The Institute.
Created by the Humans, the Institute, or the Institute of War has long been recognized as a harsh learning place for human war potential.
It was the Institute who managed to secure humans lands amongst dwarves, elves and various magical beasts.
They trained thousands of mages, all proficient in the arcane arts, as well as heavy infantry, heavy cavalry, archers, etc...
However, that was not their main point.
The Institute of War was built on top of an anomaly, on top of a major vein of ores and ley lines. The Arch-Mages of mankind constructed the structure by raising large amounts of obsidian from beneath the surface.
As it was, the Institute of War was also humanities central hub for research. The students who entered there were often reported to have been changed, both mentally and physically.
Thanks to that the Institute has a bad reputation for both humans and other races.
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The moment we entered the Institute, I could see that it was...different from all the other places I had been. It was a strange environment, seemingly medieval, yet filled with arcane constructs. Even the simple chandeliers were lit by blue flames.
The atmosphere was heavy, as if gravity had intensified. The entrance hall was filled with other students, who were either whimpering nervously, or strutting confidently. Some were leaning against the dark black support columns, while others were grouping beneath the large ornate chandeliers that were hanging in the middle of the room. However, something was strange. The students seemed to be gathered in groups of ten, with a Inspector beside them.
I asked Margerie, "Why are they gathered like that? Do I have to go in a group as well?"
She raised her bushy eyebrow. I shuddered as it moved, it reminded me of a caterpillar.
"Every Inspector is responsible for 10 students. You however, are a...special case. That's why you are underneath me."
As we entered, I put my gauntlets inside my small duffel bag. I didn't want to be wearing the heavy things. It was a struggle for me, as the stupid blades didn't even have a sheath to put on. Fucking Rekces, I grumbled. As the area around us went silent, I noticed that as Margerie stepped forward, all the Inspectors seemed to revere her, as if she was their boss.
She seems to be more than she seems.
"Oh! That reminds me, I should probably revert to my normal form." She suddenly murmured. I stared at her. Normal form? What are you? A second grade middle schooler?
She took of a small pendant, which looked like a salamander. As she did, her back suddenly straightened, her scraggly bush of hair flowing down, turning to a caramel brown, and her wrinkles melted away.
What stood in front of me was a rather beautiful woman with brown hair, chocolate brown eyes as well as a rather luscious body. My jaw dropped as she changed from an old, ugly hag, to a beautiful woman.
"Pfffff" She laughed. "Your eyes are about to fall out, Aleron. Am I that beautiful?"
"Well, I was shocked at the fact that such a beauty would also be such a pervert." I retorted. I'll be damned if I would let her get the last word.
"Mmmmhmmmm," She said as she straightened her cloak, "I only do that to children who look rather....nice"
"Pervert." I grumbled.
As we were bantering, the other students seemed to have noticed us. Margerie and I stood in line as we awaited something.
"So why did you look so.....hideous earlier?" I asked.
"I had to go incognito because I'm rather...well known in these parts. Anyways, shush child, the headmaster is coming."
"How do you..."
"SILENCE!!!!!" The large ornate double doors slammed open, as a robed man stepped forth. Bald, with a black beard, wearing deep red robes, he stepped forward on the balcony which led to the doors he just exited.
The entrance hall went quiet as he shouted. Even the chandeliers seemed to stop rocking.
"*Cough* WELCOME TO THE INSTITUTE YOUNG CHILDREN. I AM YOUR HEADMASTER, PROFFESSOR DERRICK SEBTAN. I IMAGINE YOU ARE ALL TIRED, YET WE MUST GO THROUGH A FEW THINGS BEFORE WE GO TO REST FOR THE NIGHT."
His deep authoritative voice boomed throughout the hall. Several Inspectors plugged their ears as they ignored him, while others gritted their eyes in annoyance. Margerie slitted her eyes and took out a small knife as she trimmed her nails.
"GOOD. FIRST OF ALL, I IMAGINE YOU HAVE ALREADY MET YOUR INSPECTORS. THEY WILL BE ASSISTING YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR YEARS AT THIS INSTITUTE. I HOPE YOU WILL NOT TREAT THEM AS YOUR SERVANTS, AS THEY ALL HAVE POSITIONS IN OUR MILITARY." At this little tidbit I couldn't help but take a step away from Margerie and stare at her. This pervert is in the military?
She raised on eyebrow and smiled as she saw my actions.
"BUT LASTLY, WE HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT FOR ALL OF YOU." The headmaster grinned as the hall turned deadly quiet.
"Please kill each other."
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The hall turned so silent we could hear a pin drop. Suddenly, all the Inspectors vanished, including Margerie. I looked around nervously. This was too familiar for me, too similar to how I died before. I'd rather be damned than go through that again.
Everyone started to look around nervously. Some of the boys slowly pulled out daggers and swords, while some of the girls took of their heavy outer robes, revealing a large array of weapons, such as parrying daggers, mini-crossbows, and various vials of liquid.
Everyone seemed to have anticipated this. 'Fuck me,' I thought as I wore my gauntlets, 'I would literally kill for a sword. At least its better than nothing.'
The headmaster pulled out a chair out of nowhere and sat down, grinning madly. I took of my overcoat, and began hopping in my tracks.
In my past life, it was mandatory for the citizens of what were the remnants of the US to practice self defense. Most people chose karate, but I, I chose Muay Thai, the art of killing. Compared to other martial arts, Muay Thai appealed to me, because they had the highest kill ratio due to their use of elbows and knees. In fact, Muay Thai became the staple of the modern U.S Navy Seals, they were often used for covert assassination operations.
