"What if you lose?" Nael asked quietly. "What if I can't do it?"
Rania's expression shifted. Her playful demeanor gave way to something more intense. She stared at him with a mysterious and captivating smile, her blue eyes gleaming behind her spectacles.
"Do you... want to fail?"
Nael felt a chuckle rise in his chest, though he kept it internal.
'She got me there.'
"No." Then he shook his head, a wry smile touching his lips. "I don't."
"Good." Rania nodded, as if that settled the matter. "Then there's no need to worry about anything." She paused, tilting her head slightly. "But if you're really curious, I can tell you what happens if I lose."
She didn't wait for his response before continuing.
"I will just return to the Summit and become just like any other student there is, following the system, climbing through the ranks like everyone else. I will be a prodigy, yes, but ultimately... ordinary in the way that matters to my grandfather." Her voice carried a note of resignation, but also acceptance. "And you... you would probably become what the Summit always predicted. An ordinary Awakened. Strong for your tier, perhaps, but ultimately limited by your class grade."
She leaned back slightly, her gaze never leaving his.
"But..." she said, her smile widening with quiet confidence, "we both know it won't happen, right?"
Nael's respect for the girl before him increased once more. Her words were a statement of fact, delivered with such certainty that it felt almost like a prophecy.
He studied her for a moment, recognizing the gambit for what it was. She was betting not just on his potential but also on his conviction. She was asking him to believe in himself as firmly as she believed in him.
"You're right, it won't," his decision crystallizing in that moment of shared conviction. "And... I agree to your proposal," he declared.
"I will join the Nebula Academy."
Rania's smile widened, triumph and satisfaction flickering across her features.
"You made the right decision." She said confidently.
Nael gave a subtle nod.
In fact, his decision wasn't born from a fear of failing the Summit's exam, nor was it solely swayed by the generous scholarship and resources — though they were undoubtedly significant.
Anyway, it was the deal itself that piqued his interest.
It was Rania's unorthodox worldview, her defiance of a rigid system, and the sheer scale of the opportunity she and the deal presented.
'...What's more, I want to know whether this will count as an investment.' Nael added mentally. 'And if so, I can't begin to imagine the magnitude of the returns it would bring...'
"Umm..." Just then, a hesitant voice cut through the moment, soft yet unmistakable.
"?" Both Nael and Rania turned to see Mira fidgeting slightly, her fingers twisting together as she seemed to gather her courage.
Nael's expression softened. "What is it, Mira?"
She took a quick, almost fearful glance at him before steeling herself. "This... this offer..." she began, her voice gaining strength. "Can I... can I join the Nebula Academy too?"
The memory of finding Nael broken and nearly lifeless in that dark chamber flashed behind her eyes. The terror of those moments, the crushing fear of loss, was still fresh. She had almost lost him once. The thought of him walking a new, dangerous path without her, of being separated and potentially losing him again, was unbearable. She wouldn't let that happen. She... She wanted to be by his side.
Rania's smile, which had been focused solely on Nael, now widened to include Mira, a glint of understanding in her perceptive eyes.
She had seen the bond between them from the beginning. A Legendary Sun Princess, bound by devotion to her chosen anchor, was an asset she had never 'planned' on, but one she would gladly welcome.
"But of course," Rania said, her tone gracious and inclusive. "The offer extends to you as well, Mira. A full scholarship, all the same terms. It would be our honor to have the new Sun Princess at Nebula Academy."
"T-Thank you!"
Just as Mira expressed her gratitude, Rania raised a hand gently, interrupting her.
"You don't have to thank me," Rania said, her tone shifting to one of serious consideration. "In fact, I should be the one thanking you." She adjusted her spectacles, her gaze analytical. "And... are you truly certain about this? You must understand, with your Legendary Class, you could walk into the Summit tomorrow with minimal effort. Their gates would swing open for you. While I am confident you would excel anywhere, choosing Nebula is a conscious step away from that guaranteed, straightforward path."
She leaned forward slightly, ensuring Mira understood the gravity. "You would be subject to the same conditions as Nael. You would need to pass the Summit's transfer exam later. And while your Class gives you a significant advantage, the exam board is... fickle. There is a non-zero chance they could reject even a Sun Princess out of sheer political spite for this entire endeavor."
Before Mira could formulate a response, Nael spoke up, his voice calm but firm.
"Mira," he said, drawing her gaze. "If you are doing this for me, then there's no need. You shouldn't chain your future to mine out of obligation or guilt." He met her eyes, his expression sincere. "Your potential is limitless. You should choose the path that is best for you, not the one chosen out of a sense of obligation. This is your future. Decide for yourself."
Nael chose his words carefully.
He wasn't trying to push her away; she could hear that in his tone, too. But he wasn't going to let her sacrifice her future out of fear, either.
'...' Mira looked down at her hands, processing what he'd said. The guilt from the dungeon still weighed on her, the memory of those three days of uncertainty. But underneath that fear, there was something else. A genuine choice she needed to make, separate from her attachment to him. 'My future... My choice...'
She met his eyes again, and this time, there was clarity in her gaze.
"I'll still choose Nebula. And it's not because I'm afraid of losing you," she said, her cheeks flushing as she realized how personal and direct her words sounded. She looked down, fidgeting with her hands.
"I mean, I don't want to be separated from you, but—" Her voice faltered, and she had to force herself to glance toward Rania before continuing. Despite the embarrassment burning through her, she steadied her voice and pushed through: "I'm choosing it because of what you both are trying to prove. Because..."
"Because I believe in it too."