4 The Beginning 4 (2/2)
*********************
”Hey Garen, wanna visit Jaderipple Lake with us this weekend?”
A few students gathered on the rooftop of one of the school buildings. They were hanging out and chatting near the railing, overlooking the school.
The morning sunlight was cool and pale, softly shining on their bodies without much warmth.
Garen was there as well, leaning against the railing. Kalidor and two youngsters he had just met were with him. Their names were Jake Reese and Fayne. There were also three other girls, Ai Fei and two of Fayne’s friends. The seven of them had just gotten to know each other this week.
”Jaderipple Lake? Where is that?” Garen asked Kalidor.
”It’s near the paper mill in the suburbs. We’ve only been there once. There were tons of swans at the lake, along with many other types of birds. And... you know…” With a sinister smirk on his face, Kalidor made an eye gesture at the girls who were merrily chatting behind them
”The point is, it’s a desolate wildland…” Jake added from the side. This boy looked quite mature with his short red hair and tanned skin. He looked like a candid fellow, but in truth, he had tricked and hurt a lot of girls’ feelings with his honest appearance.
”Easier to get things done…” Garen added, and the three of them laughed maliciously.
Kalidor winked at Fayne. ”It will be every man for himself, so don’t blame me... There will be more girls this time, but Fayne and the two girls who are friends with him are going as well.”
Garen shook his head. He had met Fayne’s friends some time ago. Fayne was from a wealthy family and the girls he brought were very pretty. However, last time they were together those girls all hung out solely among themselves, completely segregated from the impoverished students. They didn’t bother talking to them even after Fayne introduced the groups to each other.
”If it’s like the last time, then forget it.” Garen replied, ”I don’t have much spare money left anyway and don’t want the trouble, you guys can go by yourselves.” Garen had grown some muscle in the last few days, so he did not look sickly and skinny anymore. His body had become more muscular and manly.
”It’s fine. I can pay for your share, no problem.” Kalidor said as he slammed Garen’s shoulder. ”Everyone traveling together is more fun. What’s the point of sticking around by yourself? If we don’t hang out often, we’ll become distant. What’s going on, you don’t like the gang anymore?”
”You’re paying for me again? Last time was…” Garen was speechless.
”Forget about all that, so do we have a deal? We’ll meet at the Academy’s front gate at 9 A.M., you guys good with that?”
”Of course.”
”I’m fine with that.”
The others had all agreed, and Garen was forced into an accord by Kalidor. Even though he really didn’t want to go, he couldn’t resist in the face of Kalidor’s overwhelming enthusiasm. He was under the impression that if he didn’t go, Kalidor would break up their friendship.
After settling on the time, they asked the girls to come, but Fayne’s friends had things to do and declined the invitation.
Only Ai Fei stood on the rooftop, with her right hand holding down her mini skirt. The place she was standing on was very windy, making the hemline of her skirt flutter in the wind. Ai Fei held her skirt with an uneasy expression, afraid of a wardrobe malfunction. Even though she was wearing leggings, an upskirt still was one of a girl’s most feared embarrassments.
Hearing the invitation to Jaderipple Lake, Ai Fei looked to Garen first. Ever since the goat milk event, the two had been feeling like they had a lot in common.
”Garen, are you going too?” She asked.
”Well… Fayne promised that if I go, he’d let me see his family’s jewelry collection… You know, it’s my hobby now.”
Ai Fei nodded and slightly furrowed her brows. In the last few days, she had been paying some attention to Garen. She thought that this young man was different from the others. He was a lot more mature and prudent than the other boys, and his family was also financially similar to hers.
”Wouldn’t that leave your sister alone at home?”
”She’s going to practice at the archery club. Apparently, she’s about to join a competition. Her school performance might be lackluster but she sure is good at archery,” Garen explained. He had to agree this time because he knew that Fayne’s family had an antique jewelry that could not be purchased elsewhere. It was very ancient, similar to the teacher’s black and red pearl he had absorbed the energy from earlier.
In order to enhance his abilities, he could not decline this invitation. The last enhancement to strength allowed him to reach rank 14 in the White Cloud Dojo’s class. After researching ways to fill his Potential meter, Garen found that this world was not as simple as he thought...