“Luna! Your status and wealth may be greater than mine, but a mech artificer is defined by skill and spirit! When it comes to building mechs, I will not lose to you!”
1
I was just about to step onto the second–floor landing when Seraphina suddenly shot to her feet, her voice ringing through the hall. “So I am chall- enging you! I am challenging the top–ranked student in our year! I will earn Master Valerius’s recognition with my own two hands and become his
apprentice!”
The way she said it, you’d think my own ranking wasn’t based on skill. She hadn’t beaten me in a single monthly exam this semester.
I turned and looked down at her. Her eyes were red, her expression stubborn. The feed was buzzing.
Don’t feel bad, sweetie! Your future status will be a hundred times greater than hers!]
Chapter 2
21:15 (8
TGo, Sera, gol Master Valerius is here for you! He already approves of you. Remember that old man you helped? He’s Valerius’s childhood best friend. He’s here today specifically to meet you.
My feelings were complicated. She helps one random person and lands the opportunity of a lifetime. You had to respect that kind of luck.
But after learning about that man’s plight, I had also asked my mother to buy out the factory he worked at. We gave him and his wife official positi- ons with salaries double what they were making before. How come I didn’t get that kind of opportunity?
I looked down at her from the top of the stairs. “I don’t understand why you’re challenging me. But an exam is an exam. We should both give it our all and let our skills speak for themselves.”
I said my piece, and then, leaving her with a slightly stunned expression, I walked upstairs without a backward glance.
Whether Valerius was here for her or not, I would do my absolute best. If I still lost after giving it everything I had, I would have no regrets.
Master Valerius and the others were indeed upstairs. My father and my brother, Leo, were there to host them. When Leo saw me, he stood and
put an arm around my shoulder, leading me over.
“This is my sister, Luna. She’s loved making mechs since she was a little girl. When she heard you masters were coming to proctor the exam, she
could barely contain her excitement.”
“Luna, say hello.”
I did as I was told. “It’s an honor, Masters. My name is Luna, a first–year student in the Mech Engineering department. I would be grateful for any guidance you could offer.”
The others were all warm and friendly. Only Valerius remained cold, not even glancing in my direction.
Across from him, a woman in a stunning yellow dress beckoned to me. “Come here, dear.”
When I saw her face, I froze. Cyra!
She was the only female Grandmaster Artificer on our planet. Legend said she was a recluse who hated publicity and lived for her research. A king
from another star system had offered a fortune for her to teach his son, and she had refused. I never imagined she would come to our academy,
as prestigious as it was.
I practically ran over, my words tumbling out. “Master Cyra, I… I admire you so much! It was after reading about you that I decided to study mech
engineering!”
She let out a hearty laugh, nothing like the cold hermit of the legends. “Pretty girl with a sweet tongue. I like you.”
“By the way,” she added, “those two components Shaw showed me… they were yours, weren’t they?”
I nodded. “Yes, Master.”
Her eyes were filled with genuine appreciation. “Good luck in the exam this afternoon. I happen to be looking for an apprentice myself.”
My face flushed with excitement. “I will! I’ll do my absolute best!”
