Chapter 123: Track and Field.

[Status]

[Name: Zoey]

[Sex: Female]

[Body: 9.5]

[Mental: 2.9]

[Magic: 10.5]

[Skills: 13]

[Zoey's Victorious Boxing Lv4]

[Focus Lv11]

[Teaching Lv23]

[Abnormal Conditions Lv23]

[Endurance Lv32]

[Fighting Aura Lv7]

[Gaming Lv18]

[Mahna Manipulation Lv34]

[Combo Magji Maxed]

[Twisting Force Lv26]

[Mahna Gathering Bomb Lv7]

[Overdraft Maxed]

[Dash Lv1]

Zoey took a deep breath as she crouched at the starting line. Her feet were properly placed on the starting block to help give the runners a better start by providing a stable platform to push off from. She ignored the incredibly loud cheering from her mother in the stands. If it was a fight, she would never cheer her on, but with running, she was the most supportive mother in the world, apparently.

"On your marks!" The referee shouted.

Zoey took a quick glance to her left and right. She felt a little bad that she was about to dust these innocent girls, but Zoey cared more about Zoey's future than their feelings and future. This was nationals! This was the stepping stone for every athlete that made it this far. If they qualified here, it was the beginning of their future as top-quality track and field athletes. However, if they failed at the starting line... It could only be said that they didn't have what it took to become someone in this field.

"Set!" All the sprinters got into the set position, ready to blast off.

If they were lucky, they could still be scouted by colleges that Zoey turns down. As long as they show enough skill in this race. To be honest, Zoey was rather surprised she made it this far in track. Her goal since the beginning was just to make friends and get her mom off her back about being anti-social. Not that Zoey was anti-social by choice, but did her mother know that? Of course not.

Zoey just ran. With the Box, Zoey was confident in competing against current, future, and past Olympic sprinters as she was right now. But did this mean that she went all out in every race? No, that would be crazy. To make herself seem more normal to people around her, in every race, she would always come out merely inches ahead of second place. Sure, she hadn't lost a race since that first race when she was trying out for track but still. Not even Callie or Katlyn suspects anything about her, and they have been doing track since they were little kids. So, she kept doing that over and over again until she made it here, nationals.

The place where professional athletes are born and killed. Weirdly enough, it wasn't until she made it here that she got the skill, Dash. All that running she's been doing before didn't matter until now? Zoey still didn't understand the Box even after spending almost an entire year with the damn thing. Does she have to gain recognition for the skill for it to count as a skill? But what about Focus? Fighting Aura used to be Terrifying Aura, but she did get that skill when she trained with Alexander and Lindsay that one time. So, they could have acknowledged that she was terrifying during that training, and that gave her the skill. Gaming was gained with her brother. Teaching was gained with her brother. Endurance was with Alexander and Lindsay. Focus was the only skill given to her without having it recognized as a skill by anyone else. Her life was in mortal danger, and she got it.

This led Zoey to believe that skills could be gained through life-or-death encounters or having it recognized as a skill by others. She had a lot to test after this track meet. Although at the same time, she was secretly worried. Zoey was already strong as fuck going down the path she was on right now. Did she really need to have more power by stacking more skills?

The starting gun fired, and all the runners took off, including Zoey. Zoey kept a steady but impressive speed as she kept pace with the second-fastest runner in their group. The girl kept her eyes ahead while Zoey kept her focus on the girl's speed. She had to properly time when she had to pass her. Otherwise, Zoey would get second place! Not to mention this wasn't the only event she chose to do today. Athletes could compete in three events total but rarely did anyone ever do that. Zoey chose the 100m, the 200m, and the 400m because she wanted to make sure that she was noticed without any doubt. She was going to get a full-ride sports scholarship for track, for fuck's sake. Zoey was not going to turn out like her mother.

"ZOEY!!! That's my baby girl!" Alicia screamed as Zoey just barely made first place.

Zoey covered her face in her hand with a faint blush. She couldn't even enjoy the cheers of support because of her mom. Even though Zoey didn't believe in God, she still prayed to him. 'Please do not let her do that for the other two events. I'll even donate to a church if you do.'

Churches were not on the list of organizations that were supported by her charity donations. She wasn't religious, so it didn't make sense to her to donate to them. It was better to donate to groups that directly helped people. Like food pantries, orphanages, homeless shelters, youth programs, disaster relief, and stuff like that.

And just as Zoey thought, God was a fucking phony. She went on to get first place in the 200m and 400m sprint just to hear her mother somehow screaming over the already large crowd. It was already larger than the usual crowd for track meets, and Zoey had a suspicion that she played a big part in that.

