80 School Begins

The next morning, all students were called to the training grounds for an emergency assembly.

Lydis yawned lazily while children around her shuffled uncomfortably. Whispers and gossip weaved in and out of their mouths. Some talked about the incident as if it was nothing while others were the opposite. Most whimpered for their family and home, for a place they'd already established as 'safe' in their hearts.

As she stood, waiting for the teachers to start speaking, someone reached out for her shoulder. Without so much as a glance, Lydis whacked the hand away with her back hand.

"If you would refrain from unnecessary contact that would be better, unless you want to lose that hand."

Since her back was turned, Lydis couldn't see the desperation on the person's face disappear. Nor the way that their lifeless eyes had overflowed with happiness. The boy trembled from his joy but managed to calm himself down before speaking. After so long, he'd finally met her again. Searching for Lydis wasn't easy nor was it fruitful but here she was now.

"Could it be that you already know who I am Lydis?"

"No. I just don't want to be recklessly touched."

"I see." The boy lowered his voice. "Was it too much to hope that?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"U-uh, I mean, aren't we friends? Y'know like how some friends can just tell when the other is nearby? Or, like when, uh, like a special connection! Between friends!"

"… Friends?"

Lydis turned to look at the boy and saw Bennox waving awkwardly.

"Hey, uh hi Lydis! Long time no see, right?"

"Just you Bennox? Owen isn't with you?"

Bennox flinched for a second but laughed it off.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I only ever see you two together, never far apart from the other."

"Although we are good friends, we're not combined at the hip! I can go around alone if I want to, as can Owen."

Lydis shrugged and went back to watching the teachers scramble around the students. Bennox's appearance didn't bother her nor did she really care.

Bennox however seemed distracted by Lydis. He couldn't keep his eyes on the stage for long. Lydis's bright red hair that seemed to glow in the morning sun captivated him. It was so beautiful, so blindingly majestic that if he stretched out his hand, he wondered if he would receive burns.

As Bennox stared at Lydis, the chaos within the students was suddenly silenced. A woman walked up to the stage, her boots making sharp clicks against the floor. Even without speaking all the children present knew that the woman standing above them was of high importance.

"Students, new and old. I'm sure that this unfortunate event has shaken you all…"

Among the crowd, there were stiff nods and murmurs for home once again.

"… But! You are no longer children! You are the proud soldiers of Lativa! Something as insignificant as this shouldn't shake you!"

The woman bashed her hands on the small podium, shattering it into rubble.

"You are soldiers and shall be treated as such! Starting from today I am your new Principle, the highest commanding officer here! Remember my name well, I am Principle Foraz. That is all, students are dismissed and shall regroup in their classrooms."

She left the stage and disappeared.

It seemed that the new principle had said something unexpected since the teachers on the sidelines were left in a daze as well. There had been no talk of a new principle nor a replacement coming. The teachers didn't even know why they were assembled, especially after such a tragic incident.

The younger students couldn't handle the pressure anymore. What started as a few soon became many as they ran in every direction. The panic that simmered quietly had been blown into a full fire. Teachers tried to gather the students but they couldn't match the number who ran. Of the students present, an estimate of sixty percent fled the training grounds. Mainly the ones who were in the lower grades who had yet to harden their mentality like the older children.

As Lydis calmly moved away from the chaos, Bennox followed behind her. Not too close but not too far away either. Slowly, the students who had been helped by Lydis a few days earlier when they were supposed to enter the dorm started to gather closer as well. Min-Young led his group of five towards Lydis. Even if he felt scared by the new principle, the murderer, or even the other staff members, Min-Young chose to believe and follow Lydis. Even if their exchange had been brief, something in his gut told him that following her was the best option.

Bennox glanced behind and saw Min-Young's group coming closer. They stayed a few meters behind Bennox but the distance remained the same. He couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed.

Within Min-Young's group, Min-Jung saw Lydis and tugged on her brother's sleeve.

"Brother, are we following Lydis?"

"Yeah, I just have this gut feeling y'know?"

Min-Jung shook her head but remained silent. She trusted her brother with everything. It was thanks to him that they were even alive after all.

"Min-Jung doesn't know but Min-Jung will follow brother's choice!"

She puffed her chest out and placed one fist over it confidently. Min-Young smiled at his innocent sister and continued to follow Lydis. He didn't know who the other boy was but since he was following Lydis so closely, he must be someone familiar to Lydis.

It was a fifteen-minute jog before Lydis stopped in front of the door to her homeroom. Sensing that the group that had followed her still lingered around the corner, she decided to shoo them away to their proper classes.

"Bennox, I'm not sure why you've followed me this far but you should head to your own homeroom as well. As an elite, you must set an example for the others to follow."

"Class starts in ten minutes, I'm sure I can stay around for another minute or two." He shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn't a big deal.

"If that is your attitude then you aren't worthy to be a member of the Horoscopes. Without ambition and diligence you'll surely lose that title when the challenge matches start."

Bennox bit his lip slightly but he still wore his pleasant smile.

"I'll take this as a friendly piece of advice. Well then, until next time." Bennox swiveled around and began to walk away from Lydis's homeroom.

As soon as Bennox left, Lydis walked to the group of kids peeking at her from around the corner.

"Hello Min-Young."

"H-hi Lydis!"

"What brings you here as well? Did you need something from me?" Lydis's tone was softer than when she talked with Bennox but there was still a hint of authority and power in it.

"We just wanted to follow you, I'm not quite sure why either but I had a gut feeling!"

Lydis was baffled. They followed her all this way just because Min-Young felt something in his stomach? Could he have mistaken his hunger for intuition? The entire way there she'd jogged to stretch and wake up her muscles, even doing loops on purpose for a longer jog.

"I'm not sure what to say but has you've probably heard, you should head to your assigned homeroom as well. It's not good to be late on the first day."

"…"

Min-Young nodded his head and signaled for the others to follow him as well. When everyone had left, Lydis walked into her homeroom.

It was dim and covered in dust. The curtains were closed while chairs stood stacked on top of one another. The desks pushed to the far side of the room. In a sense, it looked abandoned, or just unused for a very long time.

Just as a double check, Lydis walked out of the room and looked at the label next to the door, on it were the words, 'Zodiac HR'. Without a doubt, it was the right room.

"Pretty shabby isn't it?"

Lydis looked to her right and a teacher greeted her warmly. Lydis gave the teacher a cadet salute.

"Cadet Lydis greets instructor Mavrelle."

"Well done cadet Lydis. Usually kids don't do it until a few weeks in. Even then it takes some time for it to become habitual."

The teacher smiled warmly at Lydis once more.

"Would you mind helping me clean the room while we wait for the rest to show up?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Oh my."

Their exchange had been so natural and brief that Mavrelle forgot that Lydis was a first year who had never been to the academy before. The fact that Lydis knew her name didn't strike her as odd until they were halfway done cleaning and shifting the furniture around.