Crystalline Cavern: The Brigaders

Chapter 4

1245 hours    \

Andy

       The others tend to be a little aloof when it comes to the order of the different sectors. I for one make sure that I have knowledge of every event that takes place in Crystalline. I prefer not to ignore things that can eventually affect me negatively. I look behind me to see the flashing café sign. Further along, Minas Ithil stood proudly in the center of the city. The higher-ups that make every decision and control every piece of information that reaches to even the edges of the cavern...now that's a position I wouldn't mind having. We all kept walking towards the academy with Ocean and Rose in front of me, Forest and Violet tailing along. I made aware of my surroundings, even though it's something I've seen about a hundred times. "Ugh Dark, do you have to give off your aura so early in the day? We're just going to class so relax." Rose looked back and glared at me. She started walking backward to face me properly. "So what? I don't really let my guard down that easily."

       "Ugh, you're hopeless. You think someones gonna jump out of nowhere and challenge us or something?" I let out a soft puff of air, the closest thing to laughter I can most likely get, and spoke, "You should learn to not be so laid back when we're off-campus. Just because the academy is close by doesn't mean there won't be some idiot around the corner ready to take you on." She groaned and faced forward again. I laughed a bit on the inside and continued to have my eyes wander around the area, and for a split second, caught the sight of curly hair in front of me before looking ahead to the buildings peering over the next corner and slightly towering over the small city, the gleaming roofs of the main building, and the separation of the beginner to advanced division quadrants. The flag of both the school and Crystalline Cavern waving right on top of two flag poles on either side of the main building. CC has multiple academies but only our school has the NWA flag that bears the crossed blades emblem around the Crystalline star. This place gave me a new home in a way that I'll never forget. We all then stepped past the front gate, underneath an arch that read, "Tuv malto aupenya a vata va Hur Tur.": Found by those without a lack of guidance from Hur Tur. Underneath the quote was, "Founded in 2015".

       This place is for the strong but I prefer to see it as the strong-willed. Sometimes I think I don't deserve this place's kindness.

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Thursday, 8-December-2216

1300 hours    |

Nicole

       Skimming through pages of a textbook, I was in the library reviewing a couple of chapters for science class. The corner I was in was dark, but still bright enough thanks to the UV beam's light coming in from the window to actually see the words I was reading. I often study here since I prefer being alone and a lot of people tend to steer clear from this corner due to the lack of electricity. And also because I'm in it. The next thing I knew, I saw Ocean walking into the library. Oh crap, I completely forgot about our training session today. He approached me with caution. "Hey Rose, are you ready to tra-"

       "Shut the fuck up, I'm studying!" I furiously waved my hand at him, not taking my eyes off the page. I need to do this first before doing anything else. Lucky for him, I'm almost done, he's just gonna have to wait for a minute or two. "But you told me that we would train at one sharp."

       "Yeah yeah just shut up!"

       "But-"

       "You know, the more you interrupt me, the longer I'm gonna take, so just go sit over there and we'll leave in five, Ok?!" Someone shushed me, but I shushed them back as they lowered their head, aware of who they were speaking to. Ocean walked away slowly and sat down at a table while continuing to finish the chapter.