My spirit animal is a F–Rank gecko-Chapter 22: The first special bond exam (8)

(Jay and Ivy POV)

After running for a while, Ivy’s foot got tangled in a spiky vine, and she dropped to the ground.

"AGH!"

Jay hurriedly covered her mouth.

"Shh, you might attract people. Let me see that foot."

Jay carefully picked up the vine and threw it away, while Ivy was huffing loudly against Jay’s hand.

Her foot was badly injured, with many holes that spewed blood everywhere.

"Jay... It hurts.."

Ivy sobbed as tears started falling down her cheek.

"It’s ok, let me cover the wound first."

He took out a handkerchief he had in his uniform jacket and pressed it hard on her leg.

Ivy bit into Jay’s arm while he was wrapping her wound with the cloth.

After finishing, he whispered in Ivy’s ear.

"Can you walk?"

Ivy, with teary eyes, slowly nod her head.

"Ok, let’s hide first!"

He looked around and spotted a log. He got up and carefully guided Ivy while she walked on only one leg.

He put her down, and she rested her head on the log while huffing and sweating profusely.

"You’re not feeling good."

Jay touched her forehead, and he felt her body temperature starting to rise more and more.

"I think it’s because of the spiky vines; we don’t know what they contain."

Jay looked at the pain on Ivy’s face. At first, he felt genuinely bad, but he shook his head.

"Your spirit animal is a storm affinity, right?"

Ivy slowly nodded her head.

"Shit, Karina’s healing would’ve really helped. Do you want to go back to the cave so Karina can patch you up?"

Ivy shook her head violently.

"NO!"

All of a sudden, she screamed.

Jay was startled and immediately covered her mouth.

"Girl, we’re gonna get caught if you’re this loud."

"I’m sorry... It’s just.."

Ivy looked down; her eyes were shaking.

"I just don’t wanna look like a burden in front of people. I know that I already made a bad first impression on all of you. But at the very least, I don’t want you guys to feel like you can’t depend on me!"

Ivy started crying, not from pain this time, but from a feeling she had kept deep inside of her.

Jay just stared at Ivy. He didn’t do anything. In fact, he wished she would just stop crying.

He thought to himself.

Can this girl shut up already....

Jay gripped her shoulder, staring at her intensely.

It was as if someone turned a switch on Jay; his serious expression changed into a bright, warm smile.

He gently wiped Ivy’s tears while patting her head.

"Everything will be ok, Ivy. Trust me!"

He pulled her into a hug.

Ivy’s eyes widened. She felt like she was gonna cry more, now that someone deeply cared about her.

Unbeknownst to her, behind her back, Jay’s warm smile immediately turned into an annoyed frown.

Jay rolled his eyes.

What a crybaby.

Just then, he heard the sound of bushes rustling.

Jay quickly reacted and spotted a hole inside a tree. He guided Ivy to the hole, and they both hid there.

Jay covered Ivy’s mouth while she was shivering.

She whispered.

"Jay... Who’s that?"

"Shh."

Jay peeked his head out and saw one of the girls that was part of the team that chased after Jaster, holding a worn-out bow.

She stretched her arm.

"Aaaa~~~ that felt good. Finally, I can get away from my stupid teammates."

"Isn’t that the girl from that team earlier?"

Jay saw her put her bow down, and she started undressing.

His eyes widened, and he stopped peeking.

"What did you see?"

Ivy asked, curious about Jay’s reaction.

"It’s... Nothing. But Ivy, I have a plan."

Jay leaned in to whisper. Whatever he told Ivy made her shocked.

She reluctantly nodded.

While the girl had the time of her life taking a number one in the middle of the forest.

Ivy slowly extended her arm. Her chest began to glow cyan, and it spread through her hands.

[ Skill activated ]

Overgrowth Cataclysm — Lv.1

The vines around the tree started growing more and more, and they slowly slithered towards the girl.

The girl hummed a song while the vine slowly wrapped itself around her leg.

And at the right moment, Ivy commanded the vine to pull the girl, making her slip.

"WHAT—" The vine proceeded to wrap all around her body, leaving only her head visible.

"Nice! Good job, buddy!"

Jay invited Ivy for a high-five. She was shocked that she was able to do something like that.

All this time, she’d only been able to make plants shake, so controlling a whole vine was game-changing for Ivy.

She smiled and high-fived Jay back.

"See? Your skills don’t always have to revolve around agility. They could be so much more!"

Jay patted Ivy’s hair, which made her smile at him.

The both of them went out of their hiding, while Ivy held onto Jay’s shoulder.

They spotted the girl wiggling in the vines.

The girl’s eyes shot up after seeing Jay and Ivy.

"Hey, you! This is your doing, right? Release me this instant, or we’ll put your team on our blacklist!"

The girl hissed at them, while Jay gave her a cocky smirk.

"Well, well, well. Look, Ivy, we captured ourselves a bunny!"

"Bunny?! Where, where is it? I love bunnies!"

Ivy, not getting Jay’s sarcasm, started looking around, while he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Forget it... Anyway, on to the main dish. What’s your name, sweetheart?"

Jay pulled the girl’s chin up. She furrowed her eyebrows, her eyes staring right into Jay’s soul.

"Hah. Why would I tell you? Why would you want to know, pretty boy?"

The girl countered Jay’s cocky expression with an even cockier smirk.

Jay scoffed.

"I’m flattered. But...." His voice all of a sudden became low, and he whispered under his breath.

"I really don’t have time for your bullshit!"

[ Skill activated ]

Fool’s Act — Lv.1

Jay’s chest began to glow red, and it spread until it reached his eyes.

The girl stared at the guy’s eyes, and her face started becoming blank.

Her mouth gaped, and her eyes glared at Jay.

Ivy, watching this, felt concerned.

Jay began to open his mouth.

"What’s your name?"

As if something in her heart told her to obey every word he said, she started speaking.

"My name is Kaya."

"What team are you on, and who are you with?"

Ivy, seeing Jay seemingly controlling Kaya, felt uncomfortable.

"We’re Team Green. I’m with my teammates: Cameron, the red-haired one; Gaddy, the fat one; Brandon, the wannabe leader; and Stacy, the bitch."

Jay’s eyes widened; he scoffed.

"Wow, you have a very interesting perspective on your teammates!"

Kaya’s face turned sour.

"Of course! I was forced to join their team anyway. I hate those bitches. Especially Stacy!"

A spark of an idea came into Jay’s head. He rubbed his chin, then looked at Ivy, which made her jump.

"Ivy. I have a funny plan. Do you wanna see a drama show?"

Ivy blinked for a while, but nodded slowly, since she had no choice anyway.

Jay leaned in to whisper to Kaya, and her blank expression slowly turned into a more sinister one.