As Damien got inside a vast hall, he already saw that most of the disciples were seated with the Elite disciples sitting in the front, Gold disciples in the middle, and Bronze in the back.
The seats were arranged in an elevated style so that the ones sitting in the back could clearly see the people standing on the platform.
He saw that each seat was already preassigned to every disciple to avoid any confusion. He sat down on the seat allotted to him and looked around the hall.
There were around fifty seats for Elite disciples, 250 seats for Gold disciples, and 800 seats for Bronze disciples.
Damien realized how immensely low the acceptance rate was and understood why most were so emotional when they qualified. He knew that there were also other prestigious institutes around the empire, but obviously, none could truly match up to the Xeton Ethereal Foundation, which was every young ethereal practitioner's dream.
As his eyes searched around, he smiled as he saw a rosy pink-haired girl waving at him with a radiant smile.
He softly smiled as he waved back while some of the people who saw the exchange between them couldn't believe that the rumors were true.
Even though they saw what happened between Valentina and Damien on the assessment day, they didn't think that things would develop to this extent within a few days.
Every men who had assembled in the hall couldn't take their eyes off Valentina and the more they looked at her, the more intoxicating and beautiful she seemed. It was like a delighting and slow poison that swept through their minds, numbing their thoughts.
Valentina wanted to rush up to him and sit down near him, but she knew that it was not possible right now. She could feel any gazes upon her but didn't pay mind to them, keeping herself occupied by thinking about Damien.
Soon enough, a girl around sixteen years old with a bubbly expression came and sat near Valentina. Her hair had a disheveled appearance, and her clothes seemed in a messed up fashion as if she couldn't bother to dress elegantly.
"Hey, fellow genius. Yara Haley at your service here. How do you feel about being an Elite disciple here? Do you think it lives up to the hype cause I think—"
"Can you keep quiet...please?" Valentina said in a restrained tone with a stiff expression on her face and turned back to keep staring at Damien's figure. She was exasperated hearing her babble while she was looking at Damien.
Even though Damien knew that Valentina doesn't like to interact with strangers, he had told her not to be hostile against others if they don't mean any harm as he didn't want her to ostracize herself.
He didn't mind if she could talk with girls around her age and learn something from them if possible. After all, one learns a lot through interactions.
"Ohhh, I am sorry. My family, especially my father, tells me that I talk too much, but my mom says that people who talk more tend to be happier in life. But you know what, I—"
As Valentina gave her a glowering stare, she gave an awkward chuckle with her fingers on her mouth, "Ooops, sorry hehe."
Valentina didn't say anything and went back to her business of gazing at Damien.
Yara Haley noticed Valentina looking in a certain direction for quite a while. When she followed Valentina's gaze, she saw Damien, and instantly she made sense of things.
"Ohhh, I see. You are totally crushing on him, right?" Yara Haley asked with an amused expression.
"Crushing?" Valentina asked with a puzzled expression. She didn't understand how she even 'crushed' on Damien.
Yara Haley was surprised that Valentina was not used to these kinds of slang. She said in a chatty tone, "Well, you like him, right? I saw how you even defended him on the day you two just met. And the way he fought you to a draw while stealing a hug in between. Oooohh, I think you two will make a nice star couple in our batch. So tell me, was it love at first sight?"
"Love? I do love him." Valentina said with a glazed expression as her lips curled into a faint smile.
Yara Haley was surprised to see Valentina's love-struck expression. She also didn't expect Valentina to admit that she loved Damien. She didn't think Valentina had fallen so much in love with Damien so fast.
She let out a sigh of perplexity as she shook her head, "Girl, you are so hopelessly in love with him within just two days? Does he love you too? I am sure he must be head over heels for you. I don't think any man can resist obsessing over you, considering how your beauty even makes humble girls like us look ugly. I am just kidding, hehe."
"He said he loves me too, but…"
"Uhhhh? He already confessed his love, huh? Hahaha, didn't I tell you that he must also be into you. You can get any man you want, and I am sure that Damien is no exception."
Valentina's brows creased as she said, "But he said he loves me as a sister…"
Yara Haleys' mouth drew into a big 'O' as she said in a bewildered tone, "You can't be kidding. I mean, he can't be serious. He already sister-zoned you within two days? Is he blind or something? I think a donkey must have kicked his head before he told you that. Yes, yes, there can't be any other reason."
She then hatefully looked towards Damien's direction and mumbled, "Hmph, I thought he was a good guy and a perfect match for you. But I never expected him to break a maiden's heart within two days. Don't worry, Sister Valentina, I am sure you will get way better guys or even those famous princes to be interested in you."
Damien felt something and turned his head. But he was surprised to see that Valentina was conversing with a girl. He never thought that Valentina would talk with someone on the first day itself and felt that she would take some time to familiarize herself with people.
Valentina shook her head and said ardently, "No, he is everything to me, and in my life, the only one I will love is him."
Yara Haley had a blinking expression as she said in a jesting tone, "Oh boy, you are so helpless. It seems like I underestimated your feelings for him. Tell me, does he already love someone else?"
Valentina's brows furrowed even more as she clenched her teeth, "Yes. He loves someone else as his life partner."
"Shit, that's bad. No wonder...I think he must love that girl so much that he sister zoned you and to think that he even told you about his lover to keep you away. Tch...don't worry, not all hope is lost. You just haven't made use of your irresistible charms. This sister can show you the way to his heart, and he will suck up to you in no time."
Valentina's brows raised as her lips opened partially, "How? You really know how to make him love me like a wife?"
"Uh...a wife? Not even a boyfriend? Wow, you thought that ahead, eh? Well, it doesn't matter, it's all the same, and I can help you." Yara Haley said with a wink.
Valentina and Yara Haley chatted away, and Valentina didn't realize that she was talkative in a way with someone whom she had just met a few minutes ago.
Damien again looked back at Valentina and was surprised that she was still talking with that girl. He wondered when Valentina got so chatty and what the two were talking about so earnestly. He knew Valentina was a girl of few words.
'Seems like she made a friend…' Damien was happy that Valentina got at least someone of her age to talk to.
However, the lights slightly dimmed as he saw some people entering the platform and taking their seats.
He saw that almost all the disciples were already seated in the hall, and only a handful of seats were empty.
A man in his thirties stepped forward and said, "Welcome disciples, and congratulations on getting into our esteemed Xeton Ethereal Foundation. Now, we will start the opening ceremony officially."
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