Another couple of days passed, and the tutoring had been going with full flow. Every one of the adepts finally had a good idea of what to do to improve themselves.
Nonetheless, one person remained significantly ahead of everyone else.
"Dawn, Dawn!" Jenni lunged toward the woman in white, holding a stray graph paper. "I got my first A in utility."
"Congrats," Dawn replied with a smile.
"This gets me one of those good meals, right?" Jenni asked eagerly. It had only been hard work, while their tutor rested.
Of course, she enjoyed the work and the learning process. At the beginning, she was sceptical about learning anything, but as Gale had shown new ways to implement her runes, Jenni had become increasingly eager to work. She didn't mind cutting her rest and sleep to focus on designing.
But that didn't mean it wasn't exhausting; working all day would tire anyone out. The only respite from her work was the tasty meals she got for doing better than most.
Jenni hadn't been to any school and didn't have any earlier competition among peers. Thankfully, this had managed to bring out her creative side.
"Yes, I'll deliver your meal to your room after we're done with the cooking," Dawn said, tapping her shoulder. "Other than that, you get a token to bother him for an hour."
With that, Dawn handed her a golden ribbon. "You're the first to get it, congratulations."
Jenni frowned. "Does this have an expiry date, or can I bother him even in the middle of the night, pulling him out of his sleep?"
"He didn't mention anything when he gave me these," Dawn shrugged. "Though I'd suggest not bothering him when he's resting. His power, wisdom, and what he is take a heavy toll on his body and mind. Moreover, he usually doesn't take the rest he needs."
"I hear the higher you advance, the less a ranker needs to rest," Jenni raised an eyebrow.
"In the usual case, that's true," Dawn sighed. "But we both know how unusual he is."
"I guess," Jenni said and looked around to make sure no one else was around. "So, have you managed anything else yet?"
Dawn gave her an incredulous look. "I need to make some brewing."
The figure was a woman with ebony black hair, and jet-black essence wings spread on her back, enabling her to fly with ease and efficiency.
"Jenni," the captain said, landing before them. "I didn't expect to see you here. But I'm glad you're fine."
"You too," Jenni said, exchanging a quick hug. "Glad to see you in good health."
"Is Warden here?" Agnes asked, her eyes flashing toward Dawn once. She was surprised to see such a unique woman, though she didn't voice any of it.
"He goes by Gale now, and yes, he's here." Jenni pointed the way toward the lake. "He's probably on his hammock, reading something. Anyway, did you fly all the way here?"
"Something like that," Agnes smiled and nodded toward Dawn. "I'll catch up with you later, but for now, I need to talk to him."
With that, she shot toward the lake.
Jenni turned her attention to Dawn, who had a small line between her brows.
"Another competition has arrived," Jenni chuckled. "This is getting spicy. I believe the captain can check the elf with her intensity. Perhaps this will give you the opportunity you need."
"It's all in your head, silly girl," Dawn snorted.
"Why aren't you worried, like, at all?" Jenni asked, unable to fathom how a woman could devote so much of herself to a man without hoping to get anything in return. This completely blew her mind. Yes, she had perhaps read something like this in a romance, but those were stories, and even in them, it sounded so stupid and wrong.
But Dawn was the fairest of hearts. Jenni didn't want her to go down the road. Well, I guess I don't know what I want for her, Jenni thought and sighed.
"I'm worried about him," Dawn said, turning her head toward the lake, "but not because of other women."
"Now I worry," Jenni said, "you might be more stupid than I am. And you know what infuriates me?"
Dawn shot her a worried look.
"That guy may be brilliant in many aspects, as I knew it," Jenni said, clenching her jaw. "But he's even more dumb in this aspect."