Washing up

I didn't bother reading the level up notification. I'd read it enough times to know what it would say. I dropped into the cold water of the stream. Healing myself quickly now that I had enough mana to do so. Most of the blood on my clothes came off easily since it was still wet.

I scrubbed at a couple of the bad spots for a few seconds while keeping an eye out for the others. Knowing Goliath he'd probably come after me himself. I walked out of the creek completely soaked less than a minute later. I could feel the water that coated my skin, and had soaked into my clothes. I repelled all the water away from me in a single burst of mana.

Instantly drying myself. Then I picked up my back pack, and fished the remaining three clips out of it. Shoving the empty two I still had back down in their place.

"Nix," I heard the distant call.

I headed toward the person calling my name. It sounded like it was Goliath. I sped up once I could see Goliath with my infrared. I rushed towards him quickly. Goliath looked surprised when I jumped out from between a few trees.

"Hey," I held my hands up as Goliath pointed his gun at me, "Just me."

"What the hell were you thinking Nix?" Goliath lowered his weapon slowly.

"I thought I'd be able to lose him in the trees," I lowered my hands, and picked up my gun slowly.

"Did you?" Goliath raised a brow at me.

"Yeah," I nodded, "I lost him. I think we should get back to the group where it's safer."

Goliath looked around quickly. Scanning the area with his gun raised.

"Quickly now," Goliath motioned for me to follow, "Don't fall behind."

We moved back towards the path quickly. The group looked tense as Goliath stepped back out onto the path. I stepped out next to him carefully.

"Looks like your student survived Goliath," Mr. Montgomery scoffed at us as I walked back over to Savannah.

"I teach my students to survive," Goliath didn't seem to like this other teacher.

"I teach mine how to excel," Mr. Montgomery had the look of someone who thought he was superior, "Which students do you think will make a name for themselves first?"

A cocky chuckle went up from the group behind Mr. Montgomery. I felt irritation go through me.

"Doesn't matter how big your name is if you're dead," I yelled.

"What did you say Nix?" Luke stepped out in front of the main group.

"I said it doesn't matter when you're dead," I was tired of hearing guys like him talk shit, "Who accomplished more on the battlefield? Ask anyone, and they'll never tell you it was that corpse over there."

"You think I'm stupid enough to get myself killed?" Luke yelled at me angrily.

"You're riled up this bad after just a little talk so yes," I watched him walk towards me, "Yes I think you're stupid enough to get yourself killed."

Luke drew his arm back to punch me only to have Goliath grab him before he could finish the punch.

"That's enough," Goliath pulled Luke away from me, "Save that hot blood for the enemy."

I could beat Luke in a fight. I genuinely wasn't afraid of Luke at all. Goliath, and Mr. Montgomery were the only ones that seemed to notice my complete lack of fear. It made Mr. Montgomery's brow furrow. Goliath on the other hand wasn't surprised.

Goliath approached me slowly, and grabbed my shoulder. Leaning down to whisper in my ear.

"You killed that cat didn't you?" He whispered quietly.

I didn't respond. I just looked at him out of the corner of my eye. I was much more focused on the threat in front of me. I didn't like this Mr. Montgomery. Usually when I didn't like someone there was a reason.

I didn't know the reason I didn't like Montgomery, but I would figure it out eventually. Goliath straightened as he seemed to accept my lack of an answer as an answer.

"We've been delayed too long already Goliath," Mr. Montgomery got his group moving.

"We better get moving if we don't want to sleep out in the elements tonight," Goliath took the lead of our club group.

I followed like a good little student. I wished I had enough alone time to take a look at how I'd changed when I leveled up. That big cat, and his crystal had given me a big boost. I was out of meal bars though, and I didn't know how long this one would last. The other one hadn't done much for me so I was worried about what I would eat next.

I fell to the back of the group, and turned so I was walking backwards as I surveyed for anything that might be following us. Goliath had been right about the smaller creatures avoiding such a large group. I guess I should be surprised that nothing attacked me while I was alone in the woods. I yawned as my eyes drooped half closed. In most situations I could handle myself, but two days without enough sleep had put me past the point of exhaustion.

That fight with the giant lion cat thing had woke me up, but now that it was over I was barely keeping my eyes open.

"Shit," I mumbled to myself as I kept walking backwards.

I tried to shake the exhaustion off, but shaking my head just made me slightly dizzy.

"Are you okay?" Savannah grabbed my shoulder from behind.

My senses went on high alert for a few seconds as I turned to face her.

"I'm fine," I looked at her, "I'm just tired. All the sleep I've been missing is catching up to me."

"I could try to give you a boost," Savannah smiled tensely.

She was trying to be reassuring. It just wasn't working well. I shook my head, and jogged up to the front with Goliath.

"How much further?" I looked up at the sky as it got darker.

"Just a another mile," Goliath looked down at me, "Why are you asking? You don't usually talk this much."

"I'm tired," I stared straight ahead.