Park lost his hold and fell.
"No! not the book!"
It went in the puddle with a great splash.
"..."
"Now I'll have to do it again."
There was a short pause.
"Eh. You'll be good."
"You named all of them in minutes."
Park stared at the direction of the voice.
"And you were blind too while at it."
He could feel the breath on his face.
"What's going on?"
"I'm getting nothing."
"The waves don't pick up any movement."
There was silence.
"Where did she go?"
"Boo!"
Park slightly jumped.
"Wha'tcha thinking?"
"How are you..."
"Whoosh! Whoosh! I'm a powerful magician. Mwah! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Park felt wind all around him.
She was clearly dodging the question.
"Fear me human!"
"Well Mrs. Magician the sun's setting, and I need to get my work done..."
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Uh-Oh!"
Park felt a warm fuzzy feeling as She...
...passed through him.
"..."
"..."
He stood there in silence.
"..."
"I'll just grab a fresh change..."
"You could first finish up what you were doing. There's a batch of paper inside the drawer next to the door."
"Thank you."
Park silently noted down all the plants at a distance.
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok."
"Name's Whitney."
"Park."
He finished listing them down.
"Done."
"See ya."
...
"I'm here to submit Karina's work."
She turned to look at Park.
"Finally, the last one."
Park handed in the sheet of paper.
"Heh. Nerd."
The lady absently said.
Then she suddenly became aware of Park's presence.
"Shoot I'm sorry."
Park looked unbothered.
"..."
"..."
"So can I go..."
Park looked at her nametag.
"...Becca?"
"Yeah, it's all good you can go."
"And you look pale."
"Think it's just the cold seeping in."
"Go do something about it then."
Park paused for a bit.
"Forgot something?"
The lady asked.
"I don't think so."
"Get out then. I'm closing up."
"..."
Becca sighed.
"I did it again."
"I need to stop hanging out with them."
She mumbled to herself.
Park walked to his room.
He changed into a fresh set of clothes.
"..."
"It's pretty quiet today."
"..."
"It actually is."
The hallway was lively today.
"Guess it's because ketchup head isn't here."
"Madam Karina for president."
"Kekekeke."
"And to think that he's related to that person."
"But I mean they kind of looked like they were both fashioned from the same cloth."
"Same hair, same behavior..."
"What else?"
"..."
Night passed; Morning came.
For quite some time now, their drills were carried out under the orders of a substitute. Sheriff had gone MIA.
"And I hear he's been gone since the resource dungeon incident along with Yiggrath and Jessica."
"Yiggrath?"
"But he doesn't even look like he could hurt a fly."
"Apparently his mark lit up during class."
"But doesn't that happen only when..."
"Mind if I join?"
"..."
"Sorry sir..."
"Twenty laps now."
Off they went.
"May I join them?"
"..."
"Sure, why not. The more the merrier."
Park joined in on their little trip.
"...Jessica's just there as an accomplice..."
6:45A.M.
Their joints were on fire.
"I feel like I did a hundred laps today."
"Looks like I still have to iron out the kinks."
{...]
"..."
"And we still have to do this."
The two friends whispered to each other as they stared at the instructor who was busy stretching his limbs.
This was Park's first time in a dojo.
"Ain't no better way to start your day."
The thickly maned professor mumbled to himself.
He finished stretching and cleared his throat.
"Good morning class."
"Hmmm??"
He spoke with a serenity that was worlds apart from how he looked. He closely resembled a member of a warring tribe.
"He sounds familiar."
His open clothes discreetly expressed pride in his muscles.
He had a wide gash running down his torso.
And multiple scars across his face.
His eyes weren't spared either.
"A fellow bat I see."
No, you...
"..."
...
"I swear I keep hearing things."
"You saying something Park?"
"..."
"Uh..."
"Nope."
He flashed a smile back at Ash.
"So, I'm Solomon and I'll be taking you through Martial class."
"Before we begin, you're required to gulp these down."
He reached for the shelves.
A jar.
Full to the brim with a mysterious green substance that made a wet sound with every step that he took.
The slime overflowed and splattered on the floor.
Solomon opened the jar and immediately the room was filled with a foul stench.
"Open the windows."
