The honor students of Dragon Hive raced.
Plum ran.
Her legs burned. Her lungs screamed, teeth clenched, breath ragged.
Ahead of her, Einstera.
Running effortlessly.
Beside Einstera, keeping perfect pace, was Yusuke. Calm. Controlled.
He glanced sideways, smiling just a little.
Einstera caught it.
She flushed instantly and looked away, nearly tripping over her own stride.
Behind them, Roxer surged forward, hammering the ground with every step.
Jaja followed, breathing hard but steady.
Xiu gritted her teeth, refusing to slow.
Plum stumbled.
The whistle blew.
Sharp. Final.
Plum collapsed onto her hands and knees, gasping.
"Haah... haah... damn it..."
Einstera and Xiu rushed over.
"Plum, are you okay?" Einstera asked, crouching.
"Yeah," Plum muttered. "Just, need a second."
Her stomach growled.
Loud.
Xiu chuckled "Somebodies hungry."
Embarrassingly loud.
Einstera blinked. "You're still not eating?"
Plum frowned, pressing a hand to her abdomen.
"I don't know what's wrong. No matter what I eat... my scytherian body just doesn't like it."
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
"Aww," Xiu said softly. "Poor Plum."
Roxer stepped in, arms crossed, grinning.
"If you'd stop playing hard to get and just be my girlfriend, I'd travel the ends of Dragon Hive to find whatever satisfies that belly."
Plum didn't even look up.
"I'll pass Hammerian. I'd rather starve."
Roxer scoffed.
Jaja laughed, clapping Roxer on the back.
"Don't stress it, big bro! She'll come around."
Commander Marza's boots hit the track.
"All right," she said. "Gather up."
They huddled.
"As you all know," Marza continued, "the wall is closing in. In the coming months, you will be prepared for deployment beyond the Iron Wall."
Every face sharpened.
"This race concludes the first portion of your midterm assessment," she said. "Next week, you'll be tested on physical capability. Train hard. Study harder."
Dismissed.
The group dispersed.
Plum lingered.
Her stomach growled again.
"Plum," Marza called.
Plum turned. "Yes, Commander?"
"You've gotten worse since your freshman tests," Marza said evenly. "Last year, you ranked third among the honor students. Something's off."
Plum hesitated.
"I'm just... adjusting to my Scytherian abilities. Two years ago I could eat anything. Now my scythe doesn't absorb anything I consume."
Marza studied her.
"I don't fully understand Scytherian biology," she admitted. "But don't give up."
Plum straightened.
"I won't."
Later, Plum walked home alone.
Dragon Hive felt... peaceful.
Families laughed. Couples walked hand in hand. Children tugged at their parents' sleeves.
Plum watched them quietly.
"...Everyone looks so happy."
Her gaze lingered on a couple pushing a stroller.
"I really want a family," she murmured.
Then, with a dry sigh.
"And to kill half the people on this island."
"Wow," a voice said behind her. "That's incredibly sinister."
Plum jumped.
"YUSUKE! What the hell?! Why would you sneak up on someone like that?!"
He smiled. "Where are you headed?"
"Home," she snapped. "isn't your home in the opposite direction"
"I was going home too," he said. "Then I remembered I wanted to ask you something."
Plum smirked.
"You came back for me? Yeah right."
"Could you tell me what food Einstera likes?"
Plum's eyes widened.
"Ooooh," she teased. "So you've got a thing for my big sister."
Yusuke scratched his head. "Let's... keep this between us."
"She likes fish," Plum said. "Dragon Hive only has catfish, shark, and squid. She prefers catfish."
"Catfish," Yusuke repeated. "Thanks."
Plum "You're welcome, don't hurt her or I'll turn into a skeleton."
Yusuke chuckled putting his hands up in retreat.
They walked in silence for a moment.
"Hey," Plum said. "You ever wonder what's beyond the Iron Wall?"
"Not really," Yusuke replied. "I prefer not to."
"Aren't you scared?" she asked. "They say we're the strongest on the island, but that feels like over hype compared to beyond the iron wall."
Yusuke nodded.
"Most honor students aren't that strong. At least not compared to me and him."
Plum "Men, never humble."
Yusuke "truth doesn't require humility. "
They reached the end of the street.
Yusuke turned left.
"I should go. Thanks again."
"Yeah," Plum said.
As he walked away, she frowned slightly.
"...Him?"
She watched his back disappear.
"...Did he mean Roxer?"
The street grew quiet.
And somewhere far away, something beyond the wall stirred.