“John, hey. Wake up.” said Ezra, tapping John’s shoulder. John awoke from his sleep.
“Good morning, dorm mate. Ezra said happily. “I can’t wait.”
As he sat up, John felt a tear falling from his face. He also felt a strange feeling, the kind of feeling you get when you are experiencing something depressing and you feel a sort of discomfort in your chest and belly. He didn’t think to much of it though, simply wiping it off and getting out of his bed. John took a shower and put on his clothes, exiting the bathroom when he was done.
“You ready, John?” Ezra asked, opening the door.
“Yeah, let’s get this show on the road.” John said, putting his jacket on and walking with Ezra out of the room.
The two walked down the hall along with the many other male students to the student cafeteria. The cafeteria was a large room with four long tables, stretching from one end to the room to the other which allowed in at least six hundred students at a time. John and Ezra sat down at the furthest table close to the wall of the room away from where the students get their food. As the two sat down and ate, John noticed a demi-human girl walking down to the row to find a seat. As she passed Ezra, who was on the side of the table closest to the row the girl was walking down, a male student brushed his hand under the girl’s skirt and pulled her tail. When she turned around, another male student, sitting near the guy that harassed the girl pulled on one of her ears. The boys mocked her with cat noises while they laughed until finally letting her go after seeing another demi-human student and a teacher approaching them and putting an end to the humiliation they were causing her.
“Must be rough being a demi-human.” said Ezra.
“Her life is a paradise compared to mine.” said a student, sitting next to John.
The student was tall, muscular-figured man with dark tan skin and an almost bald head because of how short his hair was.
“I’m sorry, but you did see that girl get sexually harassed and then mocked for being a demi-human, right?” Ezra said.
“Yeah, what happened to her was bad, but she still has it better than me. No one would ever do that to me or the ones here like me out of fear the we might ‘take their souls or kill them’.”
What do you mean by that?” John asked.
“Look at my eyes.” the student said.
Ezra looked at the student’s eyes and saw that they were bright orange, “A Demonite!?” a surprised John said.
“So you’re a Demonite. So what? I’m not afraid of you.” Ezra boldly stated.
The student laughed heartily and said, “I like you, what’ your name, friend?”
“Ezra, and I’m not your friend.”
“Ezra, huh.” he said. He then turned to John. “And who might you b….” The student paused as he saw the orange hue in John’s eyes, “You’re… you’re a Demonite as well?”
“Apparently, why?” John replied.
“This is awesome! It’s been a while since I’ve met a new Demonite student. What’s your name.”
“John Beru.”
“Good to meet you, John Beru. I’m Seton Greylor.” the student said happily, shaking John’s hand.
“You’re a member of the Greylor family?” Ezra asked. “I’ve heard stories that they were the fiercest Demonite warriors in Sorim.”
“That they were, but my family has fallen from grace these past few years, I’m here to carry on their warrior legacy.” he stated with a hardy laugh.
Just then, a bell rang through the room, causing all the students in the room to stand up and start leaving the room, “Well, I better get to class. See you later, John Beru.” Seton said, standing up from his seat and walking away. John and Ezra also got up and exited the cafeteria.
A few minutes before the bell rang, Kya sat with Ash at the table closest to one of the exits. As Kya was eating, a girl about two years younger than her sat on the seat in front of her. The girl was bright skinned and had short black and red hair that reached down to her shoulders; she had grey eyes and wore a red and white dress-like outfit made from strong but light fabrics for quick movements and had some leather on the torso and sleeves. The skirt of the dress went just above her knees. She wore black-colored leggings and black boots. A white hood could also be seen hanging from the back. Her face gave off a childish look as she made a surprised smile when she saw Kya.
“Kya, is that you? I didn’t know you came here. This is amazing.” the girl said in an excited tone.
Kya was shocked and taken off guard, her emotions started to swirl around like a hurricane, “Kiki? What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice sounding quiet and shaky.
“Isn't it obvious?”
“What….I don’t underst…”
“I just filled out my application to the church of Oreana and now I’m a full fledged student of the protectors academy.”
“Who are you? You look a bit young to be a protector.” Ash asked the girl.
“I’m Kya’s younger sister.”
“Really?”
“Sure am.”
“That’s so cool. Hey, Kya, I never knew you had any siblings.”
