Chapter 6: Gods Became Students

"How long are we supposed to stay in here? I'm bored!"

"Have some patience, little Khuong."

Hoa Khuong was staring out of the window, groaning in misery. Hoa Xuan sat crisscrossed on the bed, simply meditating. After his blackout, he regained some energy, but it wasn't enough for him. He still felt tired in mobility. He decided to meditate, for the time being, relaxing his body and regain energy.

Hoa Khuong leaned against the window. He looked out at the unfamiliar sight. The area had no skyscrapers or parked cars. He could make out a courtyard with the exterior of ancient Vietnam. The other buildings in the courtyard seemed to be empty with no sign of life.

He was too annoyed but a knock sparked his interest. Hoa Xuan opened his eyes and gazed at the door, telling them they could come in. The door opened and Duc Quang joyfully ran inside.

Duc Quang beamed brightly. He waved at them saying, "Follow me! You are about to have the time of your life!"

The two brothers followed the boy out of the room and to the courtyard. It was a dim afternoon with the sun peeking over the clouds. The day wasn't too chilly so they didn't need a coat, not like they have one anyway.

Duc Quang explained to them with a hundred percent level of cheerfulness, "You guys will meet the best demon hunters in existence! The best of the best of this whole nation or world! Teacher Tuyet has decided to take you guys to be part of this school. Isn't that exciting?"

Hoa Khuong was walking with his arms crossed. He asked, "And what is this school for?"

"This school is for those who aspire to become a demon hunter."

"And why is this school empty?"

Duc Quang turned and frowned at him, miraculously kept walking without looking forward. He answered, "This school is popular and worthwhile to stay. Students are running around right now."

Duc Quang didn't miss a single step and naturally walked out of the gate with his eyes locked onto Hoa Khuong. The two glowered at each other.

Hoa Xuan smiled at them. He asked, "Who are the people running this school?"

Duc Quang faced Hoa Xuan, still walking ahead. His glare did a one-eighty. He answered, "The Hoa family. They are the most talented people ever! Coincidentally, you guys have the same surname as them."

Hoa Xuan nodded and didn't ask any further, because they have stopped in front of a pavilion. Duc Quang knocked on the door and announced his presence. Once a light voice called out, Duc Quang motioned for them to follow him.

When they got inside, the smell of jasmine tea wafted towards their nose. The room is rather empty and simple, supposedly for resting. A table with four seats arranged in front of them with four people sitting.

The young lady they saw was amongst them. Her gaze somewhere else and a cup of tea in her hands. A young man sat next to her, his eyes examining them from head to toe and around. An older woman with the reddest lips was smiling at them. Finally, a taller man showed a cold face just like the young lady.

The cute Duc Quang immediately turned serious. He clasped his hands and bowed, greeting, "This student greets teacher Tuyet, teacher Nhan, brother Khai, and sister Thuy."

Hoa Xuan and Hoa Khuong bowed too, showing respect as part of etiquette. They felt eyes on them as soon as they lowered their heads.

"I brought them, just like teacher Tuyet had asked."

An eccentric voice said, "Thank you, Quang. You can leave."

Duc Quang nodded then left, not without a thumbs up at the brothers. The doors closed behind them and now they're alone with the mysterious four. But not so mysterious, Hoa Xuan reckon.

Hoa Xuan politely introduces, "Greetings teachers, brother and sister, my name is Hoa Xuan and this is my younger brother, Hoa Khuong."

The older woman gasped, "Oh what a coincidence! Our last names are Hoa too."

The two brothers knew that.

The older woman continued, "This morning, my son and I encountered your guy's unconscious selves in the forests. We brought you guys back out of worry. But then I noticed how strong your energies are. So I would like to ask, would you two like to join this institute? To dispel evil and become demon hunters?"

The two brothers looked at each other. In their situation, they had nowhere to go. They knew no one who could help them, except for the family who sits in front of them. The brothers nodded then faced the four again, noticing the older woman looked kinder than the other three.

Hoa Xuan answered elegantly for the both of them, "We accept."

The older woman jumped out of her chair and ran towards Hoa Xuan. She grasped his small hands shaking them roughly and beamed, "Then welcome Xuan and Khuong! I feel so happy I could cry!"

Not noticing Hoa Xuan shrinking away, she kept on shaking it fast as lightning. She then moved onto the reluctant Hoa Khuong, shaking his hands.

A hand grabbed the back of her collar, dragging her away from the slightly bewildered brothers. A tall man, taller than Hoa Xuan and the lady, but the same height as Hoa Khuong. He had no smile or laugh wrinkles. He had a familiar mole under his right eye.

"You're too energized, go run outside again," he said in a deep and emotionless voice.

The woman smacked his hand away and retorted, "You're too serious, you should smile more."

The man did not react. His cold expression cemented like stone and his posture like a tall statue. He didn't say anything.

The woman smiled at them. "As this school's students from now on, you can call me Teacher Tuyet!" She gestures over to her man, her son, and her daughter. "This is my husband, call him Teacher Nhan. This is my son, Hoa Khai and my daughter, Hoa Thuy. They'll help you around."

Hoa Khai and Hoa Thuy watched them interact with their mother. Hoa Khai looked to be observing them with sharp eyes and Hoa Thuy showed the same looks like her father. Like father like daughter.

After the energetic one-side introduction, Duc Quang came back to lead the two brothers to their assigned shared room. The door once again closed with the two family members back at their seats. Hoa Tuyet had calmed down and continued drinking her warm slowly cooling tea.

She asked them, "So...what do you think?"