Metanoia; The Hybrid
CHAPTER O8: THE FIRST RUNNER.

Yesterday, nothing special.

After the introduction of the Academy, we new students were released to do anything. Many of them choose to wander around, exploring the first building up to the seventh floor to simply explore the classes of seniors and see how they learn.

I didn't do much after that, I was more interested in the library on the second floor connected to the third floor. Students can enter in any direction. I was there with Dylan, and that was because he was tired of being in his room and other reasons.

But today, is the first day we will actually go to school.

I woke up as scheduled, very early in the morning even the sun had not yet risen.

"I'm still sleepy!" Erang Chlea who slept very well in her bed.

I wiggled her legs for a moment, "If we're late, Mr. Chairoz will punish us."

Chlea immediately woke up sitting with her sleepy eyes that she forced to open wide, "I'm not sleepy!"

I took the towel I had placed on the bed and my uniform folded neatly, "Come, I found a lake of hot water."

With heavy eyes, Chlea looked at me, "In this room?"

"In this forest."

Without waiting for him, I immediately walked to the middle. There I found Edward coming down from his bed, "Hoammm... Where you going?"

"Mandy."

Immediately I descended from this tree house using the same stairs. As I jumped, I felt the grass I was stepping under my feet. They danced, shaking my feet small. It was like being inside a real forest, with a cool breeze blowing carrying old leaves without direction.

A bit of sunlight that appeared from the west, brought this beautiful forest to life. In fact, I was astonished when I heard the sounds of the birds getting closer. Along with the wind that approached me, several sparrows flew after him and shot into the still dark sky above.

They made this room real.

Not long after, when I saw the others coming down the stairs with their eyes looking very sleepy, I just walked with my bare feet towards the north.

Last night when my mind didn't allow me to sleep, I took a walk alone in this forest and just like that, I found a waterfall with hot water.

When I arrived at this vast lake, I placed my luggage on a large rock between the lake barriers. Before I put my foot into the lake, I had undressed all my clothes. The water is really hot, I can even see tiny bubbles on the surface.

The lake is divided into three parts. Low, medium, and deep water. But I chose to sit on the surface of the rocks around the lake, because the water was only knee-deep.

"Warm.." I muttered.

"Where do you know there's a lake here?" Chlea's voice came from behind. I could hear the sound of her footsteps stepping on the dry leaves on the ground.

"I accidentally found it" I replied and allowed the others to come in and sit in a bath near me.

"What a son!" Ardan shrieked as his entire body went into the water.

"Witch really beats everything?" Edward could not believe it.

"Yes, they were really amazing" Jack said, hitting the surface of the water and making his sparks fly over us.

"What is our schedule today?" Ask Chlea.

"After breakfast, then gather at the training area around six" I said.

"Then?"

"Didn't you read our schedule, Ardan? It's on the main wall" Chlea scolded inexhaustibly.

"I just forgot" the reason.

Our daily schedule is different from the rest. We Lycanthrope people are more populous outside the Academy. We only have extra classes during the day.

"So, what classes did you take, Gara?" Ask Chlea.

"I took potion classes, telekinesis classes, herbology classes, history classes and anthropology classes" I replied.

"Antropology? It's a science that studies the human race, isn't it?" Confused Ardan.

"You're right, I want to study the human race. I will learn about the characteristics and similarities of human groups and their cultures through research on language and beliefs, human rights, ceremonies, mindsets, society, ethics, culture, etc, and many other things" I explained.

"How can you be interested in the human race, until you want to learn about them?" Ask Jack.

"Are you unconscious, he looks like a human being. Maybe because of that he wanted to study humanity so that he could accept himself, without having to exaggerate the situation, "said Edward suddenly.

Hearing Edward's words, I was a little confused by the way he thought about me, "What is it because of my eyes, that you make such a simple conclusion?"

"None of the Supernatural has black eyes like yours" he said.

"Oh, so should I have yellow or red eyes, as you wish?"

Edward was silent for a moment, then he muttered, "You and all your nonsense."

"Have it, it doesn't matter" Chlea said, stopping this unpleasant atmosphere.

We simply enjoyed taking a bath together, with the rustling sounds of leaves and the whistling of the wind that accidentally passed between us, or the chirping of the birds that passed over there. Shower this morning was really fun.

When we're done, we'll get ready as soon as we can to not be late. I first got out of the room, and saw that there were already many people preparing to go to the dining room.

We got to the first floor, and that's where we met Selena in her training uniform like the one we used.

"You look beautiful" praised Edward as he continued walking out of the dorm building.

"Thank you!" Answer Selena.

"You're the only girl, how were you last night?" Asking me worried. Because this year, I heard from every group only one woman exists.

"The number of women for this year is small, we live in one room for everything" said Selena who walks behind me with Edward.

"You mean, all the women of all nations are united in a room?" Ask again.

"Really! And it was so fun!"