Kya had nothing to say, she just looked into Kiki’s silvery eyes, refusing to look anywhere else. Kya’s body was shaking on the inside and her stomach felt like a raging ocean, filling her with discomfort as her hands slowly closing into fists.
“We have so much catching up to do. How about after classes, we hang out and talk. I have so much to tell you.”
Kya abruptly stood up just as the bell rang, her eyes giving Kiki a barely noticeable glare of contempt before walking off.
Ash and Kiki sat there confused by what just happened, “That was weird.” Ash said. “I wonder what’s wrong with her.”
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“Maybe she was late for something.” Kiki added.
Meanwhile back with John and Ezra, The two were walking to their class, “You’re a Demonite? You never told me that.”
“It wasn’t important.” John replied.
“Is that why you didn’t want to talk about your past and the lower city?”
“You’re from the lower city?” said Hinata who was walking behind them and then walked faster so she could pass them. “That explains why a klutz such as yourself gave off such a criminal atmosphere when we met.” she continued before walking off ahead of them.
“What did I ever do to her? It’s like she hates me for no reason.” John said in annoyance.
“Calm down, John. She’s just being like that cause she can. I mean at least she won’t be in the same class as us, right?”
John and Ezra entered the classroom which had a large, basketball court-like appearance, where twenty-two students were standing in a single file line up against a wall on the left side of the room, among those students was Kya, Kiki, Ash, and Hinata. Seeing Hina among the students, John looked at Ezra and said, “You had to get my hopes up, didn’t you?”
“Sorry.” Ezra said with a nervous chuckle.
Seeing John, Hinata made an angry huff and immediately averted her gaze from him. John and Ezra got in line with the other students. A tall woman with short blonde hair and purple eyes, wearing a long violet dress entered the room, her presence instilling a sense of authority into the students. it with a table emerging in front of the pillars forming a sort of shooting range as the pillars were in different lengths in front of the table from each other.
“Alright, first years. Welcome to the Protectors Academy. I am Miss Claratice Gunda, I will be your teacher for today. In this room, you will be tested to see if you’ve got what it takes to be protector.” the teacher said with a firm and powerful voice that echoed through the room.
Miss Gunda pressed a button on the grey, metallic floor, causing six metal pillars to emerge from, “There will be a series of tests. These tests will be graded by score; the higher the score, the more likely you are for passing after all the tests are concluded, but get a lower score than the other students, and you will be kicked from the Protectors Academy. For the first test, each of you students will show off your skills in firearms, shooting each of these targets in a random place and then shooting every other shot in the same place you previously shot, all in a certain amount of time. Each precise shot will equal five points to your score. Your score will be added up after all of your tests are complete.”
“Ma'am,” said a male student with short black hair, wearing a jade-colored, Xainish-style robe. “There are no weapons on the table, how are we supposed to shoot the targets?”
“Good question, I was just going to get to that.” Miss Gunda said before clapping her hands twice. Just as she finished clapping, a staff member entered the room pushing a table cart with the devices that John saw on that protector’s arm back when he stole that van, one for each student.
Miss Gunda picked up one and showed it to the students, “This is a Molecular Equipment Hauling Device, or ‘MEHD’ for short. Protectors use these devices to carry their equipment so they don’t have to be limited to just their bodies to haul the majority of their gear. With the power of modern technology, courtesy of Stone Tech Industries, the device dematerializes non-organic materials down to a molecular level, rendering them weightless. All you have to do is place them to any area on your body, and the device will attach itself to you.” She said, handing the MEHDs to each of the students, “Now, listen closely. Once you put these devices on, you will not be able to take them off, so I suggest you put them somewhere comfortable and practical, like your arm. These devices attach themselves pretty deep into a protector’s skin, so trying to take them off by force will cause severe damage. Since these devices are made to withstand extreme amounts of punishment, they will rarely need maintenance, so don’t worry about them being damaged. The MEHDs can also create and replicate a limited supply of ammunition for the gun you equipped so you won’t run out of ammo quickly.”
The students started to put the devices onto their bodies, mostly their arms. John put his on the same place the protector that tried to kill him while Ezra put his on the back of his right hand.
“Alright students, let’s begin.” Miss Gunda said. “Just activate the device, and the MEHD will materialize a firearm that was stored in it before you put it on
. You have ten seconds.”
