Chapter 118

The inspiration you seek

Is already inside you

Be silent and listen

-Rumi

Three days before departure

I am in the cafeteria reading up on the beasts again. I found some books on them in the pagoda. I picked the oldest one. It has a leather back with bumps on it. It is a dark orange.

‘Blood attracts them.’ It makes them go crazy if they get even a whiff of their scent. So, humans are blood suċkɨnġ mosquitoes. I never thought a statement could be so true until now.

The words on the page are written in a chaotic fashion. The calligraphy seems rushed, you can imagine the uneasiness the writer must have felt. Why? I do not know.

‘The highest-ranking beasts have wings. They are a striking yellow, however they look frail. They use the wings to deliver deadly blows. They are not used for flight. Depending upon the flapping style of the wings, you will know which type of attack they are aiming four. If they flap their wings sideways a vertical air strike can slice you in half if you are a level 3 cultivator or lower. If the beasts flap their wings up and down then a crack in the earth will form all the way to their target, and they will fall through and be crushed to death as the earth closes. If they flap their right wing once, it will feel as if a boulder fell onto your shoulders. You’ll cringe as your bones snap and break under the pressure.’

If you have a strong enough mental energy or a powerful sword and protective shield. Then you can withstand these blows with less serious injuries. All you need is-

The pages afterwards are torn out. Ugh! Looks like I may need to rely on the Akuma tribe for that bit of information.

‘The life cycle of the beasts consists of three stages. Emerge-infant form. This is their weak state. They have no sense of awareness and rely on.’

I massage my temple with my hands then take a sip of spring water provided by the café. It is said to have special healing and calming effects on the mind. Just what I need.

After drinking some water my stomach grumbles. I look at the line for lunch. ‘Hmm, not bad. There are only a few people. Perfect.’

I get up from my table, albeit reluctantly and stand on the short line. There are four people ahead of me. I look up at the menu in front of me browsing through the various food options. “I don’t know what I want to order?” I mumble exasperatedly. My stomach grumbles loudly on the line and a boy in front of me turned around with a questioning look. My cheeks burn furiously in embarrassment and give him a confused, innocent gaze back. As if that horrid noise had not come from me.

I am going to order the egg drop soup, I have not had that in a while. There is a restaurant in my kingdom, ‘’Wǔ Zhǎo Lóng,” it’s famous for their soups, and my favorite was their egg drop soup. I wonder if the one here at the academy is just as good.

Slowly but surely the line got shorter until finally it is my turn. The server is a nice middle-aged woman. Her strawberry blonde hair is tied back in a neat bun with a black hair net securing the loose strands in place. Her bright blue eyes emit a warm light, she gives off a homely feeling and I find myself smiling kindly right back at her.

“Hello, what can I get for you today young miss?” She chirps.

Not even hesitating I reply, “One egg drop soup, please.”

Her eyes wide a fraction. “You’re the first person to say that to me all day.”

She laughs aloud at my comment. “Ha-ha, No, not that. ‘Please,’ I rarely hear you students behave so mannerly with the help.”

“Hmm, I guess I’m special then.” I say in a what-of-it tone.

“Aah, that you are.” The way she pronounced it at the end was strange, and I look at her skeptically. However, her posture gives nothing away, and her aura is a bright yellow.

“By the way, what’s your name?”

In a proud voice I puff up my ċhėst as I tell her my name. “Melia Vint Leigh Montecristo, mam.”

“Oh wow, that’s a big name to live up to, princess of the Kristonian Empire.” I blush at her words, looking down at my feet.

She hands me my plate of food and bids me goodbye. “See you later, princess.” I wave my hand back at her. In my mind I think, ‘if only that were true.’

Strolling to my table a male student practically rams himself into me. It was like running into a brick wall, with steel implants. Steadying my plate, I press against my head with my left hand. “Hi, can you watch where you’re going next time.”

Why should I apologize, he ran into me not the other way around? I must look up at the guy. He is taller than me. By a whole foot. He may even be an inch taller than Sebastian.

He does not answer me. He has messy auburn hair, and black frames perched on his nose. He is like a feral wild animal on the run from poachers.

He stands there for a while before bolting out of the cafeteria. My eyes trail behind him; unintentionally I take a glimpse at his aura and my heart pounds through my ribcage, skipping a beat every few seconds.

That student’s aura is jet black. He is doing an excellent job at covering it up, but the bloodlust oozing out of his pores is practically calling my name.

I have a sinking feeling in my ċhėst, as those same words echo inside my mind once more.. “There are more of us.”