Chapter 203: Counseling Session
Revan flinched slightly, as if Gara’s words slapped him across the face. He closed his eyes, forcing his temper down.
"I won’t talk. Vania won’t talk. Andine won’t talk. So you better not talk either," he muttered darkly.
"Sure," Gara smirked. "As long as the girl beside you actually keeps her mouth shut."
That smirk made Vania’s blood boil, but Revan raised a hand in front of her, clearly telling her not to retaliate.
Vania clenched her fists and muttered under her breath, "That weak human really doesn’t know his place. I’ll show him where he truly belongs."
Revan glanced at her, a flicker of regret crossing his face. He was starting to question why he’d even stepped in to defend this temperamental tigress.
Then his gaze shifted to Gara, and that regret deepened— he didn’t like the human boy either. All he could do was let out a long sigh.
Meanwhile, Miki had already returned to his seat, hoping to stop any further argument from breaking out.
"So, what’s that important info you were talking about, Vania?" he asked.
Her sour expression quickly shifted back to her usual proud look.
"Later on, besides the classes related to Bloodline and Talent, there will be others that have no connection to either. Things like Herbalism, Alchemy, Drawing, and such. We’ll each have to pick one."
"Wow, that actually sounds fun. Which one are you picking, Vania?"
"I’m going with Herbalism," she said confidently. "You see this silky, thick hair of mine? It’s all thanks to herbal products. I figured herbs must have even greater potential."
Miki nodded in agreement. "Yeah, your hair is super smooth. What other options are there?"
"There’s also something called the Strategist Class. It’s led directly by Professor Langga, so I’m guessing everyone from our class will have to join."
"I’ve heard of that one! Supposedly, it’s the class that trains elite Liners to lead the front lines."
"Yup. Pretty amazing, right?"
Their conversation flowed naturally, and the other students also had their own conversations, chatting while waiting for their names to be called.
Hours passed —long enough for Andine to talk endlessly about her family and mermaid territories— until almost every student had been called.
Only two were left.
Jett returned to the classroom with Pere, and then that assistant professor called the next name. "Mona Daevora."
Every head turned toward the quiet girl in the corner. No one had ever heard her voice, not once since class began.
Pere guided Mona toward a room beside the staircase. There were several rooms along that side, but they entered the one closest to the stairs.
Inside, Professor Langga was already waiting, wearing a warm, understanding smile.
Anyone who saw that smile couldn’t help but relax. Even the ghostly girl herself felt a tiny smile tug at her lips, though it was hidden beneath her long hair.
"When I read your data, I was truly surprised, Mona," Langga said softly. "You’re the very talent I’ve been searching for."
Her cheeks flushed beneath the veil of her hair. Slowly, she lifted her head and met his kind, handsome face.
"I-I can’t use my Talent," she whispered.
"You can, Mona," Langga replied gently but firmly. "You’ve used it before and it was incredible. I’m sure you can do it again. I believe in you."
That final line made her heart race uncontrollably.
"Your Rift Jump Talent is extraordinary," he continued, his eyes warm. "One day, it’ll make you admired... not feared."
Mona’s head lifted fully now. Those were the words she had longed to hear for so long.
She didn’t want to be feared.
...
Gara ended up being the last one called for counseling, even though he wasn’t the last to turn in his paper.
He let out a quiet huff. Of course. That devil man must’ve done it on purpose.
Moments later, Mona returned, her steps a little more confident than before.
"Gara," Pere called next.
With a long, resigned sigh, Gara rose from his seat and followed the assistant into the room where Langga was already waiting.
Click. The door closed behind him.
Now it was just the two of them.
"It’s been a while, Gara," Langga greeted with a warm smile.
For a brief moment, Gara wanted nothing more than to smack that smiling face— but he held himself back and sat down, expression sharp and unwelcoming.
His eyes flicked upward.
The heart icon floating above Langga’s head now showed 65%— a noticeable jump, even though they hadn’t met for one year.
"Why the sour face?" Langga asked lightly. "Last time we met, we got along just fine, didn’t we?"
Once again, Gara had to fight the urge to punch him.
"You call that fine?" he asked, voice flat, lips curling into a cold smile while his eyes stayed lifeless.
"Of course. I even helped with your training, didn’t I?"
Gara scoffed.
This man only remembered what he wanted to remember. No mention at all of the real mistake he made.
"Sure. Whatever you say. Anyway, I hope this is the last time we ever meet."
He stood up, already fed up after just a few sentences.
"Gara, wait— we’re not done yet," Langga said, clearly surprised that the young man would walk out on a professor— his main advisor, no less.
"What else is there to say? In two months, I’ll be gone from Class S. You don’t need to bother doing anything for me."
"You’d just throw away this position like that?"
"I don’t care about Class S. That means nothing to me."
Gara was already at the door when Langga’s voice came again— this time softer, almost desperate. "What do you want, then?"
"I don’t want to see you again," Gara replied without turning around.
Langga exhaled, a long breath filled with guilt. "If this is about what happened that night... I’m sorry. I was set up. I know I crossed the line, and I regret it deeply. Tell me, Gara— what can I do to make it right?"
His tone was sincere, so much so that Gara’s resolve faltered for a heartbeat.
But then he remembered. Langga’s trait: Cunning.
His greatest strength was manipulating hearts.
"How could I ever trust a liar?" Gara turned, meeting that earnest gaze head-on.
"Liar?" Langga blinked, confused.
"Didn’t you say you’d be staying in Falopo Town for a few months? You left just a week later."
For a split second, disappointment flickered across Gara’s face— before he quickly forced it away.
"You... came looking for me?" Langga asked, genuinely startled.
"Yeah. And your lie was exposed. So don’t try to trick me again."
With that, Gara walked out, slamming the door behind him.
Pere stepped in moments later, finding the professor deep in thought.
"Pere," Langga said quietly, "look into whether Gara ever went to Falopo Town after the Awakening Ceremony."
...