The Ascension Age

Disappointed, Stella went quiet once again.

Aire then recovered from his rage before saying to Sera, "Ahem...i-it's fine. An apology is more than enough. Now then, do we really need to sit here?"

Kymei, Sera, and Altina looked at Aire, puzzled as one of them asked in response, "Yes, why?"

Aire's mouth twitched after hearing that as he looked around. It seemed like those three were already used to catching attention. At the moment, most of the people around them, including a few members of other races, were looking at them. "Could it be that it doesn't bother you at all to be the center of attention?"

Sera then puffed her chest with a smile, saying, "It's only natural for this goddess to attract so much attention."

Kymei wasn't thinking like that, saying instead, "Errr...I've been sharing a room with these two for a while, so it's simply unavoidable." Kymei also thought that he would rather not be with those two.

As for Altina, she simply said, "Well, you know my story, so there's nothing I can do about it."

"There's no need to apologize, Altina," said Aire. "However, wouldn't it have been better if we had just blended all the way back, leaving these seats empty?"

Suddenly, a man's voice came from behind Aire, instantly responding, "No can do!"

Aire was taken aback and immediately looked behind. However, he didn't need to see who it was since Altina's dark expression said it all.

"Zule, you have a lot of courage to appear here."

Altina was fuming, still thinking that the one who sent Aire to their room was him. "Why did you involve Aire even more? Was there really a need to send him to our room?"

Zule laughed out loud, completely ignoring Altina's rage as he replied, "Hahaha! Why wouldn't I? It seemed fun!"

Aire was once again taken aback. Wasn't it Stella who changed his room? Why did he answer as if he did it himself?

'What's happening here, Stella?'

Stella, who was listening to everything, then commented, 'Hmm...most likely, he also had the same idea as me. It seems like I did all that work for nothing.'

Aire narrowed his eyes, though. If that really was the case, Zule definitely noticed that someone changed Aire's room before he could do it. However...

"At least, that was the plan." Zule then sighed before continuing, "Unfortunately, it wasn't me who changed Aire's room."

Altina didn't really believe that. With that, she asked, "Do you think I'm a kid? I know you have your own connections. Otherwise, how would Aire be there? He even said that his talent is barely good enough to enter the school, let alone head to that dormitory."

Zule smiled in Aire's direction after hearing that, saying, "Low talent, huh? I have to say, you're quite modest, boy."

Aire looked away, trying to avoid Zule's gaze. Sure, he was barely good enough before, but now...it seems like Zule also tested his talent when he was unconscious in the clinic.

Kymei, Altina, and Sera then looked at Aire with confusion as one of them asked, "What does he mean?"

Aire really wanted to say that he didn't have the talent until a few days ago. Unfortunately, no one would believe that. With that, he thought to himself, 'How am I going to explain this?'

"Sorry...I just didn't want to be judged because of my aptitude, so I prefer to not talk about it." In the end, he used the first excuse that came to his head.

Nevertheless, Zule wasn't sure about one thing as he said, "The only thing that I want to know was how you masked your aptitude during the test back in your city. I checked your files when I treated you to make sure I wasn't missing any special condition. When you received your test, you really were just barely at that level."

Aire scratched the back of his head as he answered, "I...held back..."

Zule and the others were taken aback. Everyone wanted to become a Stellar Riser. Unfortunately, the majority didn't have the resources or the talent for that. However, it looked more like Aire didn't want it at all. Well, at least Kymei wasn't surprised since he still remembered that Aire had always been lazy.

Even with that, Zule found it weird. "The equipment used to measure aptitude is very precise. It shouldn't be something that someone can easily fool..." However, it was at that moment Zule understood. "Ah! I see...so that's why."

Sera, Altina, and Kymei immediately looked at Zule. It looked like he really knew something...well, there was also another guy who was curious...

'You know why? How come since even I don't know about it?' thought Aire.

Zule didn't notice Aire's weird expression as he continued, "The equipment is very precise when it comes to preventing candidates from trying to appear stronger than they really were. For example, doping, hidden Stellar Devices, infusion of Stellar Energy by an elder, and so on."

"However, the equipment has nothing to prevent someone from holding back. Nor did the developers think that someone would try and not show their real talent. After all, who doesn't want to become a Riser? Aire is literally the first person I've ever heard of that tried to hide his abilities."

Sera, Kymei, and Altina showed an expression of realization...and so did Aire. "Oh! So that's what happened!"

"Wait! Why are you looking like you're also surprised, Aire?"

Aire was taken aback for a moment, prompting him to hastily come up with an excuse as he said with cold sweat behind his back, "Ahem...I was just surprised at how precise Zule's analysis was. He truly nailed it."

Surprisingly, everyone agreed with that.

With that being said, Kymei returned to the previous topic, asking, "You said someone changed Aire's room first?"

Zule nodded, responding, "Exactly. After all, I found out that his aptitude was much higher than the files, so I submitted the change. We can't let him live with the low-level ones."

'I want to live with the low-level ones, though!' Thought Aire...

Zule continued, "However, the fact that he was assigned to your room was nothing but coincidence. Hahaha! Perhaps someone in the administration office saw my beloved Altina's news and decided to put him together since he had the necessary aptitude. Truly, what else could it be if not fate?!"

Little did they know that fate's name was Stella.

Zule then patted Aire's shoulder as he said, "Anyway, it's a rule that everyone with marked seats has to use them for the ceremony unless they have a valid reason. Otherwise, one would get a punishment."

Aire bitterly smiled after hearing that. It seemed like his idea of getting away wouldn't work.

Altina still had her doubts about Zule's words, but she decided to leave it be. Instead, she asked something else. "So, what made you come here? I doubt you came all the way here just to tell Aire that he couldn't leave, right?"

Zule nodded with a smile, saying, "As expected of my Altina, so sharp!"

"Your Altina is almost giving your death as well."

Zule quickly put some distance between him and Altina, knowing that she would really attack if he gave her a chance. "Cough, cough...anyway. I just came here to tell you that the new rules for this year's Resources Dispute Program have been decided. I was close by, so I decided to give you a heads up before the principal announces it during the new year ceremony."

Kymei, Sera, and Altina's eyes lit up. The Resources Dispute Program, also known as the Resource War! There were many ways of acquiring Stellar Energy Resources for one's training. However, the School War was the best one, responsible for at least 60% of all the distribution made to the students. The rules changed every year, and unsurprisingly, it was no different this time.