ASTAKONA [COURSE EIGHT]
Chapter 13

The first day at the academy began with an unfavourable atmosphere. When 8 am arrived, the faces of the new students looked sleepy and tired. They came from various villages, and all seemed exhausted from the fatigue from the previous day.

Shortly thereafter, several lecturers appeared and entered a large lecture hall. With a firm step, they walked towards the blackboard, and one of them wrote his name with a beautiful inscription: Professor Arawsar. However, the views of the students still look tangled and lack focus.

"Ehem," Professor Arawsar cleared his throat, trying to attract their attention. But no one really listened to him.

With a serious look, Professor Arawsar extended his hand and began to read out the sentence, "The first Mustard stakona, the call of the natural pest."

Suddenly, under the feet of the students came rats and cockroaches that moved to and fro. They panicked and shouted hysterically, feeling like the apocalypse had suddenly come. The first day of their class had turned into chaos because of this lecturer. However, Professor Arawsar just laughed with great pleasure, as if enjoying the funny scene on display.

He then took the microphone and casually said, "Lost!"

Rats and cockroaches vanished from the lecture hall, and the atmosphere calmed down again.

"In this way, may you be more focused" said Professor Arawsar in a mocking tone.

"Welcome, new students. I am Professor Arawsar, and here I will teach you about every rule and mode of learning in this academy, including learning schedules, dress ethics, learning systems, and transportation. And of course, also all aspects of administration here," he continued.

Professor Arawsar then introduced other lecturers who would teach at the academy. Lecturer Meliana from the village of Purple will teach Chemia, the mysterious science of chemistry. Lecturer Owel from Black village will teach basic weapons and spells. Lecturer Jarek of the village of Maroon will teach the strategy and tactics of war. Lecturers of Budiman from the White village will teach about the literature and history that surrounds this world. And Lecturer Ana from Seij village will guide the students in understanding the way of life and surviving in the wild.

Each lecturer stood up gallantly and showed himself vigorously. The new students looked at them in admiration.

After the sessions at the lecture hall were over, they all moved to the main cafe in the administrative building. There, Zara and her roommate picked up some food and sat down at a cozy round table.

"Fuh, I was very sleepy" said Fifi.

"Hmm, it's not just you," Kal replied.

"But it was also fun playing with rats. I can't imagine how we all looked when the professor took out all the mice" Zara joked.

"But even better if he takes out the snake as well, maybe someone has to be taken to the hospital on the first day of learning" Kal said with a joke.

They laughed and listened to their friends. However, suddenly there was the sound of fighting behind them. Students from Maroon village and Black village were fighting over their seats. The atmosphere became tense, and the atmosphere became uncomfortable.

"Big body but small brain. Go find another table. You think with your size, we'll be afraid of you? Or maybe you should use your Astakona to make your own table there." said one student from the village of Maroon with anger.

The student from the black village was furious at those words. As long as he doesn't get what he wants, he will try at all costs to get it. Without a second thought, he immediately hit the student until he fainted.

"Anyone else wants to fight?" challenge him with anger.

All the other students retreated, including friends from the Maroon village who were looking for another table. Zara looked at the incident with anger, she stood up but Fifi held her back then shook her head.

However, suddenly the fellow students who had been beaten approached them after looking at their clothes. He asks for help to take care of his injured best friend and looks towards Zara. However, Zara was actually angered by what had happened, but she held back. A moment Ji got up, volunteered to help treat the injured student after realising that Zara was a Tias.

Mindfully, Ji helps the injured student and tries to calm him down. Zara's vision, seeing the incident, finally realized that in this magical world, there was more to note than fights and disputes between villages. There is cooperation, help, and kindness that they must show as one big family in this academy.

At the dinner table, Cynnirix scolds about a new student fight that just happened. Haise, who also sat down with them, commented, "It's customary that you used to be too."

The two of them ate together, and Cynnirix saw a piece of sausage on Indra's plate. Without a doubt, Cynnirix immediately took it, but Indra did not react as usual.

"Lo why?" asked Cynnirix wonder while snacking on the sausage, because usually Indra will immediately react when taken food by others.

"I just want to get out of here" Indra said with a moody voice.

Cynnirix and Haise became confused.

"Tell me, what makes you like this? Yesterday it wasn't like this," asked Haise trying to figure it out.

Indra nodded, gesturing that she wanted to tell him something and then told her, "Yesterday, I saw Raira making out with another guy in a dark and quiet hallway before reaching the cafe. I know him very well and I know who that guy is."

"And. That very night, he met me at the village cafe. Without hesitation or embarrassment she rebuked me in such a seductive voice and hugged me tightly. However, at that time I was very disappointed with her friends."

Cynnirix and Haise looked surprised to hear Indra's story. They both tried to give support, "Well, bro, must have been heartbroken huh. But don't worry, we're here for you."

Zara and her friend got up from the table bench to put down the plate she was using. He talked to his friend with a small laugh. At that time, Zara walked a distance of 2 meters from Indra.

Indra listening to it became shocked instantly like she was familiar with that voice. He immediately turned to his right. The girl was exactly Zara but her short hair was neatly tied and she was wearing clothes from Seij. He was shocked and it was like a dream.

Indra tried to reassemble her thoughts, but her heart was still teary. "But, I'm sure it's Zara. I recognized his smile, his gaze, everything. There's no way I'm wrong" he said with complete conviction.

"Huh? Zara's? Lo's friend? Bro, maybe you're just too shaken by what's been going on lately" Cynnirix tried to calm Indra down.

"Remember, we're at the academy. Where might your friend come here. It could just be an illusion in your mind." Added again.

Indra tried to understand Cynnirix's words, but in his heart was still convinced that what he saw was the real Zara. He wanted to make sure to go back, so without a doubt, he walked looking for Zara among the crowd of students.

"Indra, wait a minute!" exclaimed Haise who tried to follow Indra's steps.

However, Indra was already in a hurry. He kept running to find Zara. His heart and mind were mixed, not knowing what to believe.

Eventually, Indra finds the figure she believes to be Zara at the payment counter. His heart thumped as he approached her.

"Zara, it's me, Indra!" he cried expectantly.

However, the figure only looked at him with a confused expression, and he was really not Zara. Indra felt disappointed and almost gave up, but she could not erase her belief that she saw Zara.

Meanwhile, Cynnirix and Haise arrive at where Indra is. Cynnirix sighed, "Look, he was indeed already too shaken by yesterday's events. Hallucinations are possible." He told Haise.

Haise approached him and rubbed Indra's shoulder with empathy, "We should take her to a place of rest. He needs time to ponder everything."