Kael walked through the once noisy hallways, usually filled with hearty laughter and chuckles. Many times, he got bullied or laughed at when taking this path, but even that felt much better than the unnerving silence in the entire academy.
Forty-five people died just yesterday yet, the academy acted like it was just another day in the office.
'This is not an academy. It's a laboratory and we are the experiments' Eric's words kept ringing like a bell in Kael's head.
Kael pushed his thoughts aside as soon as reached the classroom door, sliding it open carefully. It was nearly empty; Mark and Liora sat in the middle row, chuckling and laughing, while Eric and Ren sat in the front row, just fifteen seats apart.
"Three minutes late. You have to do better." Professor Lysandra said, her annoyed gaze shifting from her wristwatch to Kael.
He simply bowed and mumbled an apology before running over to sit next to Eric. Kael flashed a last glance at Liora but she didn't even seem to notice his presence.
"Okay," Professor Lysandra clasped her hands together, her eyes scanning the faces of everyone in the room.
She expected to meet a gloomy room after the events of yesterday but the only one who seemed disturbed was Kael. Eric had his signature awkward smile on, Ren was occasionally throwing glances at Mark and Liora, who were lost in each other's eyes.
Professor Lysandra let out a sigh; walking over to the board and writing the words "Question & answer session" boldly for all to see.
"Since five of you succeeded in becoming demi-humans, your standing in the empire has risen, so I'm allowed to answer most of your questions. So let's get started." Professor Lysandra explained, her words attracting furrowed eyebrows and cold glares.
"You know you are basically admitting to withholding information which led to the death of forty-five teenagers within the age grades 18-22?" Eric asked, his voice laced with hostility.
Professor Lysandra didn't mind, she would be more worried if everyone was all smiles after watching their colleagues die.
"I am aware and just like people of my social status, I am only following orders." Lysandra shrugged, "Your anger is misdirected."
Huff!
Kael exhaled heavily, only a few seconds into the class and tensions were already high. Mark and Liora were focused on Professor Lysandra, the hostility in their gaze hard to ignore.
"Why?" Ren's question was simple, but for some reason, all four students resonated with it intensely.
Professor Lysandra adjusted her spectacles, picking up her tablet from the podium. She ignored the question, tinkering with her tablet for over a minute.
Buzz!
Everyone's cellphones buzzed, and they pulled it out to see they had all received an article uploaded to their emails titled "Culture, Heritage & The People."
"Culture, heritage and the people… Three things we have lost in the past three centuries… The three things all demi-humans must represent. If you need a more detailed response, feel free to read about it in your leisure time." Professor Lysandra said, her voice cold and emotionless.
The bright light reflected on her glasses made it hard to see her eyes. But judging from her stiff body language, Kael could tell she felt uncomfortable.
"Now we have become demi-humans, what are we meant to do now?" Mark's voice rang from the back, attracting Lysandra's attention.
Professor Lysandra nodded at his question, calmly returning her tablet to the podium and pulling off her glasses.
"Train, study mysticism, serve the empire, earn reputation and give the three kingdoms the leverage it needs to demand a major reform in the empire laws." Professor Lysandra answered honestly.
"Wait? We are political tools?" Liora snapped, her icy gaze pinned on the professor.
Professor Lysandra nodded, her lips curling into a mocking smile.
"For three centuries we have lived in the age of steel and industrialization. During this time, we lost our identity, our beliefs, and our culture. Half a century ago, a movement started which escalated to a mass protest which ended in a bloody massacre. This massacre created most of the kingdom's orphans today but also allowed you to sit here today." Professor Lysandra explained while walking through the classroom.
"The moment you came here, you didn't just become political tools; you picked a side," Lysandra added, her gaze falling on Kael, who just listened attentively. "You will live and die for us."
"Across the empire, how many people died and survived this test?" Kael finally spoke up, his eyes filled with resolve.
Professor Lysandra froze, her eyebrows knitting.
"Kingdom of Auranos, 5 demi-humans, 45 rejects. The Cendralis Kingdom, 10 demi-humans, 130 rejects. Verdantveil Kingdom, 7 demi-humans, 68 rejects and finally Heartland Kingdom, 20 demi-humans, 596 rejects." Professor Lysandra read off her tablet her voice detached and lifeless.
The temperature in the room plummeted, tensions rising.
"... Eight hundred and thirty-nine people died just to make forty-two demi-humans?" Ren covered her lips, her eyes dilating with horror as she called out the figures.
"Bastards." Mark cursed, while flashed through Liora and Eric's facial expressions.
Only Kael could notice it, Professor Lysandra's twitching ginger, her posture, and her shaky gaze under the spectacles. She swallowed hard, suppressing her emotions as best as she could.
"That concludes our class for today… Combat training tomorrow, come prepared." She said briefly, walking out even before she could get a response.