ASEL JULES CARSON
"What? Why are you blocking my way? Don't you know me?" a man yelled at me after I bumped into him in the quadrangle. I rolled my eyes and chewed my bubblegum. Jeez, I really think that trouble is in love with me because it follows me wherever I go, even though I'm trying to turn over a new leaf. How touching.
"Oh? Why can't you speak?" he sneered. I just stared at him, chewing my bubblegum. He was already drawing the attention of others because his timing was impeccable. It was assembly for my fellow students, and here we were, right in the center of the ceremony.
I stretched and shot him a dirty look. Why was this guy so petty?
"Ah," he scoffed, seeing my reaction. "You're just new, that's why you're acting so tough. I think you need to be taught a lesson."
He laughed with his friends at his threat. I shifted my weight to one foot and put my hands in my pockets. I counted them and smirked.
"Why are you smirking, darling? You're about to face hell, you know," he said, reaching out to brush the hair from my ear. I immediately caught his wrist, holding it tightly. His eyes widened.
"Hey! You're fighting back, huh!" he exclaimed, trying to pull his wrist free from my grip, but he failed. My grin widened further as I saw the fear flicker across his face. He tried to hide it.
"H-hey you guys! Help me out here, c'mon!" he complained to his companions. I was the one who grinned this time as his friends, dressed as butlers, surrounded me. I just shook my head and popped my bubblegum.
Oh darling, now you're cowering behind your guards? Rich kids are so pathetic.
"Get her!" the man yelled. In cue, they all lunged at me, attempting to grab me, but I just smirked and dodged their massive arms. There were four of them, burly and built like thugs. Ganging up on one girl? This guy really stooped so low this time.
I dropped to my knees and spun my shoes around, aiming for the feet approaching me. I let out a soft chuckle as they all fell to the ground simultaneously, piling on top of each other.
Yes, just like sardines.
Before they could get up, I immediately went to the man who had provoked me and put him in an arm lock. I grinned as all the students watching us gasped. I glanced around and saw that no one dared to intervene.
I sighed. Too much for trying to be a better version of myself. There's nothing I can do if people who disrupt my life don't stop. I'm not a pushover that they can just treat like a punching bag whenever they want. I learned that the hard way.
It's their fault for being immature and petty human beings that people like me have no choice but to shove their asses back to them.
I huffed as the man in my arms continued to struggle. He was so squirmy!
"Y-you'll pay for this!" he screamed and suddenly bit my arm. He even managed to kick my foot so he could escape my chokehold. He immediately lunged with a punch once he caught his breath and tried to follow up, but I quickly caught his arm and twisted it behind his back.
"Enough," I said seriously and struck the back of his knees. I was about to let him go when he suddenly fought back and tried to elbow my head. My movements became swift, and I shoved him away, causing him to fall to the ground. He immediately rolled over and tried to get up again, but I quickly pounced on him and rained punches down on him. He struggled beneath me and tried to fight back, but he was too dazed from all my attacks. I grabbed his collar and pulled his face close to mine.
"Sleep well, darling," I whispered and head-butted him. Blood immediately trickled from his head, and he slumped onto the concrete floor. I felt hands wrap around both my arms and pull me away from the man I had beaten. I frowned, feeling the tightness of their grip. I huffed at them, but they only returned a disappointed look.
Oh, man. I know those kinds of stares. I'm the bad guy...again.
****
"Jules, honestly! You haven't done anything right! You've been kicked out of so many schools, and now, you've barely entered this one and you're already in a brawl, and the person you beat up is in the hospital! You have no respect for anyone, child!" my Dad complained.
After all this time he'd spent lecturing me, I learned to close my ears to his words.
I remembered when I went home covered in bruises because I got into a fight where I needed to defend myself, or else I'd go home with broken kneecaps, and this family...instead of asking me what happened to me and if I'm okay, they just reprimanded me for beating the shit out of our neighbor's kid.
Don't get me wrong.
I tried to explain my situation, but they never listened.
They never did.
"Honey, please forgive our daughter. Let's just enroll her in another school, okay?" Mom pleaded with Dad. "Come to think of it, an invitation letter arrived earlier. Have you read it? I think Jules would be a good fit for that boarding school."
