The professor cleared his throat, bringing the class to attention.
"Alright, class. Now that we've discussed the theory behind vitality extraction, I believe it's time for a practical challenge."
He reached into his bag and pulled out several herbs with purple flowers, placing them on the table at the front of the room.
Beside each herb, he arranged an array of tools and equipment meant for extracting vitality.
He stepped back and surveyed the class with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Who here feels confident enough to put their newfound knowledge to the test? Let's see how well you've been paying attention."
His gaze swept across the sea of students, most of whom suddenly found their desks and notebooks to be very interesting.
Silence stretched on as students exchanged nervous glances, none daring to raise their hand.
The professor sighed dramatically.
"Two volunteers," he said, louder this time, "or shall I have to start choosing?"
Still, no one moved. Then, a hand shot up from the center of the room.
"As expected," the professor said with a small smile.
It was Amy Bluerose.
She stood gracefully, her light blue hair cascading down her shoulders as she made her way to one side of the table. All eyes were on her, as always, her presence commanding attention.
She positioned herself in front of one of the herbs, her expression calm and confident.
The professor folded his arms, scanning the room again.
"Now, as for the second volunteer... some of you aren't even paying attention...
...Ah yes."
His eyes settled on Noah, who was seated by the window, wearing the red Vanguard blazer.
Noah was diligently scribbling notes, entirely unaware of the sudden attention.
"You, in the dashing red blazer, by the window. Come and give it a try."
Noah looked up, startled, as the entire class turned to stare at him.
'But I was just writing down what he taught... Isn't that paying attention?' he thought, his mind racing.
Reluctantly, he closed his notebook and stood up, making his way to the other end of the table, directly across from Amy.
As he approached, Amy gave him a glance that was hard to read, as if she was silently saying, 'You have no chance.'
Noah, however, stayed focused, ignoring the weight of her gaze.
The professor clapped his hands together.
The liquid was a deep, rich purple, much darker than Amy's. He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
Lifting the vial, he took a sip. His eyes widened, and he stared at Noah for a moment before speaking.
"How did you know?" the professor asked, his tone one of genuine surprise.
"How did you know to extract the vitality from the sap nodes? That's not something we covered in class."
Noah remembered that a thought had struck him — a memory from the original game.
There had been a scenario where this exact herb was crucial, but it wasn't its visible parts that contained vitality.
It wasn't in the roots, the leaves, or the petals. It was in this delicate area, tucked between the stem and flower, something most would miss unless they knew exactly where to look.
The vitality was hidden deeper, in a part of the plant most would overlook.
The sap nodes — a small, nearly invisible part of the plant that stored a unique form of vitality.
Noah cleared his throat.
"Well," he began, his voice calm but confident, "I figured that this herb is different from the others, and its vitality wouldn't be found in the usual places.
The sap nodes are where the plant stores its most concentrated energy. It's a delicate extraction, but if done right, it yields a much more potent result."
The professor blinked, impressed.
"Indeed. Most would never think to check the sap nodes. Well done, Noah."
Noah smiled slightly as the students clapped, some still in disbelief that he had pulled it off.
"Looks like Noah's a genius after all," one student murmured.
"I guess it's not always about who's the most confident," another added.
The professor turned to Amy.
"Your extraction had some vitality, but not enough to heal even a small bruise," he said kindly.
"Still, good effort."
Amy's face remained calm, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes — frustration, perhaps even humiliation.
She gave a small, polite nod, though it was clear the outcome had caught her off guard.
The professor handed Noah the stack of meal tickets, smiling.
"Well done, Noah. You've earned these."
Noah took them, offering a polite smile as the class erupted into applause.
Amy, however, remained silent, her expression unreadable as she stepped back from the table.
She glanced at Noah, and for a brief moment, something cold flashed in her eyes before she looked away.