'It is surely a different feeling training in an academy where the concept of seniors isn't even present.'

An out of context thought chipped at David's unconscious mind as he started running the edges of the grass covered field.

Beside them, Master Zamian "walked" with them as his body would continuously teleport, thus effectively following them.

"Oi, didn't I say not to use your mana while running?" His eyes pierced an unfortunate soul who had been subtly using his mana to strengthen his legs so as to boost his speed.

The boy feeling wronged, retorted. "And why do we need to restrict ourselves in using mana? Wouldn't it increase our proficiency in mana use of we use it frequently?"

"Anything but hard work." Zamian shook his head with a mocking laugh. Then he corrected him.

"And where do you think the constant supply of mana shall come from? Remember, the amount of mana we can use in a specific frame of time is limited. The only solution to this is to keep increasing our power tiers, thereby, increasing our natural mana storage.

As for why you are not allowed to use mana here - the reason is quite simple, really. Our top mages have observed and through a series of studies, have proved that the stronger your body naturally is, the better and lesser mana would be used to do the same task as someone else with a weaker body."

Then glancing at the complaining boy with acreepy smile, he said. "Now run, boy! No amount of excuses is going to save you from slacking off."

The boy continued sprinting with a crestfallen expression as did the others.

David glanced forward at the head of the line where the nameless girl looked to be having the best time of her life as she giggled and sprinted and sprinted endlessly without any visible signs of exhaustion.

Master Zamian who was beside him, had an amused expression on his face as well.

"Don't mind her, Master. She is naturally giddy and likes to train." David explained resulting in a raised eyebrow on Zamian's part.

"To get stronger?"

David couldn't help but laugh lightly. "That sounds like a highly ambitious task. So no, she doesn't do it to get stronger. She probably just does it because it's fun for her."

"I see." Zamian responded with a light smile of his own.

In a faint whisper, he asked. "So...how do you know the princess?"

David's muscles tensed for a brief second. But then acting as if nothing had happened, he gave him the half truth.

"Actually, she happens to be my captor. She captured me, Z2 and our Shogun and his cohort."

"A Shogun you say...what would his name happen to be?"

"Shogun Bloodaxe Thorgar."

Zamian's neck turned so quickly that David almost tumbled forward.

"Bloodaxe?! The Dragonslayer was defeated by the princess?!" From the sound of it, Zamian looked like on the verge of shouting out.

"Who is the Dragonslayer...Shogun Bloodaxe? Wait! Wait! Dragons?! They exist!" David had a baffled expression of his own as he learnt something equally important as his Shogun turning out a slayer of such an exotic species.

Composing himself, Zamian asked. "Oh you didn't know? Dragons have existed for as long as humans could remember. Their numbers are at an all-time low but even then, they remain one of the strongest species. Shogun Bloodaxe is one of the few existences on the planet to ever kill a dragon single handedly. To hear he was defeated by a young girl like Princess Valerie... something is wrong."

David stored this important piece of information at the back of his mind. He knew Valerie was strong but killing a dragon? She wasn't suited for it.

'What are you all playing at...? Ugh, I hate this hollow feeling, not knowing something that could be an important piece of the gameboard.'

By the time he completed one full lap around the field, he was exhausted and felt out of breath. At the starting or the ending point, few of his fellow clawmates were sitting in a crouch, breathing heavily.

Few of the others were quite ahead: the nameless girl already having completed one quarters of the second lap.

"Get up, get up! Today's training won't end unless you all complete the task I have given you."

David gritted his teeth as he ran past them.

"One more step!" He whispered. "Another one! Yes, like that...one more step!"

Yet with his mind and his sheer will giving him amole motivation, his body was slowly but surely failing to cope up with such a tiring task.

'And I still need to run around the goddamn field one more time.'

At last when he thought his death was too near, he completed the second lap. The moment he was done with that, his body gave up as he let go of himself and sat on the ground with a loud thud.

He glanced around and saw only a handful of his clawmates had completed alongside him, which took him by surprise. He was supposed to be one of the weakest here and yet, had somehow reached the end line before others.

Letting himself enjoy the short victory against his mental expectations, he carefully lay down on the ground, the green grasses and the chirping of the insects providing him a peaceful moment amongst the loud, heaving sounds of his clawmates.

The nameless girl suddenly peeked at him from above, a bottle in her hand as she offered it to him.

"You do well. You now strong than before." She laughed as she said so, pulling David up with ease.

"Says the strong girl." David thanked her as he accepted the water bottle from her and drank from it without any flourish.

From the corners of his eyes, he noticed two of the other girls whispering something while looking t the nameless girl.

A frown marred his forehead as he glanced subtly at her. At first glance, she seemed to be in a cheerful mood.

But the way her eyes ever so shifted to the sides as if checking the other girls, the rubbing of her one hand over the other and the uncertain look gave away few hints to David.

In a gentle tone, he asked her. "Hey, is something wrong?"

She looked at him in confusion as she shook her vehemently. "No, why would this girl have any trouble?" She said, dramatically pointing at herself.

"Why don't you go and talk with them then? I am sure you would like to be friends with few girls your age." He pointed at the other girls with hie eyes as he said so.

The nameless girl hesistated for a moment, before she playfully teased him. "Ohh...you just want me gone. I understand!" She even rubbed at her eyes as if she was willing away her tears and acting hurt.

"No, that would never be the case." He smiled in response. But internally, he was thinking something entirely different..

'Problems upon problems...' All the while having his eyes on the two girls.

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