Grega's Story

[KeshmarCurlyHair]

Illusions of Fear
Grega's Story, Chapter 1

"Are you the new girl?" a shorter blond Nocturnian girl in a black jumpsuit asked, walking over to me.

"Yeah." I answered as a few other girls walked into the classroom. "I just came to Telgen last week."

"Wow, really?" the girl said curiously. She took my hand and shook it graciously "I'm Selian. What's your name?"

I smiled. "I'm Niriam."

"Cute name! How old are you?" Selian asked curiously.

"Oh, I'm 13." I answered. "So how about you?"

"Wow, you're old! Everyone in this class is 10 or 11." Selian answered right before a red-headed girl entered the classroom, wearing a black spandex outfit and carrying a brown belt pack at her waist. She was carrying a stack of cowboy hats. "I'm 11, but my birthday is coming up soon..."

"Good morning everyone!" the red-haired girl announced, being chased by a woman wearing a short robe with fish-nets and shorts underneath.

"Wait a second-!" the woman said as the students sat down in their seats.

"I feel so old." I joked, then looked over Selian's shoulder to see what was going on. "Uhhh... ?"

"Anyway, today's field training will be my first time outside of Telgen." Selian explained. "What's your home town like?"

I quickly followed suit with the rest of the students, sitting in a chair next to Selian. "So who's that?" I asked Selian.

"Oh, her. She's Grega, the class clown." Selian laughed.

"You mean there's class clowns here?" I responded.

Selian nodded. "Every classroom has a class clown. Even ninja classrooms! You'll get used to it."

"We're leaving Skorth Jungle, right Miss Sarhon?" the redhead said, putting the stack of cowboy hats on the desk. "These will help us blend in!"

"Take a seat, Grega." Sarhon said. "We don't need to 'blend in'."

"That's not very stealthish..." Grega pouted, sitting at a seat in the front row.

Sarhon then walked behind the desk, preparing to begin class. "Okay, class. Today will be our first junior kunoichi mission away from Telge- Grega!!!" she growled, watching Grega chew on a fruit candy. "That wouldn't be candy, now would it?"

"Oh, did you want some?" Grega asked, pulling another piece out and handing it to Sarhon. "It's really sugary and it'll give you lots of energy!"

Selian leaned over to me. "That explains a lot." she whispered.

"No, Grega. Hand it all over." Sarhon said. "Unless you have enough for everyone."

Grega reached down, pulling her belt pack up, then unzipped it, spilling fruit candy all over her desk. "There! Should I go pass them out to everyone?" Grega said, then grinned.

Sarhon sighed. "Fine..." she said, then turned back to the rest of the class as Grega stood up and started handing fruit candy to everyone. "Anyway, this will be a exam to see if everyone's fit for more advanced training. It's the one you've been hearing about for quite some time, so you can imagine how important it is."

"...an important exam? On my first day...?" I thought, getting nervous. I lowered my head as a hand rushed under it with a fruit candy. I looked up at Grega, who then grinned widely. "Oh, thanks."

"I hope everyone's ready today," Sarhon said, walking toward the door. "because we're leaving immediately."



When we arrived outside of Skorth Jungle we came up on a large stone building with several doors lined up on the wall facing us. We gathered around as Sarhon walked in front of us. "This exam will be divided into three tests. The test of courage, the test of wisdom, and the test of strength. You must complete all three tests to pass the exam. You may use any and all weapons and tools at your disposal.

Sarhon started pacing in front of us as she explained the test. " I won't lie to you. It is quite common for classes to return with less members. But don't let that daunt you." Sarhon explained. "This test wasn't made to be easy, but it isn't impossible for every one of you to complete.

"The first trial is the trial of courage, which you will begin right after I pair you up." Sarhon continued. "After that, for the trial of wisdom. You will exit the building on the other side, then you will simply need to get through the path safely. The path is trapped, and you will have to cooperate with your teammate to avoid some of the dangers."

Sarhon walked to the middle of the group. "The last trial is the trial of strength. This is a straight combat trial which will occur when everyone has met up on that mountain. Defeat one of the special golems that I've summoned on the mountain and bring me it's core as proof of your victory." she said, then backed up, looking around at us. "Now I shall pair you all up. Nasia, you're with Magi. Selian, you're with Koramane. Tiira, you're with Lerek. Qaderi, you're with Masira."

As Sarhon called our names, the others walked around to their partners. "Grega, you're with Niriam. Jasera, you're with Faliek. Aaaand Paiyan, you're with Trinek."

Grega scurried over to me, immediately glomping me. "Yay, I get the new girl!" she squealed.

"...Grega, right?" I asked.

"Yeah! What's your name?" Grega asked.

"Miss Sarhon just called it..." I said, confused. "And you recognized it and came over here."

"Oh yeah!" Grega responded cheerfully. "Niriam?"

