The cafeteria was packed and noisy as usual, and it would’t have been even noisier if Imara and Simon weren’t busy bickering.
We had just gotten our lunch—rice and beef stew—and sat down at our usual table.
“Simon, I still can’t believe you did that, you thief!”
Imara grabbed his cheeks and playfully squeezed them, making his face look ridiculous.
Simon laughed.
“Princess, I am not a thief. I’m strategically gifted.”
Imara stared directly into his eyes.
“So… a thief?”
“A talented thief.”
Ogun chuckled.
“Sis, it was your loss. A great warrior never blames someone else for their defeat.”
Aleksandr nodded.
“Next time you’ll just have to keep an eye out for sticky hands.”
Imara sighed dramatically.
“I know, guys. But I was so close to making it three to three.”
Aleksandr raised an eyebrow.
“Imara, no way you’re still competing with Siana.”
Simon immediately chimed in.
“It’s a one-sided competition, actually.”
Imara rolled her eyes.
“One, it’s not one-sided. And two, we’ll keep competing until I take that number one spot.”
I looked at her curiously.
“Why do you want to be first so badly anyway?”
She gave me a genuinely confused look.
“Do I need a reason?”
That answer caused Ogun to burst out laughing.
“That’s my sister.”
At that moment, Siana and Fin walked past our table carrying their trays.
Imara immediately looked up.
What surprised me was that when Siana passed, she glanced at Imara and smirked.
Aleksandr leaned back in his chair.
“Hmm… it would seem this rivalry isn’t one-sided after all.”
Imara’s eyes widened.
“See! I told you all!”
I raised an eyebrow.
“It would seem the spell-casting class lit a spark in her.”
Aleksandr nodded in agreement.
Soon the conversation shifted.
Simon leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly.
“Actually, I heard something in the Trading Club.”
Imara looked at him.
“Hmm? What did you hear?”
“Some of the fifth-year students who went on field assignment returned early. Apparently several of them were injured.”
Aleksandr nodded.
“It’s true. But don’t worry, it wasn’t anything serious.”
I turned to him.
“Wasn’t Sue with them? Is she okay?”
Aleksandr let out a small sigh.
“Yeah, she’s fine. Just some minor injuries.”
Ogun frowned.
“They only went a little beyond the outer forest. Getting injured badly enough to return early doesn’t make sense. Did she say what happened?”
Aleksandr nodded.
“Apparently the monsters in the outer forest were far more aggressive than usual.”
Hmm.
That was strange.
Before anyone could say more, the lunch bell rang.
Everyone began gathering their things.
Soon we were making our way out of the cafeteria.
Ogun, Imara, and Simon walked ahead while talking.
Aleksandr slowed down until he was beside me.
After a moment, he cleared his throat.
“So… Qiang, you’re still coming to the club room today, right?”
I glanced at him.
“Yep. I said I’d help out.”
He smiled.
“Alright. Then let’s meet outside the dorm area after class.”
I nodded.
“Sounds good.”
A moment later, he and Ogun split off.
Simon turned around.
“Well guys, I’m off to class. See you later.”
We waved goodbye.
Then Imara and I headed off to change for Combat Class.
………………………………………………………………….
We were standing on the training field when Imara suddenly looked at Rowan.
“Rowan… did you get bigger?”
She poked his upper arm.
“You even look buff.”
Rowan’s face brightened.
“I did.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“It’s because of the Adventure Club. Fighting monsters, carrying supplies, dragging back monster corpses… it all adds up.”
I smiled.
She was right.
He looked taller too.
Before we could continue, Professor Voss entered the field.
He carried a bag over one shoulder and two stacks of cones in his hands.
With a loud thud, he dropped everything onto the ground before walking to the center.
“Everyone, gather around.”
The class quickly formed a circle around him.
“Today,” he announced, “we will be racing.”
Excited murmurs spread through the crowd.
“Here’s how it works.”
He pointed at the cones.
“You’ll be divided into teams of four. Each team member will stand at a designated point. At the end of the course there will be a flag. Your job is to retrieve it and bring it back the same way.”
Ah.
A relay race.
Professor Voss continued.
“You may only move once you’ve been tagged by your teammate or if you’re carrying the flag.”
Then he pointed toward two students.
“Dylan. Mia. Help me set up the course.”
While they worked, Rowan turned toward us.
“Well, we already have three people. We just need one more.”
Imara smiled.
“Don’t worry. I know exactly who to ask.”
She pointed toward a girl nearby.
She had dark skin and coily hair tied into a slick-backed ponytail.
An A-Rank badge rested on her gym uniform.
“Naila!”
The girl looked up and smiled before walking over.
“Hey, Mara.”
“Join our team?.” imara asked
“Sure. Never miss a chance to win.”
Imara introduced us.
By the time introductions were finished, Professor Voss had completed setting up the course.
“Everyone should have formed your teams by now! Take your positions!”
Our order was simple.
Imara first.
Me second.
Rowan third.
Naila last.
When everyone was ready, Professor Voss raised his hand.
“On your marks…”
The field fell silent.
“Get set…”
I leaned forward.
“Go!”
The first runners exploded forward.
Imara immediately took the lead, though two students stayed close behind her.
Soon I felt a hand tap my shoulder.
My turn.
I sprinted toward Rowan as fast as I could.
