Chương 10: Chapter 9: The Children of God

Alice sat on the edge of her bed and glanced at the brass clock. It was 9: 50 in the morning; she still had ten more minutes before her so-called classes started. She rubbed her eyes and sighed.

"Ha… I don't want to go there… I just wanna lie on the bed." There are seventeen other kids, right? Goddess, how am I gonna talk to them? Do I have to? They said I'll be out of here in a jiffy. Surely it won't be too bad. A faint rustling rang at the other side of her door, as if someone was leaning against it. If not for her enhanced hearing, it would have been unheard. Is the ghoul already here? Rather early. Alice stood up, reaching for the brass knob. The voice of a young boy rang out.

"You sure this is the right room?" A high-pitched girl replied, "Are you blind? Didn't we just see their parents walk out?"

"If you're so sure, why don't you go knock or something?" A deeper, different voice said.

"Me? Why me?" the girl said.

"You're the one that wanted to see the new kid," the young boy retorted. The girl clicked her tongue.

"You wanted to see them too. Why don't you do it?"

"You're just scared that they'll get angry," the deep one uttered.

"I am not scared, you daft idiot." The girl tapped her foot.

"Then just do it, then." The young boy chuckled, as if shaking his head. The girl took a deep breath.

"I… I…" Alice could already imagine the girl raising her hand to knock. Hm. What if I…

"I… can hear you three," Alice called out. A stark silence cut through the three children. After a few soundless seconds, the girl spoke out, her voice shaking lightly.

"Uh… he… hello. We… we wanted to say hi?"

"Bloody idiot," the boy with the deep voice grumbled. Okay, just smile at them. That's what Mother always said. Alice forced a light smile on her face, her muscles twitching lightly. She pulled open the door and looked at the three kids in front of her. The girl, with shoulder-length bright red hair and light freckles spattered over her pale face, instantly caught Alice's attention. Her eyes were a light amber, her nose was tiny and adorable, and to say the least, her bosom was already developing.

Unlike a certain silver-eyed girl. She's pretty. Her hair… I like it. A tall, lanky boy stood beside her, his face gaunt and deep black circles surrounding his blue eyes. He was at least three, perhaps four heads taller than Alice, and he was nearly as pale as her. Is that even a person? Lastly, there was a fat boy, the meat of his cheeks and face folding in on itself, and his clothes seemed to hardly contain his girth.

His eyes were green, and his face would have been endearing if not for the excessive amount of fat. By the Lady, that one is even worse. Surely that's not healthy. The gaunt kid's eyes widened.

"Wow. You look like a ghost." The fat one laughed.

"The pot calling the kettle black."

"Shut up, you two." The girl snickered. The fatty rolled his eyes, and the gaunt kid sighed.

"Hi there." The girl stepped forward, presenting a smile.

"You're the new kid, right? My name's Evelyn." She reached out her small hand. She wants to shake hands? Alice lightly shook Evelyn's hand; it was soft like silk.

"I'm Alice." Her hand is warm… it's soft too. I wish I had hands like hers.

"The tall one over here is Jack." Evelyn pointed at the gaunt kid.

"Hello," Jack said.

"And the fat one is Marley," Evelyn said.

"Hey! You don't need to say it like that." Marley frowned.

"How do you want me to say it, then?" Evelyn furrowed her brows.

"My mother always said I had a wide, healthy body," Marley said.

"Right." Evelyn paused for a second, then turned back to Alice.

"Anyways, it's nice to meet you, Alice. Wanna come with us? Class is about to start." Come with her? We've only just met. Alice took a step back.

"I… I'm not so sure. A ghoul's supposed to take me there." Jack raised his brows.

"You're going to the same place anyway. You sure you wanna go with a ghoul?"

"Maybe it's—" Evelyn grabbed Alice's hand and tugged her into the corridor. Alice let out a soft yelp as she stepped outside.

"Come on! It's just a ghoul!" Evelyn said.

"Is it really alright?" Alice gulped.

"Probably." Evelyn shrugged.

"Like Jack said, you're going to the same place anyway. The ghouls here are weird. Better you come with us."

