"Mattimeo!"Someone called his name. He turned and saw Gia hurrying toward him."Gia," Mattimeo called back, genuine happiness spreading across his face.Gia's face lit up as well, and without thinking, she threw her arms around him. The moment she did, she froze. Realizing what she had done, she stiffened, afraid Mattimeo would suddenly get angry. She was just about to pull away when Mattimeo wrapped his arms around her instead.Only then did the tension leave her body, and she relaxed into the embrace."That beauty seems to be walking toward us." Zaki's eyes lit up as he spotted a beautiful young woman dressed in green approaching them. He immediately straightened his posture and composed himself."You are Zaki, right?" she asked softly."You know me?" Zaki asked in surprise. He was certain he had never met this beauty before, yet she already knew his name."Yes... I've heard a lot about you. My name is Maya," she replied."Maya. It's nice to meet you, Maya," Zaki said with obvious

"Oh, me? My main elemental affinity is lightning, my second affinity is wood. As for my last elemental affinity, I'll keep that a secret for now."They all looked at him as though he were a monster.When Gia said she had dual elemental affinity, Maya hadn't thought much of it. People with dual elemental affinities were not extremely rare. Besides, having two elements didn't necessarily make someone stronger, although it could provide a significant advantage for those who knew how to use them well.But what would you call someone with triple elemental affinity? The two affinities he had already revealed were among the rarest.Elements like fire, water, wind, and earth were very common, unlike those two."Well, my intuition was right after all. You really are impressive, Zaki." She smiled."Hehe, and you truly are very beautiful, Maya," Zaki chuckled.Gia almost burst out laughing.Mattimeo shook his head. This fatty seemed like the kind of person who would never miss an opportunity to

"Zaki! The vines!" Mattimeo shouted.Flames erupted beneath his feet as he exploded forward with terrifying speed, his figure dissolving into a blazing streak of fire.At the same instant, thick vines burst from the earth beneath the three-headed bull.They coiled around its massive legs, tightening like steel chains and locking the colossal beast in place.The bull roared furiously.Black energy erupted from its body, spreading through the vines like a deadly plague. They withered before the naked eye, crumbling into lifeless husks as the corrosive energy devoured them.But it was already too late.A towering wave of flames crashed toward the trapped beast.Boom!The inferno slammed into the bull before it could completely break free.The beast let out a tortured roar as blazing flames engulfed its enormous body.Driven into a frenzy, it spewed a torrent of black energy before lowering its massive frame into a reckless charge."Ice Wall!" Mattimeo shouted as he retreated.Ezekiel thr

"Let him through," she called.The disciples glanced at Mattimeo, studying him for a moment before stepping aside."What's your name?" she asked."Mattimeo," he replied."I remember you. You're the one who spoke up in the boys' quarters when that senior was bullying one of your roommates.""Yes, Lady Nora. That was me.""Alright. What can I do for you?""I wanted to ask about my maid, Mia. I haven't seen her in a long time.""Your maid?" One of the female disciples standing beside Nora let out a mocking laugh."You stopped Lady Nora... just because of a common maid?"The surrounding disciples exchanged incredulous looks before breaking into quiet murmurs."These examinees are really something else.""Imagine bothering Lady Nora over a servant."Lady Nora raised a hand, and the chatter died as quickly as it had begun. She regarded Mattimeo with quiet curiosity.Was it his confidence? Or was there something else about him? She couldn't quite put her finger on it."You may all continue a

Immediately, the atmosphere in the room shifted.Absalom instantly raised a book to cover his face, pretending to read.Elizabeth fixed Mattimeo with a piercing glare, her aura crashing down on him like an invisible tide. The overwhelming pressure threatened to suffocate him, yet he refused to back down.Suddenly, the door swung open, and an elderly man dressed in blue robes walked in."Grand Elder Michael."The tense atmosphere immediately eased as Elizabeth withdrew her aura."I heard what happened from Lady Nora," the old man said. "Elizabeth, this isn't how we conduct ourselves. It's true that summoners are rare, but you shouldn't treat her as though she's already your property. Don't force her to abandon her loyalty.""But... an Astral Core..." Elizabeth protested. "That means she can open an Astral Gate. How many summoners are there in all of Silveria? She's still young and inexperienced, which means she can easily be misled. It's our responsibility to guide her onto the right p