Several days later.
The High Tower Institute.
Hong Yuan walked out of the library with a hefty tome in his hand. Written by a Weaver, it explained the basic sorcery of the various string systems, but most of its contents were conjectures about the origins of string sorcery!
With Hong Yuan's abilities, he could finish the thick book in a single thought and recite it backward, yet savoring it line by line had its own appeal.
Amelia walked beside him, having borrowed a book herself. She leafed through it as they walked, then suddenly noticed Hong Yuan stop. Raising her eyes, she followed his gaze.
At the fork ahead, a handsome, upright young man with blond hair had blocked the path of a woman with a brown ponytail.
It was Lolin!
Lolin also held several books in her arms, impatience showing on her face. The blond young man held a bouquet of vivid flowers and wore a smile.
"Lolin, these flowers are as beautiful as you. Do you like them? They're for you!"
The blond young man offered Lolin the flowers, his voice gentle.
Lolin did not take them. She frowned. "I've told you plenty of times to stop pestering me. This is the Spellcaster Academy, not somewhere for you to go into heat."
Though she looked delicate and lovely, her parents had died early, leaving her and her younger brother Rosha to depend on one another. She was no pampered maiden, and her words had a sharp edge.
"If this happens again, we'll settle it in the arena!"
With that, Lolin stepped past the blond young man. Her gaze swept over Hong Yuan and Amelia before she headed off in another direction.
"Lolin, no matter how many times you reject me, I won't give up." The blond young man