Wren wandered for a little while, trying to kill time during the break between the two tests. He didn’t want to drift too far from the group and not hear the instructors call for when it was time to go. They’d been given an hour for lunch, enough time to eat and to bring back their energy reserves after the strenuous exercise they’d done in the first half of the day.

Wren had finally found a quiet spot in which he could sit in peace. He couldn’t go back over to Liam, he’d made his bed there. He had made his way round to the rear of the cafeteria and was sat against the only wall that wasn’t made of glass. He felt less exposed there, like nothing could creep up on him.

Wren sighed. His entire body slumped in mental and physical exhaustion.

If only Liam had backed him. The two boys didn’t know each other that well but he could have at least given Wren the benefit of the doubt. Wren knew he hadn’t cheated, he couldn’t have, he hardly knew anything about his powers. But Liam hadn’t seen that. It was always the way. Someone sees someone weaker than them do something incredible, their first instinct is always to put them down. That would never change.

Wren conjured up the screen and it hovered in front of him. He opened up the skills tab and studied the words before him.

[Skills]

[Wind]

[Wind Slice: Level 1]

[???]

[???]

[???]

[???]

They were the same from the last time he checked. He definitely couldn’t have used a skill during the speed test, his only skill was the level 1 wind slice, and that didn’t even sound like a movement type skill. Thinking about the name of the skill he mentally clicked on it, to see if any more information would be brought up. He was surprised at the result.

Another smaller screen hovered in front of the first, showing details about the wind slice skill.

[Wind Slice (Common): Level 1]

[A horizontal blade of air shoots out from the users palm and continues for a set distance. Power and distance of slice varies on skill level]

[Skill cost: 2 EP]

Wren mentally kicked himself. The previous night when he was checking over the system screen he hadn’t even bothered to delve into more details about the skill. He’d only been thinking of how to level it up. That showed him for only having a one-track mind.

Either way, it proved that Wren hadn’t cheated. He hadn’t used a skill in the test, he had outclassed them all with just his pure speed stats. But there was no way to prove it. Wren was sure by now that no one else would be able to see his system screen so no one else would be able to see his skill list. He was stuck.

~

Wren had drifted off slightly, the soft sounds of the wind brushing through the leaves of the forest and the steady hum of his fellow recruits chatting in the forecourt of the cafeteria had lulled him into a light slumber. The grass beneath him was lush and green, a stark contrast to the harsh yellow grass of the Dead Fields; it provided the perfect cushioning for his body. He was enjoying a pleasant dream about Dusk Vulture wings with hot sauce when a sharp voice broke through the steady hum of wind and chatter and roused him from his sleep.

“Let’s talk over here.” The voice said.

“Did you hear about what happened in that stamina test?” Another voice said, this one soft and feminine.

The two that had woken Wren up were stood round the corner of the cafeteria, Wren couldn’t see them, but he could hear them. It was unlikely that the pair knew of Wren’s presence so he decided to remain quiet. They probably wouldn’t take kindly to eavesdroppers, no matter if it was intentional or not.

“No. What happened?” The first voice replied.

“Apparently Chadwick Pound broke the record for most laps run in the entire Ventus Academy history.” The girl told him.

“Really? Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. What do you expect from a legacy?” The boy said.

“Not only that, but he scored the top of his class on the strength test.” She said.

“Okay, I will say that’s slightly impressive.”

“More than slightly, he’s friggin awesome.” The girl beamed.

“What do you fancy him or something?”

“Maybe.” She laughed. “How does Beth Pound sound?”

“Terrible, absolutely terrible.” He said.

“You’re just jealous.”

“Did you hear about that Spectre kid? Apparently he got the best speed score in the whole academy. Some of the guys are saying he cheated and used an ability.” The boy said.

Wren perked up at the mention of his name, he let out a quiet sigh when the boy spoke of cheating. There seemed to be no avoiding it. If these two were speaking about it, everyone would be.

“Yeah I heard about that. I heard Chadwick also wants to find him, show that kid what it means to be a cheater at Ventus Academy.” The girl named Beth laughed and the boy joined in.

“Poor kid.”

Wren raised a hand to the bruise around his eye and winced. He was in trouble. If Chadwick was looking for him then there wasn’t much he could do. There was no escaping the campus and they would run into each other eventually. He only hoped that when that happened there would be witnesses. Maybe then Wren would be spared the intense beating he’d received the last time.

“RECRUITS. Please form up in your classes, the second set of tests will begin shortly.” An instructors voice cut through the hum of chatting students and sent the forecourt into silence.

“Come on, let’s go.” Beth said to her friend.

Wren heard their footsteps trailing off in the distance. He rose to his feet and leaned against the hard concrete of the cafeteria wall. He closed his eyes tight and took in a deep breath.

It was time for the elemental tests.