Metanoia; The Hybrid
CHAPTER 52: APPOINED TO BE THE DEFEND.

Indeed, there really was something wrong with the exam this time around. Tomorrow, Mr. Arthur came to the forest using his Pentagram Demon and brought us back to the Academy. Like my complaint to Mr. Arthur about the arrival time of our different groups, he also said that something was wrong.

He said the move was a little disrupted by our own. We haven't been that happy to have the same thoughts. Mr. Arthur said the mistake came about because our goals were different. Some of them did not want the exam to take place with my presence in the group. So that's why, for me, we only took the exam for one day last night.

Although my relationship with my friends has improved, it is not the reason I can go back to the dorm and live there. Many still disagree, especially the upperclassmen who don't trust me. I also have no problem if I have to stay longer in my tree house, after all I can not force everyone to like me this.

I cut down some of the fallen leaves carried by the wind to the ground surface in the forest field. I kept swinging my degger in the air, not intending to leave any leaves at all.

I just finished my lunch class, and that's why I'm in the woods field, enjoying the afternoon. Also, my room is in the tree house right in front of me right now.

"Hey, what are you doing with your beloved degger, mister busy?" Chlea comes carrying 3 delicious looking berry muffins. He stood beside me, as if not afraid if I got my degger incision.

"You are not afraid of getting hurt? I'm playing with my degger" I said after stopping moving my degger, and snatched away the muffin Chlea was eating.

He looked annoyed, "That's my ex!"

"It still tastes the same, Chlea Kegan Larabee."

"Oh well, Sagara Hart Northcliff Andromeda!"

I was a little surprised, "You know my middle name?"

"Hart? Sure thing!" He sounded proud to have known my middle name.

"You go on playing with that degger of yours I want to see it while eating my muffins" Chlea walked over and sat at the root of my tree house with the muffin.

After finishing my muffins, I went back to playing around with the degger and the falling leaves. I didn't care about Chlea in front of me who was watching, my vision was only focused on the leaves that I was looking for right now.

"Aren't you tired of the sharp iron that's smaller than the sweeper?"

I turned around and found Declan with the real sword in his hand.

"After training, Declan?" Ask pleasantries.

"Yes, you know I'm part of Skarfaloma's team?" Her speech.

"Oh? I don't know. They're all wearing masks, how do I know you're in one of them?" I said, ending with a simple laugh.

"The mask not only serves to protect your face, but also to protect yourself from a back attack. I mean, you're safe outside the game" he explained.

"I understand."

Declan suddenly threw the long sword at me, immediately caught it, "I heard you could drop Mr.'s wooden sword. Chiroz. Let's do that to me, Gara."

I shook my head, "So far, first-year students are forbidden to use weapons except for replicas of wood."

"Then what about your degger?"

"It's just something smaller than a sweeper, you say."

Declan laughed, "Hahaha! It's okay, it's late afternoon. Who would want to rebuke you? I'll take responsibility."

He really wanted to see me. I gave my degger to Chlea, and then stood before Declan. However, who would have thought it turned out that he was carrying 2 swords.

"If you can raise my sword, I swear in the name of Moon Goddes to be faithful to you" Declan said.

I smiled, "You're not my Beta."

And we started swinging swords at each other. Against Declan it feels lighter than against Mr. Chiroz. However, Declan had something that caught my attention. The way he swung the sword was unique, several times I had to go wrong due to his puzzling movements.

I retreated because of Declan's strong push, "Come on Gara! Don't you want my loyalty?" She laughed, so did Chlea who was sitting there watching the two of us.

It's not that I crave Declan's loyalty, but losing in front of Chlea is not my dream. I went back against Declan, swiping touch after touch both of our sharp long swords. Several times I deflected Declan's attacks, I attacked him with relentless attacks. It managed to make Declan take a step back two steps.

It turned out that not only was Chlea watching our action, but my other friends were coming from the same direction. Who would have thought, it turned out that the upperclassmen were in the spectacle watching it.

"I can't raise your sword" I said on the sidelines of my attack.

"Why? Don't you want my loyalty?"

I stopped my movements and glanced at Chlea, "I've got Chlea loyal to me for no reason."

"God..."

"Have it done, Declan" I turned to approach Chlea. Suddenly I felt something behind me. I quickly turned around and fended off the counterattack from Declan.

Everyone applauded my success withholding Declan's sword. Besides, what was he thinking? Attack me from behind? Did he not think of the danger of that?

I finally attacked Declan again, until I finally raised my sword in the sky and fell right on the ground between the two of us.

"You happy?" I asked as I pulled out Declan's sword on the ground and gave both swords in my hands to him. While everyone was clapping, and my friends and Chlea were running towards me.

"You're so cool!"

"The way! You're great!"

All the compliments I took for granted, but when my eyes met a pair of eyes standing far away made me realize something. I must be in big trouble.

"Howdy!" Call the man and approach us all.

"Come with me, you're Declan too."

The man left all of us with his creepy look.

"It's late afternoon, isn't it?" I said to Declan, to remind him again of what he said.

