Prologue (6)

Fountainhead (n.)

Probity (n.)

Ornithon (n.)

Austerity (n.)

Abasement (n.)

Although they could not see what the danger was, all three could sense it this time. However, in front of them was a calming sight, if it were not for the fact that they were inside a university.

There was a fountainhead and the water was flowing down through a small valley. A valley! Inside a building! But all of that was nothing compared to the Ornithon at the bottom of the valley.

Left without a choice and their radio being interfered with, the trio could only decide to move forward. Soon they reached the chicken coop. Surprisingly there were no chickens there. Next to the building, though, was a stone statue. The statue was giving a faint sense of austerity but also of danger.

Marla, being the weakest-willed among the three trotted towards the statue. On being in close proximity, she examined the statue and spoke to the other two.

"Hey, this statue is a half man and half animal, hmm, a horse. No, a cow. It is a cow. It is a bit damaged though. Why does it feel a bit holy? What is this place? Did students really learn here? What was this building for?"

As she rattled on while looking at the ground in contemplation, she did not notice the look of absolute terror on her companions' faces. Behind her, the statue was moving and growing in size.

"Whew. That damn owl, how dare he fight me. It is a good thing that he sent these three here, though. Maybe I will share the spoils with him." The statue was muttering to itself as stone chips kept falling from its body. Underneath the stone was the leathery skin and fur of a cow.

"Now, don't be afraid. Too much. I plan to kill you, but not without cause. You see, I believe in fairness, unlike that damn owl who likes to play around with his prey, unlike any owls. Let's play hide and seek. You will hide and I will seek. If after 20 minutes, you are still able to evade me, then I will let you go free. Well, normal humans, like you, are just pathetic. If not for that idiot bombing this, I would still be able to enjoy some time. You call yourself masters of the world, but you are the most disgusting things to live." The statue calmly explained initially before he began rambling angrily.

As his rambling continued on, the girls stoop to an attitude of abasement. The insults stuck to them as they fell into a reverie. Somehow the statue's words were like a holy declaration to them.

Seeing them fall into this state, the statue banged his feet on the ground and broke them free.

As the gravity of their situation began to weigh in on them, their faces turned white in horror. A statue, a half cow-half man-monster, and these strange buildings. What was going on in this Institute?