"Is that why you are working with the Dark Millennium, Chieftain Arika?"
"Uh—"
Chieftain Arika’s face froze as soon as Riley’s words passed through her ears. She seed to want to imdiately say sothing back, but the folds on her face remained still as she could only stare at him in disbelief.
It didn’t help at all that Riley was also not saying sothing else to her after his sudden and blatant accusation.
No. It wasn’t even an accusation at all. He was already speaking as if she were actually part of the Dark Millennium. Her eyes slowly strayed away from Riley and landed on Tomoe, and Chieftain Arika did not even need to see behind the girl’s glasses to know that she was probably glaring at her.
Of course, her hands that were already balled into fists were confirmation enough. The old instructor looked at Riley again, staring at his face for a few monts before finally finding the right words to say.
"I’m afraid these old bones do not bend so easy no more to be joining groups now, my child. And too old to switch allegiances now," she whispered, almost chuckling as she waved her hand at Riley,
"I am not the mole you seek, though I understand why your eyes turn to ."
"Oh?"
"I was born in a ti when our—when those with power were hunted like beasts, out of fear... or for sport. If I were to walk into ga Academy today, with my past trailing behind like smoke, I’d be marked as a potential villain before I spoke a word. But listen well, my child..."
The wrinkles around Chieftain Arika’s eyes folded deeper as her eyebrows lowered and knitted,
"My bones may be old, my body may not move like it once did—but the fire I carry for justice burns just the sa. My hatred for those who twist their gifts to hurt others... these villains... it has not dimd with age."
Chieftain Arika took in a long, and very exasperated breath as her old eyes seed to reminisce about her past. And while she was forcing herself into this mory, Riley only tilted his head at her... and shrugged.
"I apologize for insinuating anything, Chieftain Arika," he bowed his head to her, "I was taught by Father the Art of Surprise, and how more often than not, those who are the targets of it would reveal the very thing they are trying to hide without aning to—insinuating that you are working with the Dark Millennium and telling it straight to your face was just that."
"And he taught you well," Chieftain Arika sighed while shaking her head, "I am just afraid that he might have taught you too well, young one. You are very different from your peers, but you are still just a child. I wish he had taught you that, too."
"I know that I am a child, Chieftain Arika," Riley bowed again. "Thank you for your concern."
"Despite your frank nature, you’re very respectful, aren’t you?" Chieftain Arika softly chuckled.
"I was taught to respect everyone by Father and Mother, Chieftain Arika."
"Oh? Usually, the parents of today have the notion that respect should be earned."
"They taught the opposite, Chieftain Arika." Riley shook his head, "That respect is not earned, but rather lost."
"Ha!" Chieftain Arika burst out into a fit of laughter, slapping her thigh as she shook her head, and then also bowed to Riley, "If only the rest of the world would follow. But for now, you and the little miss here need to pack up—we’re going back to the hotel, and then ho to ga Academy."
"We are leaving already, Chieftain Arika?" Riley blinked a couple of tis before he looked around the street, his eyes slightly twitching at all the trash still left behind. "I was under the impression that we still have a trip tomorrow? Tomoe and I have barely filled our bags."
"Be that as it may, it’s ti to go ho. Although Whiteking has confird that these Dark Millennials are already far away, the majority of us have voted to go ho... including Whiteking himself."
Without any choice in the matter, Riley could really only sigh as he and Tomoe returned their tongs and tied up their bags. As for the car that he was carrying in the air, Chieftain Arika told him to just leave it for now, and soone else would co and get it.
The students all checked their things out when they arrived back at the hotel, and then imdiately traveled straight to ga Academy.
The trip took the entire day, and everyone was just asleep the entire way.
Even the one who was supposed to be supervising Riley’s class was fast asleep. Katherine only counted their heads and then fell onto her seat and just fainted there—this was just supposed to be a fairly relaxing and educational trip, and yet a lot of things have happened in a very short amount of ti.
Who wouldn’t be exhausted?
Well... . If Chieftain Arika is not the mole that Father spoke of, then who else could it be? The problem is that I have barely t any other instructors besides those I first t during my interrogation with Bulwark.
"Hmm..."
Could it be—it could not be, right? Is it... Chef Jordan Ramsay? He is incredibly good with the knife, perhaps even better than I am. He also has a personal connection with his students through how friendly he interacts with us.
I have seen him speak with adults, and he was not as kind—he is similar to Sister, if her vocabulary were better. I even overheard him call Mr. Interesting Intestines a ’walking slimy piece of lard, refusing to lt. Slow, greasy, and slled like bacon that has been left to dry out in the sun’. Would a normal person really be capable of saying that to soone twice as big as them, and a super? He might be... oh.
And very soon, Riley also found himself slowly falling asleep. His head slightly flinched on its own, causing Hannah to wake up from the sudden jolt..
She raised an eyebrow at Riley, but then gently pulled his head to rest on her shoulder. She then wrapped her fingers around his, snuggling close to him before once again falling asleep.
Riley blinked a couple of tis as he tried to fight the urge, but as he felt her warmth, any thoughts of resistance faded away from him, and he surrendered to her embrace.
"gawoman’s... warmth is similar to yours, Sister." He whispered to her, "I think you would like her."
"Riley, shut up..." Hannah weakly groaned on instinct, "...and I already like gawoman."
And with those words trailing away, Riley finally let himself sleep.
And luckily, nothing disturbed them. Even as they passed the Danger Zones where the monsters road, not even a single shadow of them could be seen. Perhaps these monsters felt that these students had already gone through enough?
Well, the most logical explanation would probably be that gawoman was flying above them, gliding and making sure that they would safely reach the Academy without any more trouble.
As to why? Well, she’s gawoman.
***
"Aaagh! I can’t feel my legs!"
"Can you not scream like that? Jesus."
Riley and the entire freshman class of ga Academy were finally back on campus, and the very first thing that Gracey did was stretch her limbs and screech like a girl. Well, she was a girl, but no one else but the Baby Crew knew that.
"Alright, everyone. Gather up!" Katherine clapped her hands to get the attention of Class 1-V, "I was told to make an announcent by SMM."
Riley was the first to stand in front of her, and the rest of the class followed while letting out different tones of yawns.
"I know you’re all still a little groggy. I am, too," Katherine said, trying her best not to yawn herself, "But I think so of you will be excited with what I’m about to say."
"So say it already, Senior!"
Katherine glared at Gracey, and Gracey winced and imdiately hid behind Hannah and the others. Katherine then glanced at Riley for a mont, the two looking each other in the eyes before Riley looked away and she focused back on the rest of the students.
"Your dorms are ready."
The students all gasped and looked at each other when they heard that, but Katherine wasn’t done.
"That also ans your laptops are ready."
"For real?!" Bella was the first to react, "I thought we ain’t supposed to be makin’ contacts with our people outside?!"
"Yes—you’re not allowed to do that, and your laptops are restricted from doing just that. But other than that, you could use it however you like. But most importantly, you could also use them to contact your classmates within the Academy while you’re staying here. Trust , it’s very useful."
"I have a question, Katherine."
And unfortunately for Katherine, Riley raised his hand.
"What... is it?"
"Is it the sa laptop that you had in your dormitory room?"
"Uh, yes. That’s exactly it."
"Then the students are free to visit the sa site you had—"
"AH!"
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