Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Classmates
Three boys and a girl stood before Trace and Noelle. All of them had vicious grins on their face. It was if they were preidiators looking at fresh prey.
Noelle pulled Trace's sleeve and pointed towards the machine. Today was a special day for her, she did not wish for it to be spoiled. But the dirt was already on her, she could only ignore it and move forward.
"Don't ignore your classmates," the girl said.
She also had bangs, but the color of her hair was blue. One of the boys from behind walked and put his arm around her shoulder. This guy also had blue hair, but faint black roots were visible.
"Didn't you hear what Jae said? Turn around Noelle," the guy said.
The other two boys also raised up their voices to call Noelle. All of them had their sleeves folded up to their arms. They all had skipped school, and guess who they found?
"Leon, let's leave them alone. Soon they won't know who's on top of who," Jae winked.
The two guys at the back roared with laughter. Leon looked at Jae who was staring ahead. He licked her cheek in one long stroke and looked at Noelle.
"Noelle, why don't you join your classmates. Let's have some fun," Leon said.
He made a scissoring motion with his fingers to the two guys standing behind him. At school, he wouldn't be so bold but here. The two boys rushed out to buy scissors. He laughed a bit and turned his attention towards the guy beside Noelle.
"Hey you, Noelle's friend," he said. But just as Trace turned back, he added. "I mean girlfriend."
Trace looked at the two people, he couldn't figure out why they talked like this. Are they calling me a girl and Noelle a boy? Trace looked at Noelle who looker rather pretty compared to the blue haired girl in front.
When Leon saw the confused face of Trace, he laughed again. Jae also joined him this time. The same thought popped in both of their head at the same time.
"Poor guy don't know the truth," Jae said.
"What is your name? I will do you a favor today, this person has tricked you with his looks. In reality he is a guy," Leon said.
Both, Leon and Jae waited to see the shock on Trace's face. They thought that this dumb guy couldn't understand what was said to him just now. So they waited but Trace's expression didn't change one bit.
Noelle on the other hand had his hands clenched together and pressed on her skirt. She still didn't turn back, nor did she have the courage to deny anything. But maybe this person wouldn't leave me? She could only pray to the fortune teller now.
…
"Are you her classmates?" Trace asked.
"Yes, finally you understand something," Leon laughed.
"You dumb duck, Noelle is a guy, he is not she, he is a he, he," Jae annoyingly interrupted in between.
Leon laughed like a madman now. His hand around Jae's shoulder pulled her closer. Then with the other hand he patted between her legs.
"Man, you still don't get it?"
Leon pressed his hand on Jae and looked at Trace. Hoping to get the best reaction he had ever seen. But Trace just stood there, he knew what it meant to be a guy or a girl. Jae struggled a bit and turned her head towards the side.
"Noelle is a guy," Trace simply said.
"Yes," Leon laughed.
He was not satisfied with the facial expression of Trace. But decided to not press it further. The employee sitting at the distance was looking towards them now.
"Why don't you join us friend? We are from Noelle's class" Leon said to Trace.
Noelle felt choking on air after hearing it. Her day was turning worse and worse. At other times, the old coachman would follow her to act as a bodyguard. But today, she had warned him to not come near.
"No, we are busy," Trace said.
Hearing this made Noelle breath a sigh of relief. But she knew the disaster was not over yet. What do I do? She looked around. An employee of the shop was sitting near the long necked machine.
"Young man, come forward if you try out your mana strength."
Trace heard a voice and he turned back. The man sitting near the machine was smiling at him. I should do it quickly if I want to go home early, he thought and walked towards the machine.
"This machine, the MQC, measures quality of mana but can only be used if you are in second sequence of Level 2 or higher," the man explained.
Leon and Jae also walked forward. For a moment they thought of slandering Trace. But their eyes involuntary moved at his fingers. Two blood red were clearly visible to them now. Jae still refused to believe it and said anyway.
"Noelle, why is your girlfriend being so smug after wearing fake rings?"
Noelle's heart jumped for a moment. But she prayed to the fortune teller god and gave Jae a quick grin. In anticipation, she looked over to Trace.
Leon was also pondering about the possibility of the rings being fake now. He looked over to Trace and pulled forward Jae along with him. After taking a closer look at Trace's face, then deeply at the rings, he said.
"It won't activate if those are not real rings, what are you trying to do friend. I know places that can be real fun with those."
Trace was silently looking at the machine. One of the trainings that he did everyday was directly involved with mana transfer. Master had given him a box that he held for hours every day, trying to transfer mana into it.
Over the years, there was no change in the box. Sometimes, Trace even wondered if the box was broken. But he never stopped trying to channel mana into it.
And after much effort, he was able to feel the mana channeling into the box. The change in color of his rings was also evident. But that was the only item he ever channeled his mana into.
Right now, the machine felt some sort of test. Trace expression turned to that of nervousness. Leon was immediately delighted on seeing it, Jae was smiling, whereas Noelle felt like sinking into a pit.
"Place your hand there," the man at the side said.
Trace placed his hand on the required spot. He closed his eyes and tried to channel mana into it. At the beginning, he encountered a force that tried to stop his mana flow.
Wondering if he was doing anything wrong, Trace increased the mana flow but the repelling force only increased. He was thinking of giving up but the man's voice entered his ears.
"That right, you are almost there."
Confidence returned to him and he increased the mana flow. He had his eyes closed so he couldn't see. Slowly his blood rings had started shining like crazy. A red hue even filled his eyelids.
The man at the side got up from his chair and walked closer. Jae had a frown on her face and looked towards Noelle. Leon thought the fake rings were just to good. Noelle had her hand clasped, her eyes were shining in a red light.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Tenshadesofwinter
Tenshadesofwinter The man sitting at the side of the machine is an employee. And a Level 2 Sorcerer.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone