Camp

Now that I think of it, my dreamland is probably unable to exist in reality. It's usually chilly there and fog often surrounds the place, yet the plants are consisted of trees and blossoms from all across the world and climates, so it's obviously impossible to see them all blooming at the same time.

Ah, I can see myself standing in it already... Wait, I'm here?

Oh no, I must have drifted away.

I snapped back awake, and it seems that I fell asleep while listening to Mr Zheng talking about the details about the camping trip in front of us students.

"...that's about all then, any questions?" I heard Mr Zheng said as he clapped his hands, probably as a sign of conclusion. He seems to do this every time he finishes his speech, even when teaching us.

Right now, we've arrived at our campsite. A tropical forest in the mountains, which really isn't that uncommon around here considering it's always summer in this place.

The bus dropped us off at the bottom of the hill, and we traversed the rest of the journey up the hill by foot. Though, in reality, I was the only one who was traversing it, and had to be helped by someone else on multiple occassions... Yeah, it's quite embarrassing so let's just stop there and move on.

Eventually, we arrived at the designated campsite and Mr Zheng asked us to sit on the forest floor while he explained.

Right after Mr Zheng finished, a hand was raised among the crowd.

"Yes, Ishraq, always with the questions, what is it?" Mr Zheng pointed at the student raising his hand and nodded.

"Sir, you mentioned about splitting into four groups right? But what about Edmond Corbyn, is he included?"

...Damn it, Ishraq. I know you're supposed to be the smart one in class and it's all about the outcome for you, but must you mention me out loud like that? By the way, what does he mean splitting into groups? I thought this is just going to be a summer camp where we camp in the woods, bake marshmallow by the campfire and tell ghost stories at night? What's this group thing?

"Ah, Mr Corbyn will be my assistant and will be helping around in camp, so sadly he won't be joining you. Although, I didn't know you are interested in him, I admit he's attractive though." Mr Zheng chuckled at his own stupid joke while we all stared at him in awkward silence, because everyone know I look awful, my messy brown hair and bags underneath my eyes definitely doesn't help with the statement.

"Uh, no. It's because if he's in a group it would create a great disadvantage for them and it might not be fair for the hunt." But as always, Ishraq never reads the air and decided to drop the nuclear bomb of truth right in Mr Zheng's face. And immediately, a wave of laughter burst out among the 45 participants of the camp.

Please, stop.

"Yeah, I mean, why is he here in the first place?"

I can feel my insides churn as the words swarm my head.

"He's practically useless, might as well just go home."

No, stop.

"Aww, poor Edmond. But I think I can understand him, because he wants to join in the fun. What a shame, he doesn't have the strength to even be a part of it after all, and never will."

Everything is going to be okay. Come on, just tolerate it like you used to.

I closed my eyes and held the ridge of my nose, creasing my eyebrows as I try to block the voices away.

"HEY!" A loud yelling from my left shocked me as everyone silenced at the yell as well. "Stop laughing at him! He didn't choose to lose his mana!"

Emily! Thank you! Thank you very much for drawing the attention away from me even though I know this is selfish of me to think like this!

"That is true, you shouldn't laugh at people for their tragedy. Try putting yourselves into people's shoes before you say anything, because those words might hurt them without you knowing." Mr Zheng glared at the crowd, especially at Ishraq, probably to intimidate Ishraq.

But I do wonder if Ishraq will notice, considering he's the biggest airhead I've ever seen.

"You're in the fault as well, Mr Zheng, what was that lame joke?" But Emily didn't stop there and went for Mr Zheng.

"Uh." Mr Zheng's expression blanked out for a second, probably not expecting this. "That, I admit, I was in the wrong. But, Emily Aliskerr, I must remind you that you should respect your teacher, even if you are justified. I might be able to tolerate with it, but the others may not."

Yeah, Emily, even I think what you did just now wasn't really appropriate. Oh, and in the bus just now. But I remember Emily doesn't seem to act like this in front of other teachers, and only does so to Mr Zheng. Perhaps it's because she knew Mr Zheng is like this?

"Oh, I am very sorry, sir. I was..."

"It's fine. Just make sure there's not a third time." Mr Zheng sighed, seemingly tired of it. Well, he was the one who started it. "Now, enough of that, let's pick our leaders for each group. Although I have an idea on who will be picked, let's hear your recommendations, anyone?"

A couple of students raised their hands as soon as the question ends.

"Alright, Takahashi, your recommendation?"

"Gary Chandlers."

Gary, huh? Should have seen that coming, he really is a natural leader. He is basically the perfect kid, being the top student while also being the best mage in school, and the best looking boy with his short, curly blonde hair on his definitive yet feminine features.

Not to mention he was in the same class as me. Some may think I hate it, but truthfully, since he's a super star wherever he goes, it draws all attention towards him, including attention that was on me. And I am actually grateful for the small breathers he created for me without knowing it.

...Now that I think if it, I should probably thank him when I had the chance.

"Shirazaki Rikka."

Who? I don't think I've heard of her. Is she supposed to be famous in school?

"Ishraq bin Muhammad."

...of course he's going to make it in there, why am I not surprised?

"Alright, last one, choose wisely. Your choice?" Mr Zheng said as he picked the last student.

"Liew Jun Meng." The lucky student that was picked replied.

