I couldn't sleep. No matter how many times I turned over, the bed felt lumpier and more uncomfortable with each movement. The room was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. It was 10 pm, and I was the only one there.
Being a new student, I had no roommate to share the room with. The air was chilly, and I shivered under the thin blanket, unable to shake the feeling of unease that kept me wide awake.
In frustration, I grabbed my phone, only to find it low on battery. With an eye roll, I dragged myself out of bed and headed to the nearby table to plug it in. The soft glow from the screen illuminated my path, but as I neared the table, a shiver ran down my spine. I felt a presence near the window, a silent whisper in the dark.
Heart pounding, I quickly ducked behind a piece of furniture, my eyes straining to pierce the darkness. My breath hitched as the window opened and shut with startling speed, as if whoever was there didn't want to be seen. I waited, muscles tensed, listening to the silence that followed. A few seconds later, I decided to act.
Grabbing a heavy object from the table, I held it ready to defend myself. The room was pitch black, and I could barely see a thing, but I had to try. My goal wasn't just to confront the intruder—I needed to get to the light switch.
With a sudden burst of courage, I lunged forward and managed to strike the intruder in the thigh. A grunt of pain confirmed my hit. Without wasting a moment, I dashed to the wall and flicked the light switch on.
The brightness was blinding at first. My eyes squinted against the sudden glare, but then I saw him. The man who had helped me hide during the accident earlier stood before me, his expression calm despite the situation. He still wore the same dark veil that contrasted sharply with his pale skin.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice trembling as I pointed the unopened katana I had bought earlier that day at him.
Instead of answering, he merely glanced at me with bored indifference and casually swayed the katana aside with his bare hand. "I thought no one was here," he said flatly, turning to leave.
He was a step away from the door when I called after him, desperation tinging my voice.
"What's your deal?" He paused, the air between us thick with tension. "If you knew, it wouldn't be secret right?" he replied cryptically. His voice was as cold as the night air. "By the way, keep your windows locked." And with that, he slipped out of the room, leaving me standing there, confused.
---
**Daily Task:**
**Attend Class (01:05:34)**
I was brushing my hair when I checked my digital phone. Yesterday, I received 30,000 digital points for buying a 64,000 digital points worth of katana. The reward was not worth the points I spent. But it didn't matter. I knew this katana would help me in the future.
I boredly looked at it before scrolling. I was looking for today's schedule, and it didn't fail me as I saw it.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
**6:30 - 7:00 AM Morning Meditation Session (Meditation Hall)**
Looks like meditation was first on my schedule.
Sounds simple.
It's not any physical activity that would drain my energy.
This is a piece of cake.
---
This is not simple.
During the morning meditation session at the institute, participants engage in a guided practice aimed at cultivating inner calm and mental clarity. Led by a facilitator, sessions often begin with deep breathing exercises to promote relaxation and focus.
Participants are encouraged to practice mindfulness, fostering present-moment awareness. Techniques such as body scans or visualization exercises may also be incorporated to enhance relaxation.
But how am I supposed to relax when there are eyes watching me?
"Anne, are you okay?" Sandra asked me.
"Yeah," I replied shortly before drinking the water I had just bought. There were a few minutes before the next schedule.
The setup goes like this: every morning, students from different houses gather at the gymnasium to do morning practices. After that, students from different families separate ways and continue to learn in their respective territories or areas.
Let me make it clear. The institute is surrounded by high walls. These high walls are what keep students from going out of the premises without permission.
Now, this institute is divided into five sides. Facilities and other infrastructures are found in the middle of the institute, and there, a wide arena is located.
According to Sandra, the arena is used for team fights that are done monthly, depending on the system.
But the real deal is outside the institute. Around the institute are several trees, difficult paths, and untamed animals. In short, danger lurks outside the institute. Since the institute is located on an island far away from others, escaping is only possible with boats and planes.
She told me that there are extreme challenges given by the system, like survival and so on. I wasn't quite surprised—it was expected from a school that is an expert in training students.
When the time for meditation was over, I went out of the hall with my respective family.
We got a thirty-minute break, so I went inside my dorm room and lay down on my bed. I was feeling quite sleepy. I don't even think I slept an inch yesterday.
I looked up at the ceiling, thinking of things. I sighed, brushing off the eerie encounter from last night. "This place is getting more complicated by the minute," I muttered under my breath. I knew I needed to focus, but the lingering fear from the previous night was hard to shake.
I was in the middle of my thoughts when the digital phone buzzed again.
**Team Task: Regatta (3 days 23:59:11)**
I had no idea what regatta was.
I could have searched it online, but it seems like there's no signal in this place.
An island with no signal, what could I even expect?
Well I will surely know what it was when the time runs out.
I turned my eyes away from the ceiling, and they happened to land on the clock. It's 7:08. Sleep wasn't on my side.
I got up from my bed and looked at the school uniform. It was quite simple: a fitted, midnight blue blouse with a mandarin collar and the institute's emblem embroidered in gold or silver on the chest.
The bottoms were below average: a knee-length pleated skirt in solid black, allowing for easy movement, paired with black Mary Jane-style shoes with a low heel, combining comfort.
And lastly, a matching, weather-resistant blazer in a darker shade of blue, featuring the institute's emblem subtly embroidered on the breast pocket. The blazer is designed to complement the blouse and skirt ensemble.
In addition, there's a smartwatch with a discreet design, allowing students to monitor their activity levels discreetly during classes.
I smiled annoyingly at the mirror, showing my disdain and how I felt wearing this uniform on my first day on the premises.
In addition to my annoyance was the price that I paid for it.
It wasn't that much, but it wasn't worth it, actually.
There were other uniforms that I still haven't seen. The seller told me that they were necessary for the school. Overall, I spent 37,000 digital points on my uniform.
It wasn't on my task, so I wouldn't be paid back for it.
Luckily, I found out that I can still earn points not just by doing the tasks given to me. I can also gain from doing other people's tasks. Quite convenient for those who have a lot of money.
I fixed myself. I do care about my looks, but it's just not my main priority.
---
The cold breeze of air passed me. The dry leaves danced with the air.
I looked at the watch on my hand. I still had 17 minutes before my classes. A bit of a stroll wouldn't be that bad, right?
I continued walking, but I was sure that someone was following me. When I looked back, I saw no one. But I was taken aback when I bumped into someone.
I looked at the person in front of me. He was wearing a fitted, sunflower yellow shirt with a classic collar, the institute's emblem, and a matching sunflower yellow tie with subtle, dark accents.
For the bottom, he wore black trousers that had a sleek, modern fit, complementing his overall smart appearance.
Overall, we almost had the same uniform, it was just the color, bottoms, and shoes that were different.
"Your name?" the guy asked. His right arm was holding the notebook, and the other was used for him to write on his notebook. His grey eyes looked at me boredly but with a raised eyebrow.
"If you continue ignoring my presence, I wouldn't think twice about giving you a warning, Veiler," he said, which made my heart beat faster than usual.
He knows my identity.