It wasn't long before Fike caught up to Sertia, hastily reaching out to pull her toward him.

Sertia stopped abruptly before turning around.

​​

Fike saw that her eyes had already turned red from crying.

"I thought you died in Miracle Forest! You jerk! I've been scouring every inch of the forest for a month, but I still couldn't find you. Where have you been?"

Sertia struggled through her choked up voice.

Fike didn't say anything in response. He simply reached out to hug Sertia in his arms.

Noticing the sweet display before them, the students in the stands no longer had any mood to pay attention to the ongoing competition.

Especially the male students from the Melee School.

They were all gnashing their teeth as their eyes shot daggers at Fike.

"That damned silver-haired kid first defeated Blue, ruthlessly spitting in the face of our Melee School. Now, even the beauty of the Melee School has been seduced by this kid. Damn it!"

"Isn't that right? If it wasn't for the fact that this is the freshmen trial, and seniors aren't allowed to enter the arena, I would've definitely pressed him to the ground and rubbed his face in the mud!"

Fike, who had been hugging Sertia tightly, whispered into her ear.

"There are too many people here. Misunderstandings will arise..."

Hearing his words, Sertia seemed to have realized it as well as she abruptly pushed Fike away.

"Let's go somewhere with fewer people," Fike suggested.

Meanwhile, on the rostrum of the Spell School, the teachers were also all looking on at the lovebirds below. One of them whispered to Maggie.

"Maggie, it looks like that Fike from your class is really an all-rounder! Not only is he strong, he's also a lover!"

Maggie smiled a little embarrassedly.

...

Bringing Sertia around, Fike eventually found a quiet area in the competitor's lounge.

"Sertia, after I freed the beasts' captives, I asked for them to take you, as you were unconscious, and flee to the city first."

Wiping her red eyes, Sertia's voice trembled.

"What happened to you after that? How did you escape from those King-tier Exotic Beasts?"

Fike hesitated a bit.

"I resisted the beasts' pursuit with my life, trying to buy time for your escape, until I couldn't hold on any longer."

"What happened after that?"

"After that, a master named Kyle appeared. He easily defeated those King-tier Exotic Beasts."

Fike could only use Kyle as a cover up for his lie. He continued.

"After they were defeated, he saved me."

"Master Kyle saw me risking my life to buy time for my companions' escape, even though I was in danger. I think he was moved by my selflessness, so he brought me to a secluded and mysterious lake to teach me a cultivation method."

Fike explained cautiously.

"Then what about the corpse of the Demon Prince-tier Exotic Beast they found in the forest? Was that killed by Master Kyle as well?"

Hearing this, Fike realised that his lie had not been too well-made, so he simply repeated what Sertia had suggested.

"Yes, it was, that Demon Prince-tier Exotic Beast was killed by Master Kyle as well!"

To his surprise, Sertia didn't suspect anything.

"I don't know..." she mumbled, "Do you know how worried I was about you? You jerk! What if you'd died in Miracle Forest? I would've never been able to see you again!"

Trying to rid her of her sorrows, Fike could only speak from the heart.

"Sertia, what is my life compared to yours?"

Sertia looked sentimentally into Fike's eyes, her wide eyes shimmering as she blinked away her tears.

Her breathing became faster and faster.

At this moment, her hands had already been wrapped around Fike's waist.

Deep in her feelings, Sertia instinctively closed her eyes and kissed Fike on the lips.

Fike had obviously not been ready for this, and was stunned by the sudden kiss. He felt something soft dancing on his lips, seemingly trying to fit between his tightly shut teeth.

His body felt like it was being electrocuted.

His breathing had become erratic as well.

Unconsciously, he loosened his jaw slightly.

Now that his sealed teeth had relaxed, Fike felt something soft enter his mouth before finally realizing that it was Sertia's tongue.

Very soon, Sertia's tongue was intertwined with his.

Fike closed his eyes, feeling a little light-headed, and allowed himself to enjoy the moment of intimacy.

After a fierce wet kiss, Sertia finally left Fike's lips, leaving a line of saliva hanging between them like a thread.

Her eyes were dazed as she finally opened them to look at Fike.

Sertia abruptly snapped back to her senses before shyly glanced around, turning her proud head to the side.

"Hmm... Don't take that to heart. My feelings just… slipped."

She mumbled softly.

At the moment, her cheeks were as red as a ripe apple.

Fike stumbled to find a reply.

"It's fine, it's fine..."

Hearing his reply, Sertia thought to herself, 'He wouldn't think that I'm cheap, right? But the kiss was really my true feelings! Who asked this jerk to make the atmosphere so ambiguous! Hmph! Jerk!'

Seeing that Sertia was silent, Fike was the first to speak, trying to break the slightly awkward tension.

"Sertia, why did you come to Yogmo Academy?"

Sertia did not turn around to look at him as she replied, instead speaking with her face still turned to the side.

"My intention of coming to the Royal City of Romon was to study at Yogmo Academy all along!"

Fike simply replied with an 'Oh'.

Sertia continued.

"After I arrived in Romon, I immediately returned to Miracle Forest to look for you after a few days of rest!

"But I couldn't find you even after searching for ages."

Fike asked, "And then you came to Yogmo Academy?"

Sertia finally turned and gave Fike a light nod.

Suddenly, a fierce voice was heard from behind.

"Is this lounge for the two of you to make out?"

Hearing the taunt, Fike turned around to find the source of the voice.

Seated not far away from them was a strong youth in a scarf, with a huge sword resting on the coffee table before him.

Even though he was sitting, Fike could already sense his towering height, as well as his extraordinary strength.

"Your name is Fike, right?"