Asher looked at her soft hand for a mont before shaking it. Her grip was gentle, and her touch felt light, almost weightless.
"Sa," he replied briefly, pulling his hand away. But she didn't let go. Instead, she clasped his hand with both of hers.
"You're strong," she whispered, her voice soft and filled with intent. "You've hidden it well, but I can tell just from touching you. You're the most powerful person here."
Her words weren't just quiet—they carried an enchantnt. A spell wove through her voice, ensuring no one else could hear their conversation.
Asher's mask concealed any hint of emotion. He didn't pull his hand away this ti, letting her grip linger a mont longer.
"You're observant," his tone was blunt, offering neither confirmation nor denial.
Talira's smile deepened, a subtle curve of her lips that hinted at satisfaction. Her intense orange eyes seed to search for sothing beyond his words, as if she could see through his mask and the layers he kept hidden.
"I try to be. It's the only way to survive in a place like this."
She finally let go of his hand, taking a step back as she adjusted her posture.
"How about we form an alliance?" she suggested. Her words made her intentions clear.
"Why?" he asked, crossing his arms casually.
"There's a high chance the next test will be a group battle," she added, her gaze turning to the other sorcerers who were now gathering in small circles, forming alliances of their own.
Her eyes lingered on them for a mont before returning to him.
"You'll need allies, and so will I. Working together might save us both so trouble."
Asher studied her for a second, trying to figure out if she had a hidden agenda.
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"And why ?" he probed, keeping his tone casual
Talira t his gaze, then shrugged lightly before responding. "You're strong, and you're not arrogant. I don't waste ti with careless people. Together, we'd stand a better chance of making it through."
"That's it?" Asher tilted his head slightly, sizing her up. "And what happens if I refuse?"
She made a slight movent, her wings glowing faintly as they shifted.
"Then I'll find soone else. But let's be honest—neither of us would want to face each other as enemies too soon."
Asher's mind raced as he considered her offer. He had no reason to ally himself—he was strong enough on his own.
While this was happening, another group of sorcerers approached them. There were four of them, all birdkin, their feathers glinting in hues of black, much like crows.
Talira recognized them imdiately. Even the weakest among them had managed to light up ten stars, making them a good enough group.
One of them stepped forward, his gaze fixed on her.
"Why are you wasting your ti on that eight-star?" he grumbled, his voice dripping with disdain as he nodded toward Asher.
Talira remained calm, not giving them an imdiate response.
She found it almost laughable that they couldn't see through him—or perhaps they did see it but refused to accept that he could be stronger than them because of their ego.
Either way, their arrogance revealed their character, and it made her stomach churn in disgust.
In contrast, when she glanced back at Asher, her impression of him remained favorable.
He didn't display any of the over-the-top antics or attitudes that often ca with power.
Instead, he carried himself with restraint, as if he understood the weight of his abilities and took responsibility for how he used them.
It didn't take a genius to figure out which one was the best bet for an alliance.
Talira turned her attention back to the group.
The mocking sorcerer still stood with a sneer, waiting for a response.
"You think you can just walk up and make demands because you've lit up a few stars?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't waste my ti with people who can't see past their own egos."
The group fell silent, her words cutting through the air with the intent to scold and humiliate them.
"Leave us alone ,"
She didn't even hold back, making sure to raise her voice, drawing the attention of nearby sorcerers. More eyes turned toward them, watching with growing interest as the tension rose.
"You!" one of the birdkin with long hair snarled, his fists clenched, ready to lash out at her.
But before he could act, his companion grabbed his arm, pulling him back with a warning look.
Fighting here without permission was a direct challenge to the laws of Eryx. If they broke that rule, they would be killed before they even had a chance to prove themselves.
After a mont, the long-haired sorcerer spat on the ground, his anger barely contained.
"Watch your back in the tournant," he grumbled. "You're not the only strong one here."
She stayed silent, refusing to waste her breath on them.
Instead, she gave them a faint smile—one that spoke volus. It made it clear: they could try, but they would ultimately fail.
The birdkin walked away, their mood darkened. They had co with the assumption that they could win her over, thinking they shared a connection as flying types.
But her presence wasn't sothing they could claim so easily. Not only was she powerful—she also possessed a beauty that set her apart from others.
"I'm sorry about the ss," she bowed her head.
Her tone was different from what he'd expected from most sorcerers—especially those who walked around with such power.
Asher could tell she ant it.
"Alright, I'll take your offer into consideration if it really is a team battle," he agreed, nodding slightly.
She clasped her hands together, relieved that she had managed to convince him.
"Thank you. I won't disturb you any longer. I'll gather more people—don't worry, I'll make sure they have decent character."
With that, she gave him a polite nod and turned to leave, her wings fluttering softly as she moved through the crowd, already thinking about who else might be a worthy ally.
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