I stepped back. Eyes pulsating with trepidation.
Seeing right through me, he guffawed.
"Don't worry, you have nothing I want—nor need." His laugh slowly died out.
Incredulous of his words, I gradually backed away.
"Why did you help me?" Voice filled with caution. "Judging by your eerie ideals, there would be no benefit for you to aid me."
A simper made way to his face, his lips parting.
"What I said earlier was just an example, no need to be on edge." He placed his hands behind his back. "And as for why," propping his hand on his chin, he seemed to think—but in a split second he seemingly found the answer, "I just followed my heart."
I became even more suspicious of such a flimsy reason. Even though he was preaching something similar, not a lot of people commit to what they preach.
Seeing my mounting suspicion, he seemed to be…
Smiling?
Turning his back to me—galvanting across the bridge—he raised his hand, giving me a quick wave.
"A few pieces of advice: if you're going to be suspicious of someone, try not to do it so openly." He paused, and an eerie silence mounted in the air. Turning his head, he peered at me, eyes pervaded with utter frigidity. "Some might not take it well."
A shiver ran through my spine, and in a blink, he vanished—as if he never existed.
My jaw slightly opened in shock, mainly because of his disappearance, but part of me was disturbed by the slight fluctuation I felt. Space seemed to settle, as if it distorted, leaving a perplexing billow traveling through the air.
Glancing down to where he vanished, there was a wooden insignia laying on the floor.
Walking over, I picked it up—it felt rough to the touch, as if it wasn't properly sanded. On it, engraved two lines: one—a place, another—a date and time.
Turning it around, the back had a multitude of unintelligible symbols, seemingly code or something of the like.
Furrowing my brows, I was curious to where it led, but after what I nearly did, I wanted to value my life, not risking it unnecessarily.
Ignoring the curiosity tugging at me, I slipped it into my pocket and walked into the forest, vanishing into a cacophony of sounds emanating from the wilderness.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Walking into the school classroom the next day, not a single soul looked at me, as if I was invisible. Trying not to notice it, I sat down at my desk, shifting uncomfortably.
Side-eyeing Luo Si and his crew, I was perturbed. Even after the revelation I came to yesterday, I hoped it wasn't true, no matter how weird it sounds. I desperately hoped that I still existed in the eyes of my peers.
Crushingly, no one noticed or cared. That rat bastard Shu Lian didn't even glance at me. The fat pig Wang Lei didn't mock me. It was as if after the ceremony I wasn't even worth it, like all the fun in breaking me ran out—or maybe this was part of it. I don't know.
Shrkk.
The door slid open, Teacher Wang walking in, slightly nudging his glasses upwards.
"Everyone quiet down," he bellowed.
Standing in front of the board, his lips parted. "Since yesterday, most of you awakened." He paused, peering around the room, a sickening smile making way onto his face. "Seems the ones that didn't aren't here," he uttered.
Forcing his face back to indifference, he continued. "Today we will be going to the breeding grounds." He paused as if anticipating the reaction of the students. "To pick up your first Yao Beasts."
The classroom quieted before blowing up with murmurs and excitement. Barely managing to control our excitement Teacher Wang brought all of us outside the school gate, opening it. A new life filmed with opportunity seemed to flash before our eyes; even I felt a little something flash in my heart.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Walking into the breeding grounds, it was massive. The front lobby alone seemed to be close to 20 feet long and wide. Ornamental trees plastered the sides of the walls, the floor a beautiful birch. Fancy paintings of beasts hung off nails driven into wooden screens surrounding us.
Teacher Wang walked up to the receptionist.
Engaging in a conversation I couldn't be bothered to listen to.
Surveying the room, I suddenly heard a booming clap coming from across the room.
The receptionist smiled—Teacher Wang situated behind her—as she opened her mouth.
"Today you'll all be getting your Yao Beasts. Before you do, though, we need to set some rules."
She paused, letting her words sink in.
"First, you will all be split up into talent groups and will go to separate floors to pick certain beasts, the quality based on your talent levels." Immediately after saying that, there was an uproar from the students.
