Quoted By:
"Really, everyone just walks around in a natural area like a forest, and observe the plants and animals. It's supposed to help develop a better understanding of the world..."
<span class="mu-i">
Most students just see it as a chance to goof off outside with their friends!
</span>
"That still sounds like fun!" Deline is grinning again.
"Yeah, we could see lots of animals!" Lyra grabs Oberon's arm. "You'll protect me if something scary attacks us, right, Obi?"
Oberon's head tilts downward. "They say you only have to outrun the other person."
As Lyra pouts, Jax grins at Oberon. "Remind me to never get lost in the forest with you."
"We can use the forest on the edge of Calor." Triss smiles at Cady. "Let's do a class hike like they do on Cady's home planet!"
Cady follows the other students up the hallway and through a door and then another door opens into bright sunlight. Beyond is a field ringed with tall gouged stone blocks. and a round line of stone benches on either side of a grassy pit. Jax looks back at Cady as she steps through the doorway. "They call this the outdoor classroom."
<span class="mu-i">
This is clearly a fighting ring!
</span>
"Obi, turn around!" Lyra leans into Oberon and shoves him in a half-circle until he's facing the academy doorway. "And count from ten!" Before her brother can turn around, Lyra bounds over the stone bench and behind one of the tall blocks and shouts "Guess which one I'm behind!"
Oberon turns around and scans the field for a moment and then stops. "That one."
Lyra's hair bobs as her head lunges into view. "No fair using your optics!"
"Fine, fine." Oberon waves a dismissive hand. "But I might lose you in the forest."
Lyra frowns in irritation but then squeals in surprise as Deline leaps out at her from behind another stone block. Triss makes a quick joyful giggle and stops herself.
"I found a path!" Jax waves and points at his feet. "We can follow this."
Cady turns to follow them between the stone blocks when she notices a nametag in the corner of her vision that makes her swallow and begin to sweat.
<span class="mu-i">
Aaaah! Just when I got over last night, Harn Myzer is here! And he's looking at me!
</span>
(She just realized they're alone.)
<span class="mu-i">
Aaaah! I wish Master Cynto was here too, but at the same time I really don't!
</span>
Cady swallows again and the green-robed man turns toward her. "My class isn't until the afternoon." Before she can say anything, he leans down and grasps the edges of one of the stone block seats to adjust it. Cady glances toward where the students have disappeared into the hazy treeline beyond the stones. She hears Harn grunt and when she looks back he lifts up the stone.
<span class="mu-i">
He didn't even need to use Force Move!
</span>
Harn lowers it back into place and repositions it, and then looks up at Cady staring at him. "Is there something on your mind?"
<span class="mu-i">
He could fit one hand completely around my neck!
</span>
>My friends are waiting for me!
>Can we go somewhere private and talk?
>We should probably get Master Cynto...
