Mennn, a week had gone faster than Jayden even noticed.
He had managed to replace the bunk with a California King bed, long enough for him and his roommates to rest comfortably.
Even the usual heat of the room was finally tamed by an AC unit, and they even got Draco a small couch where he slept during the night when Ryan and Tyler weren't treating him like a pet.
But the main deal was that Draco was absorbing mana from the air, allowing him to cultivate consistently even when Jayden was away.
Talking about cultivation, Jayden also bought a bigger refrigerator where he kept wind crystals. After one week, they became frozen and well-compressed, now considered water crystals.
They had an exceptional crystal collection consisting of water, wind, earth and flame crystals, which each of them needed in cultivation.
The earth crystals were stored in a treasure box, while flame crystals were also wind crystals but heated in the midday sun for a week also.
Those were stored in a cool, and dry container.
Exposing the crystals to sunlight was as easy as placing them by the window, although not much sunlight would reach them. However, they couldn't risk other students raising suspicion.
Jayden attended more classes.
Combat classes where his team swapped badges with Troy's team. He could still feel the anger in them, in fact, it had become hatred, but there was one new feeling he picked up from them. Fear.
Seems there're not gonna be troubling him anytime soon, but they surely weren't gonna let go so easily.
Not to forget his favourite classes. 'Beast Ecology.' Yeah. Only someone who hasn't felt the terror of the farm would pay deaf ears in Mr Williams' classes
Beast civilisation classes; it was all just history, laws, rights, governance—just one boring stuff or the other.
Also, he would walk Ryan and Tyler to the academy's 'Cultivation Check Ward' every Friday where a Mana Physician would check the flow of mana in their bodies to know if they are taking in mana in the proportion their body could handle at a time and also give them a prescribed amount of crystals they should take the following week.
Jayden didn't need support since he was a third-generation tamer, immune to mana poisoning, even at that, he wasn't going to just tell them he was bonded to a dragon. But he kept a daily goal of taking a hundred crystals—fifty wind and fifty flame.
And then the most important piece of Jayden's days—Zoe.
She hadn't looked at him nor approached him since he missed the date they scheduled to talk, it could be she felt her ego would be hurt stalking a guy—at least that was what Jayden could think of.
But on the other hand, he was finding it fucken hard to approach her and even offer an apology, certainly because he hadn't brought himself to believe the once lonesome book addict was falling for a girl, not any girl, a special one for whom his heart beat.
But was he ready to accept that?
What if she doesn't feel the same?
Each time Ryan or Tyler brought her up, he would try his best to shun them but with their intensity, he always ended up being the one angry.
He was thinking; if only fate could find a way for them to bump into each other today since it was a general class for beast ecology practicals
All thirty-six students of year one were standing before the gates of the school farm, each paired in a group of three according to their rooms.
Jayden stood with his roommates at one end of the crowd. At this moment, his eyes were glued to Zoe, who stood at the far end.
"Bro, you're gonna talk to this girl, or I should do it for you?" Ryan grinned, frowning at Jayden.
"Huu?" Jayden jolted from his imagination. "You will do no such thing, Ryan." He grinned his teeth.
"Whoa... I'm sorry, just try to act more manly. I guess she'll like that." Ryan waved both hands at him.
Jayden wanted to protest, but he couldn't find the words; it appeared his roommates already knew how he felt about her, even when he wasn't sure for himself.
There was no extent to which he could shun them, they already knew the truth he was finding difficult to accept
Mr Williams cleared his throat in front of the crowd of students, drawing attention to himself while straightening his posture, although that was impossible because of his antelope legs.
"It's finally the day I've been telling you all about" the Williams raised his voice.
"Yeah, what's the big deal, go in there and pick a couple of stuff. Doesn't sound hard to me!" one of the students amongst the crowd bragged.
Jayden shook his head and laughed. 'Little do you know my dear.'
Even Draco giggled in pity for that person.
Mr Williams continued his orientation,
"Each team is tasked to deliver back to me a vampire bat before midnight,
Do not go beyond zone one"
Mr Williams laid much emphasis on the last sentence.
"Whatever beasts you find in zone one are beasts of which I've taught you their physiology and behaviours, if you go beyond zone one—"
He paused for a brief moment, "even my antelope feet may not be fast enough to save you.
Once your team has achieved the goal, do yourselves a good and retreat."
One of the students stepped forward, sweat dripping from his chin, and his body was visibly shaking. "Excuse me, sir, is this practical compulsory?"
Draco laughed, "Seems that guy knows what he's up for."
Mr Williams raised his voice to lay more emphasis, "This practical takes five points from your first test, so if those five points aren't important to you, you're free to walk away."
Jayden hissed. He was already five points down due to the incident with Troy's group in front of the beast ecology hall, so these five points weren't gonna slip past him.
Not to talk more of the Troy team who got a negative ten points, he could see them grinning at him and their veins popping in their temple.
"Alright students, pick an equipment you think you'll need and head into the farm"
There were blades, torchlights, blowguns, ropes and spears laid in front of the students.
The students began doing as Mr Williams had instructed.
Jayden personally timed when Zoe's team went to pick up their equipment and led his team forward at the same time.
He stood right next to Zoe, side-glancing at her while picking up a torchlight.
He had already informed his teammates on what exact equipment they should pick, and they obeyed since they'd begun believing in Jayden.
Jayden looked at Zoe, rehearsing his words twice before he spoke, "Mind if we team up?"
Zoe fixed her gaze on the sharp tip of the spear she picked up, "I see you weaklings need someone to protect you. I don't mind at all."