Felix slid into his seat, the wooden chair scraping lightly against the floor. His eyes immediately caught the silver-haired girl sitting beside the window. She hadn't spoken a word since yesterday, and today, nothing seemed to have changed. Her gaze was fixed outside, tracing the dance of the morning sunlight on the leaves, the way it glimmered against the dew. There was something about her that felt… unreachable, like a star just out of his grasp. Even without a single word, she carried an aura that made people pause, as if she had secrets the world wasn't ready to know.
For a moment, Felix's mind wandered, thinking about what could make someone so calm, so detached. Was it confidence? Or was it loneliness? He shook his head slightly, realizing he was already overthinking. He needed to focus.
Glancing to his right, Felix noticed the red-haired boy from yesterday. His scowl was sharper today, his eyes narrow and directed entirely at him. The boy's glare was heavy, almost tangible. Felix tilted his head in confusion, trying to recall if he had done something to provoke him. Nothing came to mind except his outburst yesterday. The boy must still be upset about the Aurora Beast Academy. But since he couldn't vent his anger on it, he chose a convenient target.
Which is him.
Felix drew a slow breath, reminding himself not to take it personally. After all, he was new here and it wasn't unusual for students to be hostile toward newcomers, especially ones like him. But even as he thought this, the tension in the air was unmistakable.
The classroom door opened, and their teacher walked in, her presence commanding attention without a word. Her eyes scanned the room, and then she began the lecture. Their lesson was a continuation of yesterday. Her voice cut clearly through the quiet classroom.
After the lesson, the teacher made an important announcement.
"Today, we have an important announcement. It's about an activity that will test your strength, courage, and skill. Each student must select one of the three major tasks. You're welcome to choose later. That will be your first semester's task."
Murmurs spread across the room. They were whispering about missions and tasks. The teacher's eyes then swept across the classroom with a sharper focus.
"Since this is your first activity, we allow you to team up with one another. But only two people in each team are allowed. You may choose your partners freely."
Felix looked around casually, expecting to find someone who might be as interested as he was. But everyone else was already talking in pairs, negotiating who would work with whom. Slowly, the reality settled in: he was alone.
His shoulders slumped, and for a moment he considered raising his hand to inform the teacher, but before he could, he felt a quiet, almost reluctant shift. The silver-haired girl beside him hadn't moved, hadn't been picked. Her eyes were still on the world outside the window, but now she seemed aware of the silence beside her.
The teacher's gaze fell on them. "You two, you can work together."
Felix froze. His head turned instinctively toward his seatmate. For the first time, she looked at him, her silver eyes meeting his dark ones. He was stunned. Her skin was so white almost like snow. The sunlight from the window glinted off her hair, making her look ethereal, almost otherworldly. For a fleeting second, Felix forgot how to breathe. She was… beautiful.
But as quickly as the moment struck, it vanished. Her expression was flat, almost cold, and she replied to the teacher with a tone that was blunt, almost dismissive.
"As long as he doesn't drag me down, I don't mind."
Felix blinked. His mind stumbled over her words, trying to process both the beauty and the icy edge in her voice. She didn't seem to be outright rejecting him, but the condition implied that she already doubted him.
A loud laugh interrupted his thoughts. The red-haired boy was leaning back in his chair, smirking with an air of cruel amusement. "Hah! You'd better give up, kid," he said, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Knowing your Dirt Muncher," the red-haired boy continued, leaning closer with a grin, "there's no way you'd be useful to your partner. You'd just be dead weight."
Felix swallowed hard. He shifted in his seat, trying to ignore the weight of the red-haired boy's gaze and the whispers spreading across the room. The silver-haired girl was already jotting down notes in her notebook, her hand moving with precise strokes. She didn't look at him again.
Felix's mind raced. How could he contribute to a task that required strength, courage, and skill?
But giving up wasn't an option. He wouldn't let himself be a deadweight, not if he could do something, even a little, to make this work. He looked at the silver-haired girl again, trying to read her expression. She didn't seem hostile, just practical. She didn't want to be slowed down. Fine. He could respect that.
"Okay," he said quietly, surprising himself with the firmness in his voice. "I'll do my best."
Her eyes flicked to him once more, assessing. Then, she gave a slight nod, almost imperceptible, before returning to her notes. That was her approval, or at least her tolerance. Felix took it as a small victory.
The teacher moved on, explaining the details of the tasks. Students would need to choose whether to hunt beasts, gather spiritual plants, or present rare minerals.
According to the teacher, their scores depend on their accomplishment, meaning… the rarer the materials they presented, the higher the scores they could get.
Felix listened intently, jotting down notes. He knew he couldn't match the others in raw power, but maybe there was another way. He glanced at King, who was curled up quietly on top of his desk, its tiny paws twitching as if sensing Felix's thoughts.
King was small enough to position himself wherever he wanted without distracting anyone.
"We've got this, little buddy," he whispered. King gave a small squeak, its eyes bright. It wasn't strong, but it had a peculiar skill.
The rest of the class was buzzing with energy, students pairing off, exchanging ideas, and discussing strategies.
The red-haired boy kept sneering in his direction, clearly enjoying Felix's discomfort. "Hope you don't slow her down too much," he called out, loud enough for the class to hear. "You'll regret it if you mess this up."
Actually, Mike and the others warned him yesterday not to get into her seatmate's bad side. They told him she had a peculiar side to her. There was one time that an annoying student pestered her, but the poor guy was beaten unconscious instead. After that, no one had ever tried to approach her.
Felix clenched his fists under the desk but didn't respond. Words weren't going to help; actions would. And he was already formulating a plan. Maybe he couldn't fight, but he could enhance the crop in ways others couldn't imagine.
When the teacher dismissed the class, the silver-haired girl packed her things with meticulous care. Felix followed suit, keeping a cautious distance. He wanted to speak to her, to ask about the task they would choose, but the words tangled in his throat. Instead, he followed behind in silence.
Outside, the campus was alive with the chatter of students moving toward the training grounds, the aroma of morning dew mingling with the scent of freshly turned soil.
The silver-haired girl glanced at him once, perhaps sensing his presence. Her expression remained unreadable, but there was a faint lift at the corner of her lips.
"Yes? Do you need something?"
She asked.
Felix swallowed, feeling a spark of determination ignite within him. He didn't know what the coming days would bring, but he knew one thing for certain: he wouldn't be a deadweight. Not this time.
He tightened his grip on King, feeling its tiny heartbeat against his palm. Together, they would face the challenge. It wouldn't be easy, but then again, nothing worth achieving ever was.
And as he faced her, Felix made a silent promise to himself: he would prove his worth, not through strength, but something else.
"Uhm, can we discuss the task? If it's fine with you, I wanted to make a suggestion."
She coldly said, "There's no need. I can do it alone." After saying that, she turned around and continued walking away.
Eh?
Felix looked dumbfounded.
"What did she mean by that?"