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I hadn't practised any of the movements in a long time, and my body is that of a barely 7 year old child. The odds were against me. At least I was better than the others, who were dropping their overly lavish swords and daggers.
"GET TO IT" the headmaster roared. I ran into action, aiming for a dagger a rather small kid was holding. He looked at me in fright as I pummelled my heavily mailed fists into his head. He slumped forward, dropping his knife as his head caved in where I had slammed my fists into.
I hefted the blade as I observed the utter turmoil happening around me. Some crazy ass bitch was chucking poisons and acids all around us, before someone who was smart shot her, ending her life. Unfortunately, the vials had already taken out a couple people. Arrows and blood sprung into the air as 7 year olds hacked and stabbed at each other.
The whimpering ones had already been silenced when I walked slowly towards the turmoil. I breathed in and out, in and out, just keeping to the rhythm of my heartbeats. For some strange reason though, I didn't feel fear. Instead I felt....strange. Like...happy? Is this how I'm supposed to feel?
'Just small little hops,' I thought, 'focus, focus.'
A big brute with a too-big-for-him sword ran at me. I hopped sideways to the left as he slammed his sword on the ground. I shoved my right elbow into his eyesocket. He fell on his knee's crying in pain. I slashed his throat as then I ran at a little girl too focused on shooting others. Running, I stabbed my dagger into her back, pushing it through until it popped out of her ribs. She gasped in shock, the cold blade spurting out red liquid that looked, eerily, like high grade wine.
"REYNA!" a little boy shouted, spilling tears across his blood spattered face. It looked like they had been working as a little tag team. However, the small mental lapse he showed proved to be his doom, as another boy shoved his sword up his ribcage. He slumped to the ground crying as his life-blood spilled forth.
I realized five kids were surrounding me. They all had daggers in their hands, panting slightly as they looked around in case anyone might potentially help me.
"Aww, it's a scrawny little shit, trapped in a cage." one of the boys sneered. 'Geez, language,' I thought, 'is this how medieval children were like?'
"Hmmm, well more like your trapped in here with me." I said, grinning savagely as I tugged on the cloth that I had wrapped around my gauntlet. The blades shined red as they reflected the light, now turned red as the chandeliers flames had changed colour after absorbing blood.
For some reason, I felt great. I felt...happy. First time I had ever felt so great, counting both of my lives. The little boys rushed at me, all swing their blades at my mid or upper section. Timed slowed down as adrenaline kicked in. I dropped to the ground, now slick with blood, and kicked at their legs. Three of them fell down, dropping their daggers and grabbing at their ankles, crying. I jumped at them as the other two sliced down, cutting my feet.
"SHIT" I screamed. That fucking hurt. I glared at them as I now stood? on my knees. They looked back, angry that they hadn't killed me. Then, the other three grabbed my legs, as I was on top of them.
"Really? Fuck off!" I screamed as I shoved one of their daggers into on of their nostrils. I slammed my body into the kids holding me, barely dodging as the other two swiped at my head. Dumb little shits kept on going for head injuries.
Screaming bloody murder, I tackled the other two as I launched myself into them. They grabbed at my arms, but I overpowered them. Time slowed down even more. I could see every little detail, starting from the blood specks on their faces, to the tears forming in their eyes. I even saw the headmaster giggling, and that pissed me off.
Naturally, I turned that fury on my victims.
"FUCKING"
*PUNCH*
"LITTLE"
*SPLAT*
"SHITS"
*SPLURT*
I sliced them apart as well as punched them with my armoured fists, quickly reducing them into bloody messes. Their eyes were reduced to paste, blood oozing out of their noses as well as the gashes I made.
Breathing heavily and wiping blood and sweat out of my eyes, I quickly sliced at the other bastards who had been laying down, ripping apart their stomachs as their intestines spewed forward.
Thank god, I mean, Thank Rekces that he had given me these gauntlets. These are a god, I mean, Rekces-send
The smell of blood and the screams of children invigorated me. Before I knew it, the aura I had around me at the ceremony surrounded me, giving me a bloody image as I stood on my injured feet. I stood in a small pile of bodies as I observed the battlefield.
When we began, about 800 children were here, yet now, only 100 remained. I saw brutally hacked apart cadavers, half melted corpses from acids, as well as arrow riddled bodies. Amazing how brutal even children could be.
As I sat down, tying the remnants of the uniforms of my victims around my damaged feet, the headmaster began clapping, standing up as he tapped his throat.
"Well done children. It prides me to see that we have already weeded out unsuitable worms. Inspectors will see to you soon, and I bid you a goodnight, as you all have proven to us that you belong here. Thank you."
I sat there, tired as the aura flickered off. Just what the hell have I gotten myself into? I...killed little children. Murdered them in cold blood. But.....I enjoyed it. I loved every moment of it. Starting from how my gauntlet-blades carved through their necks, to how my heavy fists broke through their skulls. Was I always this bloodthirsty?
Margerie appeared near me, smiling.
"I knew you would fit right in!!!" She exclaimed. "Good thing all the others bid against me, I won a heavy pot today!"
She patted a heavy sack full of, presumably, coins.
"Now we have to fix you up, don't we?" She mumbled some strange words as she rubbed some ointment on to my feet, after taking off the makeshift bandages. Suddenly, a hissing noise ensued, my wounds disappearing after the noise vanished.
"Let's go to your dormitory, shall we?" Margerie giggled as she offered her hand.
You better not be telling me I'm sharing a room with this bitch.
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