Chapter 217. Class
"Miss Astrid, you are a natural genius in Array Making. Shall we go for a cup of coffee after class? I’d love to share some insights on Array work with you." A hopeful young man in a pristine white and purple-striped uniform lingered beside Astrid, his tone trying to sound casual yet betraying his eagerness.
Astrid, seated comfortably in the classroom, barely glanced up. She was preoccupied, browsing through virtual resources on her VR glasses, which looked like a sleek pair of regular frames but housed a full network interface. Controlled by her divine sense, the glasses let her manage any data she needed with no hand gestures or visible movement. The glasses themselves were a luxury most students could only dream of owning, yet Tyler had bought them for her without a second thought. For him, there was never a question of cost when it came to supporting his crew.
Among her peers, Astrid’s noble demeanor, half-angel heritage, and rumored high status had led to quite a few admirers, both in and outside her classes. And though she was used to the attention by now, she found it more amusing than flattering.
"Sorry. Not interested," she replied flatly, her tone enough to freeze the poor young man’s hopes on the spot.
He hesitated, visibly thrown off. Rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, he managed to stammer, "Uh... may I ask who you’re interested in, then?" His voice attempted a casual laugh, but the slight tremor betrayed his nerves.
"Of course, it’s me," came a confident voice from behind him.
The young man turned around and found himself face-to-face with Tyler White, who stood just a few feet away, arms crossed and smiling as if he’d been there all along.
"Tyler White?" The young man muttered his name with a mixture of frustration and resignation. Shoulders slumping, he backed away with a sheepish nod, heading to his seat without another word.
Tyler had earned quite a reputation in the Department of Technology for his extraordinary skills with Arrays and Runes, skills that bordered on the revolutionary. Even among upperclassmen, his presence was respected, sometimes feared. Coupled with his remarkable wealth and easygoing attitude, Tyler was not a student most dared to challenge. He freely attended advanced training classes reserved for seniors and often impressed his instructors, making him even more popular.
"You’re as popular as ever," Tyler remarked, taking the seat beside Astrid with a smirk.
"Look who’s talking," Astrid replied, her gaze sliding over to a group of girls across the room, who were openly admiring Tyler with lovestruck expressions.