Maya was humming softly while picking up dried herbals from a wooden tray. She was known as the youngest apprentice of Doctor Gong. People thought he was kind enough to adopt this parent less child but Maya and Doctor Gong had a secret which they well kept for themselves.
"Maya, master request us, " one of students came in.
"Yes brother, " Maya put the collected herbals into a small clay pot before she stack back the tray on the rack.
Maya walked into the Doctor Gong's head quarters with others. The seniors were all ready seated on the wooden floor waiting for their master's arrival. Maya sat down on the end of the hall since she was the youngest while wondering why would their master wanted to talk to all of them.
Master entered the hall with a serious face. All the students stood up with a bow to honor his presence. They waited him to take the seat. Master signed them to sit after looking at them. Maya sat down studying her master's face.
"I have an announcement for senior students. I was ordered to send five of my best students to the capital by the royal order, " Master eyed the front row.
"Master, name us, " all the seniors bowed as their leader spook out for them.
"How Smart, master looks worried yet my dear brothers and sisters are willing to be named. Master, why do they asks for five best students? " Maya raise her voice from the back row. The seniors wasn't happy with her behavior yet kept the silence.
"How dare you speak out without permission? " A senior girl thundered behalf of her group.
"Silence! This is no time for arguing. I will be naming five of the seniors who will succeed in a test. The five who get pass will be assigned to the royal army. All the others I am afraid, must be send back to their villages, "
Master look paled.
"Master, " One of the students cried out. All the others were shocked.
"I knew something isn't right, " Maya frawned her face.
"But master, tell us the reason, " senior leader stood up.
"Doctor, don't keep your students away from the light," a tall young man who wore a red demon mask stepped in. His red robe was darken with dried blood dots. He had two swords oh his left hip and a dagger on right. he was a royal assassin, the leader of the deadliest royal troop. Students panicked at his sight. No one spoke out to draw the attention of that beast.
"Please sir, why did you bother yourself to walking up here? If you send me a massage I would come immediately to meet you," master stood up with a bow.
"No, I just wanted to see your students and pick up few for our flavors, " the royal assassin walked in.
"Your master...He is just selling you out for small land lords. The five will be assigned to the rebeling prince while he is on his run away, " the man watched students murmured softly as he spoke.
"That's not true! I was sending them back to the village and the five chosen ones to the royal army, "Master yelled.
"Give me the order, " the man turned to the master. Master handed a golden scroll with shaking hand. The royal assassin showed the writing on it with a seal of a blue inked dragon.
"It's the blue dragon! " the leader of the senior looked at frighten master. Other students stood up protesting against their teacher. Maya took the opportunity to sneak out from the open back door. She knew Master Gong had caught being a rebel. Maya hurried up to her room. She packed her clothes with essential medicine with medical tools along with some money she collected by selling of hand made dolls on every Sunday morning at the market. She changed herself into a commoner clothes hiding her green medical student uniform among other female students's clothes. She heard a scream from the Master's quarters following with more. Maya boost up her legs sneaking through the forest area suspecting royal guards must be at the gates. She didn't want to stay behind to get killed or worst scenario as a common mistress for the tired army soldiers or assassins. Maya knew it was a matter of time before they realize she was missing.
"I am grateful for everything Master Gong and everyone, " Maya turned towards the medicine school with a final honoring bow before heading towards the capital while humming the rest of the song she started earlier.