Oh, Jun Meng. He's here as well?

Jun Meng is actually one of the few people I've commonly talked to. I somehow felt calm whenever he's around, he's always emitting this squishy and warm aura, and that's basically him, kind and gentle. Though, for some reason, he seems to only have a small group of friends but chills out with me every so and often, probably when his friends are occupied.

"Alright, the aforementioned students, please come forth, and we'll begin the grouping." Mr Zheng shouted with his voice. To be honest, Mr Zheng looks younger than his age, because everything about him is screaming "I am not a grown up!" His appearance, his height, and even his voice sounds like people around 14 to 16, yet he is supposed to be a grown up.

"Uh, Edmond, excuse me." A voice said behind me.

I turned around to see who it is, only to be surprised to find it was coming from Jun Meng. Apparently I was blocking him from making through the crowd.

"Sorry." I quickly apologized and moved out of the way, he passed through while giving me a nod as if telling me something, probably to tell me he doesn't mind.

Almost naturally, I nodded back in return.

I watched as Jun Meng walked on to the front with the others. It feels weird to see him standing amongst the big three of the school, yet it makes me feel proud at the same time. Perhaps it's because deep down I do consider him a friend, but for some reason, I feel reluctant to go to him on my own.

To be honest, even I can't grasp why, it's as if there's this dark fog in the back of my head.

...Yeah, of course I shouldn't go to him, I'm but a piece of pebble on the road. He probably took an interest in me and was curious, that's all.

"Edmond." A hand was placed on my shoulder before the dark thoughts are able to overwhelm me. It was Mr Zheng. "Come, I'll show you the equipments we'll be using to monitor the hunt."

I followed closely behind. "Uh, sir..." I scratched the back of my head as I noticed the others had begun queuing up in front of the four. Although it seems Gary is the dominating one. "Sorry, I wasn't listening..."

"Noticed it. It's fine, you're not in it anyway so you don't need to memorize all the rules. But I'll give you a quick rundown, basically, the students are to be divided into four groups and they will be hunting the area for aberrants while chasing away animals in the area in case they absorb the mana and become one, this place has a rich ley line after all."

"... ley lines?" I repeated the last words with doubt as we arrived at the simple table with a laptop on top not too long ago.

"Ah sorry, I forgot you skipped the mana classes. They're basically places with rich mana, because they're like a network spread across the planet's surface, so they're usually referred to as a ley line when it's a small part of it." Mr Zheng explained. "Anyway, I need you to help me confirm that everything is working correctly while I go out there setting up these mana devices to monitor the area, sounds easy?"

I nodded half heartedly, not bothering to ask any questions anymore. It's as if I had any other choice. Besides, it's better to be useful instead of being a piece of trash doing nothing.

"Great, for now I need you to help me make sure are the cameras working properly. Also, do keep an eye on the others while I'm gone, if anything happens, just tell me with this walkie talkie." Mr Zheng proceeds to hand over a walkie talkie to me.

"OK." I simply replied, it's easy enough so there's no reason to refuse. And with that, Mr Zheng went off, disappearing between the foliages.

I watched as the multiple empty screens slowly go from "No Signal" to showing camera footages, confirming each of them as Mr Zheng set them up.

I often look over to the others ever so and often whenever I heard noises, but it's always the usual slight quarrel about the group sorting. Seems like quite a number are reluctant to join Ishraq's team, it's understandable, Ishraq is a control maniac after all. Everything has to be under control and according to his plan, so it's obvious why people didn't like him. He never take in advice from people after all.

If I were him, I'd definitely make a better leader than him. I couldn't help but think as the leftover ones engage in a game of rock paper scissor with each other, the losing side will be going to Ishraq.

But again, the painful reality hit me. I can hardly manage myself, let alone manage a group of people.

During the usual school days, I had to down coffee as if they were water just so I could stay awake in classes. My schedule is so tight that I can't really enjoy free time at all because of my body craving for sleep.

It was endless suffer, while my body and mind crave for sleep, my position refused to let me.

I'm actually surprised that I survived the past five years without mana. And now that I look back, it's already been five years?

Which means for the past five years, I still haven't regain my mana huh?

I felt my heart sink at realizing this, five years. I'm already on my way to being a high schooler, and yet there are no signs of my mana returning.

I guess there really isn't hope for me anymore isn't it?

"Edmond!"

"Ah, yes, sir." I quickly checked the computer screen for the next camera, sure enough, it lit up. "It's working!"

"Got it." Mr Zheng said before the walkie talkie cut off again.

"Also, I think everyone is almost done with splitting the group."

"Oh, then tell them to stay put or discuss their plans or whatever, I have only three cameras left to set up and I'll be back."

"Now that I think of it, why are there no any teachers?"

"Well, " Mr Zheng chuckled through the walkie talkie. "It can't be helped, everyone else is preparing for the mage tournament."

"That explains." I recalled that Nick said he's participating in that as well. "But what about you?"

"Me? I'm a counselling teacher, not a grand wizard."

"But you literally just said that the other teachers are busy preparing for it."

"Exactly, because they are ambitious. But for me, being a teacher is enough. There's no need to become the world's strongest when you have a peaceful life, don't you think?"

"..."

"You're so easy to be satisfied, Mr Zheng."

"Haha, the Principal said the same thing to me as well."