Part 1: The day of arrival and end of the night:
"Hey, senior where is Lily". Nanase asked. Both our classes had to combine since the other classes had enough students already.
"I don't know? But why did you ask?"
"Just wanted to know." She said. "Though I wanted to convey my gratitude to you! You for letting us stay with your class." Nanase said while looking at the summer.
"No problem. You guys are just too young to stay outside by yourselves."
"Sure." And while Nanase looked at the sky again she said; "Hey Rial do you believe in the topic 'God'." Nanase's question seemed to imply a topic of deep reasoning.
"I really can't say." For me whether God does exist or not, the thing that kept me going was his guild. Maybe for the doubt of the benefit, I can say God does exist. "Yeah I do believe." I said.
"Huh! never would have thought." Nanase was struggling with her next question to ask but eventually came to one. "Hey can I ask for the reason?"
"U-uh, you know h-how the world is in the perfect position to support life right." I said.
"Yeah so."
"Most planets didn't get the same treaty, but somehow our planet did. We get the perfect amount of everything which makes life possible for us." I explained.
"I guess you are really knowledgeable, and intuitive for your age." Said Nanase.
"You know I am only 9 months older than you right. From 3rd May and 5 January."
"Hmm, sure." Said Nanase.
From there we walked outside and later got separated from each other. I went to Tsubaki's tent where she laid. I knocked on her tent gently so as not to wake up her sleeping mates.
"Come in." Tsubaki said.
I walked in while feeling a bit embarrassed, the only guy in a girl's tent, that would be very misleading if people were to hear about it.
"What do you want?" She asked in a sleepy voice.
"Feeling asleep are we. That's nice!" I teased her a bit.
"What are you here for, I wanna sleep so make it quick."
"What that. Well anyways I just wanted you to know I have a plan on how to win this exam."
"So is this your last possible exam in this institution!" She asked, she was a little sad to probably to hear my answer, but she had to know.
"Possibly, but someday I do hope we will meet again." I said as she started following me around the camp. "Didn't you say you wanted to sleep."
"Naa never mind that."
Flashback:
After we got off the ship that brought us here, we were escorted outside. Then we were told to form a line of all the six classes. Class S came first, then Class A, after Class B followed. Before we could follow, the instructor informed us to line up in a vertical way behind Class S. The other Classes followed the same route as us.
After the altercation the minister of the school Kelvin Togaki, and so the father of Arisu Togaki. The so-called gifted genius I have been hearing about. From the start all he wanted to implied were the rules of the exams. Like:
"Dear students of nations, it is your minister speaking. I am here to address to you the rule of the forest exam. This exam will be extreme for you all, but with the power of friendship, trust, and unity we know you could climb that mountain. The exam will last for 4 days and 5 nights so you better get your gym clothes already. All daily necessities will be provided such as washroom services, rice, and under garments for those who need them. This is all I have to say to you. And here are the rule books if you read them yourselves.
Just as we got them, about 90% of the students threw them away. I guessed since no one specifically needed them, since they have already been ready to us. But I needed closure, because teachers or head staff read about 80% of the rules to you. And you are supposed to read the 20% missing. But what makes it difficult is that; they are missed and scattered throughout the rule book which made it difficult. Max already had read some of the rule book, but still lacked the reading comprehension to understand. Even from a mile away, I could feel that he was planning something. And unfortunately for him he had already lost before the game started.
Rule no:28 says: Class leaders can be removed or kept silent from the rest of the class as long as they agree. And then rule no:57 said: You can list the rest of the class leaders when the exam is finished or you could simply explain the reason of their current situation.
"Huh, so that is the loop hole behind this exam."
I joined back with my class, which at the current moment was fighting. The younger class were appointed in our care but they refused to cooperate. Tsubaki was trying to defuse the situation but lacked the strength to.
I stepped in and calmed everyone down, to reason with someone, you'd have to see the situation from both sides or perspectives. The class didn't want them since that will imply we'd have to send more class points than usual.
While the younger generation didn't want to join was that, if they join they would have to listen to everything they are told to do.
To listen from an objective stand point, it will make sense if the class had agreed. Because 1 they wouldn't have to work since they could tell the juniors to do so. Then the younger generation would benefit since they would not have to use any points in the exam entirely.
I had to come out with a solution and fast. Oh that one way to solve this situation. One was to get someone both classes trust, which would be Lily. Then the turning point: make them agree on one thing or a term which they have to agree upon.
"Yeah."
I told Lily to say these exact words: If the younger class agree to follow every instruction. We will agree to pay them with our exam papers, which will be used next year.
For reference the next grade students, their exams last years were the exact same copy, writing and questions as ours. So if we agreed on that deal, but in return the lower grade will have to follow daily instructions. And they would have to transfer us some points so that the class can live in perfect harmony.
Lily listened then she walked up to both factions.
"I see now, the problem here is that you both lack understanding of the school terms. This exam is what really shows you that you are all just kids trying to act like adults!" She said that in a tone that sounded like an insult, and it also seems to be working on both factions as well.
"Huh, what did you say!" In frustration one of the classmates in class C raised his voice in order to voice his opinion.
