Completely muted

Cross noticed some familiar faces around them. As he glanced around, his mouth stretched to both sides forming a short line.

He saw Rebecca and Naomi on the opposite line and Cai Lyn and some of his classmates on the opposite side.

He tried to say 'hi' to Cai Lyn who was currently busy exercising. She ignored him again as he expected. Though this time she glanced at him for a moment— a moment that didn't even last a second.

Her eyes stopped at Noir who was exercising in front of Cross. Once their eyes met, they both looked away at the same time.

Cross just forced a smile. These two hated each other. He decided not to bother them and focused on warming up as well by twisting his body sideways like the others.

Out of the blue, Noir whispered to him.

"You're in the same class as her?" She asked him.

He noticed she was sneakily snouting in Cai's direction.

"Yes", Cross answered honestly.

There was again a suspicious grin in Noir's mouth after hearing his reply.

"Hehe. Are you interested in her?" Cross noticed that Noir changed the tone of her questioning. It was obvious that she suspected something.

"Interested?" Maybe he was. After all, Cai was from the top clan. He was curious about her. But was it the same interest that was in Noir's mind right now? He wasn't sure of that.

She looked at him teasingly. But the next second, the expression on her face changed again.

"I don't want to disappoint you, but if I were you I'd stop myself from falling for her. You don't have a chance to be noticed by her, especially because of your si...situation."

"Situation?" Cross looked at Noir.

"Being a ma…manaless."

Ah, so that's what she meant. Cross thought.

Nonetheless, he wondered why Noir intentionally stuttered her words. But that was not important right now. It seems Noir misunderstood something.

He opened his mouth but was interrupted before he could say anything.

"Look at these fools."

They heard those words from behind. When Cross glanced, his eyes met a pair of glaring eyes.

"What are you looking at? Don't think I'm afraid of you because you know the head instructor", William Sanford suddenly spat those words at his face.

William along with his two cronies was standing behind them. No matter how influential Cross' backer was, the fact that he was a manaless person still scaled him very inferior to all of them here. They didn't even consider him as a potential rival in this race. He was just a nuisance student in the academy in the first place.

Before Cross could say something, William already directed his attention to Noir and Cai Lyn who were busy exercising.

Again, Cross failed to say anything. They even pushed them behind. Cross was completely muted.

After getting rid of Cross, William greeted the two girls. "Hehe. There you are, the troublemaker and the tryinghard. I hope you don't disappoint your clan in today's activity, hehe", William grinned at them. His two cronies also grinned as William did.

Noir Rin raised a brow upon hearing him.

"William, stop causing trouble."

Hahaha!

William guffawed upon hearing her words.

"How ironic for that word to come out from you, Noir."

Hahaha!

The others also laughed.

Cai Lyn didn't stop stretching. She didn't even spare a glance at William.

She just wanted to exercise in peace and didn't want others to disturb her. Noticing no reaction from her, William looked annoyed.

"Have you finally recovered from that first day where you got your ass whooped on the floor by the princess?" There was a teasing tone in the way William said those words.

Upon hearing that, Cai Lyn suddenly stopped stretching. Noir on the contrary looked surprised at William's words.

Cross wondered what William meant and why everyone's reaction was like that. He didn't want to gossip but their voices were loud enough for him to hear. Therefore, it wasn't his fault if he heard them. He remained silent and decided to listen further.

Just then, Cai Lyn finally stopped stretching. She sent a sharp glare at William.

"You'll suffer the same humiliation as me later on."

"Oohhh~~" one of William's cronies exclaimed. "Is it a challenge proposal?" He looked amused.

William sneered.

"Very well. Then let's have the loser do whatever the winner wants."

"Wha—!" Cai Lyn gawked— surprised that these idiots decided that on their own. "Wait I don't mean—"

"So getting cold feet?" William cut Cai Lyn's words and snorted at her, giving her no way out to back out.

Cai Lyn gritted her teeth. That's why she didn't want to talk with these people. In the first place, she didn't mean to challenge him in anything. Also, William was the type of person who didn't play fair.

Cai fell silent and glanced around. When her eyes found someone, an idea popped into her mind. She opened her mouth and said, "Since you're so adamant for a duel, why don't you challenge him first? Once you beat him up, I'll consider challenging you."

They saw Cai pointing behind William and his cronies. When they followed where she was pointing, they saw Cross standing there with a puzzled face.

Cai's finger was directly pointing at him!?

What? What the heck! He was just listening in silence there. An innocent bystander as you could say— so why did she point that finger straight at him?

"Very well, freak. Don't disappoint her", there was a gleam in William's eyes. This freak owed him a beating that time. This was the perfect time to seek that, William thought. Then he grinned inwardly.

"Wai—"

"Alright, time's up!" Garry clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.

Ehh! Cross could not get through a single word. Everyone was interrupting him before he could say anything.

Officer Sander came forward and announced the start of the race.

"Alright, are you all ready?" The voice of Officer Sander reverberated. "Or do you have some questions before we start?"

"Sir!" Suddenly, William stepped forward.

"What?" He looked straight at William. This youth was said to have a great amount of mana in him. He expected great results from him.

Before opening his mouth, William glanced at the person beside the officer. This f*cker acted like he was a big shot. William thought after sneaking a glance at Garry.

"Isn't this just a simple race?" William asked the officer.

"You think so? Well, you'll find out later."

William's mouth curved upward. As expected, this wasn't just a simple race, he was certain that the officer had prepared some obstacles to make this race more exciting.

He looked at Cross. "Now freak, prepare yourself." He had to beat him first. Well, beating him was not a problem. Defeating this freak takes no effort, honestly. He even doubted whether Cross would be able to finish climbing the hill. His chances of succeeding in climbing the top of the hill were very slim, especially since there were some surprises lying in wait.

"….."

Cross was at a loss for words. He didn't even agree to it.

Noir knitted her brows at Cai Lyn.

"How could you do that?" She asked her.

"He wants attention right? I'm just giving him what he's seeking", Cai replied nonchalantly. Noir narrowed her eyes. "You know he can't win."

What a manaless person could do against someone who was gifted with mana? Of course, Cai was considering that. However, what of it?

"That's not my problem now. Stop bothering me. In the first place, this academy is not for manaless, so it's his fault for coming here", after saying that, Cai returned to stretching.

"Wha—-" Noir was at a loss for words because she knew Cai had a point. "Tsk, what a heartless person", she muttered. She turned to face Cross. "Tell them you don't agree with it."

A bead of sweat trailed down his face. Cross let out a short sigh. "It's too late for that." Cross pointed in front.

They saw the officer raising his hand. "Do your best. Now start!"

The cadets dashed forward.