A foul stench, thick like rotting meat left in the sun, crept into the depths of The Sacred Forest. Carried by the breeze, it swept between the ancient trunks, and small bird monsters flew away from the awful smell. The vibrant green seemed to dull as something approached from the shadows, and a low, guttural moan echoed. The sound came not from an animal, not from a human, but from a monster with a purpose. With a purpose of unending hunger, it loomed deeper into the forest.
From a distance, the new school building towered over the treetops. The surrounding trees swayed in the gentle breeze, and its leaves danced in the wind. Inside the school, murmurs of conversation filled the room of intermediate studies.
"Settle down, class," Ms. Lily suddenly ordered, and her voice cut through the low murmur of conversation. She stood at the front of the classroom, and her presence commanded immediate attention. "Welcome to your first day of school. My name is Ms. Lily, and I will be your teacher," she introduced. She wrote her name on the blackboard swiftly. "Here at the Eastern District School, we believe in a well-rounded education. That means you'll not only be learning history and literature but also practical skills for survival. And yes, that includes combat training," she explained with a sparkle in her eye.
A few students in the class shifted excitedly in their seats.
"Now, I know some of you have had... unconventional upbringings," Ms. Lily expressed, and her gaze drifted over most of her students. "But in this classroom, you are all equals. You will learn from me, and you will learn from each other," she emphasized. She signaled to the map of The Sacred Forest. "We will start with the history of our home. Many of you live here, but how many of you truly know its story," she posed.
Hafen leaned forward and sharpened his stare.
"The Western District," Ms. Lily began, and her tone softened, "It has long been a place of peace and agriculture. The Fisher Family, bless their souls. They were a cornerstone of our community. Their farm provided for many."
Hafen's hands clenched into fists under his desk. The image of the black fire flashed in his mind again.
"The Eastern District, where we are now," Ms. Lily muttered and continued as her brisk pace returned, "Has always been a center of learning. This school is a symbol of our progress, a gift from Stribora."
At the mention of Stribora, the boy with the slicked-back hair and the girl with yellow hair exchanged a brief, shared glance.
Ms. Lily resumed, "The Southern District, a place of commerce and culture. Many of you traveled from there for your education."
The large boy, who had been looking down, glanced up at the map with a cold stare, but he showed more interest than before.
"And the Northern District," Ms. Lily muttered, and her expression grew more solemn. "It was the home of The Guild. They protected us from the dangers of The Dark Depths, but they are gone now. Felled by a monster they could not defeat. Their fate reminds us about the constant vigilance this forest requires," she sympathized in a near whisper.
Pepe's jaw tightened at the mention of The Guild. He glanced down at the bandages on his arm. A flicker of sorrow crossed his face before he could hide it.
"We will also touch upon the Dark Depths. With monsters ravaging there, no one under any circumstances should head there alone, but there's no need to worry here. As long as you're near the districts, you'll be safe," Ms. Lily alleged with a serious look on her face.
Suddenly, the door snapped open. A woman in a pristine, gray uniform stood in the doorway. She had a look of urgent importance. She held a small, black device in her hand. "Ms. Lily, you are needed. It's an emergency," she interjected with a crisp tone that cut through the lesson.
Ms. Lily's eyebrows shot up. She turned from the blackboard, and her poised demeanor momentarily fractured. "An emergency? What kind of emergency," she inquired and took a step towards the door.
The woman's eyes flickered towards the students, and her expression remained unreadable. "Something unexpected," she asserted simply as if that explained everything.
Ms. Lily's shoulders stiffened, and she fixed her sunglasses. She gave a quick, sharp nod. "Alright, class," she announced and turned back to her students. Her smile was gone and replaced with a look of professional courtesy. "I have to step out for a bit. I expect all of you to remain here and be on your best behavior," she urged.
Ms. Lily and the uniformed woman disappeared into the corridor, and the door clicked shut behind them.
Silence descended on the classroom for a heartbeat. Then, a collective exhale filled the room. The unspoken permission for a brief respite hung in the air. The atmosphere shifted from one of disciplined learning to one of contained restlessness.
The large boy with the knife pulled it out again. He resumed sharpening a second pencil with meticulous, almost hypnotic focus.
Stark's gaze drifted from the map to the empty doorway. "What do you think that was about," he questioned while leaning towards Hafen.
"Nothing good," Hafen murmured in a low voice.
Pepe leaned forward and groaned painfully. He had a serious expression, and he stared out the window. "Something's out there," he claimed quietly and with certainty.
Across the room, the girl with the bright yellow hair turned to the boy with the slicked-back hair. She whispered, "I heard they lost their parents about a week ago."
The boy and girl glanced towards Matteo, Stark, and Hafen. Then, they looked away.
The boy with the slicked-back hair smirked and decided to have some fun. He stood up and stretched. His back cracked, and he breathed deeply.
"What are you doing, Jasper," the girl queried with a soft but demanding tone. She tugged on his sleeve.
"Relax, Elaine," Jasper replied with a nonchalant wave. He swaggered toward Matteo's desk with an unnerving confidence. "Well, well, if it isn't the Fisher boys," he began and stopped beside Matteo's chair. "I heard you're orphans now. I really liked your dad's potatoes."
Matteo, obliviously doodling in a notebook, looked up. "They were tasty," he commented flatly.
Jasper ignored the comment and leaned in closer. He looked down with a sinister smirk. "Too bad you couldn't save them. I guess you're not as strong as everyone says," he mocked.
A hush fell over the classroom. All eyes were on the confrontation at the back of the room.
The large boy with the knife placed his second pencil down and watched with an unreadable expression.
Matteo's cheerful expression soured. "What do you want," he demanded to know.
