Chapter 32: Violent Garden

Sweat was running down my brow because of the heat of the earlier battle but my back was soaked because of the scare the bespectacled old lady gave me. We were not in trouble for destroying these violent plants? For once I didn't add to my debts?

"Stop standing there like statues! Follow me! Another group of students is approaching!" said the eccentric professor.

She led us farther into the greenhouse, not giving us a chance to acclimate to the situation. Instead, we ducked behind some prickly bushes and waited just for two breaths until a group of three students walked in. The vines we destroyed earlier blended in with the wild-looking foliage.

Unbeknownst to the three newcomers three more vines crept up on them and attacked from two sides. Their unconcerned faces warped into surprised grimaces. The vines swept at their lower bodies, knocking them down. But one got back on his feet rather quickly. He raised his fists in a defensive battle stance. Except for his barely stained uniform, he seemed unharmed and ready to fight. In comparison, his two friends fled the greenhouse on hands and feet. One lonely student against three monstrous vines. His chances were slim.

Two vines attacked seemingly coordinated, one swept again at his lower body while another attacked with a thrust aiming for the student's broad chest.

I expected him to dodge at least one of the attacks and try to defend the other but against all odds, he got hit by both. The thrust hit first squeezing out his lunch right out of him, the sweep took advantage of his now shaky footing and catapulted him into the air. Sadly, that was not where the humiliation ended. He landed into his regurgitated lunch and was forced to enjoy it for the third time. Yikes. Even worse the vines started to pound on him.

I could no longer watch and stepped in intending to shield him. But they stopped even before I got to him. The vines retreated back into the chaotic foliage around us.

"Are you okay!?" I asked.

Lessandra was on my heels. "Wait, Meadow!"

At times like these, I wished that my grass spirit worked like it used to. I channeled my spiritual energy, but again it did not react. Damnit! I stepped into the vomit unconcerned to dirty myself. The male student had a buzzcut, a strong nose, and bushy eyebrows. His build was muscular but not as defined as Agatha's, my hand-to-hand combat teacher.

He breathed heavily and was moaning in pain. I remembered the first aid I learned in my previous school and checked for broken bones and internal injuries. Luckily, but for a bloody nose and wounded pride, I found no serious injury.

I sighed in relief. The crazy teacher approached laughingly. "That's how most students end up! You two are certainly an exception to the rule!"

"That's fucked up!" I said.

The professor shrugged. "Don't assume the law of the jungle doesn't apply to the jungle itself. The cultivation world is full of predators and prey. I don't expect my students to be part of the former but I require them to have a spine."

She took a look at the beaten-up student herself. "You two passed without issue as well as this young man." The professor readjusted her glasses and smiled at us. "Failing is part of life and to be expected. Giving up the fight before you gave it a shot is pitiful."

"That's why you planted those monstrous plants?" Lessandra asked.

"No. like I said they are part of my treasures like everything in these greenhouses. I would even consider them rather harmless in comparison to the babies growing farther in. Although they are helpful in regard to testing students if they have a backbone. At first, students wandered in on accident and had to deal with the things living here by themselves and at some point it became a tradition and now it's a requirement."

she shrugged. "Who cares, really? Let's celebrate your initiation into the Botany Club!"

"Uhm, can we decline?" Lessandra asked.

"No," said the professor with a devious look.

"I think we should get him to the nurse first," I said.

"Right." She either forgot about the state of this poor fellow or didn't care. "You bring him there and then come back as soon as possible. Well, do not come back hero but go to the other greenhouse."

We helped the beaten-up student back on his feet and slowly moved towards the nurse's office.

"Thanks," he said. "that was embarrassing."

"Well, not as embarrassing as destroying a security robot on your first day," I said.

"And not as embarrassing as getting beaten up by that same girl in front of half the school without even landing a single hit," Lessandra added.

He then finally recognized me. "You are not as vicious as people say!"

"Well—" Lessandra began.

"Well, of course not!" I interjected. My eyes motioned her to shut up. "I'm just a normal girl who got an undeserved bad reputation."

"I did see you sparring once with Agatha though." Happy that neither of us talked about the vomit sticking to him he picked up the new topic like a fish in water. "It was amazing! I always loved hand-to-hand combat but, well, my talent is rather limited."

"You are also in hand-to-hand combat class then?"

"I sure am! The others believe you are some kind of monster but I think you are pretty cool."

Cool, eh? So cool that he, like the rest of them, never dared to spar with me. Oh well, this is not the time to be resentful.

"Thanks. I'm Meadow by the way."

"And I'm Lessandra."

"My name is Peter. Nice to meet you too! Although my friends would laugh at me if they knew that I was carried by one of the Twin Devils to the Nurse's office.

"Twin Devils?" I asked.

"Yeah you and that loud girl." Peter had to think for a moment until he remembered her name. "Rose! Rumor says that you two are nothing but trouble." He laughed nervously.

I felt a headache coming. Was there any way to salvage my reputation?

"But seeing that you are a good person I bet that this Rose isn't as bad as people say."

"No, she is way worse," I said without giving him an explanation.

We arrived at the nurse's office. It was for once a bit busier than usual. Six other students had a few bruises treated, probably caused by the various combat classes that were going on in the afternoon. In addition to the usual male nurse was a bright smiling female nurse who starkly contrasted his apathetic demeanor. While most people probably preferred her over him. I seem to get along with him fine.

"You again!? This time with your former victim in tow? And who is this? Did he offend you as well?" The nurse said unhappily to see me. See? We got along just fine.

"No, he got beat up by a triplet of vicious vines," Lessandra said ignoring his provocation.

"The Botany Club is at it again then?" He sighed. "You two seem to have some bruises as well. Follow me if you please." He led us to a nearby row of beds. "Lay him down there. I'll first take a look at him and later at you two."

While I appeared battered my regenerative ability already healed my bruises leaving only superficial dirt. I wasn't sure about Lessandras status though. So I patiently waited. I didn't want to return to the Botany Club on my own, anyway. The nurse came to the same conclusion that Peter was fine. He had no long-lasting injuries. To my surprise though, Lessandra had a partially fractured shin. How she soldiered through the pain I was not sure. Tough! Although I felt worried that she didn't feel safe to expose her injury to anyone. Neither the professor nor me.

"Take the rest of the day off," I said.

"No. It's nothing." She waved me off. "The nurse gave me some pills. A few days of rest and it should be healed."

"You do understand what rest means, yes?" I asked.

"I'm not an idiot Meadow. I know my limits."

"Fine." I gave up.

"So that was all a test?" Peter changed the topic back to the Botany Club.

"I think so?" I answered.

"And we three passed?"

"I think so?" I repeated myself.

"That's fucked up," he said.

"Yeah, that's what I said."

We exited the nurse's office. Peter's forehead was soaked in sweat. "What's wrong?" I asked

"Do you think even more of these plant monsters are waiting for us in these greenhouses?"

We three all exchanged nervous glances. Lessandra broke the silence. "Only one way to find out."