A strange encounter with a fellow student

While Adrian was shedding invisible tears for his depleting funds, he walked with Callan towards the training fields to take the test as they had been directed by the cashier to wait for one of the assessors there.

There were plenty of helpful signboards dangling down from the tall ceilings and labeling each area's designated purpose and arrows pointing to other locations, so the two of them had no issue navigating their way out.

Escaping the busyness of the guild buildings and the forever bustling crowds of people to stand under the clear sky was one of the best feelings in the world, Adrian thought as he inhaled deeply, allowing the cool air to rush into his grateful lungs.

He felt a lot more clear-headed now and less panicked.

The training fields were vast and not at all cluttered despite the guild being centered in the city, although whoever named them 'fields' must've thought there was particular humor to it, as from what Adrian could see, there wasn't a single speck of grass in sight.

It seemed to have all been uprooted and replaced with paved dirt and cold stone that looked extremely painful to fall onto. Each 'field' was simply an allocated, slightly uplifted platform of stone fenced in. Each one was, however, quite decent in size and some even contained practice dummies or aiming targets and most of them were full of adventurers busy either practicing or sparring with each other. The sounds of their rambunctious shouts and the thudding of bruising flesh and exhausted groans, really spoiled the atmosphere as well as the permanent odor of sweat that even the breeze couldn't blow away.

Adrian wrinkled his nose and suddenly felt his nerves evaporate. He just wanted to get this test over and done with already! The deeply rooted longing for the ocean that always tormented him suddenly became a lot stronger as he craved its relaxing salty smell and could almost feel the lull of the soft waves against his ankles again.

It had been just over a week since he'd last transformed his tail into a pair of human legs and although he'd sworn to his parents and Damien that he could last up to two months, it wasn't that comfortable to do so!

Still, he must stay strong! He clenched his fists, determination shining through his black-turned eyes, which Callan noticed almost immediately.

He couldn't help but pat Adrian's head and softly caress the long brown hair that flowed freely beneath his hand.

"You look excited." He commented but Adrian shook his head.

"I'm not. I just want to get this over and done with." He replied simply, but Callan found his attitude to be quite cute.

"What about you?" Adrian asked, the pair of little black eyes staring up at his.

Callan shrugged with a small smile, "Meh."

Adrian blinked up and wondered if he really was unfazed or just good at hiding it. But then again, Callan had this attractive aura of noble indifference as his gaze skimmed across the training field. Those dark grey eyes didn't seem as impressed or surprised as he was at the sight. In fact, ever since they'd the building, Callan hadn't looked amazed once, which Adrian thought was a bit weird.

After all, they were at the adventurer's guild and registering. They were many famous and powerful people prowling around yet Callan didn't seem to mind.

Back at the registration desk, he'd classed himself as a swordsman as well, but Adrian wasn't too shocked at that after all his physique was pretty incredible so it was only natural he'd had some sort of training.

Perhaps his background was really quite complex after all? But Adrian didn't pry as he stared up at him. It was only natural for people to have secrets so there was no need to overthink it.

"Don't mess up my hair." He swatted his hand away playfully and smoothed the mess Callan had made before the two of them walked over to where the receptionist had told them to go.

Several of the men sparring had their shirts off or were wearing rather revealing clothes. They were mainly swordsmen as most magicians generally didn't sweat that much during magic duels and their chiseled bodies glistened with sweat. Adrian felt his eyes wander at first in curiosity and then widen.

Suddenly the stench of sweat and the shouts were pushed out of his mind. Actually, it wasn't half bad out here! He thought to himself cheekily.

But his oggling hadn't gone unnoticed. Callan didn't know why but he suddenly felt an extreme annoyance bubble up inside of him even though Adrian wasn't really doing anything wrong. He almost had to clench his hands in order to prevent himself from cupping Adrian's face in his hands and holding him in his arms so that only he was reflected in the irisis' of those delicate eyes.

Again his possessive nature was triggered and again it was over Adrian. Still he persisted through his feelings as he'd been long used to doing as a crown prince.

Whatever he felt towards Adrian should be purely physical and nothing more so there was nothing wrong with his eyes wandering around, provided that in the end, they returned to look at him. Only him.

Ahh, it would better if they remained on him forever.

And the word's left his lips before he had chance to reel them back in, "Are those men really that good to look at? Surely my body's much better than theirs."

Adrian's black eyes snapped back to stare at him, and soon the air rippled with the sound of his light and airy laughter, which was very pleasant to hear. Immediately a few heads whipped around as they tried to pinpoint its source.

"Are you jealous of them?" Adrian's own innocence made him unaware of the turbulent emotions Callan was forcing down, before he gave him a warm and comforting smile that seemed to outshine even the bright sun that shone in the sky above fields of dirt and stone, "Don't worry! I'm sure your physiques just as good as theirs!"

But his words of supposed comfort fell on deaf ears and it was too bad that Callan had silently begun to stroll forwards, otherwise, he would've seen the first wave of fluster swim ever so slightly in the depths of grey eyes.

Not long after the two of them arrived at the test area where there was actually some grass growing around the central sparring ring, which was alot bigger than all the others. There were also benches seated some distance away from it, shaded under a large canopy. As it was quite a fair distance away from all the other fields and allowed the noises they radiated to be left behind to meld into the background.

And although there were some people already seated and awaiting the test, there was a hushed air of silence which had descended and made Adrian feel to awkward to talk to Callan either because of the mass of judging stares which were cast their way.

"Are you boys here for the C-grade test?" An older burly man approached them, dressed in the adventurer's guild staff uniform, although it seemed tailored to his personal taste as the long sleeves had been shortened to reveal his massive arms that had biceps of a similiar width of Adrian's thighs.

"Yes sir!" Adrian nodded politely, causing the man to chuckle.

"Which test will you be taking?" He asked them his gaze quickly appraising the two of them where they stood.

The shorter one with long brown hair had a good posture but didn't seem to have much combat experience. The other one who seemed slated in grey, had a cold air about him and while many of the testers would normally try and size up him and determine his strength on the spot, this guy didn't seem to care at all about that.

The man smiled but it didn't reach his eyes, "I'm looking forward to your results." He spoke to them both but his words were mainly directed at the grey haired boy who glanced back impassively.

Adrian and Callan had actually come at a rather fortunate time as trials for C-rank were only held twice a day, and they had arrived just in time for the final afternoon trial which would be commencing soon.

To wait it out they joined the other seven people at the benches. Some looked calm while others were clearly nervous although trying their best not to show it. Most of the people there were older than the two of them by quite alot and had a hardened edge to their gaze.

There was even someone from the Academy there, Adrian noted his eyes briefly glancing over the familiar uniform. The girl who wore it was from A-class as shown by the 6 glistening golden stars across the right side of her blouse. She also appeared to be a junior just like the two of them.

Seeing as they were fellow students, Adrian approached her with a friendly smile but then frowned. She must be extremely nervous as when he'd made eye contact with her, he could see how she'd gone as white as a sheet of paper and her body trembled as if the weight of his gaze had crushed her into nothingness.

"Are you okay?" He asked her out of pure concern because she looked like she was just about ready to pass out but the strange girl bit her lower lip and made a weird muffled sound like she was holding back a scream.