Chap #20: Voluntary Separation

"What do you say? This is all for student safety." Nawatt turned to Keneric.

Everyone in the room fell silent, waiting for his decision. And his decision did come—just not the one they were expecting.

"No."

Yes, just a simple and clear no.

Professor Nawatt's smile vanished instantly. "Excuse me?" he said sharply.

"I said no," Keneric repeated, his face stoic. He was losing bits and pieces of his emotions as the day wore on, and staying calm and firm had become his default setting.

The room eyed him in silence. As if to elaborate, Keneric added, "I haven't done anything wrong. Nor am I sick. I just got here, and I'm no threat."

Keneric stood close to the three girls—Mellia, Joy, and Rune—so the professor stepped closer, his expression hardening once more.

"Young man, this isn't a democracy. This is survival. You either follow the rules and submit to the system that keeps us alive like the rest of us, or get out." He opened his arms, gesturing broadly. "We don't need a rebel here."

Keneric crossed his arms. "And what exactly is the security threat I pose? You know what—just leave it. I don't care anymore. I'm leaving."

Nawatt's expression lit up as he gestured toward the door.

But Joy quickly jumped in, seeing the situation spiral out of control. "Professor, please. We've been traveling for days now and we're exhausted. Can't we just compromise—"

"This is nonnegotiable," Nawatt was quick to cut her off.

He looked at Keneric, who was already walking toward the exit, putting distance between himself and the others. The crowd gasped. No one who came to the shelter had ever been foolish enough to leave the safety of the barricades.

"Ken!" Joy screamed, chasing after him. "You can't be serious!"

When she got no response, she turned around and shouted, "Fine! I'll leave too. If Ken goes, then I go too!"

The professor raised his hand and brushed his nose. "Don't be hasty, Miss Joy. You've just arrived. There's safety here, food, and community. But out there…" he gestured toward the end of barricaded doors, "...is only death."

But Joy wasn't convinced.

Now, all eyes turned to the third member of the group—Rune. She stood frozen, her gaze darting between her friends and the safety of the Arts Campus stronghold. She was just about to speak, "I'll just—"

"You should stay," Keneric said, nodding.

Then he turned to Joy. "And you should stay too."

Joy, who had been nodding in agreement, turned to face Keneric in animosity. She hadn't agreed to that.

Keneric leaned in close, bringing his mouth to her ear. He whispered something.

They stood in the middle of the first floor while everyone else remained spread out, unable to hear the hushed exchange that lasted a full twenty seconds.

Soon, Joy's expression shifted—from defiance to a calculated calm. She walked over to Rune.

"I've reconsidered," she announced. "I'll stay. Ken is right—it would be foolish to leave now."

Professor Nawatt smiled. "What an excellent decision."

Rune smiled too, relieved.

Whether Joy stayed or left, Rune hadn't wanted to make the decision alone. But now that burden has been lifted. It was clear. She was no longer the same girl who had taken the scavenging assignment on the first day just because it gave the maximum reward quickly.

Back then, she thought that after completion she could rest for a month or two and wait for rescue. But now, having seen what it was really like out there, she preferred staying inside—doing the laborious tasks—rather than risking her life outside like the others.

As these thoughts finished forming in her head, she gave one last look at Keneric's figure standing at the edge of the barricade before he stepped out.

"Well, that was dramatic," Nawatt said, clapping his hands. "Melissa, please continue showing the newcomers around and help them find accommodations."

Then the professor turned to another female member. "Check with the cooking staff—we've got two more mouths to feed. Plus the three that came in earlier."

He walked away briskly.

The crowd dispersed quickly. Melissa wrapped up her explanations and said, "It's nice to have more girls here. We don't belong out there fighting those ugly horrors."

"Thank you for everything," Joy said quickly. "I wasn't thinking clearly before."

"Quite all right, my dear. You'll find we have much to offer here." With that, Melissa gave her goodbyes and walked off, as busy as a squirrel.

Now only Joy and Rune were left alone on the first floor.

"Let me show you my room," Rune said excitedly. She knew Joy and Keneric were close and wanted to distract her from the separation. "It's in the corner classroom on the third floor. A bit smaller than the others, but you'll love the design."