She was known as being friendly and approachable to everyone in school.

Always the one that was behind others’ backs when they had some problems and always the one to smile despite the sorrows she suffered from within.

She was known for being expressive and for always smiling at others.

And yet, despite being known by that, she always failed to act the same when she was in the presence of Desther.

She did not know when it had started.

Maybe it was when she did not feel any ounce of malice from him? The moment she approached him on that oval? Or perhaps the moment when he saved her from that Tier 1 Warrior?

In his presence, she always tried to act calm, collected, and maybe even stoic.

She had witnessed how strong Desther was, unbelievably so, that despite being an S-Grade Awakener, she still felt lacking compared to him.

To her, Desther’s every action and attitude seemed like a mystery she could not unravel.

Perhaps afraid that she would be seen as a weak girl, she had tried to mask her true emotions whenever he was around her.

She rarely smiled and always talked in a reserved manner, not wanting him to perceive her as someone weak and without grit.

Despite that, though, she would still find herself reacting to abrupt situations like this from time to time.

Still, she tried her best not to show it.

"Right!" She answered calmly as she got up from her seat like Desther.

With the absence of Noah, today, both of them will go to the valley.

Just the two of them.

Although she had been alone with him before, this time was different.

No longer in a stressful environment, it seemed more like an outing... or even a date, rather than a task that needs to be completed.

Her gaze could not help but take a quick glance at him, wondering what he was thinking at this exact moment with her walking right beside him.

...

Towering trees zoomed by with the backdrop of the light blue sky above.

Underneath the shades of the connected canopies, Desther and Lexie traveled side by side and continuously distanced themselves from the main base.

"By the way, have you tried asking your family in regard to that monster? Maybe they encountered something like that before?"

Desther suddenly asked.

"My family... I don’t think they care enough to tell me even if they did know."

Desther tilted his head upon hearing that, realizing the implication and meaning behind her words.

’So she’s not exactly on good terms with her family?’

The Baltazar’s were the rulers of the Radiant City. The City Lord, also the current head of the family, was a strong Awakened Professional of the Tier 4 rank.

With the family ruling the entire city, one could imagine what kind of resources would be available to its members.

He thought it was the same for Lexie, but perhaps that was not truly the case.

This one was a sensitive topic, and he doesn’t want to meddle in her affairs, so he did not try to pry about it anymore.

"Well, just tell me if it ever gets uncomfortable so that we can rest."

He was trying his best to be as considerate as possible. She was the only one who knew where she fought that monster after all. Without her, his remaining lead to that monster would disappear as well, making his search and elimination mission practically impossible.

Lexie wanted to retort that she was fine, but upon seeing that Desther seemed serious and had truly cared about her well-being, she just could not help but nod subtly in response.

Perhaps showing a little weakness was actually not so bad after all.

"There’s a monster ahead," Desther suddenly said upon detecting the monster ahead of them.

Lexie became alerted the moment he said that. Her hand was already drawn toward her new sword hoisted on her left hip.

"Don’t worry, nothing major. Just a Demon Bunny, I think."

He just announced it since he doesn’t want to get surprised.

When they saw the monster, Desther easily dispatched it with his new dagger and even gained 2 Skill Fragments out of it.

Since they had a destination to go to, Desther decided not to collect the corpse of the Demon Bunny to be put in the dumping site. There were already enough rotting corpses in there. He harvested its middle claws, though. He would find it a waste if he did not do so.

He took a picture and pocketed his phone right after.

The two continued forward and met a few more monsters. Most of them were Demon Bunny, and some Ravenous Lizards here and there.

"You have a reconnaissance skill?"

Lexie asked upon realizing that Desther seemed to know the location of monster’s in advance.

"Yes, just a basic one."

He did not try to hide it.

It was better to show her where his confidence lay from when he told her yesterday regarding his interest in that monster.

Lexie was not surprised upon hearing him nod. She was surprised that he had such a skill, though.

She guessed that Desther might have already reached Tier 1, and got this reconnaissance skill after his transition to his class.

"Let me kill some monsters as well; I am only lacking a few percent to reach Level 11."

Desther turned his head slightly toward her upon hearing that.

He was indeed right with his guess before.

He wondered what kind of Class was available for her to choose from.

Considering her skill that allows her to move like a blur, Desther expected that it would relate to it as well.

’A speedster talent, paired with a speedster class...’

It would surely be an overpowered pair as well.

He recalled the Divine Rouge and the Space Dominator that were on his list of classes before.

He could not help but compare who would be faster. His classes, or the one that she would transition to.

With an S-Grade Awakener, her Tie 1 Class should also be around the Divine prefix level, right?