Lunaria: Genesis

10- Tour

I get out of the house early the next day, putting on another uniform of similar fashion and leaving as quietly as I could. Lady Vino is holding some sort of conference with others in her office, so I assume it's best not to disturb her with my presence. As I walk among the tops of the trees in the bridges, I see the Academy building growing larger in the distance. Jumping down to the front courtyard, I see the boy from yesterday standing in the front doorway. He smiles at me, combing his hair though his dark hair. He is wearing a white shirt unbuttoned at the collar with a tie haphazardly strewn around his neck casually and black pants with military boots.

"I'm glad you came, Lunaria." He says, pronouncing my name slowly. "I would like to show you around the school, and maybe a little more." I just look up at him and nod, having little else to do. He holds out his hand to me, I look down at it and back up at him, confused. He just chuckles and lowers his hand, instead showing my the way by walking ahead of me. He shows me around the first floor, where first year students learn about Village history and basic education. He also shows me to the library and cafeteria on this floor, but I show no interest in either of these things. He moves with me to the next floors, where second and third year students learn how to fight with their hands and defend themselves. The next floor has fourth year students, learning how to fight enemies and use weapons. He then shows me the top floor, only for fifth year students where they teach how to survive the Exam Trials. He then takes me up to the rooftop, walking to the guard rail and showing me the view of what is behind the school. A large stadium is there where I never gave it attention before. It has rows and rows of seats, more than capable to fit the entire village I suppose.

"This is where the sparring section of the exams are to be held. We use it for competitions and games and sometimes a meeting place." He says, then looks at me. His hair is whipping in the wind, throwing black locks in his face as he gives a half smile. "So, what do you think?" He asks. I'm a little caught off guard, never having expected a question directed toward me when it should have been obvious.

"Ah... This place is very nice." I say, looking down and trying to tuck away my flying hair from my face. He smiles at me, his grey eyes suddenly turning serious.

"No, Lunaria, I mean what do you think of the Exam Trials, of becoming a Mercenary?" He asks. I am startled once again, having to think of his I feel and then more to make it into coherent sentences.

"It's the way this village protects itself, but I still don't know what all that means." I reply. He looks at me and chuckles softly.

"What are you doing here, Lunaria? You don't have to be here, you are too cute to be in the Academy. Graduating from student to cadet means you will be in real danger, many kids die. I don't want to see you in a grave. You shouldn't have to stay, why not leave now while you have a chance?" He asks. I stare up at him blankly, I don't know where this is coming from in him, but I feel like I have to say something.

"Prae Sul recommended this for me, and Lady Vino enforces it." I answer. He turns and sighs, leaning on the railing.

"That just doesn't seem right to me. There is more out there to do than putting your life on the line." He sighs and stands up, turning to show me a soft smile. "Oh well, I guess it can't be helped. It's about time for classes to start. Thank you for giving me your time, Lunaria. I enjoyed being with you. You are... different. I appreciate that." He says, and turns to leave the roof. I linger for a bit longer, watching students begin to enter the school and thinking about what he has shown me. He puzzles me, I can't sense his intentions and I still don't know his name. Letting it go for now I turn and go back through the hallway headed for my class.

As I walk through the crowd of students, someone bumps into me with their shoulder, knocking me to the ground. Nothing hurts as I fall, but the pain comes from the others around me. I can hear mumbling and whispering of people looking down on me as I am on my hands and knees. I am knocked down to this familiar submissive position, and I feel a wave of helplessness washing over me. People tower over me like giants as I shrink smaller, they dissect me with their glares and mocking. I begin to melt into a horrible dark memory of being forced down and looked down upon, and I try to pull myself from it. The person is long gone and I can do nothing about it, so I just silently get up and continue walking, trying to ignore the eyes glued to me.

I manage to get to class and sit down in my seat in the back beside Kurren. Mr. Miyagi enters the room and greets us all to begin his lesson, but I begin to fade away. I've stopped paying attention and now I drift away in my own returning nightmare. I wonder why I was pushed around, and why did that boy asked me what he did, and why does Lady Vino punishes me as she does. These thoughts plague my mind, and I dwell on them, unknowing that Mr. Miyagi is calling for me until Kurren tapped on my desk. My head whips around to look at Mr. Miyagi, and he is standing directly in front of me, making me have to crane my neck to look up at him.

"Ms. Lunaria, although you are a new student I don't appreciate you drifting off during my lecture." He says sternly, his arms folded across his chest. "How about you answer my question then. What is the mortality rate for new Cadets?" He asks. The class looks at me intensely, they seem puzzled or surprised, so I assume the question is unrelated to the topic he was lecturing. Either way, I don't know the answer. My mouth feels dry and my chest feels heavy with shame. I try to look down, but nothing can take off the pressure of the glaring he has on me.

"...ah.... I don't know sir." I say quietly, trying to avoid his gaze, "

"Oh, you don't know. 32 percent of kids die after graduating to Cadet. 32 percent. Lunaria, stand up." He says, and I do so immediately. He turns from me, walking from my desk in the back all the way to the front. "Everyone on the back row, stand up." He orders, and the rest, including Kurren, stands.

"Students, look around you, those who are standing represent the 32 percent. Some of you are in families that have lost a sibling or a cousin to this number. Some of you will never see it coming. They say that number is small, but turn around and imagine how empty feeling this class would be without them. Imagine it being your best friend or your brother or sister. The mortality rate for you is anything but small. It's my job to teach you how to live, but you have to put in work to survive." He says, pacing the floor as the class sits and stands in silent shock. This message is dulled in me, I have no relationship with anybody here, and I have proof that I am hard to kill, but the lesson is still startling none the less.

"You are dismissed for lunch. After lunch you are free to leave, stay at home and rest well with your families. Tomorrow the first exam begins in the Exam Trials, and visitors will be coming in from different Villages, please be ready." He says, moving to sit at his desk. The classroom wordlessly gets up to file out the room, and I am last among them. I skip lunch, opting to avoid the other students and leave early. This situation begins to turn darker for me, whenever I try to temporarily turn my back form one hardship, another comes to my face, giving me no where to escape. I don't feel like fighting against any of this, I will just have to go with what is given to me until I hopefully find some sort of motivation to do otherwise.