Regina stood over the large selection of weapons. She had her hand on her chin, rubbing slowly as a conflicted look overshadowed her face. "Hmmm..." She frowned as her eyes landed on a pair of brass knuckles. Those are good weapons... Her conflicted look deepened. But, I feel like I'd miss out on the other weapons if I used that one...

  She scratched her head as she hovered her other hand over the weapons. "What should I pick..." She hovered her hand over a hammer. But, then she shook her head, then an axe, a sword, a mace. She did not pick any. Her lips curling down as she furrowed her brows.

  Adam was picking from the same rack of weapons. He nodded and immediately went for two daggers. It suited his style of focusing on agility, precision and piercing power rather than durability and strength. He weighed the daggers in his hand, wrapping his fingers around the handles as he got used to them with a few test swings.

  He glanced over at the blonde haired girl next to him. He immediately noticed the conflicted look on his face. "Having trouble selecting a weapon?" He asked as he closed the distance, standing next to her.

  Regina regarded him with a frown. "I thought you didn't want to talk to me." She furrowed her brows at him, then her face lit up and she chuckled softly. "Could it be tha-"

  "Don't get the wrong idea." Adam interrupted, stopping her where she stood. "It's not like I want to get along with you. To be honest, I'd rather not see your face for as long as my years in the academy take me..." He closed his eyes. "Especially with your weird and strange behaviour." He opened his eyes before turning towards her fully.

  Regina's eyes widened as she paused. Her mischievous smile disappearing as she waited for him to continue. She stood in her place, looking up at him as he was a ways taller than her.

  He took in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. "But, I know that wouldn't be possible." He extended a hand forward. "So what do you feel about an acquaintanceship." He tilted his head to the side.

  Regina froze for a few seconds, looking down at his extended hand. All before, her face of mischief returned and she took his hand readily. "Alright, acquiantances we are then." She grinned up at him.

  Adam met her gaze with a grin of his own. The two kept staring at each other for a few moments before Adam eventually cleared his throat in his hand. "You can let go now."

  Regina's face was stumped for a second before she shifted her gaze down to the floor. "Ah... Alright..." She let go of his hands before turning towards the rack of weapons.

  Adam looked over the myriad of weapons and stole a glance at her. "Why are you so conflicted?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow, a small frown on his face.

  "Obviously because I don't know what weapon to use." Regina turned to him with a stupid look. "I thought that was clear from the start." She held his gaze for a few seconds before turning back towards the rack of weapons.

  "No, I meant as in... people aren't usually conflicted on the weapons they should use because they master a single weapon. What's your main weapon?" He raised an eyebrow. Are dual axes not her main weapon? He threw a glance towards two axes of the same size hung next to each other before returning his gaze towards Regina.

  "Oh, I don't have one." She spoke simply. "I can use all of them." She turned back towards him, her expression neutral. Adam's eyes widened for a few moments before nodding and turning towards the rack.

  "I can see why you're struggling now." He spoke as he surveyed the rack. So she can use all of them? Must've taken a long time. He placed his hand on a certain weapon. "Here. I'm sure you can use this better than other weapons." He placed the weapon in her hand without waiting for her response.

  Regina's eyes widened for a moment as she felt the cold metal of the weapon in her hands. She gripped it, getting a good feel for it. "You're right. This does feel pretty nice to the hand." She turned towards him. A curious and intrigued expression colouring her face. How'd he know staffs are my favourite weapon to use? She wondered as a wide grin spread across her face.

  She clenched her hand around the metallic staff in her hands. This is my go to... She took a few steps back and proceeded to twirl the lengthy weapon in her hands, all before with a final twirl she struck the ground the staff. "Yeah, I like this one a lot." She spoke with a smile on her face.

  Adam smiled back at her. I just saw her use the staff at the end of the exam against the juggernaut. He had seen her picking from weapons littered on the ground and instead of taking time to ponder over her choice like now. She went straight for the staff. So he new how good she was with staffs and how well she preffered that weapon.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  "Anyways, do you wanna be my duel partner?" Regina spoke, her smile never wavering on her face. The way she held her expression without it faltering for even a moment surprised Adam even more than he already was. She's practically asking me to fight her. He furrowed his brows before pondering over it.

  "I don't know..." He rubbed his chin, his expression stoic. She can't use that magic of hers now, since deadly magic usage is prohibited. He nodded. But, what if she has something up her sleeve? Maybe there is non lethal spells of that magic that she can use... He glanced over at her. She met him with her blood red eyes staring up at him, fluttering her eyelashes innocently.

  She looked like a kid trying to act innocent to get out of trouble. But, the creepy look in her eyes did not help her case. "Alright..." He rubbed his chin, nodding slowly.

