Blood-Water Chronicals

Part 25. Monday morning. The dorm kitchen offered breakfast from 7 to 9 am. Everything was served with a slice of melon, if you wanted it or not. Helt got up at 8:30am, had a quick shower and grabbed a bagel on his way out the door to the first class. Serena, who had been up at dawn to go swimming, enjoyed a more relaxed breakfast with her bleary eyed roommate Emma, who mostly just stared at her food and drank coffee. New students were divided into 3 classes of about 20 each. This offered more direct interaction with the teacher, it also allowed rivalry between classes, which the Dean encouraged. As fate had it; Emma, Serena and Helt found themselves in the same room. At 9am they would begin their study of History – as the world knows it. The professor, a small man with very thick glasses, walked in at 2 minutes before 9. He stood silently watching the students until 9:01am. “Good morning. Will someone close the doors, please?” he said in a sharp clipped t...

Part 20. From one beginning to another. “You should join our club.” Serena said to the handsome Frenchman on the ground. He looked confused, but smiled at her, “Pardon, what club is this?” he asked. Helt glared at the small Filipino, “Are you serious?” he asked. Taking a dramatic pose, her dark hair flowing around her, Serena said to her friends and the other students there on the riverside path, “The club we aim to build is all about good relations between humans and non-humans. So we need both in it. What better example could we imagine than two who met as enemies and learned to be friends.” Her voice was enchanting, her words spoken with total conviction. The elder student of the HPB swordsmen, helped his brother to his feet. “Sounds like a fine idea.” he said. Erik seemed less sure about that, but he did see the matter as a point of honour. “If you request it, my lady, I will be at your side in this club.” he assured her. Helt and Emma exchang...

Part 15. Morning Exercise. Serena got up with the sunrise, as usual. She did a bit of light stretching then was off to the beach. She walked the road from the north gate towards the bay. To her right was Frightfully Dark forest, living up to its name. To her left were the rolling grasslands called Gold Field. She wondered briefly how they got their name, they were not golden now. Mostly she kept an ear out for trouble as she walked. Worried about the green dog-creatures, but determined not to let fear ruin her day. In about 20 minutes she had reached sign marking the path down to Brightwave beach. It was a glorious stretch of sand, sheltered within the bay. But it was not her destination. She continued on the smaller road due north to the more rocky part of the coast, near Wavebrake Hall. From there she took the trail west to find a nice swimming spot. Serena set down her towel and small bag. She took off her sneakers and stripped off the rest of her clo...

Part 10. Serena @ Library “Im sorry. Our copy of that book has not been returned.” the old librarian told Serena. “Who has it now?” the small Filipino woman asked pleasantly. “It was signed out to a Jack Dolman, several years ago, Im afraid, it is quite overdue.” the keeper of books spoke slowly, at 80 years old he did everything slowly. “Thanks for your help.” the new student replied. “By the way, is there a request form I can fill out to get an other copy of the book?” she asked using her best ‘please help me’ voice. The librarian smiled “Yes yes, with the right paperwork we can request one. Of course it may take a few weeks for it to arrive. Now you wait here, I will go fetch the forms.” he said, then slowly walked into the back office. As Serena turned to see who had been watching her, a small group of students quickly pretended to not be looking in her direction. Her keen hearing was both a blessing and a curse. She knew they had been whis...