This was an event from a little over a year ago, it was also the time when the young princess first came in contact with the young fairy.
To make sure they were ready for their first year at Nelxus Academy, a training camp had been set up for intensive training but all the families that could afford it were able to send their offsprings there.
Vesper was someone who wasn't really that good at getting along with people or making friends, that was mostly because she liked staying alone and couldn't be bothered to talk to other people. That's right, a happy loner.
This was the reason why most of the students at the training were left confused when she suddenly started approaching Axel.
At first, it started out as her constantly targeting him and trying everything possible to make things difficult for him.
From stealing his identification pendant to making him take the blame for her minor antics causing him to constantly get reprimanded by the instructor.
She also occasionally used her title as a princess to order him around.
At first glance, it looked like she was torturing him for some reason.
However, on closer observation, someone could tell that she just didn't know how to express herself and just wanted to get his attention. So, she didn't intervene much, except for that one special time.
After a while, the relationship between Vesper and Axel seemed to ease a bit, he no longer felt like she hated him for no reason and genuinely started to consider her a friend.
Well, that was until that evening. The students had just been informed about the combat assessment which would award them more points the higher they could go.
Vesper was worried that Axel wouldn't be able to get far in the assessment so she decided to give him something that might be able to help him. That was the white cane.
Actually, that wasn't just a cane; that was a beast core weapon with enhancement abilities; it was a core level three beast weapon, which was the highest level of beast weapon that they were allowed to use.
Looking at the weapon, Axel could tell it was precious and expensive which was all the more reason why he didn't want to accept it. Also, there was the fact that he didn't like using beast weapons as he liked to rely more on his strength.
He stared at the weapon for a while before slowly pushing it back to Vesper.
Vesper blinked her eyes in confusion before asking, "You don't like it?"
"No, it's just too precious, and besides, I've never liked using beast weapons; I'll do fine just by myself." He said with naive confidence.
"You think you'll do fine on your own?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"That's why you're rejecting it?"
"Yes."
Vesper's expression turned grim at the thought of a thinking pattern this naive, then suddenly, there was some sort of fire in her eyes.
"That's what every naive fool says moments before they get killed off." She scoffed. "You're the only core level two in this camp and you think you can do it without any help? You think too highly of your abilities."
"Vesper," Axel called but she did not stop.
She has always had a very sharp tongue and he knew it.
"I think the world will be better off with people like you who don't know when to grab an opportunity when it's presented in front of you. You think you're someone at a high level without knowing you're an ant for people to step over." She sneered. "Since you don't need it, I'll go give it to someone who needs it. Who do you even think you are?"
Axel could tell she was offended, angry and maybe even hurt as he watched her walk away. But what about him?
Although some of what she said did make a bit of sense he couldn't help but feel a bit hurt and angry at her words.
On top of all that, there was also confusion as he couldn't wrap his head around why she would suddenly burst out in anger because of what he said.
The two didn't speak to each other after that incident until a week later when the combat assessments kicked off.
Thinking back at that incident, Vesper was aware that she might have gone overboard back then that was why she regretted it the moment she returned to her room that day.
"I see you didn't end up giving it to someone else." Axel smiled as he reached for the cane. "This time I'll accept your kindness without complaint."
Vesper's response was a subtle smile.
Right at that moment, someone suddenly slid over from the left and stopped in front of the two.
A petite girl with blonde hair who was just slightly shorter than Vesper.
She had her left hand on her waist as she stared at Vesper, her alluring blue eyes glistening.
She had earth mounds around her leg which were slowly breaking away now.
"Vesper, have you found a third teammate?" She asked enthusiastically.
Vesper stared at her, not giving any response.
"Oh, you're Vesper's roommate." Axel suddenly said.
He knew they were roommates because she had met her before.
"Yes." The little girl nodded.
"Um….Cassie." Axel recalled.
"Yes, I'm Cassie Nelon." She nodded profusely before turning to Vesper. "Can I join your team, please?"
Axel also turned to Vesper at that moment as if seeking her approval.
"Hn." She nodded slightly.
Cassie was so overjoyed that she almost jumped.
"Looks like we're destined to go through a lot together, Vesper. We're roommates, and now we're in a team together." She smiled.
"It's nothing special, don't try to make it something grand," Vesper said in a cold voice.
Then she pulled Axel along with her as he walked further ahead not even sparing Cassie a glance.
If it was up to her, she would rather have another male teammate. Cassie wasn't exactly a bad roommate; they actually got along quite well on that aspect, but for some reason, she seemed really annoying to her now.
It didn't take long before it was finally time to start the assessment.
For this exercise, each time we're given a small flag with some sort of device on it.
The goal of the assessment was for the teams to capture as many flags as possible which would also mean gathering as many points as possible. But, to make things fair, holding onto a particular flag for a long period of time would also allow a team to accumulate a decent number of points for the assessment; the more flags a team had, the more points they could accumulate at a time. Consequently, a fixed number of points would be deducted the moment any team lost their flag.
So, it was up to the students to play a defensive game, an offensive game or to hang somewhere in between. That was probably the safest choice.
In no time, the teams were all handed their flags and quickly dispersed, some of them desperate to get to a good enough spot to hide away until the whole thing was over. The forest had been cleared of beasts after all so there was nothing to be afraid of.
Axel and his team seem to have found themselves in a darker area of the forest after walking for a while.
The area was congested with too many trees, all of them quite tall with thick branches and a lot of leaves to block the sun.
At the moment, they had not run into anyone who wanted to snatch the red flag that Cassie was holding at the moment.
"Are you sure you don't want to hold it? I think it's safer in your possession." Cassie said.
She had been trying to hand the flag over to Vesper thinking that it wasn't exactly safe with her.
Hearing her say that again, Vesper shot him a glare.
"Say that again and you might not find your way out of this forest."
Cassie immediately shut her mouth and didn't dare to speak again.
The group were about to continue moving forward when a bright blood slash was quickly sent flying their way from the front.
"Watch out."
Axel quickly stretched out both of his hands which were immediately covered by the usual faint golden glow of the light element.
[ Light shield activated ]
The shield of light immediately formed in front of the three just in time to make contact with the blood slash.
However, it looked like it wasn't strong enough as cracks soon began to appear.
It looked like it was going to break anytime soon, but right at that moment, the black ring on Axel's left index finger received a glow, and the white staff suddenly appeared in his hand.
This was something he had been curious about for a while.
[ Crow cane of enhancement equipped ]
[ All abilities (+1) ]
[ Light shield: level 2(+1) ]
The cracks suddenly began to mend themselves, and with just enough strength, he was able to negate the blood slash.
'Hmm, works better than I expected.'
Cassie had a lot of thoughts running through her mind but she could only address their current predicament for now.
"Who the heck was that?"
Vesper shot her gaze deep into the darkest part of the forest before letting out a low growl.
"Someone from the A class." She said,
"Smart as always, Your Highness."
From the dark parts of the forest, a tall figure suddenly strutted out, wearing a long black coat with a black lance resting on his shoulder.
His dark hair was neatly gelled back and he had a fiery look in his eyes as he stared at three in front of him.
"You didn't show up for class today, Your Highness."