The line didn't take long before Sid was next. And he was hesitant like most, but he put on a brave face in front of Eine. And so he stepped up to his Wasp and quickly killed it with a slice across its abdomen. The mana quickly entered his body, and he was filled with an intense feeling of excitement and joy.

  "Wow, this feels so... Mmmmh," Sid muttered.

  Eine was worried, and Rya was observing him, making sure that Mana Lust wouldn't get the best of him.

  "That feels... Really good. Wow," Sid said with a blush on his face.

  He was embarrassed because Eine was watching.

  "Are you alright, Sid?" Rya asked.

  "Y-yes. I'm fine. I just never expected it to feel like this," Sid replied, his voice trembling slightly but filled with a newfound resolve.

  "I hear you. Do you think you can sy another one in a few minutes, or would it be better to wait until tomorrow to regroup?" Rya asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

  "Can... I try again?" Sid asked, determination flickering in his eyes like a fme igniting.

  "Of course," Rya replied, offering him an encouraging smile that bolstered his confidence.

  "Good job, Sid. I'm proud of you," Eine cheered, her voice ringing with genuine admiration.

  "Th-thank you," Sid blushed, a faint pink hue spreading across his cheeks as he soaked in the praise.

  "Now, go to the end of the line, cadet. We don't have all day!" barked Sir George, his commanding tone cutting through the moment.

  "Yes, sir!" Sid saluted sharply, a mixture of eagerness and apprehension swirling inside him.

  Eine let out a relieved sigh as she watched Sid effortlessly dispatch the monster; the way he handled the creature instilled in her a sense of possibility. As he walked past her, she couldn’t help but notice how his once-boyish features were becoming more defined, his shoulders broader, and his jawline more pronounced. Her heart raced at the realization.

  'Was Sid always this handsome?' she wondered, a flutter of something unfamiliar stirring within her.

  "Next!" Sir George called, his voice urgent.

  Eine snapped out of her daydream, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. With a deep breath, she stepped forward, taking her position next to the writhing wasp that struggled futilely to escape. It was being firmly restrained by T7, the golem, its sturdy frame holding the creature in pce as it buzzed angrily, desperately trying to bite her with its jagged mandibles. The tension in the air was palpable, and Eine steeled herself for the task ahead.

  'Just imagine it's an insect that tried to attack you,' Eine told herself. The Willow wasp then tried to use its stinger. 'Gah!?... A really big insect. Alright, I can't let Sid down. You got this.'

  Eine took a deep breath and steadied her hand. And as she watched the big monster in T7's hands writhing around, trying to stab her. She knew she could do it.

  Then with one quick movement, she sliced off its abdomen. The wasp had a silent scream before it died. Its legs are twitching.

  'Okay?... I mean that wasn't hard at all, but I don't know why everyone was acting like—agh? L-Like—Oh, Goddess. W-What is going on?'

  Eine stood there, her chest rising and falling rapidly, a wave of exhiration surging through her as the energy of the mana enveloped her. It flowed into her Elite Level Mana Vein, which had the remarkable ability to absorb more mana than any of her peers, save for Sid. The sensation was intoxicating, an electrifying rush that felt both foreign and exhirating, leaving her in a state of dizzying confusion.

  "Aahhh, ah, ah," Eine moaned, caught in the throes of the overwhelming magical energy.

  'Just close your eyes and focus on something else,' she told herself, desperately trying to regain control. To distract herself, she envisioned the stern cleric from the orphanage barking orders, commanding her to clean up the mess on the floor. But her thoughts quickly derailed as Sid's image fshed in her mind, stirring something deep within her.

  'Sid!? W-What is happening? G-Get out of—'

  "You're so beautiful... Here, let me help you with that," Sid's voice was a soft whisper as he moved behind her, his warm presence enveloping her. He pced his hand over hers, which clutched the rag intended for cleaning.

  Eine's heart raced as they sank lower to the floor, each of them on all fours, working to clear away the dirt together.

  "You missed a spot," he pointed out, his voice smooth and teasing.

  "W-Where?" she stammered, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement.

  "Right there," he directed, guiding her hand to the tiny patch she had overlooked. But in doing so, his lips brushed tantalizingly against the side of her neck.