Jasper prodded Matteo in the shoulder. "Your parents got themselves roasted," he taunted with a cruel grin.
Matteo's furrowed his eyebrows and pouted in frustration. His eyes teared up, and he exhaled deeply. He held back his fists as his mother taught him better.
Jasper tilted his head and became serious. "What's wrong? Are you a cry-baby," he asked condescendingly.
Hafen's chair scraped against the floor as he stood up.
Pepe grasped and pulled Hafen's arm. "Not here. Not now. Stay calm," he advised in a strained whisper.
However, Stark gave Pepe a look of disbelief. "He can't talk to us like that. We need to teach him a lesson," he seethed through gritted teeth. He shot to his feet and raised his fist.
His chair flipped against the wooden floor, and the classmates gasped.
"Don't you dare mess with my brother," Stark exclaimed, and he punched Jasper in the face.
Jasper fell back and flipped over a student's desk.
Nearby, the students got up and scurried away. They circled the scene and murmured in anticipation.
Pepe sighed.
On the floor, Jasper panted and wiped his bloody nose. Seeing the united front, his smirk faltered. He growled with fury. "How dare you," he huffed and glared at Stark.
Stark didn't back down. He met his gaze without flinching. "You take it back," he demanded.
In an instant, the large boy with the knife stepped forward and blocked Stark's path. He cracked his knuckles with a series of loud pops and stood as a mountain between the two. "Fighting in the classroom is against the rules," he grumbled and narrowed his eyes.
"Get out of the way," Stark threatened and raised a fist.
"I'm not letting you pass," the large boy declared and stood firm.
"What's your name," Stark questioned, and he glared.
"Benjamin. Now, stand down," the large boy retorted and puffed up his chest.
The tension in the room was thick enough to feel. The students held their breath.
Just then, the door to the classroom slid open with a swift, silent motion.
Ms. Lily stood in the doorway. Her expression was not angry, but it was as hard as polished stone. Her eyes took in Jasper's bloody nose, Stark's raised fist, and Benjamin's intimidating stance.
"My classroom," Ms. Lily articulated and finished, "is not a fighting pit." Her voice alone caught everyone by surprise.
The students flinched as one.
"What is going on here," Ms. Lily interrogated, and she kneeled next to Jasper. Checking on him, she helped him sit up. "Were you fighting," she asked, and her gaze flickered between him and Stark.
"He started it," Jasper sniveled, and he pointed a shaky finger at Stark. "He hit me for no reason," he alleged.
"He was talking badly about our parents," Matteo blurted out next to Hafen.
"If you mess with my brother, I'll kill you," Stark warned.
"Stark," Ms. Lily scolded. Her head turned, and her gaze softened almost imperceptibly as she looked at Matteo's tear-streaked face. Her focus then shifted to Benjamin, who still stood as a sentinel. "And you, Benjamin," she addressed him, "What were you doing?"
"Intervening, Ms. Lily. As per the school's code of conduct," Benjamin answered respectfully. "Fighting is prohibited without adult supervision," he reiterated.
"A commendable effort," Ms. Lily acknowledged with a slight nod. She stood up and looked at the assembled students. "All of you, back to your seats. Now," she commanded and walked to the front to resume class.
The students scrambled to comply.
Stark slowly lowered his fist. The fury in his eyes didn't waver, but it was contained.
Elaine rushed to Jasper's side with a handkerchief. "Jasper, you shouldn't have," she scolded quietly.
Jasper stared at Stark's back momentarily. Next, his eyes darted around the room.
Other classmates gave him a familiar look of disdain.
Being put in his place, Jasper fumed inside. He had lost their respect. He remembered his loss against the girl of the depths. He wasn't the cool kid just like before. This time, it was Stark's and Matteo's fault. With a huff, he stood up, shoved past Elaine and Benjamin, and stormed to Stark. "You ruined my reputation," he accused and shoved Stark from behind.
Stark stumbled forward into a desk but regained his balance. He turned around with fury in his eyes. "I've had enough of you," he roared and tackled Jasper to the ground.
In quick movements, Jasper escaped his hold and kicked him in the face.
The impact was enough to send Stark stumbling backward. He wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand.
Elaine's face became pale. She attempted to pull Jasper back. "Stop it, Jasper! You're going to get yourself expelled," she pleaded, and her voice trembled.
"Let me at him," Jasper snarled and shrugged off her grasp.
Pepe watched from the back, and a muscle twitched in his legs. He pushed himself up and intervened, "Stop fighting."
Stark's fist connected with Jasper's jaw. "Take this," he proclaimed.
Jasper flew and slammed against the front wall with a loud crash. He slid down and crumpled next to Ms. Lily's desk.
Papers launched into the air.
Ms. Lily strode to the front of the classroom, and her eyes were wide with worry. She looked down at Jasper, who was groaning and trying to push himself up. She helped Jasper to his feet.
A vein throbbed on Jasper's temple. He was about to lunge again, but Ms. Lily's firm grip on his shoulder held him in place. "Who do you think you are? Don't think so little of me! I am the son of Flint! He was the greatest in The Guild! I demand you to respect me," he urged.
Ms. Lily guided him to the door. "That's enough. You and I are going to have a serious talk," she informed him and turned to the class. "Stark, follow me! The rest of you, remain here. If I hear of any more trouble, the punishment will be severe for everyone. Is that understood," she asked sternly.
Stark's chest heaved, and he glared at Jasper's back. He gave a final, defiant nod to Hafen and Matteo before following Ms. Lily and his bruised adversary out of the room.
Jasper had bullied Matteo, and a brawl ensued with Stark. What will be the consequences for Stark and Jasper? Why was Ms. Lily summoned away beforehand?