Escape - Chapter 26.1
Chapter 26.1
Nineteen. We both applied to the military academy. The result? We tied for first place.
Graduating meant immediate placement as second or first lieutenants in the Royal Guard. We were practically soldiers already, which also meant a needlessly strict atmosphere.
“You’ll be in the field right after graduation! You need to learn the basics, like smoking!”
“Anyone would think you’re teaching us something profound.” Luce, who loved to poke fun, muttered under her breath at the senior’s stern pronouncements. We stood with our hands clasped behind our backs, biting back laughter.
Serpiente hated tobacco, making it the one substance he truly despised. So, for us, frequent explorers of the ‘outside,’ it was a scent we had to get used to.
Just being exposed to the smell or scattering ash was enough to ward off Serpiente, so there was no need to actually smoke. Cigarettes were nothing more than a psychological talisman.
“Especially you.” The senior, who had been pacing back and forth between our two lines, spun around and pointed.
‘Here we go again.’
The girl across from me shot me a look of exasperation, but quickly masked her expression as the senior’s gaze shifted to her.
“Think you’re all that because you’re good at shooting and swordsmanship? Out there, it’s all the same. Being a little better here doesn’t guarantee survival!”
‘The senior a year above us is the biggest boomer.’
Dmitri hadn’t even graduated yet, but he was obsessed with lecturing the underclassmen. He especially seemed to have it out for Adeline. Apparently, she’d crushed him in a sparring class he was retaking, bruising his ego.
“So stop showing off, okay?” He poked Adeline’s head with his index finger. It was more annoying than painful, but she remained impassive.
‘Do not engage.’ Her calm gaze seemed to convey that message.
The problem was…
“Can’t even smoke, tsk.”
“Is that such a big deal?” I couldn’t hold back, even if she could.
The moment I spoke, I felt a wave of shocked stares. Even the impassive eyes across from me flickered with surprise. ‘Are you crazy? Don’t do it,’ Adeline’s eyes pleaded silently.
“With all due respect, you sound like a bad influence pushing cigarettes on a minor.”
A loud snicker erupted from somewhere. Dmitri whipped around, and Luce quickly clapped a hand over his mouth.
“Oh, you got a thing for her?” Dmitri swaggered over and stood right in front of me, looking up. I smirked and retorted,
“Would I dislike her?” My gaze remained fixed on Adeline.
My tone implied, ‘How could I dislike someone so beautiful?’ and a chorus of “Oohs” rippled through the ranks. Adeline’s face began to flush crimson.
“Wow, you guys are so disrespectful. Don’t you know to fear your seniors?”
“The heavens are only as high as they are on Earth, so I’m not sure how high up you are.”
Luce, his hand still clamped over his mouth, looked like he wanted to cry. The situation had taken a comical turn, and Dmitri realized it too.
“Not backing down, huh? Always with the smart remarks! Everyone, down!”
It always ended this way. This pointless boomer act always had the same conclusion.
As I started to bend down, feeling bad for my classmates, Dmitri stopped me with a sinister grin.
“Except you two. You’re exceptional, so you need mental training, not this physical stuff.”
I had a bad feeling. Idiots like him always came up with ideas no sane person could imagine.
“Hey, take them to the sensory deprivation chamber.”
Sure enough, Dmitri’s ridiculous suggestion made even his own classmates flinch.
“The sensory deprivation chamber? Dmitri, they’re freshmen!”
“Doesn’t matter. They’re ‘exceptional,’ aren’t they?”
The sensory deprivation chamber was exactly what it sounded like: a pitch-black room devoid of sound and light. If your flashlight died while exploring the outside, you’d be trapped in complete darkness. The labyrinth was complex, and moving around blindly was dangerous. You could easily get sucked deeper into the maze while waiting for rescue. That’s why sensory deprivation training was part of the curriculum. It was an exercise in experiencing complete abyss, usually reserved for just before graduation.
I casually turned my head and saw Adeline’s slightly pale face. Regret twisted in my gut. I should never have started this.
I couldn’t begin to imagine what complete darkness meant to her, someone who had experienced the Massacre Day hiding in a wardrobe.
