How I Became the Strongest Sovereign

Chapter 21 - The Fitness Tests

"Listen up you useless bunch. As this is your first PE lesson this year, we are required to make you guys do a baseline test. Get ready, warm up folks. First test is the 100m sprint. Girls go first." the PE teacher spoke, he had a slim but toned body and was around 40ish years old.

Did I really have to do more running? I had already ran 20km for my compulsory quests in the morning.

Jace nudged my shoulder, trying to get my attention,"Oii, Zeref you see that girl over there, that beauty over there. I think she likes me. She's been staring at me this whole lesson." he said in glee. I looked in the direction to see the same black hair, white half wolf I saved at the market, running around the race track. I recognised the girl she was talking to, Naz from my class. Naz had blonde hair blue eyes with a small face whereas, the wolf girl had black hair, black eyes and a sharp jaw and nose.

"Oh, I know her. I saved her from being sold in the black market some time back, that ungrateful girl." I grunted as I remembered the scene she made in the centre of town.

"Look she's so fast- WAIT! You did what?!"

I chuckled. "Cmon, it's our turn to run." I walked to Malia and handed her my water bottle, seeing as she didn't bring one.

"I hate PE." she huffed out. Jace and I snickered and Jace handed her his little towel so she could wipe her sweat.

"Hey by the way Z-" she drank a long chug from the bottle. "Sara keeps staring at you and during the run. Do you know her?" she rolled her eyes, wiping off the sweat on her hairline.

Jace scoffed and started running on the track, annoyed that Sara wasn't staring at him. "What?... Did I say something wrong?" Malia watched as Jace ran off.

"No, he's just upset." I laughed. "You said her name was Sara, right?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Yes." she glared at me. I gave her a confused look. What did I do? Before she could say anything else, I ran onto the track, easily catching up to Jace and slowing down when I got to his pace.

**

-Sara's POV-

"What's that guys name?" I asked Naz while squinting my eyes at the boy who 'saved' me.

Naz let out a dreamy sigh next to me. "Zeref freaking Amara. Hot, isn't he? Elder year girls are going crazy for him." she giggled. "Why? You got a cruuuuush?" she wiggled her eyebrows and poked me playfully.

I giggled and smiled at her while shaking my head. "All you think about is love, huh?" I laughed again as she nodded, smirking.

"He's the creep who pretended to be my sister," I glared at Zeref who was laughing at a light-skinned boy who tripped and fell on the race track.

"For the last time Sara, the guy SAVED you and stop glaring; the fur on your ear goes all fuzzy when you're mad." she smacked my arm and my jaw dropped at her audacity.

"He tricked me." I pouted.

Naz sighed and stroked the fur on my wolf ears, to get it to stop frizzing.

I giggled, "That tickles!"

After the boys finished their laps, everyone gathered into the crowd. I was about to walk towards Zeref but the teacher spoke, "Okay ya lil twerps. Listen up. First three people to cross the finish line get to leave while the rest stay behind to clean up the equipment."

Everyone hurried into position. The jerk of a teacher didn't even count down, "GO!" he yelled, all of a sudden and the people with the quickest reaction ran ahead. I let my half werewolf take over, my eyes glowing yellow and my fangs forming. Naz and I were shoulder to shoulder. I didn't want to win but I could see Naz didn't want to clean up. We both gave each other that knowing look before I stopped so she could get on my back.

"RUN SARA RUNNNN!" she pointed ahead as I wolf sped past everyone with her clinging onto my back. Could you blame us though? The canteen line was long as f*ck and I wasn't waiting an hour just to eat.

I pushed my legs faster and was winning by far but suddenly I heard a "hey" next to me. Naz and I turned our heads at the same time and saw Zeref with his friend on his back. The friend smirked at us and waved. We were all at the same pace.

"Nooooo! Sara run faster!!!!" Naz started to panic and began slapping my shoulder like I was her horse. I nodded and pushed forwards but Zeref easily caught my footings, keeping in time with me. Was he running my speed on purpose?! I ran closer to him and Naz read my vibe quickly. She reached out her hand and flapped it at Zeref's face.

"Take that!!!" she laughed and continued to smack Zeref's head.

