Multiple gazes were locked into her each revealing an eagerness to pierce her. Some were disdainful and most were disinterested. These were her classmates and all of them bore the mark of main and supporting characters. Her unmarked skin would be sure to stand out and even worse, her strange nature towards their world.
'I have to tread carefully.'
"Good morning. I am Riley. Happy to make your acquaintance."
Whispers were exchanged in the room as her classmates' gazes jumped from Xaden and Riley.
"Cadet Riley. Thank you for the introduction but for later references always address yourself as a cadet lest your rank be promoted." The teacher advised
"Yes, sir!"
The teacher instructed her to take her seat and she took one by the window. Xaden also returned to his seat and slouched on his chair. The lesson resumed. It was the Theory of Basic Combat class.
The content seemed somewhat understandable as it had a few connections to some popular web novels she had read.
After the lesson.
"That's all for today. Cadet Riley, please meet me outside."Noise erupted from the class as the teacher walked out. She quickly followed after him.
"Cadet Riley, I am sure you are aware of how much you are lagging so feel free to ask whenever something doesn't make sense."
"I will."
"Also check with class representative Rapunzel for any assignments you have missed and about your squad."
"Yes sir." The teacher nodded and walked off. It wasn't until he had disappearedthat she didn't realise who Rapunzel was. Riley thought checking all the girl'shair would show who she was.
She entered the classroom and found cliques concentrated in different parts of the class. Xaden was already slumped over his desk and sleeping. It was then she saw her. Golden locks that spilt across her back and emerald green eyes that sparkled with the sun with a smile that could beat a thousand suns. She looked like a Rapunzel.
"Ummm…Excuse me?"
"Yes?"
"Are you the class representative?"
"I am."
"Well…I want to inquire about my squad."
Rapunzel raised her brow as she looked at her expressionless. "And who are you?"
Flustered, Riley hurriedly gave her name after apologizing. Rapunzel's face retained its expression throughout the whole apology. No speck of sympathy flashed through her eyes.
"Well…Cadet Riley. You are in my squadron. I will call a meeting at lunch to introduce you to your other colleagues. "
"I understand, Cadet—"
"Refer to me as Squad Leader. At the military, rank is all that matters." Rapunzel turned to return to her seat.
"And Cadet Riley, around here it's a law to introduce yourself first when approaching a stranger. Please do your best to remember that." She walked off.
The next teacher soon walked in and began an onslaught of rigorous learning. By the time lunch rolled around, most of the students had collapsed over their desks.
"That was tough." sighed one girl.
"I know right? I don't think I am ready for training in the afternoon "
"Right! I completely forgot. I pray to the Deity that we are not doing drills."
"You always say that in the end, we do drills. Just give up already."
"Never! One of these days, it will."
Numerous chatter in the room consumed the silence and Riley's thoughts as she couldn't help but be drawn by the topics they conversed.
'Survival, huh?' Last time she had been ignorant and lacking in knowledge which had allowed room for losses. She had vowed never to be weak again and thclass seemed to be the first step.
"Cadet Riley!" A soft voice broke her concentration.
"Squad leader." It was Rapunzel and behind her were two good-looking boys. One had chestnut brown hair that bounced playfully with each step he took which gave a chance to glance at his eyes. The other had blonde hair and violet coloured eyes.
"These are your squadmates." She turned to them and cast them a penetrating glance.
"Call me Flynn." He gave her a cheeky smile. Rapunzel cast him a menacing stare to which he just grinned. The other boy was called Michael.
"You may refer to me as Cadet Riley. A pleasure to meet your acquaintances."
Rapunzel nodded approvingly at her formal tone and glared once again at Flynn. Was it so difficult to follow the decorum set by their forefathers?
"Now with introductions out of the way. We can start planning." she began.
"A bit of an introductory crash course for you. These squads were created to clear missions, grow our strengths and foster community until the year we graduate. Everything we do is attributed to our final rank of the year which also determines whether we fail or we pass. The motto of all squads is One for All and All for One."
Flynn joined the conversation. "Since the school is big on that work together thing. We haven't been on a mission yet so our squad points are non-existent."
"If it continues on this way, …I will…I will…"
"Lose." Micheal helped.
"And our Majesty hates losing."Flynn quipped with a playful smirk.
Rapunzel ignored him and continued. "As such, I will ask for a mission after our lessons are done."
"Wait a minute. Before we move forward with anything, can you fight?" Michael asked.
"Why would she be in our class if she couldn't even pick up a weapon?"
Rapunzel spoke up. "It's possible."
Michael muttered something about being right and turned to Riley. "So what do you say?"
Under the weight of their gazes, she grew flustered.
"Ummm…I… don't know how to fight." Though she had been training with the help of the captain on the way to the capital, she had only been practising basic physical fitness so she wasn't knowledgeable in any weapon.
Rapunzel raised a brow. "Oh? So what can you do?"
"I…I…Umm," Riley nervously glanced around the room.
"How about we take this conversation to the cafeteria? It would be a great way to introduce her to the rest of the school," Flynn cut in, easing the tension.
"Yeah! I am starving " Michael promptly added.
Rapunzel looked at them and sighed."I am a bit peckish…"
They all headed out to the cafeteria and when they arrived, Riley's jaw dropped. The cafeteria was almost an exact copy of what one would see in a typical Hollywood movie but a bit grander.
"This place is huge…" she muttered under her breath
"How else would we all fit?" said Flynn as he stood behind her, startling her a bit.
"…You heard that?"
He pointed to his ears. "I hear everything."
She looked at him with an incredulous expression. " I see."
He simply smiled at her and turned to the others. "How about you go and grab us some trays? Rile and I will save the seats."
They all agreed with the plan and Riley found herself walking to an empty table. She plopped down onto the chair and watched Flynn do the same. She watches him draw out the chair next to him and eagerly wipes off the dust on the chair and table.
"What are you doing?" she asked with a raised brow.
"Wiping the dust off of Raps' chair."
Amused by his answer, she asked him why.
"It's a good deed." he hummed.
"A good deed, huh?"
He shrugged. " It's just a thing I do for people."
She gave him a sceptical look.
He smiled at her scrutiny. "Take you for example"
"Me?"
"You seemed like you needed time to think about what you can contribute to the team."
"Was I that obvious?"
"You were. To me, anyway." he shrugged.
"…"
After thinking for a while, she looked up and smiled."Thank you"
He gave her a toothy grin. "My pleasure."
Contrary to her initial thoughts, the members didn't seem to discriminate against her for her lack of a mark. Knowing what he had done for her, she was touched. She glanced at Michael and Rapunzel who were almost nearing the front of the line and clenched her fists.
'Before they come back, let me prepare my answer!'