Chapter 3: Fated Encounter
Classes were finally over, the entrance of the school was crowded by people as students went to meet and catch up with their friends as they made their ways out of the school premises to live their own respective lives.
I look up into the clouds and noticed that it was still somewhat sunny despite it being close to evening now.
I look back at the school and stared at the massive clock tower stationed in the center of the school grounds. I skim through the structure and layout of the premises and can't help but feel amazed.
Even now I can't believe how large and grand this school is compared to the old orphanage study block I used to go to. Such a change of scenery was quite sudden for me.
These past few days I haven't gotten the chance to explore much around the school. Seeing that how it was still bright outside, I've decided to stroll the entirety of the school before I head back home. Walking helps me clear my mind off troubling thoughts, so having a change of pace from the agony from two days ago was quite exhilarating.
As I navigate my way around the school, familiarizing myself with the different places in the premises, I've noticed that there were some students still present after school as well. Some were doing afterschool activities, some studying alone peacefully and some meditating in the courtyard.
I didn't notice it before but for some reason, the atmosphere in the school slightly increases the cultivating rate of magic. I guess that's probably why some people decide to stay back after class to meditate, of course, they can't stay here forever as school closes at seven.
Intrigue by the special atmosphere in the courtyard, I decided to meditate for a while there as well, before continuing to explore the school again. A short period of time had passed before I got up onto my feet and stretched.
I circled around the courtyard a few times before deciding to head back into the school. After strolling in the school for several more minutes, I've decided that I'd explored the campus well enough to be familiar with the many different places and areas there. Furthermore, walking had tired me out a lot and I'm in a serious need of a toilet break.
I made my way to the closest restroom, which was upstairs, in full speed. Feeling like I'm about to burst, I shove the door open, rush into a cubicle, locked it and let loose my raining justice. With a sigh of relief, I'm in a state of euphoria.
"Perhaps I should cut my daily dose of water to three liters instead of four..." I murmured.
As I was zipping up my pants, I heard a loud metallic thud outside my cubicle. My body froze still and I felt shivers on my spine, I was never a fan of being startled and I'm not planning to start today.
I slowly turn around and just as I did, I heard another thud but this time it sounds like a dropped sack of meat. Soft growling echoed in my ears making me more nervous, instinctively my gaze was directed at the bottom of the cubicle's door. What I saw was a red scaled tail, as thick as a trunk swishing about the toilet floor. Horror sprout from within my heart and with my hands, I sealed my mouth tight not daring to make a tiny bit of sound. I found myself praying internally for it to not notice my legs and cursing myself for being so unfortunate.
There were eerie grunting and snarling sound as well as the sound of metal rubbing against one another coming from the other side. I noticed that the metallic sound was, in fact, the sound of the monster's tail rubbing against the doors of the toilet cubicles. Eventually, the tail had reached my door as well and start rubbing against it.
The sound was agonizing.
The tail finally stopped moving and was gently settled down on the toilet floor. It remained stationary there for quite some time, which in turn made me feel extremely worried and thrilled. My eyes remain fixed onto the tail, not willing to let it out of my sight at all cost, it was as if someone was manually controlling my eye sockets to stare at it for all eternity.
Fortunately for me, the tail finally moved and it seems as if it was heading towards the toilet exit, and after a brief moment, it left my field of vision. I heaved a sigh of relief, as the agonizing experience was now over. My legs felt weak and soft like jelly, and my eyes were searing from staring without blinking for such a long time. My palms were coated with saliva and smelled rancid, I felt truly ashamed of myself. I was extremely positive that if I haven't urinated not long ago, my pants would've been drenched at the moment.
"It's over..." I whispered to myself, as I wobble on the ground and stared at the restroom's ceiling. "It's finally - "
Two large crimson eyes glared at me as if I was dinner. Neither I nor the crimson pairs of eyes made a sound or show the slightest attempt to move, we just remain still, locking eye contacts. We remained like this for what felt like an eternity. The trance was finally broken when suddenly two large claws clamped themselves on top of the cubicle edge and with sheer strength, was pressed down hard until the side of the cubicle itself was flattened like paper.
The monster let off a loud shriek as it charges straight for me. Like a frenzied barbarian, it tumbles and dashed unsteadily towards its foe, its jaws wide open and claws like daggers ready to pounce on its prey. It's crimson scales dazzling under the restroom's light, which reflects off to the surroundings giving the entire room a bloody appearance. The entire scene was nothing short of horror.
I huddle tightly with tears shedding down my cheeks, the reason I was crying was not that I was afraid, I was not the type of person to be terrified easily. What made me shed tears, however, was seeing how powerless and weak I actually was, for the first time.
I hated it, I want to become strong...
As the monster was finally almost upon me, it chuckled demonically and made a swiping motion with its claws, as if it was ready to render something into pieces. However, just as it was about to land upon me, I heard a horrific blood-curdling scream.
"Impossible!" The monster shrieked. "It's actually a Light Elemental!"
I peered towards the monster and to my surprise, I could make out a thin transparent-like barrier separating the both of us. The monster's claws were clutching on the barrier in pain and white fumes could be seen vaporing from its scales.
"Fuck! With my current state, the last thing I want to encounter is someone with a light affinity!"
Finally realizing what was happening, I turn to look up at the monster and I was finally able to see the creature's features clearly for the first time without the pressure of death. The monster looked like a wingless dragon with crimson scales, its head was strangely in the shape of a hawk and its abdomen was bare. It had large arms and hinge legs, and of course the terrifying large tail.
"Curse you human!" The monster barked, as it quickly makes its way towards the exit. "... I should still be able to have enough strength to go to that place, as long as nothing happens then I will definitely - "
Before the monster could've finished its sentence, the restroom door burst open with a loud bang as it collided against the wall, hard. Standing outside of the toilet was a tall and slender lady, she had a very defining body feature and a face that would make any men fall head over heels for. She had jade-like skin and looks extremely soft to touch. What stood out the most about her though, was her long, elegant and graceful golden locks, that extends all the way to her hips. With her left arm holding the door open and the other extending towards the monster, she yelled with a fierce demeanor.
"I finally found you, demon! Don't think you can just waltz into our school and get away with it, just like that!"
As she said that, a red magical circle appeared across her palm and from within it, blue scorching flames burst forth. The monster was startled by this sudden turn of events and immediately retrace its steps, dashing back towards me.
"In the name of Brightstone's disciplinary committee, I hereby declare you... to die!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone