Conbellia

Chapter 7

Jeremiah woke me up at around 6:30 am. His parents were already gone. We had a short breakfast and then left the house.
Now we're making our way to the fighters dorm.
After you get told your rank, you first have to live in a dorm together with all others who got the same rank. The dorms are luxury. Even the workers' dorm is huge and beautiful. Everyone has his own room and bathroom. Plus there's a community room and a community kitchen.
While you get the needed education you stay in the dorm.
My parents only told me that much.
"We'll go in first" Jere says. I nod. What will they think of me? Lucy told me not to talk about me being a Conbellia much.
The fighters' dorm is at the edge of town, next to the woods, not far away from the fitness center and the hunters' dorm.
As Jeremiah and I enter the students are already done. The few girls check their hair. I wonder what it'll look like after training.
"Everyone listen up" Jeremiah speaks so loudly I'm sure they hear it even if they're on the second floor. Everyone assembles in the community room.
"Training will be divided into different parts. Those who do very good in the first part from the beginning will start the second part earlier than others. You won't finish one part before you've reached a certain score. The maximum time you get to reach thar score are three months. That's the last chance you get. Otherwise you'll be kicked out. Normally you should reach the required score within two weeks.
The first part of your education is fitness. Then comes hand-to-hand combat. Then, shooting with guns. Then there will be archery. The final test will be a combination of all. You'll go into a special arena. The things in there aren't real. Those will be manipulated with a special software written based on your weaknesses and strengths. Every single one of you will have their own software. I will watch you during training together with a few others. You won't see the others a lot though. We will take notes. Sometimes you might not notice it. So you should work hard at all times. And now, let's go to the fitness section."
"Who's she?" One of the three girls present asks.
"She has a name. And it's Jeanine. I expect you to respect her. She will train with you."
"Why isn't she living with us?" A big guy with blonde hair looks at me with this what-is-she-doing-here expression. I swallow. Jeremiah spins around.
"No more questions or I might design your software in a way you will never make it." His eyes are as cold as ice. He nods his head in the direction of the door and starts moving.
"Thank you" I say quietly.
"Oh please" he smiles.
I take in the group of students again. 29 boys and 3 girls. Plus me.

"We will start with a 100m run. Line up in pairs of two."
I can see the radar at the end of the runway. The time will be counted automatically. All the others find a partner and make a line. I'm left. The 33rd.
"We'll run last" Jeremiah says.
I smile a thankful smile at him. He looks at me with his big brown eyes. Suddenly I don't feel left out anymore. This is where I belong in. This is my new home and it's time to leave my old one behind.
The pairs run one after another. The difference between kids from fighter and hunter families and the others is clearly visible. But no one is bad at running.
Then it's just Jere and me. "C'mon Jane" I look at him, surprised.
"Since when is Jane the short form for Jeanine?"
He laughs: "that's what your sister calls you" he shoots back. I raise my eyebrows. When did he notice that? Then I feel a short pang of pain in my chest when I think of dear Celia. It's gone as fast as it came and I'm grateful for it. I won't cry here. I hear the whispers from the others. Talking about how bad I'll be. I block it out.
Jeremiah Damer and I get into position.
"Ready, steady" the computer voice announces through the dynamics "GO" I start running. I was always good at it. The wind blows through my hair. I loose myself in a trance.
Through the corner of my eye I see Jeremiah. He's just a few metres ahead. It's visible he didn't count on this much of a competition. As I race into the finish I'm met by stunned applause. I was by far the fastest student.
They will respect me now.
Will they hate me too?