Theron walked out of the Exam room, his Junior Imperial Scholar robes just as unbothered, uncreased and unblemished as they had been when he took the FIrst Class Movement Exam.
He was greeted by a sea of people. It wasn’t just Teacher Fern’s original class here any longer, there were more people, more eyes.
His reaction was much the same.
When he took his first few Exams, he spaced them out. They had all been about a week apart, and they had been very specifically timed with lessons that Teacher Fern had given.
From an outsider’s perspective, it looked like he had directly taken Teacher Fern’s advice and applied it, allowing him to gather 12 Credits quickly.
Now, however… this was anything but the calm and collected approach.
His gaze swept through the people, landing on Sadie and Flora briefly. He gave them both a smile as though he couldn’t recall anything.
Ignoring everyone else, he walked over.
“How’ve you been?” he asked.
There wasn’t the slightest thing off about Theron’s expression. He reacted to seeing her much the same way he always did.
On the one hand, she should be grateful. This helped to hide her own identity far more than it helped Theron hide his.
But she couldn’t help the helplessness that came with it.
“Theron!” she hopped over, not missing a beat. “Where’ve you been? You’ve been gone for so long!”
She grabbed his arm, swinging it like a disobedient little girl.
Theron laughed, rubbing her head.
“I’ve been training. I got an opportunity and reached the Seventh Resonance.”
Sadie’s eyes opened wide. This time, she didn’t really need to act at all, it was natural.
“That’s crazy, Theron! Weren’t you just in the Third Resonance two months ago?!”
Theron smiled. He had never told Sadie this, or anyone else for that matter. But that didn’t matter.
Hiding his cultivation from Gold Mancers was impossible, though he might be able to pull it off against Silver Mancers. It didn’t matter to him if this was exposed because it would be the moment he stepped in front of one of those masters.
“I guess I got lucky.”
“Flora!”
Sadie pulled her other half over. Flora was the much more reserved, quiet side of them. This was one of the main reasons Theron hadn’t interacted with her much, there simply wasn’t much of a chance to in the first place.
“Can you believe it!?”
“Sadie, you shouldn’t talk about other’s cultivation so openly…” Flora said softly.
“OH!”
Sadie covered her little mouth with two hands, letting go of Theron’s arm. Her pigtails bobbed, her adorable antics causing a wave of laughs.
From shock, the atmosphere became quite light and airy.
Until it suddenly wasn’t anymore.
Silver fell in waves as though some sort of oppression was passing from the back of the crowd to the front.
When silence fell completely, the crowd still slowly parting, the sound of clapping echoed.
A young man with shimmering emerald eyes and hair an odd shade of bright brown appeared. Somehow, his hair almost seemed like brass when the light hit it just right, but not quite.
Still, Theron knew a unique bloodline when he saw it. There were almost always some sort of physical changes that took place in a person when a unique bloodline was present.
Those green eyes, that bronze-brass hair—those were the signs of a Thistle of the Main Bloodline.
Sigil Thistle.
The young man stopped before Theron, Sadie, and Flora, towering over all three of them. He was tall and willowy, lanky to the point it looked like a wind might blow him over, and yet as sturdy as an ancient tree.
His steps carried a strong firmness and confidence to them, the smile of a prince hanging from his lips.
He wasn’t the most handsome of young men, but he had his own unique charms. Budding into adulthood, he must have been at least 16 or 17 years old. Clearly, despite being what must have been six and half feet tall at least, he had more room to grow still.
“I really didn’t think that my Thistle Brook City would have another genius of this caliber. I must say I’m truly surprised. I thought I had done well enough, but to think you would gather 21 Credits in a single sitting—all combat on top of that.”
Theron looked up to meet the young man’s gaze, his disposition calm.
“And which esteemed young master of the Thistles am I speaking to?” Theron asked.
Sigil blinked for a moment and then laughed.
“I see your eyes are sharp. You may call me Sigil! In fact, since I’m a little older than you, you may even call me elder brother if you so choose. Though, considering your talent, I won’t begrudge you if you are unwilling. I am here to spar and prove myself to you any time!”
There was an airiness to Sigil’s demeanor.
He might have been a genius, and a noble at that—he certainly didn’t hide his arrogance and pride—but it still made others feel refreshed.
He wasn’t overbearing, but he also wasn’t showing off a fake modesty. He was confident and people could feel it.
“In that case I’ll encroach, elder brother. I am Theron Galethunder.”
“Galethunder?” Sigil blinked. Honestly speaking, he was expecting to hear the name of some noble household.
Still, he was too seasoned in politics and speaking to make such a mistake. He wouldn’t show Theron such an expression just because he wasn’t a noble.
It was instead that the last name Galethunder was too peculiar.
“Fascinating, I’ve never heard such a last name before. Does it mean something specific?”
“I am not sure.” Theron shook his head. “It is just the name my parents gave to me.”
Sigil laughed. “In that case, younger brother, maybe you have a lineage you’ve yet to find. Regardless, with your talent, if you do not, you will forge it with your own hands.”
Sigil held out his hand.
Theron clasped it.