Weeks passed by at the camp, without any deaths countered. Reparations were made to enhance the security of the base camp, since it was damaged from the recent zombie attack. Although they were safe, the citadians of the small campus couldn’t help but be afraid of what was next. They started to doubt the ability of their small city to protect themselves. Visibly, their barriers had been destroyed because they weren’t solid enough. 

The whole situation was unexpected. Of course, the creatures weren’t going to say that they were going to damage the place, but it came at an odd moment. It disturbed Lazarus, who thought that he had enough security measures. From now on, the man would have to be more ready for the next ones to come. Mr. Jalikee did the best he could, pacing around his office, yet no thought came to his mind. He needed more men, quickly. 

Gripping his fluffy ginger hair tightly, he clenched his jaw and bit his nails, his eyes flickering around nervously. That was unexpected. If he couldn’t defend the village from a small attack, who knows what would happen if they came up with another bunch of those monsters? Lazarus began doubting his abilities as a principal, although he thought he was quite prepared for the situation. 

“It wasn’t supposed to be happening this way.” The man mumbled under his breath, pacing around as he watched the statistics on his walls. More than fifteen citizens were hurt through the process. Five of them are nowhere to be seen. There are chances they were infected by now.” 

“We haven’t lost anyone if we’re talking about death, Sir.” Landon spoke, standing by the door with his arms behind his back, keeping an unreadable expression. “The citadians are in a state of shock and their anxiety is high, yet with the tests we took, they don’t seem to doubt your abilities for now.” 

“They’re going to doubt it eventually! Five of them are missing and they’re still wondering where they went off! They're convinced those guys went to their training of their school because we told them, but one day they’ll discover the truth!” 

Logan and Landon looked at each other. They knew that when their boss was acting this way, trying to argue with him was useless. Logan opened his mouth to keep something, but he quickly backed up when he saw Landon’s insistent glare on him. Their superior inhaled sharply, his doe eyes widening, giving him the look of scaredy cat. 

“It’s fine to know the truth one day, Sir.” Logan said after some silence. “It may hurt, and you’ll try to avoid it, but it comes back to you. They aren’t going to blame you. You were trying to keep them safe, that’s all.” 

“They’re going to think I’m a bad person!” Mr. Jalikee screamed out, breathing shakily, his eyes filled with guilt and sadness, visibly deceived in himself. “I failed them. I failed the ones that disappeared. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. Yet this is my job.” 

Logan glanced at his acolyte with an expression full of sorrows. If he knew that Lazarus would’ve reacted this way, he wouldn’t have decided to speak. The man gulped and looked down, hoping Landon and his boss weren't this mad at him. Fortunately, Mr. Jalikee was too busy raging and insulting himself about how bad of a mayor he was. 

“There must be a solution. A way to make this work. I'm sure we have plenty of good fighters to help with this and give ideas. Why don’t you give the list a small checkup? A few of our trainees leveled up to the next grade in the last few days...It isn’t hopeless.” Landon spoke calmly, barely even flinching to see his superior acting this furiously. 

Lazarus paused for a second, considering what his man said. The red on his face faded away, yet he wasn’t composed completely yet. His jaw was clenched to the point where it was hurting him, but he thought that this was a promising idea. There was some hope, indeed. He hated to admit it, but Landon was right. 

“Right.” Mr. Jalikee replied, his voice a low growl as he buries his face in his hands for a second. He then pulled away, all grumpy, then he took a glance at Logan, pointing at the computer room. “Search up the strongest, the smartest, and the most recent level up, alright? I want five names by the end of the day, and you better find some good ones, Understood?” 

Logan nodded, lifting his chin up, as if he was flattered by the request. A mischievous smile curled up his lips and he bowed politely, before standing up straight, his hair slightly ruffled. The short man mumbled a “of course, sir,” before walking off, leaving the room. 

*** 

Isabel wielded her sword, the sweat running along her forehead as she lunged at her opponent, tackling it down. Breathing heavily, the girl choked the robot, its eyes closing before it went off. She sighed in relief, brushing a hand along her forehead. She did it; she managed to beat the robot! And of course, she passed her exams, she was certain. 

In the last few days, Isabel gained more strength, and more confidence in her fighting skills. Four days ago, she even went from Silver League to Golden League. She met other people, as most of them were older folks with insane fighting skills. Visibly, the campus saw talent in her because she graduated, being the youngest in the Golden League. Yet she wasn’t the weakest. 

“Good job, Fletcher!” Spencer congratulated her, patting her back, “You’re stronger than I thought you were. Really, you’re going to help us beat those monsters!” 

Spencer was a seventeen-year-old young man with dark skin and black hair that was in the golden league as well. He was Isabel’s biggest supporter, and clearly the kindest one in the group. Other teenagers applauded her and nodded their heads in approval. She felt proud, yet she didn’t know what to say. 

“Oh, thanks Spence...” Isabel thanked him with a prideful smile, shrugging nonchalantly as she balanced her hair away from her shoulders. “I’m not this good anyways. I just started here, I guess I’m lucky I got chosen. Perhaps they just needed another recruit.” 

“Don’t be so modest!” The boy said with a laugh, “You’re incredible. Keep working this way and you’ll reach Platinum League! It’s great how you went this far already at just sixteen years old!” 

