Chapter 31: Setting up camp

When those around Reginald heard what he said, they also pulled down their scarf.

Only Otta didn't pull down her scarf. In fact, she readjusted and made sure it covered till her goggles.

"Isn't it hot dressing like that?" Reginald asked, seeing how Otta had always been wearing long sleeve shirts, and now still wearing her scarf.

"I'm used to it." She said, "Keep your goggles on to ensure communication." She instructed everyone who gave a reply that indicated they heard it.

"River!" Everyone heard Kinsei's urgent voice through the communication, "Air blast beside you now!"

River didn't understand what was happening, but he felt an invisible force, causing him to follow Kinsei's order.

He created a loud air blast near him, which caused everyone nearby to feel the little shock wave.

Not a second later, Beatrix appeared where the airblast was created.

Her mask was destroyed with wires still sparking by her neck. She looked like she had just escaped death judging by her injuries.

"Run! Follow me!" She quickly shouted without even asking what happened.

She took the lead and ran towards the right side. Everyone quickly followed her.

She started coughing out blood, but she still kept a distance in front of them.

"Wait! I can heal you!" She heard Kate shouting from the back.

"Our powers here are halved! So anyone whose power hasn't evolved can't do shit!" They heard her yell as she started coughing more.

Everyone remained silent as they kept running.

Running past trees after trees, they finally saw the scene in front of them changed.

Blood was spilled everywhere, large strange beasts all lying on the ground.

In the middle of it, they saw Sezia covered in blood, laying against a beast as she was panting.

She looked down and saw everyone running over.

"Comman-." Beatrix was about to fall down when Kinsei, who was running near her, caught her.

"You've lost too much blood." He said, as Dealla also came and slang her left arm over her shoulder.

Beatrix just remained silent as her head kept hanging low.

"Otta," They saw Sezia already near them, then noticed that Sezia was only wearing her singlet that was almost torn and her combat pants, "Pass me my other jacket."

Otta nodded and took out a dark green jacket, passing to Sezia.

She took it and tied it around her wrist, then she took Beatrix from the two.

"Set camp," She turned and limped towards where she sat, "Otta, test whether the meat is suitable for consumption. Kinsei, make sure everyone is alright." She gave out orders one by one.

When everyone first met Sezia, they doubted her when she claimed to be a commander.

But right now, those doubts were washed away with her calm and decisive actions.

"Kate!" Sezia suddenly yelled "Come over! Dav, Frad, set up the tent quickly."

The teachers quickly rush over after getting the tent.

"Um.." The rest was left outside the tent, and Kinsei didn't understand what Sezia meant to make sure everyone was alright, so he just asked everyone, "Anyone hungry?"

"Starving.." Dealla said, "We didn't have breakfast before going out. Now in this new territory, our power is halved.."

"Maybe we should test how much our power has been reduced rather than thinking it's directly halved." Kinsei said, "When I say we, I meant y'all." He told his friends, who didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his remark.

"Have fun." Otta said as she took out biscuits and passed to the rest before going over to the different beasts.

The rest was eating the biscuits before trying their powers.

Kinsei walked over to Otta and said, "You okay? I feel something is wrong."

"My power isn't halved.." Reginald told River and Dealla, "In fact, it feels as if I can sense my body better than before. Does that even make sense?"

"Not only you.." River controlled the air in front of him, "Do you think it's only Beatrix who felt as if her power were halved?"

"Probably.." Dealla agreed, as she summoned her forcefield that looked more solid than before, "We have to check with the teachers later."

"Since this is considered a demon territory, maybe we just have demon blood in us." He joked, "Or maybe Beatrix has angel blood thus experiencing the level reduction."

"You're crazy." Reginald said as he finished up his biscuits.

"Everyone is crazy, just how much they are willing to show it," River defended, "Besides, it's just a theory."

"A crazy theory." Dealla's gaze landed on the tent the teachers were in, "Do you think Beatrix will be alright?"

"I'm no doctor, but she looked like she won't make it." River said, "From the way when she run while wobbling, she seemed to have lost lots of blood."

They kept chatting as they were waiting for everyone else.

Meanwhile, in the tent.

Dav was inside helping use his string to stitch up Beatrix's wound, while Kate was healing her as much as she could.

Sezia had already wiped away most of the blood on her before putting on her jacket that looked more like a coat with its end longer.

"Kate, just restore enough blood for Beatrix. The wound isn't the main problem, it's just the blood loss that's more worrying." Sezia said as she tied her hair up, "The worst is that we will set camp here for a few months before Beatrix heals. It doesn't clash with the goal of training the others too, we just need to make sure we don't meet with any others with ill intent.

"Why did Beatrix say her power was halved?" Dav asked after stitching the wound, he wiped off his sweat and covered her with his jacket.

"Let's not disturb her rest." Sezia replied and walked out of the tent.

Dav and Kate followed, and saw Frad watching the other students.

Reginald looked at River and Dealla, "Do you guys feel a sense of home at the city?"

The two remained silent for a moment and shook their head.

"I've only lived in the city for a few months." Dealla admitted, "My town was destroyed and I was forced to flee."

"I've lived in the city for a few years already, but never seen it as my home." River continued on, "But I know Kinsei grew up in the city. He was my classmate for a few years. He always cared about others a lot, so that was why his reaction to seeing the explosion was worse than everyone."

Dealla nodded in agreement.

"Than our goal from him is different now, right?" Reginald saw the teachers exiting the tent, "He has something he wants to protect, what about us? Why are we going to get strong for?"

The two didn't answer this time, and followed his gaze to see the teachers standing there. Sezia talking to the other teachers about something.

After what felt like an entirety, River opened his mouth and said, "I'm getting stronger so I don't have to suffer again."

Dealla then gave her own reply, "I will figure it out. I still have my whole life ahead of me."

"I wonder... if powers never existed." Reginald looked up at the sky that's getting slowly darker, "We would probably still be complaining about homework."