"Does he have magic?" Emilia asked, her voice filled with curiosity. "How else would he do something like that?"
Thomas crossed his arms, a hint of pride creeping into his expression. "He created that on his own. That's why we hired you—to show him different types of magic. We hope it will inspire him to develop even more techniques, but you'll have to befriend him first."
"But how can he create more elements?" Emilia questioned, still incredulous. "Even geniuses usually manage only one, at most!"
Lily smiled faintly, a mix of pride and worry on her face. "If it's Rei, we think he could create almost all the elements. Maybe he'll struggle with two or three, but the rest? I don't doubt his ability."
Hanna, arms crossed, chimed in again, a sharp edge to her tone. "After all, he's a real genius, unlike you. People only call you a genius because you managed to learn something others couldn't."
"Hanna!" Lily scolded, her voice firm. "It's not like you've created anything new either."
"I'm not claiming to be a genius," Hanna replied with a shrug. "But at least I'm working on creating something new, unlike someone who's just riding their reputation."
Emilia asked, "Wait, you are also creating something new?" She was amazed that these backwater people were so knowledgeable. Hanna replied, "Yeah, I am creating my battle technique using magic to fight with weapons." Emilia was dumbstruck; these people she thought of as backwater people were way more capable than she thought. Hanna then said, "And you called yourself a genius." Lily again scolded Hanna
Emilia sighed, ignoring the bickering behind her as she made her way to Rei's room. Her thoughts raced, a mix of irritation and curiosity swirling in her mind. How annoying, she thought. A genius who hates girls. If he's supposed to be so smart, shouldn't he love girls and have a high sex drive?
As she reached the door, she paused for a moment, steadying herself. With a deep breath, she knocked lightly. "Can I come in?"
"No," Rei replied bluntly, his voice carrying the same harsh tone as before. Back in her town, she was regarded as a prodigy; everyone treated her with great respect and expectations. Even after coming outside, everyone respected her and complimented her, and here is a boy who straight up gives her zero respect. This is a triggering reaction for Emilia.
Emilia gritted her teeth, forcing a polite smile as her patience stretched thin. Stay calm, she told herself. He's just a boy. You can handle this.
"Rei, please, we need to talk. Your parents hired me to help you, so the least you could do is hear me out."
The room remained silent, but Emilia pressed on, trying to keep her tone calm and friendly despite his blunt refusal. "I understand you have some... strong feelings about girls. But I'm not here to cause you any harm or discomfort. I genuinely want to help you grow and learn in whatever way works best for you."
Leaning against the doorframe, Emilia let her crystal wand dangle lightly in her hand. Its surface caught the light, casting faint, glimmering reflections on the wall. "I promise, I'm not like the other girls you've encountered. Give me a chance to prove that to you."
Her voice softened as she continued, shifting from insistence to a more understanding tone. "Let's start small, if you'd like. We could just talk and get to know each other better. No pressure, no expectations. What do you say?"
Rei bluntly replied again in a harsh tone, "No. Can you get lost?"
Emilia felt her patience slipping, her composure fraying at the edges. With every ounce of her willpower, she suppressed the urge to scream at him. He's just a boy, she reminded herself, though the thought did little to soothe her growing frustration.
Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, and the crystal on her wand flashed briefly, mirroring the flare of her emotions. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stay calm.
Squaring her shoulders, Emilia tried once more to reason with Rei. Her voice, though still steady, was tight with barely suppressed frustration. "Rei, please. You can't just dismiss me like this. Your parents have high hopes for what I can teach you. I have a lot to offer if only you'd give me a chance."
She stepped closer to the door, her eyes narrowing slightly as though she could see through it to where Rei was undoubtedly sulking inside. "I know you're not like other boys your age. You've already accomplished so much on your own. But imagine what we could achieve together if you'd just let me in."
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, the house was silent except for the faint hum of the crystal on her wand. Despite her frustration, there was a glimmer of genuine curiosity and interest in her eyes as she thought about the enigma that was Rei.
"Why won't you give me a chance, Rei?" she asked, her voice softening as she leaned against the doorframe. "What are you so afraid of?"
Rei said, "You are just a 3rd-grade magician. What can you teach me? I have already accomplished so much on my own and would continue to do so. so get lost."
Emilia recoiled as if slapped, Rei's harsh words piercing through her thin veil of patience. She gripped her wand tightly, the crystal flaring brightly for a moment before dimming. He could hear her sharp intake of breath on the other side of the door.
When she spoke again, her voice was cold and clipped, all pretense of warmth and friendliness gone. "You ungrateful little brat. I am not just some '3rd-grade magician.' I am the most prodigious mage, and I offered to help you out of the goodness of my heart!"
She took a step closer to the door, her anger radiating through the wood. "You have no idea how much I could teach you if only you'd set aside your foolish prejudices for a moment. But clearly, you're too stubborn and closed-minded to see it."
Rei heard her turn on her heel, her footsteps retreating down the hallway. "Fine. Have it your way, you little monster. But don't come crying to me when you realize you've wasted your potential."