Monsters Within

Chapter 8

Rai caught her breath and sat up from a bed abruptly. She was panting, and it felt like she hadn't been breathing her whole life. Sweats were dripping on her face, and her hands were shaking. She was confused for a second, but later on adjusted to the situation.

She reached for a bottle of water on the side of the bed, making her feel a little at ease. Gulping the water in one shot, she managed to stop her heart from beating harshly somehow. Even though she knew where she was, that didn't stop her from feeling scared.

"You are awake," a man said from the corner of the room. He stood up from a chair and strode near her.

"Who the hell are you?" she asked sharply, eyebrows meeting in the middle. She fixed herself before facing the guy walking towards her.

The guy chuckled. "You should learn how to control that temper of yours, young lass. That might put you in a dangerous situation in the future."

He had stubble on his face, but he still looked handsome. He was five feet and seven inches tall, and he wore an all-black outfit, making him look like a gangster. But the stick he was holding as a guide, and the way he walked, told her that he had a problem somewhere in his right knee.

"I am asking you. Who are you, and where am I?" Rai glanced at the room and saw nothing but tables with so many papers. This room looked more like a dumpsite for papers, not a house. She couldn't believe that he let her sleep inside this place.

What a way to welcome a stranger.

"Okay, relax. I am this school's dean, Dean Yamazaki. And I am aware that you know where you are." He smirked, drinking from a cup that contained tea or a coffee.

She looked at the guy mockingly. "So, hello there, Dean Yamazaki. I don't really care about anything you said, but I want to go home."

"Silly girl," he said.

"What the f**k did you say, old fart?" Rai was losing her patience more and more while talking to this older man. The way he smirked in front of her was the most irritating one because it looked like he was mocking her or something. And she hated being mocked.

He clicked his tongue and placed his cup on top of the side table. "The so-called legend is true, brat." He emphasized the last word. "Lightford academy exists, and if you enter, you won't be able to get out unless you are authorized."

"Then give me permission to go out! You are the dean, right?"

"That... I can't do. Just like everyone, I am also prohibited from going to any place without the king's approval. If you want to go home so badly, ask the King directly. I doubt that you would be able to enter the castle just like that, though."

Rai's creased eyebrows deepened. "King? Your ruler is a king? What century are you living in? Are we back in the 80's or 70's? No, royalty is way back nineteen hundred."

Dean Yamazaki looked at her. The atmosphere changed drastically from light to dark. "Do not underestimate the modern age of the fairies. I don't know why you don't have any idea who we are, but you will understand soon enough."

Rai chose to remain quiet and waited for the following words that he would say. She didn't know what she said that made the guy so upset. She just asked questions. But she didn't care. It was not her responsibility to care for everyone's feelings. All she needed to care for was hers and her father's, nothing more.

"I will ask my daughter to teach you about the ways of the fairies and the mutants. And after that, I will ask my colleague to identify your wing color."

"The hell are you saying?" She couldn't help but ask. She didn't understand any of the things he said to her at first, then what was this new information? Fairies? Mutants? Wings? What was that all about?

"Like what I have said, you will know soon enough." Dean Yamazaki rubbed his temple when it started to throb. He suddenly lost all his energy just by talking to this little girl.

He didn't know that he would be meeting a short-tempered brat like her in this school. He had never met someone as rude as this girl before. True, every student had their rebellious side, and he understood, but this girl hit the spot. He couldn't imagine dealing with her in the future either. It would surely make him lose all his hair.

"Get up from there and follow me. I will walk you to your pumpkin," he instructed her.

"Pumpkin? Oh, just great," Rai mumbled, but followed the dean instead. She was too tired to ask so many questions already. The dean wasn't even answering them directly. All he said was that she would know the answers soon. It's not like she was really planning to stay, though.

When they got out, she realized what the dean meant by pumpkin. The buildings, including the house that she slept in, were all shaped like a pumpkin. It was nearly dawn, but the pumpkins were all gleaming with different lights she had never seen before. It was like a fairy tale that came to life.

Everywhere she looked, it seemed magical. The trees were glowing, the leaves, even the insects glowed before her. She doubted that those were fireflies, though. They came in small and big sizes, bigger than her fist.

Fireflies in our province don't bow in front of people like Dean Yamazaki.

"What in the world is this place?" she exclaimed. "Am I still dreaming?"

Dean Yamazaki chuckled at the girl's priceless reaction. This was not the first time he had seen that kind of expression, but it brought back memories from the past. It had been a while since they got a new student who never knew about this place after Reina.

"Welcome to Fauna village, brat. The biggest village in the Faerie Kingdom, where pumpkins are the main attraction.” He extended his arms like he was urging Rai to take a closer look at the place.

"Animals, huh?"

He looked at her, amused. "You are more knowledgeable than your appearance, ain't you, brat?"

"Don't call me brat!" Rai shouted, irritated. Some fairies looked at her with confusion but shrugged their shoulders and left after seeing the dean.

"Fine, do not shout, brat."

Rai cursed under her breath, but instead of shouting again, she ignored the dean. It was just exhausting for her to talk back at him every time.

"Fauna means animal life. And in this village, there are animals of all sorts only seen in the village. Due to the village's atmosphere, animals can leave however they like and whenever they want. But technically, this is their hometown."

"Shut up already! Like I care about those. It is not like I have a plan on staying here anyway. You don’t have to tell me anything."

Dean Yamazaki sighed. "I am telling you already, brat, for the nth time, that you cannot go back that easily."

Rai scoffed. "You just told me that the second time, old fart. And I am also telling you that I have no intention of staying any longer. This place will only bring me a headache or worse… death."

The dean stopped on his track. He did not expect the girl's statement, but somewhere inside him had awakened. He did not want to believe it, but it felt like the time had come. If this girl was the one, it would be tough for them for sure.

"Death, you say? How can you be so sure?" he asked in a low voice. He was trying to be nice and a little casual towards her a while ago. But this time, he was cautious.

"Oh please! Stop the formality and all that. My sister, even my mom, died because of this place. I am not someone who will offer myself willingly to the likes of you!"

"What is your name, again?"

"Please stop this, old hog! I am leaving." Rai marched away. She knew that the guy was bad news. She wanted to get away from him as soon as possible, but she realized she didn’t have anywhere to go.

Dean Yamazaki held her arm and stopped her. "I am asking you. Do not make me repeat myself."

For a moment there, Rai felt herself shiver. Looking at the serious man in front of her made her lose her balance literally. What was happening?

"What now? What are you doing to me? It is Rai, Rai Amherst. Now take your hands away from me!"

His face did not change, and he continued staring at her. "You cannot leave. Do you understand?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "I can't believe it. The hell I care–"

"Do you understand?" he asked, emphasizing every word. His glaring eyes focused on Rai's like he meant it as a threat.

"O-okay. Can you let me go now? It hurts."

When the dean let go of her arm and looked away, she exhaled. She didn't even realize that she wasn't breathing at all. What was the deal with this guy? She held her arm that had bruises, but the pain was no longer there.

"Rinmaru's pumpkin is nearby. Follow me," he instructed her. "From now on, you will be attending the same school as hers. Do not think about the expenses. I will handle it. You can repay me someday if you can work your ass already, brat."

She did not protest and did what she was told instead. It still felt weird, but something inside her had awoken. She did not know what it was, but she had a terrible feeling about it.