Chapter 5:The Resonance of Iron and Magic
The hidden basement of Section C was the only place where Lusi felt at peace. Unlike the rest of the academy, which smelled of ancient scrolls and incense, her lab smelled of ozone, hot metal, and oil. She was working on her most ambitious project yet—the 'Aether-Scanner', a device designed to stabilize and track 51% dragon mana.
"Just... one... more... gear," Lusi whispered, her fingers nimble as she adjusted the microscopic mana-core.
But her vision blurred. The 51% dragon power inside her was restless. Since she had topped the High-Elite Track, the energy was reacting to her increased fame and stress. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
Thump. Thump.
"Not now," she gasped, reaching for a stabilizer. But her hand missed the table. The world tilted, the lights of the lab spinning into a swirl of darkness.
Before she could even call for Maya, her knees buckled. Lusi Mariano, the untouchable Rank 1, collapsed (fainted) onto the cold stone floor, her consciousness slipping away into a dark void.
The Uninvited Guest
Luka had been following the faint trace of dragon mana all evening. As the Rank 1 of Section A, he had an instinct for power. He had intended to challenge Lusi to a duel, but when he found the hidden entrance to her lab, he saw something that made his heart stop.
"Lusi?"
He rushed forward, his fire-magic flickering instinctively. He found her lying amidst half-finished machines and glowing blueprints. She looked so small, so fragile—nothing like the cold Queen who had looked down on him during the results ceremony.
Luka knelt beside her, sliding his arm behind her neck to lift her head. "Lusi! Hey, wake up!"
He checked her pulse. It was erratic, jumping like a trapped bird. For the first time in his life, the 'Ice-Cold Prince' of Section A felt a surge of genuine panic. He didn't understand why, but seeing her unconscious felt like a personal wound.
"Why is my heart racing so fast?" he wondered, his gaze lingering on her pale face. "She's supposed to be my rival, but I... I can't look away."
The Sibling's Secret Guard
Suddenly, the lab door creaked. Arien stepped in, carrying a tray of expensive medicinal soups. He had bribed the guards to let him in, planning to leave the food and run before Lusi saw him.
When he saw Luka holding his unconscious sister, Arien's face went from 'Proud Brother' to 'Overprotective Demon' in one second.
"Get your hands off my sister, Luka!" Arien roared, though he kept his voice low so as not to startle the unconscious girl.
"She fainted, Arien. Her mana is overflowing," Luka said, his voice unusually soft. He didn't let go. Instead, he pulled her slightly closer. "I'm taking her to the infirmary."
"Like hell you are! I'm her brother," Arien snapped, but then he looked at the complex machines Lusi had built. He realized Lusi had been overworking herself to keep the Mariano name at the top.
The Awakening
Lusi's eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw wasn't the ceiling of her lab, but a pair of intense, crimson eyes looking down at her with... was that worry?
"Luka?" she whispered, her voice raspy.
"You're awake," Luka said, his grip tightening for a fraction of a second before he realized he was being too obvious and quickly pulled back, his face turning a light shade of pink. "You... you were overworking. It's pathetic to see a Rank 1 fainted on the floor."
Lusi saw through his act immediately. Her 'I don't care' attitude returned as she pushed herself up, ignoring her spinning head. "And it's pathetic to see a Rank 1 lurking in other people's labs. Get out, Luka. And you too, Brother. I know that soup is for me."
Arien coughed, looking away. "Soup? What soup? I just... found it on the way. Anyway, you're grounded! No more lab for three days!"
As Lusi watched them bicker, she noticed Luka still staring at her hand, which he had been holding. The 'Attraction' was no longer hidden; it was a visible flame in his eyes. The Hidden Legend of Mariano had not only conquered the grades, she had accidentally conquered the heart of the Academy's strongest lion.