I averted my gaze and just chewed my bubblegum. Boarding school? They really want to get rid of me, huh?
"Jules," Dad called me. I didn't look at him, so he clicked his tongue. "Look at me."
I sighed and turned to him. His dark eyes were serious. "From this day forward, you'll be studying at Pandora's Academy of Forbidden Arts."
"What?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. "Is that even a real thing? The name is hilarious!"
I heard my mother sigh, so I looked at her. "No, dear. To tell you the truth, they're already waiting for your arrival. I called their contact number when I found out what you did at your school earlier."
"And you didn't even consult me about this?" I said in disbelief. What do you expect, Jules?
"Jules, just be happy that there's still a school that accepts people like you. This is your last chance to redeem yourself," Dad chimed in.
I scoffed. "Do you even know what kind of school that is? I've never heard of that academy in my entire life! Just be honest and tell me that you really want to get rid of me!"
Mom's expression softened. "Dear, it's not like that—"
"Yes, you're right, Jules." I gritted my teeth when I heard my father's words. "Even before, we couldn't control you. Maybe we failed in our parts as parents, which is why you became like that, but we grew tired of begging schools to accept you, especially since this keeps happening. And this..." He showed me the invitation letter he was holding, and my eyes caught the insignia of a woman opening a box. "...They're the ones inviting you to study at their academy despite your school records!"
"And you don't find that suspicious?" I insisted immediately. "You're basically giving me to them!"
"Dear, this is for your own good. I spoke with a representative from that school, and they promised they would take care of you—that they would use your abilities for the greater good."
"Abilities? Like what? Fighting? What is this fantasy trope bullshit—"
"Language, Jules," Dad immediately corrected me. I was about to speak when a horn honked outside our house. I watched as Dad went behind the sofa and took something from there. To my dismay, I saw a large suitcase he was dragging.
I chewed my bubblegum and snorted. "See? You're really sending me away," I said as Dad brought my luggage out. Mom immediately came to me and hugged me tightly.
"Be careful there, dear."
I didn't hug her back and just let her do what she was doing. When she let go, our eyes met for a moment, and then I turned my back on them both. I walked straight out of the house without looking back.
****
The entire trip, my mind was wandering. Everything happened so fast, and I hadn't fully processed it all. Besides, I didn't know where this driver, who just appeared out of nowhere to pick me up from home, was taking me, so I decided to just observe my surroundings.
We were in the city earlier, but now, I could see nothing but forests. It was dense and seemed to hide many creatures that should not be seen by anyone.
I glanced at the driver in the rearview mirror, but he kept his eyes straight ahead. I still asked, "Where are we now?"
Rude. The old man didn't even spare me a glance. I know I'm the least person to say this, but this dude needs to learn some manners.
I almost hit my face on the seat in front of me when he suddenly stopped. I glared at him and saw him get out of his seat. He walked around and opened the car door.
"We're here," he said. I immediately grabbed my luggage and got out of the car. A cold breeze greeted me. I looked around, but only the forest met my eyes.
I raised my eyebrows. I was right. This is nothing but a scam!
I looked back at him, but he was no longer in front of me. My eyes immediately searched for his figure, and I wasn't disappointed when I spotted a flashlight he was using not too far away. Dragging my luggage, I didn't hesitate to follow him.
A moment later, I arrived in front of a massive gate, colored gold and silver. The driver walked straight inside, while an old man with spectacles on his right eye, wearing a tuxedo, and with white hair, greeted me. He must have come from the guardhouse.
"Are you Asel Jules Carson?" he asked me. I just nodded and spat out the bubblegum from my mouth. I immediately threw it into a trash can I saw.
"So, it's true that you don't really talk that much?" he said, grinning. I just raised my eyebrows at what I heard. Was my quiet nature with people on my school records?
I looked at his gloved right hand as he suddenly extended it in front of me. He snapped his fingers, and a red paper suddenly appeared. "Here is your dormitory room number."
I waited for him to orient me more about the Academy, but he didn't say anything else aside from my room number. I tilted my head and showed him the red paper he gave me. "Is that all?"
"Yes, for now, that's all. You need to participate in the Welcome Ceremony first for you to get sorted into your respective zone."
