The next morning I drag my feet to the courtyard, wincing with every step, fearing Dodobi would just appear. We hadn't received a punishment last night, just a scolding and threats. Mr.Sinh hadn't told anyone because he didn't want to wake anyone, but nothing's stopping him now.

Hana walks beside me, not saying a word, but staring at me confused every now and then. We left our dorm room together and are making our way to the courtyard.

Classes have been canceled today since we have our first trial.

Me and Hana stand by the pillars in the back, not attempting to look for seats in the already packed courtyard, and through the crowd, I can see Cedrick standing with Danial on the other side. Cedrick sends me a warm smile as I wave at him, and my eyes travel to Danial. He looks about as good as I feel.

We were both up late and hadn't gotten proper rest.

We hold eye contact for a while, and while I was expecting him to ignore me, he nods his head in my acknowledgement. It was a small nod, barely noticeable, so not a big deal— except that this was coming from Daniel. So it was a big deal.

I guess getting in trouble with someone makes you not hate them too much.

I try not to let my surprise show, but I can see the shock on Cedrick's face and feel Hands stare as I try not to look at either of them.

Dodobi enters, and I purposely look at his feet, wanting to avoid last night for as long as possible.

He eventually begins to speak and goes through rules and regulations over how these would work. I blocked him out as I looked over the courtyard and took in the diversity of students here.

Everyone was so different from each other. Different ethnicities, styles, and attitudes. I find it cool how everyone here was connected through the idea of the Parax world. We were all different. But in a way that was the same.

I sigh. Despite this, people are still bent on hating each other and holding superficial grudges. But I guess it's no different from any other group on Earth. It was sad if not anything else.

By the end of his speech, I look up as he was walking and flinched at his look of disappointment.

He came up to me and quietly says, "You are to come to my office after today", and leaves.

I watch him leave as I sink deeper in confusion. Why does his disappointment bother me so much?

I shrugged off my feelings as I followed Hana. We went to stand with the guys, and Cedrick went off to check our playing time.

I close my eyes and try to relax my muscles, trying futile to give me the energy that I wished I had.

I open my eyes as Cedrick walks back saying, "We're playing Game Two".

Hana speaks up after quietly observing, "Where were you last night Olivia? You came back late".

Momentarily put off, I didn't expect her to notice, I just shrug and say, "I was in the library and lost track of time".

Hana staves at me, not believing, and I hold eye contact with her. I heard somewhere that people are more likely to believe something if there's no wavering in eye contact. Or maybe it was that people know you are lying when you purposely hold eye contact.

"For that matter," Cedrick says turning to Danial, "You weren't in the dorm at all last night, where were you?"

Danial's shrug was more convincing than mine as he says. "I was out. Forgot time. Slept in the lounge". He kept it short, and Cedrick looked like he had something to say but left it.

Hana looks back and forth between me and Danial suspiciously, and eventually grabs Danial's arm and attempts to lead him away.

"Running away already Jacker?" Georgia says, walking up with Yolene.

Hana and Danial share a look and I realize with a jolt that they don't like her. I whisper to Cedrick, "I thought all Linopia liked other Linopia, and all Ghostilios liked Ghostilios."

He gave me a look. "That's like saying all humans need to like other humans. It should be like that, but it's not".

I smiled sheepishly, getting my answer, as I turned back to face the glaring Linopia.

"Running away does sound like a nice idea, especially if it means getting away from you," Hana says innocently, tilting her head.

Georgia's smile never falters, and she takes in me and Cedrick on the side. "Good luck then hun. You'll need it" she turns to go and says over her shoulder. "You're against us. Don't be late".

☆☆☆

We stood on the sides watching the teams for Game One compete.

We could see their uncertainty and fear.

We could hear their screams.

But we couldn't see what caused it

Game One consisted of VR— virtual reality— and besides the contestants, and presumably game coordinators, no one else was aware of what they

were going through.

There was a total of five teams competing right now, and none of them looked to be winning.

"There's a possibility we won't have to do anything, right?" I whisper to Cedrick as we watch someone fall to their knee and shriek. At his confusion, I say "I mean, there are only five teams on there and so many students. We can't get through everyone today, so maybe we can go tomorrow"

Cedrick shakes his head. "No, there's about ten of these stations set across the school with the games happening. Everyone will finish. You gotta give them more credit than that Olivia".

I slump at his response.

All at once, the VR shuts off and all the players breathe a huge sigh of relief, some even throwing their glasses off and cursing at them.

Someone walks to where they are and turns to face the crowd, "For Game One, there was no winner. None of the teams got to the end." The crowd lets out a deafening 'boo' and the players look deadly mad.

He moves to stand in front of a team— everyone had moved to stand in their groups— and says, "As for points, this team received 10!".

The team he was addressing now looked happy. They hugged and high-fived each other, and then abruptly pulled back as if just realizing they weren't the same type.

I felt a knowing grin tugging at my lips. Maybe the group thing does help fix the bridge between the types. To some extent.

The man continues to tell the points of the other four teams. Team One received the highest score with ten points, and the other teams received varying numbers below that. A fifteen minuter break was instructed before Game Two. That's us.

"Who's that?" I ask no one in particular as I watch the man move through people, walking with the authority of someone higher up than the rest of us.

Cedrick cranes his neck to see but misses him, and shrugs. Hana had outright ignored me.

Danial, I had no doubt he would not respond, but as he began to talk, I was left proven wrong.

"That's Professor Salvador," he says, looking at me. "He teaches Noc Rolt".

So he's the mystery teacher who hasn't shown up to class once. Usually, you wait for students to come to class. I guess here it's the other way around.

Hana seems weirdly mad at his response and looks as if ready to kill. She glares at me, and then storms off.

Danial sighs and walks off after her.

I roll my eyes at her and turn to Cedrick as we both laugh at their behavior.

Me and Cedrick stalk off to the food table and wait for our time to come.

We were talking and laughing with the other Ghostilios that we met at the food table, trading stories about our Linopia counterparts.

I was laughing so hard my milk came out of my nose and I turned to see Cedrick looking at me. He smiled. I tried to clean myself into not looking like a blob.

Cedrick leans over and whispers in my ear. "What was the thing with you and Danial?"

I somber up and ask, "What do you mean?"

His eyes held questions as he said, "Today he talked to you— he never talks to Ghostlios. I should know, I live with him. Hell, he never even talks to Linopias. I was thinking he just couldn't talk, but then he did, and to you— why?"

Before my scattered brain could think of a response, Salvador's voice blasts across saying, "Game Two is starting now. Players please to the courtyard. Spectators to the bleachers".

I shrug at Cedrick and say, "I'll tell you later", before turning around and saying a quick thanks to Salvador.

It was already enough that one student knew of my quest to find the book, I don't need more people finding out. No matter how well-intentioned they seem.

I was only lucky Danial never asked why I wanted it. Then again, I never asked why he wanted it.

I felt myself hardening at that realization.

What are you after Danial?

And will it get in the way of what I'm after?