Chapter 50 - Geniuses Arent that Uncommon (1/2)

A bell tolled, marking the beginning of the eighth hour. Lydis and the other eleven kids were brought into a small room on the left side of the main auditorium's stage. They lined up in the order of who spun the wheel first. Conny, Haji, Erin, Zack, Delara, Luden, Seradina, Ayla, Winter, Elise, Calvin, and finally Lydis. After exiting from the passageway there was a different person there to greet them. They were led to the room and told to wait for their call.

On one side of the room Delara's face was still swollen. Her blood no longer dribbling out from her mouth. Seradina was still next to Delara holding a warm cloth and clean swabs for Delara's mouth. The person who led then there had left them for Delara like they had seen everything in the room.

Lydis eyed the door. If the higher ups of the academy really had cameras in the room, surely they would have footage of her and the medallion. Lydis lifted her sleeve slightly to look at the tattoo. It changed noticeably.

The snake head was no longer at her wrist head but now it was pointed up towards her arm. It's body slowly slithering up her arm. Lydis poked at the snake's eyes but all she felt was her warm skin.

Ten minutes later and they heard their cue.

”Students! Stand in recognition of this year's twelve earthly animals!” The twelve of them lined up and walked out in order.

Outside, the cheers were ear splitting. High pitched cheers and whistles, it was hard to believe that there were only about one thousand kids there. It sounded like a few thousand more.

Conny, the dragon bearer, held his head up high. This, this was the fame and recognition befitting someone like him. Everyone else behind him walked with pride as well. Even the girl on the screen before had told them that they were special and the elites of their class. At the back, Lydis brought up the rear. She didn't stand with her chest puffed up, but she didn't slouch either. Her straight back and even strides showed discipline with both hands behind her.

Dressed in black and purple, the twelve of them did indeed look a bit imposing and cool. Each had a unique outfit befitting their animals and that uniqueness was what brought out the cheers. Calm and cool looking, the kids below couldn't help but feel electrified by them.

”And now from the right side, we have the twelve heavenly signs!” Stunned, Lydis's group stared at the right side. From the right came a group of thirteen kids. Dressed in white and purple, they looked a bit more like knights. Steady, disciplined marching filled the auditorium. Leading the thirteen was a hard-faced boy. His cold eyes swept over the crowd of kids, landing on the twelve opposite from him. Seeing their questioning faces he smirked a little.

Lydis pondered why the announcer had said 'twelve heavenly signs' when there was clearly thirteen kids on the right side. The announcer took this silence to introduce all of them.

”On the left, the twelve earthly animals, the Zodiacs!” The announcer went to Conny and started down the row. ”Conny the Dragon! Haji the Rat! Erin the Dog! Zack the Goat! Delara the Rabbit! Luden the Tiger! Seradina the Pig! Ayla the Monkey! Winter the Ox! Elise the Horse! Calvin the Rooster! Lydis the Snake!” The kids cheered again. The announcer walked back to the center of the stage and moved on to the other twelve.

”On the right, the twelve heavenly animals, the Horoscopes!” He started at the cold faced boy. ”Javier the Leo! Oura the Taurus! Sydney the Libra! Gunner the Scorpio! Bianca the Cancer! Bennox and Owen the Gemini! Dylan the Virgo! Minerva the Aquarius! Illya the Sagittarius! Senri the Aries! Hayden the Pisces! Tuen the Capricorn!”

Lydis's ears twitched at hearing familiar names. Bianca, Bennox and Owen. She scanned the line for their faces but being so far apart, there was only so much she could do without sticking out.

The announcer went on.

”These, boys and girls, are the elites of your class! Remember their faces well, they are the leaders for your generation!” Kids shouted and whistled. Lydis could see that some eyes showed true admiration while others showed distaste and even competitiveness. Had they missed something important? When the cheering had died down a bit above each group a huge flag was rolled down from the ceiling.

With a black background, inked in purple, the twelve earthly animals were drawn on, each displaying their fierceness and expertise. All in a coiling circle, each animal looked connected to one another. On the side, big bold letters stuck out, 'Zodiac', it read.

Above the other group of thirteen, with a white background and inked in purple as well, were the twelve heavenly signs. Unlike the Zodiac's coiling circle, the twelve sign were spread out in a diamond shape, each sign having their stars hidden in their picture. Exploding from the center the signs all surrounded one word written vertically, 'Horoscopes'.

Lydis looked at the crowd, all heads were upturned staring at the massive, majestic flags on stage.

”Now that this part is done go over there to reconfirm your ID and get your uniforms!” The announcer pointed to the far right side of the auditorium and the whole wall slid open, folding in on itself, it revealed the other half of the auditorium. Ten lines were marked with dashes on the floor and railings. Kids scrambled to be first, often tripping over each other and stepping on fallen hands, legs, and arms. The announcer turned back to the kids on stage.

”You twenty-five kids are the first in three years to finally complete both groups in the same year. It used to be common every year but for the past three the Zodiacs remained just one person short.” He closed his eyes in grief just thinking about it. ”But, I'm glad to see that this year both are here.”

In the Horoscopes one boy raised his hand. The announcer turned to look at him.

”Yes Hayden?”

”What did you mean by 'first to complete both groups'? Are you saying that each year only one was completed?”

”Yes, but, it was always the Zodiacs. Even the same animal was missing each year. We really thought that the system was broken but Central said nothing was wrong.”

”Which animal?” The announcer looked a bit hesitant but a small figure behind him intervened.

”It was always the snake.” All eyes turned to the small figure. Dressed in black and purple it looked like she was part of the Zodiacs but something about her was different. The announcer whipped around and rested his eyes on the small figure.

”Good morning.” She smiled and tipped her military cap at the announcer.