The Rich Cultivator

Donald was a student in the Combat Department. He wasn’t at the top of the class, but he wasn’t far from the top ranks either. Among the academy’s diverse mix of students—who ranged across different age groups and skill levels—he often found it challenging to make friends. The academy was a vast and competitive place, where standing out could be difficult, especially for someone still working to carve out a name for himself.

One day, Donald spotted a girl who was probably a few years younger than him, and yet, she caught his attention immediately. She was clearly a prodigy; her skills in the Combat Classes were exceptional, far beyond what he’d expect from someone her age. She moved with an effortless grace and precision that set her apart from the rest, and her reputation around the academy was growing fast.

Her name was Lily Gomes. Donald wasn’t sure what her exact rank or level was, but he was certain of one thing: there was no way she was stronger than him. After all, he was three years older than her. He thinks he has more experience because of his age, and felt confident that his own skills were solid. Surely, she couldn’t be that strong. At least, that’s what he told himself.

Curious and somewhat intrigued, Donald decided he wanted to befriend her. Maybe make her fall in love with him. He figured that if he approached her sympathetically, he might make a good impression. Sympathy was often a reliable way to start a conversation, especially if he wanted to make her feel comfortable and relatable. He thought, She’s younger, maybe she’ll appreciate some friendly support.

With his plan in mind, Donald approached her with a friendly smile, hoping his charm would do the trick.

"Hey..." he began, trying to sound casual yet warm. He expected her to respond well; after all, he was putting in the effort to seem approachable. But as he spoke, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Lily was looking at him... strangely. It was almost as if she was observing him the way an adult might humor a child who was nervously trying to make a good impression.

Lily listened to him with a mild, polite expression, but in her mind, she was far from charmed. In fact, she found the whole scene rather amusing. She knew this type all too well—a young man, with a touch of naivety, reaching out with a bashful smile and an air of confidence. To her, it looked like nothing more than a childish crush.

’Aww... How many young hearts am I going to break in this place?’ Lily thought to herself, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. Her inner voice was laced with a hint of narcissism, though it was more playful than anything else. She was used to boys like Donald being drawn to her, but that didn’t make it any less amusing.

As the conversation went on, Donald decided to play the sympathy card. Maybe that would spark a connection, he thought. "Yesterday was my grandmother’s one-year death anniversary," he said, with a sad expression. "I had to miss the practical test because of it. And, well, according to the academy rules, missing a test automatically means failing. So... they failed me." He sighed, trying to look as disappointed as possible.

Lily simply nodded, showing little reaction. To her, grades and tests weren’t that important. She hadn’t expected this conversation to take such a turn, and frankly, she didn’t see why Donald was sharing all of this. But she humored him, curious to see where he was going with it.

Seeing her lack of response, Donald doubled down, putting on a sad puppy expression. "So... could you maybe tell me something to cheer me up?" he asked, doing his best to look pitiful.