Galor Conawk was the headmaster. He had white hair, coming from his Tridigena bloodline. He had one gold-iris eye with a scar running across it, the other covered with an eye patch. There were rumours that he lost an eye during a fight with another race, and it was replaced with a small fragment of the Crown Stone. Strangely, he was wearing an old-fashioned aviator outfit, goggles and all.
Renee Coulson couldn’t think of anyone she was more in awe of than Conawk. He’d lived and fought in the Hundred-Year War. Even though he was banished to Exterion along with the other half-bloods, he’d started the Council. He’d started something from nothing. Renee couldn’t think of someone cooler than that.
One of her four hands fiddled with a braid. She’d been really, really excited about coming to the training base. She could finally meet more people like her, be more than the class weirdo in the Human Realm.
She was seated next to another girl. She was sulky looking, barely looking at anything. Her black hair with yellow highlights was tied up in two ponytails. She had paper-white skin, beady red eyes and fins on her arms and legs, a tell-tale sign that one of her parents was from Fosric, a Realm of ice and water.
Renee had tried to start conversation with her, but she had either replied in monosyllables or snappy comments. She’d dealt with these sort of people at her old school, so she knew the best way to handle them was to ignore them.
She turned her attention to Conawk. He surveyed the assembled students before him from the stage. Renee had the queerest feeling he could see right into her soul, reading her thoughts.
"To those in second-year and above, I welcome you back to another year here," he said. "To the first-years, welcome to the training base"
"There are a few important rules here. I would like the older ones to listen too, if you please."
His gaze swept everybody before he continued. "One, you are not allowed to use your powers for unnecessary reasons. If anyone is found using them outside of classes, you will be punished.”
“Two, there will be no sneaking around after curfew. Anyone caught out of bed after hours will be similarly punished.”
“Finally, if you have any pets, kindly keep them in a cage or on a leash when out of the dormitories. The owners will be held responsible to any trouble caused.”
“Ahnroi and Nekroi try-outs will be held next week, if any of you are interested. Please check your armband’s information for the team captains.”
Conawk’s expression arranged themselves into what might have been a small smile. “I think I better give a few directions to the first-years, before any of you get lost. The older students, you may exit and go have your meal.”
The older ones scrambled from their seats, and with some good-natured shoving, filed out from the Assembly Hall. Several professors left too.
Conawk turned back to those who were left. “The dormitories are in the West Wing. Your armbands act as keys to open them.”
“The professor’s offices are on the highest floor. Mind you, do not go there unless you are running an errand or any other valid reason.”
“The canteen is down the hallway. Classrooms are on the second and third floor. I believe you know where the runways and Carrier field is.”
“That’s all I have to say,” he finished. “You can go have your meal. I hope you have a pleasurable year.”
He turned and walked off, disappearing into the stage wings. The rest of the professors left too.
The girl next to Renee stood up. “Aren’t you going to get up?” She said impatiently.
Renee was taken aback by the rude approach, but she stood up and climbed the carpeted stairs to the exit. Maybe the girl woke up on the wrong side of her bed. Rude.
She followed everyone else to the hallway, which was filled with only first-years. She remembered where Conawk said the canteen was, but it was too crowded to see anything. Occasionally a ghostly figure would pass through her, giving Renee the sensation of plunging into the Arctic Ocean.
Suddenly there was a tapping noise. The white-haired boy who had led them to the Assembly Hall was standing in front, tapping his staff on the floor to get everyone’s attention.
“I’m Foliasou Conawk. And if you want your lunch, follow me to the canteen,” he said.
With a start, Renee realised he must be related to Galor Conawk. Maybe his son or nephew or something. Glancing around, everyone also looked surprised.
“Well, don’t just stand there lollygagging,” Foliasou said impatiently. “Are you coming or not?”
Without waiting for an answer, he marched down the corridor.
Foliasou reached yet another pair of double doors. He tapped the staff he was carrying on it. The doors swung open, revealing a bustling room.
