Fire Furnace

"This is hot water and some ointment. Take off your shirt so I can help you clean your wounds." Zian insisted. Forgetting that Titan was supposed to be a boy. Although the master has already mentioned that Titan is a girl, Zian somehow forgot about that important detail.

When she realized that Titan was supposed to be a boy, she couldn't help but wonder how to help a boy clean. She was brought to this school when she was an infant so she had never seen what a boy looks like. Not only her, almost half the people in the school had never seen a naked boy. So many students gathered at Titan's door to peep through the opening just to catch a glimpse of the rumoured boy in their school. They had only seen drawings of what a boy looked like by the master and other teachers but they had never seen one in person let alone, with his shirt off.

Indeed, news spread fast. Most of the students that stood by the door were whispering to each other, "Is this the little boy that Angela Wick went up against?"

"Angela fought with this little boy? But why? He's too young and I'm sure he must have received the beating of his life. Its a miracle he didn't die.

How did you know Angela fought with him?"

"I heard her friends talking about it. But of course, who would she have fought if not this seedling? Now that I think about it, she must have gone easy on him. Its a surprise he's not at the treatment pavilion."

"Speaking of which, where is she?"

"You know she always likes to be alone after a match. I'm sure she's training somewhere as usual. Oh! I wish I had half the strength she has. My life in this school would have been epic."

Titan began to take off her top. Thankfully she had slow growth and had not began puberty yet. Its a surprise that D actually thought she was twelve.

As she took off her shirt, some of the girls standing at the door closed their eyes while others stared in admiration.

"Oh! Isn't he just too beautiful? Forget his small body, just look at that cute eyes. I've never seen anything like that."

"This is my first time seeing a boy in person. I'm glad the interschool competition which holds after ever fifty years would hold in two years time. Then we'll get to see more of this rare specie."

"But why doesn't he have moulds?" One curious mind asked. Another one who claimed to know everything answered.

"He probably hasn't stated puberty. Once he starts, he'll develop some." She sounded so confident that all the students believed her and nodded in acknowledgement.

"But how do you know?" The same curious girl asked again.

"I just know these things. Its a piece of cake and besides, I'm using my brain."

"__"

Before anyone could ask another question, a firm voice was heard from behind the crowd.

"And what are you all doing here?" The girl who claimed to know everything replied angrily without even turning to see who it was that was speaking.

"What? Can't you see that we are trying to get a clear view of...." She stopped when she realized who that voice belonged to. She hesitantly turned and saw the assistant head teacher of the school with a long golden wipe in her hand which was like her trademark. The assistant always had a wipe no matter where she was headed. She called it the compelling wipe.

When the girl saw this, she began to nudge her fellow gossip mates and when they all finally realized who was standing there, their sixth sense told them to run but that would be too risky so they stayed put standing in front of the assistant with their heads bowed.

She said nothing but just pointed towards a specific direction. Looking at where the second master's hand was pointing to, almost all the girls began to cry but didn't let out a sound as they scurried away to work.

Everyone in the school knows that the assistant head teacher was way worse than the head master in terms of discipline. Once she gives an order, it must be followed diligently and anyone who dared groaned would be asked to lay face first under the scorching sun for hours and when that punishment is done, the student would be as good as blind but would not be spared as she would still have to do the work that was assigned after serving the punishment. How cruel!

All the girls ran to the pit toilet and began washing. They didn't even need to be inspected or instructed as they knew exactly what to do.

However, in Titan's room, Zian was helping Titan massage her wounds with an ointment. She was surprised Titan didn't even flinch as the ointment touched her skin.

'Is he used to this kind of things? But then again, I've seen too much to be surprised by this.' she sighed and continued massaging the wounds.

A knock came from outside. Zian and Titan exchanged glances before Zian walked up to the door to let the person in.

"Oh! It's you. Master Eunice, what brings you here?"

The assistant head teacher whose name was Eunice Cage paid no attention to Zian as a matter of fact, she completely ignored her and walked into the room. She stared at Titan who was already wearing her shirt for a long time before turning to look at Zian.

"Take him to the fire furnace. The master would be waiting for him there." At the sound of fire furnace, Zian almost fainted. She held the door to support her from falling but she could still feel her head spinning. The assistant head teacher then turned and began to walk out of the room not sparing Titan a second glance. She stopped half way and spoke but did not turn.

"The fire furnace is not for boys. The grown up ones who tried this during the interschool competition years ago, failed woefully and those who wanted to prove a fact died miserably. You clearly don't stand a chance. It would be best if you just go back to where you came from."

After saying that, the door slammed shut. The tone of her voice clearly stated that she didn't like Titan one bit and couldn't wait for her to leave the school premises.

Zian walked up to Titan with the hopes of consoling her but what she got was an adamant face. Titan was willing to do anything just to enter into this school and clearly nothing and no one could stop her.

"You know, master Eunice is not only the assistant head teacher but also Angela's personal coach. Angela Wick had always gained favor in master Eunice's side so I'm guessing she already knows what happened to her.

When Angela was first brought in, she was a lost child with no identity, the assistant master was not really interested in taking care of her but first master insisted saying that a message from above had instructed that master Eunice takes care of the child."

"The second master then gave her the name Angela Wick and raised her as her own flesh and blood. Its no wonder why the second master values her so much. But recently, someone saw a writing on Angela's back while she was taking a bath. She was then called by the first master to take a look at what it was, but apparently even the master had no idea what it meant. When she was asked how the writing got there, she had no explanation because she had no idea either. It was like it just appeared from nowhere. It was written in a foreign language but from my research, it might be related to her lifeline." Zian had no idea why she was telling Titan all this but she just felt she could tell this little creature anything.

As she helped Titan prepare, she continued speaking. "Do you know why I wear a blue amazonian outfit?" Titan shook her head in denial.

"It's because I fall under the water group. We control the tide just like Kai. The god of water in ancient times. We believe that he still exists. I'll tell you more about this school and everything in it as long as you pass this final test. Passing the fire furnace test is the only way you can get to stay in this school so do your best."