A table occupied by ten students was an unusual sight, and it quickly became the center of attention.

As the top class, S-Class students each had their own pride. Some of them refused to be seen as inferior to others, and competition among them was common. Since the academy’s early days, there had never been an S-Class where all its students could sit calmly at the same table.

While all eyes were drawn to this strange scene, Lysa, the last to join the table, chose to eat quietly, even though her ears were being assaulted by Miki’s nonstop chatter.

This was exactly why she disliked eating with others.

It was not that she hated her classmates. She simply disliked noise. She preferred being a lone wolf rather than ruining her moments of peace.

Still, after spending a year in the same class, she knew her classmates were not bad people. That was why, seeing everyone gathered together, she had accepted Miki’s invitation to eat with them.

That said, she regretted it now.

Tomorrow, she swore she would not eat with them again.

Unfortunately for Lysa, she did not yet know that Miki had many ways to make sure she kept eating with them.

After lunch, they stood up from the table and left the cafeteria.

Vania was the last to stand. During the meal, no one had spoken to her. She felt awkward trying to blend in.

Valeon, the lion boy, slowed his steps and walked beside her.

"Are you joining the hunting party next month?" he asked.

Caught off guard, Vania could only look at Valeon with a confused expression.

Seeing her reaction, Valeon turned his face away. Vania blinked, surprised and confused. She could clearly see a trace of disappointment on his face.

Valeon then quickened his pace, returning to Xerath’s side.

The devil boy chuckled softly. He had caught Valeon’s glance earlier and could read his thoughts easily.

"She’s still ignoring you?" Xerath whispered.

Valeon froze. His face looked like someone caught red-handed. "Did you read my mind?"

"Not on purpose," Xerath replied casually. "But did you really think I couldn’t notice how you act in class?"

Valeon’s shocked expression turned into panic. "Is it that obvious?"

Xerath thought for a moment. "I’m not just good at reading minds. I’m good at reading people."

Valeon’s shoulders slumped. He looked like someone who had already lost before the fight even began.

"I won’t tell anyone," Xerath said.

Valeon only cleared his throat. It did nothing to ease the disappointment lingering in his chest.

Up ahead, Miki caught fragments of their whispering but did not understand the context.

His gaze drifted backward.

Vania.

He then turned to Andine, who was walking beside him. "You and Vania are the only girls here. Well, except Lysa. Why don’t you talk to her?"

"ME?!" Andine pointed at herself, her voice jumping several octaves.

Everyone instantly turned to look at her.

Miki was startled. Even Andine herself seemed shocked by how loud she had been.

She took a breath and continued in a normal tone. "After everything she’s done, do you think I can just forget it?"

"Alright, alright. I get it," Miki quickly cut in before she could start ranting.

"Gara has forgiven her. I can forgive her too," Andine added seriously. "But acting like nothing ever happened? I can’t do that. Maybe someday. I don’t know when."

Miki nodded repeatedly, not wanting the topic to drag on.

Those walking ahead had all heard Andine’s words, including Jet, who was walking beside Revan.

"Miki, you used to be the closest to Vania. Why don’t you talk to her instead?" Jet asked provocatively.

They all remembered how arrogant and troublesome Vania used to be. Did Miki really want to be friendly with her again?

Even Gara was watching Miki’s reaction.

Though he was the one who invited Vania to eat with them, and he knew she had changed, he was not ready to be overly kind to someone who had once bullied him. At least, not yet.

Miki looked at Jet and nodded without hesitation. "That makes sense."

He stepped back to walk beside Vania.

The others looked surprised, but not completely shocked.

As the loudest among them, the rat boy had always been good at making friends.

What they did not know was that Miki had his own reasons.

Deep down, he wanted to ask Gara whether he really wanted a repeat of the Mona incident.

Gara seemed to have a talent for dragging trouble into his life.

Still, Miki was sharp enough not to ask directly. He would ask later, when it was just the two of them.

One thing was certain. He still did not believe Vania had joined them with purely friendly intentions.

He promised himself that he would be the first to know if Vania was planning anything.

