Chapter 028. “Between the two of us…he’s actually the boss.”

“What is happening?!” Somebody shouted somewhere amidst the chaos and pushing bodies.

“Did anyone saw the leviath? It’s a leviath, right?! Oh goddess Jemima, did the barrier fall down? How the fuck is humanity gonna live?!” Yael exclaimed, wheezing slightly because of the adrenaline putting his body in an overdrive.

“Let’s talk later. Come on, keep your breathing steady and don’t loose sight of each other.” Miroh urged them. He was like a dependable rock amidst the trembling interior and stampede.

They followed the flow of people and pushed through everyone until they arrived at the edge of two pathways toward either the second and third building.

While running, Hika suddenly recalled a unique detail he thought in a passing before. “Let’s, let’s go here! I know a place where I think we’ll be safe.” Hika piped up, stopping everyone in their track.

Thankfully, the hallway had thinned out as most had chosen to run to the open field. If this was indeed an examination, most of them would have already failed.

Being out in the open like that with an unclear knowledge of the enemy is like branding yourself for slaughter.

“Why? That’s the direction to the second building. There are only classrooms and training facilities right there.” Yael asked frantically.

“There’s an annex library in the second building with no windows. No windows mean that the library is located within the building and not near the exterior rooms of the building,” Hika explained patiently, “we can wait this out over there until the soldiers can contain the situation.”

“That’s really smart. I agree. We must find a safe place to hide rather than running and tiring ourselves out.” Dotr agreed immediately.

It looks like exhaustion has finally caught up to them after the initial panic begin to simmer.

Everybody agreed with Hika’s suggestion and fumbled to the second building. From here, they could clearly see the huge form of six leviaths, letting off territorial shrieks from a specific direction. Its skin continuously emit a flow of hot steam because of the artillery canons stationed at the top of the building.

The sight caused them to freeze and unconsciously take a sharp breath. It’s huge difference to be vaguely aware of the danger all your life and seeing the very same thing in front of you as your reality.

“I think I’m gonna vomit.” Yael muttered weakly. He didn’t expect to see a live leviath this earlier. It’s appearance looks even more terrifying than the stories from his father’s knight friends.

Satty dropped down on the floor, squeezing a clump of hair in both hands with tears gathering in her eyes. “I’d rather get run over by a fat leviath in the exam that in the real world!”

Neil walked over a corner in the hallway to steady his trembling legs. “They can’t expect us to fend for ourselves right? I barely got to practice using a sword in my hometown.” Neil muttered to himself.

Ayla’s breathing gradually stabilized while spending the rest of the time peering outside in mild interest. It was definitely the worst kind of luck for an accident like this to happen today.

However, she wasn’t that worried to personally do something about it yet.

Everyone become preoccupied with their own thoughts at the uncertainty of the moment when uniformed footsteps gradually become closer to them.

“Oh? Students, what are you doing over here?”

They slowly turned around to see four large knights bearing the red and gold motif. They were knights from Red Autumn blaze.

“We were planning on hiding at the annex library until the leviath is contained.” Miroh was the who answered for the group.

The knight who approach them first nodded his head in agreement. “That’s a good idea. Finding an enclosed space is the first thing you must instinctively search for as a knight outside.”

The knight looked at their varied expressions in amusement. “It seems like some of you are shaken by what happened.” He then let out a sigh, “it can’t be helped, and its really our fault to expose you this early on leviaths without proper training.”

‘It does seem like the chaos isn’t that concerning for these knights,’ that impression made most of them relax their shoulders.

“Excuse me, sir, I want to ask about the situation outside? Can the knights solve the problem in time before the exam?” Hika asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry, students. The knights are doing their best to take care of the leviath with what they have. You will be inform about your exams soon.” The knight’s words was very proper at the surface. However, three people raised an eyebrow at a tiny interesting detail in his statement.

The friendly knights soon left but not without putting two knights to escort them to the library safely as a way to appease Satty and Yael that kept on crying, not wanting to part ways from the capable knights with weapons that can protect them.

“Pola, are you okay?” Haedi whispered to her in concern. Nobody noticed Pola’s abnormal amount of sweat as Haedi anxiously guide Pola to a table at the corner of the library.

“I’m fine.” Pola gritted her teeth.

“This is the most secured area for the students so far. We will go and rescue other students outside. Please stay indoors until then.” The two knights stated without any change in their tone and walked out swiftly.

They waited until their loud footstep vanished before they all exhaled in unison.

Satty collapse on a chair loudly, staring at the ceiling blankly. Others also sat at different places at random. Everyone’s faces were haggard as if they just undergo a rigorous training.