"HEY CHEATERS!" Zeref's friend grabbed Naz's wrist and they both started struggling to push each other. I turned to see Zeref and I shoulder to shoulder and the finish line was close. Zeref smirked at me. So this is a game to him? My food is no joke! Naz and Zeref's friend were whacking each other behind us.

"Jace you can't hit. Girls." *WHACK*

"Naz you're a cave troll. Not a girl!" *WHACK* *WHACK*

"Ow you-" Naz grabbed Jace's hair.

"AHHHHH!" Jace let out a girly scream and smacked Naz's arms. "LET GO! MY PERM! MY PERMMMMM!" he screamed.

"Stop resisting, Stinkend-"

"ARGH!" we all yelled out in sync; someone barged in between us, making Zeref and Jace stubble and fall.

"Move!" she said.

Naz and I snickered as we jumped over them and continued running.

The girl's presence was faintly of a wolfs as she sped in front of me. Jeez, she was fast. I ran next to her but when I tried to push ahead, she would too. We ended up crossing the finish line together.

"YEYYYYY!" Naz pulled my shoulder forward and backwards in joy. I screamed before tripping over my own foot and falling on top of Naz.

"You idiot!" I laughed and we both started dying on the floor but stopped when we heard an annoyed scoff. Malia stood over us with her arms crossed before turning her head and leaving. I quickly got on my feet and dusted myself off, leaving Naz on the floor and running after Malia.

"Hey Malia wait-" I ran behind her but she suddenly stopped and I accidentally bumped into her back. She turned to look at me with an emotionless poker face.

"Yes?" she peered down at me and although we were both the same height, I felt so small, shrinking back as she squinted her eyes.

"Uhm…" I whimpered, "I'm Princess Sara, princess of the were men race". Hesitantly, I let out my hand, as a greeting. She looked down at my hand and crossed her hands in a bored manner. Why doesn't she like me? She's half wolf; I can smell it in her scent, but why doesn't she like me? I'm literally her princess. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, scanning me up and down. Me being self conscious, I coughed a little and her eyes met mine again.

"Ohhhhh" she gasped in realisation, "Right, my honour princess. Pleasure to see you." she bowed in a sarcastic manner before turning around, flipping her hair in my face.

"W-wait, that's not-" she turned the corner and left, "what I meant…" I whispered. I wanted to be friends.

**

-Zeref's POV-

Jace and I gobbled down our food, stuffing in as much as we could. We had made a bet to see who could eat faster; the loser was a cow. I tried to laugh at Jace choking but I ended up gagging and spitting out my food.

"Ugh, can you both not? Lookin' like constipated donkeys," Malia rolled her eyes at us and shoved her plate at Jace. "So embarrassing." her face twisted into disgust as Jace swallowed down her food in two bites.

"Damn. What's gotten into your pants?" Jace laughed before he realised what I realised. We both glanced at each other and burst out laughing like dying hyenas.

"Wh-what's gotten i-into her p-pants!!!" I repeated, snorting.

Malia sighed, giving in. "Hey Zeref, you have something on your chin…" she squinted her eyes at my chin and I stroked my hand around my chin.

"Where?" I asked, not feeling anything.

"No, your third chin." she smirked and Jace burst out laughing, twisting to the side to spit out his water which was already dripping out.

"Disgusting." Malia walked away with her tray.

"W-wait! Where are you g-going?!" I tried to speak seriously but my laugh just wouldn't stop.

"To the bathroom," she replied, not looking back and leaving the canteen.

Jace slapped my arm continuously as we both died. Soon I was laughing so hard to the point where my laugh went silent because I couldn't breath.

"KHONK!" Jace snorted again and fell off his chair, making my stomach hurt from laughing.

"S-stop!" I wheezed in tears.

Abruptly, our table was slammed and we both sat up in shock. Expecting Malia, we were shocked to see two very familiar girls.

I looked up to see Naz, the girl who slammed our table, standing over us; her eyes glaring at us. Frosty blue eyes looked down at me before glinting in joy. Her bright blonde hair went just below her shoulders and she flung it behind her shoulders, showing off her fair skin.

