2 Months passed like water flowing In a river.
Nothing had happened during that time, I simply increased the intensity of my training, My routine hadn't changed whatsoever.
I had learned how to vault, mantle and climb even faster than before, but that was it, it was far from mastered, there were still unwanted delays.
I even started Calisthenics now that my body became more fit than before.
"Well the results are a tad bit disappointing though..."
The results left more to be desired. I wasn't satisfied with this, there was essentially no difference In my body and even if there was It wouldn't be enough of a difference to handle those monsters.
Creakkk~
I opened the creaking door and stepped out of my house.
The days have been tranquil, nothing too serious happened.
part of me thought it was slightly disappointing but I knew It was simply the calm before the storm.
"...The practical exam"
The practical exam would be an unrelenting storm aiming for my life constantly. This I believed to be completely true.
"they still haven't told us what it's about yet"
I was more afraid of the fact that the contents are unknown.
"The unknown is more scary than the known" I brought my hand to my lips, my posture being one of deep thought.
I reached the bus stop soon after.
'It's taking longer than usual...'
I fiddled with my phone while waiting for the bus.
"...?"
'Is that?'
I spotted two unexpected people on the other side of the road
"Raven and Gravel?"
'This is my first time seeing a classmate using the same road as me to reach school'
Most people use buses, like me. But it wasn't like other people didn't just walk to school even if it was inconvenient.
'A pleasant surprise I guess?'
I didn't think much of it and just waited for the bus to arrive.
"Finally, what took it so long?"
The bus I had been waiting had finally appeared.
I took my seat In the bus, waiting for its departure.
"..?"
'I didn't really notice it before but, Isn't it different?'
They looked the same as ever, but I felt as if the pitch black lines became different than before.
'They feel more sensitive?'
I couldn't find the right words to explain it, but they just felt different.
"Well whatever..."
I look out the window.
It was drizzling.
'The weather is terrible'
Before long I reached the school and hopped off the bus.
I look at the time on my phone.
'still 12 minutes left'
Today was a special day, because today.
"We're hunting a monster"
A grotesque grin tugged at my lips.
"Keke"
A laugh involuntary came out of my mouth.
'That bastard is going to know my suffering'
Ever since that bastard shoved Its hand into my stomach, I've had nightmares, but along with those nightmares came fantasies.
Fantasies of me completely destroying and breaking that humanoid monster apart and making it feel what I felt when it crushed me.
Those reasons were motivation, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing but I knew I couldn't kill it even In my current state.
I reached the school building and sat on the staircase, waiting until the time for me to return to Gardenia inevitably comes.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
My anxious foot tapped against the marble floor as time passed. I heard my heart beat louder and louder at the action I resolved myself to do.
While I did have a grudge against the monster that had almost killed me, It wasn't enough to make me want to go up against it.
The primary reason was simple, getting rid of an annoying obstacle.
If the practical exams were walls I had to overcome and climb to survive the crumbling floor beneath my feet, The humanoid monsters would be debris and minor obstacles slowing my movements and ultimately costing my life.
'I can't just have a random monster roam around and restrict my movements'
Throughout the duration of the two months, I had never been able to go out in the courtyard at all.
It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but having your movements and freedom restricted meant, that much danger still lurked.
"Hey Cale, you came early~"
I raise my head to where I heard a voice coming from.
"Catrina?"
A petite girl with a long French braid that reached her waist down, her bangs flowing across her slender shoulders, her pearly brown eyes looked at me sheepishly from the floor above me.
"You're switching hairstyles quick, so what happened to the massive black bow?"
"Well I don't want to stick to one hairstyle" She fiddled with her black hair.
"What~ did you like my previous hairstyle~"
She said playfully.
"Want me to give you an honest answer as a friend?"
"No, you'll say something I don't like for sure If I tell you to rate it"
"You know me so well Catrina~"
I beamed a mischievous like smile at her.
She turned away from me in disgust.
"You seem to be in a better mood today?"
She asked, looking out the window behind her.
"It's because I'm getting an intense urge to tease you"
"I'm not your personal stress ball..."
"The same goes for me~"
"I don't tease you"
'And she lied as naturally as she breathed'
"Well anyway, where is Gabriel? that guy is always late"
Catrina looked around and then snapped her gaze back to me.
