Chapter 84: Push and pull

[Discerning Gaze of Light]. A 7-star Martial Manual.

It was an analysis technique that allowed its cultivator to peer through another person’s physique and see the strengths and weaknesses within it, very similar to the x-ray technique that Dr. Reid used to inspect his body.

She’s looking at my Upper Body and Lower Body.

The density in his muscle fibers surprised Ms. Calliope. She looked at him more closely, to the point where she was only a few feet away from him as she gazed at his body.

Just like Dr. Reid, she saw that his physique did not correspond to someone who had just awoken from a ten-year coma only a month ago.

His musculature reflected that of someone who was physically fit. Someone who had spent an entire year building up their weight with a lot more muscles. Not someone who was incapacitated in his bed for years, sustaining himself on nothing but a slurry of nutrients.

Ms. Calliope’s eyebrows raised, before a guess formulated in her mind. "You must have been blessed with Psions."

"That’s what my doctor said," he confirmed. "But they tested my talent multiple times. They said I only had a 5-star talent on both my Upper Body and Lower Body."

Pang Cai gasped, as if offended. "My friend... you didn’t tell me you were afflicted with such a horrible fate!" He didn’t react this badly when he learned Eren was in a terrible accident that left him an orphan.

"And even with that talent," Ms. Calliope muttered. "You... you became a leader?"

Eren had not just passed the First Test of the License Exam. But he had done so with flying colors. She knew just how hard it was to be noticed by the Prominent Families and the Elite Awakener Organizations.

Even Pang Cai was confused. "That is weird... my family wouldn’t even give someone like you a glance. Sorry, no offense."

"I’ve never heard them choosing someone who had a 5-star talent on both Upper and Lower body," Ms. Calliope added. "They strictly recruit people with at least one 7-star talent. Nothing lower than that. It was the basic standards of their requirements."

Ms. Calliope’s gaze changed. If Eren was able to impress one of those sponsors enough to make an exception for him, then there must be something about him that they found exceptional.

Her gaze towards him was not one of pity, but amazement. The image of a scrawny, isolated young kid was replaced by that man Eren was now.

It intrigued her a bit.

And in this regard, Eren inwardly smiled. I’m in.

He revealed the situation around his coma for exactly one reason. Get closer to Ms. Calliope.

As a Proctor, she held a lot of power here in the Subterranean Burrows. She could be the one to answer his burning questions about the test as a whole. And hopefully, he could convince her to tip the scales of favor towards his direction.

Kaiser stated no rules about approaching a Proctor for help. Meaning, it was part of the rules. It was just up to the examinees how they were going to convince them.

He had a prior relationship with Ms. Calliope for being her student. One would think that was enough of a reason to help him.

But he knew that it was the exact opposite. Pity would not make her help him win the License Exam. it would make her push him out to save his life.

He had to first change that perception of his out of her mind. Change himself from that pitiful orphan, to a talented Awakener that even the Prominent Families were interested in.

And of course, if he was being honest with himself, there was also a small part of himself that felt good telling Ms. Calliope about his situation.

His former self.

After everything that that kid had been through, it was only a small kindness that Eren was willing to give himself.

The kid he was before would do anything to impress the kind hearted Ms. Calliope. Even if it meant convincing his parents into arriving at the exam site a few hours earlier to prepare for the test, just so that he wouldn’t disappoint her.

"Ms. Calliope!"

Someone called out to her, breaking Eren out of his thoughts.

A group of three chosen Leaders from the Academic Sector approached Ms. Calliope with expectant gazes.

"Ms. Calliope, we’ve talked with the other leaders in search of an alliance, just like you said. We’re debating on whether we should go with..."

The girl’s words trailed once she noticed that their Proctor’s attention was somewhere else. She’s distracted. But why?

At this point, Eren had already turned his back and walked away. He felt the burning gaze Ms. Calliope directed at him as he faded into the darkness away from the bright pit.

She was curious about him. It was imperative that he didn’t linger any longer. He couldn’t even say goodbye.

He needed to build up that mystery. He wanted her to stew with her thoughts about him. Make her so curious to find out about him that she had no choice but to seek him out later.

And by that point, he’d have her in the palm of his hands.

It’s about the push and pull, kid. You have to draw them in. When they’re interested, you push them away. And only when they’re about to walk away do you pull them back in.

Athan’s words echoed in his mind as he walked away. It was a good principle. But despite the nuggets of wisdom his master spewed, he always never seemed to follow them himself.

His master always pestered Amarantha like a cockroach. There was no push. Just pulling. No wonder she was always annoyed with him.

Eren shook his head as he headed back to the cliffside with Pang Cai.

"Good luck, my friend! I really hope that you succeed with that... *urghh*... affliction. Don’t worry. If you have anything you need, I’ll be there for you!"