"Class! There will be a trip to the main city, Duerrin." The teacher announced to the class, "We will be visiting a school there that will be having an event that will showcase the various schools you can try to apply to after your exams."
"Miss Sezia!" A student raised his hand, "Isn't the trip to Duerrin long? Approximately months to reach."
"Yeah yeah, isn't it also dangerous? Who knows where the monsters will be lurking." Another commented.
"Eek monsters!" "I heard what's scarier than monsters are those villains…" "What will you tell our parents?"
Reginald looked down at his notes regarding the various kinds of monsters in this world.
Since the invaders, not only humans have evolved. All kinds of animals had slowly evolved. Through nature or humans, they were no longer the animals in the ancient past.
'I doubt dad will even care if his son is alive or dead.' He thought as he glanced at the pictures and a few names of the monsters.
He glanced up and saw the teacher writing details down on the hologram board, "We will be sending your parents the relevant details." She stopped writing and turned to face the class, her dark green hair moving with her head, "I know many of you had lived your whole life behind these walls so are afraid of what beyond these walls hold. But a few of you,"
Reginald's eyes widened a little, as she accurately glanced at those who weren't from this city.
Her light green eyes landed on him before glancing back to the class, "Had seen the harsh reality, are you going to stay within these walls and comfort yourself with a false sense of security? Or go and strengthen yourself, because Duerrin provides more than education, they will provide resources to teach you about survival."
He started silently tapping his pen on the table, "Miss, when will we be going?" He asked out loud, capturing everyone's attention.
She smiled while replying, "After the exams."
He nodded and looked back down on his notes, switching the notes on the tablet, 'This trip, I have to go.'
"Not to worry, you just have to excel in one subject, and you will be able to come on the trip." She slowly explained to the class, "Everything will be provided…"
Reginald stopped listening as he found the email with his previous exam report card.
"Tsk." The number of Fs there has started to hurt now. Only two subjects had barely passed with a pathetic D. English and science.
'I should start memorising my science..' He thought, 'English will get better with time and can't be improved within a few months.'
The class of the day ended, and Reginald slowly walked out of the school while looking up at the sky.
'It's going to rain.' He noticed the clouds getting darker at the distance.
In a meeting room, a group of people gathered around a circle table.
"Those that survived the previous attack," Someone said, "Change their results to ensure they pass one subject."
"You don't think they can pass?" Miss Sezia asked, "I've seen some of their improvements, and it's rather fascinating. They are able to adapt quite well for being here for only a month. No?"
"Miss Sarah, with all due respect," Mr Dav glared, "You are merely an outsider to provide safety for those going to Duerrin and coming back from Duerrin."
She shrugged and scrolled her tablet, "There's a few students I would like to personally train." She added while looking up.
"Oh?" A teacher who was sitting on a bigger chair compared to the rest, asked, "Who is it?"
"These few." She shared the names, and a hologram appeared in the middle of the table.
"For what reason do you think you are allowed to make such a choice? Just because you are from Duerrin?" Another teacher questioned, glaring at her.
Mr Dav nodded, placing his hands on the table, "That's right, these are our students. You are merely a guide, someone to convince the students to go along on this journey." He narrowed his eyes, "Or are you trying to recruit new members?"
Miss Sezia and Mr Dav traded glares.
Miss Sezia raised her hand to her face as her hand got sliced, blood spilled onto the table. She lowered her hand, looking at Mr Dav.
"Sir," His dark brown eyes glanced at the one with the most authority, "I wish to accompany the students on the journey." Mr Dav expressed his thoughts, "Please, let me."
"Dav," An older man sitting beside him whispered, "You don't have to."
"We do need all the help we can get," Miss Sezia said, looking at her hand, "Mr Dav, your potential is wasted here. Let Duerrin open your eyes to the endless possibilities."
"Endless possibilities?" He scoffed, "Now, why these students?" He slowly put his hand back under the table, gazing at the hologram in front of them.
"I see potential." She simply said while taking out a bandage from inside her jacket pocket, "Miss Kate, I would also like for you to join us on this journey."
"Absolutely not!" Miss Kate, beside her, said while looking up from her tablet, her green eyes seemed to shine, "I'm the only Healer in this small city, even with another Healer. This small city is my home,"
"Hm?" Miss Sarah, who was wrapping her arm, slowly unwrapped it to see the skin stitched back together.
"My family is here," Her eyes stopped glowing green, as it turned back to black like her short hair, narrowing her eyes, she said, "Miss Sezia, you better not think of assassinating my family tonight."
"Hm, you were from Duerrin?" She lifted an eyebrow before a cough echoed in the room.
"Miss Sarah," The one who looked like have the most authority looked at her. A middle-aged woman with pepper mixed hair, with black eyes, stared, "We are all survivors from Zone G." She had a badge on her blazer that read, 'Mdm Lux'.
Miss Sezia's eyes widened a little, glancing at everyone in the room.
"Ayo, is that why science is a more important subject here? You guys want students to work behind the scenes in Duerrin." Miss Sezia leaned back into her chair, "Zone G, even I don't know the full details of what happened. Fill me in?"
Silence filled the room, as a few teachers still stared at their tablets, while the rest were staring at Miss Sezia.
Miss Kate glanced down on her tablet before glancing at Mdm Lux. Mdm Lux gave a short nod before glancing back at Miss Sezia.
"I will be joining you on this journey." Miss Kate reluctantly said, "Only if my son can join me too."
"Is your son a healer?" Miss Sezia asked, surprised by this turn of event.
"His powers haven't developed, so we won't know." She looked back down on her tablet.
"So, Zone G. What was that about?" Miss Sezia asked curiously, some of the teacher's face visibly twitched.
"What do you know?" Mr Dav asked while sighing, using his hand to cover his head.
"Well," Miss Sarah shifted her position on the chair and leaned forward, "I know they do experiments on volunteers. Testing human limits to ensure survival."
A teacher hit the table, "Those damn liars." He stood up, "I will excuse myself. Send me the important details later." He just left, followed by a few more teachers.
In the end, only five are left.
Miss Sezia, Miss Kate, Mr Dav, Mdm Lux, and a teacher called Mr Frad.
His eyes haven't left his tablet once, as he just stayed behind. Mr Frad, who hasn't spoken at all, opened his mouth and said.
"Zone G is Duerrin's darkest history."