"Nhnn." I answered, nodding.

"Good luck, Niriam!" Selian said from across the group, waving at me.

"Thanks, you too!" I said back to her.

"She's all mine!" Grega yelled to Selian.

"Alright everyone," Sarhon announced. "here are the rules. Follow them and you will pass this first test. Right inside those doors, you will be confronted with your greatest fear. To conquer it, you must overcome it. If it is a living thing, do NOT kill it. If it is an obstacle, get past it. Your partner will be there when you've passed the test."

"When we passed...?" I thought.

"These ten doors are for pairs." Sarhon continued. "You will go in with your partner and stand on opposite sides of the hall. After that, the test will officially begin. Alright, I hope everyone's ready." Sarhon said. "...go!"

We all then scattered nervously with our partners, entering the doors. Grega and I entered, then looked around. The room was small, but dimly lit with no sign of a light source. "Okay, we gotta stand on opposite sides." I said.

"Right!" Grega cheered fearlessly, not hesitating to take her place on the right side of the room.

I heaved a big sigh as my heart was racing, having somewhat of a good idea what to expect from this trial. I nervously stepped over to the left side of the room, turning to face Grega. Suddenly, Grega seemed to move farther away, as if the room was magically extending outward into a hallway. "Here it comes..." I thought. I knew this wasn't going to be pleasant.

I looked down, noticing water seeping through the bottom of the walls. The reflection from the water made it look completely black. As it came out, it sped up, touching my feet. "It's just a test... it's just a test..." I told myself as I stood still, ankle-deep in cold, black water. My heart was racing.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!" Grega screamed, from the other side.

I looked down the hall, unable to see her. That's when I noticed a flood of black water coming from that direction. The walls crumbled under the weight of it as I stood my ground. I knew it had to be an illusion. The water hit me, rising above my knees, but at this point, the whole room was gone. The whole building was gone. I was staring at an open night sky.

I then noticed in the distance... Grega was there, on a life boat. "I have to get to her..." I thought.

I waded through the water. "This isn't so bad..." I tried to tell myself, as my fear of water still had me intensely shaking. I looked down, noticing the water level has risen, almost to my waist now. I decided to speed up a bit.

From this point, I could hear Grega's screams. I couldn't understand what she was saying, but it sounded like she was scared. I wasn't sure if she is experiencing her own fear or anything. All I was thinking about was getting this over with.

As I ran through the water, it quickly increased depth. I noticed that as I ran toward Grega, she seemed to not get any closer. "This must be part of the test..." I told myself.

As my mind was almost crippled with fear at this point, I felt something slimy rub against my legs. I kept going however, as it caused my mind to blank in overload. The water level now reached my chest.

I kept looking at Grega, who was at this point actually getting closer. I could finally make out her face. She was looking right at me, terrified. "Grega!" I shouted, or at least tried... all that came out was a whimpery cry.

"It's almost over..." I thought, trying to relieve myself as I approached. As the water was now up to my mouth, I reached the life boat, noticing that Grega was in tears with fear, I reached up to her. She slowly reached back, hesitating, then finally grabbing on to my hand.

Suddenly, the water vanished completely. The walls of the room reappeared as the illusion disappeared. Grega stood in front of me, frozen and in tears. A doorway appeared to my left and opened to the outside as Grega threw her arms around me, crying.

"We did it..." I said, sighing in relief.

We walked out of the room and collapsed on the grass. There, Sarhon was standing, along with a few of the other girls that were in about the same shape we were. As Grega still clung to me, as I was to her, the rest of the girls made it out.

"...alright, I see that none of you died... now you're allowed a small break now before the second test begins." Sarhon announced. "Take this time to share your experiences of the first test with your partner."

"YOU WAS A GIANT SPIDER!" I heard another girl exclaim loudly, clinging to her partner.

I turned to Grega.

"...it was scary." Grega pouted. "There was all of these bodies hanging from the wall... still alive"

I listened to Grega's story. It sounded a lot worse than what I went through with my wimpy fear.

"They had no arms and legs... then I saw a weird thing come at me... it had a saw in it's hand... the bodies were yelling 'run, he done this to us', so I backed away..."

"That's awful..." I said, imagining what her fear was.

"I stopped against the back wall... it was still coming... I knew I wasn't supposed to kill it, but I was so scared...."

"Oh, I think I understand..." I said. I acknowledged that her fear had to be losing all of her limbs, but I didn't want to say it. "That thing... after it ended, it turned out to be me, didn't it?"

"Mhmm..." Grega answered, trying to dry her tears on her shirt collar.

"Okay, breaktime's over." Sarhon said. "Unfortunately, you won't have time to change your clothes if you pissed yourself. However, I can guarantee you that you won't be scared of anything else after that."

"You gonna be okay now?" I asked Grega.

"...yeah." she answered. as I noticed her cheerful tone from before the first test was gone.