  "D-Did I get it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, heart pounding in her ears.

  "No. You missed again," he replied, his breath sending shivers down her spine.

  "Where is it?" she asked, her mind racing with both confusion and desire.

  "Right there," Sid said again, leading her hand to the same spot. His lips grazed her neck again, eliciting a soft moan from her as she instinctively arched her back and pressed her hips against him.

  "Did I get it this time?" she breathed, feeling a heady mixture of frustration and anticipation.

  "No... Let’s try again," he murmured, his lips brushing against her skin once more with an intimacy that left her breathless.

  "Mm," she moaned instinctively, surrendering to the sensation as she began to sway her hips, grinding against him, lost in the thrill of the moment.

  "You need to clean it first. Then I can take care of you," he whispered, voice low and encouraging.

  "Yes," she replied, a sultry smile crossing her lips as she gnced around the orphanage. Realization dawned on her that they were alone, and the wicked excitement rose within her as she prepared to truly indulge in the moment. But just as she pushed her hips back, she heard a familiar voice call out.

  "Hey Eine!? What are you doing?" Rya's concerned tone echoed softly in her mind.

  "I'm cleaning," she answered, a mixture of defiance and amusement in her voice.

  "Cleaning up? What is she up to?" Nieren's voice followed, skeptical and curious.

  "Cleaning," Eine insisted, determination cing her words.

  "By shaking your butt? Eine! Wake up!" Yuliana's voice sliced through the air, sharp and urgent, more commanding than her daughters’ pyful calls.

  "Goddess! I'm cleaning the floor, Mother! Just leave me alone—" Before Eine could finish her protest, a sudden spsh of icy water struck her like a shockwave, sending jolts of cold racing through her body. Her eyes flew open wide, and she lunged forward, colliding headfirst into the sturdy edge of the wooden bucket with a dull but painful thud.

  "Gah!" she yelped, pain blooming in her forehead.

  Shocked and disoriented, she clutched her head and darted her gaze around the training grounds. Sir George stood nearby, lightly tossing the empty bucket aside, with a bored and annoyed expression.

  "W-What just happened? Why would you do that?" she asked, still reeling.

  "You were standing there daydreaming, Lady Eine," Sir George replied, as he wanted to get through the rest of the other trainees, and Eine was holding up the line.

  "D-Daydreaming? I was..." she trailed off, the words evaporating as her mind scrambled to catch up. She gnced around and caught sight of the other children, their faces lit up with mischievous grins and barely contained ughter.

  "Were you having a good dream?" a young boy chirped, his tone teasing.

  "I-I don't know what you're talking about," Eine shot back defensively.

  "You were dancing all weird and mumbling to yourself!" another boy chimed in, his ughter ringing like music in her ears.

  "Oh, shut up!" Eine snapped, trying to recim her dignity as she turned to retreat to the end of the line, where Sid stood. But before she could take more than a few steps, a fluffy towel swirled around her, yanking her backwards.

  "Gah!? Sis!? What are you doing?" she excimed, bewilderment flooding her voice.

  "You’re soaked and your day is done," Rya decred matter-of-factly, moving with purpose as she vigorously dried her sister’s dripping hair.

  "What do you mean, 'I’m done'?" Eine protested, bewilderment deepening as she tried to wrap her mind around her sister’s decration.

  "You were experiencing Mana Rush. No more monster sying for you today," Rya expined, a hint of sympathy in her eyes.

  "B-But... But..." Eine stuttered, her voice trailing off, tangled in a whirlwind of frustration and disappointment.

  "No buts. You need to go with Mom and rest up," Rya asserted, giving Eine a light sp on the behind.

  "Ow! Hey!" Eine yelped, rubbing her sore backside as indignation boiled within her. She gnced around at her fellow trainees, their ughter echoing in her ears, each giggle and snicker a reminder of her embarrassment. The Half-Elf wanted to pout and sulk in the moment, but then she noticed Sid watching her with an expression she couldn’t decipher, a tingling warmth creeping into her cheeks as a blush washed over her.

  'Damn it! How am I going to impress him if sis keeps babying me?'

  "Well, come on, Eine. Let's get you changed," Yuliana said.

