Serissa advanced quietly towards Anna and the soldiers who were preventing the Frost Soldiers from crossing the gate.
She looked coldly at the person who had been speaking to Anna.
"You seem to have become more assertive, Dimitri."
Dimitri looked at the girl standing in front of him, frowning.
"Can you at least show some respect to your teacher, Serisa? Don't call me by my name. I'm not your friend."
Serissa sighed, ignoring his words, then looked at her sister.
"Go back home, there's no need to make a fuss here."
Anna said nothing, she just nodded and turned to her soldiers.
"Round up all of you. We're going home."
Then Anna went to where Ryan had dismounted from his horse and brought Elisa with her.
She looked at him with her cold blue eyes, and Ryan glimpsed a hint of sadness in them.
"I have to go, so you two will have to continue on your own."
She paused for a moment, then said,
"Do you both have enough money for the night? The entrance exam is tomorrow."
No one was allowed to enter the academy unless they were a student, teacher, or employee, and any stranger wishing to enter had to have a royal permit.
Ryan answered her question:
"I have enough in my bag, don't worry."
Then Anna looked at Elisa.
"I've had enough, too, ma'am."
Anna smiled and patted Elisa on the head.
"I told you to call me sister, why are you so shy?"
Elisa blushed.
"Thank you, sister, for accompanying me throughout this journey."
Anna smiled.
"There's no need to thank me. Well, if you want to thank me, next time I see you, I hope you won't be so shy."
Then she looked at Ryan, her expression impassive.
"Aren't you going to thank me for accompanying you?"
Ryan spoke calmly:
"We don't need that. After all, you and I a student and a teacher."
After saying that, Ryan knelt on one knee, placed his sword on the ground, and lowered his head.
Anna's eyes widened when she saw that.
"You..."
Everyone around them also noticed what he did, which made Dmitri speak up.
"I don't think that child knelt to greet anyone from the royal family, so the reason for that is that he acknowledge that vernacular as his teacher."
Upon hearing his words, Serissa's cold gaze sent shivers down his spine.
"Insulting one member of the Froster family is an insult to the entire family. I hope you will watch your words, Dimitri."
Dimitri was annoyed by her words, but he said nothing and turned back to look at the kneeling boy.
After kneeling, Ryan fell silent.
'What do I say?'
He was in trouble; he had seen in a book that any student could acknowledge his teacher by kneeling before him, and although it was merely verbal, it was considered a covenant in this world.
If a teacher accepts a student's acknowledge , they make the student part of their family and help them if needed. Conversely, if the teacher needs help, the student will assist them.
Given that the matter was only verbal, it cannot be trusted that neither party will betray the other.
It was simply a acknowledge meant to strengthen the bond between the teacher and his student, thus giving them greater trust in each other.
Ryan sighed.
"I, Ryan Darvin, acknowledge Anna Forrester as my teacher. If she accepts me as her student, I will help her if she needs help and stand by her if she is in trouble."
Then he raised his head and smiled.
"Of course she has to help me too."
Anna smiled.
"I didn't think anyone would have the nerve to acknowledge me as a teacher. I'm not even a user of elements."
Then she shook her head.
"Fine, I accept your confession, you rascal. Now I'll go see you at our next meeting."
Anna walked past Ryan, who was kneeling on one knee. Ryan felt a light breeze pass by her.
He stood up and turned to watch her leave; his action stemmed from respect for Anna. He had learned a great deal from her, but he might never see her again.
He saw Anna riding her horse away into the distance, then he turned and looked at the city ahead.
"Well, let's see what's inside."