•|•|•

"I give to you, Crystal Tower."

•|•|•

I TRUDGED MY way into class mindlessly, spotting a piece of grass wedged onto my skirt. Swatting it away, I took a seat in my usual spot, watching as the rest of the kids came in. After spending my whole afternoon in the King's Courts, I left when the bell had rung indicating Afternoon's Origins Class.

I was trying my very best to remain calm although my fingers were still shaking, not because I was scared but because I had made up my mind just before leaving the Courts. I would have to go down to the restricted area and confront him.

I couldn't live out the rest of my days on Kingsland with a target on my back and with him practically stalking me. It was just a matter of time until we called attention to ourselves. Not to mention, Daya Lawrence.

I wasn't a fool, it was pretty clear to me something was going on between them- well I wouldn't say them- Harvest was as cold as a snow globe but rather, something in her eyes which gave out the fact that she had some kind of feelings for him.

What? I had no clue because I was pretty sure she and Lucas were this close to becoming a thing.

A memory flashed in my mind, seeing the way he watched her as she laughed whilst they sat in the Arena, then earlier this morning in the hallways. It just seemed so weird to have found Harvest in my room, someone who was also particularly close to Daya. But then again who wouldn't? From what I could see and what Lira had said she was the golden girl at this school.

Brushing that aside, I sighed, leaning over the desk, staring at nothing in particular as I tried to convince myself that this had to happen. I had to put an end to this before it got carried away-

BAM-BAM

I shook myself back into reality looking up at Claire, then at the hands that had banged on the surface of my desk twice to grab my attention.

"Really?" she asked her eyes wide, and sweat running down the side of her face.

I looked back up at her innocently as she scooted into the seat beside me, placing her bag on the desk before turning to face me, and pushing her glasses back up her nose.

"What the heck happened? Where were you? I've been looking everywhere for you- I even missed lunch!" she screeched her eyes still stuck on me wide-eyed, as if unable to believe I was just sitting here doing nothing.

Yeah, it was probably as bad as it looked.

My mouth was slightly open like an idiot, speechless, not knowing how to relay the words to her and above all not even having a dang explanation to cover it up.

"You just ditched me back there, I searched everywhere, and I mean everywhere," she gasped, looking down at me, her tone lowering, "even the boy toilets," she shivered at this, and I raised an eyebrow at her clear dedication, "where on earth were you?!" she asked, her eyes wide.

I was going to say something, I swear I was but honestly, I was extremely glad when Mr. Ogustus hobbled in and cut all conversations short. Claire's eyes narrowed on me and I shrugged.

"This isn't over," she lowly whispered before turning back to Mr. Ogustus.

He came to a halt in front of the class, his eyes traveling around the room, posture straight as he leaned against his can.

"On your feet younglings."

In a moment the sound of scraping chairs and desks was heard as we all got to our feet. I glanced over at Claire and watched her pull up her bag with a slight huff. We all stood beside our desks, our bags on our backs as we watched our teacher. His wise eyes once again made another survey of us before pursing his lips, then turning around.

"Follow me."

Claire and I exchanged looks as people began to file one by one behind him. I paced beside Claire in my usual position as we moved out into the hallways.

"Do you think it's another match?" Claire whispered from beside me but before I could jot anything down, she hissed at me, "Wait- don't answer that, I'm still mad at you," she huffed, her jaw clenching as she walked.

I looked at my little friend taking in a deep breath. I couldn't tell her what was happening, and I didn't want to lie to her. I better just apologize, at least I would have done something.

Scribbling an apology glazed in a compliment, I handed her the book and after a few moments of ignoring the book that was being handed over to her she finally caved in with a sigh and a roll of her eyes.

She took my notebook eyes scanning over the words, before handing the book over to me. there was a moment's silence between us before she turned to look at me, her gaze softer than before.

"You mean that?' she asked, her tone lower and gentler.

I nodded eagerly, glancing at the words I had written down and then back to her feeling a little bit shy.

"Well then, apology accepted," she grunted before turning to look back at me, her eyes larger, "I don't smell that bad right? I've been running all afternoon," she said lowly.

She didn't smell half as bad as I knew I did.

I grinned shaking my head as we moved after Mr. Ogustus, skipping over a few steps and taking the stairs upwards. Wait- why were we going up and not down to the Arena?

"I don't think there's a match today," Claire said as we moved down the hallways, her face was just as curious as I was, as was the rest of the class who were whispering amongst themselves. We arrived at the end of the hallway, boarding the staircase that led to the glass hallways on the route to the garden above the library.

However, we completely avoided that route, only going higher until we reached another hallway, this one quiet with only the sounds of our feet.

We came to a doorway with two large wooden doors barred before us. Mr. Ogustus came to a halt in front of it turning to face us as we formed a semicircle around him, giving him some space before us.

"As you see younglings, this is not the Arena," he said poshly and we all chuckled at this, "Since we had an inter-colors match yesterday, our Afternoon Origins Class is unable to visit the Arena, and however, it was never needed. Behind these doors is a color that is rarely found within the dome. They are not particularly fighters, but they are, by all means, worthy opponents. Without further adieu Younglings, I give to you-

Crystal Tower," he said as he pushed the doors open.

