Silence and silence. Ylvin sat in front of Esteavo, and there was only silence lingering between them. The old man called Ylvin to the room, and he's not going to say anything? It pissed Ylvin off, right now, they are only staring at each other's eyes.
"What's taking you so long to comment, old fart?!" There it goes, Ylvin couldn't keep his tongue to himself.
Then, Esteavo scratched his head. "Young man, is that your final decision?" Esteavo rubbed his temples. "This place isn't what you think it is."
"But I met a boy who lives here, his name is Sugo."
"Hang on." Riley stood up to approach a nearby bookshelf. He let his fingertips feel the books until it stopped on one. Riley read the book, then his expression changed into a relieved one.
"I knew it, that kid is dead." Riley sighed. "One year ago, and he was a White grade."
The news shot Ylvin's ears like a bullet, and his eyes widened.
"No way." Ylvin shook his head, his voice was brittle.
"Do you understand now? In that appearance of yours…" Esteavo leaned his back to the chair. "…You'll be dead by tomorrow."
Esteavo talked to Ylvin but the boy was distracted. The time Ismaya warned Ylvin flashed through his mind again. This is what Ismaya meant about the dirt of the government, and Ylvin is yet to know half of it.
"We train young criminals to be stronger, and to kill better and skillful. Until one day, they become a prominent soldier for the country!" Esteavo stood up. "Now, I ask you this… can you kill? Is that what you are?"
That last words slapped Ylvin back to his senses. This was his decision. Now, he can never turn back. Ismaya warned him, he didn't listen. Now, he should face this with all he had.
"THEN TEACH ME TO GET STRONGER!" The words ran from Ylvin's mouth like a train.
Esteavo slammed his desk. "AND WHY? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR POWER? SHOW THAT YOU'RE LACKING COURAGE, AND I'LL THROW YOU OUT THE WINDOW!"
Ylvin also slammed his desk, now his face is inches away from Esteavo. "I'LL GET STRONGER TO LIVE LONGER! AS LONG AS I'M ALIVE, I HAVE A REASON WHY!"
Esteavo's lips suddenly spread for a smile. "Very well…" Then he grabbed Ylvin's fragile body up by his shirt.
"Hold on! I didn't mean to yell! Espera un Segundo! Hey gramps!"
Riley opened the door, and Esteavo threw Ylvin away. "Live free! You are accepted!"
Ylvin flew outside, and slid down the stairs right in front of the room.
"I flew again…"
"What do you think of that young man?" Esteavo asked.
"Reckless…" Riley answered. "Just like her."
On the road, we don't know where, was a woman on black rode an even more black motorcycle. There wasn't so much traffic around, she can move freely. He drove the motorcycle as her long black hair, and skirt rode the wind.
***
In the auditorium of Elites, Pittman showed a hologram of what looked like are the statistics of the students.
"After the tournament later, there should be a high probability of Khadija Safar." Pittman started. "And Naveen Duron to grow eligible for the Supreme Merit." Everyone clapped. Then, he glared to the class. "However! There is also a high probability of fate changing its course!"
On the other hand, Gabriella watched outside the room through the window of the door.
I've been standing here…
Gabriella swallowed her saliva, took a deep breath, then, she knocked three times. Everyone immediately looked at the door.
Then, Gabriella trembled. Behind her was a disturbing presence that churned the stomach. A black hole, as dark as the void formed on the floor behind Gabriella. And the more it grew larger, the more Pittman's body emerged from the hole. The halls are now filled with black smokes.
"Distracting and interrupting the class, is that what I inculcate you?" Pittman spoke.
"My apologies, but I am also an Elite and I am just…late" Gabriella didn't hesitate to speak up.
"Of course, I recognize you, imbecile"
Gabriella lowered her head upon hearing his words.
"You are that one student that grew an arrogant behavior after becoming an Elite! Later you'll have your first tournament…" Pittman walked past Gabriella, and opened the door. "If you come up short, I am not at fault." When he got inside the room, he closed the door again.
Stella rested her cheek on her palms, she knew this would happen, while Brian looked so worried.
