Chapter 55: There Is No Seniority in a Spar

"Ren, Elara, I came to train with you." Virelia approached them with a big smile on her face.

Ren and Elara stopped sparring and turned to her.

’She came with many foods and drinks again?’

They were both surprised, yet happy at the same time.

They were poor, so they could not eat expensive meals if she hadn’t bought them.

Once she put everything on the stone table, Virelia shifted into her partial transformation and dashed toward him.

"Hmm?" his eyes widened for a moment when she attacked him out of the blue. "Why did you suddenly attack me?"

"I will defeat you this time." Virelia was determined to restore her reputation as their senior after losing to him yesterday.

Since she attacked him without warning, he decided to punish her.

"Kya!" A cute cry slipped from her lips the moment he slapped her butt.

Virelia instantly turned to him and looked at him with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

She tried to hit him back.

Unfortunately, he could read her attacks easily.

For this reason, the same thing happened to her once more.

*Slap...

The sound of him slapping her buttocks echoed in their ears.

Virelia immediately held her butt while staring at him. "W-Why do you keep slapping my butt?"

"It’s your fault for turning your back on me." He gave an excuse.

Virelia turned to Elara and asked for her help. "Elara, help me defeat him. I will give you an ice cream and a strawberry cake later."

Elara’s eyes lit up right away. "Alright."

Then, the girls ganged up on him.

But even so, they still could not defeat him.

He could even still play around as he was much stronger than them.

After sparring for several minutes, they stopped and sat on the ground.

Virelia moved closer to him and pinched his cheeks a little hard. "Why didn’t you go easy on me? You are younger than me. You should have let me win."

"There is no seniority in a spar." He removed her hands from his face and grabbed them. "And I think it should be my words, not yours."

"But you are a man. Have you never been taught that men should give in to women?" Virelia decided to bring up gender in their conversation.

"That only applies to ordinary people, not awakeners like us!" he defended himself.

Virelia immediately pouted her lips. "You really are a bad little brother!"

The corner of his lips twitched.

"Hehe." Elara giggled softly at the funny sight before her.

"Elara, let’s buy ice cream and a strawberry cake." Even though they lost the spar, Virelia still kept her promise.

"Alright." Elara rose to her feet and followed her happily.

"Hey, what about the food and drinks on the table?" Ren was startled when they left so suddenly like that.

"Don’t touch them or else I will bite your hands later," Virelia shouted.

Black lines formed on his forehead after hearing her words.

’She really has a unique personality.’

----

Time went by quickly and without realizing it, it was already 07:00 pm. At this moment, Ren and the others were having dinner in a famous restaurant.

They could see all kinds of sea animals since the restaurant was built underwater.

"So beautiful!" Elara’s eyes sparkled with happiness as colorful fish swam past her.

It was her first time in an underwater restaurant, so she was completely mesmerized by it, especially by the sea animals swimming around her.

While Elara was enjoying the view, Ren was staring at Virelia closely.

The prices there were three times more expensive than normal, yet she still ordered many foods and drinks as if it was nothing but numbers in her eyes.

When Virelia noticed his gaze, she immediately asked, "Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

"Are you from a wealthy family?" he voiced out what he had in mind.

"I am." She didn’t deny it. "But just for information, the money I spend is earned by me."

"Really?" he didn’t believe her immediately.

"Of course." She was not surprised by his reaction.

She was still in her early twenties.

It was normal for him to doubt it.

After all, she was still at 1-star, where most of them only had enough money to live and save a little.

"Why? Do you want to be my sugar baby now?" she teased him.

"That’s a tempting offer." He joked around.

"Hehe." She giggled softly. "If you keep being a good boy, this big sister will take you to many amazing places and treat you to delicious food."

"I won’t be poor forever," he said with determination. "One day, I will be both wealthy and powerful. When the time comes, I will treat you to a meal."

"Is that your dream?" she asked.

"Yes." Ren nodded. "We both will be powerful and wealthy. Isn’t that right, Elara?"

Elara didn’t answer since she was too busy enjoying the view around her.

"She didn’t hear you." Virelia giggled as she looked at Elara.

Ren didn’t say anything and only smiled softly.

She had previously lived deep in a forest. It was only natural for her to be captivated by the beauty of the restaurant.

Then, Ren and Virelia talked again.

Once Elara was satisfied watching the sea animal, she joined the conversation.

They spent time in the restaurant until 09:30 pm.

Before going home, they took several photos together as keepsakes.

Of course, they were using Virelia’s smartphone.

After all, Ren and Elara had no phone yet.

After sending them home, Virelia left.

----

The following day, Ren and Elara went to the Aether Organization after breakfast. Once they arrived, Cassandra took them to the blacksmith as their weapons were ready.

Ren and Elara were satisfied with the result and thanked the blacksmith.

On their way to the private training ground, they saw two grown men leading many teenagers somewhere.

Ren was curious about them, so his gaze kept following them.

"They are participants who passed the test. Our newest members. Just like you and Elara." Cassandra knew what he had in mind.

"Participants? But I didn’t see them in the test before." Ren was confused.

"Of course! Because they are from different districts." Cassandra began explaining.

Valoria City was huge, so the tests to join the organization were held in each of its three districts.

She was assigned to the Velis, while the other two were in the Loran and Arden Districts.

"I heard two people faced three magical beasts and won the fight." Cassandra knew the news from an insider. "But don’t worry. You are still the most impressive one."

"I see." He replied.

"Alright. Let’s head to your private training ground." Cassandra said. "I will teach you more about beast transformation. After that, we will have a small spar."

Ren and Elara nodded.

Once they arrived, Cassandra helped them understand their beast forms more. She also told them the best and most efficient way to use their innate abilities.

After teaching them for about an hour, Cassandra said, "Come. It’s time for a sparring session now."

Ren and Elara shifted into their partial transformations. Once she told them to attack her, they charged at her right away.

----

A/N: guys, we’ve reached Chapter 55. I think I’ve given you enough free chaps. I will go premium in a few hours.