The last class that Kron attended didn't occur inside an indoor room. Instead, they were asked to proceed to a large outdoor circular amphitheater. Students are randomly scattered around but most of them are gathered in the center. In the center of the room was a large screen that contains the names of all the students in their class. It is then evenly divided into three rows and their first task is to make a group of 3 containing a member from each row. This created chaos in the class. Everyone wanted to have the best members in their team. There are those who are confident enough to start introducing themselves and their capabilities and there are those begging others to let them join their group.

Kron found his name in row A. He doesn't know how the rows are divided or if they were just randomly placed so he didn't know how he should start. It was not really that hard to find people from other divisions just by observing his classmates around him. What was hard was for people that would let him join. His best bet was to ask those who are also transported. In fact, that was what most of people who still have no groups are doing. Natives with natives. Transported with transported. Still, he at least wanted to look for decent teammates first.

Kron started to list on his mind possible prospective to join or invite. First, he crossed out people that are too popular since it would be impossible to invite them. Second, he wanted to have members that could complement his own. Third, he needed someone who had abilities who perfectly fit the vanguard class. After all, his abilities doesn't seem to be the best for it. Unfortunately, a lot of students in his class are thinking of the same thing. There are a lot of students around that are just as smart or far smarter than him. Moreover, these students are more charismatic and confident than him that it was easier for them to invite people.

After quite some time, Kron was still not able to find members. Even the other transported seem to ignore him. He didn't really find it unexpected because he spent most of his time with either Min-Joon or Ichika. He didn't really hang out in the common lobbies which most of the transported seem to spent most of their time. His problem now was that there was a time limit and if he was not able to find one then he fails the class or be forced to team up with random people.

Kron started pondering on what to do until he saw a lone man who seemed to be lying on the curved bleachers. The guy had a short green wavy hair and wore a polo with folded sleeves and not properly buttoned, showing his well toned body. He seemed to be a native but the other natives doesn't seem to invite him. He was good looking and he doesn't seem to be a pushover. It makes no sense to him why he was not popular. He does exude some atmosphere of intimidation but it was not enough to make him unapproachable. He acts like he doesn't care of what is happening around but in reality, he was occasionally opening one of his eyes and peeking if someone walks near him.

"Excuse me. Do you already have a group?" Kron asked with a deadpan look. It was actually his usual appearance when he is not with his friends. He didn't want to show too much emotion which could lead to problems that he didn't want.

"Oh! Another transported who doesn't seem to know who I am." The young man laughed softly, he seemed to be happy that someone approached him. He then laid sideways comfortably, supporting his face with his arm. "Are you trying to invite the great Cyrus to join you?"

"Don't tell me that this guy is narcissistic. Well, what should I do now?" Kron thought, pondering on how he could feed his ego. "Yes. I do think you are capable. If you are in group B or C then I would like to invite you!"

Hearing what Kron said, Cyrus' lips curled up. "Of course I am capable! But why should I join you?"

"First and foremost you would fail if you just stay lying there!" That is what Kron wanted to say but he kept it to himself. He was not really an expert in praising people but he still at least knew how not to piss people. "Like everyone, I was trying to find the best people I could get but if you do not want to then I'll just take my leave."

Kron proceeded to turn and leave. He didn't really want to force people and it was already taking up a lot of his courage just to speak to him.

"Wait! I am in division B." Cyrus sat up, extending his palm. "Since, I am feeling generous today then I'll help you."

"What? He actually joined me? I must not act weak. I must not act weak." Kron told himself, before turning around with the same deadpan face. "Then I am grateful to have a competent teammate." Kron kept his tough act as he faked a smile.

What Kron didn't know is that his expressionless face worked quite well. Cyrus thought that Kron was also someone capable and the fact that Kron didn't force him to join was like an accidental bluff. He became curious on what Kron was capable of. Other natives have avoided him not because he was unskilled but because of the hearsays that he was hard to work with and like to belittle others. In fact, this was not a total lie since he liked to show off and try to do everything by himself. He was also quite frank that made it harder for others to like him. The truth though was that he was not really a bad person and he was just more pro active. Unfortunately for him, people misunderstand him.

"So who are we planning to invite next?" Cyrus asked as he walked side by side with Kron. "With me around though, it won't take long to find another one."

Contrary to what Cyrus said, their quest for the third member didn't went well. They already went around more than half of the field but they were not able to find one. Most of the natives avoided them. They either have a bad blood with Cyrus or they have heard of his infamous reputation. As for the transported, most of them are getting immediately rejected or are immediately turned off once they hear Cyrus speak.

