Invincible

Chapter 6 - The Academy

I'm loaded into a hover car. The thing is self-driving and already has a route programmed into it. As soon as the door shuts, we start moving.

It's eerily quiet. I'm used to vehicles that have loud, petrol motors. They huff and puff, groan and moan. Some of the machines shake when they lift fallen trees. The noises they make are comforting. But this car has an electric motor. The only sound is the whirring of the fans.

I look out the heavily tinted window. No one can see in. Nobody knows it's a human in here. They probably think that the Commander is driving himself to his next meeting.

As soon as the open road comes into view, we speed up. I can only see a hazy green blur out the window. Other cars pass in a blur of grey and blue. The motor is slightly louder now, still nothing compared to at home.

We stop far too soon for my liking. I can't wait to be rushed through a shower, and thrown into the waiting arms of however the Commander brought me for. However, when I step out of the car, a female Luvah awaits.

"Welcome to your home for the next few weeks," she says, her English perfect.

The car drives away, leaving me standing on the gravel driveway. The big russet building is older than me, probably older than my mother. Made from brick, with windows a set distance apart. Every part of it is uniform.

"This is where all high ranking officer's humans get sent. All the female humans, at least. You will train here for a few weeks, and once you reach a presentable standard, you will be delivered to your owner."

She stands, and I realise she expects a response. I start typing into my device, and she frowns when she sees it.

"They didn't tell me they were sending a mute. I'm guessing you won't be learning to speak Luvah, so you can get private tuition and go home earlier." The Luvah walks up the stairs and into the building. I stop typing and follow.

"I am Headmistress Annora. You will address me as such and with the same respect you give to every other Luvah you see."

I follow her up many flights of stairs. I see humans cleaning, dusting pictures and wiping down surfaces. Some of the girls smile at me, others frown. A few don't dare to look.

"You will be sharing with another newbie, she was brought here last week." The Headmistress opens a door, and reveals a room with two beds. One is neatly made, the other has clearly been slept in.

I walk into the room slowly, surveying my surroundings. Clothes sit folded nicely on the dresser. A singular mirror hangs to the left of the door.

"Get changed, and your roommate will show you where to go." A long, slender finger points at the folded clothes, then the door shuts, and I am alone.

I unfold the clothes. A dress. I don't recognise the fabric, although anything is better than this suit thing. It is a struggle to get it off, but I am glad once it is. Red marks have been imprinted into my skin.

The dress and undergarments are easy enough to pull on. After changing, I look for a place to put my old clothes.

"In the basket." A soft voice behind me. I don't startle, but turn around slowly, suit hanging from one hand.

A blonde girl stands beside the slept in bed. She wears the same dress as me, just in another colour. Her blonde hair has been half pulled into braids.

I drop the suit into the basket and cross my arms. It pointedly shows the speaking device, and I wait for her to click.

"You really don't speak?" She asks, stepping closer. I step back, shaking my head.

Only to Dax, I remind myself. I picture him in my head, being used for his good looks and physical strength. Many females would want a daughter from him.

"I'm Lyra, you must be Crynn," Lyra holds a hand out for me to shake. A simple bead bracelet adorns her wrist. The bright plastic almost makes me miss home and the bright colours of the island.

"What is this place?" I type into the device. Every time, I can type the words faster. The device switches to English at the click of a button.

"The Academy. It prepares female humans for their lives at the sides of the powerful Luvah." Lyra returns her hand to her side, fiddling with the bracelet. Every slight clink of the plastic shakes my brain.

A bell echoes through the building, causing Lyra to jump.

"We have to go, it's time for etiquette lessons." She opens the door and leads me through the winding corridors.

Slowly, a crowd amasses in front of us. We file into one large room. Everyone else manages to find a desk, and I slide into one next to Lyra.

The girls in the room are all so different, yet they all have one thing in common. They are pretty. Desirable features, hair colours, eye colours. I'm the only red-headed girl in here. Sticking out like a sore thumb, as I have ever since the brown faded to red.

The Headmistress walks in, followed by another, less imposing Luvah. By the purple lines on her face, I can tell the less imposing one is Second Generation.

"Good morning, Headmistress Annora and Teacher Oralis," every girl in the room greets them, except me.

"Good morning girls. We have a new one with us today, Crynn. Please stand and recite your number, Crynn." The Luvah I'm assuming is Teacher Oralis speaks first.

I stand, and type my number into the device quickly. Everyone turns to watch, and I try not to blush.

"#0831." I switch it to Luvah, hoping it was the right decision. What they want from me, I don't know.

"You did not say anything about a mute." Teacher Oralis turns to the Headmistress, markings flashing.

"Will that stop you from teaching her how to behave? She is Commander Gael's, and therefore must be educated." Headmistress Annora looks at Teacher Oralis. Something flickers in her eyes when she faces us again.

I watch Teacher Oralis's eyes flick from me to the Headmistress a few times. Her mouth opens and closes a few times, yet she remains silent.

Every set of working eyes in the classroom is glued to me. I suppose they all know what the big deal about being brought by a commander is. Surely many humans have been in the same position as me, brought by him and then killed by the way he treats them.

I don't quite get what the big deal is, but thankfully, Teacher Oralis recovers from her state.

"Well then. I shall teach her to the best of my abilities," Teacher Oralis smiles at me, any reservations about my being mute seemingly forgotten.

"Good." Headmistress Annora leaves, the tension in the room dropping as she sweeps away.

"Alright girls, today's lesson is about how you must behave at dinner parties."