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"When the designer creates it begins from matter."

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I PULLED MY hair up in a solid bun, staring at my reflection in the mirror, timid shy eyes staring back at me. They didn't suit my face. I knew those eyes. They usually sat on my mother's face and she never showed this expression, and yet if mine were so identical to hers, why couldn't I have even an ounce of the bravery she had?

Oh, that's right, because the one time I decided to go against my usual survival instinct I ended up waist-deep in ice-cold water, unable to control my own body and at the mercy of a mind-compelling convert.

Yes, bravery wasn't meant for me, it didn't matter what Mr. Ogustus said about being born a leader.

It was clear destiny had got it wrong with me this time around.

That didn't matter anymore, because now that I knew my limits, I was sure to not make the same mistake. There was a certain safety to being average and doing as you're told. I did not regret going into the restricted area because getting the roses was not the problem, it was only when I abandoned all sanity and decided I owed myself a mystery.

But now I was back to my senses, never to fall into the trap of intrigue again. For the rest of my stay here at Kingsland, I was to follow these three rules I had repeated to myself all through last night.

Number 1: Stay Low

Number 2: Keep my circle small

Number 3: Stay away from Hallway boy.

I was very sure if I remained the quiet girl, there was no chance I would ever meet him again which I prayed for with all my heart. I simply have to be me, the girl I've always been for the last 17 years. Nothing exciting has ever happened to me, true, but I was always safe, which is exactly what both my parents and Gravis needed from me at this moment.

And for that reason, I would not tell a soul about what I saw.

He may be able to see I had snitched if it's true he does read minds and, in all honesty, his dark-toned threat paired with those ice-cold eyes, let me know he was not one to go back on his word.

I was a human, no match for a convert like him.

So no, I would not be taking chances anymore, I had to be ordinary.

Ordinary.

I breathed in, I could be ordinary. I was born to be ordinary; I've never felt like a true princess before-

"You've been staring at your reflection for the past 2 minutes, T," Claire said, concern laced her tone. Getting up from her chair, she glanced down at her watch, "And it's ten minutes till Origins Class, so we better go," she continued picking up her bag from the table.

I breathed in, giving myself one last look in the mirror, nodding at the average-looking reflection staring back at me. The rules I had come up with, circled my mind over and over as I grabbed my bag from the bed.

"Are you alright T?" Claire suddenly asked, pausing in the middle of the room. I pursed my lips, slinging my bag over my shoulder before my eyes shifted back to her.

She was doing that thing again. Trying to read me like a puzzle. But I knew how to play this quite well as I had been on the other end before courtesy of my meddlesome mom. I shrugged topping it off with a bright smile.

Her eyes narrowed on me, seemingly not buying it at all, "Are you sure? Cause you're acting a bit...strange..." she trailed off, tightening her bag strap. My eyes faltered for a second, my eyes dashing to the bed in search of my notebook, fingers feeling up the side of my bag for it. When it came up empty, I opted with a wobbly thumbs-up sign, feeling a little weak, this time only managing a feeble smile on my face.

She tilted her head watching me for a moment before chuckling, grabbing my notebook from the bed, a place I swore it hadn't been when I was searching for it, and handing it over to me, "here," she said as I took the book from her, " trust me, Kingsland is going to take a little more getting used to, but hey it's going to be worth it in the end," she smiled.

Taking my book, I glanced over at the pink princess cover and the dangly sparkly pen attached to it. She was right, it would take a little more getting used to, but not as much as she thought. I was the only human on Kingsland which made me the weakest, however strangely enough I've been the weakest all my life.

It was nothing new.

But it would all be fine if I just stick to what Gravis implied. Be normal, don't stick out. I couldn't afford to pull something like what I did last night. But it would get better.

I looked at her, before glancing down at the book, jotting something down

'Thank you,' I wrote, showing her the book.

She smiled widely at this, cheeks heating up for a second, chuckling, "You're welcome." She then proceeded to point at the door, and I nodded, motioning to her that I would leave after her.

Claire moved toward the door and I followed, locking the door behind me.

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We walked down the halls, Claire chattering beside me, explaining how she couldn't wait for today's topic of Origins Class, wondering how many secrets were yet to be uncovered. Whilst I wholeheartedly agreed with her, I didn't think I was past the idea that converts could be demigods descended from every culture in the world. I mean, could simple, sweet, talkative Claire walking beside me, could have the blood of a god running through her veins?

It still seemed so bizarre even if strangely it was believable as Mr. Ogustus could weave a story like the expert he was. If it were true, I was lucky indeed to be a human among gods, but I wondered if I was truly safe.