  "Yes, mother," Eine replied.

  Rya looked around at the other children and gred at them.

  "Alright, no one gets to sy their second monster if you can't behave yourself," Rya threatened.

  The other kids instantly stopped ughing and quickly straightened themselves.

  'God, I forgot how cruel children can be. But at least that Sid kid is a good one,' Rya thought.

  Rya took a moment to look over the other children. There were only a few left that needed to sy their first monsters. And then the cadets will be taking their first steps in becoming Maja Warriors.

  "Alright, let's get through the st of you. Sir George, take the lead," Rya said.

  "Yes, Ma'am!"

  Rya stepped back and watched as the st five kids faced their monsters. Once, Rya didn't see any other kid experiencing Mana Rush, she gave Sir George the go-ahead to have a second round.

  Once the children finished their training, they were given a break. The kids were excited and started talking with their friends.

  "Did you see how strong Sid was? He could easily beat up the big boys if he wanted to," a girl said.

  "Yeah, was his uniform always that small on him? Did he gain muscles or something?" Another girl asked as they gnced over at Sid, who had rosy cheeks, and he looked uncomfortable.

  "No, silly. We are just used to him sitting around all day. We should totally start pying with him more."

  "Oh, yes! He's really sweet and we would have so much fun!"

  The three girls giggled, but Bethany was watching Sid carefully. He did change a bit after sying his monsters. Even Eine changed slightly as well. But it was unstable for the 14-year-old teen. She wanted Sid to herself, but she had no idea why.

  'I can't let these other girls have him. I need to protect him.'

  Bethany watched as Sid left the training grounds and went towards the bathrooms. He was walking gingerly as if he had pulled his groin muscle.

  'Perfect, now is my chance.'

  Bethany followed Sid and hid behind a corner. Once she saw him go inside the bathroom, Bethany waited a minute or two before she decided to sneak in. She slowly opened the door and peeked inside.

  Sid's groaning can be heard loudly from the first stall.

  "Oh goddess," he moaned.

  The images of Eine's cute butt swaying in front of everyone were burned into his mind. His crotch was killing him.

  'Why is this happening to me?'

  Sid was still trying to figure out what he had done wrong to anger the Goddess Iyomelka when he suddenly felt a cold chill run up his spine.

  'Am I being watched?'

  Sid tried to listen for the person's footsteps, but his blood was pumping in his ears.

  'I need to take care of this somewhere private. I think I can use the bushes as a hiding spot.'

  Sid waited a couple of minutes more before flushing the toilet. He made sure to wash his hands thoroughly before leaving the bathroom.

  "Ahh!" Bethany screamed in surprise.

  Sid looked up at the window above the chamber pot, and he easily jumped up and grabbed the windowsill with his fingers. He hoisted himself up and crawled out, nding gracefully on the other side.

  Bethany didn't see him leave and waited there for Sid. She was going to jump him the moment he came out of his stall, but the sudden sound of a fae-chamber pop flushing made her panic and hide. She was so scared of being caught that she didn't notice Sid jump out of the window and escape.

  Sir Richard came out of a stall a few doors down.

  "Huh? What are you doing here, Cadet?"

  Bethany jumped and quickly saluted the knight.

  "I-I was just, um," she stammered.

  Sir Richard raised an eyebrow and walked closer to her.

  "Well?"

  Bethany was sweating and trying to think of a lie.

  "I thought this was the girls' bathroom."

  "Hmm." Sir Richard looked her up and down and then snorted.

  "It's fine, Cadet. I've seen many a young dy get lost around here. Just make sure you don't make the same mistake twice. Dismissed."

  Bethany breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

  "Yes, Sir!"

  "Good. Now, get out."

  Bethany quickly turned around and walked out of the bathroom.

  'What a disaster.'

  Sir Richard smirked as he watched her leave.

  'This is the third time I caught her in here. I wonder who she has an eye on.'

  His eyes gnced over the bathroom stalls and nded on Sid's. Where he thought he saw that cadet named Sid hurrying out the window, and thought it was unusual.

  'That kid is definitely trouble. I guess that's what he gets for having a Demi-God vein.'

  He shook his head and headed back to his office.