PENSIONNAT - VERSION ENGLISH - BOOK FINISH

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-Are you sure about what he told you? Grayce asked me.

- Yes, I'm sure. I repeated for the third time.

- Are you sure? No, but because yesterday you also said you heard voices...

- I... Rho. I know what I heard.

We had class with Gracorida Perus. And we were stretching. He was getting us to go over the basics and, depending on our mastery, we were going to be able to learn combat in motion.

I was excited about the idea of running while hitting a damn scarecrow. I was too often on edge in this school! There was no better way to let off steam!

But it also reminded me of my first fight with Derne. He must have hated me after the blow I had given him. I had saved his life, but maybe I had come on a little strong. In my defense, I had reacted more out of impulse than control!

- Can you leave him alone for two seconds? Max asked me. I looked at him puzzled.

- Leave Derne alone and let's get back to our story! Grayce said tiredly. You said he told you to "save yourself. I mean, that we have to "save ourselves." But why?

- I don't know. It looked like he was sick... And his eyes had gone slightly pale.

- The drug! Grayce shouted.

- Shh! shouted Max. You want everyone to fall on us?!

- He must have tasted the drugs. Grayce asserted.

- We're talking about Principal Grayce. Not some student who needs a little spice in his life!

- Do you have a better idea? Grayce asked me with raised eyebrows.

- Girls...where is Mr. Strange?

- Oh, I almost forgot !!!! Grayce shouted with a panicked look on his face. I have to ask you, did you review what I told you about the final exams?!

- Grayce, there's more pressing matters at hand. I asserted.

- You don't know that. He might just have a cold," Grayce said.

- A cold? Have you ever seen a cold do that? I retorted.

- Girls... Max exclaimed.

- Look at Leo. When he has a cold, he talks to the flowers.

We looked at each other and laughed. Colds for the Ghota could be amazing, indeed!

*****

After an hour, Perus proudly told us that we would FINALLY be able to visit the black forest. It was not far from the school. Apparently, it is home to all sorts of creatures from the Ghota world.

- Why does there always have to be a forest? Marie had sat down next to us after her friendly confrontation with Thibault. In every population, there always has to be a scary forest hiding thousands of monsters!

- I visited it once, with my family. Thomas said as he took a seat near us. He was followed by Thibault and Ben.

- And how was it? asked Max.

- It was...both scary and...normal. I hadn't seen any creatures or anything. I was just a kid at the time.

- What did you find "scary"? The monsters, watching you in the dark, or the forest itself? I asked perplexed.

- I won't spoil the surprise! Thomas joked. But I don't remember much.

Perus stepped into the middle of the arena. For a former champion, he was quickly exhausted. The tropical heat was making us all tired. Not to mention the mosquitoes that were having fun targeting us!

- You need to have total confidence in yourself before you have to attack a moving target! The first year, the fights and the training are nice. But in the second year...they become fierce, tough and deadly. Pay attention. This year's classes are not to be taken lightly.

This was the first time we heard Perus talk like this. Why get serious about just classes? Was something going on? Did it have anything to do with the director's words? Then, what did he mean by "mortal"? There was no way I was going to die during a warm-up!!!

*****

Our excursion to the Black Forest was scheduled for Friday of the next week. In the meantime, our classes were getting intensive. We were given tons of homework and we were sleeping worse and worse. Too much pressure, too much stress... our bodies were running dry.

Exams were scheduled for Tuesday. We had one week left before we had to go in front of the juries "insatiable" to judge us.

I was happy to see that I could FINALLY control my mind. I was no longer in danger of getting stuck in an object!

This time, we would also be graded in the arena. The boys were thrilled about this, but the girls seemed to be anxious about it. As for me, it would be a good way to relax!

The tests were scheduled over three days.

*****

Not sleeping well because of stress was one thing. But having a nightmare about it was another.

I was having my first one, the day before the tests.

"I was walking through a forest. It was daytime and all was peaceful. My footsteps disturbed the silence of the environment and I wondered if it would be better to rest against a tree and let time pass.

But I was beginning to enjoy walking. It gave my mind a rest.

After a while, I came to a bench surrounded by trees. It was bathed in sunlight. No trees, flowers or bushes touched it or hid it. It looked like a crown protected by its subjects.

A choice was clear. I could either continue on my way or I could decide to sit down. As I hesitated, two butterflies began to dance near me. They flew around my face and landed on the bench. Did they want me to join them? I didn't mind. Yet, I took one last look at the path...

*CRAC!*

Somebody!

- Wait! I shouted.

My legs were moving in spite of me. They were walking straight ahead. They were going to take the path. There, where I had seen the silhouette.

Although my curiosity, pushed me to go there, a part of me wanted to sit on that bench.

- I didn't make my choice! I shouted to the wind.

But my legs did not obey me anymore. It was too late.

- Please wait!

The figure had reappeared. It was running slowly in front of me. However, I could not catch up with it. My movements were in slow motion.

- Run! Ella! Run away! Run away!

- Why do you say that? I shouted these words at her, but she disappeared before she could answer me.

Suddenly everything stopped. My legs, my breathing, the wind... I had only one thing in mind: to hide in a small hole. But why?

The forest was slowly becoming dark. A veil was falling over it, as if the night had already begun. I felt that my world was ending. That everything was over.
It was then that a woman's voice enveloped my mind.

- A love you will find, but it will kill him. Saving him from the shadows will save his soul. Without him you cannot find it.

I stared at the black veil for a moment, trying to understand these words. It sounded like a prophecy... But never mind. I was too scared to stay.
And I ran, again and again, at full speed along the path, hoping to escape this invisible anguish.

*****