The sun tackled our faces and I became very self-conscious of myself as we followed the route to the King's Crown. Mainly because I was afraid, I would see HIM, or rather he would spot me. It was a ridiculous thought as we were a lot of students heading towards the Crown and yet I had a feeling spotting a boy in black who stood taller and significantly more frightening than the rest would be easy to spot, especially with those deep sea-dark icy eyes of his.

I was so enwrapped in making sure I went unnoticed that I could hardly hear what it was that Clair kept going on about. I kept my head low and eyes focused on the ground as we entered the Crown, making our way up to class.

We arrived just as the other students started entering the classroom, hurriedly joining at the end of the train. Mr. Ogustus was already in, leaning against his desk with a mug of what I assumed was hot coffee in his hands, as the steam rose softly from its center. He placed it down when we all took our seats.

He smiled down at us and just like that he had already put me into listening mode, attentively watching his every move,

"Good morning, Younglings," he greeted, pausing for a mere second, "I do hope everybody is ready for today's Origins Class," he smiled, taking the walking stick that was mounted beside him, "Yesterdays Origins Class left a quiet many...intrigued. Baffled." he trailed off, his eyebrows furrowing at his statement, "I agree I left a lot to go home and contemplate to," he added, raising a finger before leaning against his crutch, "yes," he nodded seeming to confirm his statement as he glanced over a few faces, "I hope, however, that you realize suspense and intrigue will be a daily occurrence from now on. Knowledge is fed in small amounts, and yet few can digest it. For your own sake, please strive to be amongst those that do."

I took this in carefully, watching as he hobbled to the whiteboard taking out a marker, "Yesterday I told you of your origins as all of you in this class are of Dilectus," he turned slightly to look back at us, "but you must know, not every student on Kingsland is Dilectus," he paused, before turning to write on the board, jotting down a word. He circled it twice with a small grunt, in the process blocking my forward view of the board, only being able to see it once he moved.

"Deceptions," he announced out loud as I read the word in my mind.

I froze at this word, it was familiar.

He had mentioned it in passing before in one of his previous classes and only yesterday Lira had said we would soon learn about them. If I recalled well, she said Luca was Gigan, a kind of deception.

I leaned forward, my mouth slightly ajar, propping my chin in my hand, elbow over the desk, knowing this was a topic I wanted to learn.

"We have talked about The Deceiver have we not?" he asked, fully facing the class now. We all nodded, some humming in response, as he went on "the first day of Origins Class we discussed the two main prominent forces in the various universes. The force that whipped all into being, The Designer, and he that desires to replicate all that the Designer creates, The Deceiver." He trailed off, his tone becoming lower and calmer,

"When the designer creates it begins from matter, something suddenly appearing from nothing, defying the laws we as those that live in the confines of our universal laws find impossible, and so, we call this kind of power Creation. A remarkable effect that is indescribable in so many ways, a unique power that is only known to the designer himself and he that is to be-" he cut himself short and I got lost for a second, eyebrows furrowing at his statement.

It seemed he was going to say so much more and yet, he cut himself short, a shallow frown forming on his face before moving on, "The Deceiver creates too, but as I've said before he cannot whip things into being by uttering a single word from no substance, instead, he must build upon the great imagination that is already in existence," he turned to the board jotting a few words down, surrounding the word deception in speech bubbles.

Gigans and Werewolves,

Fae and Elves,

Sirens and water spirits,

Demons, and Vampires.

Fae? I double-blinked at the second listed statement. Elves?

Am I to believe that even Fae and Elves exist as if demi-gods were not already a stretch? I looked up at Mr. Ogustus' amused eyes as they came into contact with mine, chuckling for a moment, "there are many things that will leave you baffled youngling, learn to have an open mind, or half the things that you learn will be wasted," he spoke softly my way.

I gulped, swallowing softly at this, nodding. I caught a few stray glances thrown my way by my fellow peers before their attention assumed back on Mr. Ogustus.

He moved from me, looking at the rest of the students in class, "Deceptions are creatures that were revolutionized by the darkness we call The Deceiver, and though there are many species out there that have undergone these counterfeit recreations such as Wendigos, banshee and so many more, these-" he turned glancing at the board, "are the four main categories."

Pausing by his desk he looked up at us, "Today, we discuss the first- Gigans and Werewolves."

I glanced over at Claire at the mention of this, a subtle excitement running through my veins. She looked back at me throwing me a knowing look. I was finally going to learn what it is Lucas Bowne was, and oh I couldn't hide how very curious I was to learn

And I was more than ready.

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I hope you enjoyed the update! Leave a comment on your thoughts on the chapter, vote to boost the book if you're enjoying it! Feel free to leave me a comment or a question on my discord channel, (link in bio)
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