Derris

"Alright trainees! Now that you've finished warming up, it's time to participate in this obstacle course we've prepared! You'll go in pairs! The first pair is going to be trainees Arno and Derris! It seems we have quite the crowd for this simple trnaiing exercise as well."

The crowd that watched us let out light laughter at the instructor's joke.

There were plenty of people from different zones that decided to show up today. As I scanned the crowd, I quickly noticed that my father wasn't here. That's no surprise. He's always busy with his office work. As I stepped onto the track and stretched my legs, I heard a familiar voice.

"Deeeeeeeeerriiiiiiiiiiiiis!" I looked back into the crowd and trained my eyes on no one else but my little sister, Louise.

If there's one thing I care about in this world, it's my family. Especially my sister. I gave a smile as I waved to her and turned around to view the course before me. As I did, the instructor used a megaphone to explain the course.

"This course has three sections! The first is a simple tire jog. Cross the small field of tires that have been laid out. The second is a 30ft hurdle. There are a bunch of hurdles spread throughout 30 feet of the course. You are to jump over each of them. Once you're out, it's a fifty yard dash to the finish line. Any questions?"

The parasite raised his hand.

"Perfect. No questions."

"But I have a question, sir!" The parasite said.

"Trainee Arno, I've deduced that you are an idiot. Your question is probably irrelevant to the current scenario." The instructor said plainly.

"H-how can you say something so rude with such a straight face!" The parasite was taken aback. He even managed to get a few laughs out of the crowd. That's all he is. A nameless jester. I'll blow him out of the water.

"Alright! You'll begin on the count of three. One!"

"Hey, Derris? You can relax a bit. It's just a race." The parasite whispered to me.

"Two!"

This guy really is an idiot. Doesn't he know what’s on the line here? I’ll end this debate right here and prove that Holians are leagues better.

“Three!” The instructor fired his gun in the air and the Holian vs. Parasite race began.

The both of us took off like cannonballs. For the first couple of seconds we were neck and neck, but I then started to fall behind. Although I’m off to a bad start, I can definitely recover during the tire jog.

“GOOOOOOOOOOO BIG BROTHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!”

I jumped in the tire holes one at a time. If I go too fast, I’m certain to trip over and fall. If I go too slow though, I’m definitely never going to catch up to him. As I quickly jogged over the tires one by one, I looked over to see the Haustorian’s progress.

There’s no way…

He was striding over four tires at a time as if he was taking a damn leisurely stroll! Each leap he took was perfectly made so there wasn’t a single second wasted. Before I knew it, he was already out of the tire section and was running towards the hurdles. I have no choice but to take some risks on these jumps. Otherwise, I’ll surely be left behind.

I hopped between the tires sparing no caution whatsoever. I don’t have time to be careful anymore. Once I was out of the tire section, it was time for the hurdles.

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” The parasite let out a war cry as he leapt into the air, clearing every single hurdle in front of him. Upon landing, he staggered and changed his pacing to a light jog. The crowd gasped in astonishment and my confidence in winning this sunk into a deep void.

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Regardless…even if I feel like I can’t, I have to win this! Even if my legs fall off! Even if I break! I’d rather destroy myself and win than lose to this man!

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” I psyched myself up as I charged towards the hurdles and jumped over them one by one. He’s temporarily exhausted by that long jump he did. That’s why he slowed down to a jog. If I can clear these fast enough and go full speed toward my goal, then surely I can beat him!

With each hurdle I cleared, my movement became more and more sluggish. Each landing I made onto the hard ground sent a sharp stinging pain through my legs. I have to work through this pain though! I can’t fall any further behind! If I do, everyone in this country will lose hope! I. WON’T. LOSE—

My leg caught on the final hurdle and I fell down onto the floor. Everyone gasped in disbelief of my tumble.

“DAMN IT! DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN!” I slammed my fist against the floor.

I’m done for! He’s gonna use this to his advantage and win the race! I’ve let my people down! I don’t even deserve to look any of them in the eye!

“Are you okay?!” I didn’t even look up to see who was giving me their time of day. I don’t deserve to look anyone here in the eye.

I heard the footsteps get closer and when this person’s hand reached out to me, I immediately swatted it away when I realized who it was. It was none other than that damn parasite! I rose to my feet and snapped at him.

“What the hell is wrong with you?! Do you think this is some kind of game?!”

“Um…yes?” He gave me another one of his stupid, puzzled expressions.

“It’s me, a Holian, against you, a Haustorian! Whoever wins proves once and for all which one of our races has a brighter future! That’s the meaning of this race, dumbass!” I spelled it out crystal clear for him.

“Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh?!”

I nearly popped a blood vessel at his response. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘HUH?!’”

“When you challenged me to a race, that's the only thing that came to your mind?! To prove that you’re stronger because of your race?! That’s so stupid!” He facepalmed in frustration. “Look at me, man! I’m more than just a Haustorian! I spent the majority of my life here! I like exercising and those Holy Power Force comics! I’m not very religious, but I’d like to think there’s an afterlife. Otherwise, it’d be scary. There’s more to me than just the way I was made! Please!”

He grabbed my shoulders and made a pleading face. “Don’t make this a race about a Haustorian and Holian. Make it a race between two trainees!”

As he gripped onto me I just now took notice of his strength. Not only that, but I started to pay attention to his defined frame. He really did enjoy exercising. It shows through his physique. What was his name again?

Arno, I think…

I heard murmurs from the crowd. My reputation is probably going to plummet into nothingness for even hearing him out, but I don’t even care anymore. If they want to hate me for the choices I make, so be it. If they think we’re doomed because we lose one simple race in an academy, so be it.

I brushed his arms away from me and got into a running position.

“On the count of three, we race again.”

Arno’s face lit up with excitement as he got ready to run.

“Three!” I took off as fast as possible without waning.

“W-wait! I thought you were gonna count!” Arno raced after me as we continued the race. I didn’t pay attention to the crowd a single moment since we continued.

We finished the race and the winner was Arno to no one’s surprise.

I looked to the crowd and noticed that the people were filing out of the area now that the main event was practically over. As they were doing so, my sister ran up to me.

“Big brother! You lost!” She said such a hurtful thing with such a straight face. I love her so much but sometimes…

“Hey Louise, what do you think of the Haustorians?”

“Hm…That one guy helped you, so they seem nice!”

Ha! What else did I expect to hear?

“Milady! It’s time to leave!” Our butler called Louise over and she began to run to him. Before they left, she turned back around and said “Have a fun day at school, Derris!” As I waved back at her, I realized something in what she just said…

I’m still on my first day of the academy.

Once all of the visitors left, it was just the 20th first zone division and our instructor left.

As the other trainees ran through the course and I watched on the sidelines, I looked over to Arno and saw him talking to those outcasts that usually hang out together. That’s when the other Haustorian approached me.

“I was gonna elaborate on what Arno and you talked about, but it seems he did a good enough job. Here’s the gist: We’re Haustorians, don’t get me wrong, but we’re also Holians that want to protect the country just as much as you do.”

“Trainee Ori, you’re up next!” The instructor ordered Ori to go up. As she moved and began jogging through the tires, she finished her explanation. “We’re gonna steal the hearts of Holians everywhere one step at a time—”

She tripped over the final tire and instantly began to curl up in a ball, clenching her shin in pain.

“ORI ARE YOU OKAY?!” Arno asked, but it was painfully obvious she wasn’t. She let out a muffled squeal before screaming.

“FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU—”