_________________________________

C H A P T E R T W O

A stream of chattering had filled the air as students exited the auditorium, making a beeline for the door. Through the crowd, I ploughed my way, squeezing through everyone while I repeatedly apologized until I had eventually reached the outside.

More folks were around the corridors, making it cramped with each and every one of the corners stuffed with students. Possibly the newcomers.
I walked, with my head down, slipping into the crowd and attempted to navigate my way to the dorm areas.
Quickening my pace, I had grown unaware of my surroundings, simply pushing those who stood in my way.
I had taken one last glimpse, lifting my head, and spotted a few students making use of their abilities, overcoming the piled up crowd below. Tch, Lucky.

Slowly, the crowd had dispersed, most of which had gone their separate ways and as I neared the curve that would lead me into the dorm areas, I looked up to see Estelle, at least one step in front of me, obscuring my path. Immediately, I had tried to step away only to stumble and fall, bumping into her and landing right on my backside. Shit. Shit. Why didn't I have paid more attention?

I simply sat there, arms crossed as I looked up at her with my eyebrows raised. Needless to say, Estelle wasn't bothered to extend her arm out and give me a hand but, had only given me a somewhat faintly quizzical look that came into her incisive stare.

"So, you're not going to help me up?'
I uttered, straightforwardly. Who did she think she was? The title of student council president doesn't give her the right to be so ignorant to others.

"What makes you think I would?" She responded acerbically, narrowing her eyebrows before a sigh escaped her lips. Eventually, she had complied, reaching her hand out to me despite the fact that I could've gotten up without her assistance at all.

For a moment, I had gazed into her myrtle shaded eyes in which she had gazed back into mine. Silence had taken over for a brief second, and as I extended my hand out to touch hers, the stillness was then being brought upon us. Everything around me became silent, my thoughts were empty, just living in that specific moment.

"Next time, you should watch where you're going." Estelle implied, and I had successfully snapped out of it. I'm not surprised, she would probably have some form of charm to attract the newbies. Pft.

"That's my line, isn't it? You could've easily swerved and avoided me." I bickered, and argued back, not letting her dictate me or tell me off like that. I was relatively hot-headed, and my temper was much like a ticking bomb. And just because she was part of the council does not signify that ill-treat her with great superiority or respect. She'll have to earn it first.

"You should start learning etiquettes because clearly, you lack basic mannerism."

"Excuse me-?" I pursed my lips, squinting my eyes slightly at her comment. Thank goodness there were no one around us at that time, that would have certainly caused heads to turn.

"Would be a shame if you had such an exquisite face with no decency when it comes to your behaviour." She stated, a smug formed on her face, mocking me in away. I had taken a step forward, leaning in as I had lifted my index finger and pointed it right at her.

"I wouldn't want to be ruled by the likes of you, anyway." Bluntly, I had stated it, clearly not giving much of a shit to who I was speaking to. I had initially expected to get tossed across the hallways but was met with a blankly contemptuous smile from the  female. Dazed, I stood back, sceptical as I gave her the 'I may or may not know what you are up to' look.

"Feisty then, Care to give me your name?"

Ha?
My name?
Why that all of a sudden?

"It's Phoenix Angevine, planning to cast a curse on me now?"
Unsure of her motives, I had questioned it directly and hoped for a response back. But our conversation was cut short when a council member appeared next to Estelle from seemingly out of nowhere. Purple dust had filled the air for a short period of time before it dispersed into a lighter hue of violet. A teleporting spell for sure.

An appraising eye had followed after, as the other female eyed me down.

"A fifth rank huh?"
Her attention had quickly shifted towards Estelle, completely ignoring my existence.

"Council meetings would start in half an hour, we should leave immediately."
The council member suggested, her hair was up into a ponytail, a raven toned hair paired with hazel coloured eyes. She had worn a different coloured uniform, a red-themed with black leggings and ballerina flats. Estelle had then taken a short glance at her, nodding slightly before she had faced me once more, waving.

"Very well, till we meet again Angevine." 

Before I could have taken a moment to respond or react, they had disappeared with no traces of where they would be headed. A lingering aroma had been left behind, a sweet floral scent that gave off a distinguished feel. Probably Estelle's.

______________________________

A peculiar encounter to say the least.
I had no idea what to think of it or expect from then on. She had emitted an intimidating aura, just the feels that I had gotten from her was quite frightening. But that wasn't going to scare me off, obviously.

___________________

I had then descended into my designated dorm and halted in front of room '56', placing the card that I was given on the keypad which unlocked the door. Inside was a rather spacious living area, that not only consisted of two rooms but a kitchen and a lounge space. A door which was located on the linoleum ground beneath me led to a shady basement, in complete contrast to how the living quarters looked at first glimpse. The crepuscular rays of light wafted through the windows, and I had personally felt like it was too bright for my liking. With a small shift of the curtains, the place transformed into a warmer more cosier room.

The door then clicked open behind me, causing me to flinch, doubling my guard up. I was unable to make out who was entering the room and had decided to stay put, waiting for whoever was there to reveal themselves. In which he finally did.

____________________________