Return to School (3)

I was jolted awake by Reagan's insistent shaking, my alarm having failed to rouse me from my slumber. As I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement and trepidation. Today, Ms. Smith promised to unveil the secrets of our world, and I was eager to discover what lay beyond the confines of our kingdom.

As I stepped out into the crisp morning air, my senses were assailed by the sights and sounds of the bustling kingdom. The cawing of the ravens overhead, the distant clang of blacksmiths' hammers, and the pungent aroma of freshly baked bread mingled together to form a symphony of sensations that never failed to enchant me.

But as I neared the school gates, my mood soured as I caught sight of Zion and his ilk, their sneering expressions belying their cruel intentions. Refusing to let them ruin my day, I strode purposefully towards the classroom, determined to learn all I could about the world beyond our humble borders.

"Good morning, Sora," Ms. Smith greeted me warmly as I entered the classroom.

"Good morning, Ms. Smith!" I replied with a grin, eager for the day's lessons.

"I have a feeling you'll enjoy today's topic," she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

My curiosity piqued, I leaned forward in my seat. "What are we learning about?"

"The eight kingdoms of Kastia," she revealed with a flourish.

Gasps of excitement rippled through the class, each student clamoring to learn more about the world beyond our own.

"Which kingdom do we live in?" Rayne piped up, her hand waving frantically in the air.

"We reside in the Xuidian Kingdom, the southernmost and least developed of the eight kingdoms," Ms. Smith informed us.

As the lesson began, my mind whirled with possibilities. What wonders and terrors lay beyond the walls of our kingdom? What secrets had been hidden from me for all these years? Only time would tell.

The lesson had opened up a whole new world to me, a world of eight kingdoms, each with its own distinct character. I could see them in my mind's eye: the Xuidian Kingdom, with its sprawling landscapes and vibrant colors; the Vrudal Kingdom to the east, shrouded in mist and mystery; the Khuyka Empire, the most developed and northernmost kingdom, with its gleaming towers and imposing walls; the Thivelan Kingdom, the westernmost of them all, where the sun sets over endless deserts; the Ivitor Dynasty, the oldest and most prosperous, with its lavish palaces and golden treasures; the Lathia Kingdom, nestled in the northeast, with its forests and hills and serene lakes; and finally, the Kingdom of Dreaburg, the least wealthy and perhaps the most humble of them all.

But it was the secret of the eight pillars that fascinated me the most. These enigmatic figures, chosen by each kingdom to be their most powerful and trusted representative, moved in the shadows, unknown to all but the ruler of their respective kingdoms. I could almost see them, towering over their subjects with an aura of invincibility, their mastery of magic beyond compare. Perhaps I had even met one of them, without even realizing it. It was a tantalizing thought.

I meandered down the hallways to the penthouse, glancing up at the towering pillars that seemed to hold up the entire building. I wondered, "Are these pillars really that strong? Perhaps I've seen one of them before and never even realized it. Guess I'll never know." Suddenly, Leo tapped me on the shoulder and his voice was grave with urgency. "Sora, there's something that needs to be discussed with you," he said.

I followed him to the penthouse and sat down, wondering what could be so important. "What do you want to talk about, Leo?" I asked.

"We haven't gone to get food together in forever," he said with a barely contained laugh. I clenched my fists in frustration, not expecting such triviality. "Leo...do you want a repeat of what happened before?" I asked, my smile sinister.

Leo chuckled at my response and we decided to grab Rayne and Remi and head to a nearby buffet. As we ate, I spoke about my plans to learn a utility spell that could blind someone permanently. Leo seemed disappointed by my response and asked, "What is wrong with you?" I defended myself, saying that I would only use the spell if it was absolutely necessary. But before I could even attempt to learn the spell, I had to figure out how to use it properly.

We spent a couple of hours discussing the spells we wanted to learn in the near future, before Leo asked what we should do next. "Leo, I think I'm calling it a day, I'm getting tired and we have school tomorrow," I replied with a yawn.

Leo nodded in agreement and we left the restaurant. Outside, the cool night breeze blew through my hair, refreshing me. I turned to Remi and pointed up at the radiant moon. "The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" I remarked.

"Yeah... it's wonderful. The sight of a full moon is just otherworldly," she replied, gazing up at the glowing orb.

As we walked home, I sensed a presence following us. "Everyone, there's someone following us," I whispered, alerting my friends to the potential danger.

As I whispered to my friends, I could feel the tension in the air rise. The quiet hum of the city at night was the only sound we heard as we turned around to try to catch a glimpse of our follower. But there was no one in sight.

Leo's hand was twitching, waiting for something to jump out. "Maybe it's just a stray cat or something," he whispered back, trying to reassure us.

But I wasn't convinced. The feeling of being watched lingered, and it wasn't the first time we had experienced something like this. As we continued walking, I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder every few seconds, trying to catch a glimpse of our stalker.

Finally, we reached our building and hurried inside, locking the doors behind us. We made our way up to the penthouse, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the walls. Once we were inside, we gathered around the living room, discussing our options.

"Do you think it's Brown that's following us?" Rayne asked, her voice laced with concern.

"I don't know," I replied, trying to hide my own fear. "But we need to be prepared for anything."

Leo nodded in agreement. "We'll need to be extra careful from now on," he said. "And we'll need to keep a closer eye on our surroundings."

We spent the next hour discussing possible scenarios and strategies, trying to come up with a plan to protect ourselves. But as the night wore on and the moon reached its zenith, we realized that we couldn't stay up all night worrying about what might happen.

With a heavy heart, we said our goodnights and headed to bed, hoping that we wouldn't have to face whatever was out there. But as I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. Something dangerous and unknown.