Declan shook his head slowly and walked first, I followed him from behind.

"He who?" Whisper me to Declan who walks beside me.

I just walked after him the weird teacher, I must be in big trouble. I'm sorry I received that sword from Declan. Clearly, first-year students playing with real weapons was a violation.

When I arrived at the student room on the 2nd floor, I saw Mr. Daphne was sitting in her chair. Seems to be taking care of something.

In this room there is not only Mr.'s desk. Daphne, however, there are some tables that are owned by the other Academy staff. We arrived and faced Mr. Daphne.

"Mrs. Daphne, I got this kid" said Mr. Auland.

Mr. Daphne stopped her activities and glanced at me. His smile broke down shortly afterwards, "Oh! Turns out the kid you got is Gara! Mr. Aukland, please get the others here."

Mr. Aukland nodded and left us, leaving this student room.

"Mrs. Daphne, I'm sorry to have broken" I mean it.

"Why are you sorry?"

"Am I not in trouble right now?"

Mr. Daphne smiled, then her eyes turned to glance at something behind me, "The problem you're facing is not about breaking the rules.."

I turned my back, and was a little surprised to see the 3 upperclassmen walking in together and approaching Mr.'s desk. Daphne.

"You called us, Mr. Daphne?" Ask one of them.

Mr. Daphne nodded, "I'm getting Gets to change The Defend's position, can you train it?"

One of them seemed to disagree as he looked at me, "First-year-old kid? Mr. Daphne, they don't know anything about weaponry, how to play and defend. They'll just be chunks of meat in the field."

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're talking about, but you seem to doubt how I play with guns?" I said directly in front of him.

"Alright, since you're a prince, you must have held the weapon first in your place. But it's not just about swordplay, you know? Just swinging your sword will mean nothing" he said.

"Easy-after.. Anyway Gara is the one I appointed to replace The Defend. That's clear, Mr. Aukland itself chose it" said Mr. Daphne.

"If Mr. Aukland, I won't argue. He never chose anyone wrong" said one of the others.

"Alright, from tomorrow Gara will be under your training" said Mr. Daphne to the man who doubted me.

"Well... Alright Mr. Daphne, excuse us" and he and his friends left the room. So did me and Declan. We stopped at the dorm bridge because I didn't want to go in there either.

"So, what's happening to me now? I still don't understand what Mr. Daphne. What is The Defend?"

Declan stared at me doubtfully, "You were appointed to replace one of the members of the International Scarfaloma team."

I was shocked for a moment, "You must be kidding."

"If I was joking, then why did Areth doubt you?"

"Areth?"

"He is the captain of the team, Sweden Areth. He is responsible for all the members. He chooses who deserves to be in the team. You are among the lucky ones to be chosen by Mr. Aukland, that way Areth can't deny his orders and requires you to get into his team" Declan explained.

"Can I refuse this?" My toot.

"Because"

"Goodoo. Run like a child to Mr. Daphne, and ask for it. I told you, kids like you don't know shit."

I turned around and found the man, Sweden Areth and 2 others, "If I'm all right, I won't survive Psychophagos."

"Ha! You're protected here, of course you don't survive the creature."

"You're really doubting my abilities, aren't you?" I approached Areth. Damn it he's taller than me, way taller.

Because we were on the bridge of the dormitory there were also many other children who were interested to see us. Including friends. I know they think there's a fight going on, but if it's going to make Areth's doubts disappear, I'll accept it willingly.

"alright. I'd like to see what you're capable of tomorrow afternoon on the field. We duel, you and me. If you can raise my sword, then I'll give you my The Core position. However, if your sword floats, then my name will be banned from the search for Skarfaloma."

He challenged me apparently. But strangely, when he said that the position of his The Core would be given to me if I managed to levitate his sword, the 2 people behind him looked surprised. so did Declan and everyone who was swarming us. They just can't believe it's happening.

I can't just be doubted like that. I have the ability. I'll prove it to him if I have to.

"I accept. I have successfully raised Mr.'s sword. Chairoz and Declan's sword. So I thought, flying your sword is nothing?"

I heard, the others were shocked at my words. They cheered in my favor, but some of those who sided with Areth preferred to share your doubts about your abilities.

"You and your mouth" he growled, then walked off the bridge to the dormitory. People started to leave us.

"You just challenged Areth, aren't you sane?" Declan.

"You're afraid of him?"

Declan let out a long sigh, "For what is fear of him? I have a higher position than him, I am the head of Lycanthrope House."

"Then?"

"Gara, you've just challenged the captain of the Skarfaloma team. He had followed many matches, it meant that he was more friendly with his sword. You're going up against someone far more experienced than you" Declan said.

"Then what about Mr. Chiroz? I can raise his sword"

"The wooden sword, you mean? Come on, you know Mr. Chairoz makes it easy for you to do it" Declan said.

"Declan's right. Because, you can't underestimate it just like that" Chlea continued beside me.

I looked at him, "I don't underestimate Areth, Chlea. But he doubted my ability. Tomorrow, I'll prove to her that she misjudged me."

Just wait, Areth.