My brows furrowed.
"What? That's unfair!" one shouted.
"Who cares if we've got different talent levels? Shouldn't we be treated equally?" another said.
The receptionist, still smiling, opened her mouth to speak.
"Calm down, students," she said in a quiet voice, which didn't seem to get the message across at all.
Students still vehemently protesting seemed to get more aggressive at the sight of the flustered lady.
"Students" she attempted again to calm them down. Again they ignored her, at that point I felt an ominous feeling coming from her –something only my instincts could explain.
In a split second her previously kind personality switched as fast as billowing thunder her eyes ferociously squinted, teeth coming to a grind.
"SHUT UP" her scream echoed through the hall, the ferocity itself caused everyone in the room to shrink back.
"What gives you the right to determine 'equality'? Some of you here are more important and some less, and it's up to us to decide who deserves what! So shut up and listen " she burst out, panting heavily.
Students were shocked, some mouths still agape, the words fizzing at their throats, dying down.
Calming down, the lady went back to her previous demeanor. "Now, if you will tap your I.D. into the scanner and walk by, we'll have staff on the other side guide you to where you need to be."
Seemingly scared of her outburst, the students listened, lining up outside the gate. Tapping their cards against the scanner, the gate slid open with a small creak, opening up just enough for a person to walk through.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The sound of the scanner came closer and closer to my ears until it was my turn.
Taking my I.D. out of my pocket, I looked at it, worried it wouldn't work. The I.D. was filthy, a cut marring its top. Setting aside my discomfort, I placed it on the scanner, awaiting the beep.
BUZZ. BUZZ.
The sound of rejection hit my ears; my face seemed to sink with embarrassment. Trying a second time, I placed my I.D. on the scanner again.
BUZZ. BUZZ.
I frowned, filled with a sense of confusion.
To my right, the sound of heels clacking came closer and closer. Looking in that direction, I saw the receptionist walk over to me. She grabbed my shoulder and quietly told me to step out of the line.
Taking me back to the main desk, she sat browsing through the computer. Slowly, she looked up at me with a gaze of pity.
I flinched.
That look again.
My face shrunk as if I could predict what was happening. Eyes trembling, I looked down.
The receptionist opened her mouth, and with it came dreadful news.
"Mr. Lie, I'm sorry to say, but you're not allowed into the facility."
Confused, I questioned her as if she would know the answer to my inquiry.
"Why? What happened?"
She spoke, her voice professional. "You do know to gain the privilege of entering this or any facility to get your first Yao Beast, your parents would have to pay extra tax to the government—about ten thousand tamer coins a year—up to your awakening, correct?"
"Yes, I know, but my parents died and were part of the Ranger Association, so I was granted this opportunity as one of my benefits."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Lie." Her words seemed mournful, but I doubt she cared about their death. "But here on the system, it says the benefit has been revoked."
"Revoked?" I cried out. "H-how?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but I wouldn't have any knowledge into this. I'll have to ask you to leave, please," she said rather coldly. "If you don't have the qualifications to be here, this is unfortunately private ground."
"What—" my mouth quivered. "Check again."
"Excuse me?"
"I said check again!" I said, clenching my teeth.
She frowned. "Young man, I'm going to have to ask you to leave, or else I'll have to call security on you."
Just as I was about to lash out again, I felt a hand grip my shoulder.
Slowly pivoting my head to the side, I saw…Teacher Wang?
"I'm sorry, Lie Tian, but if you've been asked to leave the premises, you have to leave. We can't have you disregard the reputation of our school."
My lips quivered, eyes wide in a hollow stare.
"Sir, b-but—"
His gaze firm, hand squeezing my shoulder tighter. The look of annoyance and discontent marring his face conveyed his next word perfectly well.
My body quivered.
Slapping his hand off me, I ran for the door, bolting out of it, screaming injustice in my mind towards everyone.
But perhaps if I had stayed for a split second longer, I would've seen the look of sorrow flash past Teacher Wang's eyes.
And perhaps I wouldn't have spiraled down the road that paved before me.
Perhaps