Chapter 9

It has been a month since I came to the academy. Over these days nothing really important had happened. apart from the relation between me and the Red dragon princess getting better. I suppose we are friends now? All I know is that she is almost glued to me most of the time and follow me around. Some time we have some small talks. I even developed a behavior of staring in to her eyes now and then. I know its weird of me but I can't help it. I love those eyes. She doesn't care about it much and when she notices it, she just smiles and turn away. She should be mad right? What's with her? I can't figure her out. She is so mysterious.

For now I don't have the luxury to think about it, Because in two days, this years selection for the "Star cup world tournament" will begin. Representatives of "Veninsula Blue moon academy" for this year will be selected from that tournament. First six places will represent the veninsula kingdom in the star cup world tournament as all the talents from the kingdom are gathered here.

Its interesting as the tournament will bring a lot of opportunities and through out the story it was one of the main events that sped up the protagonist's progress. For me it was like a world cup where the rivalry of the countries will be completely shown. So everyone will send their best. Only children below seventeen years were allowed to participate so they could balance the power gap. And the question is should I also participate?

If it was the normal circumstances I wont be participating, but my goal was to get stronger faster I shouldn't miss out any opportunities. But the question is can some one like me with half assed resolve towards the tournament can achieve something? I can see the passion in every men and womens eyes around me. I am not passionate about it like them. Can I really win against these people who dreams of going there and becoming the worlds number one?

I sat down while and closed my eyes trying to concentrate. But the freezing sensation from the stone bench pierced through my skin along with the evening cold wind. I tried to concentrate again and this time, I felt the mana around me absorbed it in to the core. I can feel it now, I will break in to the fourth circle before the tournament. There were only few of them in the academy. Sam, Livia and Alice were definitely one. Talking abut Alice, I didn't see her today, where is she? I kind of miss her now. Well, mostly her eyes..

"Why are you looking at the sky and sighing? you're really weird"

"..."

Speak of the devil and there she is.

"Pervert.."

Tch...I unintentionally stared at her eyes again.

"So, where were you today?"

I tried to change the subject somehow.

"Hm.. you better not know. It was some girl thing"

"Oh..."

"Why do you ask? did you miss me?"

She asked a little teasingly. But the reaction she got was me widening my eyes in shock.

"What?"

"You can act like that too?!!"

"..."

"Hey..."

This time it was me who called out to her.

"Hm..?"

She turned her gaze from the setting sun towards me.

"Why are you always following me around?"

"You really don't know?"

"I don't"

"Well, that's too disappointing"

"You ain't gonna tell, are you?"

"He..he..nope"

It was really wasteful for me to ask. I already guessed she isn't going to answer. Still a futile try.

"Do you hate it?"

"What?"

"Me following you around?"

That really surprised me. I never imagined that question from her lips.

"Even if said I did, will you leave me?"

"That... Just say you hate it or not"

She was fixated on that question.

I turned my gaze away from her and looked at the evening clouds. But there weren't any?

"No.."

I answered with a straight face like from those old movies.

"Pft..."

"He...he..where you trying to act cool?"

"..."

"What's wrong with you? you don't even let me have a single moment"

I said with annoyance.

She was holding her stomach and trying hard to suppress her laughter.

"Aren't a little too much carefree?"

"Why do you ask?"

"About the tournament, are you not participating?"

"No, since I am from a different country,I can't participate"

"How about returning to your home and participate?"

"That's not really necessary as my kingdom got no short on talents"

"I see.."

"You are staring at me again"

Ah... I did it again. I can hear her muttering that word again.

"Pervert..."

Pervert? how am I a pervert?