Eldrea Academia and The One That Stars Chose
Chapter 21: Members of Group Part 1

The morning sun in spring is very soothing.  The students walking along with their friends looked very cheerful. They followed the directions given yesterday afternoon and left together in groups, while passing through the academy forest.

Small animals such as rabbits and ferrets showed themselves several times to the disciples who were passing through the forest from behind the bushes. Anyone wouldn't believe that a stranger would attack them from there. After all it was just an excuse made up by Gareth.

Kevin and Viona who had been waiting for me in front of the male dormitory building greeted me with smiles on their faces. This morning we were so excited, I didn't have to ask why they both felt so excited because it seemed like we all had the same reason to feel this way.

“Our strategy seems to always take a long time to prepare in the morning,”, said Kevin mocked.

“Do you always wake up late?” ask Viona.

“It could be said like that, when I lived in the forest, the morning was so cold that it made me always go back to sleep. It seems like it has become my habit to wake up at 8 am,” I replied, “But now I have to get up at 7 because classes start after 8.”.

With a slight laugh Viona answered my words. “Yeah, but you better get used to it. There is a saying that says ‘if you wake up late, your sustenance can be eaten goblin’ or something like that.”

Kevin let out a long sigh hearing Viona's words. “Ayam, Vio, chicken ..”.

“Ayam? If it is eaten by chicken, then every time we eat chicken, we are eating the sustenance of others?”

Kevin and I can't say anything. We hate to admit this, but what Viona said made a lot of sense. It seemed like he could also climb up the class quickly due to his imaginative mind.

Even Master who was on my shoulders as a bird said something similar. “Over my life that has passed 2 generations, it is the most reasonable silly thing I have ever heard.”

We laughed after hearing Master's words. It is true, these conversations can strengthen every bond in human relationships. Really, who would have thought if a small conversation like this is precisely the main thing that can strengthen humans from every trial in his life.

“Hah! Look at these fools laughing with a bird. Absolutely fit for their stupidity,” Albert said as he passed us.

Silva walking with Albert provoked us. “I hope you don't forget, if the duel requires the same members between the two sides. You don't want to be humiliated in front of every student, do you?”

We ignored the provocation from them and just watched them go past us. The backs of those 4 fish really tempted me to stab him with a fish spear, but I still had to hold back. Tomorrow, tomorrow they'll get all the payoffs.

Viona grinned because of them. “We'll see tomorrow ...”

“You're right, Vio. We still have to hold back for now. But Silva's words have a point, we still need people to join us at the moment. Given their nature, I would be hesitant if they would want to reduce the number of members when conducting duels,” Kevin said.

Now that we had a new problem, the number of members of our group made it a bit difficult for us to continue dueling with Albert and his subordinates. These obnoxious rules were made to bring about a fair feeling for each group that conducted the duel.

“I think we can only take a poor student at random, we just need to give him money as compensation for his participation,” Viona advised us.

Kevin shook his head and sighed. “But still, forcing someone to fight with us is quite excessive,”

“It looks like we just need to have that person resign at the beginning of the duel, so that we can still carry out the duel,” my suggestion, “But it's the same as letting one fish get away with it after we stock up the net.”

We sighed simultaneously, seemingly thinking about this now would not take us anywhere. We decided to go to class first.

The forest we passed by had started to desolate as we took a lot of time in front of the dormitory building earlier. Most students have arrived at the academy by now, that's how I thought at first.

Who would have thought when we had already reached the front of the academy gates. We could see a crowd of disciples watching a woman. A beautiful woman in a white uniform that really captivated every man's eyes.

Adelyn was now standing in front of the gate, watching us appear without even showing the slightest expression on her beautiful face. He looks like the brightest star in the night sky. Given that she was the ice princess who ranked first, it was such an attraction that made every student who was there choose to pay attention to her.

“Do you think he's waiting for us?” ask Viona.

“I don't think it's true, maybe he just wants to meet with, Deron,” Kevin replied.

“That's impossible.” I refute Kevin's words. “He didn't say if he would see me again yesterday, there shouldn't be anything he needs to talk to me about now.”

