I Own the Evolution Domain

There are things that will be difficult for anyone to extricate themselves away from once they already start continuously having said thing in their life.

For Novus, one such thing would be the amount of time he spends with Medea, and for said lady, it is also one of the things she thinks she starts getting used to, like a habit she cannot escape away from, for a few days now.

As expected, after they took their afternoon classes, both of them head back to their respective rooms spending time improving themselves to pass time before night comes.

Moonlight greets them as night comes, and with it, the two of them proceeds with scheduled duel, improving oneself step by step as they deepen not only their understanding of each other's techniques, but also their understanding towards one another in general.

The morning run, the classes, meditation, night duels and their walk back to the dormitories goes onto becoming their usual, and preferred, daily schedule, both of them thinking that time in the academy never came and go so fast yet so slow at the same time before.

A couple of days had passed.

Lying down the ground, her fair skin glistening with sweat making her feel a bit sticky, Medea's chest heaves as she pants, the amount of effort it takes for her to stand on equal ground against her sparring partner making her wonder whether that time finally come.

'Is he stronger than me now?' she wonders to herself as she looks at his figure, the damage on his clothing during each of their fights becoming less and less, showing just how much progress he is making within such short amount of time.

With her senses also being improved by Evolution Energy as time goes by, she couldn't help but feel it as she laid her eyes on him.

A domineering, overwhelming air around him, a subtle show of prowess that stands absolute among his peers.

'He does.' she confirms his strength and prowess by herself, and with all the evidences laid out in front of her, her mind easily made the conclusion to his strength, the fact that she had been surpassed by a younger student, a freshman at that, surprisingly made her feel something fresh.

'Is it because it is him?' knowing a big secret of his, the fact that his method of growing stronger diverges from normal mages, Medea felt like such defeat of her strength being surpassed by a junior doesn't seem too bad.

In fact, it made her feel all the more motivated as she benefits from the same method of growth as well, meaning that even if she might not reach his level, her potential will just continue on increasing as well.

"Did I hit you too hard, Medea?"

Snapping her out of her thinking daze, she was met with the gaze of the young man who just spoke, her junior, possibly the only younger student she acknowledges both in terms of strength and character.

Her heart starts beating a bit faster as she met his gaze, the clear trace of concern in his eyes making her feel warm, prompting her mind to freeze for a moment before she finally responded.

"You did, it hurts you know~~?" she pouts her lips as she reaches her hand gesturing for help.

And in response to it, her sparring partner, Novus, merely smiles apologetically as he answers to her gesture, reaching his hand out to hold hers, all while also inching closer as he reaches for her back, gently helping her stand up, making sure that he didn't put too much force into it.

"Y-you can let me go now…" the lady herself felt her mischievous mask forming cracks as she was subjected under such gesture of gentleness, the suddenness of the act, paired with the caring expression on his face, made her heart beat all the harder.

Hearing her words, paired with the panicked tone in her voice, he immediately let her go, her hands lingering on his for a while grasping his, unable to act on the idea of letting him go.

"Medea?" even Novus starts his slow spiral of panic as well, the cool, soft and dainty hand of the Sword Princess grasping his with such tightness that it was clear to him that she doesn't want to let go, bringing them to an impasse where no one dares to make their move.

"L-let's keep it like this for a while…" and out of nowhere, the lady said what she thought is the most audacious thing she had ever said in her life, causing her face to turn hot as her cheeks and ears were painted bright red, her gaze averted away from the young man.

Yet her hand refuses to let go.

"…alright."

Silence engulfs the air as the two of them just stand there, holding each other's hand feeling each other's warmth, and despite that familiar warmth and calmness, there is a foreign panic and unfamiliar excitement that made both hearts skip beats.

It took them a whole while before they finally found words they can say, both turning their heads to each other as their gazes meet.

And their lips opened at the same time as well.

"Junior Novus, you—"

"Senior Medea, you—"

The first was a coincidence.

"Say what you want to say first, Junior—"

"Why don't you go first, Senior—"

The second made them pause for longer.

"No, you go first~~"

"I insist."

And the third made them laugh, each of their words not only coming out at the same time, but carrying the same intent as well, both of them finding it hilariously entertaining.

"You know, you look really good when you don't hold yourself back, Novus~~"

The lady praises, but this time, there is no mischievous playfulness nor there is any trace of teasing in her voice, only genuine appreciation born from her observation of him gradually opening up to her.

"Is that so? I could say the same, Senior Medea, in fact whether you hold yourself back or not, you look just as good, I think."

As she reveals a warm, charming smile while staring at him, the young man also smiles back, brighter, wider than he had ever did in this academy.

"H-hmph, you're growing a glib tongue, Junior Novus~~" despite her seemingly annoyed tone, the joy of a lady having her looks acknowledged by someone significant to her oozes out of Medea's voice, followed by an uncontrollable giggling that goes on for a while.

The young man, watching the Sword Princess laughing, enjoying her time with him, couldn't help but bore a hole through her with his gaze, the difference between that aloof, great figure among the students that other students know her for and this warm, genuine girl making him wonder whether they are really the same.

Instinctively, his grasp on her hand shifts, and feeling his movement, so she does as well, the two of them aligning their hands before their fingers slipped intercrossed, holding each other tight.

"E-enough about me, you… you've grown stronger again, haven't you?" amidst the complex mix of panic and joy swirling in her mind, Medea finds the words she wants to say, asking the young man a question that she had been asking for basically every day now.

And hearing this, Novus just warmly smiles, willing to answer her yet again.