"Time has come hazel. Now we have to begin your inheritance training," she said with all seriousness.
It took me a minute to grasp what she said. I had no words. My inheritance training will start now. This was the thing I was waiting for since I arrived here.
"Hazel, are you here? " Madam said, noticing my silence.
"Yes" I wanted to say something more, but only one word came out of my mouth.
"Now listen, you will be meeting me in the training arcade after lunch, I will be training you personally," she said.
Before I could ask her questions, she stopped me and continued.
"Your fellow trainees will start their knowledge and language-based sessions of their own choice. If someone asks, you will say your sessions are in the biology and medic departments. Make sure to cover the details."
"Yes," I said.
"Now go to the cafeteria and have your breakfast. It's already late. Rush before any suspicion arises," she continued.
I nodded and turned towards the door and left the room. I saw doc standing outside the room.
"Everything's fine?" he asked.
I nodded and started walking towards the lift. I entered the lift and pressed the 10th-floor button. As the lift door closed, I let out a sigh. Oh my god. This is happening. the reason for my presence here will begin now. Suddenly, the lift stopped at the 4th floor, the floor on which our quarters are. As the lift gates opened, I saw a familiar face. It was Austin.
"Hi," he said with a smile.
He entered the lift and saw the 10th-floor button pressed.
"Good I was also going to the cafeteria," he said.
I didn't react. I was busy analyzing what Madam Stella said.
The lift started going up. We were awfully quiet. I glanced at him and he was staring at me. As I looked at him, he suddenly started facing another side. That was odd. I ignored that. I have known Austin for the last six months and he never stays quiet, sometimes I have to ask him to shut up. But today he was different.
The lift door opened finally. It was so awkward inside. We entered the cafeteria. There were many agents there sitting and discussing. I went and took the tray from the counter and went to pick up food. I picked up a sandwich and a glass of juice and started looking for the table.
"They are on the corner table," said Austin who was standing beside me. I didn't even notice him.
We started walking towards the end of the room. At the near-end corner, there was a table. And there were my fellow trainees Renee, Collin, and Brie. I wished them good morning. I sat on the empty chair beside Collin and Austin sat in front of me beside Brie.
"Has the sun risen from the west today?" Brie said. She can never mind her own business, can she? She is a bully and always picks on the weaker ones. Her nature always annoys everyone, she is always in a fighting mood.
"Why?" said Collin, filling his mouth with food.
"Today our hazel is 15 minutes late for the table" she commented.
Today I was not in the mood to give her a reply. I have a big day today I need to focus on that. So, I ignored her comment and started on my sandwich.
"What happened Miss rebel? No backfires today?" she again commented. I pray to God to keep her quiet, otherwise, this glass of juice would go on her face.
"Ignore her hazel," said Collin. Collin always reminds me of Neel, innocent and friendly. Always sees good in everyone.
"I got a message that from today onwards we will start our personal sessions." This time it was Renee. She is a sweetheart but she is damn intelligent and always a blabber but I like her, she is a good friend.
"I am taking language study, what are you guys choosing?" she asked us.
"I am taking geological and cartographer training," Collin said with a smile.
Huff. Brie grunted. She wants the juice.
"I am taking weaponry," she said proudly.
"What are you taking Austin?" she said softly. Here we go!
"I am taking equipment and machinery," he said. I noticed he was looking at me again. Why is he doing that?
"And what about you hazel?" asked Renee.
"I am taking biology" I replied.
"So predictable" she taunted.
What the hell is wrong with her. With no longer in the mood for food and fight, I got up and placed the tray in the dustbin. As I was doing that Austin approached me.
"Are you okay? Don't mind her she is always like that" he said.
I nodded no more in the mood to reply. As I was turning to leave the cafeteria, I saw some awkwardness on Austin's face, as if he wants to ask something. To cut the tension, I asked him the same thing.
"Do you want to say something?"
"Actually, yes" he replied with a shocking reaction.
"I am sorry for last night. I think I was rude when you said you understand." He said it in one go.
To be honest, it took me by surprise that he apologized even though he didn't make a mistake or made me feel bad.
"I didn't feel bad at all" I assured him.
"Really? Thank God. I thought you were angry that is why you were not talking to me" he said.
"No, I wasn't angry with you or anyone else," I replied.
"Why were you in so tensed mood?" he asked again.
"I was just thinking something," I said
"By the way, in the morning I went to your room but you weren't there," he said.
"Oh, I was with madam discussing my inherit..." I stopped in the middle of my sentence. What am I doing? This isn't good. I need to get out of here before he asks me another question.
"You were with? What are you saying?" he asked. Oh no.
"I –I was in the communication center, calling maa, nothing important. I will see you in the arcade" I said and left abruptly from there.
Oh no. What did I just do? I just blew up my cover. Madam told me to watch. Shit. I hope he doesn't get suspicious. I need to correct it as soon as possible. I will clear everything when we meet him in the arcade. He is not going to let it go. This is a grave mistake. I need to control myself. I need to watch my words. Any extra detail will blow my cover. A small mistake of mine can ruin everything.