The walls were decorated with paintings. Long tables with benches were everywhere. At one side, there was a countertop where machines were whirring and whistling as they made food for the line of people. There was a colossal tree growing smack dab in the middle. Everybody was either walking around, sitting, talking or eating. Voices and laughter echoed around. The first-years, including Renee, goggled at the sight.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Go grab your food,” Foliasou said, with something like satisfaction at their reaction on his face.
Renee stepped in. Spotting a rack full of metal trays, she took one and walked over to the countertop. A hologram menu was in front of the gigantic machine making the food. Since she wasn’t used to eating this food, Renee hesitated.
“Are you new here?” A voice asked behind her. She turned around. A thirteen-year-old boy stood there. He had human features, marred by the fact he had cropped blood-red hair, beady black orbs for eyes and two seven-inch antennas glowing at the end. A ghostly fiery aura surrounded him.
“Yeah,” she responded.
The guy reached over and tapped on the hologram. “Guess you hadn’t had much experience with this food. I think you should try these ones, they’re the least weird,” He said, tapping a red rectangle. “By the way, I’m Yuko,” he added.
“Thanks,” she said gratefully. He saluted and walked off.
The machines whirred to life. Pipes pumped juices here and there, metal hands pressing something that looked like dough. Within a few minutes, she had collected her food. Surprisingly, service was fast.
Renee clutched her tray as she looked around for a place to sit. Tables were full everywhere she looked. She suddenly felt very alone.
The table at the back is empty, she thought. She walked over there, enjoying that she could walk normally without people staring at her four arms. Normally, she would hear them gossip about her dad’s reason to explain her extra limbs – birth defect – but now she didn’t hear any. It was nice for a change.
She sat down at the table. There was something red that resembled a lettuce, tiny round fruits and shimmering sauce in her bowl. Salad? She took a tentative bite. The leafy thing tasted like cherries with honey, the fruits tasted sweet yet sour and the sauce vaguely reminded her of coconut oil.
The frothy drink didn’t taste too bad either. She sipped it, watching everyone else, having nothing to do. She was surprised to see some of them looked like those nymphs in myths. Dad never mentioned anything about beings the very picture of dryads.
She blinked twice. She sat up straighter, willing the person in front of her would move to give her a better view. Did I imagine it, or did I see someone she knew?
The person moved away and she got a better look. Renee gasped.
“Zeke?” She said aloud incredulously. “No way.”
There was no mistaking him. The same tousled red hair, same freckled face and same shuffling gait, like he was going to start dancing any moment. Despite the fact he had feathers and wings, it was very obviously her old second-grade, comic-and-video-games-obsessed classmate.
He was carrying his tray at weird angle. Renee realised he was dribbling a bit of sauce for the creature walking underneath him. It looked wild and savage, capable of tearing people to bits. Those quills looked sharp too.
The boy walking next to him didn’t seem to notice what he was doing. He laughed and talked easily, strolling in a carefree manner. He was so tall his head was brushing the tree’s branches. Several girls were casting covetous and love-struck expressions at his way. He was good-looking, though his stare was a tad too intense.
Renee grabbed her tray and hurried after them. She would’ve lost sight of them if not for the creature, which everybody was making room for fearfully. She immediately found their table, where a third boy joined them.
“Hi, can I sit here?” She asked breathlessly.
“Suit yourself,” One of the two boys said. How could he talk with those tusks protruding out of his mouth?
Zeke was giving her a puzzled look as she set down, the sort of face that implied he was wondering where he had met her before.
“I’m Velias,” the tusked boy said. “This one is Luke, and he’s-”
“Zeke!” She blurted.
“How’d you know?” He replied, startled.
“Second grade, remember? Circus Freak? Ring a bell?”
Finally Zeke remembered. “Renee? As in, really Renee Renee?”
“Of course!” She snorted. How hard could it be to remember her? It’s not every day you meet someone with four arms.
Luke bit off a bit of something that looked like tired bread. “What sort of name is Renee Renee?”
“Renee Coulson,” She corrected. Was he trying to be funny?
“Wait,” Zeke said, belatedly realising something. “If you’re here….it wasn’t a birth defect? You’re one of us?”
