Teng Wang nervously paced around the medical hall. He hadn't seen the girl for a full 6 months and felt anxious. What would their first meeting after 6 months be like? Will she recognize him or has she already forgotten him? If she had, what was he going to do?
Bang!
"Ouch!"
In his anxiety, he accidentally bumped into a medicinal cabinet.
The sharp pain brought him back to his senses and finally froze in place.
"Teng Wang, Teng Wang. What in the world are you doing? For what did you come here for and what are you doing now?" Holding his knee in disapproval, his racing heart slowly calmed down and his anxiety faded away.
He had to focus on the task at hand.
Straightening his figure, he clasped his hands behind his back and patiently waited with a stoic expression.
When Princess Qamari and Lu Yei came into the medical hall, the scene they witnessed was a long brown hair guy standing straight and quiet in the center of the hall. The white pearls glowing from the ceiling of the hall fell on his figure, giving him a gentle and scholarly appearance.
"Sister Qamari, this guy that came to find you is really handsome." Lu Yei whispered in a daze.
As a first year that entered the academy through the yearly selection this year, she has been a student of the academy for almost a year now. However, in the 12 months she attended the First Division building, she had never seen nor met such a handsome man.
Princess Qamari remained silent, not adding any comments on her remark.
In her eyes, physical beauty meant nothing. It was but an outer shell that would age and decay with time. However, this opinion of hers was hers alone and she had no desire to voice out to others.
Moreover, she was already a married woman.
So, whether a guy was handsome or not, had nothing to do with her.
Besides, when it came to appearances, the person before her couldn't compare to even a tenth of Crown Prince Lail.
"Senior Brother, I brought sister Qamari!" Lu Yei exclaimed the moment she returned to her senses.
Teng Wang, hearing the call of the girl, immediately turned.
When he saw her, his heart almost stopped beating for a second.
Still dressed in the same purple-red robe she entered the academy with, the cold and mysterious girl he saw 6 months ago seemed to be shrouded in an even thicker cloak of mystery. The aura she radiated was more majestic and ethereal.
The moment she appeared all the light and radiance seemed to gather around her, glorifying her already luminous presence.
'Is it possible for a person to change so drastically in the span of 6 months?'
Teng Wang was stupefied. In the span of only 6 months, the girl he brought into the First Division Building seemed to have morphed over night, becoming an existence that he could no longer look in the eye.
He felt he was too unworthy to even stand within her presence.
"Senior Brother, what were you looking sister Qamari for? May I know?" Lu Yei, unware of the guy's state of mind, hurriedly stepped forward with a curious expression on her face.
"Huh, oh, I...ah, I came to seek junior sister Qamari for a personal favor." Getting himself together, Teng Wang barely managed to get the words out.
"Ahem!"
Looking furtively at the quiet girl, he continued in a more composed manner.
"Sister Qamari, you must have heard about the recent matter circulating around the academy. Rong Li is in a very serious situation and as things stand, in the entire academy, you are the only light magic wielder." Teng Wang became a little self-conscious as he retold the accident during their beast raid.
Once he finished, he nervously glanced at Princess Qamari to see her reaction. He wanted to know if she too blamed him for what happened. Even though he had to no reason to expect otherwise, he still hoped that she wouldn't see him in a negative light.
Unfortunately, the princess's veiled face was still impassive and cold like always. There was neither a change in expression or a flicker of emotion in her eyes.
Unexpectedly, this indifference relaxed his tense muscles. Her unchanged attitude made him feel as if she wasn't interested in judging him. And that was all he wanted.
For someone not to judge him for something that wasn't even in his control.
However, he still needed to make amends.
Without hesitation, he knelt on his knees. Looking at her with a serious expression, he pleaded in the most earnest voice he could muster.
"Princess, I heard that you can enter regions that support the growth of restorative herbs. I know that you are still in level one of the Drawing Element stage. If you would be willing to seek the necessary herbs for Rong Li, I will take full responsible for your safety."
At this moment, it was hard for Teng Wang to hold back his emotions. Although he didn't ask for it, Rong Li fell into such a predicament while saving him. He felt guilty and remorseful.
If he had only been a bit more careful, things might not have gotten to this point.
With barely concealed emotions and red eyes, Teng Wang continued pleading.
"Please junior sister, please help get the herbs for Rong Li. I Teng Wang, promise to guard you with my life."
Princess Qamari and Lu Yei were stunned by Teng Wang's sudden actions.
Lu Yei was wondering why sister Qamari was so lucky. She didn't even lift a finger, and yet, a handsome guy was kneeling on his knees before her, pledging to lay his life to protect hers.
"Why don't I have such good fortunate?" She wistfully whispered.
In fact, this wasn't the first time that Lu Yei witnessed sister Qamari's absurd luck. Take the matter of her being their Master's favorite disciple for instance. Before Princess Qamari entered the Medicine Hall, Wen Wan felt disgusted with even the thought of having immature apprentices hovering over her as she conducted her experiments.
But the instant Princess Qamari appeared, Elder Wen Wan turned 180 degrees, dragging the new apprentice with her where ever she went. The work cabin that was prohibited to other apprentices was immediately opened to Princess Qamari.
And within the span of six months, the new apprentice in the Medicine Hall became an existence widely known throughout the Sealand Academy.
On the other hand, Princess Qamari was confused by the guy's actions.
She was sure that he couldn't protect her more than she could protect herself. After all, even though in the eyes of the academy she seemed to only be at first level of the Drawing Element stage, she knew that that wasn't the case at all.
While she appeared to be on the first level of the first stage, she knew that she was far beyond that. If she couldn't protect herself, that only meant she had reached the end of her life. Because from such a situation, no one else had the ability to save her except for the Great Magician.
"Fellow magician, you don't need to do this. Even if you were to pledge the life of every second year students in my protection, I still wouldn't agree to help you." After a brief period of silence, Princess Qamari's indifferent voice sounded in the quiet hall.
The cold voice was like an ice blade, piercing fiercely into Teng Wang's hanging heart. Abruptly raising his head, he asked in a trembling voice.
"But, why?"
She refused? Just like that? He could not believe it.
Did she not trust his abilities after almost getting himself killed? Believing that to be the case, Teng Wang rushed to add more conditions.
"If you don't trust me because of the recent incident, it's okay. I will request my master to allow the third years to act as protectors for you on this mission. I am sure the academy elders will be more than supportive in this expedition. If not for anything else, then for the sake of our academy's prestige, please help Rong Li." He implored her with a desperate look.
"You misunderstand me, fellow magician. When I said I will not agree to help you, I meant I don't trust anyone else but myself. So, why should I place my safety in other's hands?"
"Huh?" Teng Wang was stumped.
How was he supposed to reply yo that?
Even Lu Yei felt perplexed by Princess Qamari's words. Whether Princess or ordinary person, didn't every girl desire to be protected by a handsome man? But from the princess's words, it seemed as if she looked down on the protection provided by others.
"What do you mean?" Teng Wang had no choice but to ask for clarification. Did this mean she was going to help or not? He could not understand.
"What I mean is exactly as it sounds.. I do not need or want your protection, because I trust my life with no one but myself."