al

group of 30, and now, your numbers have been cut by more than half. After much st

e end of the ceremony. After three months o

iminated along the way, but fortunately

ld in our training grounds, and as much as I would hate to admit it, I feel like

e families celebrating their children's graduations. Proud smiles and excited ch

y's family, and they seemed

d to myself and shook my head. What was I expecting once again? They didn't even

t that I'm a Ricci. Aside from Daisy, nobody still knows about

someone nudg

see Daisy beaming

of us! I didn't thin

. "Me too. Thank

urprise, making me lo

?" I

ught the day would come

ok my head. "I'm not tha

u graduated with the highest rank! That's e

Why did you

your family will go out to eat? This is probably the

my lips

ably stay

m?" she

n even more,"

then a knowing look

"Umm, sorry about that. If you

e my reps for today because of the graduation preparations. Bes

u around! They thought I wouldn't be able to make a fri

," I looked at the family eagerly waiting fo

ure?" she

Enjoy," I pushed her in t

Let's just see each other la

brows in confusio

rty later at night. It's to celebrate our graduation. I he

ll just see you tomorrow when w

with me right now with my family or join me at th

," I dea

ur last chance to have fun before we practic

idge of my nose. "Fine. I'll

and stopped

See yo

*

dy surrounded by many people, and I wanted to turn around right

ed me, bringing the attention

ed at me. "I sa

lked over their way. I sat down next to Daisy

sober for

re you

f time," I br

me of them were our fellow apprentices, while the others

to introduce us?"

is Thalia.

ausing her to snap

ted, not saying my last nam

table. I gave them a tight-lipped smil

dged her shoulder. "Aren't you going to introduce me?" h

causing him to yelp. "Don't get me started, Ma

old are yo

I re

You're just 18? How

shocked after heari

s. "Are you insinuating th

d. "If I'm right, you graduated as th

over my shoulder. "She sure did! My cu

-of how I'm a prodigy or something li

el more pressured

glass with alcohol an

isy said, holdi

miled. "I can hand

*

ll, my ass," Daisy sigh

ed her cheek. "Everythi

me get up. "Come on. Let's go

red at her. "I

as I watched the multi-colored ligh

right, little princess wh

my shirt and started dra

ust yet, so I karate-chopped her arm

rise. "Thalia!" sh

round momentarily to see if Daisy was catching up t

ther route. My eyes lit up when I saw an u

o this was my chance. I quickly ran over to

ore leaning against i

g here?" I heard a

he voice. It was the guard that had be

d pointed at his chest.

t I be the one saying that? What ar

coffed. "Do you o

ared at me b

cidentally for the past three months, and all of our interactions hadn't be

n a tired voice, taking a s

p high. "No," I

oing to run into Daisy. I'm going t

raised on

oing to stay here, and you're

ou know? You're probably the most stub

didn't know I was getti

s," I

he muttered un

king from his glass while I stood next to him, unmoving

f, making him look at me

smi

ery fucking

irk di

to repeat that a

er to his. I don't know where I've gotten this courage, but I'm definitely

mister," I whisp

ss by lik

I knew, his lips