Echoes Of The Undying

Bonus Chapter: A Day of Play

The usually tense atmosphere of Serenity Vale High School was replaced with an air of excitement and laughter. For once, the students of Horizon Shadow Class had a day free from missions and responsibilities. The sun shone brightly, casting a warm, inviting glow over the school grounds. The students were ready to make the most of their unexpected day off.

Tag in the Courtyard

Max and Olga were the first to kick off the day’s activities with a game of tag in the courtyard. The vast, open space was perfect for running around and releasing pent-up energy.

“Catch me if you can, Max!” Olga shouted, darting across the courtyard with surprising agility.

Max grinned and gave chase, his laughter echoing through the empty halls. “You’re not getting away that easily!”

Nearby, Mae and Vivie were setting up an impromptu water balloon fight. They had found an old stash of balloons and filled them with water from the rain barrels.

“Ready, Mae?” Vivie asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Mae replied, holding up a water balloon. “Prepare for splashdown!”

As Vivie threw her balloon, it burst against Mae’s side, soaking her instantly. Mae shrieked and retaliated, throwing her own balloon, which missed but soaked a surprised Randy, who had been watching the game with amusement.

“Hey, you’re not supposed to hit innocent bystanders!” Randy protested, though he was clearly enjoying the chaos.

Artistic Wall Decorations

Inside, a group of students had taken over a classroom wall with chalk and markers, turning it into a colorful canvas. Jarezza and Farhanah were leading the charge, their hands smeared with various colors.

“Let’s make a mural of our adventure so far!” Jarezza suggested, drawing a giant sun with a goofy face.

“Great idea!” Farhanah agreed, adding a stick-figure version of themselves battling zombies. “And here’s us, having epic battles and being heroic!”

Angella and Nicole joined in, drawing caricatures of their friends in hilarious poses. Nicole drew a particularly exaggerated version of Filbert, complete with oversized glasses and a superhero cape.

Filbert, catching sight of the drawing, feigned outrage. “Hey, I don’t wear my glasses like that!”

“Sure you don’t,” Nicole teased, laughing. “You just haven’t seen yourself in a while.”

Photography Fun

Meanwhile, on the school’s roof, a few students had discovered an old camera and were experimenting with it. Silverra and Clency were taking turns posing for silly snapshots, with Clency trying out different dramatic poses while Silverra snapped away.

“Come on, Clency, give me your best superhero pose!” Silverra instructed.

Clency struck an exaggerated pose, arms outstretched as if flying. “To the rescue!”

Silverra clicked the shutter, capturing Clency mid-air. “Perfect! Now let’s see if we can get one with you mid-sneeze. You’re just too good at this!”

As they laughed over the photos, Max and Olga joined them, still catching their breath from the tag game. Max grabbed the camera and took a candid shot of everyone laughing together.

“Let’s make sure we print these out when we get the chance,” Max said. “We’ll need something to remember today by.”

DIY Water Park

Back outside, the water balloon fight had escalated into a full-blown water fight. The students had found an old garden hose and attached it to a faucet, turning it into a makeshift sprinkler. They set up a slip-and-slide using tarps and soap, creating a water park right on the school grounds.

Eva and Sherlyn were racing each other down the slip-and-slide, shrieking with laughter as they slid across the wet surface. Esther and Mary were on the sidelines, armed with a bucket of soapy water, ready to douse anyone who dared to come near.

“Watch out! Here comes the tidal wave!” Mary yelled, hurling a bucket of soapy water at a group of unsuspecting students.

Lorenda, drenched but grinning, grabbed a water balloon and lobbed it at Mae, who was busy reloading her ammo. “Gotcha!”

Mae squealed and ducked, laughing as she tried to shield herself with her hands. “You’re going down, Lorenda!”

Creative Expressions

As the day went on, the students continued to let their creativity shine. Some tried their hand at writing funny poetry on the chalkboard, while others put on an impromptu talent show, showcasing everything from goofy dance moves to bizarre but entertaining magic tricks.

Max, with a makeshift magician’s hat made from a cereal box, performed a trick where he “made” a spoon disappear—by sneakily dropping it into his pocket. The audience cheered and applauded, thoroughly entertained by the simple yet amusing act.

Vivie decided to show off her artistic skills, drawing caricatures of the group on large sheets of paper and hanging them up around the courtyard. The exaggerated features and funny depictions had everyone laughing and pointing out their favorite parts.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the school, the group gathered around a small bonfire they had built using salvaged wood. They roasted marshmallows, made s’mores, and shared stories, reflecting on the joy of the day.

“Today was just what we needed,” Filbert said, taking a bite of his s’more.

“Yeah,” Olga agreed, toasting her marshmallow. “It’s nice to remember that even in tough times, we can still have fun and be together.”

As they sat around the fire, enjoying their makeshift feast, it was clear that this day would be remembered not just for the laughter and games, but for the sense of normalcy and unity it brought. For a brief moment, the weight of their struggles was lifted, replaced by the simple pleasure of being young and carefree.

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This chapter captures the spirit of fun and bond among the Horizon Shadow Class students, showcasing how they make the most of a rare day off with creativity and laughter, in various fun activities, creating memories and strengthening their bonds in a lighthearted, playful atmosphere.

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