chapter 13: Best mana manipulator
The hall thrummed with excited students, each gawked nervously at the ranking board. The teachers hadn't arrived yet. Quinn's gaze returned to his shadow. Mana flared at his feets, his shadow twitched lightly trying to rise. Quinn forced himself, his fingers clenched tightly. His breathing tensed as heat scorched his throat. Quinn breathed shakily as he withdrew his mana. The rising shadow fell. He heaved in one shattered sigh. The hall was filled. His eyes raised as he saw a figure approaching. The hall had been grouped as different students mingled with their class. Quinn was avoided by all who knew his history. No one wanted to associate with a murderer. Quinn wasn't the only one without a clique. At the end of the hall was the blue haired girl. She was engrossed in a new book this time. Quinn squinted at the cover but he couldn't make out any words. He moved his gaze forward.
"Eccentric about your score?" A voice tore through his thoughts. Something stared within as he gazed at her blue eyes. Uracia smirked as she looked at him. Quinn wrinkled his nose. His eyes trailed behind her, her twin with her own clique. "So she discarded you again, huh?" Quinn mocked. She deflated at his words. Her twin chatted vibrantly with some girls while she sulked around. "You really are a third wheeler." Quinn laughed. Uracia's countenance lightened. "So what class do you think you will perform best in?" She changed the subject. The silhouette bobbed his ugly head, Quinn heard the ugly cackle. He turned to Uracia, clenched his fists tightly. "Get lost!" He retorted and moved away. Sweats streamed down his face as he walked off. Uracia turned seeing another familiar face. Evan Cinderhort. He stood, his attention on the daggers. She made her way to him.
"What will you be doing today?" She asked. Evan looked up at her, the air tensed around them as his lips sealed. "Not much of a talker huh?" She said dejected. She turned to face Quinn who had distanced himself. She walked off to the board as it slowly lit up. The teachers paraded in, their gaze at the students.
The board flickered on as the ranking appeared, three hundred and forty eight names and their position. At the bottom of the list was Evan Cinderhort. His grade displayed by his side. No talent was indicated. Uracia turned to him, a sad look on her face as she looked at him. "Is that why he is always silent?" She thought. At the number 345 was Quinn Stormblessed, with grade F attached to his name. No talent was also indicated. She squinted to find her own name. A triumphant squeal tore her lips at number three hundred was hers. Uracia nightingale with the F grade attached and her talent. She searched for her sister's name which was in 344 spot with her grade. Uma nightingale in F grade. She pictured her sister's sunken face. Pity flowed through her mind.
Quinn's gaze trailed to the top ten spot. Alas! at the top one was his arch-nemesis. Noelle Darkfrost with her grade and talent. Noelle's gaze however, remained on her book. Oblivious that they had started. Quinn snorted. How could she be the best when she barely paid attention. The head teacher moved to the front of the pavement. Her chocolate hair flailed behind her. She wore a sleeveless jumper with a cape. Black tattoos swirled underneath her arm. Quinn watched them. His own mark twitched underneath his clothes. "Today will be your first test. This will be a week long program." The head teacher announced. The hall stirred. Quinn inhaled. "We will start with the mana management class. Your test will be conducted in a sub space." The head teacher said. Immediately, a portal spurred open. They were all read into the portal one by one.
Quinn took a step forward, someone did behind him. Uracia smiled at him as she walked. Quinn groaned unwary, he clenched his fists in his uniform pocket. Quinn turned noticing someone. Evan Cinderhort walked too, lingered behind Uracia. As they reached the portal Quinn turned. Uracia's smile was the first thing that he saw. "I hope we get into the same team." She smirked. "I hope not!" Quinn barked and jumped in.
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The sun warmed his skin, the scent of methane filled his nostrils. His throat scorched at the burning scent. The red soil stretched far into the horizon. He wasn't the only one here. Over ten students were also there. As soon as he entered, everyone scampered backwards, not willing to interact with him. "Isn't that the murderer? I thought he died in the console." Someone whispered. Quinn shrugged and moved towards a secluded spot. "I heard he killed his family." Someone yelled. Quinn snapped up at the statement. His fists clenched. "He even tried to kill the interrogator." Another voice rose. Quinn squeezed his fist tighter. Sweats dropped down his chin. He looked around and watched as three teachers came in, one he didn't recognise. "Pay no attention to the surroundings, there are ten orbs scattered around." The first teacher spoke up. "You are to get to the orb and power it up." Quinn flinched, this wasn't what he was thinking. There were twenty students before him. Meaning that only ten students will advance victorious. The next teacher spoke up. "Use whatever trick you have to be the first to power the stone up." The teacher said.
His eyes scanned the students and licked at Quinn. "No killings allowed." He said sternly. He wanted no Virus in this plane. Quinn nodded and gazed at the horizon. His mind willed itself. "I won't kill." He said firmly. The silhouette stirred slightly, a light wind brushed past his ears and a whisper plagued his ear. "Yes you will."
***
The gun had sounded and unlike others, Quinn had moved away from the rest. As if others wanted to cross his path. Quinn steps steadied as he raced deeper. He could see a few people ahead. His eyesight sharper than before. Quinn moved towards them. He made sure to stay metres away from them, there were no shades to hide under. He slowly started jogging. Behind him was over half the students. Only few students were before him. He could see silhouettes in the distance. The field of green met his sharp sight. Twigs cracked to his hearing. he looked around and watched as the students splitted. He stopped. He turned back. The others were miles away from him. From the explosions rippling through the air, another fight had ensued. Quinn calmed himself, he moved the mana around his body,directing them at his feets. The warmth scalded his legs. Webs of yellow streamed on the forest floor.
As it did, his senses became more clearer. He closed his eyes. The sounds of twigs breaking. The stench of decaying matters. The heat reeling off the floor was all known to him. He drew the mana back in and gazed at his shadow. His sword slowly materialized at his right hand. Mana streamed down his feets as his shadow wiggled. Slowly black rose at his feet and slowly stalked away from him. Quinn watched the shadow as it slowly made way to the front. As the shadow attempted to move further, pain spiked up in his chest. Heat washed his entire body as he winced in pain. The shadow returned and the heat left. He gulped a ball of saliva, wiped sweats from his forehead. "I can't go further. At least it can scout." He thought. He closed his eyes again and let the shadow leave his feets. He winced as his mind tore apart. His vision doubled as he opened his eyes. The forest before him was gone. only a massive temple remained.
The shadow cocked it's head, watched the four students before him. The shadow immediately snapped back to Quinn. He inhaled harshly as the trees surrounded him again. He stared at his feets. A notification popped up.
[SHADOW SCOUT 20%]
[QUEST 1]
[defeat one bone spider]
[failure: de-rank]
Quinn shrieked, there was only little he knew about the bone spider. He had learned less of it when he was in the academy. He dashed forward, landing at the temple. Beside it was a route. The other route was much clearer. "Why aren't they taking the other route?" He asked himself. He hid behind a boulder, watching the four students. from their watches the letter E displayed proudly, it would be suicide to battle with them. He approached them,but stopped mid motion. "Fool! you are a murderer, why would they cooperate with you?" He scowled. He remained transfixed at the door, tremors streamed before him. So tiny the others didn't notice as they rained attacks at the door.
Webs of yellow streamed down the floor, flowing to the door. His eyes widen in shock as he saw it...
"No...No..." He muttered, sweats coursed down his face as the ground shook. The four students relieved, thinking it was a result of their attacks. Quinn scampered backwards, his sword gripped tightly. He took a stance as the oak door slammed open. The scent of burning flesh filled the air as a loud boom was heard.