Chapter 13: Necessity

"Needs divided humans into two paths - chaos or camaraderie."

Pisces Code - 5:2

Sun rays assaulted the eyes of a young man, sound asleep on the ground in a glade, waking him up. He sat up warding the rays with his hand. He couldn't hear any sound. The deafening silence made him remember their horror last night. Panicked-stricken about the condition of his classmates, he scanned his surroundings and heaved a sigh of relief seeing them gathered around here.

Yamea noticed him. She approached him with fruits on her hands below a leaf they used as a plate, "Here, have some."

She smiled at him. Unknown to her, he seemed not to hear her out.

Sofer took the food and nodded his head saying, "Thank you." He had not heard his own voice. He panicked but succeeded to suppress it as he asked, "What happened?" He hoped to hear her voice.

As Yamea parted her lips, Sofer sank. He couldn't hear any single word she said. He held a fruit and bit it irritatingly, which seemed like a normal reaction to Yamea. As they all agreed, they have not asked him about what happened that night, at least, not today.

Yamea went on to how they help each other to search for food but Sofer just couldn't understand her. He couldn't assent or negate her. He just stared at them with his black face. To avoid suspicion about his condition, he diverted his attention to the food on his hands.

His classmates were worried sick, but thinking about last night, he just let him be.

After their breakfast, everyone was happily chatting around him with smiles that seemed awkward to him. They have not been minding each other, so being in that situation was novel to him.

Osman hugged him tight and whispered thanks but all he felt was the air coming from his mouth. He couldn't reply. Fortunately, Osman seemed not to mind it.

Aldir shared what he discovered, "I see the path we walked yesterday. It is there." He pointed southward. He admitted to himself that that path seemed to magically disappear last night, but now it's magically appear again. "We can go home now."

The ladies jumped in glee whilst the boys beamed except for one who observed at them dumbfounded.

Dwayne noticed it. He repeated Aldir's report as his hand pointing southward.

Sofer couldn't hear him but when he followed his hand; he surmised that they found a path. He nodded.

Everyone turned around him, steps were clearly going to that path. He followed them silently from behind.

Just as they were meters away from the glade, Aldir looked back. He felt something was amiss, but the path they just walked out seemed not to budge. To not raise suspicion, he returned to his usual pace.

Osman came at him and blabber about how grateful he was to meet them all and how brave Sofer was last night, but Sofer couldn't talk to him, afraid that they noticed his incapacity. He just nodded casually.

Seeing him unmotivated to speak, he held his tongue and just quietly walked beside him.

As a physician too, Sofer knew his condition. 'I need to see a physician as soon as possible.'

Having solitary thoughts, he was wondering what kind of thing was inside of the box that it resulted to such extent. He remembered the deafening sound and his body remembered the shiver it brought. He quivered for seconds but no one noticed it as they were busy on securing the path.

'What happened to the beast?' Though curious, he knew he would not have the opportunity to investigate it.

Terra called for his name but he didn't reply until Osman next to him nudged him and pointed Terra through his pouty lips.

Sofer followed him through his eyes and it landed at Terra who was furious as she was approaching them. He tilted his head in confusion, but not only him, everyone was dumbfounded to sudden change of Terra's action but she seemed not to care at all and continued towards Sofer with her furious mien.

Terra jabbed her head near to his ear and shouted over her lungs but Sofer didn't know what she did as he couldn't see his face, so he hadn't acted the way they expected. He only surmised what happened through the faces of his classmates who were gasping evidently to something they hadn't expected.

Thuraya stood next to Terra, eyes were sad towards Sofer, "Why didn't he tell us?"

Osman felt guilty for he felt he was the reason for his deafness.

Ada commented, "That deafening sound will not leave one unharmed, especially to a person near to it."

Everyone gathered around and tried to façade their sadness to his misfortune.

Terra stretched his earlobe and tried to see what she could see inside. She stretched it further into the light that made Sofer groan but Terra seemed not to care at all. She was angry that she didn't notice it sooner.

Under the light, she saw blood that already dried. "This is bad. We need to see a real physician as soon as possible."

Everyone was panicked-stricken and they made haste dragging Sofer. They have just stepped out of the glade after a night of horror, and now, Sofer's ears bleed!

Terra immediately cut her dress, rolled it and put it in his ears, just deep enough to stop the bleeding. They continued their journey.

Unfortunately, they bumped into three beasts which were clearly having their breakfast with the grass.

