chapter two

This was bullshit. Currently I was rushing with my classmates through one of the artificial environments. The situation was ridiculous. Rushing with my classmates through the artificial environment made me feel like I was in some sort of nightmare. The temperature was unbearable, and the humidity made everything feel sticky. As we moved forward, I noticed huge bugs flying around us. One of them was almost as big as a grown man's hand. Suddenly, another bug appeared in our path, making loud humming noises. My heart began to race as I tried to keep up with my classmates. I could feel the sweat dripping down my face and my clothes were sticking to my body. I couldn't help but wonder how much longer we had to endure this. The buzzing sound of the bugs filled my ears and I had to resist the urge to swat them away. Someone slows down and as I pass her the bugs hot on my heel turn around and swarm the girl.

I don't look back. She knew what would happen when she lagged behind this was the third time she fell behind. How many trips to the nurse will it take for her to get the point. My pace slowed down to a jog because of the threat of the bug's harassment. Jumping over a trunk my feet hit the ground hard and I tripped and busted my face into the warm mud. Quickly I got up and wiped my face, trying to shake off the stinging pain. I looked around, making sure no one had witnessed my embarrassing fall. I was alone in the forest, with only the sound of birds chirping in the distance.

I took a deep breath and looked at the trunk that had caused my fall. It was a massive old tree with gnarled roots stretching out in all directions.

As I caught up with the group, our instructor's voice cut through the thick air. "Pick up the pace, recruits!" she barked, her eyes scanning us with an intense glare. "If you can't keep up with the training, then you're wasting everyone's time!"

Her words stung like a whip cracking against my skin. I could feel my classmates tense up, their faces grimacing in pain as we struggled to maintain our speed. The bugs seemed to swarm even more aggressively around us, buzzing in our faces and making it difficult to see where we were going.

The instructor didn't let up for a second. "Move it, move it!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the trees. "You think this is tough? You haven't seen anything yet!"

I gritted my teeth and pushed myself harder, determined not to let her down. But no matter how fast I ran, the bugs seemed to be one step ahead of me. They nipped at my heels and flew dangerously close to my face, causing me to flinch and lose my footing.

The instructor noticed my struggle and marched over to me, her eyes boring into mine. "What's the matter, recruit?" she demanded. "Can't handle a few bugs?"

I swallowed hard and tried to keep my composure. "No, ma'am," I replied, my voice coming out in a strained whisper.

"Then pick up the pace!" she yelled, her face inches from mine. "This is just the beginning, and if you can't handle it, then you might as well quit now!"

I nodded, too out of breath to speak. As we continued through the forest, I couldn't help but wonder if I had made a terrible mistake in signing up for this training. The bugs and the humidity were bad enough, but the thought of failing under the instructor's strict gaze was even worse.

I nodded, trying to ignore the instructor's scowl. We continued through the forest, the bugs still buzzing around us. I could feel the exhaustion setting in, my muscles aching and my lungs burning. But I knew that I couldn't slow down. I had to keep pushing myself if I wanted to succeed.

After what felt like hours, we finally emerged from the artificial environment and back into the open air. The instructor gathered us together and began to lecture us on our performance.

"You were all pathetic," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I expected better from you. If you can't handle a simple run through an artificial environment, how are you going to survive on the battlefield?"

I felt a pang of fear as I listened to her words. She was right, of course. If I couldn't handle this, how was I supposed to make it through the rest of my training? I glanced over at my classmates, trying to gauge their reactions. Some looked angry, while others seemed defeated.

The instructor dismissed us, and we all headed to our next class. I was exhausted, but I knew that I needed to do better next time. I couldn't let myself be beaten down by the challenges ahead. Next will be history or that's what my schedule says i think it will be a nice reprieve from the mostly physical classes. Only a few kids turned right where history awaits. My eyes wandered onto my roommate. He was like a beacon of light, his skin shinned in the dark corridors as we walked to our class.

"So what's your name?" It came out awkward and slow.

"Asher what's yours?" His eyes moved over my body taking in my looks and appearance.

"My my name is Vesper" It came out as a stutter

"Nice nice so how do you do? The weather would be nice outside if we weren't running through a swamp" My response was quick.

"It would be nice there was a nice breeze until we went into the swamp".

We walked in companionable silence to our next class going through dark walkways and corners until we found the class we arrived at a minute before class started. I followed Asher to the back row. We took our seats.

As the teacher walked in, I couldn't help but be struck by her bright, vibrant dress. It was a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded us in the academy. She introduced herself as Professor Lumin, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of relief. Maybe this class wouldn't be as intimidating as some of the others.

"Welcome to world History class," she said, her voice carrying a lilt of excitement. "Today we're going to be learning about the origins of the academy and the world itself."

I leaned forward, my interest piqued. I had always been curious about the outside world and its history. Asher seemed equally intrigued, and we listened intently as Professor Lumin began her lecture.

"As we all know or I hope you know that the region that we live in is called Valtara". Valtara is a land of diverse cultures and traditions, each region within it holding its own unique history and significance. From the majestic mountains of Drakonia to the sprawling deserts of Aridus, Valtara is home to a rich tapestry of people and places."

I could feel the excitement building within me as the professor continued to speak, detailing the different regions and their histories. It was fascinating to learn about the various cultures that made up our world, and I found myself completely engrossed in the lecture. Learning things we didn't cover last year.

Asher and I walked out together. It was refreshing to have a class that wasn't solely focused on physical training. We walked through the halls till we walked into the cafeteria for dinner.

The walls are lined with dark wood panels, and the floors are made of polished black marble. The room is lit only by dimly glowing chandeliers, casting an eerie ambiance throughout the space.

The tables and chairs are made of heavy, ornately carved wood, and the seats are upholstered in deep, dark velvet. Large, black tapestries hang from the walls, featuring intricate designs that seem to dance in the flickering light. There were plates on the tables with utensils next to them. There was a buffet further down where we got our food. I sat down at the table in the ornate cafeteria, my plate loaded with steaming pork and rice. The aroma of the food wafted up to my nose, making my mouth water in anticipation. I picked up my fork and knife and cut into the tender pork, savoring the juicy flavor as it melted in my mouth. The rice was perfectly cooked, each grain separate and fluffy, and the seasoning added just the right amount of savory flavor. I closed my eyes and let out a contented sigh as I enjoyed each delicious bite.

After finishing our meal, Asher and I made our way back to our dorm. The halls were dimly lit, casting long shadows across the walls. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as we walked, the eerie silence broken only by the sound of our footsteps.

As we approached our room, Asher turned to me. "Hey, Vesper, do you want to hang out for a bit?"

I hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of my exhaustion. But I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts, not in this dark and foreboding place. "Sure, that sounds good."

We entered our room, and Asher flopped down on his bed, pulled out his book and started reading it to me outloud. The quiet hum of talking filled the air, and I felt a sense of comfort in the familiar sounds of another person's presence.

But as the minutes ticked by, the exhaustion began to catch up with me. My eyelids grew heavy, and my mind began to drift. I could feel the pull of sleep, dragging me down into its dark embrace.

"Asher, I think I'm going to head to bed, thanks for reading to me" I said, my voice heavy with my limbs barely moving at my commands as i layed down pulling the blankets over me.

"Sure thing, Vesper," he replied, not looking up from his book. "Good night."

I crawled into my bed, pulling the blankets up to my chin. The room was quiet now, the only sound was the soft breathing of my roommate. I closed my eyes, letting the darkness engulf me as I drifted off to sleep.