Chapter 74: Unseen Talents and Unspoken Bonds

The days quickly turned into weeks, with over ten passing in what felt like a blink.

While their progress in strengthening their abilities during this period wasn’t exceptionally rapid, neither was it sluggish; they maintained a consistently steady pace overall.

With the school year having only recently commenced, it was deemed imprudent to subject students to practical training without first imbuing them with a solid theoretical foundation.

The assessment their class underwent so soon after the semester began was an anomaly, a testament to Sikong Xiangyu being the sole professor audacious and capable enough to implement such a method.

“That’s about right. Though your magical power is remarkably low, your learning speed is exceptionally swift. At this rate, mastering advanced magic will simply be a matter of time.”

Gu Song’en assessed the potency of the magic Bai Li had just unleashed. By her calculations, it had already reached D-rank (TL Note: A classification level for abilities or power.) — a remarkable feat, especially considering Bai Li hadn’t even used any surplus magical power to enhance the spell.

Among the vast number of ability users who wield magic, Bai Li was undeniably a prodigy, her rapid ascent even drawing the envy of many.

After all, a normal person wouldn’t even have enough time in this span to climb from the lowest F-rank to E-rank, yet Bai Li’s magical prowess had leapt directly from F-rank to D-rank, skipping two levels entirely.

Such an accomplishment was not something even mages specializing solely in magic could necessarily achieve, leading Gu Song’en to wonder if Bai Li had perhaps misrepresented her personal information.

As the younger sister of Gu Yunzhi, who was currently still serving as student council president, Gu Song’en naturally had convenient access to peek at… or rather, read parts of student documents.

Within those records, Bai Li appeared particularly incongruous with her identity as a magical girl, exhibiting an overwhelming strength in all aspects.

“As for Teresa… well, let’s say she has potential for the future?”

Gu Song’en turned her gaze to Teresa, observing her likewise conjuring magic.

While Teresa’s magical power was indeed far superior to that of Bai Li, a physically oriented magical girl, their practical application of magic was worlds apart.

Taking the simplest and easiest-to-activate spell — Fireball — as an example.

Even with her limited magical power, Bai Li could swiftly construct the incantation for a Fireball spell, simultaneously employing techniques like magical concentration to minimize its consumption.

As for Teresa, her magic, whether fire or water-attributed, performed poorly.

It was as if she were naturally inept at wielding these most common elemental spells, despite her magical power undeniably leaning towards the magical arts.

It was crucial to understand that elemental magic, such as water, fire, and wind, constituted the most commonly used spells; virtually no one was incapable of casting them.

At most, individuals simply had differing proficiencies in these attributes, yet Teresa struggled with all of them.

This predicament meant she was effectively stuck between a rock and a hard place, unable to excel on either a physical or magical path, nor was she a manufacturing-type ability user.

“Gulp… Perhaps I should just equip myself directly? After all, times have changed.”

“A significant portion of current technology relies on abilities. To draw a sci-fi analogy, it’s like a mechanical ascension infused with psionics, though the reality is far more complex.

Therefore, even with advanced ability items, one’s own power is still necessary to augment them.”

Gu Ling, being a manufacturing-type ability user who frequently tinkered with ability items, possessed a considerable understanding of this field.

Only manufacturing-type ability users or mechanics, among others, were generally capable of maximizing the effects of external objects.

One could consider it a form of occupational compensation, perhaps?

Although, in truth, it was either because they inherently possessed abilities to enhance external objects or because they lacked abilities specifically for combat, thus necessitating reliance on such items.

Lin Xi’s gun was a manifestation created using her magical power, and strictly speaking, it wasn’t an ability item, thus it was unconstrained.

“By the way, didn’t you mention encountering a rare opportunity a while ago? You’ve been so secretive about it, refusing to explain, and Bai Li wouldn’t answer either. Can you tell us now?”