My eyes widened at what I saw.

We talked in an open space of luscious white, reminding me of some kind of a laboratory, one where scientists hatched experiments that had the potential to change the world in. Everything was Crispy white, from the floor to the ceiling, and the cupboards that lined one side of the room.

There was something strange in the room, well it was easily spotted actually.

There were no seats to be seen anywhere and all the students sat cross-legged on the floor right in the center of the extremely large room. Apart from that, I noticed how intricately designed the ceiling was, taller and longer. To the side, there was a glass tube that lined the room leading to nowhere but a full circle around the rounded room which was very large.

I just couldn't stress how large this room was for a classroom.

It almost looked like the dome but smaller and yet not much of a difference.

Mr. Ogustus moved in first, lifting a finger before any of us could follow, beckoning us to stay by the door. He then turned back to the class who hadn't seemed to notice any of us at all.

I mean how could they?

They were seated cross-legged in the middle of a room that was incredibly huge. The only thing bringing color into the room was their uniformed skirts and trousers. They were all slightly leaned over looking at something that seemed to be directly in front of them. The man that sat at the head, whom I assumed was the teacher, was also cross-legged on the floor, and his eyes staring off into far space.

Mr. Ogustus gently tapped his cane twice on the white marbled floor and immediately the man seated cross-legged in front opened his eyes. His hair dripped to his shoulders looking almost wet and yet it wasn't. It was also a color that was unique in itself as it took off more of a bright yellow or a shimmering gold, mimicking that of the sun, and then his eyes took that of the sky.

Not as deep in color depth as Harvest cursed eyes but lighter.

His eyes were set exclusively on Mr. Ogustus before a small smile, barely noticeable could be spotted. He turned back to look at the students before him, saying words I didn't quite understand, sounding old in my ears,

"post solis occasum-"

"The sun has set," Claire breathed beside me watching the golden-haired man,

"I ieremia echel fygal kai etsi akolothoume"

Claire's eyebrows arched at this as I gingerly gazed at her lips awaiting translation but she looked at me, shaking her head in confusion, her tone in a low whisper.

"The first was Latin, it's a subject I took, but the rest wasn't...Latin." She trailed off looking back at the man.

"That's because it's Greek," David said from behind us with a proud look on his snotty blue face, "the calm has left and so we will follow," he finished, before his eyes trailed back to Mr. Ogustus who had turned to talk to the other man privately as the rest of the golds in the class, turned to each other whispering and pointing at us.

I tugged at my bag strap not liking the staring one bit, hoping Mr. Ogustus would get back to teaching. This was after all one of the last classes we would have with him and I was not done learning things his way.

The whispering in the classroom by our gold friends on the floor rose higher and higher the longer Mr. Ogustus hogged their teacher until the man turned to them with a firm look. He raised a hand, a habit I started to think maybe all teachers in Kingsland had developed.

"Siopi," he stated, loud and clear, and in the next second everything was back to being quiet. My eyebrows arched at this, turning to David who looked back at both Claire and me with his hands in his pocket and an exasperated sigh.

"Silence," he translated.

Claire's face turned into the 'oh' sign and I nodded folding my arms. Yeah, that would have done it.

"Younglings," Mr. Ogustus's voice brought back all the attention to him, "I would like to introduce you to Mr. Pollo Protheyus," he introduced, leaning against his cane, "Mr. Protheyus is the Prime teacher of the gold color trope. We are indeed very lucky to have caught him in class," he added with a slight chuckle.

"There, there Ogustus, I'll have you reminded, that I am always available. I would say I am the most available prime at Kingsland, I'm here for almost a full year," he grinned back, to which Mr. Ogustus raised an amused eyebrow but nodded just as Mr. Protheyus turned to face us.

"Origins Class 521," he began, his eyes traced over the crowd and then suddenly focused on me, "welcome to the future," he greeted, spreading his hands towards the classroom.

Our gazes traveled back to the students inside now focusing on whatever was in front of them.

Mr. Protheyus, eyes brightened, settling lightly in mine.

"Nothing to worry about as long as you stay in the glass hall," he prodded, moving briskly into the glass tunnel where there was enough space to pass. Mr. Ogustus hobbled after him and after a moment's hesitation, we all followed behind a very determined-looking Naaka who had chosen to be our ring leader.

We walked and listened after Mr. Protheyus.

"Most of you are probably wondering why we built a glass wall in a room so small..." he began. My eyes traveled around the room. There was nothing small about what I was seeing. I was sure this room also had perfect acoustic renditions as it was empty if it weren't for the kids and the shelves.

"It was not meant for golds, it was built for you," he paused standing right in front of his class as we moved to stand by him. My eyes narrowed down on his students, who all had crystal balls in front of them, each misting one by one as their eyes turned a deep metallic gold and a Smokey cloud descended among them, so it looked like someone had put a fog machine right in the center.

"Hands off the glass," Mr. Protheyus reprimanded to a few of us, " for your sake, they shouldn't be disturbed."

•~•
Enjoying the story? Let me know in the comment section!
•~•