“You are indeed stupid about love affairs,” said Viona, “Humans do not need a reason to meet the person they love.”

“Vio is right, we do not need such a reason.” Kevin continued.

Is it true that is the reason Adelyn is in front of the gate at the moment? Their words did make sense, but if he wanted to talk about his feelings, why would he have to do it in front of everyone?

When we got a little closer to Adelyn, she spoke to us. “I've been waiting for you guys, can you come with me for a minute?”

His words made the three of us throw eyes at each other. Now the attention of every student began to lead to us. Because we feel anxious, inevitably we follow Adelyn's invitation for now, we are not used to being the center of attention like this.

Adelyn took us to the mixed-use building of the martial arts class. Currently the multi-purpose building looks empty as students are preparing to enter the morning classes.

The three of us who were astonished by Adelyn's words again threw a look at each other. We don't have the slightest clue as to what Adelyn would ask a C-class student.

“If you may know what you want to ask us,” asked Kevin.

“I want to participate as your group when dueling with students of class B it.”

Our eyes were wide open at Adelyn's request.

“How do you know about this? And why do you want to join our group?” Kevin asked her again.

“I heard about your duel because the kids from class B were spreading the news. It seems like they are looking forward to a duel with you guys, and ..” Adelyn paused for a moment and started to close her eyes with a reddened face.

“Dan ..?”

“And, I, I just don't want to, Deron is disappointed that the duel was canceled if you guys are short on members, that's it.” His face was completely flushed when he said it all.

Kevin and Viona started to look at me while showing their teeth, their smiles really embarrassed me for it.

“What do you think, T-E-M-A-N?” teasing Viona to me.

I subconsciously answered him in a slightly raised tone out of embarrassment. “Bby! Of course he can come! We also need additional members at this time.” I chuckled after saying all that to cover up my embarrassment.

“Good! All right, then I'll wait for you guys when the break time is here. Don't be late, okay?!” Adelyn ran straight away leaving us in the training room.

With Adelyn gone from the training room. I could see Kevin and Viona starting to show similar expressions when they teased me in the library yesterday. It seems like now I will be holding back the embarrassment in a while.

...----------------...

After finishing the morning class, my friend and I finally went to the training room as we had agreed. There we could immediately find Adelyn wearing a sports uniform.

She really looks beautiful in white clothes. I think her nickname as the ice princess was not only because of her cold nature, but also because of her compatibility with white.

Adelyn who was standing while holding the wooden sword started to smile at us. “Happy you guys came as promised.”

“Well, we don't want to get in the way of our friend's romance,” taunts Viona with a big smile on her face.

His words made me and Adelyn bow down in shame. “Thank God if you feel that way,” he said.

Hearing her answer it made Kevin and Viona cry, they just kept nudging me with their elbows.

I tried to talk to her. “Ah, we should just do our exercises, we don't have much time, Right!” I slightly emphasized my last words.

“True, Deron is right,” continued Adelyn.

Kevin who was just silent started glancing towards Viona and said. “What did someone say before that we would train together, Vio?”

“No, I don't remember anyone saying all that, have they spoken first behind us, Kevin?”

“I feel like it, Vio.”

‘Sial, they are pretending to be stupid with the current situation. Come on guys, stop teasing me!’ my inner.

Me and Adelyn were silent with reddened faces. Looks like Kevin and Viona are really enjoying the situation.

Viona started laughing because of it. “Ahahaha! You guys don't have to be embarrassed like that!” he said to both of us. “Alright we should start changing our clothes before starting the exercise,” he continued.

Without removing the smile on his face, Kevin replied to Viona. “You're right, we better hurry to change our clothes now.”

That way we finally started to change clothes leaving Adelyn who was in the training room. When I was changing my clothes, Kevin was still teasing me there. I'm really embarrassed because of it.

After we finished changing clothes, we started to gather in the practice room to practice using the sword. You could say this was my first practice with a weapon, so I got a little excited and started to ignore the taunts from Kevin and Viona.

Sword ... It seems like I can look gallant when wearing it.