I slid my attention to the girl next to her to meet sharp dark black eyes. The girl wore heavy eyeliner showing off her status as a princess. I let my eyes roam at her black wolf ears and straight shoulder cut hair. Her nose was small but her lips were plump. She had long curled eyelashes and pale skin with glowing cheekbones… Sara. Sara was noticeably shorter than Naz, coming up to Naz's ears.

She bit her lip before speaking, "Can I sit?" To my surprise, her voice defied her features, coming out soft and small.

"Uh, sure…" Jace sat up, brushing his shirt off.

He was clearly uncomfortable with Naz sitting in front of him, seeing as they both fought earlier on. He shuffled in his seat and I tried holding in my laugh, covering my mouth with my sleeve.

"Hi… I'm Saraphina Claws but people call me Sara," she smiled at me. Smirking at her, I noticed her cheeks going noticeably red. She was definitely the shy type.

"Zeref Amara," I nodded at her politely.

"We know!" Naz gushed, clasping her hands together and fluttering her eyes at me. Okay...?

"I'm Naz Hosterwell," she smiled and I awkwardly sighed, not knowing what I was supposed to do.

"We know," Jace scoffed.

"Oh uh, I'm Zeref Amara. This is Jace Stinkend." I pointed at Jace. I didn't get the whole introduction thing. We already knew each other's names. What's the point?

"Hi," Jace waved at them with an unbothered face.

"We were wondering if we could hang out with you!" Naz cut straight to the point.

"Naz…" Sara gently warned.

"Why?" Jace questioned while wrapping up a piece of paper and attempting to throw it in the bin before missing.

"Because Zeref's hot and I like h- OW!" Naz was cut off by Sara jabbing her in the stomach. I blushed at her words and chuckled while rubbing the back of my head.

"No. No. I don't approve. I-" Jace was interrupted.

"I think you're very handsome too," Sara gazed at Jace, smartly. Jace choked on the air and stuttered before just nodding. I guess this was my cue then.

"Sure," I smiled.

I guess me saving her was a thing in the past because it wasn't brought up and Sara soon loosened up enough to talk to me. I think Naz forced her to sit with us or something but she ended up liking us. I noticed Malia was taking a while and I think Jace noticed too because he would occasionally glance at the door, seeing if she would walk in. I didn't notice I was doing it too before Naz pointed it out.

A loud burp erupted from Naz and Jace flinched back, fanning his nose. "Damn, you TROLL!" he grimaced and I laughed at him.

To our joy, the canteen door swung open and Malia came walking towards us. At first, she wore a beautiful smile but when she saw the extra girls on our table, her face dropped into an angry glare; mostly directed at me but I could see Jace shiver. I think she doesn't like girls…

Stopping in her tracks, Malia just stood, staring at us. What did I do?! Girls are so confusing. I've never seen her talk to girls or hang out with them. Does she despise them or something? I don't know! Thoughts rushed through my brain as my palms began to sweat. Damn she is scary sometimes.

"M-Malia!" Jace waved at her, signalling at her to come sit. Sara and Naz also turned their attention to Malia who was standing in the middle of the canteen. Malia's face changed into a poker face as she stared at Sara. Did I miss an episode?

Turning around swiftly, Malia walked out of the canteen with her head still held high. Jace instantly got up from his seat and ran after her and so did I. We both just did it on instinct. Sara and Naz followed behind us.

**

"Malia," Jace grabbed her arm and spun her around. Glaring at him, she pulled his hand off of hers.

"What?" she whispered dangerously, making me stay silent. Jace can deal with this. Good luck.

"I- You- Where are you going?" Jace tried to find the right words.

The clacking of shoes echoed through the hall and soon, out of the corner, Sara and Naz came panting. Wrong timing.

Malia stared at them; her face unreadable. "I'm going to return my library book. It's past its due date." she sighed before turning to leave.

Jace and I let out a breath of relief. So she wasn't mad?

"Have fun you two." she called over her shoulder, turning the corner and disappearing. I looked over at Jace and we both knew that wasn't a good sign.

"What's her deal? She's so rude," Naz rolled her eyes.

"Mind your own business." Jace quickly flew to Malia's defence.

"Uh, we will see you later… Naz and I have to go." Sara sighed, pulling her away from us.