Unlike the two family youths, who startled at every little thing, the examiner remained far more composed.
She first checked the number 18 on the crystal ball again, then looked at the name displayed on the form.
"He Xi... He Xi?"
"Ah, no wonder. So it was you."
He Xi took the sheet stamped with the academy's wax seal and asked in confusion, "Madam Examiner, do you know me?"
"Mentor Mirabelle mentioned you to me. She said she'd found an assistant with exceptionally abundant magic power."
"She seemed very happy," the examiner said, a knowing smile flickering in her eyes as she returned the quill to the inkwell. "She even made the rare remark that once her teaching assistant got the hang of things, she could finally enjoy a complete skincare treatment before her magical therapy appointment at Nymph Spa expired this semester."
"You should know that just last month, she was complaining to me that she'd missed their limited-time discounts for three years running because of end-of-term make-up exams and lesson plans."
Mentor Mirabelle?
She was the one who told the examiner about me?
He Xi remembered that she had specifically said she was only handling things officially.
"Ah, I nearly forgot to introduce myself. My name is Valerie. I work in General Affairs and handle supplies-related matters. We may end up dealing with each other often in the future, so please take care of me."
With that, she smiled and held out her hand.
Thinking of that disassembled dummy, He Xi more or less guessed how Valerie had learned of him. After shaking her hand in greeting, he prepared to leave.
The two youths by the wall, still reeling from shock, hesitated over whether to leave. Yet their following conversation caught their attention. As members of families long