Looking at Qiyana, the masters—and even Qiyana's sister, Sane—wore expressions of utter disbelief. Sane in particular looked as though she were seeing Qiyana for the first time.
Yet under everyone's astonished gazes, Qiyana realized that she did not feel the same satisfaction she once got from being the center of attention. Instead, she felt restless and uneasy.
"Let's go."
Qiyana leaped down from her seat and walked out of the classroom as she spoke.
Seeing this, Yuan Chen raised his brows in surprise. He bade each of the masters farewell, then turned and followed Qiyana.
Yuan Chen did not rush to ask questions. He simply followed Qiyana all the way to the courtyard where they rested.
"You don't seem to be in a very good state. Would you like to tell me about it?"
Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Qiyana fell silent for a long while. Just as Yuan Chen began to think that she might be unable to control her emotions, Qiyana suddenly said calmly:
"Sane."
"Sane?"
"That's right, Sane." Qiyana's brows still carried irritation and disdain, but unlike before, even in her extreme displeasure, she kept her words measured. "She went to your classroom... I don't think she was there for academic matters. I can tell that her spellcasting is only slightly stronger than that of an ordinary elemental mage. At a seminar of this level, she wouldn't even be capable of joining the discussion."
"Mm... She was probably trying to win me over."
At Qiyana's words, Yuan Chen nodded.
"Ixialia has a strong academic atmosphere, and Sage Sem has already expressed goodwill... In her eyes, showing goodwill toward me may have become a way of showing goodwill toward the scholars."
"Something like being informal and respectful toward the worthy."
Perhaps not expecting Yuan Chen to state it so