THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: THE EXCERSIZE BEGINS

The gate from the fourth-year pentagon groaned heavily and opened slowly. The students of Galka War Academy and Konate Wild Academy stood in full combat gear and daggers packed in their front pockets and side pockets of their suits. It was the only weapon they were allowed to carry, with the addition of the trip rope for Konate and climbing ropes for Galka War Academy, which were tied at both wrists with small hooks on the ends. The environment was tense. The space beyond the gate was dark with no flicker of light. The outer nonagon district looked endless with different kinds of landscapes. A wild wolf howled in the distance, and everyone shifted uncomfortably on their feet. The outer nonagon district was a whole district with all types of lives and creatures, land landscapes, one that would take a person weeks to finish. Even wild animals resided there. If one tried to escape from Galka War Academy or break into it, they would be lucky if their instructors found them first and not the beasts who were hungry for flesh. It was a whole echo system out there. Just like the Galka war Academy logo with a lion, real lions roamed in the outer pentagon. just like any forest, there were places which were safe and some where it was suicide to go.

In the exercise that followed, they had been briefed on what places not to trespass and not go so deep into the outer nonagon district for their own safety. The exercise was important for them to put their night awareness to work, but not at the cost of their lives. The 500 cadets stood back, rigid, waiting for the instructions and the word to start. It was 8, and the exercise was to run till morning, then they would start on another exercise, which would run till midday, then they would sleep again and wake up at night to start another exercise. It is as if the exercise was meant to take them out of their comfort zone and turn their daily normal schedule upside down.

The two schools had not gotten acquainted well. They had only managed to make contact during lunchtime. The clans of the west were prideful, and their pride met with the majority northern tribe cadets in Galka War Academy. Among the many tribes in the west, including the Teshini tribe. Most of the students who went to Konate are from the lower west tribes of the west and lower central plains. The Rastumo tribe, who throw spears in the hunt with incredible accuracy. The Bashu tribe, whose ancestors were known as path hunters known for tracking nectar birds. The Zam’Fere tribe, who are forest night hunters who use glowing ink markings. The Kwelendu tribe, who are double-edged-knife hunters famous for quick kills. The Jandamaru tribe, who are hunters who run prey down over long distances. The Lofekeni tribe, who are frog-mask hunters who use slow-acting toxins. The Var’Moki tribe, who are cliff hunters who leap between rock pillars. The Hondugani are cold-forest hunters tracking snow elk. The Werashti tribe community hunters hunt in coordinated lines mostly down near the desert. The Pal’Noro tribe, who are spear-fishers who dive deep without air. They live close to the Zoli Seas school in the north. The Buru’Kandu tribe, who are massive game hunters seeking colossal beasts. The Xemurani tribe, who are bow hunters. The Yelgoso tribe brushland hunters use decoy puppets. The Midori’Kesh tribes, hunters bonded with hounds of unusual size. This, among the two dozen tribes of the west.

tension had been unbearable in the hall. Both the girls and boys of the Konate Wild Academy were fierce, especially those from the Teshini clan, just like Miss Lakiya. Kaka had to shake hands with the number one of the Konate, who was from the Teshini tribe. She was tall, almost standing at the same height as Kaka.

”Here are the rules of the hunt.” Miss Lakiya’s voice echoed, making all eyes turn to look at her. She loved the hunt most and loved games of the hunt even more. As you can see in front of you lies the outer pentagon district. Tonight’s game is easy.” She started, and everyone from the north shifted uncomfortably, especially those from the Galka War Academy. They were used to her antics, and when she said it was an easy game, it never was. Instructors from both schools and captains were standing in lines behind her. Senraki was absent, however.

”Tonight we are going to play a simple game of hide and seek!” You will only be allowed to play on the east side of the district, where the woods are thickest. We are not going to play school against school, but the game does not forbid it,” she said, and everyone knew she just wanted the schools to go against each other. ”You can hide alone or move as a team, that is. also entirely up to you,” she continued, her grin growing even wider by the moment.

