“Morning, Leticia.”, I say as I leave the room fresh, completely unlike my previous slovenly appearance.

I leave for the school early, thinking about my training as of late.

It’s been going well, I’m steadily progressing to becoming a Rank 4 Apprentice. It usually takes a year to advance between ranks, and by the looks of it I’ll be Rank 4 in around 9 months thanks to my medium grade technique. It would be faster, but it’s still hindered by my natural talent afterall.

I haven’t had the time to learn any new spells since my last confrontation, my power is miniscule no matter how much I train it to anyway, so I’m more lax in that area. I have learnt an amusing spell though. In any case, I don’t expect to suddenly be able to defeat the emperor in a year like the protagonist of some xianxia novel.

As my thoughts drift off, I reach the academy.

It’s early in the morning, 3 hours before class starts.

I walk over to the classroom door, only to find Ming Que seated in the corner already.

I think for a moment, before decide to loiter outside the classroom. The classroom is similar to a classic lecture hall, having 4 entrances, I simply walk through the fire exit stairway to the top entrance that’s not frequently used.

I station myself at the door, simply peeking at her once in a while.

An hour passes, with her writing some notes, before glancing up ever so often.

2 hours pass, more students come in, and she greets them with a light wave and smile.

Another half and hour passes with her doing the same, finally, I enter the classroom from the top entrance. My light entrance is not noticed by anybody. I move slowly but make a quick beeline for my destination.

Before long, I arrive and naturally take a seat next to Ming Que.

She fidgets for a moment, before looking to my direction, surprised.

Her big eyes blink at me in confusion for a while, before she lightly laughs, expressing, “So quick to make new friends? I would have thought you’ll be sticking to Xun Zhou for longer.”

Betraying her expectant look, I answer casually, “If I said I was here to pursue you after love at first sight… would you believe me?”

She has a face of shock, before blushing for a brief moment.

“You can still joke, huh…” she awkwardly tries to smooth it over.

“Of course, Princess, I can’t be too hung up over what’s over.”

“What Princess? Isn’t that guess too far-fetched?”, she answers snappily.

“Was worth a shot.” I shrug.

“You can try digging up some dirt, but I doubt you’ll find me out.”, she says confidently.

“I won’t. I’m in love with you, aren’t I?”

“Enough with that.”, she waves her hand in slight annoyance.

I take a moment to change to a more serious look, before saying, “I don’t know what your intentions are here, while my goals are all laid bare before you, isn’t it?”

She ignores me, tacitly agreeing.

“I won’t try to guess who you are anymore, but I want a favour.”

Her eyebrow twitches.

“I know that’s hardly enough to warrant a favour, but I’m willing to offer money. 5000 gold. I just need 2 people dead at a certain time.”

She seems tempted by the money.

“They’re not nobles, I just don’t want any traces to be left behind.”

“I don’t think murder’s very appropriate.”, she answers with a bland tone.

“Of course it isn’t something someone like you would dabble in. I’ll send over the names with the gold in a week, you can decide whether to take the request or not. If you don’t, just take the gold as a token of sincerity.”

“Mmm.”, she lightly nods.

I smile at this.

I still have no idea who she is exactly, but for her to have such a convenient identity made up, she must be related to someone of relative clout in the Finance Ministry. I can’t pinpoint who, since there’s so many who fit in that criteria. The majority group are princesses of the kingdom, but I couldn’t tell anything from just now. She didn’t slip up at all.

She should have at least 1 Class 1 Mage with her though, it’ll be simple for her to order an assassination even for a noble, much less a civilian. It’ll be much cleaner and harder to find out than if I did it myself.

Not to mention I don’t fancy myself having any talent for being an assassin.