The room was on the outside of the Academy, precisely in the middle of the estate. They built a large wooden place, even up to two levels at once.

We had to wait in line to pick up food served on glass shelves. All the food seems to be here, whether it's culinary from the Land of Danveurn or culinary outside.

I waited for the others to take their food, and we had a table at the end of it that was uninhabited.

Suddenly Dylan came to the table we were at, he sat himself beside me, "Morning, Gara."

"Morning" reply.

"Good morning, Gara" I heard another voice from the same direction Dylan came. They came to this table with him.

"In the morning, everyone" I replied to all of them, the Princes of the neighboring Country, even Cassa was also present.

"First day of school, what do you think?" Ask Luca while eating his chicken.

"It's okay, so I can't conclude" I honestly ate.

"Oh, our schedules are different?" Conscious Iris.

"Obviously, our morning classes are all practicums outside the Academy. So, let's say you're an Angel-"

"Then you're gonna practice flying?" Cut the Chlea from the word Castiel.

"That's how it fits into each other's groups."

"We are ordered to gather later to the river, a fragment of the Odile Sea" said Iris.

"Hahaha, this must be so much fun!" Screecher Xavier.

We ended up eating together at one table. It feels like really having breakfast together, enjoying the vast view of the plant garden. Then we had to split up in the crossroads, for a different purpose.

As ordered by Mr. Chairoz, we went to the front of the match area, and met him.

"Are you ready for your first training?" He asked, walking to lead us.

He took a left, and I've never been there before. We came out of a gate, and walked together into the forest. After following Mr. Chairoz, we arrived at an open forest, which was very large with grass decorated on the surface of the ground.

We marched straight away, as Mr. Chiroz.

"Alright, warm up and run around the field. Your feet must be trained, because there will be unpleasant situations that require you to keep running" said Mr. Chiroz.

The installation was not long, in short we began to move, with Edward in front. This open forest is huge, maybe we will only surround it one round.

Before, I never ran this long. Am I going to be the first to give up?

We ran half the field. The morning sun was warming for a long time. Like this, I'm tired. Without knowing it, my stomach hurt. Don't know why. I held my stomach, grabbed it so it wouldn't hurt anymore, but it still felt like it was there.

"Damn it, my stomach hurts" Ardan said as he gripped his stomach.

"Why is it like that?" I asked in the middle of running.

"I rarely run, especially all this time."

So that's the reason. Even my hands are cold like this. My sweat is so much. We got to where we were marching. Because of his tiredness, there were some who were sitting on the ground, the roar of breathing uncontrollably, coughing.

I rubbed the sweat on my face, at once Mr. Chairoz, who was still standing in front of us, said, "I didn't tell you to stop. Continue until I make a sound."

He's a grown man who can't think.

"This field is huge. Run one round, we're like we're on the edge of death" Jack said.

"That's how your parents feed you" he replied.

"If the teacher told us to run three times, we wouldn't be able to" Edward said.

"Here are your abilities? This isn't what you're looking for in this place, is it? Don't waste your fight on this Academy."

He's correct. This is not what I'm looking for. Give up now, or I won't be able to tell my identity. I straightened up, grabbed my stomach once more so that it wouldn't hurt, and then ran off on my own.

"Huh, he's out of his mind" I can hear Edward's voice.

"Innarrangement sometimes puts others at the bottom. Give up now, or you won't be able to fight it?"

Mr. Chairoz read my mind, shit, I forgot he's a grown Lycanthrope.

"You kidding me?"

Edward ran straight up, catching up with me from behind. I looked at the other children, who were running. Of course, they won't want to be left behind.

We ran for almost two and a half rounds. My stomach is getting sicker, I thought I wouldn't feel it anymore. Until I got used to the pain, I just let my body shake with the cold.

Indeed, it feels like it will die on the spot, but later it will also feel real.

I looked at Mr. Chiroz. He just stood watching all of us who were already unable to control the roar of breath. That cruel ex-Hunter, or am I the one who doesn't know?

Because of fatigue, some stop running and walking for a moment, until the line is completely scrambled. Ardan fell, unable to run back. While others actually stopped in place.

"I can no longer" Selena who was in front of me immediately stopped her legs, and sat on the ground while raising her head up.

I'm really tired. For a long time I kept running, and once again looked back, no one. I'm the only one still running, with the worst conditions. Others were lying everywhere, too tired to move in search of shelter from the sun. While I was about to finish the fourth round, Mr. Chairoz immediately said to stop.

At that time, I did not care about the scorching sun, or the ground that had a little grass. I immediately fell down, lying on the ground while looking at the children on the other side. We were both exhausted, no one was able to stand. This is the first time I have lost so much energy. Even I faintly heard the howl of an adult wolf.

Is the world over, or is the sun beginning to dim its light? I just closed my eyes, unable to keep staring at the scene in front of me.

Actually, what was my purpose in coming here? Looking for my identity, or running away?

...To Be Continue's...