98 : The First Year III pt. 44 (1/2)

The light blue bus came to a stop as the driver moved their hands to open the door. The students of Demeter finally arrived at their destination, it only took them one day. The bus ride itself was slow and they had to rest for the night. The next morning they went off at the same speed as before but arrived in Columbus, Ohio in six hours.

The students filed off the bus as they grabbed their luggage. Nick brought a suitcase with him that was overhead. He went to grab it and noticed Alyson's bag tangled up with his.

Light blue in color with pink flowers embedded on it. As he moved his hands he grabbed her bag as well as his suitcase. Alyson sat in front of him next to Freya.

Nick held her bag out towards her as she was getting up from her seat. A look of surprise was on her face as she did not know what to do. Questions emerged in her head, wondering why Nick had her bag.

Whatever, she would not dwell on it. He might have seen it and grabbed it for her, just to be nice.

”Thanks.”

Alyson spoke softly as she grabbed the bag from Nick's hand.

Inside Alyson was jumping with joy, this could be a moment to get closer to Nick. When she thought about it, she got nervous. The words she wanted to say did not come out.

Normally she was not the shy type, but there was something about Nick that caused her to react in such a fashion.

Nick only gave her a smile before he walked off with his suitcase. Outside of the light blue bus were students pouring inside the stadium.

It was a stadium made for this event, larger than those football stadiums. It was at least three times the size. Connected to the building on the right was an extremely large hotel. There were more than thirty floors to the building and a courtyard.

Nick knew that was where everyone was going to stay. Each room had four beds, so Nick would have three roommates.

”What, feeling nervous kid?”

A voice asked as a person stood by Nick's side.

Nick did not even need to look to his side to know who was talking to him. Only one person in the academy called him kid, and that was Darren.

Darren stood tall as he looked down at Nick with his green medium length hair. His eyes were hidden behind the sunglasses he was wearing.

”No, are you? Thought I felt you shaking next to me just a moment ago.”

Nick replied as he continued to look ahead of him.

There were students from the other academies filing in as well. He watched them, slightly checking out the competition.

”Pft, you wish i'd be nervous.”

Darren said but paused for a second. He saw the way Nick was looking at the students, and he could tell what Nick was thinking.

”What do you think? Anyone catch your eye?”

Nick shrugged his shoulders as he heard Darren's question. There was no one really interesting out of the students he saw so far. No one had something to make them stand out.

Seeing Nick's reaction caused Darren to laugh a bit.

”I see, but don't feel too confident. Every year there are always monsters that emerge from this tournament, and you've yet to meet one.”

Darren gave Nick a little advice, hoping he'd be a bit cautious. Nick could be confident in his own ability, but if he was too confident it would hurt his growth once he experienced a loss.

The world was much larger than Demeter academy, and the students from other schools had just as much if not more experience than them.

”I think i'll be fine.”

What Darren did not know was that nick already knew a monster. Someone in a league of their own. Calling her a monster would be too kind, Nick knew she was a demoness.

Darren patted Nick on the shoulder and walked off without saying anything else. He wished to stick around, but he saw something approaching quickly.

Her long turquoise hair was unmistakable and he could feel her coming from a few meters away. Darren would rather avoid having her cling to his side all day long.

Nick laughed to himself as he watched Darren's speedy getaway. A few seconds later a young lady appeared in front of Nick. She was beautiful, and her green eyes showed her innocence.

”Where'd Darren go?”

She asked in a polite tone.

Nick did not think about it as he pointed off into the distance. It was the same direction Darren fled in.

Nick did not feel 'sorry' about it, he just wanted to cause a little panic for Darren. Afterall, Darren did call him a kid when he was barely older than Nick.

The girl's eyes brightened up as she dashed off in the direction Nick pointed in.

”Who was that and how do you know her?”

Matthew questioned Nick as he walked up behind him. Next to him was Freya and Katherine, both with luggage in their hands.

Nick had a feeling that Matthew thought she was a cutie and wanted to chat her up. He could already imagine how Matthew would be rejected, which caused him to laugh.

”What? Something funny?”

Matthew asked as he was curious why Nick laughed to himself.

Nick waved his hands saying it was nothing.

”No, it's nothing just thought of something. I believe her name is Emilia if I remember correctly. She's taken though.”