"That guy is absolutely useless I tell you." "You want to join us? What can you even do?"

Cyrus was very critical of every classmate they passed by. Kron didn't think that he was actually that talkative and was starting to doubt his decision to invite him first. It seemed that it even became harder for him to find a member. There were already a few people who tries to apply to their team but Cyrus' standards never went down. Kron was actually getting nervous because he doesn't think that he was actually better than the people Cyrus rejected.

Eventually, they passed a girl surrounded by many of their classmates. Everyone was trying to invite her. It was the exact opposite of Cyrus. She was a native woman named Adriana. She had a brunette shag hairstyle and wore a coat made from some kind of animal hide. She was quite a beauty which probably became the main reason why she is being invited. Still, her friendliness seem to be fake as she was trying to politely reject everyone.

"Come on Adriana! You know what I am capable of! You should join us!"

"We just lack someone from your division! I'll carry this team. I promise!"

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"Can you stop bothering her? You don't even know her well. As for me we are childhood friends!"

"Sorry guys! I already have a team." Adriana bowed down. She can't wait for everyone to leave so that she could find other people who she actually want to group up with.

The young men around are all trying to invite her. Not knowing that they are starting to really irritate her. Suddenly, Kron's eyes met with her. It didn't last long as she suddenly noticed the person beside him which was Cyrus. Her eyes opened wide and she started to smile.

"She is bad news I'm telling you!" Cyrus whispered, shivering. "We should go now!"

"What do you mean?" Kron asked. He was confused as this is the only time he saw Cyrus nervous.

"Oh! There you are guys!" Adriana suddenly shouted, raising her arms waving. She then ran through the crowd and placed her hands at Kron and Cyrus' shoulders before they could run away. She then looked back. "These two are my teammates that I am telling you."

Cyrus trembled as he felt Adriana's arms on his shoulder while Kron twitched once but kept quiet, letting the scenario unfold.

"Isn't that Cyrus? Why would you team up with him?" One of their classmates shouted.

Cyrus was not happy that Adriana was using them but his pride overwhelmed his irritation seeing their other classmates look down on him. He shoved Adriana's arms away and turned around. "Why? Do you have any problems?"

Most of their classmates shut their mouth, not wanting to have anything to do with Cyrus except for the one person named Sidir who was claiming that he was Adriana's childhood friend.

"Really Adriana? Cyrus of all people?" Sidir's eyes were flickering with hostility as he stared at Cyrus for quite some time.

"If it isn't Sidir. I didn't notice you. We haven't sparred for quite some time." Cyrus smirked as he stared back at Sidir.

Kron could clearly see that there was something between the two and it seems that Adriana already knew about it.

"That was before I awakened! You were just lucky that you awakened earlier." Sidir shouted.

"Oh really? Then let's-" Cyrus tried to step forward but he was pulled back by Adriana.

"Just walk away and ignore him!" Adriana whispered with a threatening tone before looking back one last time. "Sorry Sidir. Maybe next time."

Cyrus looked fiercely at Adriana but decided to walk away. Adriana followed him and Kron didn't have a choice but to follow them too.

"We are now quite a distance away. Don't you think that you could stop following us now?" Cyrus stopped, looking at Adriana. "We still need to find a third member."

Adriana smiled at Cyrus. "Cyrus! You really came just right on time!"

"Excuse me. Do you two know each other?" Kron asked with a solemn tone.

Adriana faced Kron, her eyes looking up and down observing him. "I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Adriana." She smiled. "Yeah! You could say that we go long way back."

"Don't exaggerate! We are just acquaintances!" Cyrus interjected. "Come on just ignore her. We are losing time."

Kron found it interesting. Cyrus was not in his usual prideful self around her. He doesn't seem to hate her but he also is trying to avoid her.

"Are you not even going to ask what division am I?" Adriana told Cyrus before looking back to Kron. "I'm in division C. So do I fit?"

"No one asked you!" Cyrus interrupted.

"Wait! If you did not have a team yet then why didn't you join them?" Kron asked, raising his eyebrows.

Adriana frowned. Her friendly aura changed to an antagonistic one. "Join them? Who do they think they are? Protect me? Carry me? Do they think they are better than me?"

"Yeah! Yeah! Someone from the house of Eresmus doesn't need any help." Cyrus sarcastically said.