"O… Okay…" Alice nodded. This girl… I nearly tripped. Alice held Evelyn's hand as they walked down the hallway. Wow, her hand is really warm. The other two walked beside them. Jack said, "Besides, if you end up being late, Father Orlando will get angry."

"Father Orlando?" Alice asked.

"He's our teacher. He's really strict with us," Marley said. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"What are you talking about? Father Orlando is very kind," Evelyn said.

"To you. Just because you learn so quickly." Jack scoffed. They went down the stairs and took a few twists and turns. For a moment, it felt like the first floor was infinitely long.

"There's our classroom." Evelyn pointed at an open door.

"I think I'll get lost here," Alice said.

"You'll get used to it. Or you can always come with me," Evelyn said.

"Th… thanks," Alice murmured. As Alice stepped inside, she saw a middle-aged man standing behind a desk. He had short black hair and a well-trimmed beard, and he wore a black robe just like Father Arno. The man looked up with his dim green eyes and cast a kind smile at her as they walked past. That must be Father Orlando. He looks old. On the other side of the room were thirteen other children who looked around her age. There were more girls than boys.

It was strange; it was the first time she saw so many women gathered in the same place.

"You can sit beside me." Evelyn led her to a row of seats in the back. Alice nodded and quickly took her seat. Evelyn sat down to her right, while Jack and Marley were to her left. There are so many people here, Alice thought, as she felt several gazes bore down on her. Father Orlando cleared his throat and said, "Everyone's here. Good. As you might have noticed, you have a new classmate. Why don't you go in front and introduce yourself?" Me? In front? Goddess have mercy, what do I even say?

With a gulp, Alice stood up and made her way to the front of the room. Her legs trembled as she felt all eyes upon her, watching, waiting like vultures trying to figure out when she'd drop dead.

"My name is Alice Valentine. It's… good to meet you." Alice lowered her head and said. Is that alright? That should be alright. It's not like I can tell them anything else.

"That would be fine. Go back to your seat, Alice," Orlando said. Alice let out a sigh of relief and quickly hobbled back toward her seat. When she sat down, Evelyn was smirking right at her.

"What?" Alice murmured.

"Nothing." Evelyn let out a soft giggle. Orlando stood up and raised his voice.

"We shall start with soul practice today." The other children let out soft groans of displeasure, while Marley rubbed his eyes and Jack let out a soft sigh. Soul practice?

"Do you know how to—" Orlando cut Evelyn off.

"Alice. I would like to speak with you." Evelyn clicked her tongue.

"You best go there. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay." Alice stood up and approached Orlando.

"What is it, Father?"

"Take a seat, child." Orlando pointed to the empty chair right in front of his table. Alice sat down, and though her legs ached for comfort, she dared not cross them.

"I have heard that you are already capable of controlling your soul."

"I am. My father taught me the basics."

"Basics, you say? Show me." Alice closed her eyes and envisioned a glass dome inside her chest, half-filled with her bright silver spirituality. She willed her spirituality through her nerves and into her pupils. When she opened her eyes, she beheld Father Orlando glimmering in a faint blue light.

"What do you see?"

"Your soul is blue. Everything else is black and white."

"Look behind you. What do you see there?" Alice turned around and beheld the small crowd. Faint, flickering colors surged from the children's closed eyes as they practiced control of their souls. Their faces twisted, some in pain, others in annoyance. A few—three, nay, four—showed no signs of spirituality save for the thin layer of light coming off their skin. Is it really that hard? Don't you just imagine your soul?

"They're… struggling." As her gaze drifted to her seat, she noticed something strange. Evelyn's eyes were completely open, and she was smiling right at her. The girl even waved her hand and tilted her head. Most of them, at least. What is she even doing?

"That is correct. How long can you maintain this state?" The ride here was at least fifteen minutes… so ten? But I haven't tried further than that.

"I'm not sure… the furthest I've tried is ten minutes."

"That is good. It means you've grown used to your spirituality. I assume your parents trained you from a younger age."

"They taught me a few things back then, nothing practical. But they only really trained my sight after I awakened." Father Orlando rubbed his chin.

"Hm, hardly even a week has passed. That is very quick for a Caitiff. It normally takes weeks, some even months, to get used to their spirituality."

"Ca… Caitiff?" Alice tilted her head in confusion.