At Gu Ling’s prompting, Teresa recalled a morning not long ago when Gu Ling, brimming with excitement, not only sprang out of bed but also boastfully flaunted to everyone — primarily those other than Bai Li — that she had stumbled upon a great opportunity.

Yet, she had persistently kept them in suspense, to the point where they would forget all about it unless Gu Ling brought it up herself.

On the brighter side, Gu Ling’s social anxiety seemed to have considerably lessened during this period, which was certainly a welcome development.

Naturally, they had not neglected to question Bai Li, who seemed privy to the inside story, but she, too, had kept the information to herself.

As for clinging to her for answers, one only had to witness Bai Li’s imposing aura and dignified coldness, which commanded respect without a single angry word—would anyone dare to pester her?

Only Lin Xi seemed capable of behaving normally in her presence; even Gu Ling, who primarily showed interest in ability items, felt a touch of apprehension when facing Bai Li.

“It’s still too early! Your patience definitely needs more training.”

At this moment, Gu Ling bore no resemblance to someone with social anxiety, standing with her hands on her hips, a smug expression on her face, even more like a mischievous imp (TL Note: ‘Cixiaogui’ or ‘meshikogaki’ is a Japanese term, often used in Chinese web novels, referring to a small, often childlike female character who is cheeky, mischievous, and sometimes arrogant, but ultimately endearing.) than Gu Song’en had been initially.

She was completely carried away with herself.

If such a petite and adorable loli (TL Note: A Japanese term referring to a young, attractive girl, often used in a cute or endearing context, but can also have problematic connotations depending on usage. Here, it refers to a small, cute girl.) weren’t so rare in a university setting, making her practically the group’s beloved mascot, she would undoubtedly have been subjected to a flurry of cheek-pinching.

“No, seriously, anyone would be incredibly curious after being left in suspense like this, right?”

“Then why isn’t Lin Xi?”

As Gu Ling uttered these words, she glanced at Lin Xi, who had remained silent all this while, and everyone else’s eyes followed suit, turning towards her.

“Uh… I actually am curious, really, I just haven’t shown it. After all, if you’re not saying anything, there must be a reason. Like a surprise or something—if you reveal it too soon, the effect is greatly diminished.”

Incorrect. In reality, she had seen it all through to the end that very night, and thus knew precisely what the so-called “opportunity” entailed.

“You won’t have to wait long. I’ll go urge… or rather, inquire about it shortly. It should be ready very soon.”

Upon hearing Lin Xi’s words, Bai Li immediately reassured her, as if unwilling for Lin Xi to suppress her curiosity any longer.

Observing this scene, Teresa and Gu Song’en couldn’t help but inwardly utter, ‘Just spoil her, why don’t you?’

Even though the two had never explicitly stated their relationship, their way of interacting and the subtle glances they exchanged were evident to anyone in the class.

This was precisely why Bai Li and Lin Xi, two beautiful girls who could captivate both men and women, had yet to receive any confessions.

Anyone audacious enough to intrude upon their dynamic would, regardless of how the two themselves reacted, first be summarily dismissed by all the others who were already ‘shipping’ them (TL Note: ‘Kē táng’ or ‘ship’ refers to the act of supporting a romantic relationship between two characters, often enjoying their interactions as if they were ‘sweet’ or romantic moments.).

It was even rumored that students had secretly formed various factions, debating whether to offer assistance, observe silently, or even discuss who was ‘on top’ (TL Note: A slang term used in romantic relationships, particularly in fan communities, to denote who takes the dominant role. Here, it playfully alludes to discussions about who is the more assertive or dominant partner in the implied relationship between Bai Li and Lin Xi.) between Bai Li and Lin Xi.

Oh, right, only Gu Ling remained oblivious, staring with a bewildered expression at Bai Li and Lin Xi, who exuded an almost palpable aura of intimacy, and at the others who were ‘shipping’ them.

After all, she was still just a child.

“Hm?”

Suddenly, Bai Li felt her phone vibrate, prompting her to retrieve it and check.

“…Speak of the devil, and they shall appear. It’s ready.”