"That guy can't manage his time at all, just what did you expect?"
Gabriel's incapability to manage his time efficiently made me wonder how he came on time on the first day of school.
"Ah I see him!"
She pointed to a direction I couldn't see
"Yeah I can't see where you're pointing at Catrina"
"Then stop sitting on the staircase which is dirty and get up here"
"..."
I get up from the staircase and walked up the stairs.
"Hey Catrina am I dirty anywhere?" I spun my body for her to look and see If I am dirty anywhere.
"No, you're fine"
She replied back, inching closer to the window.
I soon spotted Gabriel in the courtyard, next to me Catrina waved her hands erratically until Gabriel spotted us.
"Did he see us?" I turn my head to look at the picturesque face of Catrina
"I think he did?" She replied playfully, still looking outside the window.
Not long after, I saw Gabriel going up the same stairs I came from.
"What are you two doing?"
Gabriel asked us, his head tilting In curiosity.
""Nothing""
We both said in unison.
"Your hair is a mess, did you use a leaf blower to do your hair?"
Gabriel staggered back slightly then glared at me.
"Oh yeah? what about your hair? It's not In a much better state than mine?" he pointed at my bed hair.
"Do you prefer a disaster or a mess?"
I retorted back.
"..."
Catrina walked away from the window and sat on a bench, intently watching with sparkling eyes at the sight of Gabriel and Cale arguing, she lamented at the fact that she didn't have any 3d glasses to wear and popcorn to eat.
'Am I the only one who cares for their hair In this group?'
She thought to herself while playing with her hair.
Trrr~
Trrr~
Trrr~
The bell rang, Cale felt his eyelids get heavier, he couldn't keep them open any longer and closed them, Every limb in his body felt static for a few moments.
"...?"
"?"
Gabriel stares at him for a few moments, a certain unease clawing its way through his mind.
"Cale? what's up?"
He asked him, his breath grew more ragged at the sight, he didn't know why he felt this way but the atmosphere felt different the moment the bell rang.
Cale(?) opened his eyes, a cold gaze was directed at him, his eyes felt tranquil, devoid of life and...devoid of all vibrant color.
His face softened, but his eyes didn't, they still didn't soften.
Catrina had also noticed the change.
"What do you mean? nothing's up? I mean, should there be something up?"
A soft voice echoed, uncharacteristic of Cale, yet.
"I guess you're right..."
Gabriel found himself forgetting the unease he felt before, Catrina was the same.
"Class is starting, so we should go"
Cale said In a calm and slow voice.
"Yeah we should..."
Catrina got up from the bench, walking towards class, Gabriel following behind shortly after.
Cale stayed rooted at his spot, staring blankly at the courtyard.
He snapped his head back at Catrina and Gabriel and then followed them back to class.
***
"Is there even a point In doing this?"
I laid sprawled on the floor, staring at the ceiling.
'It's different'
Usually I only get teleported to Gardenia when recess starts.
"but lately I've been teleporting to Gardenia even though there was no recess"
Of course the moment "I" step In class, I get transported back.
"Is it a warning?"
It seemed like a warning to me, a warning telling me that It won't be long before the practical exam started.
"...?"
Suddenly I heard a strange sound- no it resembled more of a sensation.
I shot up to my feet and started walking towards the window.
"?!"
I saw it, a humanoid monster and-
'It's fast!'
It was moving through the courtyard with incredible speed, covering an insane distance almost as if it had teleported.
I step back and hide behind a wall, making sure it didn't see me.
I peeked, trying to see where it went
'It disappeared?'
I felt a knot forming in my stomach.
my breathing turned ragged.
'how the hell is it that fast?'
however it wasn't as if I couldn't see it at all. I did see it, I saw it stop a few times
'It's not simply speed?'
If it was all speed, then I wouldn't have been able to track its movements at all.
"A speed boost..."
That was the conclusion I came to, It gained a sudden boost In speed for a few moments.
'Can it not use it for long because of stamina or is there something else at play?'
I couldn't know, but the most Important thing to note was that It had limits to its speed.
"..?"
My surroundings started to be consumed by darkness, before long my vision had also been consumed by this eerie darkness.
'I guess the doppelganger reached the class?'
I closed my eyes and waited until I returned back to class.