After going out and hanging out with Catrina I went back home after she said that she has to go since it was getting late, telling me that she'll see me tomorrow at School.
I saw a letter In my living room that wasn't there before, I took off my shoes and went to pick it up.
[Mom will be late since they called me to go back to work since there were more people at the Café than usual and needed the extra hands, I made you pasta If you are hungry. I made this letter because you weren't answering your phone!]
I looked at my phone. There were a lot, a lot of missed phone calls and messages
"Haaah"
I sighed and then decided to cease my thoughts and mind my own business and get on with my day
I then went to the kitchen and got a plate, Then I put enough pasta to fill the plate completely and then I sat at the table to eat it
"this is good"
I muttered quietly as I continued to eat In silence. Anxiously waiting for the day to pass and mentally prepare myself for whatever bullshit tomorrow throws at me.
***
Gardenia High School
I sat next to the window, trying to see If I can catch a glimpse of those humanoid monsters but no matter how long I waited I couldn't catch a single glimpse of them anywhere In Gardenia.
'Where are they?'
It didn't make sense, not in the least. Ever since Yesterday they were no where to he found.
'are they avoiding the school building?'
Yesterday they killed some of the sludge like monsters, but afterwards they completely stopped and avoided the school building entirely.
'Now why is that?'
They were avoiding something and I need to know what they are avoiding at all costs.
I began to move checking any room I set my foot In twice before entering.
The cafeteria was more crowded than yesterday but the Sludges didn't move around, they just sat In silence, some even curled up in a ball.
'Now what I think about it... Where is that Sludge from Yesterday?'
I didn't see it anywhere, no matter where In the building I went, I couldn't find it.
"Hmm?"
I looked more Intently at the motionless Sludges and realized something I wouldn't have been able to notice unless I took a closer look at them.
'They have different shades of colors?'
The sludges bodies weren't all the same, for example some Sludge's bodies color were more dark green than others, some had small horns that had a variety of different colors, Some even had small tails. They were all different In some shape or form.
I started walking towards the Exit of the Cafeteria after seeing everything I needed to see and as I was leaving, I caught a glimpse, a glimpse of a figure patrolling through the Cafeteria, Which I never saw it do yesterday.
'A teacher...'
Wearing a neat black suit with blue stripes, It's body resembling a human's, however it wasn't anything like a human.
'A dragon?'
That's the only accurate description I could give based on my limited knowledge on dragons.
'well Information about dragons Isn't really consistent...actually now that I take a second look at that thing...It looks like a Lizard?'
It's body was covered In black Scales but at the end of his horns and tail the color changes from black to a blue hue.
It's eyes were also blue, the teacher passed by me, It's tail moving, waving and slithering like a snake.
'He was one of the people who were behind Zenox, when he gave his speech.'
Other than that time, I had never seen it before, not even yesterday.
[Hm? Bringam Is that you? what are you doing so early here patrolling?]
'A green blob runs the cafeteria?' It was my first thought that I had when reaching the cafeteria yesterday to see who runs it. 'It looks like a Sludge monster that you'd find In a poison swamp while playing a game...' If the other monsters I've seen weren't a Sludge, this thing was definitely the living embodiment of the meaning of Sludge.
[I'm not...I'm just here to ask you to give me a burger since I didn't eat anything this morning]
Bringam answered, sounding noticeably tired.
[Ho Ho Ho, that's not really healthy you know? well I'll whip you up a burger!]
[Ah, don't put tomatoes or onions on it]
[Got it!]
I left the Cafeteria leaving Bringam back at the cafeteria, though I did want to question him and make him spill his secrets.
'I don't have nine lives for that recklessness'
I would only go up to him and question him If I had over a thousand lives at my disposal, but even then I'd hesitate.
'anything could happen after all'
Of course If there was a way to do it guaranteeing my safety, I'd risk It but otherwise
'I wouldn't do it'.
My life was on the line here, how could I risk it for something that wouldn't allow me to gain anything.
Ding~ Ding~
Ding~ Ding~
I heard a bell ringing from a distance, It wasn't the School bell. But based on yesterday whenever that bell rings, I found that It signaled my return back to my world.
'It overlaps with the School bells though, so it's difficult to tell If It's ringing when you're Inside the school. I only found out because I went outside'
Trrr~
Trrr~
The school bells, though delayed for a few seconds started ringing as well, overlapping with the other Bell's ringing and drowning it out.
I closed my eyes and waited for a few seconds before opening them again to see that I was back In my classroom In one piece.
'can this be considered a fail?'
I was trying to spot the humanoid monsters in order to observe their behavior or try to spot any weakness and see how strong they are.
However I couldn't spot them at all during recess, but I still survived which didn't make It seem like I failed In the long run.
I pondered and thought of how to find them without risking my life, then my eyes suddenly lit up and sparkled at what I realized I could do
"wait I have an Idea" I muttered
I suddenly thought of an Idea. An Idea that was reckless but safe at the same time, It was akin to walking on a extremely high, narrow and dangerous mountain pass but you were also wearing a parachute In case something goes wrong.
***
'34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40.....'
The bell had already hit and I was back In Gardenia, counting, counting till the right moment came.
I travelled and walked through the entire School building, trying to see what was different than before.
I noticed an Immediate difference from yesterday, The teachers were patrolling the entire building, however It didn't seem like there were enough teachers to go patrol outside
'60, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...'
I kept counting, however whenever I counted until 60 seconds, I reset my counting and start from 1 again.
In my classroom there were at least 25 'students' Including the humanoid monster and me.
'If there aren't enough teachers...15... then how were they able to put all 500+ first years In their respective classrooms on the first day...18'
I wasn't that dumb or at least I didn't consider myself to be that dumb, but it didn't make any sense on how they were able to keep an eye on all students, but didn't have the numbers to patrol outside, there must have been a different reason.
'Could it be they are disorganized?...22'
that was the only reason that made any sense
'or...are they doing it on purpose?...25'
It wasn't out of the realm of possibility, after all no one said that they'd follow the same kind of sound logic as humans, they could be Intentionally- 'no... not could, they must be intentionally avoiding the courtyard...'
"..."
I kept counting, staring at the Courtyard that looked to be deserted at first glance
'60. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6'
I started walking towards the stairs to go down a floor.
Normally I would have stopped counting by now, however I had a bad premonition and started counting past the Intended amount.
'I need to know' I thought to myself as I walked down the stairs and reached the exit.
I needed to know, I needed to test, I needed to risk my life and I needed to confirm my suspicions.
I had many theories and I needed to confirm whether I was right or wrong, In order to get an edge, a slight advantage In Information.
To know more about Gardenia Is to understand what is lain bare to one's eyes, The more you know, The more you understand, The more you can manipulate Gardenia's 'gimmicks'.
When you fight a boss in a video game and you do less damage than you expected, you stop fighting it and instead start 'understanding' it, you start finding it's weakness, what works and what doesn't, you find 'gimmicks' you can take advantage of, you 'study' your enemy, you 'learn' from them the mistakes that cause your demise.
I needed to do this, because only through the confirmation of my theories can I survive.
To be Ignorant means to die a dog's death.
Only through Insight can one survive and understand what others can't.
'I need to risk my life In order for me to Increase my chances of survival?'
30 Seconds
that's when I stopped counting
no to be exact I stopped counting at 570 seconds. 570 seconds have passed since recess started and In another 30 seconds
Step!
'The bell rings!'