Velias and Luke exchanged wicked looks. “Now you figure it out?” Luke asked.
“Yeah. But how did you cover up your wings?” Renee asked, ignoring the snickers.
Zeke pulled out a chain from his pocket. It was made of silver with a bright red, misshapen gem dangling from it. “My dad said it was an illusion stone, so as long as it doesn’t crack or break, no one would see my wings.”
“Cool,” Renee remarked. The glittering chain was leaving her seeing spots. She glanced at Velias and Luke. Luke was obviously a half-blood, but Velias…
“How come you’re here?” She asked Velias. “I thought only half-bloods and criminals were in Exterion.”
“Long time ago, Maguez and Tridigena warred with each other,” Velias began, like he was reciting a school presentation. “Some fool stole something from the Maguez. They were angered, demanding punishment, but the Tridigena didn’t do anything about it. So Maguez declared war, and the Tridigena fought back. Lots of Maguez and Tridigena refugees that weren’t involved fled the Realm and came to Exterion, back when it wasn’t a prison. So my family came here, and I’ve been here ever since.”
“Couldn’t you just go back to your Realm once the war was over?” Renee wondered.
“No,” Velias replied. “One, no one back on your home Realm will want to associate with you – Exterion is equal to prison. Two, there’s a binding spell on this Realm that makes us all stay. Once you’re here, you can never leave.”
Silence hung in the air after the ominous statement. For a wild moment, Renee imagined herself here forever. She glanced around. Her eyebrows shot up when she saw Luke turned away and making peculiar noises.
“What’s wrong?” She asked him, alarmed. “Are you choking?”
“No!” Velias suddenly yelled. “He ate all my food!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hi! I’m Chris,” the third-year said with a wide grin. “And I’m supposed to show you around. So I guess you’re stuck with me.”
He was a Spirulian, a race resembling phantoms. But he was more solid, most likely due to human blood. He had tangled blonde hair, endless blue eyes and an air of mischief.
Luke, Renee, Velias and Zeke were standing in the corridor outside the canteen. Chris had showed up shortly after they came out, when Velias was still fuming about Luke eating his lunch. Luke didn’t say anything – fine, he had eaten half of it, but the rest given to Tsalor.
“So, let’s go to campus grounds first, shall we?” Chris set off with a marching gait, Zeke and Velias bombarding him with millions of questions. Renee followed, observing passing students. Luke struggled to keep Tsalor on the leash. All the people and scents were exciting her.
Chris led them back to the Hall of Victory. He threw open the front doors at the end of the hallway with a grand gesture. He continued striding on the crazy paving paths, pointing out different facilities. Everyone else walked behind him, everyone except Luke.
He tugged at Tsalor’s leash again. She stubbornly refused to move, cross that he had her on a leash. She was glaring at Luke balefully.
“Oh do come on,” He sighed. She ignored him. “Fine, if you don’t want to move, I’ll just have to tie you to a tree.”
Tsalor still refused to move.
“Be that way then,” Luke said, exasperated. “If you don’t like being tied up, it’s not my fault, remember that. You brought this on yourself.”
He dragged her over to the nearest tree and tied the leash to it. Tsalor grudgingly sat down beneath its shade, as Luke ran off to find the others.
“…here’s the stadium!” Chris was proclaiming when he caught up.
“Wowzers.” Zeke’s jaw dropped. Luke whistled appreciatively.
The arena was huge. It had ball games courts, a big pool and obstacle courses. There were dozens of bleachers for the audience. The silver and glass design flashed brightly in the sunlight.
Chris looked pleased at their reactions. “Amazing, am I right or am I right? Sad to say, we can’t go in though. Renovations or something. Or it might have been because the teachers don’t trust me after my last shenanigan…”
“Let’s go inside, we finished touring outside,” Chris said, drifting off. “Man, the weather in this Realm is awful. It’s as if it’s summer every day.”
With a sigh, Luke tore his eyes off the sight. The others did too, longingly glancing back. Only Renee wasn’t as interested. Luke could’ve sworn she rolled her eyes at the boys.
