“This is the head of Dog House.” The escort Nestor assigned to Medusa nodded at a slouching boy of about seventeen. “He will guide you.” Before Medusa could give a reply, she turned and left.
Medusa stared after the escort until she took a bend. This almost felt like her first day as a priestess, only she had her sisters then and there were no trials. Oh, and she wasn't required to stay in a dorm that clearly lacked structural integrity.
Unlike the grand structures she passed on her way here, the Dog House's dorm had large cracks spanning its walls and towering pillars. Thick vines from the surrounding bushes spread over the crumbling surface and burrowed into the cracks.
Demeter must really love the dogs.
“I’m May,” Medusa said as she returned her attention to the boy.
“Vyron,” he replied with a nod, then a puzzled frown wrinkled his brow. “Still hard to believe they gave you to us.”
Medusa shrugged and looked around some more. Turfs of grass across the stone ground, and at the centre of the expansive frontage was a dead fountain holding a dilapidated sculpture of a cerberus.
“It’s true what they said. You’re unawakened.” There was awe in Vyron’s voice.
Medusa’s gaze slid back to him. Now that she observed him closely, she saw he had the haggard appearance of a person shackled with burdensome responsibility. Were the dogs that hard to manage? Or his tired look could be a front—appear unassuming and strike when her guard was down. Now that Medusa thought of it, there may be deities playing mortal in Drys Valon, too. Chilling unease crept up her spine.
“You seem like a quiet one.”
Medusa blinked at him and shrugged again. “If… if you think so.”
The beginning of a headache throbbed behind her eyes. “Can we go in now?”
“Sure.” He made his way to the low steps leading to the tall weather-beaten dorm door. “Fair warning, the dogs may not be as powerful as those from other houses, but they are twice as mean and opportunistic. Instructor Nestor may have told you.”
“Instructor?”
“You too? I also couldn’t tell at first. Face too young.” Vyron motioned at his own face. “He’s the head gymnasiarch and a low deity. You’ll see him often… and loathe his training,” he added with a wince.
“Noted.” I really need to sleep. Medusa blinked hard to shake off her rising drowsiness.
Vyron’s gaze dropped to the box she held. “You may have to ask someone to keep that in their pocket.”
“Pocket?”
Vyron paused midstep, expression shifting from exhausted to mild surprise. “You do not know what a pocket is?”
Medusa shook her head.
He stretched an arm and flicked his wrist. A wooden practice sword appeared in his grip. “We are not allowed to keep real weapons in it. More talented students have larger pockets.”
“Oh.” So that’s what it’s called. She made a mental note to ask Clotho how to create one.
Vyron paused as if waiting for her to say more. When she said nothing, he continued speaking. “I’ll recommend some trustworthy people.” He stopped at the base of the steps. “Aether stones are beyond precious here. Having those puts a target on your back.”
“I see.” Medusa winced as the pain of her headache doubled.
So, aside from settling in, she had to trust a stranger to keep her property safe. She took a closer look at the stones. They resembled red opals the size of a chicken’s egg, but in their core, a dim yellow mass swirled. Another odd thing was that she wasn’t feeling any sensitivity to the stones like she did in the past.
Vyron's expression turned serious. “When we get in, you will be offered four plaques. Black, white, green and red. I advise that you choose black. The watchers always protect their own.”
“And I need protection because?” Medusa stifled a yawn and rubbed her eyes. Just let me sleep.
“Look.” Though the serious look remained in his eyes, concern joined in. “I know for an unawakened you did marvellously at the arena, but what you displayed is nothing—nothing compared to what an average dog can do. They will tear you apart and loot your belongings.”
“I see,” Medusa mumbled solemnly. She massaged her temple as her headache worsened. “Say, what do the other colours stand for?”
Though it seemed like Vyron was looking out for her, she couldn’t shake off her unease. For all she knew, black could be the worst of the four. Blind trust gets you killed.
Vyron released a tired sigh and started up the steps. “Greens are the cooks. They’re the weakest and get picked on. Whites maintain the dorm.” He gave their environment a pointed look. “They are the laziest. The reds are gatherers.”
“What do they gather?”
Vyron casually pointed at the left where the bushes grew more untamed and blended into a ticket. “Take that path west and you'll enter Agria’s Nest—a deadly forest. Because the dogs receive rations only twice in six days, the reds go there to gather more… supplies.”
“I see.” Medusa did not see, but she was able to make some deductions. Common sense said red would be the worst option, but for some reason, it attracted her the most. Probably because of her second life. After the sea, the forest was her next best place.
“But if you join the blacks, you’ll be a night watcher. They’re closely knit and hold a strong ethic on protecting their own.”
Medusa cocked her head. Why was he hard-selling these watchers?
“Why?”
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He lifted a nicked brow. “Why what?”
“Why would any sane person pick anything but white?”
“Because those who newly join Dog House do not know what the colours represent.”
“And you kindly told me what they represent because?”
Judging from how he frowned, her question must have taken him aback. What? Only an idiot would take such a selfless gesture at face value.
His expression grew flat. “As the head of Dog House, I was looking out for an unawakened. You cannot survive without protection. Even that wouldn’t do.” He gave the beaded band around her wrist a pointed look before walking to the double door and pushing it open.
The grating creak from rusty hinges loudly announced their arrival.
As Medusa and Vyron walked in, boys and girls filtered into the expansive quadrangle ahead. On the two upper floors, more appeared, some leaning on the railing as they peered at her. Talk about crushing stares.
The dorm’s interior resembled its crumbling exterior—more vines in cracks. Ahead, a large tattered flag with a crest of a fire-breathing hound hung from the roof. The filthy thing looked like it had been hanging there for ages.