What the fuck is a zone? I wanted to ask more, but his face already showed that he had no intention of telling me anything else. I just let out a breath and nodded. He immediately understood my reaction and opened the gate.
The moment I stepped onto the school's pavement, I felt something strange. A chill ran down my entire body, and I felt my hair stand on end. There was no one around, but I felt like countless eyes were watching me.
I swallowed my momentary fear and looked around. The colors of the buildings that met my eyes were strikingly different. The one to my right was black but dominated by silver, while the one to my left was pure black with a hint of white, and the one in the middle was a mix of black and silver, topped with gold.
The distance and difference between the buildings I mentioned were noticeable, even though their design style was the same. Is this what the old man was talking about, the zone?
I looked at the paper in my hand and checked the unique number printed on it.
204 – Vermillion.
"Let me get this for you." I almost jumped when the old man I spoke to earlier suddenly spoke beside me. He took my luggage from me and smiled. "I'll have this delivered to your dorm room."
He gestured to the bicycles parked beside the guardhouse. "The Dean is very strict about limiting vehicles inside the vicinity, so you can use these bicycles instead to get to your dormitory in no time."
"Uh," I mumbled and took a bicycle. "Where exactly is my dorm?"
"Just behind those buildings, Ms. Carson."
"B-but..."
"You'll notice which building is yours when you get there."
I just closed my mouth and followed what he said. He left immediately when he saw me starting my bicycle. It wasn't long before I arrived at where he said and was stunned by what I saw.
Vermillion.
I don't even have to think about it. The name of the building reflects its color. There's only one vermillion building among these.
I parked my bicycle to the side and got off. I took a bubble gum from my pocket and was about to open it when it suddenly disappeared from my hand. My jaw dropped when I saw a woman with long, straight hair, fair skin, and round, coffee-colored eyes who was now eating my precious bubble gum. What the—she just grinned at me!
I rolled my eyes and took a new one, immediately popping it into my mouth. Who is this annoying person?
"Hi! I'm Catherine Mae Vellaguez. Nice to meet you! You're Asel Jules Carson, right?" she asked me cheerfully and suddenly extended her hand. At first, I just stared at it, but because of her persistent gaze, I had no choice but to take it.
"Nice to meet you too—"
I stopped when the smile suddenly vanished from her face, and her grip on my hand tightened. I quickly pulled my hand back, and the pain she inflicted shot up my arm. My eyes almost bulged out when I saw two tiny holes in my hand, as if a needle had pricked me.
I gasped as my vision began to darken. I clutched my head and tried to look at her. I felt heavy, as if a cloud was above me.
"D-did you just... poison me?" I managed to say with difficulty. She immediately came closer and caught me as I lost my balance.
I gasped as I felt her breath on my neck. "Yes, I did."
"What the fuck?" I mumbled almost inaudibly. I only heard her chuckle and then she started to help me.
The world spun even more with every movement we made. "Where are you taking me?"
"You don't need to know. Believe me, I don't have bad intentions. You'll forget about this, and we can still be friends!" she said, smiling widely.
I gritted my teeth and mustered my strength to push her away from me. I immediately leaned against the wall and glared at her. I felt the beads of sweat dripping down my body. I raised my middle finger. "Over my dead body."
I heard her laugh. "You know, this is the first time. You can even stay conscious despite the amount of poison I injected you? That's new—"
I didn't let her finish and immediately punched her. I smirked as the fog in my brain slowly cleared when I heard my fist connect with her cheek. She didn't expect what I did, so she immediately flew to the floor. I didn't waste any time and immediately placed my foot on her stomach while still leaning against the wall.
"W-what's happening? Why doesn't it seem to be affecting you—"
"Wanna hear something cool?" I interrupted immediately, catching my breath. I pressed down with my foot on her stomach. "The more I hurt you, the clearer my thoughts are. Guess I have no choice but to let out my steam on you, huh?"
She screamed in pain, and her eyes widened. "S-shit. You're immune?!" Fear crept into her eyes. "How is this possible?!" she exclaimed.
I brought my face close to hers and smirked. "I don't know what you're talking about, but we need to finish what you started, right?"