27TH GEAR - THE TRAINING CAMP MASSACRE

“What happened here!?”

Captain Tezza finally arrived at the bloody crime scene in the training camp, and she was astounded by the number of dead bodies in the dining area. She must have been working so hard maintaining the Checkpoint Towers that she hasn't taken a bite of any of the meals for dinner.

“Several students started collapsing and having seizures while puking out black slimy foams from their mouths!” One of the Speedmages said.

“Get the healers ready and have them cast Cure!” Captain Tezza commanded.

“Yes Ma’am!” One of the surviving Cool Escape Speedmage saluted and then rushed towards the emergency tents with his super speed.

“What’s the cause!?” Captain Tezza asked the remaining Cool Escape members.

“They all started falling when they ate the croquettes!” The other student reported.

Well, that was anticlimactic. I wanted to be a detective to solve the mysterious black-bubble-frothing case like most teenage detectives, but I guess I will never have the chance. And here I thought I can be a cool guy for once.

“It was the croquettes!?” Ericka asked herself.

“What, you know something about this?” I turned to our president.

“A-Ah, no! I do not know about this!” Ericka vigorously waved her hand in immediate denial.

“Staaaaaare.” I voiced what I was doing to our president. I have a feeling that she knows something about this, and she’s not telling us anything.

"Jeez, I told you, I do not know about this!" Ericka pouted.

Meanwhile, Flu went back to the table and picked up a croquette. She split it in half, and we saw the black goo oozing from it.

“Flu? What are you doing?” I asked with nervousness.

“Oh, I was wondering how the croquettes ended up being served. I heard earlier that the croquettes had been stale because it was made yesterday and was exposed to extreme weather conditions. They were supposed to dispose of it this afternoon, but it ended up on everyone’s tables.” Flu said.

“So somebody sabotaged our meal?” I asked.

“I don’t think sabotage is the right word. Maybe they just wanted to be cost-effective and not waste any food.” Ericka said.

You know, Ericka is really getting more suspicious right now...

“Hmmm… It looks poisonous on the inside.” Flu commented as she looked at the croquette from different angles.

“Hey!” I shouted at her but she didn’t pay any mind.

Flu put the croquette closer to her snout, then she sniffed it. “Hmmm… It also smells poisonous.”

“Don’t smell it, you idiot!” I warned.

After that, Flu opened her mouth to taste it. All of a sudden, she choked, and she began to froth in her mouth with the black foam!

“Ack! Argh! Aaah! I-It also tastes… poisonous! It was really… the croquette…”

Then Flu collapsed to the ground.

“Why did you even taste it!?” I cried.

I’m so done with my stupid teammates.

“Tahahaha… I’m such a failure…” Flu said weakly while coughing out black ooze.

I immediately went to her and hold her hand. Captain Tezza and Ericka even went to our site to watch Flu die. Well, maybe not die, but you get the idea.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Flu, before you die, tell me who is responsible for the croquettes! You were with the cooking team, isn’t that right?”

“J-Jon…” Flu wept as she touched my face. “It was… Prez…”

Flu immediately passed out with a “Gah!” sound. At that moment, we didn’t even have time to mourn or laugh. All of the survivors are just filled with rage and hatred toward the culprit of this haunted croquette.

We all looked at Ericka who seemed to back out in the corner. Our useless president is now circled by an angry mob of Speedmages.

“W-Wait, I can explain! Surely you will understand that wasting food is bad! I just did what I had to do!” Ericka defended. "I just wanted to distribute the croquettes since I worked hard for them!"

“But you’re supposed to throw down stale food for the safety of everyone, isn’t that right?” Captain Tezza said.

“You’re right, but…”

“No more buts! As the chairperson of this joint training camp, President Ericka Azure of the Merry Knights will be punished accordingly!”

“N-Nooooooooo!”

Ericka's screams echoed through the icy mountains, to the vast grassland, and the dark forest.

<>

The poison from the croquettes is not that bad. It only induces seizure, immediate exhaustion, and frothing from the mouth, with no long-term effects. A simple Cure spell was able to remove the harmful symptoms on every Speedmage that was affected. Normally, Ericka should have been kicked out from this training camp but Captain Tezza is reasonable enough to give a lighter punishment.

