Book 1: Chapter 101: Worry and Relaxation

Book 1: Chapter 101: Worry and Relaxation

Somewhere in the Eastern Part of the Outer Ring

About an hour later

So have you had any luck yet? Belle asks for the third time as Michael stands there with his eyes glowing green, simply looking through the eyes of his hawk as it flies above the outer ring of the forest searching for Scarlet. And this time unlike the last two times he answered politely he grumbles, Could you stop asking please? The answer hasnt changed.

Belle lets out a groan before walking up to a random tree and punching it. Then immediately regretting it as she holds her fist to her chest due to the pain of slamming it into whatever material that tree is made out of.

Because it certainly wasnt bark.

She turns back to him while complaining, But Im worried about her! I know she did well in the first round, but wont that make her a target for the other combat category students? Wont she need help? The nineteen-year-old girl lowers her head to look at the ground for a second before raising it again as she finishes, Im just worried that shell end up being ganged up on by the other students or something you cant just go doing that well and embarrassing everyone in the first round and expecting to get out of that Scott free!

Michaels eyes eventually return to normal as he glances at Denise, who was in the same dome as Scarlet before asking, Do you think she needs help?

Denise shakes her head immediately and says, In all honesty, she scared me just from watching her duel with the other students. So how do you think they feel? She tore them all apart without a shred of guilt after the first one! She turns to look at Belle who appears to be building up an argument, only to add, Look, I know youre worried about her, but you should be more worried about yourself. Belles eyes widen in shock. Scarlet is a combat focused Guardian with blood magic and can work alone and fulfil all of the parts of a team by herself. But you dont have any offensive skills, right? And youre still a brand new Guardian who only squeaked into the university right before the signup period closed.

Damnit. Shes right. The only reason I got in was because dad had already prepared all the documentation needed and gotten everything ready in case I did contract when he took me to that Fracture before

Belle lets out a sigh and nods her head, looking down at the ground in the process.

Dont forget we need to find my sister as well, Michael suddenly says as he begins walking through the trees again, the two girls following after him a second later.

No one says anything for nearly an entire minute.

Then Belle suddenly whispers to Denise loudly enough that Michael is able to hear her through his hawks ears, By the way, why is our team full of nothing but girls and only one guy?

Michael almost stumbles at that.

Just too bad that this tournament wont count for leveling the skill.

Because then Id have leveled it quite a few times by now. Hopefully.

Probably not, Tar suddenly says, making me frown. Inherent skills, even if theyre purchase unlocked, are harder to level up, remember?

Oh. Right. Thats annoying.

Anyways, I mutter out loud, Tell me my current points.

[Your total points currently equal 2652 points.]

Preeetty good, if I do say so myself. Although the ranking tournaments change every year, so I dont really know how much the higher Class students have at this point. But Id at least like to think Im in the top hundred.

Theres a good chance you are, since the others dont likely have a mana regeneration boosting skill, Tar says, inflating my pride ever so slightly in the process. Until he adds, Although theyre also dying and having their mana reset at fifty percent of their capacity. Even if theyre losing a fifth of their points in doing so.

Yeah, but I doubt the older students at higher Classes are dying much if at all. Especially the Class IIIs. Meaning theyll likely be running out of mana eventually.

Hopefully.

How long do you plan to laze around here anyways? Tar asks, and I just yawn in response before answering him in my head.

After I regenerate back to about sixty percent of my mana, since thats likely about the amount Ill need for the remaining couple hours of the tournament.

Then I just shift around slightly to get a good view of the blood moon, which sends a very calming feeling through me just at the sight of it.

Very relaxing.