Two days later
"Okay it doesn't seem that I will get transported to Gardenia until [8:15] In the morning"
It was currently [7:51] In the morning right now, more than enough for Cale
'In the end, I never really did find out and understand for sure what the pitch black lines really are'
It wasn't easy to understand something that you don't know after all, only through repetion can you start to understand something previously unknown
"My best guess is that they alert me when my life is in danger"
The black lines 'detect' danger but to what extent? If an apple where to fall on Cale, would he sense it falling down on his head?
If not. Did that mean that he could only detect danger when it threatens to take his life?
Such thoughts had swirled intensely in Cale's mind for two days
'In order to understand what the abilities in my eyes are, I will definitely have to go to Gardenia'
The thin pitch black lines that were only visible to his eyes were related to death in some shape and form, this he was confident in.
'But if that's the case then I will have no way to experiment on. Making me unable to find out more about it unless I went to Gardenia'
Of course since Cale came to the conclusion that the thin pitch black lines were related to death, he obviously tried to stimulate it and make it 'react'
However he was met with dry responses, he attempted getting as close to the balcony, he tried getting a knife as close to his neck as possible. But even then the results were not favorable
'It probably didn't react or grow thicker because it knew I would never do that no matter what happened'
This solidified Cale's trip to Gardenia
'And then there is that Top student thing'
In order to ensure and guarantee that I survive, I would have to aim and become the Top student of Gardenia-'
"Wait"
Retracting his thoughts, he came to yet another realization he had missed
"The letter never did mention which school I'd have to be the Top student of, did it?"
He gulped, his nape growing itchier
'I'm not going to have to become the Top student of both schools am I?'
Cale's overthinking lead to such dreadful and terrifying thoughts
He then took his phone out and looked at the time
"It's time"
[8:05]
Raising his anxiety and body up from the bench that Cale had found Inside the Cafeteria, he started swiftly heading to where his locker was.
***
Crossing his arms together. Cale stared at the lock that hung on the locker
'That is actually actually quite surprising? That doppelganger actually acted according to what others think I would do and locked my locker with the lock I had bought yesterday'
Cale knew by now that he shouldn't have been surprised by something like this, but he couldn't help but marvel at the supernatural that was in front in his eyes full of disbelief
"Well right now I think I have... biology classes?"
Opening the slightly dented locker, he took the book which had been put in there from yesterday and also took a pen that was in his front pocket, then finally put the light Backpack in the locker and closed it.
Clack
The lock closed with a satisfying sound that scraped softly in his ears
'Even if the doppelganger does exactly what others think I'd do, it's still somewhat unsettling to entrust my stuff to a mere doppelganger'
The doppelganger would imitate the 'movements' of Cale precisely, but it was never said that it wouldn't have any thoughts of its own
"Well maybe I'm just overthinking it"
After locking the locker. Cale glided through the hallways and reached classroom 14 for the biology class.
'What would happen if I just sat In the classroom before the time reached [8:15]'
Cale had been curious about this for two days, it didn't feel like a bad idea at the time, so he decided to try it at the very least
"Let's see what happens"
Standing before the wooden classroom door. Cale pushed it open
"..."
The sound of the doorknob not budging an inch was vividly replayed in his mind for several instances
'Ah yeah why would the damn door be open if the teacher probably isn't here or just got here...'
"I didn't think it through that much did I?"
Trrrr~
Trrrr~
The school bells rang, signifying that the time was now [8:15]
"Haaaaah"
Cale sighed in frustration, his vision started to fade away the more time passed
His surroundings were then met with a familiar gentle darkness and got engulfed in it along with his vision.
***
When color returned to the light deprived surroundings and could see again.
Cale found himself sitting on an uncomfortable plastic chair In the front yard of the school with a grand podium blessing the retinas in his eye sockets
"?!"
Startled by the unfamiliar sight. Cale jumped from the seat, or at least tried to.
'I...can't move an inch!'
Not a singular fiber of muscle In his body could be moved no matter how hard he tried to move
'Is this how it would feel like If I put glue on the chair and sat on it?'
The chair felt glued or bolted through the ground, a strange sense of pure helplessness stuck to Cale
He began to look around since that was the only thing he could do in this situation
"...."
The moon or the 'fake' moon which was what Carlos referred to it as, that that very same round rock now hung in the sky, its blue glow scattering everywhere mixing with the bright sun's brilliant indistinguishable light
'They are also here'
Strange creatures filled the once empty plastic chairs as if it were natural and normal.
'You know what, calling them monsters doesn't really sit well with me'
Cale felt that calling them that every time would be too corny and embarrassing.
'I'll call them Sludge from now on'
It wasn't any better but Cale believed that It was way better than just calling them monsters even if they were one.
'Plus, I won't be as scared when facing them'
Would you also be scared if you gave your darkest nightmare the cutest nickname you could think of?
Plus, alleviating fear even slightly is incredible enough in this situation
Eyes rolled around and saw all the Sludges that could be seen
"...?"
Cale took notice of a strange Sludge In the distance.
'Isn't that sludge more.... human?'
The Strange Sludge that caught the attention of Cale's gaze looked more humanoid than the rest.
It didn't have a bloated head and while Cale couldn't see its face since he was in the back. He assumed that It closely resembled a human's face.
He noticed a few others that were the same as the strange Sludge he spotted first
Though he couldn't exactly tell how they looked since they were considerably far away from his line of vision
The mere fact he could spot the first one when it had been so close to the podium made Cale want to praise himself
But he held back such an urge, his grin didn't disappear though
'Are they maybe more powerful?'
A reasonable assumption and from a glance, they really did seem more powerful than the other Sludges
Haa haa
One other noticeable fact was that the Sludges seemed more...alive than before
Cale could vividly feel their ragged breathing as opposed to last time where none of them seemed to be even breathing and felt like cold corpses
He didn't dwell on it any longer though and turned attention to the black lines that only he alone could see.
'Nothing...'
No reaction whatsoever, they didn't grow any thicker like last time and no pulse could be felt from them like before
'Does this mean that I'm safe?'
Not knowing exactly how your ability works was extremely a stressful and frustrating experience to Cale
step
A soft step came from the podium
All eyes laid upon the podium to see who it was. Every single other sludge seemed to hold the same idea as they all started to stare at the podium.
step
Another soft step reverberated throughout the whole space
Even though they were quiet
And Cale took a glimpse at it.
At the bizzare sight he saw in front right now
'Is that... a goat?'
A goat with black fur and four protruding horns coming from its head and golden side-slit eyes that resembled gold itself. Wearing a humanoid like appearance was wearing a neat three-piece suit.
Behind the goat protruded multiple figures with Carlos Ashen being one of the figures
The goat took a step forward and reached out to what looked like a lectern with a
microphone on it and spoke
His voice booming
[Welcome esteemed students of Gardenia, we have been waiting for you]
The goat said with a slight smirk donning on its face