Immediately both squads gazed on one another, the serene atmosphere of the stream evaporated.

The members of squad 11-A looked at the squad on the other side of the stream without much regard.

Squad 11-D.

They were obviously the last set of people 11-A students had expected to run into.

A few of 11-D’S members had started shifting their weights uncomfortably.

11-A seemed like they couldn’t be less bothered.

Then Norman whistled.

"Well, well, well... what do we have here?"

Seth, who stood before the squad, adjusted his glasses tiredly.

"Cut it out." He said curtly to Norman without looking in his direction.

Norman regarded him coldly.

Seth continued walking down the slope. His squad followed.

Some of 11-D subconsciously took a step back despite being on the other side. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Soraya stood her squad.

"We’re not here to fight." Seth said, addressing her.

"I knew that." Soraya replied. "But you know, one can never be too careful."

Seth’s eyes automatically scanned her squad. His gaze landed on Yesu.

Yesu smiled and waved causally at him.

Seth frowned.

Then Carrots quickly dragged Yesu’s waving hand down.

"Don’t do that." She said under her breath. "He’s the enemy."

Seth faced Soraya again.

"I trust we can peacefully share the stream?" He asked.

Soraya smiled genuinely.

"Of course. Although my squad was just about leaving."

For a moment it felt like they were all back to being just school mates.

Seth nodded. "I see."

Soraya turned back to her squad.

"Let’s go."

They began moving immediately.

11-A watched 11-D walk up the slope on the other side till they were completely engulfed by the bushes.

Seth faced his squad.

They were already helping themselves to the stream.

Walls were already being put up in segregation.

Clothes and boots were already coming off.

Seth went to the side and sat on a rock. He took off his boots. He could hear something scribbling beside him.

He turned.

Apollo sat on a rock nearby. Pen dancing softly over a medium sized notebook.

He looked deeply immersed in whatever he was doing.

Which was rare.

Seth’s gaze lingered a second more than necessary.

Then he forced his head forward with a sigh and unlaced his second boot.

"Aren’t you going to wash up?" He asked.

Apollo stopped scribbling and slowly looked up from the book.

The interest that had been in his eyes vanished. And he was back to looking perpetually bored.

"Already did." He said.

Seth gave a small snort before he could stop himself.

"Where? A private stream?"

Apollo stared at him for a brief moment, without a definite expression. Then quietly stood from where he sat.

He tucked the notebook and pen into his jacket, and strolled away from the stream with both hands in his pockets.

He soon disappeared into the trees above.

Seth didn’t even bother glancing back to see the effect of his words.

He just dropped his boots beside the rock and went to the segregated male section.

An hour later, the squad had finished grooming themselves and were getting ready to leave.

Seth cleaned his boots with a handkerchief and put them on.

"Hey, Prefect." Kristen, who had been chattering with her group of friends nonstop, called out.

"What?" Seth asked, dragging the one syllable.

Kristen made a show of looking around.

"Corvane’s been absent since dawn. Didn’t you notice?" Her tone carried mischief instead of concern.

Seth looked around. Surely enough, Mahirah was absent.

He didn’t seem surprised. Or the least bothered.

"Let’s head back to base." He said to the squad.

Kristen stared at him unbelievably, with a hand on her waist.

"Really?" She asked. "Aren’t you going to do something about it? She did the same thing yesterday."

The squad was already moving uphill.

Seth finally looked at her.

"I don’t see how that’s your problem. You obviously can’t seem to stand the sight of her and yet you’re always looking to see if she’s around. Pick a side, will you?"

And without waiting for a reply, he turned and started walking away.

Kristen stared after him, boiling red.

***

Deep in the forest, Mahirah sparred against a tree, letting out occasional sharp breaths.

Weaving. Dodging. Kicking and punching the air at the sides.

Her hair was slick with sweat. Her white hand wrappings had deteriorated to a dirty brown.

Her hands grazed the tree bark a few times, resulting in many small cuts and bruises.

She was getting tired. Her movements were getting slower.

Yet she pushed harder.

Eventually, her fist missed the sides and collided with the solid bark.

"Shit!"

She snapped her hand to her chest, pressing it hard with the second one.

Mahirah glared at the tree with gritted teeth.

She spun and threw a double kick at it. And landed cleanly on the ground, panting.

The tree stood unbothered.

Frustrated, Mahirah slammed a foot hard on it.

Still nothing. The tree stood still in mockery of her.

Mahirah gasped tiredly, brought her bruised hand to the bark and leaned, putting her whole weight on the tree.

"You know..." A calm voice came from behind. "Attacking trees is against nature preservation laws."

"Shut it."

Mahirah didn’t so much as glance back. She gave herself a minute to pant some more, then pushed herself off the tree.

Apollo stood a few meters behind, eating dark purple berries from a pouch.

Mahirah’s eyes widened.

"Aren’t those poisonous?" She asked, already marching to him.

Apollo was still eating, without a care in the world.

Mahirah snatched the pouch and threw it to the floor.

"Are you nuts?" She half screamed.

Apollo was staring at the scattered berries on the ground.

"Those were really good." He said.

Mahirah hit a hand to her forehead. The spot turned red.

"Sometimes I wonder if you’ve spent too much time acting stupid that you’ve actually turned into a fool."

Apollo finally focused on her.

"What are you talking about?"

Mahirah groaned in frustration, pushing her hair backwards. Tight curls were already forming at the roots.

"You know exactly what I’m talking about. What’s up with you?"

"Be specific."

Mahirah scoffed, folding her arms. "Oh? So you really want to go there?"

"No but I don’t really fancy shallow conversation."

Mahirah gritted her teeth.

"Fine then. If that’s how you want it, then that’s how it’s going to be."

She took a moment to breathe before speaking again, to stop herself from exploding.

Or worse, say the wrong thing.

"Why did you turn on the squad yesterday? Let’s start with that