"WOW!"
I exclaimed in shock when I saw Emily was the one leading the front followed closely by Kira. Due to public appearance, Emily's horns were masked with an illusion ability to hid the fact that she was a demon, so right now, she appeared as a normal monster running through the course.
But never mind that. How is she still powering through the unnatural rain with no issues while breezing through the upgraded tree monsters?!
She looked completely unaffected by the rain and was just focusing on managing her power output where she blasted the tree just hard enough to kill it, but not powerful enough to waste her mana.
Kira was doing the same, but beside Emily's. She also requested for an illusion to hide her ears for a particular reason, so she too one couldn't tell what her race was. But one thing was certain, and I could tell a majority of the crowd agreed.
"AIN'T THEY ALL LOOKERS! And the fact that they are both handling their own with the beasts...if I were their parents, I'd be real proud of them!"
The crowd, or more accurately the men in the crowd, all cheered loudly at the announcers words.
"Aren't they part of your class? I had no idea you had such resourceful people. So far, the previous South classes have all failed in the first event, but here is your class leading the rest quite bravely," Mr William told me.
"They did work real hard to reach where they are today. I'd say you can see just how much practice they put in just for this event. Wish I were down there with them though,"
"The leading girl is the demon in the school, right? I bet the poison doesn't even faze her one bit. The girl behind her is the one that is surprising,"
"Who? You mean Kira?" I asked the teacher.
"If we're talking about the girl next to the demon, then yes,"
"From what I know about her and her origin, it must be like a trip down a gentle drizzle to her. I bet she's seen and tasted worst poisons than the one she is currently inhaling,"
"Oh? Then this completion just became even more interesting. So... " the West teacher trailed of suspiciously.
"Yeah?"
"Which one of the two is your girlfriend?"
"I'm sorry what?!" I turned to the west teacher in shock. He smirked at me like this has been an oncoming question ever since he started the conversation.
"Don't play games with me, Max. I see the way both girls look at you. For sure, one of them has to have grabbed your heart at this point,"
"M–Mr W–William I have no idea what you are suggesting–"
"It's the white haired one, right?"
"What?! I mean, sure Emily is beautiful, always silent but not in a bad way. And sure, may be she had at some point made it clear she liked me but–"
"But nothing. She's the one you like!" Mr Will was by now very close to me right know with this excited look in his eyes.
"I told you I was right, didn't I! You owe me Will!"
Mr William's face turned white. "Mr Flintheart?! The hell are you doing listening in on out conversation?!"
"Your line was open, William. So is yours Max. So... Emily is your girlfriend, right?"
"I had a feeling too. Guess it was true,"
"You were in on this too, Mrs Kelly?"
"Awww! That's so cute!" Mrs lily commented added through the com too.
My face turned red in embarrassment, "Hey! I never said she was my girlfriend! I see her as a friend, A FRIEND! ok?" I answered and tried pushing Mr William away while quickly trying to close my mic. Forgot that I even had one.
Mr William easily ignored my attempt to push him away and even came an inch closer, after he too closed his line. "Then it's the girl the same race as you! I kinda guessed that already,"
"Stop putting words in my mouth you weird relationship addict!"
"Alright fine! And I'm not weird! But anyways, since it'll be a while till the students come up to us, and the forest only deepens from here on out masking our view of the competition, why don't you indulge me a bit,"
"Well... Do I have to?"
The look he gave me said that this wasn't up for discussion.
"...fine then. What do you want to know?"
"Tell me how you view the Furrha girl."
I raised an eyebrow in question, "Only that?"
"Yup. Nothing else."
"Well then, where to start... ah yes. The fact that she's always out to get me!"
Mr William nodded for me to continue.
"She's always been how do I say... on the offensive against me. Quite honesty, since the first day, I sensed that she had something against me, almost like I've wronged her in a way. But she did help me fight off the demons that same day too, and ever since then, she's made it her habit to always be near me. Said something about cleaning up the messes I was bound to make."
"And she's cute,"
"....yeah, she's cute too, I guess,"
I didn't like where this conversation was going.
***
[No I'm not! It's just... you notice these things when you stay with someone for a while. That's all! Don't read too much into it!]
[About your imaginery girlfriend–]
[Bradley–]
***
Mr Will looked deep in thought. Then a creepy smile appeared on his face.
"I don't like that look on your face," I said as I slowly flew away from the teacher.
A invisible barrier suddenly restricted any of my movements.
"What the–"
The West teacher suddenly rushed at me, "I have an amazing idea!"
"Whatever it is, I don't want it!"
This barrier was really something. Even with the power of the jet pack, I still couldn't even move an inch away.
