n

n

n

"Excuse me, where are you three going?

" Asked one of the maids who noticed the trio heading out.

n

"We're going to the city,

" John replied.

n

"Ah, have a safe trip,

" She said as she bowed.

n

"We will.

" They replied.

nAnd just like that, they went out.

nIt's been 2 days since the exam. After the exams ended, they were taken to a room, and those who passed were given a location and a date, nothing else. Shortly after, they were teleported back out.

nThey didn't hear anything about what happened to those who chose the blue gate or who passed, but John was sure it'll be announced soon.

nThe 10 who stayed up were put in B class, within those 10, Serena, Ariel, victor, Shadow haired boy, and John were put in the Alpha Class.

nIn the other group, everyone was put in C-Class, including Eleanor, aside from the winner who was put in B-Class.

nAs for John, he ended up winning the entrance exam as Victor had given up, and was promised a reward, but they hadn't told him what it was yet.

nIn the end, they're still being kept in the dark about what was going happen, but John was sure it's for security reasons.

n

"It's a shame Eleanor couldn't come...

" Muttered Ariel with her head hung.

n

"Yeah, she shut herself in her room since we got back.

" John replied.

n'Anyone would, after being separated from your friends because you're not good enough…' John thought.

n

"She needs time alone, leaves her be, and cheer up! She could always rank up and join us. Don't forget why we went out today!

" Said Serena as she tried to comfort Ariel.

n

"Why we went out?

" Ariel asked.

n

"You weren't listening earlier, were you...? To eat cake! Cake!

" Said Serena.

n

"Ahh, cake! We promised to go eat it after we were back, didn't we?

" Asked Ariel.

n

"Of course we did! And we deserve it. Let's get some for Eleanor. That should cheer her up.

" Said Serena with a smile.

n

"T-That's right!

" Replied Ariel as she raised her head.

n'Her mood got better, not bad Serena.' John praised silently.

n

"Now that I think about it, isn't walking to the shopping district, going to take a while?

" John asked.

n

"Now that you mention it...

" Serena muttered.

nEleanor's mansion was pretty far from the shopping district as it was away from the shopping district. It was in the area of the wealthy, after all.

nIt was a very open area.

n

"Hmm, what should we do...

" John muttered as he tried to think of something.

nThey couldn't ask Kurt to give them a carriage ride there as they had left without telling him.

nSuddenly John felt a pair of gazes on him.

nThe two girls were staring straight at him as if they already had something in mind.

n

"John, can we do that?

" Serena asked.

n

"That?

" John replied.

n

"Flying, do you think we could fly there? Or is it too risky?

" Ariel asked.

n'Oh, that's what they wanted.' John realised.

n

"I don't mind, and we should be fine if I use 'furtim', but I thought you two were afraid of it,

" John said.

n

"T-That was just a one-time thing, forget that.

" Said Serena as she turned her head.

n

"It was a little scary at first, but I'm not that scared anymore,

" Said Ariel.

n

"Alright then.

" He replied.

nJohn grabbed on to their hands and cast 'Furtim' and 'levite' at the same time.

nHe then propelled them straight to the sky, using velox.

nAs they got higher, Serena grabbed on to John's arm and her grip strength increased.

nMeanwhile, Ariel seemed to be just fine and enjoyed it.

n

"Yep, I'll never get tired of this feeling,

" John muttered as they soared through the clouds.

nThe refreshing feeling of the wind passing through the body, of being able to move around effortlessly, to be one with the sky was truly an amazing feeling.

nAriel was still at a loss for words. She seemed to really enjoy flying, anyone could tell if they looked at her face that was full of enthusiasm.

nAs for Serena,

n

"Um... Serena...

" John muttered.

n

"What...?

" She asked.

n

"It's easy to control where we're going in this position... I thought you said you weren't afraid,

" John replied.

n

"O-Of course I'm not afraid!

" Said Serena.

n

"Then why are you grabbing on to me?

" John asked.

n

"...

"

nThe moment they started soaring through the skies, Serena's grip over John's left arm moved over to his whole body as she placed her arms around it.

nWithout saying anything, she simply looked away.

nJohn let out a sigh and tried to ignore it, Ariel was too engrossed in the scenery to realize it.

n***

nThey landed on an alley and John made sure no one noticed before he deactivated 'Furtim'.

n

"Alright, let's go.

