Chapter 20 - Darug Village (6)

"Hah…. What a drag," I sighed. I turned to look outside the window, resting my chin on my hand; I felt a sudden drowsiness hit me. My eyelids felt heavy, and soon I gave myself up to the peaceful slumber inside the bus.

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"He fell asleep," Dorothy furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at the boy beside her. Then, she noticed that most of her classmates also fell asleep. Gilbert being the exception as he quietly enjoyed the scenery outside. Suddenly, Dorothy saw Renata stand up from her seat and walk toward her. Dorothy scoffed with an unruly expression when Renata was right beside her. "What?" Dorothy harrumphed. "So, how's the progress?" Renata asked with a teasing tone. "Haaa…. Can you just give it to me already?" Dorothy let out a long sigh. "The deal is the deal. You become closer to my brother, and I will give you what you ask. It's simple, right?" Renata said, tilting her head slightly to the right and with a wide smile.

Dorothy felt a chill up in her spine while her face blushed red, "I-I'm not proficient in that sort of art. You saw, right?" Renata rubbed her chin with furrowed eyebrows, "What's the rush? I know it will take time. I'm a patient woman. Don't worry. What you wanted is not going anywhere," Renata said. "Tch," Dorothy clicked her tongue. "You're evil. Do you know that?" Dorothy sulked. "If it's for my brother, I can be as evil as I need," Renata replied. Dorothy took a long stare at Renata before gently looking toward the youth beside her, "What happened to him?" Renata sighed, "A lot."

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"Attention to all students. We are about to arrive at our destination. Attention to all students," The bus driver announced with the bus megaphone. With my chin resting against my hand, my eyelids rose slightly as a feeling of refreshment washed up. "This is Darug Village?" I looked outside the window. Instead of what I expected of a village, the road was paved, and the houses were neatly arranged. Instead of wooden houses, the houses were built with stones. The roof tiles were ridged, and they were made of clay. As the bus drove toward the village's entrance, I saw an elderly woman and a bunch of what I assume were villagers standing right below the 'Welcome to Darug' arch. There was one thing that stood out from the villagers. It was a massive flag carried by one of the villagers that said, 'We welcome you, Charles Military Academy.'

When the bus stopped, the flag was rosed a little higher. Stephanie greeted the elderly woman. They chatted a little before the elderly woman waved her hand, dispersing the villagers. However, the villagers that carried the huge flag, a man in his mid-forty, I think, stayed. Then, Stephanie gestured toward the bus driver. The bus driver cleared his throat with a cough before picking up the bus' megaphone. "Attention to all students. Please go out in an orderly manner. Thank you," the bus driver said. Renata smiled and got off first, followed by Dorothy before the rest of us. "Aah, good fresh air," Wortel stretched his body. "I agree. The air is quite good," Gilbert commented. Rie groggily walked near Wortel with her eyes half-closed, "Are we there yet?" she mumbled.

Eliza observed her surroundings with interest while Dorothy scanned the village. I stood behind all of them before Stephanie approached us with the elderly woman beside her. "Welcome to Darug Village. How is your trip?" the elderly woman said with a smile.