Followed

The focused punch landed square on the nose of Randolf. His disgusting boasting was silenced in a single hit. But it wasn't over, the squeal of the white tailed fox was enough to terrify the two lackeys in to running away. It had been attacked by an unseen enemy.

"See, your little pawns ran away as soon as they learned you didn't have power. So tell me again, what spirit beasts did you kill on your way here?" Clark knew he was doing someone justice. This disgusting rich boy had killed innocent spirit beasts with the dream to attend the same academy as him.

"I didn-" Clark didn't allow Rudolf to say another word. He punched again with a solid crack. Rudolf's jaw was surly broken and a few teeth fell from his mouth as he fell backwards unconscious.

The squealing from the white tailed fox quickly became silent as well. Devi had only bitten it four times before it had become too terrified to remain conscious. "That's what happens when people don't train. They use all their money and power to get a pathetic result." Clark felt nothing for disdain.

"Let's break that spatial ring of yours. I would like to see what's inside." Clark knew that breaking a spacial identification ring might not give him the treasure inside but even a few gold coins from a rich boy was enough to help his future. Clara hadn't given him any money.

Another crack rang out as Clark punched the ring causing it to bend. The magic keeping it together was nothing special since it cracked right away. "Even your ring is cheap. I bet your family was all talk and no action." Clark felt that he had discovered the true face of the so-called rich.

"Looks like fifteen gold, not bad. I could have lived off of this with my parents for some time. They used to bring in twenty silver so about two gold a day. That paid all the bills and then fed us. It would look better if it was in silvers and coppers though. But it's not practical to carry around a hundred copper over ten silver or ten silver over one gold." Clark mumbled to himself as he noticed the random herbs that also came out of the spacial ring.

"He was preparing to increase that white tailed fox's strength again. This is cloud grass. A good find." Clark walked away from the unconscious tamer and beast. He would let nature take its course. Those following would surely not leave the cocky brat to survive. It would also clear Clark of any wrongdoing. Not to mention, the two pawns had rushed off alone in to the forest.

They wouldn't be making it either.

The sounds of beasts seemed to be here and there as more people had rushed in to the forest leading up to the front gate of the Nova academy. Clark was careful to take a look at the sky and find the path of the sun. He was certain that a few hours had passed even though it only seemed like a short time. But the sounds of cracking twigs soon made him stop.

"Devi, check it out. Let's see what it is." Devi returned to his invisible form and went off. Soon Clark felt that he was safe. It was Devi sending the feeling to him.

As Clark carefully moved toad the sound. He found the same girl as earlier. "How'd you make it ahead like this?" His voice was calm. He didn't show anything.

"Ah!...uhm I…I…I'm lost." This could have been music to Clark's ears. Unfortunately, he sensed that something was not right. There was a feeling of foreboding.

"Above you!" Clark wasn't sure why his body had moved. It was not natural. He had been thinking about getting rid of this girl who might be able to sense or feel Devi. Yet, he was not punching out at the needle legged spider about to fall on her head.

The sickening crack that filled the air around them was followed by the scent of crushed spider guts. "You smashed it with your fist! Your fist!" The girl was stunned. She saw something that no one their age should be able to do. Someone much stronger than they appeared.

"It's nothing. Tell me though, why did you glow sting jellyfish not react?" Clark still felt off even though the sense of foreboding had passed. Even Devi was relaxed.

"Lit can't fight! She is for healing only! Bu-but…thank you for your help." The slight shake in the girl's voice along with the reactions showed Clark that he had seen false truths earlier. He had allowed his mind to run in circles creating a villain that was not there.

"Just stay away from beasts and other tamers. You will be fine. But I suggest you start jogging. The trip up the hill will take a little longer." Clark started his jog only to find the girl following him. "You don't need to come with me. Go your own way."

"You know what way to go though. And what if there are more spiders? I will heal you if you need it."

"Don't need it. Just stay back. I am watching you." Clark was not humoring her. Just because he was wrong originally did not mean he trusted her. She was foreign and could become a monster at any moment.

Using the system to check his surroundings, Clark was able to avoid bests easily. The needle legged spiders could claim the lives of the others within the exam. They didn't have to trouble him.

Along with this, there were less and less sounds as the sun began to set. The night was coming out and that meant stealth would reign supreme. " I wanted to get there before dark. We'll be going all night to get there. No stopping." The girl thought that Clark was speaking to her, but in fact, it was to Devi.

With the darkness, came the chill. Surprisingly, Clark felt nothing. He was comfortable. It was almost like his body had awaited this sort of environment all day. Even the connection with Devi became stronger.

The theory that ghosts liked to come out at night made sense now. They could exist in a better temperature and places to hide during the night. There was also the fact that Devi had started to absorb the energy from the night. He could feel the spiritual energy of the forest mixed with the fear of many participants lost in the dark. All of it came together to feed him slightly.

"Stop following me. You are making noise and will attract beasts." Clark had enough with his tag along. Now was not the time for this.

"Maria. My name is Maria and I will stay with you. I will heal you if anything happens." The jellyfish floated above Maria waiting for the order.

"For someone about to die earlier you are stubborn." the annoyed expression that Clark wore was hidden by the night. But hearing that Clark wasn't pushing her away again made Maria feel that she had won a victory over him.

"What are those lights ahead? Is that the entrance?" Clark grabbed Maria's arm and stopped her suddenly. She was marveling at his unexpected strength yet again before she saw what was actually ahead of them.