"What! You think just because you invent things and have the favour of the king. Oh, so that makes you think you are better than us?" The question was supposed to make her feel bad, but as I looked at her she seemed relatively calmer than many one there.
"Unlike you I do have the thinking ability and knowledge to back up my claims."
"Oh, is that so. Then what if we all stopped buying from you?" Someone said.
"Hey, everyone calm down." Said Nanase but no one was listening just voicing their opinions.
"Do you really think that will bother me. In fact I can take my facility to another kingdom and they will be sold out by the month!" Her tone was colder this time. "If you want to know what you lack? That will be the ability to understand the current situation. Do you think the minister will just team us together without a hidden motive behind it?"
"Now that you say it, it really doesn't make any sense." Said Nanase.
"What happens when you apply oil in water?" Lily was trying to make them solve the problem. But questioning them.
"One floats while the other sinks." Said Nanase.
"You see they wanted us to find a way to solve our differences and here is how we apply them." Though the situation had calmed down a bit. The majority seemed to fear her now, her blink honesty took them by surprise. Well I have seen her do that back on earth so I wasn't in the littlest bit surprised.
"One the lower grades have to pay us on this exam, then in return we have to give them our exams papers from last year to this year. Since if, they score high on exams their monthly pay increases, that would cover for the cost here." She spoke calmly and respectfully.
Well the reason why they all agreed was that Tsubaki convinced and portrayed to them why we do this alliance. Tsubaki had an illusion ability that can convince people to see things from her side or other people. She only did that because it was necessary
to happen since they weren't listening.
After that every one walked through the forest, we walked until we reached a clear path. The area was shining with life everywhere the trees, the sound of the river flowing along the deep forest, the sound of animals and even the sound of the trees.
We settled for the night, but before that we needed wood, fruits, water and food. So we separated into groups on 4 each group had four members. Group 1 was in charge of wood, group 2 was water and fish if they caught any. Group 3 was in charge of food and group 4 was charged with the duty of gathering herds and fruits.
I got into the 'group 3' people, which were in charge of food, such animals, plantains, yam etc.
But before we went I told everyone including the younger generations that Tsubaki will be our leader. But that was a trap. From there I gave a card to Tsubaki, it was a key card held by the leader.
After that I went with my group in reach for food, using my knowledge from earth I told them. The place most likely to get food is probably from wet and watery places. And so they followed me, while we walked I used my pure to search for the locations where food would be. We finally found one, the river side. The place had food such as plantain, yam, coconut, sugarcane est.
The students immediately got long sticks that were held together by magic, some also used their earth magic to form sharp edge rocks. That was strong enough to cut through the plantain stem that held it high up. Some also joined us after hearing that we needed extra help to carry the food. Some students used wind earth magic to pull out the plantain, then used wind magic to blow away the sand around it. After that the people with aptitude for water magic cleaned it with water.
After everything was done, we picked up our bags and filled them up with foods, coconut and animals.
Some students were instructed by me on how to hunt for animals. I taught them to apply earth magic then used ice magic. First they opened a hole in the ground, then filled it up with water. At first they would think it was mud but at the moment they stepped in it. You freeze their legs and hands. Then boom there you have it, a free hunting tactic. The students applied it and saw the results, which was amazing. But this all came from the knowledge from earth.
But for some reason Nanase didn't seem surprised at all, but it was as if she already knew it. She used every technique I taught her perfectly, no matter how difficult it was. For some reason I was creeped out rather than amazed at her skills, but I chose to let it slide rather than worry about it.
"Hey Rial thank you for the lesson." Said Nanase.
"No problem, you are also a fast learner so I was glad to teach you." The tone of my voice seemed rather comfortable than my earlier reaction to her.
"No, I think I learned it fast because you were an impressive teacher." Nanase said while smiling at me.
Nanase perspective:
For this reason, I must lie to him. I sometimes wonder?
Can I clash with him, but not to be afraid I think I managed a perfect smile. But can Rio get a chance at beating them. The best of the best. Maybe he can, he has been holding back while training his body and mind for some time now.
Rial's perspective:
We got back around 7 pm in the evening, most of the girls were gathered around the camp fire waiting. They all sighed when we all walked in, due to the amount of foods and meats we got, we had to stop for a break every 10 minutes. Plus after that we had to replant many of the food so that they could grow back. Tsubaki held the girls to the kitchen, while the boys were told to start another fire, they will use to cook.
Lily, Tsubaki, Nanase, Nanose from my class, Sofia had some experience in cooking but the rest while not. Lily first taught them how to pile a yam and a plantain. Then she cleaned the surface with her knife. She later cut them into smaller pieces before putting them into the boiling water. She did the same thing to the yam, but the yam was more of an intense piling than the plantain. Since yams were harder to cut, the surface was also harder. But since Tsubaki was also taught some culinary skills when growing up, she also had the same amount of experience as Lily.
Both the boys and girls watched in awe of their ability to cook. It felt like watching two angelic beings preparing food for their people. The cooking lasted for an hour, then we all ate and went to our tents.
But during that time Lily managed to slip inside my tent. I guess she had the intent of staying for the night. Knowing how she would react if I said no, and due to that I allowed her to sleep there. We both got into the tight yet comfortable tent, then said our prayers and talked for a while. Before going to sleep.