A Return to Routine and Unexpected Encounters
The vacation ended faster than Samson had expected. As he stood at the entrance of Alamcaran Academy, surrounded by the buzz of students returning from their breaks, he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. His training during the break had given him confidence, but the academy was its own beast—demanding and unpredictable.
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1. Back to School
The campus was as vibrant as ever, with students milling about, catching up with friends, and exchanging stories of their vacations. Samson walked through the courtyard, the familiar sights and sounds of the academy bringing a sense of routine.
"Samson!"
The loud, enthusiastic voice of Pedro broke through the chatter. Samson turned to see his friend jogging toward him, a wide grin on his face. Pedro, ever the extrovert, wasted no time pulling Samson into a firm hug.
"Man, it feels like forever since I saw you!" Pedro exclaimed, clapping Samson on the back. "How was your break?"
"It was good," Samson replied, smiling. "I spent some time with my family and got some training done."
"Training, huh? Of course, you'd be the responsible one," Pedro said with a laugh. "Me? I had the best vacation ever. My uncle took me to the capital, and we visited the Grand Arena! You wouldn't believe the matches I saw—there was this duel between two Advanced Mages, and it was insane!"
Samson chuckled at Pedro's excitement, genuinely happy to see his friend so energized. "Sounds like you had a great time."
"I did," Pedro said, his eyes gleaming. "But it's good to be back. I missed this place—well, most of it, anyway. Not the early mornings."
Samson laughed. "Yeah, I'm not looking forward to that part either."
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2. Eva's Usual Behavior
As the two walked toward their classroom, they passed a group of students gathered near the fountain. Among them was Eva, surrounded by her usual entourage. She sat on the edge of the fountain, her posture elegant and aloof, radiating the confidence that seemed to come naturally to her.
"She's back to normal," Pedro remarked, his voice low.
Samson nodded. During the mission to save Eva, she had shown vulnerability, but now she seemed to have returned to her usual self—cool, composed, and untouchable.
Just as they were about to pass by unnoticed, Eva's eyes met Samson's. Her gaze was sharp, assessing, and for a moment, neither of them looked away. Then, to Pedro's utter astonishment, Eva stood up and walked directly toward them.
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3. An Unexpected Exchange
"Samson," Eva said, her voice calm and direct.
"Eva," Samson replied, equally composed.
Without any preamble, she held out her phone. "Give me your number."
"What?" Samson blinked, caught off guard.
"Your number," Eva repeated, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I don't like repeating myself."
Samson hesitated for a moment before taking out his own phone and exchanging numbers with her.
"Good," Eva said once the exchange was complete. "Now, if I call or text, answer promptly. And don't lose your phone."
Before Samson could respond, Eva turned and walked away, leaving a trail of stunned onlookers in her wake.
Pedro gawked at Samson, his jaw practically hitting the floor. "What just happened? Did I miss something? What's going on between you two?"
"Nothing," Samson said quickly, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
"Nothing?" Pedro repeated, his tone incredulous. "She just walked over here, asked for your number, and then walked off like it was no big deal. That doesn't sound like 'nothing' to me!"
Samson shrugged, avoiding Pedro's questioning gaze. "It's nothing, really."
Pedro frowned but decided to let it go—for now.
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4. Normal Classes Begin
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, with classes resuming their usual rhythm. Samson settled back into the routine of lectures and practical sessions, finding comfort in the structure of the academy.
In the Theory of Magic class, Professor Irwin droned on about the complexities of mana channels, while students scribbled notes or fought to stay awake. During Practical Combat, Samson found himself paired with Pedro, the two of them sparring with wooden staffs under the watchful eye of their instructor.
Though the day felt ordinary on the surface, Samson couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had shifted—especially with Eva's unexpected behavior.
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5. An Important Announcement
As the last class of the day ended, the students were called to the main hall for an announcement. The room buzzed with anticipation as everyone filed in, taking their seats. At the front of the hall stood Headmaster Alaric, his stern expression silencing the murmurs.
"Students," he began, his voice resonating through the hall. "As you are all aware, the midterm examinations are approaching. These exams will test not only your theoretical knowledge but also your practical abilities."
A ripple of excitement and anxiety ran through the crowd.
"This year, the practical exams will be conducted differently," Alaric continued. "You will be placed in teams and given real-world scenarios to navigate. These scenarios will test your problem-solving skills, teamwork, and application of magic under pressure."
Samson's mind raced at the announcement. A team-based exam? That sounded both challenging and intriguing.
"The details of your teams and the specific scenarios will be announced in the coming weeks," Alaric said. "For now, focus on your studies and training. Dismissed."
As the students filed out of the hall, the atmosphere buzzed with speculation about the upcoming exams. Pedro turned to Samson, his eyes alight with excitement.
"This is going to be awesome!" he said. "I wonder who we'll get paired with. Maybe we'll be on the same team!"
"Maybe," Samson said, his thoughts drifting to Eva. He couldn't help but wonder if their paths would cross again during the exams—and what that might mean.
For now, though, he resolved to focus on his training and preparation. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he was determined to face them head-on.