"Devil!"

"Devil!"

"Devil!"

Zoey has reached peak embarrassment. After finishing up her events, she was met by both Katlyn and Callie, who had also finished their events. Like the normal humans they were, they only competed in one event. Even with her social awkwardness, Zoey could tell that the two did great since they were both smiling when they came up to her. Unless they were smiling for her. Which could be a possibility...

"Yes! I just got a scholarship for Blue Ridge University!" Callie excitedly bounced.

"Golden Gate came for me." Katlyn had a small smile on her face.

"N-" Zoey's turn was interrupted as some man in glasses appeared behind her.

"Zoey Winters, right? You gave a very impressive performance out there on the field." He smiled. "I'm Coach Matthew, and I'm here on behalf of Starlight University."

Starlight University was among one of the top ten universities in the country. Yes, Zoey did do some research about it. She didn't know how strong their track and field team was, but Zoey didn't really care. Was this finally her opportunity!? A debtless future and a free college experience!?

"I'd like to invite you to come out to the campus and meet our team. If everything proves satisfactory during the visit, Starlight University is willing to provide a full-ride scholarship for you. We will cover the cost of tuition, room, and board, and other expenses related to attending college." Coach Matthew handed her a business card with his personal cell. "Please phone me at your earliest convenience. We look forward to your response." He gave a polite bow before walking away in his business suit.

Zoey's excitement was overshadowed by Callie's excited squeal. Callie picked her up and began screaming joy for her. Zoey decided to just smile at the situation since Callie was showing more than enough excitement for the both of them. Zoey didn't know that someone else could be happier for her than she was for herself.

"Alright, put her down before you kill her from joy. She still has a bunch of others waiting to offer her places at their college too." Katlyn placed her hand on Callie's back.

Callie released Zoey and put her back on the ground. Zoey adjusted herself to look a bit better for the people about to talk to her just as her mother, father, and brother came. James would've probably come as well if he wasn't going through physical therapy in the hospital. It's been months since the injury, and he's now able to get around in a wheelchair.

Zoey went about politely giving vague answers as she accepted their business cards. She struggled with her mother, trying to desperately take over the conversation for her. Alicia just heard the flattering words and thought that she didn't have to pay a dime for Zoey's college. Even though they were technically rich, not having to spend money when most did was always a good feeling. Luckily, Zoey's dad stepped in and understood that Zoey didn't want to give out any promises. Bruce took over the talks, and Zoey happily escaped to go celebrate with Callie and Katlyn. They were on their way to becoming college babes and functional adults who had to contribute to society or die trying.

Sometime later, after the celebration with her friends and then family, Zoey heard something knocking at her window. Although she wasn't exhausted with Endurance at level 32, it had been a long day that drained at her social reserves. Her social battery was at 5% or lower right now, and she had little energy to talk to anyone.

As she opened the window with a yawn in her bare essentials, she was greeted by a big glowing bug. The bug held something from its feet before transforming into a small glowing person. "A fairy?" Zoey guessed.

"Fairie!" It corrected. Zoey couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl. "And I have a letter for you on behalf of The Council!" It held out its hand and impatiently gestured for Zoey to hand something over."

Zoey hesitantly tapped its hand with her index finger, and when she did, she felt a small amount of mahna in her body sucked away by the fairy. The fairy had a perverted look on its face as it took in her mahna before licking its lips and staring at her. Zoey felt even more uncomfortable. Was this sexual harassment or just another magji world custom she had no idea about?

"You taste delicious..." It spoke to her in that high-pitched voice. "If you ever need to send a message to someone in the magji world let me know." It flew at her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before quickly flying out. "Tap that mark with your magji when you need me!"

Zoey could've hurt or killed the fairy easily, but she was 98% sure that it was just another part of the magji world no one bothered to tell her about. She grabbed the letter, closed her window, got back to her bed, and started reading the letter.

"The Council declares that Zoey Benjamin Winters is now officially unsuspended as a magjistar. You can continue to work as a magjistar for the Organization of Magjistars. However, if another instance of you nearly revealing the existence of magji happens again, your magji gates will be sealed regardless of your connection to Victor Khan or talent. Tread cautiously, Zoey Winters." Love, The Council.

"Love my ass, you fart-sniffing motherfuckers. Just wait till I get strong enough to kick all your asses. We'll see who's threatening who then." Inner Zoey cursed as she almost ripped the paper up and tore it to pieces.

'Don't fucking do that! All that shit is going to get on my bed, and who's going to have to clean it up? Us, dumbass!'