Chapter Five

'RISE AND SHINE!'

Ugh! Raiden groaned. Who wishes a painful death today?

Raiden sat up. She removed the hair in front of her face as she rubbed her eyes groggily. When her vision somehow cleared, she saw that Jennifer was standing by her bed almost squealing in excitement.

'Jennifer?' she asked yawning.

Jennifer nodded as she jumped excitedly. Clearly, she was pretty much excited on her first day of school.

A bit too excited. Raiden told herself as she tried to sleep again.

'DON'T FALL ASLEEP! Come on Raiden, we're gonna be late.' Jennifer said as she struggled to pull the covers off her.

'Okay, okay, I'm up.' Raiden said frustrated as she threw her hands up in air as a sign of defeat. 'You win Jennifer. I'm getting ready.'

Jennifer's face lit up on hearing those words.

'Okay,' she said as she clapped excitedly, 'let me wake that lazy ass up, he never wakes up until I go and do so. And it is so much of a pain in the ass.'

Yeah, no wonder. Raiden shuddered as she remembered that Jennifer and Aaron had been here last here as well.

Poor boy. She told herself.

***

Sarah and Jayden were already in the dining room by the time the three of them came down from breakfast. Jayden was dressed in the same black attire that he had been wearing yesterday- except that the black jacket was now replaced with the school's blazer. Sarah was wearing an off shoulder dress (without the blazer of course) that showed her entire cleavage and was leaning in close to Jayden, hoping to get some attention from him. But Jayden seemed unfazed as he kept on reading his book while sipping on his coffee.

He can't even read his book without looking hot. A random thought sprung up in Raiden's mind.

Shut up.

'Good morning Jayden.' Jennifer chirped as she went for the kitchen cabinet.

'Good morning. Who did you get this year Raiden?' Jayden asked without looking up from his book.

Huh? Raiden was absolutely confused as to what had been asked.

'I'm sorry, but I do not understand.'

'Let me explain,' Aaron came forward. 'You're supposed to meet any one of our teachers who will walk you through the schedule you have this year. It's kind of like an introductory class plus interview. Judging by what you answer, your class shall be arranged accordingly.'

'But aren't the classes already pre-decided? I mean I've got my schedule.'

Jayden let out a sigh and shook his head. 'I thought you would be smarter than that.'

Raiden turned to him.

'And what's that supposed to mean, Mr. Oh-So-Smart?'

'Nothing, absolutely nothing. At least, not something that you would understand.' Jayden mumbled the last sentence.

'Oh would you please care to elaborate? I would really like to know what your majesty Mr. Oh-So-Smart was thinking.' Raiden spat.

'As I said-'

'Guys,' Aaron intervened between the two flaming teenagers, 'Not important. As I was saying, your schedule is pre-decided. But our school prefers that our curriculum be more "suited for its students" or tailor made as per their nature, which again "to help them grow". It's so complicated.'

'And unfair.' Jennifer added, 'And it's only for us non elites. The elites can pay and sit in whatever classes they want and no one will ever tell them anything. Stupid brats.'

'Excuse me?' Sarah's voice brought them out from their conversation. 'Please hold your tongue Kurosawa, just because your seat was given to me doesn't mean you will call us brats.'

Jennifer scoffed as she rolled her eyes.

'Oh please, Gallagher,' she spat bitterly, 'We very well know that my seat was not given to you. Everyone in our year knows that. Now do not make me open my mouth Gallagher, or it's not gonna be good for you.'

Sarah huffed as she got up to leave, making sure to carefully bump into Jennifer's shoulder in the process. After a few moments of silence after she left, Aaron spoke again,

'Well, that was a hell of an argument.'

'It barely lasted two seconds.' Jayden said nonchalantly 'I'm glad that woman has left, I couldn't bear to see any more of her naked chest anymore.'

'Isn't she with that ass kisser?' Raiden asked confused.

'She is with that ass kisser.' Jennifer remarked, 'But they are more of "friends with benefits". Anyways let's not waste our time on her; I don't want the morning to go bad. It's already been ruined after seeing that whore's face.'

'Calm down Jennie, she's gone. No use talking about someone behind their back. Anyways back to the main topic, who did you get?'

Raiden checked her schedule.

'Uh, it looks like someone named Sebastian Gardien.' She stated.

The mention of the person's name made even Jayden look up from his book.

'Mr. Gardien?' the three of them asked in utter shock.

'Uh, yes.' Raiden awkwardly replied, 'Why is there a problem?'

'There is no problem.' Jennifer waved her off, 'Mr. Gardien is our principal as well as one of our youngest and most respected counsellors. It's just that he rarely meets them. Very few students get the honour of getting him as their counsellor. You must be very special, Raiden, to have got Mr. Gardien.'