The first student stepped up, a slim-figured young woman wearing a black and white leather outfit that was sleeveless and a bit tight-fitting below the torso to allow for more agile movement. She had long, flowing, raven black hair with a black hairband, tying it back, her hair and the hairband covering the areas where you would find the ears. She also had sapphire blue eyes.
She activated her MEHD that she put on the top of her arm close to her wrist, and a pistol materialized in her hand. She took aim, closing her left eye, opening it once she found the place she wanted to shoot. She quickly shot at each pillar, hitting the spots she shot. All the students looked in awe as the student none of them met or knew of shoot each target with the accuracy of a skilled sharpshooter.
“Time’s up.” Miss Gunda said, causing the student to stop what she was doing. Miss Gunda observed the pillars and said with an impressed smile, “Well done. What is your name?”
“Via, Ma’am.” the student answered.
“You have good marksman skills, Via. Can’t wait to see what other skills you excel at.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.” Via said before walking back in line with the other students.
The student that approached the table next was the young man in the green robe. He materialized a pistol and opened fire on the pillars, hitting every pillar with less accuracy than Via, but just enough to his the same spots more than once. His time ran out and Miss Gunda observed his work, “What is your name?” she asked.
“Lee.” he answered.
“Well done, Lee. Head back in line.”
Lee headed back in line and another student approached the table. One by one the students shot the pillars, showing off their skills in small firearms. The line went down to the last four students: Hinata, Ash, John, and Ezra. Hinata stepped up and shot the pillars. After she finished, she got back in line and said to John with a smirk, “Outdo that, lower city boy.” After Ash got done with shooting, John stepped up and took a deep breath, he materialized a pistol and quickly shot each pillar, hitting most of the spots other students had put there and spots that he put there. His time was up and he went back in line and said to Hinata, “How’s that, princess?”. Hinata looked away from John with a quiet growl.
Ezra then stepped up and materialized his pistol and with a chuckle filled to the brim with confidence, he shot at the pillars…. missing every shot. All the students, especially John were wide-eyed in disbelief that he missed all the pillars. “How did this guy get into this school?!” John said.
“Being skilled in firearms isn’t necessary to become a protector. But come on, I assumed him to have some kind of knowledge of how to aim.” Miss Gund said to herself, a slight feeling of embarrassment of the thought that this is someone who she has to see fail at who knows what else.
Ezra stood there frozen with a confident smile still on his face, slowly fading as he let what happened sink in. “Well, Ezra.” said Miss Gunda. “Not all protectors are skilled in firearms, so hopefully you can excel in other skills.”. Ezra returned to the line, “Better luck next time.” John said.
Miss Gunda pressed a button, causing the table and the pillars to go back under the floor. She then told the students to head back to their dorms to acquire an item that was placed in their dorms while they were training. The students all headed for the exit.
Before leaving the room, Ash walked up to the student in the green robe, “Lee, it’s good to catch up to you.” she said.
“I already saw you, I’m not going to ask you how you got here or why. I just don’t want to hear any more lectures. I heard enough from our mother, I don’t need them from you.” Lee said, continuing to walk towards the room exit.
“Don’t worry. I’m not here to tell you to not be a protector, I just want to make sure you don’t go over the edge when you find him.”
“Don’t think you can stop me, Allie. When I find him and I will, stay out of my way.”
Ash grabbed her brother by the shoulder and said, “I’m your little sister, it’s my job to get in your way. Also, here, my name is Ash.” before Lee brushed her off and headed to his dorm.
All the students headed off to their dorms. At Ash, Kya, and Hinata’s dorm shortly as the three girls arrived, Via entered the room. “You’re that student from the firearms test. What are you doing here?” Ash asked.
“I’ve been assigned to this dorm.” she answered. “Before the test, I moved in all my stuff.” she continued, pointing to the bottom bunk under Hina's bunk.
“Oh, well, since we’re gonna be roommates, we should at least get acquainted. I’m Ash.” said Ask, extending her hand to Via. Via shook Ash’s hand. The other girls introduced themselves. Each girl saw a small item that resembled a pager, lying on their beds, “This must be that thing Miss Gunda told us to get.” said Ash. The girls took the item and put it in their pockets before heading back out of their dorm.