" He spoke.

nThey walked around the district, looking for the cake bakery.

nSerena acted normal, even though she looked so nervous a while ago.

n

"You, aren't you the guy who won the entrance exam?

" Asked a stranger who stopped once he noticed them.

n

"Ah? Yes,

" John replied.

n

"Wow, you were really cool! The way you used elemental spells, it was amazing! You're younger than me but our skills are leagues apart.

"

n

"Haha, is that so, thank you,

" John replied.

n

"Anyway, I have to go finish work now, thanks for the brilliant performance!

" he said with a smile as he ran off.

n

"Performance?

" Repeated another stranger who passed by.

n

"Wait, aren't those two the ones who were shown on the screen for the exam?

"

n

"Ah, it's that girl who took out a whole group by herself!

"

n

"And that boy is the one who won the exams, what sort of noble family is he from?

"

n'Ah, I can't believe I forgot that they said the exams would be displayed around the city, but I never expected to become this famous…' John realised.

n

"John, what do we do-

"

nJohn interrupted Ariel as he grabbed on to their hands and ran away with them from the scene.

n***

n

"Are you sure this is gonna work?

" Asked Serena.

n

"Of course,

" John replied.

n

"Don't we look strange?

" Ariel asked.

n

"We have to bear with it for now,

" John replied.

n

"But...

"

nBesides, it's better than grabbing unwanted attention.

nThey walked outside of the shop and looked around. The people who walked by didn't really seem to notice and showed no interest.

n

"See, I told you, it'd work,

" John said.

n

"As much as I hate to admit it...

" Muttered Serena.

nThey had bought wigs. Serena and Ariel didn't have very long hair, so it didn't take long for them to put it on.

n

"Now that, that's sorted. Let's find that shop.

" John stated.

n

"Yeah!

" They excitedly replied.

n***

nThey walked around and at first, couldn't find anything.

nThe district was big, and they were easily distracted.

nBut after following directions, which they were given after asking, they eventually reached it.

n

"We're finally here.

"

nThey walked inside and were surprised to see the perfect condition of the shop.

nThere were tables around, and nearly all of them were full.

nThe people happily ate what they had ordered as they minded their business. There were also groups of people who talked as they ate.

nThey walked over to the counter, and there was a display next to them.

nThe display showed different types of sweets, mainly cakes, and cupcakes.

nSerena and Ariel's eyes sparkled as they stared at them, but John was more surprised and impressed than they were.

nFrom chocolate cakes to vanilla cupcakes, this shop had it all. For a world that had little progress in technology to be able to create, this was surprising, and not only that, but it was done by commoners too.

nDue to John's vast curiosity, he had searched up when chocolate was started being marketed as sweets in his previous life and discovered that it was in the late 19th century. This world felt like it was in something around the 15th or 14th century, yet they were already marketing these things.

n'It's almost as if... Someone from the future gave them these ideas... Don't tell me... I'm not the only one who was reincarnated to this world.' John wondered.

n

"Um, excuse me, would you like to order anything?

" Asked the lady.

n

"What are the options?

" John asked.

n

"Of course, over here you have a chocolate cake, and this is the cupcake version, you also have a vanilla strawberry cake or the special Chocolate and vanilla mix, anything you see on display is available,

" Said the lady.

nThat confirmed it.

n

"What would you like?

" John asked.

n

"Hmm, this looks good,

" Said Serena as she pointed at the chocolate and vanilla mix.

n

"What about you, Ariel?

" He asked again.

n

"I'd like that one.

" Said Ariel as she pointed at the strawberry vanilla cake.

n

"Alright, I'll go for the Chocolate cake

"

n

"Understood, one chocolate cake, Chocolate and vanilla mix, and a strawberry vanilla coming up. That'll be 10 silver.

" The woman replied.

nJohn handed her the coins, and she led them to an empty table near the entrance. The store had glass windows so they could see outside clearly.

nIt was still light out, so it was a perfect spot to enjoy eating.

n

"Please wait a moment, your order is being prepared, a worker will bring it to this table when it's done.

"

n'Looks like we'll finally get to try some cake…' John thought.

nHe looked over at Serena and Ariel; they seemed really enthusiastic about it.. It wasn't like she was tried to hide it.

n