"Why the hell are we studying English for" I grunted loudly as our second lecture was over.

We were given our timetable in the morning.

"Communication is important, child," said professor Jaden Citos coming from behind.

"Oh yeah definitely sir" Nyx reacted immediately 

"Next class is of close combat" Nyx was checking the timetable in the thin tablet.

"Yeah I think it's on the third floor," I said

"And we have it doubles with roll number 251 to 281," Nyx said as we were walked toward the stairs.

Students were not allowed to use elevators or lifts. 'so that we will have strong legs' was the lame excuse given by our teachers.

Most of the students were super excited about the class. I think everybody loves fighting. 

We entered the third floor.

Our excitement died immediately and was buried 9 feet under the floor.

Standing in the middle of the room was none other than Mr Strane. "So he will teach us," I said with visible stress on my face.

The room was big and well lit. Most of it was covered in gym mats. The rest was filled with equipment of all sorts. In one corner was a small area with a poll and something like a net was clung to it in the front.

"Good morning Professor" all of us 30 students cried.*

"Make a semi-circle and stand" Professor Strane completely ignored us "Students from class 1-i will be joining us"

I looked around children were checking their timetables. The screen of their devices glowed brightly.

Thursday-  

1st- Biology, flora (survival) with class 1-A 

2nd- Communication

3rd- Close combat with class 1-i

The door opened with a hiss and students flowed in, followed by a beautiful lady which I identified as the teacher who escorted the students. Her name was Something 'bello'.

She was just a little bit taller than me. Her complexion was somewhat pale. She was really pretty and her body looked quite sturdy. She was wearing the same black jumpsuit as my father's.

She walked and stood beside Mr Strane. For the first time, I saw a glimmer of a smile on Mr Strane's face or I think I just imagined it.

The students from 1-i assembled themselves around the teacher now forming a full circle. 

"Today we are not going to teach you anything but going to see what you already can do," the lady professor said in a cheerful voice.

"But professor Bellona what if we don't know anything," said a tall boy from my class. 

Oh yeah, I remember her name now.

"Instincts boy we are going to see your natural instincts. What you can do when you are panicking or when are attacked from a short distance." Professor Strane explained.

"You are going to fight each other" Miss Bellona said cheerfully. 

Some of the boys looked very confident, while most wore an expression of misery. I had a neutral feeling as none of us knew what will be coming now.

"This is not a test, But try to do your best," Miss Bellona continued 

 "Roll no. 18 go to the cupboard and bring box no.00" She pointed towards the cupboards that were near the entrance.

The tall boy who asked the question earlier went and bought a shining metallic box, a number 00 was engraved on top of it. He placed it near the teachers. The box opened automatically without any sound. It had multiple bundles of red and silver colour.

"Each one of you will have these" she grabbed a bunch of circular discs "This will be attached to the back of your uniform" she paused and looked at us as if enjoying herself "Your main target; is to fight your opponent down, if this touches the ground your body will freeze and you will be out of the game" she threw one of the discs at me and I caught it.

"Remember this is a game, You can just knock out one person and hide till the end of the hour. You will be considered a winner." Professor Strane finished.

XXX

I was breathing heavily as I had just pinned down a boy from my class his body was frozen and he laid still on the floor. The game was started 30 minutes ago. We were also given a pair of glasses. Unlike the V.R headset, they were thin as they were based on Augmented Reality or A.R for short. 

As I wore the specs, the world changed around me. Trees of different colours so surreal appeared out of nowhere. I knew that I was in the jungle gym for the scene appeared impossible not to believe. That's when somebody pushed me hard on the floor, but I reacted immediately and got to my feet. 

I recognised the boy from my class. His name was Ronnie. He was almost as tall as me. He was smiling. I smiled back and punched him in the gut. I think he didn't know anything related to self-defence because he didn't do anything to counter my attack. I got hold of his leg and pulled. He felled hard on the floor.

I moved forward. Thinking of a strategy  I climbed a monkey bar and sat on it which appeared to be a dark oak tree. 

"How many are still left? Kiwi" I asked

"23 out of sixty" my A. I responded

"23! and its just 30 minutes" I  exclaimed

Kiwi didn't respond back so I just sat there in silence waiting for something to happen or the game to end. I felt a cool breeze on my face, probably it came from the A.C ducts. I looked at the view. The A.R specs made the view breathtaking. It was like I was back in the restricted areas of Castalia. I felt another breeze on my neck.

