97 Chapter 97: Forbidden Fores

Jinha shrugged as he said, "They are at it again."

Hazel sighed, "I wonder how they make noise without you involved. Why would they bicker so much?"

Jinha complained, "Hey!!! why are you pulling me into this?"

Hazel peeked at him as she said, "Its true, right? You are the one who riles everyone up with your stupid suggestions."

"Princess !"

Hazel shook her head as she opened the door. Alas! just like she expected. Everyone inside was watching Ren and Hak bicker while Zeno prepared the papers for the meeting.

He placed the papers on everyone's spot and looked up just in time to see Hazel enter. He pushed his glasses and said, "President, there you are. They have started without you again, as usual."

Hazel smiled slightly, "I'm sorry for being late. Let's get the meeting started."

Hazel sat on her seat and opened the file. She scanned the papers while Ren and Hak continued bickering with each other. Reyna raised her leg on the table as she ate her food. Jinha sat down and watched them bickering amusedly.

After a few minutes, Hazel rubbed her forehead and slammed the file on the table. Instantly, the boisterous room quietened down as everyone turned to look at Hazel.

Hazel raised her hand which held the file and asked, "If you guys have finished your squabble, let's talk about the event?" 

Ren pouted before taking his place. Liz looked around before saying, "Usui and Zelal aren't here. Shouldn't we wait for them?"

Instantly, Hazel's mind drifted to the brooding figure rushing out of the forest. Her heart twisted in pain as she thought of what she did.

'It is going to be alright.'

"President?"

'You did the right thing.'

"Hazel?"

Hazel snapped out of her thoughts when she felt her hand being held tight. She looked at her hand before glancing up and found everyone looking at her. She smiled as she apologized, "Sorry, let's start and later fill them in."

Liz looked at her worriedly to which she felt her squeezing her hand. Sighing, Liz nodded her head before looking down at the papers.

Before they could begin, the door burst open. Everyone glanced towards the door and saw Usui sauntering in slowly. He made his way towards the seat opposite of Hazel and sat without looking at anyone. He started spinning a coin between his fingers on the table as he made himself comfortable in his seat.

Sensing everyone's gaze on him, Usui caught the coin and looked up. His eyes wandered around before he stated, "I just noticed the message."

Ren looked at him and asked in confusion, "Are you okay?"

Usui glanced at him and raised his eyebrow. 

"I mean you are behaving weirdly."

And, he shifted his cold gaze towards Hazel who turned her head away. A bitter smile formed on his face but vanished in a second before anyone could catch it.

He stared at the rest and said, "Let's start?"

Hazel cleared her throat as she asked Zeno, "Did you check whether any weird activities happened in the Forest?"

Zeno nodded as he said, "The spirit beasts have started to behave weirdly. There were said to be a sighting of inner regions beasts on the outskirts of middle regions and just near the outer region."

Hazel frowned as she said, "That's strange. What could change within the forest?"

Jinha said nonchalantly, "Maybe it's because of the demons. The wakening of their lord must have disrupted the peace of the forest."

"Does that mean we should not conduct the event?"

Ren placed his chin on his palm as he asked, "It doesn't necessarily mean that we have to stop, right?"

"Maybe it is because of some treasure inside the forest."

Loki added, "I doubt whether that happens daily."

Zeno nodded as he gestured them to turn their page, "True, that case has only happened once and that was when the demons attacked the Crystal Kingdom."

The thunder squad members pursed their lips as they thought about that disastrous day. 

Liz asked worriedly, "Does that mean the spirit beasts are colluding with the demons?"

Hazel shook her head, "Unlikely. The spirit beast didn't join in the battle. Maybe it is just like Ren said, there must be some treasure within the forest."

Reyna uttered, "So, let's use the event to find out what is happening in the forest."

Hazel nodded her head and said, "I will inform Principal Vernon and get his opinion too."

Everyone nodded agreeing with her. They moved on to continue discussing the event preparations.

.....

Hazel stretched her numb body and looked out the window. 

"It's already twilight."

Jinha stretched his arms and laid down on the table as he revealed, "This is why I hate being part of the council."

Hazel chuckled as she rubbed his head. She stopped caressing his hair when she felt a cold gaze on her. Knowing who was the owner of the gaze, Hazel curled her fingers into a fist. Sighing, she looked at everyone and suggested, "It's already late in the evening. Let's continue tomorrow. "

Ren yawned as he said, "Understood, Princess."

Jinha turned his head, facing Hazel, and said, "I can't wait for Survival. We need to settle our scores."

A small smile formed on her face as she looked at Jinha and said teasingly, "What scores? Didn't you come out as first?"

Jinha raised his head from the table and glared at Hazel. 

"Don't remind me of that time. Last time was just a nightmare."

The thunder squad members laughed as they saw Jinha's accusing glare.

Reyna looked at them and asked, "Why not? Jinha, you doubled Loki's score. So what do you mean by a nightmare?"

Hak smirked as he said, "Maybe its because he didn't triple Loki's score."

Jinha glowered at Hak who raised his eyebrow, provoking him.