"Run!" Ada shouted and was going back to where they came when Yamea at her side, pulled her back.

"We need to arrive at the Academy as soon as possible," Yamea's eyes became gravely serious. She hinted Ada about Sofer's condition.

No other way out, the boys picked up sticks whilst the girls picked up stones. They compressed leaving no room for the beast to attack.

The beasts roared sensing danger but they seemed to smell food more than danger as they simultaneously sprang towards them.

The boys swayed their sticks warding the beasts as they slowly advanced whilst the girls threw rocks whenever they saw the beasts advanced. They were already tired and now, they need to exert more energy than they had done before. Their muscles were going stiff but they didn't stop pushing the beasts away from them until the beasts ran out of patience.

They simultaneously pounced at them. Ameril, Dwayne, and Ostir caught their fangs with their sticks whilst Osman thrust his stick. The ladies threw their stones aiming the heads of the beasts, whilst Ada guarded Sofer who they considered a patient.

Their sticks broke and the beasts salivated as if knowing they had the upper hands against their foods. They pounced on those boys holding the sticks who stumbled on the grounds.

The boys blocked their incoming attack from their paws through their arms and it left deep wounds. Osman was shoved by another paw, throwing him away. Now, he was totally out of energy as he lost his consciousness. They could only groan as Ameril shouts, "Run!"

He knew that they were not par to the beasts. The ladies didn't heed him as they threw stones that caught the attention of the beasts. Now, the beasts were aiming at them.

In horror, the ladies tried to run. Yamea stumbled on the ground. Her ankle was severed. She couldn't stand up. In horror, she could only watch herself being pounced by the beast. She closed her eyes, accepting her demise. Seconds had passed but no beast pounced at her. Instead, she heard someone being thrown out.

Sofer greeted his teeth and blocked the incoming assault, throwing him tumbling on the ground. The impact added pain to his ears as blood flew out.

In her fright, Yamea saw Sofer laying on the ground, blood all over his face. Before she could process what would happen to them, another beast was ready for the second assault but suddenly halted.

The beasts turned around and roared at them before they scattered around. They were curious as to what drove the beasts away. They trace the beasts with their eyes when a petite figure slowly emerges just where the beasts run away. A figure they loathed. No one dared to greet her.

With her presence, they felt secure and safe. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and let out their fatigue that had gathered since yesterday. They all sat on the ground, unable to move an inch.

Clio approached Osman first. She took something from her sleeve and let Osman smell it that woke him up.

Osman was surprised by the person who greeted his eyes, his teacher. He cried, "Teacher Clio."

Clio patted his head. "You are brave," she praised with her cold tone, but it was enough for Osman to burst into tears. Not only him, but his classmates too. They might have shown bravery, but they were weak inside. Cries reverberated to the oddly silent wilderness.

Clio didn't wait for their tears to dry. She approached the other boys who were wounded and sobbing. When Clio thought of tending Ameril, he begged, "Please, tend Sofer first."

Clio nodded and approached Sofer instead. She signaled him to open his mouth, which Sofer did. She flicked a pill that almost choked him, but didn't complain. She beckoned to him who he complied with. She pricked his ears but he seemed not to feel it. Then, Clio cut off her robe and threw it to him, signaling him to wipe the blood on his ears which he obeyed.

The girls wipe their tears before they gather around their teacher hoping that they will be needed. As they expected, Clio asked them to search for specific plants as she prepared her crude equipment. When Osman was done being a cry-baby, he too helped the group.

Clio demonstrated to them how to properly grind herbal medicine without those equipment they grew fond of, and they easily grasped it as expected to skillful students in the Academy. She showed them how to apply it too. Oddly, it doesn't sting and its smell was menthol.

It was the same plants she had used to save Bien's and company from the sure death. Though the process was different, grinding it will be more effective since their wounds were not wide.

She thought of tending the girls but they volunteered to do it on their own.

"We are so worried about Sofer who thought of all those plans just to save us. It is our own action that led us to that horror. We should have not taken our eyes to you, teacher Clio." Yamea narrated what happened to them , telling her how pathetic they were to lose sight of her. She didn't mean her last words.

Though Clio already knew what happened as she was observing them from afar, she didn't stop her from giving her information.

Yamea thought that giving her the result of leaving them will make their teacher feel guilty about it, but she was wrong or she thought she was for Clio's mien was all the same, cold and apathetic. She secretly lampooned from the side.

