Chapter 4.

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 clothes. The cool morning breeze felt nice on her skin. Breathing deeply of the salt air, she smiled as she walked into the water. The familiar tingling up and down her legs was like a wellcome home. She took a few more steps then dove in. The transformation starting.

She swam underwater, exploring the rocky bottom for a few hundred meters, before she noticed something large moving towards her. A shark? That would be a pain, they were never reasonable, just hungry. No, it was larger. An orca, they were more reasonable, sometimes friendly other times hostile. She called “Hello” as it approached. It was surprised to hear its own whale-song language, until it realized this was no seal or human. Serena talked with the orca for a while then suggested a game of tag. He was happy to play with one of the mer-folk, and not just any one, judging by her fins.

It had only been a few minutes they had been playing when Serena heard the shouts coming from the beach. “Dont worry! Ii will save you!” someone was calling. She and the orca stopped to watch a young man rush into the water and start swimming toward them.

“Can I eat this one?” the killer whale asked.

“No. Please don't.” Serena said, “It would be a good time for you to go.”

“As you wish, princess.” the orca said.

Part 16. After the Swim.

Serena did not want her secret discovered, so she did what she had done many times in her life. She waited, splashing like she was in trouble, until the man was getting near, then she dove underwater. She hit him with a sonic ping. In the air, her voice could hurt and disorient, in the water it could easily knock a person unconscious. Then all she had to do was swim back to shore with the limp body, drag him out of the water, transform back to human, put her swimsuit on and wake him up. Easy as that. In fact this was exactly why she bothered to pack a swimsuit in her shoulder bag.

“Thanks for trying to rescue me.” she said to the young man as he regained consciousness.

He coughed and spit up some water, “uugh what happened?” he murmured. Then looking at the beautiful woman staring down at him, her dark hair and deep blue eyes almost left him speechless. But he composed himself and offered a charming smile, “My name is Erik Levalmon of the HPB, and Im very pleased to meet you.” he said in his classy French accent.

Erik was a second year student, everything about him was stylish, even as he lay there on the beach dripping wet, he looked good. Serena smiled back at him. It was brave of him to try and rescue her, even if she had been in no real danger.

“You are new here?” he asked.

“Yes, just recently arrived.” she confirmed.

“You should know, this island she can be dangerous, very dangerous. There are things in the shadows and people who are not as they seem.” he said in a dramatic yet totally sincere way.

“And you would be happy to help keep me safe?” she asked sweetly, knowing exactly the course of this conversation. Levalmon was from a high class family, a polite player of the social game, just as she was. That did not mean he was a bad person, it did mean he would put image before everything. Serena knew that world very well. It produced some of the most dangerous people in the world.

“I will be happy to lend a helping hand.” he said without hesitation. “If you ever need a champion, Im your man.”

She reached out, putting her hand right next to his, almost but not quite touching. She leaned close to him and asked, “Could you lend me a copy of the second volume of the student handbook?”

The question took him by surprise. But he recovered his composure quickly, “I shall do my best to find one for you.”

Part 17. Dark Coffee.

Helt finished reading the section; Rules for Duelling at Sebero Secreto University. He knew sooner or later he would be involved in one. To be valid a duel had to be witnessed by a staff member or 5 impartial students. A challenge could be refused entirely or postponed. There was no academic benefit or penalty for winning or losing a duel. Being injured in one would excuse you from class for a few days, but not alter the dead line of any assignments. A duel was over when one admitted defeat or was clearly unable to continue. Death would usually be ruled as accidental. Weapons and special abilities were allowed, duels did not have to be on equal terms. The one point that was stressed repeatedly was that both had to be aware and willing to participate. Sneak attacks were out.

Having accomplished that bit of study, he was off to the King’s Kant Cafe. It was a short walk from the doom, hardly enough time for the morning sun to irritate him. As he arrived the German noticed that the nice rear tables, far away from the windows, were occupied. A group of students in dark clothes with dark makeup, sat in the shadows, trying to be as dark as possible. He could taste the mix of real and fake depression flowing from them.

This could be fun. Helt thought as he got his coffee and then walked directly to the rear table. “Greetings brothers and sisters of the night.” he said in a thigh accent.

“Greetings brother. Welcome to hell.” One of the elder students answered.

Helt had to use a lot of will power not to bust out laughing. “Hell is pointless.” he said.

“Everything is pointless.” they answered in unison. The group was so perfectly fitting into the Goth-culture stereotype, it was almost unbelievable. So he sat down and played along. He spent about an hour getting to know these members of the Void Goth frat house. He asked a lot of questions, but avoided giving direct answers about himself.