In the past, he had deeply regretted failing to uncover Mona and Sir Rucian’s conspiracy in time.

As a certified Academy Gossip King, Miki refused to let a single rumor slip past him ever again.

Yes.

He approached Vania not out of kindness, but to make sure he would not miss any gossip about whatever she might be planning.

If his friends ever found out, they would probably just shake their heads. Classic Miki behavior.

At the end of the corridor, the group of students split up. Their classes were different.

Fian glanced at Gara, silently telling him that he was heading to class.

However, his steps slowed when he noticed Gara staring at him for a little too long. The look was deep, lingering. Fian did not understand what it meant.

"What’s wrong?" Fian asked, worried.

Gara quickly shook his head. "See you... later."

Fian nodded and walked away, though he still glanced back once or twice at Gara, who was heading in the opposite direction.

There was nothing wrong with Gara.

He simply felt a sudden wave of longing for the time they used to spend together. Back when the three of them walked side by side through the corridors.

That had only been a year ago.

Now, everyone was busy walking their own paths.

Fian was especially busy these days. The last time he went to Gara’s dimensional home had been several weeks ago.

Most of the time, Gara only saw him during lunch. Even then, Elowen often appeared out of nowhere to summon Fian for something Gara never knew the details of.

It was not that Gara disliked the path Fian had chosen.

He just missed him.

Fortunately, Gara had plenty to occupy himself with, including research at the Alchemist Association. He would not have too much time to dwell on these feelings.

After classes ended, he headed toward the academy gate, where staff from the Association were already waiting for him.

In front of the dormitory tower, Vania approached him, Rea perched on her shoulder.

"I’m heading out. I already told Rea," Gara said, assuming Vania had come to send Rea off.

Vania shook her head. "I didn’t come to see Rea off. I just happened to run into her."

"Then?" Gara asked, confused.

"I’m sorry."

Vania did not dare look at him. She bit her lip nervously until a metallic taste spread across her tongue.

Gara was startled for a moment, but he quickly replied, "I’ve already forgiven you."

Vania still did not lift her head, but the tension in her posture eased.

Gara did not linger. He was already expected elsewhere. Vania also said nothing more.

In Gara’s eyes, Vania had already received enough karma for her past actions.

Being ostracized for months, while still needing to stay mentally stable enough to study and train, was no small punishment.

This time, it was not Vania shamelessly asking for forgiveness.

It was Gara who had opened the door first.

Thinking about Vania, Gara arrived at the gate.

For now, he decided to set that matter aside and switch on research mode.

Inside the lab, Ambar was already waiting. They had an important procedure to carry out today.

The longevity elixir made from chrona flowers had shown success in animal testing, such as mice. However, mice were not humans. Human trials were unavoidable.

Several test subjects were already prepared in a special chamber to observe the initial reaction after drinking the elixir.

"Are you sure you want to be a test subject?" Ambar asked once more.

Gara nodded.

He chose to take the longevity elixir purely out of curiosity. If he had access to proper resources in his previous world, he might have become a mad scientist, the type who used his own body for experiments with unknown side effects.

He was not acting recklessly without preparation.

He had water abilities that could function as an antidote. His womb was also protected by a strong barrier.

In addition to mice and humans, the research had been conducted on other mammals, including wood monkeys.

One of the wood monkeys had been pregnant.

While the longevity effects had yet to appear in the mother, the child born from that monkey was perfectly healthy, with no side effects.

Among all the human test subjects, Gara was the youngest and healthiest. For that reason as well, the research would need to continue for a long time.

At the very least, Gara would need to live past a hundred, maybe two hundred years, to confirm the success of the elixir.

When Gara and the five other test subjects drank the elixir, nothing happened.

It tasted just like water.

That was exactly how it was supposed to be.

Which meant the first stage was a success. All that remained was annual observation.

"Gara, if I die first, you’ll have to lead this research," Ambar said casually, as if talking about clocking out after work.

"We’ll see the results before that happens, Chief. We’ll live a long time," Gara replied.

Ambar chuckled and patted Gara’s shoulder. "Right. Right."

...