Everything was already normal by the time it was nine in the evening. 9 PM was actually the bedtime for this camp, so we all settled down in our respective tents and rested. We still have an early-morning jog for tomorrow.

Thirty minutes after the lights-out time, I can't sleep. On the other hand, the big panda is sleeping safe and sound: the sound of his snores echoing towards the four sides of the tent. This guy is the reason why I cannot sleep a wink. His snores are hilarious and annoying.

“Zzzzzzz… Woof!... Zzzzzzzz… Meow… Zzzzzz…. Mooo!”

I tried to cover my ears with my pillow, but the reverberating snores made the silencer ineffective.

All of a sudden, I heard faint footsteps nearing our tent. It was accompanied by some twigs breaking and a loud thud that sounded like somebody tripped. Who was going to visit our tent in the middle of the night!?

“Knock, knock… Coach, are you asleep?” It was Fluonessia’s soft voice.

“I’m asleep,” I replied.

“Oh, okay.”

I felt Flu standing up and taking a step away from our tent. I find it funny to joke about Flu’s stupidity, but I think she approached us in the middle of the night because it was something important. So I immediately stood up and zipped open the entrance of our tent.

“Wait,” I said as I struggled to crawl out.

“Oh, Coach! I thought you were sleeping!” Flu clasped her hands and smiled.

“Cruzo’s loud snores are keeping me from dozing off,” I said.

“Same. Prez was crying a lot because of the punishment earlier, but now she’s resting like a baby. Now I can’t have a wink of sleep! Tahahaha!” Flu laughed while scratching her head.

“So, what do you need me for?” I jumped to the main concern.

“Jon! I mean, Coach! Please help me practice!” Flu pumped her fists excitedly.

“What? Haven’t you practiced enough during the day already?”

“It’s not enough! I always end up being in last place! I want to get better, so I have to put more effort into my training! At this rate, I have to work twice as hard as the others to become the Speedmage Champion!”

The blaze on her sapphire eyes is lit strongly. She’s even smiling as if she is looking forward to this secret practice we have to do. If she’s really this determined and I have nothing else to do, then I have no reason to refuse her offer.

“Okay then. But be sure not to overwork yourself.”

“Roger that, Coach!” Flu saluted.

I immediately suited up my jacket and got my headphones, while Flu equipped her Speedmage Shoes and wore her PE uniform. Luckily, the Checkpoint Towers in one of the Triangles are already set, so all we have to do is to put the obstacle course mannequins in place.

“Flu, try to run a lap with your Wind Accel!” I said.

“Okay!” Flu said as she boosted forward in her improved speed! “Wind Accel!”

I noticed that Flu’s steps are a little bit small and reserved. Not using her long slender legs to her advantage will be a waste.

“Flu, try making bigger steps while you run!”

“Yes, Coach!” She followed my instructions.

Also, I noticed even back when we were jogging that she was rushing her breath. It would make the absorption of oxygen and mana in the atmosphere inefficient if she continues to do that during Speed Battles. I learned from my father’s book that there is a way of breathing for professional Speedmages.

“Flu, try counting for two seconds before inhaling. Count another two before exhaling.”

“Yes, Coach!” Flu said as she started breathing and counting out loud. “One, two. Sniff. One two, Haaaa…”

“Count in your head!” I yelled.

“A-Ah! Sorry! Will do!” Flu replied.

Flu continued to run with pink wind contrails following her shoes. She managed to touch the 2nd and the 3rd Checkpoint Towers. The moment she is heading for the 1st Checkpoint Tower, her speed increases. I guess she’s getting the hang of her new form in running.

Beep!... Beep!... Beep!

The Checkpoint Towers alternately glowed like Christmas lights whenever she touches one. Her performance is getting better than what I observed earlier today. I guess she’s finally getting the hang of it.

“This is awesome, Coach! I feel like I’m way faster now! And I don’t feel as exhausted as before!” Flu said.

“You will have to drill these postures and breathing techniques on your head!” I said.

“Roger! Please drill it on me, Coach!”

I think that came out wrong.