They all claimed to be somehow cursed or tragically shadowed by fate. Two claimed to be vampires, one said she was a witch, another explained his mother was of the fay-folk. Normally Helt would have been dismissive of the group’s claims, but this University was a place where anything was possible.

He was about to ask more of the vampires, when Serena and Emma walked in. Helt could tell without looking. So he abruptly said “Farewell, I must be away to work on my plans for world domination.”

Ignoring any parting comments they made, he walked over to the girls. “Morning ladies.” he said with a smile. “Shall we talk more about that club idea of yours?”

Part 18. Crossing Paths.

They walked along the same river side path as they had the other day, talking about the subject they had failed to cover; the creation of the club for improved relations between humans and non-humans. As presented to the University it would be about exploring the issues involved in “bringing the hidden world into the light” as Serena put it. An intellectual exercise only, not a violation of the policy of secrecy.

“We will need a few more people before we can get the club approved.” the small Filipino woman explained, “The application says; a club must have a minimum of 5 members.”

Emma waved away that detail “No prob, once we get the outline lookin good, we go on a recrutin drive.”

Then suddenly, Serena gave a surprised shriek and stumbled backwards. A snake hissing at her, from right where she was about to set her foot down. Helt reached out and took hold of her, preventing her from falling. For a moment they looked into each other's eyes. Then a voice from down the path said “Unhand her you villain!”

Several students were approaching, including 2 with swords. Helt knew he would have to deal with this sort of thing sooner or later, why not today? He smiled and in a rough German accent declared “I shall do as I vant.”

“Fear not lady, I will teach this monster some manners.” one of the two swordsmen said and drew his blade from its sheath.

“Challenge accepted.” Helt answered, then gave Serena a kiss on the cheek before letting go of her. He could sense the annoyance from the would-be hero, it was a delicious taste.

The tall German had no weapon, he did not feel he needed one. As his opponent closed in, he concentrated extra energy into speed, strength and toughness, so he would be a bit above human. Helt wanted to win, but he also wanted to enjoy the fight.

The man from the HPB was skilled with the sword, but he was no expert, and not quite fast enough. Helt dodged several cuts and thrusts, while offering several punches in return. Each man took the measure of the other as a fighter.

Then after a very close avoidance, Helt grabbed the man’s arm. From here, he would force the opponent to his knees, make him drop his weapon or... surprise. The HPB man gave a small toss of his sword at the very instant he was grabbed. Catching it with his other hand he aimed the point right at the German’s face.

Part 19. A victory surprise.

Helt threw himself back away from the sword thrust. Narrowly avoiding a blade in the eye. Now this is getting interesting, he thought. His opponent had some good tricks.

Still holding on to the swordsman's arm, the tall German used the momentum of his own dodge to swing his enemy into an off balanced stagger. That would gain a small advantage, would it be enough? The HPB man would turn and be ready, could he do it before Helt was on him?

Charging forward in a low attack, Helt moved so fast he seemed to fly across the ground, his long coat flowing behind him. He caught the enemy at the knees, sweeping his legs out from under him, sending him sprawling ungracefully into the dirt.

Helt stopped his charge well past his opponent. Then he turned slowly, calmly, “Admit your defeat?” he asked.

The HPB man stood up looking brave and stylish despite the dirt, “No, I will never.” he declared.

Helt had expected that. Now the enemy would try something new, a special ability or a gadget, he guessed.

The swordsman stepped forward slowly, chanting quietly words of power.

The German reacted quickly. Never let a spell caster have time to finish whatever he was trying to do. That was a lesson his father had been very clear about. So he went in for a good hard punch strait to the centre.

Maybe it had been a trap, or maybe the man had just reacted on pure reflex, that did not matter, the results did. As Helt slammed home his punch, the sword tip bit into his chest. The force of the blow sent the swordsman off his feet, flying back a few meters before crashing to the ground. The breath knocked from him, he gasped helplessly. Helt looked down at his chest, the wound was deep but it had missed his heart. Undeniably a good hit, but ineffective.

“I declare this duel over. So long as you intend no harm to these ladies.” the other HPB swordsman said. He was an older student and spoke with authority.

“What?” Helt said in fake surprise. “These ladies are my dear friends. They will never by harmed by my hands.”

Meanwhile, Serena stepped over to the fallen man, knelt next to him and gave him a soothing “Thanks for being brave again, but I really was in no danger.”

“What?” Helt said in real surprise.

“Helt Fangstein, Id like you to meet Erik Levalmon.” Serena said with polite seriousness.