Unfortunately, speed wasn’t exactly my specialty.
One student managed to overtake me.
Still, I kept running.
Soon Rowan’s hand reached out.
Tap!
The moment our hands connected, Rowan shot forward.
Honestly, he’d improved so much since our first combat class.
His movements were smoother and far more controlled.
He quickly closed the gap between our team and first place.
Then he reached Naila.
The moment she received the tag, she practically flew.
I knew Imara said she was fast.
That had been an understatement.
Within seconds she overtook the student ahead of her.
A few moments later she grabbed the flag.
Without slowing down, she turned around and sprinted back.
She reached Rowan.
Tag.
Rowan reached me.
Tag.
I grabbed the flag and took off.
We were still in first place.
Then disaster struck.
The student behind me suddenly accelerated.
Wind magic.
No way.
He shot past me.
For a moment panic surged through me.
Then inspiration hit.
Without thinking, I cast Levitation.
The flag floated upward.
“Heads up, Imara!”
I threw it into the air.
Imara looked up.
A grin appeared on her face.
She caught it perfectly.
Then she sprinted.
A few seconds later—
Victory.
Our team crossed the finish line first.
Cheers erupted around us.
Professor Voss walked over.
“Well done.”
Then he turned toward the rest of the class.
“This exercise wasn’t simply about speed.”
The class quieted down.
“It was designed to test your strategy, teamwork, communication, and physical ability.”
He folded his arms.
“And I’m proud to say all of you did well.”
The class erupted into cheers.
For a brief moment, even Professor Voss smiled.
Then his expression immediately returned to normal.
“Alright.”
He pointed toward the exit.
“Class dismissed.”
We were standing on the training field when Imara suddenly looked at Rowan.
“Rowan… did you get bigger?”
She poked his upper arm.
“You even look buff.”
Rowan’s face brightened.
“I did.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“It’s because of the Adventure Club. Fighting monsters, carrying supplies, dragging back monster corpses… it all adds up.”
I smiled.
She was right.
He looked taller too.
Before we could continue, Professor Voss entered the field.
With a loud thud, he dropped everything onto the ground before walking to the center.
“Everyone, gather around.”
The class quickly formed a circle around him.
“Today,” he announced, “we will be racing.”
Excited murmurs spread through the crowd.
“Here’s how it works.”
He pointed at the cones.
“You’ll be divided into teams of four. Each team member will stand at a designated point. At the end of the course there will be a flag. Your job is to retrieve it and bring it back the same way.”
Ah.
A relay race.
Professor Voss continued.
“You may only move once you’ve been tagged by your teammate or if you’re carrying the flag.”
Then he pointed toward two students.
“Dylan. Mia. Help me set up the course.”
While they worked, Rowan turned toward us.
“Well, we already have three people. We just need one more.”
Imara smiled.
“Don’t worry. I know exactly who to ask.”
She pointed toward a girl nearby.
She had dark skin and coily hair tied into a slick-backed ponytail.
An A-Rank badge rested on her gym uniform.
“Naila!”
The girl looked up and smiled before walking over.
“Hey, Mara.”
“Join our team?.” imara asked
“Sure. Never miss a chance to win.”
Imara introduced us.
By the time introductions were finished, Professor Voss had completed setting up the course.
“Everyone should have formed your teams by now! Take your positions!”
Our order was simple.
Imara first.
Me second.
Rowan third.
Naila last.
When everyone was ready, Professor Voss raised his hand.
“On your marks…”
The field fell silent.
“Get set…”
I leaned forward.
“Go!”
The first runners exploded forward.
Imara immediately took the lead, though two students stayed close behind her.
Soon I felt a hand tap my shoulder.
My turn.
I sprinted toward Rowan as fast as I could.
Unfortunately, speed wasn’t exactly my specialty.
One student managed to overtake me.
Still, I kept running.
Soon Rowan’s hand reached out.
Tap!
The moment our hands connected, Rowan shot forward.
Honestly, he’d improved so much since our first combat class.
His movements were smoother and far more controlled.
He quickly closed the gap between our team and first place.
Then he reached Naila.
The moment she received the tag, she practically flew.
I knew Imara said she was fast.
That had been an understatement.
Within seconds she overtook the student ahead of her.
A few moments later she grabbed the flag.
Without slowing down, she turned around and sprinted back.
She reached Rowan.
Tag.
Rowan reached me.
Tag.
I grabbed the flag and took off.
We were still in first place.
Then disaster struck.
The student behind me suddenly accelerated.
Wind magic.
No way.
He shot past me.
For a moment panic surged through me.
Then inspiration hit.
Without thinking, I cast Levitation.
The flag floated upward.
“Heads up, Imara!”
I threw it into the air.
Imara looked up.
A grin appeared on her face.
She caught it perfectly.
Then she sprinted.
A few seconds later—
Victory.
Our team crossed the finish line first.
Cheers erupted around us.
Professor Voss walked over.
“Well done.”
Then he turned toward the rest of the class.
“This exercise wasn’t simply about speed.”
The class quieted down.
“It was designed to test your strategy, teamwork, communication, and physical ability.”
He folded his arms.
“And I’m proud to say all of you did well.”
The class erupted into cheers.
For a brief moment, even Professor Voss smiled.
Then his expression immediately returned to normal.
“Alright.”
He pointed toward the exit.
“Class dismissed.”