“I don’t know...” She mumbled in a voice lower than a whisper, replacing the top of her shirt to cover her shoulders better. “I don’t think I’m good enough--” 

“You definitely are.” A familiar masculine voice interrupted her, stopping her from saying more to it. It took her a second to realize who it was. Logan. He stood there silently, keeping an unreadable expression as a smirk curled his lips.  

Spencer and Isabel looked over; their eyebrows arched in curiosity. The man had this expression filled with pride, as if she was on his target list for a long time already. The teenager bit her lower lip and nodded, waiting for Logan to explain himself better. 

“Lazarus needs you.” He simply said, shrugging his shoulders, “The situation is getting worse, and he is searching for trainees to help him with that. Since you entered the Golden league recently and your capacities are appreciated, you could give him a hand. What do you think?” 

The girl was flattered. The own principal, Lazarus Jalikee, was asking for her help. Well, not necessarily mine, but he is considering it. A smile creeped on her lips, although she didn’t even try to stop it. She was feeling all giddy and excited, all of a sudden; she was useful, for once! And she could try to save humans from those creatures. Isabel’s heart throbbed. And avoid situations like mom’s. 

“Huh? Why me?” 

“Feel flattered he chose you, Fletcher.” The black-skinned boy snickered, nudging her before whispering in her ear. “Come on, it’s your time to shine, you better take that opportunity! It’s now or never, the principal saw how good you were!” 

“Alright.” The girl answered silently, shutting for eyes for a second. She then looked up at Logan, feeling confident and ready for whatever their boss was going to announce to her. “I’m ready. Bring me to him.” 

*** 

Mr. Jalikee sat on his chair in his office, his deep black gaze wandering around the place. He wasn’t terrified of being a bad mayor anymore; Logan had found him someone. He didn’t know who it was, but he felt like they were on an effective way to save the campus and the innocent citadians. The man then heard chatters in the hallways, and he quickly looked over, eager to see who it would be. 

Lazarus found Logan, walking next to...Isabel? His jaw dropped in surprise, and his eyebrows arched. She joined a few weeks ago, how could she be in our strongest trainees? I must be dreaming! Yet when the principal rubbed his eyes, he saw that he wasn’t dreaming. Isabel Fletcher was right in front of him now, her eyebrows arched, her gaze holding fear. She was good at hiding it, but he could see through her. 

“Hello, Isabel. You must know why you are here, in my office, I suppose. Logan was supposed to have told you earlier, am I right?” He asked, throwing his acolyte a serious glance, and he quickly nodded his head in approval.  

“Yeah, I know.” The teenager spoke softly, her gaze flickering around as if she was afraid that someone was watching them. “I don’t know if I deserve this treatment, Mr. Jalikee. Isn’t it a lot of pressure for a new trainee? I mean, I did move forward to the Golden league, it was a lot of work.” 

The man was shocked. She was in the Golden League already, after barely a few weeks. Wow, Logan made a wonderful choice considering her already. Let’s see how it goes. He knew how ahrd it was, and he couldn’t help but find her terribly talented. 

“Alright, so I don’t know if you acknowledged this, but I asked Logan to choose the strongest fighter we did, with the most recent level up. Considering you reached Golden league already in such a brief time, I must say I am impressed and that your fighting skills are quite impressive. Logan noticed you had that talent, and if he did, he must be right. Tell me, Isabel, do you have any antecedents?” 

“Not really.” The concerned one shrugged, a sheepish smile on her lips as she scratched the back of her neck. “I never did box or fighting sports, so I didn’t know what it was until then. I never even wielded a sword or a gun before. I thought that swords stopped existing.” 

“It’s understandable, at your age.” The man agreed in understanding, glancing at his men in a subtle manner. “You didn’t grow within the industry since you weren’t in the same state at first. I guess I was right to come to get you. I have a proposition for you, Isabel. And there’s something I want to tell your sister. Lucia’s her name, right?” 

Isabel seemed utterly confused. She watched the man in awe and admiration, her eyes shining with curiosity. She was considering it. She wanted to know whatever the proposition was, and if it would be beneficial for everyone. At this point, the oldest barely cared what Mr. Jalikee had to share with Lucia. He was interested in her capacities. 

“A proposition.” The teen repeated in a dreamy voice, lost in a trance. “What kind of propositions?”   

The girl said this spontaneously, her head in the clouds, but she didn’t think she’d have a comeback to it. A voice caught her off guard, making her face the reality that perhaps not every proposition would be super positive. Her heart throbbed. Did he want her out of there? Stop making stories in your head, Isa, it’s just stupid... 

“You may think this is too much, but my men and I noticed the talent you had. We need an elite trainee, to help others and give tricks to fight better. Even the lower ranks. Although you aren't on the highest rank, I’ve found this idea quite beneficial for your learning, and beneficial for the camp and the trainees.” 

“A-Are you serious? Me, out of every other trainee you have in the camp. But why me? It's not like I have experience, unlike all those other kids back there. There are adults here!” 

“Consider yourself lucky he chose you out of everyone. Don’t ask him, it might make him regret his decision.” Landon suggested, standing at her right ear. 

Although the girl was pretty startled by his presence, she decided to listen to his wise words. She stopped talking and glanced at Mr. Jalikee, a wave of relief and pride washing over her. She was chosen. And of course, she had to accept this. Never an opportunity would come back to her someday. Never.