Your fourth mission has arrived!

Mission 4 : Eagle Academy

Objective : Enroll into the Eagle Academy successfully along with Xue.

Reward : 20 points

Failure of mission will result in a negative 20 points. ]

[ Congratulations, this is the third plothole of the story! It is a necessary plothole to fix!

Optional mission 3 : Fixing the heroine's constant damsel-in-distress state.

Objective : Convince Hana to enroll into Eagle Academy

Reward : 5 points

There is no consequences of failing this optional mission. ]

Cecil raised her eyebrows at the system throwing two missions in her face at once, especially due to the third optional mission.

"AI500, how is Hana a plothole? The author clearly designed her that way."

[ Hana is a plothole because she is the heroine only waiting for the hero to save the day. She is nothing else other than that~ ]

"That's--"

"..."

"That's true, I can't deny it..."

[ Good luck, Cecil Lan~ ]

Cecil focused her attention back on Xue. He was leaning against the chair, arms still across his chest. His stormy, grey eyes showed conflict and he was wearing the clothes that Hana gave him, disguising it as a gift from her mother.

His turtleneck long vest was a mixture of black and red, and his pants were entirely black along with his polished, black boots.

The lighting from above bathed him in a warm light, along with the sunlight streaming in from the balcony.

His gorgeous features seemed to glow, despite being broody.

Ahhh, my dearest protagonist...

Cecil sighed, her fingers pressing against her cheeks.

He is truly handsome...and beautiful.

Xue who was still immersed in his own, pessimistic thoughts didn't notice how Cecil's eyes softened considerably, a gentle smile curving at her lips.

"We could convince Hana to enroll with us." Cecil suggested and Xue glanced up at her.

Cecil was back to her normal self, her posture regal.

"Hana isn't the type to be interested in these matters." Xue frowned.

"If we persist in convincing her, she'll give in."

...especially since the Cecil Lan here is now enrolling instead of staying behind.

Xue contemplated for a moment and grunted in agreement.

"Glad to have your cooperation, I told Hana to meet me here. She should be arriving at any moment--ah."

Cecil was sitting at the seat facing the stairs, and she saw a familiar red-haired beauty popping into view.

"Cecil!"

"Hana."

"Oh, Xue is here as well!"

"Take a seat, Hana."

Hana settled down in between Cecil and Xue, and she noticed the pamphlet on the table.

"Eagle Academy? Enrollment? Today is the last day! The meeting place is at the inn? Oh, Xue, are you going to enroll?"

"Yes, I am." Xue nodded, smiling at her.

Hana was saddened by the news. "Oh...so, you aren't staying in this town anymore?"

"I'm afraid not."

"I'll miss you..."

"I'll miss you too."

"Cecil will miss you as well, Xue."

Cecil widened her eyes, wondering why Hana had dragged her in. "Hana...uhm, to tell you the truth. I am planning to enroll too."

Hana shot her head up, dumbfounded.

"Th-the two of you are enrolling?"

"Yes, I did drink the Widerlich after all, and it wasn't for fun."

"I am going to be here, all alone?" Hana's voice started to shake.

Cecil and Xue lifted their hands at the same time, wanting to pat Hana's head. They halted after noticing each other, and Cecil gave way.

Xue patted her head, clearing his throat. "Why don't you enroll with us, Hana?"

"Wh-what?"

"This way, you won't be all alone, we'll be together, like these past week or so." Cecil joined in.

"But...I'm not interested in any of these elements and fighting or training."

"You don't need to work hard."

Because the protagonist will protect you like crazy, from monsters, villains and men.

"You also don't need to take the fighting or training seriously."

Because I am the loyal female second lead and I'll make sure to protect you as well.

"The elements are simple to understand, and it's easy to obtain it too."

You just have to suffer for three days.

"I won't let anything happen to you, Hana." Xue added in one more point.

Hana remained silent for five consecutive seconds and she beamed happily.

"Okay! I'll enroll along with the two of you!"

[ Optional mission 3 : Fixing the heroine's constant damsel-in-distress state.

Objective completed!

Reward : 5 points.

Reminder, your total points is now 55 points. ]

The message closed quickly and Cecil turned just in time for Xue to throw her an incredulous stare.

Cecil only shrugged in response, mouthing the words "I told you" to Xue.

She knew that Hana's character was one that gave in very easily to temptations or persistence from others.

[ Previous impression points : 80

Remaining impression points : 81

Hooray! You impressed the protagonist was awarded with one point! ]

...well...

I suppose it's better than a 0.01 increase.

Cecil swallowed nervously, there was another two hours before the enrollment would stop. That was when the school trip officially ended, and both the students and teachers here would be heading back to the academy.

The school trip was a disguise for the top students from the school, as well as the teachers to scout for potential targets.

However, Cecil wasn't nervous about the time constraint or rejection.

This was the first meeting of Kai, Xue and Hana in the novel. Now, the scene was happening yet again but this time, Hana was here to enroll as well, along with Cecil.

They were standing in front of an inn room, the largest room the inn has in this town. Xue knocked on the door, and they heard someone telling them to enter, their voice gruff.

Xue pushed the door open and Cecil squeezed her eyes close, bracing herself.

This is where it would all start.

《 start 》

The day I met Xue, the emptiness inside me was gone.

I like Xue.

He is very handsome, and he treats me very well.

Cecil said I would come to love him someday, and she felt like we were a match made in heaven; a fated couple.

But, I don't think I will ever come to love Xue. Like, yes, but love? No.

I don't think we are fated either.

《 stop 》