”The outer nonagon district is dangerous, you know it. So every student will be given two flares. Make sure to use them wisely. One is yellow, and the other is red. use the yellow one if you are in danger and need help from an instructor to get you out. Remember that it can also give away your position, and it’s fair game if you are eliminated at that moment. use the red one. However, when the situation is dire and a captain or a commander will come out to help you. This involves cases of injury or the situation is too dire, in which case you can forfeit the game. it will mean you lose, but there is another game tomorrow night. You have to be alive to play it.” She continued.

”The third flare, however, is for those who are eliminated. Each student will be given a delicate flask, which must be tied to the combat suit at all times around the waist. you will not be wearing your sash for this exercise, and in its place, you will tie the flash suspension around your waist. Each flask has your name on its holder and if the flask is broken or stolen, then you are out of the game. The goal of this game is for you to hide and protect your flask or seek and break flasks or tie the sought flask around your waist as a trophy. Once your flask bursts, you are to flare the third flare, which is purple for those from Galka and orange for those from Konate, and an instructor will usher you out of the nonagon, or you can do it yourself. This will help the watchers of the game who will be watching from above the wall to take the head count of the eliminated from both schools. The school with the least elimination by morning will be the winner,” she finished her statement, contradicting her earlier statement that it was not school against school.

”Before I forget. the flask must stay on the waist at all times. If the supervising instructors on the ground find you without a flask to play dirty, then you will be eliminated, and you will not participate in the game tomorrow. I will be one of those supervising instructors on the ground. Now, in one line, walk to the four tables in front of you and pick the flares and a flask with your name from the fourth table.” She finished pointing to the four tables on each side of the gate for both schools.

Sagiri was the last in line with N’varu to pick the flares and return to their positions. Team 25 was still giving him hostile looks, and at some point, he had almost forgotten it was an act because of how deep they had gotten into the act. Ulekai, being the bridge between them, had been the one to diverge the plan back and forth. team 25 had decided to stick together in the exercise. They were going to pretend to go first but wait for Sagiri and N’varu, who could come out last. Given the nature of the exercise and Sagiri’s sensory perception ability, when Senraki had announced that the game could start at night, they had all agreed to use him to play whatever was planned.

After everyone was settled back in line and all the flask straps were secured to the waist, Miss Lakiya finally stepped back, allowing Captain Salka to take to the podium. Sagiri had not seen Lotaga, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Salka had followed through with his threat to put him in pet-tending duty this time. Only now was he beginning to think about what types of pets the captain kept that lotaga hated to be in charge of. That was not his only worry, however. Ever since he woke up, he had an odd feeling crawling up his spine. He felt uneasy, and his body felt so hot as if he was coming down with a fever, yet his insides felt cold.

”Are you sure you are fine? You smell odd?” N’varu had asked him on their way to the outer nonagon gate.

”I’m fine,” he answered. The truth was, he did not know whether he was fine or not. Only time could tell what was happening to him. N’varu did not believe him, but he did not pry further.

”The exercise is about to begin,” Salka started. ”Watchers, take position!” he announced, and all the watchers scaled the long wall in seconds running in maximum speed to take positions.

”Ground supervisors in position,” he announced, turning to the remaining instructors. ”Move!” he announced. Miss Lakiya was the last to move, strutting in her fanged boots towards the darkness beyond the gate. She stared into the darkness for a long moment before her hands opened wide and she released her hooked rope into the darkness with so much practiced precision. She swung away laughing and cackling. Captain Salka waited till it all quieted down before he turned to the cadets.

”Cadets ready?” he announced.

”A warrior is always ready, captain!”

”We were born ready, captain!”

Galka and Konate Academy answered in unison, getting into their ready stances.

”The exercise begins. Move!” he announced, and all hell broke loose.