"And someone from the house of Ammon do?" Adriana replied.

"Let's let her join!" Kron said, before pausing. He didn't want to antagonize any of the two so he also wanted to ask Cyrus but he should have a valid reason to reject her. "unless you also think that she is unskilled?"

"Unskilled? Uhhh... well... fine!" Cyrus was not able to find any reason to reject her. He instead just looked at her. "Make sure you don't pull the team down!"

"Yeah! Yeah!" Adriana nonchalantly said. " Just don't go asking for my help."

Kron is starting to get the gist of their relationship from what he has been hearing from them. The two are probably members of some rich or noble houses here in Azalaze which might have something to do with how they act. It was the first time he is seeing two people that are so different and at the same time so similar. The two might not agree to each other but they seem to respect that they are on equal grounds. Otherwise, Cyrus would reject her and Adriana won't even be trying to join.

The time for picking teammates has finally come to an end. Luckily, everyone were able to group into 3 even if they just forced themselves. Kron was quite happy that he seemed to have gotten 2 decent teammates by chance. The writings in the screen changed and their actual task for the day appeared. They will be given a pot of plant and they were to enter the outer forest behind the amphitheater and collect soil to fill up the pot. They would then need to grow the seed that they would receive in that plant. The bigger or healthier the plant, the better result they would get. They are of course allowed to use their abilities as long as they don't use it to harm others or destroy others' plants or seeds. This means that they could also use their abilities to obstruct others.

The forest itself was not dangerous as long as they don't go too deep. There would be traps but it would not be meant to harm the participants but only to slow them. The biggest problem was understanding what the seed was and finding the right type of soil for it. They would only be given one seed so they need to really be selective on their type of soil. The seed was also mentioned to be magically modified that it would grow much much faster than the regular seed it was based on until it is fully mature.

"Planting seeds huh? It shouldn't be that hard." Cyrus said, feeling energized. "Well, what are you two waiting for?"

"Really? Its just planting. What are you getting so excited about?" Adriana said.

The three took their respective pot and seed and entered the forest like the rest of their classmates.

"So what seed is this? Don't you have many plants at your house Cyrus?" Adriana asked, inspecting the seed the size of a marble ball. The seed was black in color with spots of white.

"Of course! We do! Let me look at that!" Cyrus extended his palm to ask for the seed. "Hmm... Hmm... Well, it doesn't really matter isn't it. I believe the best soil are the violet soils. We just need to find those."

Kron could surmise that groups with no natives are fully at a disadvantage unless they have a member that has an ability that are mainly for scholars.

"Let me also look!" Kron said, taking the seed from Cyrus. "crystal... green... purple..." He whispered. Once he tried to inspect the plant, some information suddenly came through his mind.

"Pardon? Did you say something?" Cyrus asked.

"No. Its nothing." Kron said, shaking his head.

The three continued to traverse the forest. They have encountered many of their classmates. They were all in a hurry and were focused on their own. Most of the soil in the forest were the same and those which are probably not was very hard to distinguish. But it was to be expected, because they need to balance their time in finding the right soil and letting the seed grow. They have only until the end of class to finish. After a few minutes, they saw a group of students fighting. One of them was actually Sidir's group. Kron's group tried to hide and listen.

"There's enough of that purple soil to share!" One of the people in the other group shouted.

"But my friend here also needs this soil for her pet plant." Sidir said, presenting an innocent looking girl beside him. "But if you have something to offer maybe we could share right?"

"Yeah. My pet plant badly needs a good soil but if you really need it-" The girl sadly said. "I might be able to part some of it."

"But that's the schools land and not for your pet! You just took a small patch of land." The man said.

"Then if that's what you think then you should go find some other soil." The girl replied angrily, breaking her pity act.

Adriana frowned, looking at the people from the bush. "Why does it got to be Sidir and Sera?"

"Well, that's a purple soil. Almost a violet one. Should we steal it from them?" Cyrus grinned, wanting to really teach Sidir a lesson.

"We can't hurt them." Kron said, not really wanting to turn it into a battle. "So are they also like your childhood friends?"

"No!" Cyrus and Adriana simultaneously shouted.

"That Sidir is from the disgusting house of Balian." Cyrus frowned. "and Sera-"

"is from that venomous family of Alraune." Adriana continued.

"Who's there?" Sidir shouted. He was looking at the bush where Kron, Adriana and Cyrus was hiding.