The Reality Of Life

It took half a day by carriage to reach the village that resided just outside the forest where the moon goddess temple was found. The students that were undertaking this practical were all under Clara so she was very nervous about what was to come. Although they did their best to prepare their students, unforeseen events have happened many times. Any teacher whose class was undertaking a practical was always on edge. But since this was a new class of new students they would not have to worry so much. But with the word of goblins being in the area she worried for the girls' safety the most.

The entire ride there, everyone was chatting away all except for Yue. The kids in her class seemed to form a barrier between them and her. Her area on the bench seat in the back of the carriage was the most spacious as the others sat closely together not wanting to be near her as if she had some kind of strange disease.

Yue could hear the whispers quite clearly and could tell that the others were not trying to be quiet as they spoke ill about her. She made note to take down each name that was talking about her so she can deal with them later. She would wait to deal with them after the practical. They may be fully enjoying themselves and laughing at her right now but when she is beating them later they will be crying for mercy.

"Heh.." Yue accidentally let a laugh escape her lips causing everyone to go quiet and look at her. She turned and looked at them back, her lips curled up into a big smile. For some reason, this smile seemed to send a chill down their spine.

Her gaze quickly shifted back to looking at the view passing by her. The trees' leaves rustled ever so slightly with the wind that blew through them. The sky was clear and the sun was beating down, but the day was cool creating a perfect day for travel.

It was around midday that they finally arrived at Durnan Village. The village that sat outside the forest that they would need to hike through in order to reach the moon goddess temple. It was a small village with mud huts and thatched roofs. A village that adhered to the old ways of construction. But this kind of construction was not all that bad since during the hot summer days they would still feel cool inside the mud huts compared to a brick house you would find in the city. The only downside was that they needed to be maintained quite frequently.

As Yue alighted the carriage she looked around and took a deep breath. The fresh country air filled her nose causing her to smile. "The air here is fresh." She mumbled to herself. She did not care for the strange looks she was receiving.

"Everyone gather up! I will now announce teams." Clara shouted. But before she could begin Yue raised her hand. "Yes, Yue, what is it?"

"Can I not be teamed? I would prefer not to be in a team where I am sure to get stabbed in the back." Yue spoke honestly. She had heard the words of what were supposed to be her comrades during this trip. Most of which was if there was trouble and Yue is in your team, push her to the front as a shield to save yourselves. Or at least the words were along these lines. They might not have been exact, but the meaning was there, and she wanted no part of it.

Clara looked at Yue and thought for a moment before nodding her head. "Alright. That is fine. Since you are the only one in class likely to survive if trouble did stir up. And I know some of you here might have other thoughts." Clara looked at Van and Princess Venessa, who both quickly looked away.

But Clara's words also struck a chord with a few of the male nobles as one of them yelled out: "Miss Clara, what do you mean that she would be the only one likely to survive?"

"What do you not understand? Have any of you not seen how hard she works. Not at just trying to cast magic but at all the other weapons as well? Out of everyone here, she is the only one willing to train from sunup to sundown! The rest of you are nothing more than rich brats fiddling along on your path of life. I did not wish to dig too much into your personal lives but you kids will one day be standing on the front lines. But none of you seem to understand this! Do you know how many times we have been at war in the past fourteen years!? The same fourteen years you have been alive!?" Clara yelled. She was unhappy with how these kids handled themselves!

Her eyes were fierce as she scanned her students who all lowered their heads. None of them knew nor did they care. "Humph! None of you know! This is what I am talking about. Yue, tell me how many times have we gone to war?"

"Including the current time, eight times in the past fourteen years. At least by my count." Yue answered. She only knew because her parents were always deployed.

"Eight times! Do you hear that!? Do you see the difference!? Not only have we gone over this in class. But you should know this from your parents as well! Now tell me, from your own little worlds that you live in compared to the real world that Yue lives in, which of you is more likely to survive when a mass of goblins attack you or if you accidentally get split up?" Clara was not trying to be mean but she was trying to drive this into their little minds that this was the reality of the life they lived in.

"Alright enough. As long as you know now then that is good. Think first before you can't. Don't let what little training you have undergone the past three months be worthless. Use your heads and watch your surroundings. Now then teams will be as so!"