Gabriella have nothing better to do but to leave. She walked down the halls as she talked to herself. "If they think I'd fell off my rank, well, I am not!"
Her eyes narrowed. "And Khadija… I'll end her"
After that, she went down the long stairs quietly. The sound of her footsteps echoed around the place. She arrived back at the lounge, and everything was peaceful until a familiar boy surprised her intentionally.
"Nice! We met again!" It's Ylvin.
"Curses!" Gabriella was startled, then she raised a brow. "Don't tell me they…"
"Yup! I'm enrolled!" Ylvin brought his fist under his chin. "I'm still not used to this place…"
Gabriella ignored Ylvin, and kept walking.
"I don't know where to go, but luckily I found you!" Ylvin looked at Gabriella. "Huh? Where are you going?"
Gabriella stopped on her tracks to look back at Ylvin. "Take a bath first before you have a conversation with me."
Then, Ylvin walked past her. "I've been talking to you."
Gabriella clenched her fist, and her face turned red in embarrassment.
They walked to the student's dormitory building. It's where the students sleep. It's just walks beside the school. Built with so much red bricks, painted with beige, and black, it stood tall. There are eight floors in total, and it's very long.
"This is where the students stay, every other facilities are here." Gabriella suddenly moved her face close to Ylvin, startling the boy. "And I'm not the one to talk to you about them."
"Also, I don't know where your room is. Boys, and girls have separate rooms. And I heard another girl is enlisted here and supposed to arrive today."
"And where is she?"
"Like hell do I knew."
"Woah, this is damn huge!" Ylvin and Gabriella arrived in a bathroom.
"This is where we shower, there are two of this room each floor."
Ylvin quickly went inside one of the cubicle.
"Do your thing while I get you your clothes." Gabriella left.
Ylvin removed his dirty clothes, and when he turned the shower on, he screeched, it was too cold.
Then, he noticed a screen next to the shower. It's where you control the temperature of the water, and Ylvin quickly pressed on it.
"Aren't they scared this thing have a hidden camera?"
Then, the blonde boy proceeded to clean himself. He hummed a tune as he made sure he washed every inches of his body. It's been years since he have a proper shower, he feels so good today.
Ylvin stopped midway. "Come to think of it, she's behaving differently from earlier." He shook his head. "Never mind."
Later, Gabriella came with a set of uniform for green grade. She gently placed it on a rack outside the cubicle. "Here's your clothes, now hurry."
Gabriella leaned on the wall outside patiently waiting for Ylvin. She just stood there with crossed arms hoping Ylvin will get any faster. Moments have passed and Ylvin is not yet done, "Earnestly! What's taking you so long?!"
"My hair is still wet!"
Gabriella clenched her fist, and closed her eyes shut. "Come here."
When Ylvin came out, Gabriella pointed a finger at him, and a strong wind burst out. In just a minute, Ylvin's hair dried. It's now smooth, and silky.
"Now, let's get going." Gabriella turned to her back again.
"And what are you impatient about?"
"Other students are now flooding the place."
"So what?"
"Certainly, I don't want them to see me with you."
She really is different now…
Gabriella flipped her hair. "I'm a celebrity here."
Maybe not! Ylvin's face turned sour.
The two walked some more to the back of the dormitory building. There, they sat on a bench. It was quiet, and there was no other people around but them. Their feet landed on a field of grass, and everywhere were plants, and trees.
"Criminals, huh"
"Yes, now you're a criminal too." Gabriella giggled. "You're a trespasser."
"Why are you here then?"
Gabriella looked at him, then back to the ground. "Why can't I be?"
Gabriella loudly pressed her palms together. "Anyways! I'll have my first tournament as an elite later! Watch it okay!" There was a soft smile on Gabriella's face.
Now, this is just far from different… "Well, what's your name again?"
"I already told you, right?" Gabriella raised a brow.
"ESQUESER!"
"My name is Gabriella-"
Something huge, and heavy suddenly fell from above. Ylvin jumped to the ground, and Gabriella stood up just on time. The bench broke, and there are smokes. What fell was a person, and when it showed its face, it's Brian.