After hours of walking, they safely returned, out of the wilderness where headmaster Xarles and Dean Raheem - who gasped seeing the piteous conditions of the students - were waiting.

"Bloody stars! Why did you let them go?" Raheem furiously demanded an answer, but Clio only answered him with her cold shoulder whilst the students seemed downcast to even speak.

Xarles opened his mouth knowing what was more important for the moment than Raheem's fury, "Let's take these students to the clinic first."

Xarles led them to the faculty's clinic instead of their tower's clinic or the main tower in case the other students feasted on them.

When the students entered the clinic, he beckoned Clio towards the end of the hallway where a meeting room waited for them. Raheem followed suit.

Xarles couldn't contain his anger towards Clio and himself. He felt guilty seeing the condition of the students he handed over to Clio who he thought would be a good teacher for them. His hatred deepened when Clio comfortably sat on the chair even without his command. Raheem from behind, squinted.

They were waiting for the other Deans to make a sound judgement.

⨳ ⨳ ⨳

Inside the clinic, Medil was surprised at the effect of the herbal that was pasted on their wounds. If the students were telling him the truth to how long it has been pasted on to them, he could tell that its healing power was incredible.

He approached Sofer to tend him too and unlike what the other students said, Sofer could hear him. Medil asked, "What kind of medicine did she give you?"

Sofer shook his head. "I don't know, teacher. She just flicked it into my mouth and I couldn't ask a question because I wouldn't be able to hear an answer anyway."

Medil patted his back, "You are a brave fellow." He scanned everyone and said, "For now, you need to rest. Your class will be postponed."

He pushed the door and was going out when Aldir asked, "What will happen to teacher Clio?"

They noticed the fury of their Headmaster. They didn't know what to feel about her action towards them, but they desired to know what could possibly happen to her.

Medil grew fond of Clio. He sadly replied, "She might be kicked out." Then, he continued to go out.

Meanwhile, the tenth class held a meeting on their own.

Terra commented, "It is best for her to be kicked out to avoid future disasters like this."

Ostir added, "She is irresponsible. It might be because she is too young for such responsibility."

Ameril assented, "I wonder why they let her teach in the first place?"

Aldir replied, "Obviously because of her incredible healing skills."

Yamea commented, "Skills are not enough to assume the responsibilities of a teacher. You need to have a passion for teaching and care for students."

Thuraya added, "And understanding which she made us realize."

Terra eyes her friend, "What do you mean Thuraya?"

Thuraya stood up, confident to what she realized but feeling betrayed by her classmates, "Couldn't you realize? If it wasn't for this situation, we would not be casually talking like this, right now.

"Sofer already helped us to the accident at the Physician Garden but all he received is our cold thanks but not really appreciate it. But when he planned to save Osman, we acted as one. He saved Osman by sacrificing himself, and we face our fears to assist him. She made us realized that we need each other as part of a class."

Everyone casted their eyes at Thuraya feeling shame about pointing fingers at their teacher instead of seeing the lesson.

Aldir added, "We failed her again. Teacher Clio's first entrance to our room is already a failure to show our respect to her and now this."

Everyone lowered their heads and let silence ruled the room.

Terra broke it by asserting, "If we don't act now, we will fail her again."

Everyone lightened up knowing what she meant. They all abruptly stood up when Medil came back with trays of medicine. "Where are you going?"

Terra faced him with begging eyes, "Please teacher Medil, tell us where Headmaster Xarles is."

Medil was beguiled by her begging eyes. He replied, "At the end of this hallway, you will see a room. They are inside of it."

"Thank you, teacher Medil. We owe you one."

They all dashed outside before Medil could stop them. He was dumbfounded as to how those students could bear their bruises together with being in haste.

⨳ ⨳ ⨳

Sitting on a lone chair confronting eight more chairs where the headmaster and the Deans were sitting, a lone teacher was being interrogated by them.

"Teacher Clio, do you know that you hold responsibilities of your class?" asked Zya, the Dean of Agriculture.

Clio nodded, admitting her responsibilities.

Osias querulously questioned her, "Then, do you admit that you intend to harm those students?"

Clio coldly replied, "To assayed their characters and made them realize how important camaraderie is. Letting them see each other is not an act of harming them. If you think of it deeper than just looking at it at the surface, Dean Osias, you will see what I did."

Haron, the Dean of the Warrior Faculty, debated, "But your action told us the other way around teacher Clio and it is enough evidence to let you know that your way of teaching our students is disparaging to our name."

