I tried chatting up the few wrath-quasis at school, but they just wanted to kick my butt. It’s a wrath-thing; you like to see how you rank in the hierarchy. Unfortunately, that would’ve ended with them in the hospital, not a new best friend for yours truly. Zeke’s lust-bunny buddies always ask me to join their lunch table, but Cissy’s there too. And every time we make eye contact, her envy demon roars to life. It’s just weird. All in all, I’ve spent a lot of quality time eating Demon bars in a corner.

The Old Timer and Tank step into the center of the group. Tank blows a long tweet from his whistle. Everyone falls silent.

Our gym teacher sets his monstrous hands on his hips. With his skyscraper build, bald head, and solid chin, he’s a tower in his black robes. Beside him, the Old Timer looks like a gray stick in a blanket with half a moustache.

“We’ve big news for you today,” says Tank. “OT-42 wanted to combine our classes for this special announcement because…” He looks down at the Old Timer. “Why are we doing this again?”

The Old Timer pats the raw skin above his lip. “Security.” He scans the field nervously. “You never know who’ll stop by.”

I hide a snarky smile under my hand. After the Papilio demon attack, the Old Timer hasn’t been the same ghoul, in a good way. The obnoxious lessons on ‘serving our masters’ have disappeared, replaced by study halls where we read demon self-defense books. He doesn’t even give tests anymore.

Tank slaps the Old Timer on the back with such force that the rickety ghoul almost tumbles into the crowd. “That’s right,” says Tank. “Safety in numbers. Very important.” He presses his huge hands together. “As you know, quasis are tested Senior Year and assigned a lifetime service. Testing hasn’t yet started for this class.” A low groan rises from the group of students. Tank raises his arms. “Don’t worry. There’ll be no tests today.”

The Old Timer wraps his cloak around him more tightly. “In fact, we’re here to tell you there won’t be any testing this year.”

The groans change into happy chatter.

No testing? I pump the air with my fist. That’s freaking awesome!

Tank folds his huge arms over his barrel chest. “Now, quiet down.” The students instantly fall silent. “The Department of Quasi Learning has decided that this year, all students will be assigned the same service. Everyone will join the new Ghoul Protection League. Going forward, gym class will train you for this service.”

In the back of my mind, I remember Cissy telling me something about gym class changing. Fighting in a Protection League sounds pretty cool.

I raise my hand. “What battle skills will we learn?”