Brian stretched his neck. "Oi… Oi… after making Gabriella skip class, now this?"
Gabriella pointed to the left. "And why are you here? Did I ask you? My apologies but it's better that you leave!"
Brian approached Gabriella, and pulled the cloak covering half of his face to show his honeyed face. "Gabriella, is this twerp bothering you?"
But Gabriella's answer was a kick on the face. Brian slid away, and created a trail on the ground.
"Say, Ella, who's that poor guy?"
"My name is Gabriella, how many times do I have to tell you?"
"Dui bu qi"
"It's Gabriella Winters, there's the fourth time."
"Got it."
Gabriella crossed her arms. "Forget it once more, and I'll have to be the new main character."
"Over my dead body!"
"Anyways…" Gabriella laughed sweetly. "Since Brian is now around, the event should be in the wind."
Gabriella ran away, then looked back at Ylvin again. "Watch me okay"
"I don't get it but yeah!"
Ylvin watched Gabriella leave him, but in his thoughts was a wreck.
She's very nice but also very terrifying. I better not mess with her. But she's so pretty, and they are big!
"5 minutes approximately till Merixote Central District." The helmet of the woman on a motorcycle spoke.
"Cool, now stop counting."
There isn't much traffic, the masculine woman took the chance to accelerate her vehicle. Then, off she go, overtaking other's car.
However, this woman was being watched by Kortis. Not literally, Kortis have clairvoyance. He can see you even if he's on the other side of the road.
"This doesn't look good, Akiara is on her way, but why?" Kortis muttered, he doesn't have much of a reaction but his voice was laced with worry. "Is it because of Kariko?"
Kortis is yet to find out the answers to his question, maybe it's not as important as it seems even when it's impossible to shrug off. He looked around his surroundings and his eyes saw something that made him raise his brows.
"Kariko, where did you get that?"
Kariko came holding lots of hotdogs, Kortis really can't just take his eyes off of her or little mishaps like this will happen. "There!"
"And how did you pay for that?"
"100 punches! BUBUBUBU!" Kariko repeatedly punched the air like there's a punching bag.
"I see… I see." Kortis doesn't have a choice but to accept it.
"Wis her hombing wombeing wu?" Kariko talked with her mouth full.
Kortis watched the sky, almost like he's hiding something from her. "Nothing, nothing at all."
How Kortis understood Kariko is what I don't know.
***
So much for his first day, Ylvin is in the school's lounge while attracting the glances of other students like a magnet. Their voices full of confusion filled the air like flies.
"Hey is that the newcomer?"
"Huh? I thought I heard she's a freak?!"
"This one is definitely different."
"Then who the heck is this?!"
Ylvin is dumb but he's not deaf, he hid his embarrassment with a smile. "I'm Ylvin, I'm the intruder."
"Ylvin?" Xiaoka, a girl from the crowd turned her head to Ylvin's direction. She furrowed her brows, and fixed her red glasses.
Later, the woman on the motorcycle arrived in front of the gates of the school's estate.
"Good afternoon, ma'am." The guard greeted her.
I've been working here for a couple of years, and her presence never change. Crap, she gets more scary! The security guard swallowed his own saliva.
"She's here already?" Xiaoka breathed. "Everyone! Miss Akiara is back!"
The students aside from Ylvin shuffled around, fixing their seat or how they stand while also making a way for the woman. After that was silence as they watched the woman walk down the red carpet.
"What's with the silence?" Ylvin asked, but no one dared answer.
Why is she here? I thought she's busy with the Gelzith?
She's always scary, but she's definitely tired today.
They held their breath as the woman kept getting closer. The sound of her heels rang through their ears sending shivers down their spine. No one dared move, both out of respect and fear. But the air changed from absolute silence to a symphony of complains when Ylvin spoke loudly:
"Who's there? An intruder?"
On one step, the woman broke the porcelain floor scaring the students except Ylvin. Then, she spoke with a voice that held authority.
"Isn't that supposed to be my line?" The woman fixed her glasses.