"Just hear me out, why don't you! First of all, it's good you know that you are completely dense,"
"Really? You tell me to hear you out then you insult me?"
"Let me finish please. From what I've gathered about you, I know that you haven't had a lot of friends until you joined up this school, am I right?"
I slowly turned away from the teacher. I mean... he's not wrong, may be I've never had friends sure, but why just blurt that out?
"Nothing to be ashamed of kid. Not many people can get a group of friends such as yours so stand proud. I bet you want to protect them with everything you have, even at the risk of your life, right? But here's some advice for you kid, never take your life for granted. Even if its to save your friend, think of how he would feel for you to give your life for him,"
"Of course, sir. I get what you are saying. But even so, if it ever comes down to it, I'd still exchange their lives for mine. That's... just who I am,"
"Yeah well, you can't let anyone determine who you are in life and that's good. But..." his eyes shined brightly, "Seeing your friends as only that ain't gonna get you a girlfriend!"
"Really, sir? And here I thought we were coming to an understanding!"
"Don't sweat the small stuff. Listen, kid. You may think you are still young, but looking for a suiter this early on in stage is actually good for you. Look at me, I met my wife when I was just a year older than you. Wanna know when we–"
"Ewww! No teach! I'd rather fly here quietly than listen to your creepy love story with you wife! Who in the world would ever want to here about that?!" I said while turning on my com. This conversation was definitely over.
"Hmph! Your loss," he said, doing the same.
The announcer came up again with info about the race. "Looks like the kids ahead are finally coming up to the finish of the first challenge! But not unscathed mind you. Look at the large scratches around their arms and legs! Such perfect skin ruined by some mad plants. Take note monsters, nature is not always friendly!"
The crowd cheered when Clive came up first with Emily and Kira. Flavo was just right behind them, and everyone was quite brutally beaten up.
"Met up with the grade A monsters I see. Now comes the real challenge. Surviving the next trials,"
"Ladies and gentle monsters, of the count of how many students who were just eliminated from the competition, in lead is the west class with over twenty students forfeiting the trials, five others brutally beaten up by the monsters. Next would be East with just five students forfeiting the competition, two because of the attack by the crows and for the last two classes both had only two candidates who forfeited the competition due to facing grade A beasts ,"
Wait, what do you mean the two who faced grade A beasts? I'm sure Blade is one of them who was eliminated, but then again who was the other...wait, it can't be!
"Jessie?!"
I was shocked to see Jessie being evacuated out of the competition together with Blade, who both looked like the monsters they fought did a number on them.
"That girl another friend of yours? Man, ain't you lucky!"
"Yeah whatever, but that's not what's important. I want you to explain to me how they both ended up facing a grade A beast?"
Mr William scratched his chin before answering, " To be perfectly honest with you kid, the crows are your best bet,"
"How so?"
"Such a large murder of crows always has to have a leader. What are the chances the one leading them took the brightest thing it could find in the field, being your best friend?"
"I see. Jessie probably tried to help him out. I had no idea she even realized Blade existed. Good for him."
"We're coming up to the second part of the training course and before I forget, this things always have a time limit so..."
Immediately the announcer stopped talking, the forest grew even larger and the exit was suddenly closed off.
"If you are a student still in the forest, it's good to be informed that you are hereby disqualified from the race from here on out. Please take your leave from where you came from or, if the monsters are too much for you, the teachers will come to your aid, just call to them,"
The crowd suddenly went silent. A certain someone soon spoke up.
"What kind of bull crap all you pulling on us?!"
"Yeah! My kid was just at the exit. You can't just do that just because you can!"
The complaints went on and on but the head general soon stood up to address the crowd.
"Listen well monsters. Is that the same excuse you are going to use when time runs out in the real life battle?! What if this was a real life situation?! Let me tell you here and now. In battle, there isn't but a moment to waste lazyng or fighting unnecessary battles. Winning requires decisive decision-making. Even one second is enough for someone to die, it only takes a moment."
That seemed to shut the complainers up. Doesn't mean they still were satisfied with the answers.
"Oh my gods! What is that?!" I picked up a familiar voice exclaiming with my sensitive ears. I quickly turned to the contestants and noticed Jay staring in shock at the upcoming beasts they were about to face.
"Monsters, I don't know about you, but I definitely don't like these type of beasts," the announcer said.
"Yup. These guys are about to face a whole other type of disgusting," I shook my head as I watched the large, possibly invincible, Yetis make their way to the oncoming group, two larger than their members in the lead.
"WHAT KIND OF TRAINING COURSE IS THIS?!" Clive screamed out in frustration.