Uncomfortable

Many people say that obtaining things like magical experiment results or alchemical materials is a matter of luck.

Collins admitted that luck is indeed an element needed for an experiment to succeed.

But more importantly, it depends on the experimenter’s professional quality and sensitivity to the experiment.

Any experiment, even if it fails, is still a path to accurate information for an experienced experimenter.

If there are no clues toward success, some great magicians are even willing to start from failure, absorbing enough experience and possibilities from it, slowly building the road to success.

Now, the accumulated experience and data from failures had reached a bottleneck.

Collins placed the data in front of Victoria.

He had integrated and categorized a large amount of data, turning the records of failures into a systematic framework.

This was the foundation for students of magical array systems, and it was also when a magician’s true confidence could be best displayed.

Under normal circumstances, upon seeing the data Collins presented, Victoria would never hesitate to praise him.

But stimulated by the invitation in her hand, Victoria looked at the piles of data and the rigorously flawless magical framework and felt an inappropriate irritation.

It was as if everything she had pursued all her life suddenly looked completely different before her eyes.

Collins tapped the table deliberately to remind her: “Senior, this is the latest data.”

Victoria held her forehead and glanced briefly at the complex data before saying weakly: “Just leave it there. Junior, I’m not feeling well.”

Collins replied flatly, without any emotional fluctuation: “Why not go see the school doctor? Our school doctor is an elf and has unique methods for treating ordinary illnesses and physical injuries.”

Victoria propped her head with her palm and shook her head.

“No need. I just need some rest. Junior, you’ve been working hard these days too. How about this—I’ll give you a few days off so you can rest as well.”

Collins glanced at the experimental equipment not far away.

Victoria caught his thought at a glance and, for some reason, after spending only a short time with Collins—a person who had almost no friends—she felt an unspoken understanding as if they had known each other for decades.

Just like now, Victoria followed his thought and said: “If you want to use the equipment, feel free. Don’t be polite. If you break something, tell me, and I’ll get someone to repair it.”

Collins saluted Victoria.

“I am very pleased by Senior’s generosity.”

Victoria stood up.

“It’s nothing. I’ll head back now. I’ll take this data with me. When I have time, I’ll arrange the next stage of experiments.”

“Okay, Senior. Take care. Uh—do you want me to walk you to your dorm?”

Victoria shook her head and left with the experimental data in her arms.

After Victoria left the room, Collins took out the leftover pizza from lunch.

To be honest, Collins didn’t like eating this stuff, but it was convenient.

Instant noodles required dealing with the noodle cup, while pizza just needed to be heated before being put in the mouth.

After finishing a dinner that was neither plentiful nor appetizing, Collins once again fiddled with the instruments needed for the experiment.

=========

Victoria lay on the bed with her eyes half-closed when a sudden knock came from the door.

Surprised, Victoria turned her head.

She had been at this university for less than a week, and with her personality, she hadn’t even gotten to know most of her dormmates.

Except for Collins knocking on her door once, no one else had ever come over to try to be friendly with her.

She got up and looked through the peephole.

Outside stood a man so handsome he looked almost enchanting.

The man, hearing movement inside, showed a flattering smile and made a gesture of respect.

“Senior Victoria, I’m Sphinx. Could we talk for a moment?”

Victoria opened the door.

Sphinx entered her dorm with a bright smile, holding a small box of cake in his hand.

“I just came from Collins’ lab—oh no, I should say our lab now. Collins, who was about to leave, told me about your situation. He said you were probably sick and needed some rest.

I thought about it. As the leader of our group, how could such a big matter as illness be kept secret?

And besides, Senior, you’re a lady. So I came to see if there’s anything you need help with.”

It had to be said, Sphinx’s attitude now moved Victoria a little.

Sphinx still wore a smile, but this man, whose emotional intelligence far surpassed Collins’, did not believe for a second that Victoria would leave the lab just because of a minor illness.