Breaking the Array

No sooner had Talanna announced the rules of the trial than Michelle brought a stranger and demanded to see Master Fenoya at once, especially in front of so many outsiders. It left Talanna somewhat embarrassed.

"Who is he? Michelle, you're getting bolder and bolder. Skipping yesterday's banquet was one thing, but today you actually brought a strange human here!" The one who spoke was Michelle's older sister, Feli. She had been quietly preparing for the exam in the palace, so she had not been at Verdant Hall before and knew nothing of Chen Rui's "identity."

Facing her sister's public rebuke, Michelle pouted unhappily. "I'm acting on Mother's orders! I'm taking Richard to see Teacher!"

"Her Majesty's orders?" Talanna frowned and looked at Chen Rui. "But the trial's magic array has already been activated. Teacher personally arranged this array, and it is filled with all manner of traps and dangers. Even I cannot stop it. If you wish to see Teacher, you will have to wait until the trial ends at nightfall."

Michelle looked at Chen Rui. Not wanting to put the little girl in a difficult position, Chen Rui shrugged. "So there's a magic array. Then we'll wait until nightfall. I'm not in a hurry."

Just then, a cold voice rose from among the trial participants. "Ariel, didn't you say that guy with a bird on his head was very strong? Turns out he's just a coward."

The red-haired Ariel spread her hands. "Regrettably, I cannot predict a person's courage. Perhaps what I sensed before was his bird, not the man himself."

The students immediately burst into laughter. Michelle shouted angrily, "Richard is not a coward! You bad people are all horrible!"

"Michelle! How can you be so rude to my friends?" Feli said with a frown. "Don't forget that