“Should we be flattered they were already calling us students?” Neil tried to lighten the tense room with a joke—only to be met by dull stares.

“What will that do? Who knows what will happen to this academy after?” Yael sneered, leaning back on his seat while propping his feet up on the table.

“The public will curse the military for a long time since they let a leviath run loose inside the barrier.” Dotr remarked. There was a deep frown on his forehead when he spoke.

Ayla noticed all the newbies’ expression drooped down after listening to Dotr’s words. Dotr’s words was definitely closer to the truth, however…something like this to happen on her batch left a bad taste on her tongue

‘we can’t really let that happen, can’t we?’

She then let her eyes wander at the ornate ceiling, tapping her finger on her other arm thoughtfully.

As if firming her resolve, she put her arms down and passed by Miroh and Hika, tugging their sleeves from behind discreetly before walking steadily to a secluded corner.

“What’s going on?” Hika asked in confusion once they gathered at the corner. From right here, they can barely hear others still chatting emotionally.

Ayla finally voiced out the thought that lingers on her mind for awhile now. “This is really strange… how come nobody has slayed the leviath yet?”

“What do you mean?” Hika straighten his back at Ayla’s words.

“Those leviaths might have a scary appearance, but it’s actually not that difficult to kill for any knight’s skill. It’s very strong and has a hard exoskeleton, but it’s one of slowest leviaths out there so slashing them in the nape is easy.” Miroh was the one who explained to Hika.

This is one of the few things every knight was forced to memorize in Black Winter moon from the start. Of course, Ayla didn’t go to these classes and was taught by Vega instead.

“You think…the leviath was released for a reason?” Hika visibly paled after quickly understanding Miroh’s underlying meaning.

Ayla was about to fix her hair habitually but realized it was shorter now and meekly put her hand down. “That’s…something I can’t say. But dealing with the leviaths in this roundabout way is suspicious.”

‘There must some kind of scheme going on from the higher up.’

Ayla wanted to add but was afraid to speak up carelessly in front of a newborn foal. However, Miroh didn’t have the same sentiment and blurted it out.

“I think the aptitude exam will happen outside the immersion outfield this time.”

“No, that’s crazy. More people will die.” Hika didn’t even want to say it louder for fear of jinxing it. Hika carefully glanced at Ayla to gauge her reaction.

Meeting most of time these past few days was enough to built a sort of reliance with one another.

However, Ayla’s eyes looking at Miroh were wide and urgent as if to scream ‘are out of your mind?’.

Miroh’s mouth pursed and quickly avoided Ayla’s glower fearfully. He then began explaining for Hika as if to make up for his behavior.

“Most of the deaths during the aptitude exam was because people are generally inexperienced to face a leviath. But the exam only require people to survive at any means in an environment close to every expedition for 6 hours. Most of the people that passed didn’t actually met a leviath throughout the exam.”

The deaths weren’t that terrible like the public thinks as most bad rumors were definitely spread by anti-military groups. Still it didn’t change the fact that the aptitude exam is a literal hell for anyone new.

“And so, the people that died just got the worst luck to encounter a leviath.” Hika interjected glumly.

Miroh nodded. He too didn’t encounter a leviath until he was knighted in Black Winter moon.

“Knowing when to pick a fight and immense grit are also an important characteristic of any knight.” That’s what Miroh learned after completing a handful of expeditions. And the predecessors who planned the aptitude exam would probably agree too.

“Something’s definitely going on, but the most important issue is how to respond to this sick arrangement ourselves.” Ayla unconsciously bit her lips as a stress habit, frowning at the disgusting metallic taste.

“You don’t think…” Hika trailed off.

“Yes.” Ayla nodded, staring in pity at Hika’s ashen face. Unfortunately, his deduction is correct once again. “I say those bastards are waiting for any of us to kill the leviath on our own.”

“But don’t you think the higher ups would have thought about the consequence by doing something crazy?”

“Yeah. I also thought about…but no matter,” Ayla stated dismissively, “we have to round up everyone and ask for their opinion.”

“Huh? Are you gonna kill the leviaths outside?” Hika jumped in surprise, looking between the two frantically.

Ayla tilted her head. “Yeah. That’s the reason why I called you both here.” She stated matter of factly then stalked to the direction where others are without any hesitation.

Hika glanced at Miroh, flinching abruptly when his eyes made contact with Miroh’s bright emerald eyes.

Miroh smiled thinly, scratching the back of his ears. He didn’t even batted an eye or peeped a single reaction at Ayla’s ‘my way’ business.

It’s better if he just follow the beat of the piper to not get skewered by an ice pick in the future.

“Between the two of us…she’s actually the boss.”