"We call the higher generations Caitiff. Thin-blooded. The difference between them and humans is… negligible." That's a nice word to say. Caitiff. I'm a Caitiff.

"Your show of control is excellent, I must say. Unnatural, even." Orlando leaned into his seat and rubbed his eyes.

"I can't believe there's another one."

"What do you mean, Father?"

"Evelyn, the one you came in with. Unlike you, she arrived with no knowledge of her soul. But she grasped her concept of control in a mere two days. As for you… we will see if your talent holds up later on."

"I… I see…" Alice nodded slowly. Is that why she's not doing anything? She already knows how to control it?

"If you know how to control your soul, then they must also have taught you about the supernatural."

"Yes, by my father."

"Then tell me, what is a demihuman?"

"It is someone who has consumed the heart of a monster, or another demihuman. They are a hybrid of man and beast, and they wield powers beyond imagining."

"And where did these monsters come from?"

"Monsters descended from the twelve Gods. They are the children who have strayed from the path of good. They have their own clans, their bloodlines."

"Tell me more about bloodlines."

"Bloodlines are separated into ten generations. The lower the generation, the stronger they are… the less they're human, and the closer they are to their Gods."

"You are not entirely correct. True, demihumans of lower generations become estranged from their own reality. But monsters, they experience the opposite. Some even learn how to speak," Orlando said.

"Is that so? I didn't know that," Alice said.

"Not knowing is fine. Not wanting to learn is not. You said your father taught you all of this?"

"My mother as well." Father Orlando continued.

"Your mother… a seventh-generation specter. Am I correct?"

"Yes."

"And your father?"

"He's a seventh generation as well. I don't know his bloodline. He's never told me, but he can control things with his mind."

"What generation were you originally?"

"A ninth. I've always wondered about that, actually. Both of my parents are of the seventh. Shouldn't I have been born an eighth?"

"If both of them were of the same bloodline. Mixed parents always bear weaker children. We call this the law of dilution. The bloodline of a progeny is randomly decided from their parents, and it would be two generations removed instead of one. Though there are some other factors to weigh in. If you were born a boy, then there would be a higher chance of inheriting your father's blood. The specter bloodline is heavily biased toward the female gender." That makes sense.

So that's why there are more girls in this class. But… what about the ghosts that I saw? I didn't notice that there were more women.

"What about the ghosts in the city? I saw both men and women."

"We call them the Lost. They are the result of intense emotions transforming the souls of the perished into near-mindless specters. Souls without ties to any God, souls chained down by mortal desires. They are weak, yet many in number. True specters are either created by lower-generation specters or were born naturally as demihumans." So all the ones that I saw were once people. That's frightening.

"And about the—""I am certain you have more questions, but your peers still struggle. I cannot tend to you personally. I will give you two books after class, as I have given Evelyn." Alice's eyes lit up at the mention of books. Books? Books about the supernatural? Oh, that's so much better than asking him outright.

"Do not laze about even if you are superior to your peers." Orlando looked off into the students behind her. He's looking at Evelyn, isn't he?

"I will keep that in mind, Father Orlando." Alice stood up and made her way to the back of the classroom again. Alice sat back down and let out a breath of relief as she crossed her legs.

"What was that about, Alice? You can already control your eyes?" Evelyn leaned forward. Too close.

"Ye… yeah," Alice replied.

"That's great! I can finally talk to someone during practice." Evelyn's lips curled into a wide smile. And what were you supposed to be doing? Alice turned to the two boys to her left. Jack was heaving, and he opened his eyes just for a few seconds before shutting them again. Meanwhile, the corners of Marley's sockets were turning red, and he was sweating bullets like a fat pig being roasted over a charcoal flame. Jack opened his eyes, his whites a slight velvet.

"Damn it… so you're like her? I thought I was already making some progress." Evelyn shook her head.

"Don't say that. You're probably the third best here. You used to be second till Alice came by."

"You didn't need to add the last part." Jack bit his lower lip. Orlando's voice boomed from the table.

"Do not talk to the ones practicing!"

"Yes, Father." Evelyn's hand shook, and she quickly looked away. Orlando closed his eyes again, focusing on his practice.

"I guess it's just us for now," Evelyn said.