Murmurs increased as Vyron led Medusa to the elevated platform across the quadrangle. She felt it then, the predatory way some looked at the box she held. Vyron was correct; they would tear her apart to get the stones.
Medusa sighed internally. This was too much for her exhausted mind to manage. And her sawing headache was quickly souring her mood.
“Dogs!” Vyron's voice did that amplifying thing but not as loud or refined as the herald’s. “This is May, daughter of Venetis and the newest member of our house.”
“We know that already,” someone shouted. Laughter erupted from the gathering.
So, Vyron wasn’t respected. Medusa tucked away the discovery for later consideration.
If Vyron was upset by their laughter, it did not show. “According to tradition, May will select a post. Bring the plaques.”
A knobby-kneed girl rushed forward. In her hand was a slab holding four small plaques with varying colours.
“M-make your choice,” she said with eyes downcast. Medusa spied a green plaque tied to her belt. Another quick glance around and she saw everyone except Vyron had plaques tied to their belts.
Medusa stretched her hand towards black.
“Stop!”
A boy leapt from the second floor and landed with a force that caused a small tremor. Medusa frowned, finding herself more worried about the durability of the crumbling dorm than the approaching huffing boy. And why did he look like an English bull terrier? She cocked her head to get a better view. Small, far-apart eyes and oblong face. Definitely a terrier. And the plaque swinging from his belt was white. Interesting.
“What is it, Eristes?” Vyron asked in an exasperated voice.
“I have a demand regarding her.” Eristes stabbed a finger in Medusa’s direction. “A demand I am sure most would agree with.”
What now? Medusa gritted her teeth when the pulsing pain in her head doubled. Glancing around, her frustration mounted. Even if she were to find a bed this instant, could she safely sleep in this place?
“Such a shining talented individual should be assigned to an appropriate post,” Eristes said with a sneer. The hum of conversion rose, with a few nodding.
Vyron made a face, appearing annoyed for the first time. “Why are you doing this?”
“Why am I doing this?” Eristes shifted his focus to Medusa and offered a mocking smile. “Because we have a true gem in our midst, one who nearly joined the Manticores but was thrown to us at the last moment.” The hum of conversation grew even louder and so did Medusa’s irritation.
“Why don’t we—”
“I really need to sleep.”
A sudden hush fell.
It happened. Medusa had reached her breaking point. The exhaustion was so bad that her joints ached, coupled with the relentless headache.
“What was that you said?” The terrier’s face, first aghast, soon twisted with an unsightly scowl.
Medusa walked over to the girl holding the slab and made a show of pondering her options. She suspected Eristes intended to incite the crowd to make her choose red.
Before you choose for me, I'll choose for myself.
She retrieved the red plaque and dumped it in her box. “What next?”
“Why?” Vyron asked, clearly astonished. “You should have—”
“How dare you?” Eristes’ already tiny eyes reduced to mean little slits. “How dare you interrupt when I'm speaking?”
A pity Medusa was past caring. Ignoring him, she retrieved one of her stones and observed it. It was pleasantly warm and pulsed against her palm. There was a code regarding aether stone exchange, if she could…
“How about an exchange? Protection for this.” Medusa lifted the stone.
Vyron gawked at her. “How… why? What are you doing?”
The gathering was abuzz.
“Did you hear that?”
“It's a mid-grade stone!”
“She seems like trouble. Did you hear how she spoke to Eristes?”
“Hey!” A fiercely muscular boy stepped forward. “Did I hear you correctly?”
“And if you did?” Medusa blinked hard. Her lids were beginning to feel heavy.
“I can protect you if—”
A girl with a buzz cut shoved him aside and flashed sharp teeth at Medusa. “See how I easily handled him? I’ll offer a full year’s protection for one aether stone. What do you—”
More pushed forward, each appearing stronger than the last as they shouted their offer.
“Smart.”
Medusa froze at the sudden feel of an arm resting over her shoulders. This… this person. She had not sensed their approach. Tense alertness pulverised her drowsiness.
“I was wondering how you’d manage the situation, and you didn’t disappoint.” His chuckle was deep and carefree. “I’m Akrivi, by the way.”
“Get your hand off me,” Medusa said through gritted teeth.
“Whoa!” He released her and raised both hands. “Why so testy?” He was about two heads taller than her and possessed an unfairly handsome face and great hair.
Medusa made a face as wariness crept in. Who was this person? So far, he was the only other student who wore jewellery—a single sapphire earring swung from his left earlobe. Demeter said her students only get to keep what they earn. Maybe…
“Are you strong?”
A charming smile curved the corner of his lips as his gaze danced over her face. “What do you think?”
“Do you want the aether stone too?”
“Only a fool wouldn’t,” he said with a casual shrug.
Medusa noticed the gathering had grown quiet. None attempted to cut into their conversation. So, he was strong. And a gatherer judging from the colour of his plaque.
“Will you protect me?”
“One month.”
Medusa raised a brow in question.
“One month of protection for one aether stone.”
“Also protect my property and we have a deal.”
“You drive a hard bargain, May the unawakened” his dark eyes twinkled as his small smile grew to a bright grin, “but I like you. Akrivi at your service.”
“Don’t do it!” Vyron reached for Medusa, a look of panic on his face. He had barely touched her arm when Akrivi flashed over, looming behind him like a shadow of death. Even the look on his face had shifted from playful to chilling ferocious menace.
“Hands off, leader.” He touched Vyron’s shoulder. “Please.”
Colour leached off Vyron’s face as he gulped and nodded. “Fine.” He dropped his hand. “It’s fine.”
Akrivi returned to her side in a blink, all easy smile and sunshine charm. “I’ll have this. Thank you.” He took the stone Medusa offered and looped an arm over her shoulder like they were long-lost friends. “You seem tired, esteemed customer. Let me lead you to your room.”
What post would you choose?
