48 Survival Class

It was Monday afternoon and the first years had arrived at the meeting place for their survival class. They were at the wall that separated the Academy grounds from the wilds of the forest. It was the only point where the wall that separated the Academy grounds from the wilds of the forest. It was the only point where the city of Laserath had people living with only one wall between them and the legends.

The students had gathered in the gate house classroom, as a few of them had the week before. This time all of the students were present. Several of them had missed last weeks survival class as the result of their booldening.

A quarky tiny professor entered the room. Many of the students froze when they saw him. He looked like a goblin. His skin was tinged grren his ears were large and pointed out sideways. He was two feet tall. A golden ring hung from his left ear and a chunk was missing from his right.

Jasper reached for his wand and Centra unslung her bow. They weren't the only ones who'd prepped for a fight.

Before Jasper could pull his wand free, Kyrie's hand was on his. Jasper glanced from the goblin to Kyrie in confusion. Why – when had their positions reversed? She had said Jasper would be jumpy after the battle on Saturday. That it would only be natural. Jasper pulled his hand from his ice wand. Attack a goblin. Not yet they hadn't done anything threating.

While Kyrie had stopped Jasper, Liza had stopped Centra. "He's one of our professors," Liza said with a hand on Centra's bow.

The goblin like professor jumped on the a chair, then one of the tables spread about the classroom. "It's all right. I'm sure the drill this weekend had made those of us who haven't been introduced quite jumpy today. I'm professor Hogswell and am in charge of teaching you how to survive beyond the walls of a city."

He paused as he glanced at his marginally more relaxed students. As he did so his gaze landed on Kyrie. He smiled a smile that reviled wicked looking teeth. "Kyrie it's so good to see you aren't amongst the jumpy ones. If you had been, I fear Kondaria Academy would be hiring a new survivalist professor."

Hogswell gave a deep chuckle. And Kyrie smiled as he moved to claim a seat near their professor. Once Kyrie moved the other students followed with wary glances at the two of them. Things had changed. Kyrie had earned a little more trust from saving the city. Just like Null had hoped.

Hogswell whispered, "Thanks." Then spoke to the rest of the class, "I'm sure kyrie here could've taken over my job had that happened."

Kyrie shrugged, "I'm not so sure,, Sir."

Hogswell laughed, "Oh you'd do fine." Hogswell jumped off the table and walked to a cupboard. It was off to the side. He continued to speak as he did, "Now don't get to comfortably, we'll be putting those prior classes of yours to use."

Hogswell opened the cupboard and pulled out a medium sized bag that he held up for his students. "We'll be going outside the walls and gathering safe thangs to eat. I usually save this trip for until after the first test but as Headmaster Raven Clof mentioned there will be more work experience for you to do. As such you'll have to catch on quick and really remember what you've been taught in class." Hogswell lowered the bag as he said, "If you don't you may very well end up dead or worse."

Hogswell paused as he watched some of his more forgetful students shift uncomfortably. Eventually he continued, "Come, grab a bag, than we'll leave."

As the students lined up to get a bag from Professor Hogswell Centra asked her teammates and friends a very pressing question, "How can he be a goblin and teach?"

Before Kyrie or Centra could answer James said, "Because he's half goblin half human."

Centra frowned. How could that work? He'd have to have like a parent that's a human and a parent that's a goblin?

As the others neared their Professor Centra froze. She'd seen an article years ago that she'd thought was just some conspiracy theorist rambling again. But it had talked about experiments. Illegal experiments involving the create of halfers. Half legend half human. There was no way that their Professor could've been… the result of such a thing, right?

DJ turned and looked back at Centra. "Are you coming?" He was holding a bag out to her.

Centra nodded her head numbly and took the bag. It was time for them to venture outside the walls of Laserath once again.