"I don't want any ruckus in here."
The already churning stomachs were being tested further. The air became insufferable.
"Close your nose."
"Tilt your head back."
"Swallow it."
"All good?"
The entire class stared at him wide-eyed.
"..."
"Great! Now that we're on the same page..."
"What Page?"
"...here, take one and pass it on to the rest."
Edward received the soggy marble head on and swallowed it.
In it went, out it came along with the gruel from the cafeteria. He looked puzzled.
Finally, a worthy challenge?
He reached in for another one with a smile.
"We're doomed."
"Ha! Ha! The true spirit of a warrior."
The whole class was focused on him to see if he could surpass...
-bleurgh
"Don't worry everyone..."
They all looked at him.
"...we have enough for roughly three rounds."
The students nervously held the squishy ball as the jar went around. They looked at each other wondering if it was really worth it.
"You know..."
"...if not for those balls I wouldn't be here?"
"All these scars and I'm still walking."
"It's a miracle drug."
"But why is it so..."
The student gagged.
"Thats when it's the most potent."
"Trust me once this is over. You'll feel the effects kick in when we practice."
The students were still nervous.
Solomon sighed.
"Trust me. This is in your best interests."
"This class can get heated sometimes."
"You're either defeated or you're knocking on death's door."
"And judging by this crowd..."
He chuckled.
"...some of you won't even be able to make it past a lesson."
"Great. Another crazy one."
Solomon heard him.
His milky eyes bore into him.
"A fine example."
In a low growl he said,
"You almost died buddy."
Solomon's claws slowly popped out.
"So how about a live demo to show them how that miracle in your hands could save your life."
"May I borrow you, young man?"
The student hesitated to approach the obvious threat.
"Or do you want me to come for you?"
He exuded bloodlust and continued.
"If I'm coming for you, you'll have to do overtime."
His fangs gleamed.
With every last bit of courage that Jeremy had, he rose up and walked to the front.
"Beautiful choice indeed."
"So where is it?"
The student opened his hand to show a mashed-up clump of white and red matter.
He had unknowingly clenched his fists a little too hard.
"It's all soggy now."
Solomon looked sad.
"It's no good now."
"But not to worry there's more where that came from."
He asked for the jar.
It was still brimming with the unknown contents.
But maybe the mystique was unraveled sooner than expected.
"Is that blood?"
A heavy metallic smell covered the whole class.
Edward belched then sniffed it.
"Stinky."
"See?"
Solomon chimed in.
"Third time's a charm."
He pretended to be oblivious to the fact that there were clearly red patches forming in Edward's little "puddle of defeat".
"This can't be real."
Brock poked the ball with a thorn and red liquid flowed from it.
"Pop them then."
The beast smiled.
"Since you're quite a curious bunch."
"Go on then..."
"...pop them."
"As you say your Highness."
Brock thought to himself.
Within minutes, tiny thorny vines shot out from the ground and shredded each "Miracle" it could find into pieces.
It was now aiming for Jeremy's.
"Good job."
Solomon got a hold of it.
"But not this one. This one's needed for my demonstration."
He forced Jeremy's mouth open and shoved the ball inside him. All watched as he tenaciously fought with the bile rising inside him.
Solomon viciously bared his fangs at him ready to pounce him at any moment should the slightest mistake occur.
He was lucky.
Jeremy was victorious.
"Fear works wonders every time."
"What did you say your name was again?"
"J... Jeremy."
He had beads of sweat all over his face.
"Ok Jeremy. Would you be so kind to bring me the first three cartons that you see in the second room."
"I don't like this."
Someone did.
{Minor troll blood has been consumed]
{Minor troll blood has been consu...]
{Minor troll blood has been con...]
{Minor troll blood has been...]
{Minor troll blood has be...]
{Minor troll blood has...]
{Minor troll blood...]
"At first I was going to just give out this batch and I would be done with it."
Jeremy came out with the boxes.
"But now thanks to Mr. Freedom Fighter over there I'll need everyone to stomach all these too..."
"...just..."
"...for your own safety moving on."
His retracted claws came out faster and longer.
"And if I hear as much as a peep..."
Solomon sank his teeth in Jeremy's neck.