  "Yaaaay!" Regina jumped up, throwing her hands into the air as if celebrating his agreement. Does she want to fight me that bad? He wondered, a bead of sweat rolling down his chin at Regina's unreadable behaviour. He could not tell what was going on behind those blood reds...

  A few paces away from the two eccentric students stood Rica, her brows furrowed. Okay, something's definitely going on between them. Her eyes lingered on Regina for a few seconds. A sympathetic look crossing her face. You know, despite her being all rude and stuff... I still kinda feel bad for her... She'll get her heart broken. I don't wanna see someone else end up like Emily did. A strange look crosed her face.

  Her eyes turned towards Adam, a disgusted look immediately overrode her features. Bastard, you'll get what you deserve soon enough... She gritted her teeth before turning away from them with a huff of annoyance.

  "Alright, since you'll be dueling me-" Regina was about to speak when suddenly, a hand fell onto her shoulder. She flinched at the unexpected touch and snapped her eyes back at the person who came from behind her. Her blood reds, regarding them with coldness for a moment before her demeanour shifted. It was almost as if she put on a new face.

  Adam raised an eyebrow at the newcomer. What does she need with Regina? His lips curled up in amusement. Actually, this might get interesting. Considering her personality and how she acted in the exam... I can tell she wants to challenge her. His lips curled up even more at his conclusion.

  The girl with short brown hair and emerald green eyes stood a few centimeters above Regina. She met Regina's gaze, her eyes unwavering. "Say, is being a piece of shit popular these days?" She spoke, her lips curling up into a sneer.

  Regina furrowed her brows. Her cold expression returning for only but a moment. What does she want? She raised an eyebrow. "I'm... Not sure what you're talking about..." She spoke in a tone dripping with false sweetness. Her lips were curled up, her masterful fake face taking action once more.

  "Drop the shit." Suzi replied as she took a step closer, looking down at Regina as if sizing her up. "I can tell." She spoke. Her emerald green eyes sparkled. "I've always been able to tell." She leaned down even more. Her hands tightening on Regina's shoulder for only but a moment before... "Fight me." Suzi spoke calmly as she let go of Regina's shoulder.

  Regina stood silent, almost speechless for a few moments before she stole a glance at Adam behind her. The dark-green haired boy was snickering to himself. As soon as he noticed her gaze he cleared his throat and straightened his back, acting like he wasn't amused by this situation.

  "What if I refuse?" Regina turned her gaze back towards Suzi. The brown haired girl stood silent for a few seconds, "I can see that you won't." She spoke, her emerald green eyes sparkling for a few seconds before she fluttered her eyelashes and the glimmer disappeared. "Why don't we go up on that arena over there." She grinned as she bumped her fists together.

  The moment she did, a blue hue errupted from her fists before taking on a silver claw like appearance. "Are you scared?" Her grin widened. "No, you are not. Which is the most interesting part about a piece of shit like you." She turned around and simply walked towards the arena, getting up. She took over the left area of the arena, taking it as her side. She stood straight in the elevated ground, her mana claws flaring.

  Regina stood still for a few seconds before her fingers wrapped tight around her staff. What is this unexpected animosity? I didn't talk with Suzan Terras once... She suddenly recalled a piece of information she had gotten recently. Suzan Terras, daughter of Signus Terras, the strongest man alive, has an uncanny intuition. It can almost be qualified as a pseudo-ability.

  Pseudo-ability... Usually, abilities could be strengthened and upgraded through time and usage. As they could unlock several branches of their original ability. For example, sorcerers, ones born with the ability to command a certain element could eventually turn their bodies into that same element, or have such strong control over their element that they could use it to mend themselves.

  But, pseudo-abilities were different. They were a singular ability that could not be upgraded. Suzi's intuition could be classified as uch because it was too... accurate, as the information stated from the report she had gotten. Regina gritted her teeth. I need to do something about that... Her teeth grinded together, frustration bubbling up in her throat. She hated it when unexpected variables come up and completely ruin her original plan.

  "Alright... Sorry, Adam. It looks like I won't be your duel partner for now..." She turned towards the dark-green haired boy who was just snickering to himself once more. He immediately took on a straight expression and nodded. "Yes, no problem." Inside, he was eager to see how the fight would end.

  Regina walked towards the arena, walking up the steps she garnered several looks from familiar figures. Amanda, Arron and Evelyn were looking at her now. She was after all, going up against the world's strongest man's daughter. She took her position opposite Suzi. Her metal staff held tight in hand as she grinned. Maybe I can let loose a little...

  "I still wonder why you are antagonising me miss Suzan..." She spoke from the opposite side of the arena, her voice loud enough to reach Suzi.

  "Oh, I can see right through that facade... Bitch." She spoke, without a care in the world for her classmate's ears. Her foul mouth was something she often got scolded for. That old man swears as well. He can't judge me like that. She huffed as she took on her stance.