Immunity Hunter

Chapter Twenty-Two - Nevin Rockiest

I'll show them I'm not just some class clown with a pea-brain. I'll be a hero. I'll help save this city. Then maybe, just maybe, my parents will be proud—even if they are dead.

Oh yeah! It's almost time for the Annual Sweep. Twenty-four hours to be exact. Monanie Academy will be swarming with Eradication Squad leaders rounding up their new recruits for the sweep today. So of course that means Jeiku and I will be taken off gate patrol and see some real action. I can't wait to get my hands on some Konadai. Maybe I'll even be named a hero! Hell yeah!

I wake up early for classes so I don't miss any opportunity to be selected for a raid squad. This time, I'm making sure my academy uniform looks nice. Well, at least as nice as I can make it look.

It's a forty minute walk from my house to Monanie, but it's worth it. Today is a big day for me, I can feel it.

I snatch up my backpack, do one last hair check in the mirror, and head out the door. The streets are full of people heading to work. The sun plays hide and seek with the taller buildings and the wall in the distance. I wonder what it's like working in the taller building close to the wall. I bet those people get to see all the Konadai action every day. That's not fair!

Oh well, soon enough I'll get my own action and I'll finally get to prove I'm not just the "dumb one." Avoiding any more distractions, I march down the street toward the academy. Ronan stands a block ahead of me on the street corner.

"Hey, Ronan!" I call out.

He looks around then notices me.

"Hey!" he calls back.

I jog over to him pass the row of expensive stores with overpriced clothing and playfully slap him on the back.

"What are you doing on this side of town?" I ask. Seriously, he lives almost a two-hour walk from me.

"I was helping my dad create some new axes for me," he says pointing at the weapon store next to us. "These new ones will be heavier yet still easy to swing."

I scratch my head. "Why this early? It's like..." I look down at my phone, "7:53 in the morning."

Ronan shrugs. "Better now than later. C'mon, we'll be late for first class."

Strolling down the sidewalk, I keep imaging Ronan as an axe-wielding lumber jack coming to save the day. As big as he is, I wouldn't want to be the one he tests those axes on.

We walk pass groups of people both human and Okamikiin on their way to start their morning. The air smells like exhaust as cars and buses zoom pass us. Today is going to be a great day.

"What are you so happy about?" Ronan asks breaking into my thoughts.

"Today I'm finally getting off of gate patrol."

He laughs. "Are you sure about that? You've only been in the squad for a few weeks."

"Of course I'm sure. Dante is like the prince of the Eradication Squad. He'll vouch for Jeiku and me."

Ronan laughs harder, stopping in his tracks to take a breath. I frown. If anything, I thought he would be supportive.

"Yeah...okay, Nevin. You'll make a great Konadai killer."

"Whatever."

The both of us continue our trek in silence. I'm not going to let some guy that's not even in the Eradication Squad ruin my confidence, even if he is one of my best friends.

* * *

Monanie Academy is crawling with people. Ronan and I push our way through the crowds to our usual meeting spot by the front gates. Dante and Jeiku are already here sitting on the benches. Looks like we all had the same idea to show up early.