But Raiden didn't seem so sure.

***

Raiden clutched her schedule tightly against her chest as she stood in front of the door of her counsellor. It seemed a simple wooden door which was painted dark grey in order to match the surroundings with a contrasting golden nameplate, which red.

Sebastian F. Gardien

Head Counsellor

Principal of The Schatten Academy

It's just the principal Raiden, there is nothing to be afraid of.

She took in a deep breath and knocked on the door.

'Come in.'

Raiden was completely shocked when she saw the inside of the office.

Unlike the rest of the campus, the principal's office seemed completely modernized. With latest technology computers, a mini fridge and a coffee maker, the black colour that dominated the whole of the whole of the campus had vanished. The greyish modular set up seemed to be out of place after the whole of campus.

What shocked her even more was how young the principal was.

He seemed surprisingly young- a man just in his thirties perhaps, with hazel brown hair and matching caramel eyes. His skin was alabaster white and was dressed in a black three piece suit. His eyes seemed aged, as if he'd held this position for quite some time.

'Ah, you must be Ms. Raiden Storm, have a seat.' He indicated to two chairs in front of him.

Raiden murmured a small thank you as she sat down.

'I would request you to kindly wait a moment, Ms. Storm, I'm waiting for another student to come.'

'I thought these were supposed to be one on one.' Raiden blurted out before she could stop herself. Stupid creature! She internally groaned.

Mr. Gardien smiled.

'Yes, usually these are one on one, but this year we don't have new students, except for you and Mr.'

Another knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

'Come in.'

'Sorry I'm late sir.'

Raiden turned around to see who the voice belonged to. Sure enough Zane was standing at the door smiling sheepishly.

'Mr. Shadow.' Mr. Gardien sighed, 'Punctuality is one of the most respected virtues in the Schatten Academy. You, of all people should know that.'

'Sorry sir,' Zane apologized taking a seat, 'it's just that I got lost. This campus is a huge maze sir, if you don't mind me saying.'

Right about that.

Mr. Gardien sighed again as he leant back in his seat.

'So as I was saying,' he changed the topic, 'we don't have new students this year except for you two. Ms. Storm since you are our first applicant, I decided to hold your session myself. And as for Mr. Shadow, I hope you do not cause your father any more trouble, because I assure you, no school will be willing to take you in if you are expelled from Schatten Academy. I presume Ms. Houston has already said that but it is better to tell you personally. Are we clear, Mr. Shadow?'

'Yes, sir.' Zane hung his head.

'First, Ms. Storm.' He turned to Raiden.

'Yes sir.' She sat up straight.

'Please hand me your schedules, Ms. Storm and Mr. Shadow..' Mr. Gardien laid out his hand.

Both of them handed their respective schedules.

'I've been through all your records Ms. Storm; it seems you have a talent for troublemaking like Mr. Shadow here as well. Expelled from 5 schools, that's certainly a feat. Well, you are behind Mr. Shadow here by one school.' He laughed at his own joke.

Raiden glance at Zane who just mouthed "long story".

'So, Ms. Storm, what are your interests? You know aside from troublemaking?'

Zane smirked while Raiden gulped before answering.

'I do not have many interests as such sir. I am pretty much open to everything. But I do prefer to metal music.'

'Interesting.' Mr. Gardien just muttered as he went through Raiden's schedule, 'it says you have Cryptology and Symbolism in here. Those two are university level subjects. Are you interested in stuff like that?'

'Yes sir.' Raiden thought that was the safest way to answer.

'I see,' Mr. Gardien went over Raiden's schedule again, 'Well, Ms. Storm, your schedule is perfectly fine then. Mathematics, Cryptology, Symbology, Chemistry, Physics and Music. I think you're all set, Ms. Storm. Welcome to Schatten Academy Ms. Storm and we hope you do good during your time in Schatten. You can go to your first class now Ms Storm. I'll speak to Mr. Shadow now. Have a good day.'

Raiden stood up and bowed.

'Thank you so much for the opportunity sir, it is indeed my pleasure to be able to study here. Good day to you sir.'

"Wait for me." Zane mouthed as she stole a glance at him going out.

***

'Whoo that was hella tedious in there, what do you say Raiden?'

'I'd say, it was rather short.' Raiden simply replied as she walked towards her first class.

'It depends on the person.'

'I see.'

'What do you have now?'

Raiden took a look at her schedule.

'Music.'

'Cool. I have human anatomy right now. Catch you later?'

'Sure.'

'See you around.'

'See ya.'