"Oh! Well then, tell me Dean Haron, who is a good teacher? The person who cares so much about his name or the person who is willing to be tainted just to make their students realize how savage the real world is?" Clio's sharp tongue glided without qualm.

The room became suddenly tense from the locked eyes of Haron to Clio which the latter did not notice much.

Samsudin, Dean of the Engineering Faculty, sadly complained, "Teacher Clio, I grew fond of you but this time, you went too far. Those students hadn't yet recovered from the accident during their last class with Teacher Mahadir and you added bruises to their wounds."

Azuira assented, "I have high hopes that you could help us change the savage world you have said, but haven't you realized that it was too early for them to know it?"

Xarles didn't give her time to defend herself as he said, "Now, let us vote by raising our hands." He eyed Clio as he explained, "Majority's vote will tell you if you will stay or not even if you have a recommendation with highlord Homobono."

Clio didn't reply.

Xarles continued, "Who agreed for her to stay?"

Seconds past but no hand was raised. Xarles waited for more seconds but nothing happened. He continued, "Who agree that teacher Clio will be strip of her responsibi-"

Bang!

Xarles' words were cut off by the sudden opening of the door and figure after figure emerged from outside. Familiar figures whose bruises were hidden under their bandages.

These students scanned the room and their eyes landed from their teacher first then, lastly at their Headmaster.

With obeisance, they faced those sitting across their teacher. Terra, as usual, was the spokesperson of their group. "Headmaster Xarles, we beseech you to forgive our teacher. We are bruised and broken inside even before we have been admitted to your Academy, but Teacher Clio patched our wounded souls making us realize that we belong to each other, that we need each other."

Aldir stutteringly added, "She made us realize how important it is to help and to ask for help."

Osman commented, "She made us realize that together, we can survive."

Ada assented, "She let us face our fear and fight it or else you will burden others from selfishness."

Yamea uttered, "She helped us find friends amongst us."

Headmaster Xarles and the other Deans fell into surprise. They have not thought that the effect of such action was a new world to the students. It was first in their history to have such commendation about teachers and to top it all was their daring action of entering the room without the consent of teachers.

Beside him, a silent fury was boiling to an old man.

Azuira stood up and applauded them all. She commented with heart in ease and glee, "The students speak it for themselves." She winked at Xarles, satisfied with the show she had seen.

Xarles stood up too and announced, "Since the students spoke for themselves, I, the headmaster of this Academy, announced the end of this meeting with a decision of Clio's continuous work as a teacher of the tenth class."

The students rejoiced. Yamea hugged her tight and followed by Terra until each of her students formed a group hug.

Azuira's heart melted to such a show. Her wrinkled hands desired to join them but she was good at suppressing it.

Before Xarles dismissed them, he announced, "Teacher Clio is suspended for a week, and as to you all students, you are required to rest for a week too and write your reflection for ten pages. Submit it to me directly."

"Eh!?" students

⨳ ⨳ ⨳

Dragging her feet to the room assigned to her at the clinic, Thuraya opened her bag to organize it as she had nothing to do. She was in the mood to clean her bag which she mostly did once a month.

She held her bag outside down and shook it letting her things fall over her bed. There were notebooks, pens, notes, leaves she collected for curiosity and some sort of medicines she had no idea when she collected them.

She picked up her notebook and was going to put it back in place when a letter suddenly fell. Tilting her head in confusion, she was going to pick it up when Terra snatched it from her, "Give it back to me!"

Terra opened up the letter and began to read it aloud for everyone to hear, not minding Thuraya who began to blush because of the content of the letter.

She tries to snatch it back but Yamea and Ada hold her back.

To Thuraya,

I am lurking in the darkness unable to pluck up courage to face you

And I hope you will not misunderstood me and labeled me as a stalker

I am no such man, but I do look at you whenever you pass by over my sight

That beaming smile with brightness and gaiety I adored

Your smile brought the sun itself to my lonely heart

Your eyes twinkle the stars I have been wishing on

Your hair drew the waves that pulled me deeper into you

If you give my heart a chance, I will be waiting above the main platform during the ninth full moon.

Sincerely yours,

Your admirer

Terra teasingly asked, "Woah! Who is this secret admirer of yours, Thuraya? You never spoke a word about it."

Thuraya flushed red and replied, "It's the first time I received such letter. You know that the letters I received all the time came from my family."

Terra returned the letter to her and the group began to tease her.