CHAPTER7
1367 Words
CHAPTER 7
CRYSTAL
I was standing with all these other students, feeling kinda out of place. The Mayhem School grounds were huge, like the start of some epic adventure.
Tried to blend in, you know? But I couldn't shake the feeling that Niklaus Prime Wolfe was watching me. It was intense!
I shifted around, pretending' to be super interested in the orientation booklet I was clutchin'. Niklaus was like a legend, everyone talked about his training methods like they were straight-up magic.
Kept sneaking glances at him though. Those blue eyes and that mysterious smile had me curious as heck.
Tried to focus on why I was there. This was my shot to learn from the best, to level up my skills and really shine. But when Niklaus started talking', it was like he had us all under his spell.
This was just the start of something' big, and while I was definitely nervous, I was also pumped about what was coming next. Bring it on, Niklaus Prime Wolfe, I'm ready to take on whatever challenges you throw my way!
There he was, Niklaus Prime Wolfe, stepping up like he owned the place. And you know what? We all kinda froze, like he had some kinda magic hold over us.
His right eye was alive, scanning the crowd, while the left one hid behind his famous eyepatch. It was a sight, let me tell ya.
"Alright, listen up," he started, his voice cutting through the quiet.
"Rule number one: Discipline. You gotta stick to the plan, no slacking off, or you're outta here."
We all nodded, feeling the seriousness of it sink in.
"Rule number two: Respect. You gotta respect each other, respect me, and respect yourselves. None of that disrespect crap."
I gulped, realizing this wasn't gonna be a walk in the park.
"And lastly, rule number three: Perseverance. You gotta push yourselves, give it your all, or you're gonna fall behind. No excuses."
With that, Niklaus started pacing, and I couldn't help but feel the pressure. This was the real deal, and if I wanted to make it through this training, I had to stick to Niklaus's rules and prove I had what it takes.
Then Niklaus just randomly picks out two dudes from the crowd and tells 'em to show what they're made of. They wasted no time getting' into a wrestling match right there in the middle of us, while Niklaus paced around 'em like some kinda judge.
I couldn't stop staring at Niklaus, even though I had no idea why. There was just something about him that drew me in, y'know?
Anyway, the two guys were going at it, trying to outmuscle each other, and Niklaus was watchin' 'em with this stone-cold expression. I could tell he wasn't impressed, even though the rest of us were holding our breath.
Finally, when one of the guys wins, Niklaus just shrugs and says, "Not bad, but you've got a long way to go to impress me."
And with that, he walks away, leaving' us all wondering' what we gotta do to really catch his eye.
I couldn't stop the questions racin' through my head, especially after Niklaus's mysterious smirk earlier. So, while everyone else was busy training, I snuck away to try and find him.
I tried to keep up with Niklaus's fast pace as he headed down the school corridor, but man, that guy moves like lightning. I peeked into a bunch of rooms, hopin' to catch a glimpse of him.
After checking out a few, I finally stumbled upon one that looked like it could be his. Took a deep breath, hesitated for a sec, then pushed the door open.
But nope, the room was empty. Niklaus was nowhere to be seen. I let out a frustrated sigh and leaned against the doorframe, trying to figure out my next move.
And then, outta nowhere, I heard a voice behind me. "Looking for someone?"
I nearly jumped outta my skin as I spun around to see Niklaus standing' there, smirking' like he knows something I don't. My heart raced as I tried to find the right words.
"Yeah," I managed to stammer out. "I wanted to talk to you earlier, about why you took me home and how you even knew where it was."
Klaus' smirk grew wider, and he sauntered further into the room, his gaze locking' onto mine.
"I know more than you think, Crystal," he said mysteriously. "But some things are better left unsaid."
A shiver ran down my spine as he turned and left the room, leaving me standing there with more questions than answers.
Just as I was about to follow Niklaus, Katherine called out to me from behind, "Yo, Crystal, wait up!"
I stopped in my tracks, torn between chasing after Niklaus and sticking around to chat with Katherine. I turned around to see her rushing over, looking all concerned.
"What's up?" she asked, trying to catch her breath.
I hesitated for a sec, not really wanting to spill the beans. "Um, just wanted to chat with Niklaus," I muttered, feeling kinda awkward about it.
Katherine gave me this knowing look and reached out to pat my arm. "About what?"
I squirmed a bit, not really wanting to spill the beans. "Eh, just some stuff," I replied, trying to dodge the question.
Katherine arched an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Alright, if you say so," she said, backing off for now.
I let out a sigh of relief, glad she didn't push it. "Thanks, Katherine," I said, flashing her a quick grin.
We headed back down the hallway together, my mind still buzzing with questions about Niklaus and what the heck was really going on.
I finally got back home just in time for dinner. The smell of mom's cooking hit me as soon as I walked through the door, and man, it was good to be home.
"Hey, kiddo, right on time," mom called from the kitchen as I dropped my bag by the door.
I nodded and dashed upstairs for a quick shower before joining them at the table. The day's craziness was still swirling in my head. I tried to shake it off in the shower.
When I got back downstairs, mom and dad were already at the table, chit-chatting about their day like they always do. It was a routine that made everything feel normal.
"So, how was work, dad?" I asked, grabbing a plate and scooping up some of mom's delicious cooking.
Dad shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "Eh, same old grind. But I did wrap up that project I've been working on."
Mom smiled, passing me a dish. "That's awesome, honey. And what about you, Crystal? How was school?"
I hesitated for a sec, not sure how much to spill about my run-in with Niklaus. "It was... interesting," I replied vaguely, not wanting to stress them out.
My parents exchanged a look, but dad just nodded. "As long as you're good, that's all that matters."
And with that, we dug into mom's cooking, enjoying a chill dinner together like any other night.
As dinner rolled on, it was all good vibes until my brother Havard strolled in. Suddenly, the whole vibe changed. I couldn't even chew my food properly with him around. It's been like this for the past five years, ever since that thing went down.
Havard acted like I didn't even exist, and it weighed on me like a ton of bricks. His silence said it all – he blamed me for what happened. And I couldn't blame him for joining Alpha Skylar's forces and hunting witches outside our turf. I mean, the guy's a wizard himself, so you can imagine how messed up it must be for him to take other lives.
I snuck a glance at him from across the table, but he was as stone-faced as ever. The tension between us was thick enough to cut with a knife, and it made me wish things could go back to the way they used to be.
But for now, we were stuck in this awkward silence, a constant reminder of the mess that tore us apart.
- Writer