"So you're sitting here," said Nyx

"Whaat?" I got frightened and fell off the monkey bar.

 Come on anybody who is human enough will be scared if your best friend comes and blows air on your neck without you knowing it and you are sitting on a tree.

I was flat on my face. Though I was not hurt that much. I think the uniform protected.

"Sorry but I'll have to do it" Nyx was Climbing down the virtual tree "But a game is a game"

He came and started to push me from one side and I understood what he was doing. He was trying to knock me down.

"Hey I am your best friend you idiot," I said and tried not to turn over.

"And you are also the son of the president of E.A.R.T.H. the teachers have clearly said to do our best" he panted "So try your best and defend yourself against me"Nyx laughed a little and stood aside "Let us  have a fair fight; man"

I stood up and faced him. We were 4 feet apart. He looked into my eyes and I nodded. He placed the first punch on my neck, I acted immediately and caught his fist. I jabbed my right fist on his ribs. He winced and caught my right hand. 

I hit him hard with my knee. I pushed him when he was recovering. He moved backwards and did some awkward moves to regain balance. He stood and was clutching a metal bar that was hanging from the ceiling and looked like a vine. 

" I almost got you" I smiled.

"Yeah almo-s" he couldn't complete his sentence when a girl appeared out of nowhere and knocked him over.

"wait-" I said but now Nyx was lying on the floor frozen. 

"Hey that was cheating," he said. It appeared that the device only froze your locomotor abilities, but you could still talk.

The girl was standing between me and Nyx. She had a golden-dusky complexion, blond hair which was tied in a bun. She was beautiful but I was angry as she attacked Nyx from behind.

"You have done a mistake by doing that" I growled.

"You think so" she smiled and I noticed that she had a small scar on her lower lip, making her more pretty. I ignored that and surged forward. I tried the simple move, hold her and then using my leg to make her fall.

Guess what, that was my biggest mistake. It looked like she was a master in judo. She placed her hand on my chest, held my right elbow and flipped me over her head. She did it so fast that I was lying on the ground in just 3 seconds. I was lying on the ground on my left side.

"Time over" this icon blipped on my screen and the A.R glasses were turned off immediately. 

"Here," the girl gave me her hand. I took her hand and stood up I was feeling embarrassed after being put to the ground so easily. 

"Thank you," I said. Nyx was standing up slowly behind us. So the freezing was for just the game. I helped him. 

"Those were some nice moves," he said to the girl. I noticed other kids stirring up.

"Thank you," she said cheerfully.

"But you cheated to defeat me," said Nyx like a small child.

"It was your fault that you were not standing properly" she replied.

"Actually we were-" I was saying when Miss Bellona and Mr Strane came from behind.

"Congratulations to you two," they said in unison 

"You two stayed standing till the end" Miss Bellona said but Mr Strane eyed me. He had the reason though as I was almost out.

"You too boy; you did great," she said to Nyx, "You knocked out 25 kids in just 30 minutes of the game"

"Thank you, Ma'am," he said looking embarrassed.

The kids had assembled themselves around us again in a circle. 

"Though today's winner is Helcy," she said smiling gently toward the girl "She knocked out 19 kids and was one of the last standing"

"We have seen your abilities; what you all can do and what not. You will be trained to self-defence from the next class according to it" Mr Strane said writing something in his tablet.

xxx 

We walked out of the class. many kids had performed well.  Most had knocked at least two kids. I was just considered good as I lasted till the end.

Most of the day passed in a blur. I called Mom at night and told her all about my day. She was smiling in the hologram. I wished her a good night and went to my bed.

I climbed into my small room and the walls blacked out. I asked kiwi to play some soothing tunes and the whole room turned into a stereo.

The atmosphere became so peaceful that I didn't even realise that I have fallen asleep.

End of chapter 9

heyyyy------ 

ahh, writer's block you know. Took me so long to put me this chapter. Btw comment your favourite book that you want everyone to read.

world book day is coming on 23- just a remainder.

this was somewhat longer than usual almost 1700 words. But this chapter deserved it- to build up the plot. 

Wish me all the best so that I can fight the writer's block whenever it returns.

Love ya all, peace.