The moment they were back at the Hall of Victory, Luke suddenly remembered Tsalor was still outside. “You go ahead,” He called out, running outside again. “I’ll catch up later.”
Luke reached the tree where Tsalor was tied. She must’ve been really cross with him, because she had her back turned. Luke untied the rope and began coaxing her to start walking. Needless to say, she didn’t oblige.
“Maybe you’re too tired,” Luke suggested. “I have a couple of nice bones if you come. You’ll also be all by yourself, in the rain. If you don’t come with me. Please?”
She barked in a miffed way. Clearly, she would not cooperate. By then, Luke was about to give up. He was missing a lot of a tour he wanted to attend. Annoyance was getting to the point where he was going to leave her outside. As a last resort, he unhooked the chain. Tsalor finally turned around and trotted back inside.Ugh.
Luke sighed, stomping back inside. She was waiting for him there, at least. He ruffled her fur and motioned for her to follow him as he started walking. He had no idea where the others were, but maybe they hadn’t gotten far.
Luke passed a picture of a sports team. He thought he saw someone he knew in it, so he stopped to examine it. No, I was wrong. He shrugged and turned back to…
…where was Tsalor?
The lighting seemed to be getting dimmer. Luke’s skin felt clammy too. The air suddenly turned cold, not the summery heat of the Realm anymore. Silence hung in the air, the talking faded away. Tsalor was gone, disappeared. Luke felt waves of fear crash into him, threatening to knock him down.
Suddenly, he wasn’t at the hall. Darkness everywhere he turned his head. Blind, helpless. He’d never felt this before; he wasn’t Luke anymore, just another despairing soul, drowning in pure fear. Something is pulling at his soul, wanting to dissolve him. The void.
Memories vanished the way everything else did. Who am I? Why did he keep looking for a tether, when there was obviously no one to save him? He couldn’t even remember who he was…the void was sucking him in, turning him to nothing.
He reached out a hand, trembling, looking for something to hang on to. Nothing – everything is gone. He turned around.
Something whooshed past him, hot like fire and into the void. “Some want flesh and bone,” the thing, no, things, hissed. “But we want blood!”
He willed himself to run away. His legs were glued to the ground. Besides, what was the point? There’s nowhere to run to anyway. His heart thumped harder, hammering away like it wanted to break out. His skin prickled uncomfortably. Before his eyes, his fingers turned to sand and faded away.
Where the things had brushed, it felt unbearably painful, like someone was pressing an iron which had been set at the highest temperature. Pain is all I am now.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. No memories, no voice…I am nothing. His eyes darted around, trying to find someone. Nobody. Just me, alone.
The things cackled, a crazy cackle that increased his terror. For a moment, he could see fiery red humanoid shapes. Ghosts.
Then it vanished.
The air turned warm again. People’s voices echoed around once more. Everybody was carefree, happy. He wasn’t.
Everything came back to him. His name, his childhood, his family, everything. It came flooding, like it was breaking the dam holding it back. He was Luke Criollo.
He held up his hand. Nothing was missing. The waves of fear were receding, his mind clearing. The hopelessness he felt was gone.
I was standing in the void. How did I get there?
Luke shivered, despite the heat that vanished a few minutes ago. He recalled what those ghosts had said. They want blood……my blood? Luke did seem to be the only person who heard them. He looked around uneasily. They were gone – thank goodness. Yet…
…did I hallucinate them?
No, the fear felt very, very real. So did the hopeless thoughts, so did the disappearance of everything.
He couldn’t get it out of my head. The ghosts voice was still lingering in the hallway.
I’m imagining that. There aren’t any ghosts now…
Nobody else heard it. It wanted to kill.
Maybe it’s still watching me…
A loud yap came from his left. Tsalor licked his hand reassuringly, sensing his distress. Luke petted her as his heartbeat slowed down. Everything’s alright.
Later on, he caught up with his friends, but he didn’t tell them about it. It was too horrifying to relieve. They wouldn’t believe me, anyhow. He wasn't even sure if he had imagined it all.
You’re probably so nervous about today until you dreamed it all. You just had a minor blackout.
But some part of him knew it was real.[Ma1]