The Shadow Within Me

Chapter Eight - Fields

Crystal Raine Meadows

The discussion started for almost an hour, recitation is also ongoing right now as I'm the one who was answering all of his questions.

"So for this part, may I ask someone to answer why we almost lost our Nyxerian Warrior before?" Mr. Light asked so I raised my hands confidently again.

"May you please stand up?" Mr. Light asked, so I gulped before slowly rising from my seat. I started to feel anxious because a lot of them were staring at me intently.

"What's your name?" he curiously asked, so I rested my palms on my table before bowing to his presence.

"I'm Crystal Raine Meadows from the Ruby District and a mortal," I introduced myself, so he nodded at me.

"I see, you answered all of my questions a while ago and you also know this one as well, aren't there any hands aside from her?" Mr. Light glanced around our room and sighed when no one answered him.

"I think let's have introductions first, I think it's necessary to remember your names since you're not volunteering in my recitations," Mr. Light sounded like he was scolding everyone inside of the room.

"Ms. Meadows, repeat your introductions on the front, including your nickname, your expectations, and backstories," Mr. Light pointed to the space beside him, so I flinched before nodding at him.

I slowly paced towards the front, I have never been in front of this many audiences before, and take note, they're freaking strangers for now.

"H-Hi everyone, I'm Crystal Raine Meadows from the Ruby District, a mortal, just call me Crystal or Raine for short," I exhaled out a lungful of air before continuing.

"I'm looking forward to having a great year with you and I'm expecting to learn a lot of things from our professor and also to you guys as well since I was homeschooled," I shyly said, so a lot of them gasped like they're surprised that some were being homeschooled.

"It's nice to meet you, pretty lady!" some of them called out, so I smiled at them and noticed some groups were looking at me like I'm some threat to their popularity in class. I bit my lip before bowing as I left the front.

"Thank you, Ms. Meadows, may I call that person who boldly shouted a compliment at her to introduce himself in front?" Mr. Light asked so a lot of students laughed because that man who was unknown to us groaned before scratching the back of his head.

"Brian Paz from the Emerald District and a human dragon,  just call me Brian and I don't have anything to expect so yeah goodbye," he proudly said, so some of the people laughed because of his statement.

He's probably going to be the light of this whole room. The introductions went on and I've listed a few names of my classmates and tried to remember them.

Jenny also finished introducing herself and I couldn't help but secretly giggled because Rowen shouted that she was his mate and back off as she was beet red on the front.

I think they're really going to be happy to have each other, but I'll still look out for Jenny until I can trust Rowen entirely.

A beautiful girl with blonde hair and fair skin started walking on the front before facing us all intently. Woah, she looks extremely beautiful, but there's something about her that I feel uneasy about.

"I'm Clara Vin Freudian from the Diamond District and a mortal, you can call me Clara for short and I just hope that everyone will be fair here and will not take advantage of something just because they're close with someone that we don't," after she said those words, she glared at me.

I blinked for a moment and witnessed that she wasn't looking at me anymore as she waved at her newfound friends.

Maybe I'm just imagining things, "Lastly, may I call you now, Calyx?" Mr. Light raised his voice, so a lot of us turned our heads towards his directions, which made him glare at us before standing up.

Woah, now he's standing up. Mr. Light called him several times a while ago, but he didn't comply, so his student council friend introduced themselves in his place.

He took his time pacing down in the middle of the classroom, after he faced us, a lot of girls secretly squealed because of his irresistible appeals.

You couldn't blame them, he's a really praise-worthy human dragon when it comes to looks and physique.

"Calyx Nyxerian Paraiso a human dragon from the Ruby District and my answer to your last question Mr. Light, is that my sister didn't fully master all of her elements most especially the light and White Flames, so she was manipulated by darkness," he coldly answered, so a lot of them became quiet.

"It's the same as her husband, he was also manipulated because my sister hasn't mastered light yet, but fortunately, because of their trust and love for each other, they overcame that and we're here now because of them," he sounded like he's proud of his twin.

I didn't know that he loves his sister so much, his eyes gleamed whenever he mentions his twin sister. He cares so much about her despite his freaking emotionless face.

"Well that is correct, thank you, Calyx, looking forward to having you present at classes at all times this year," Mr. Light pushed him back to his seat, so a lot of them laughed.

"I heard he wasn't present at his classes before because he was busy doing some other things and failed all of his subjects," Liam whispered on the back, so I turned around and smiled before thanking him.

"Thank you, Liam, it looks like you knew everything about those twins," I complimented him, so he just smiled.

"No problem! When I heard that you're both homeschooled, it's just right to inform you about basic things," he beamed, so I just chuckled.

"How about we four eat lunch together later after the training on the fields?" Rowen asked while looking at Jenny intently.

"Sure, I don't see any problem with that," I agreed to go to lunch with them, so they cheered before we listened to the final announcements of Mr. Light before we proceeded to change into our training clothes in our locker room.

"Did you know that Mr. Light changed a lot? He was usually irritated by the noises and murmurs, now he ignores it and just focuses on what he's bound to do," Jenny beamed while taking her coat and blouse off.

I smiled before tapping the top of her head, "I'm really happy for you, Jenny," I suddenly stated, so she stopped before looking at me intently as she smiled. She immediately knows what I meant.

"Thank you, Crys! I was surprised! I can't believe we'll find each other this early!" she exclaimed, so I just laughed.

"Don't worry, I won't be bothering you guys if you want to be alone," I winked at her because I'm talking about if they want some alone time together, have a date, or eat lunch together maybe? 

They should always ask because I'll never know if they want to be alone together. It's important to get to know each other well.

She blushed before hitting my shoulders, "Hey! That hurt, you know?!" I complained while caressing where she hit me.

"B-Because you're saying something embarrassing!" Jenny complained, so I furrowed my eyebrows at her.

"What the hell are you thinking? I'm talking about you not to forget to ask if you two want some alone time together to have a date, or eat alone to get to know each other sometimes, jeez," I firmly said, so her eyes widened.

"W-What? I thought you were thinking about something else," she blushed again, so I laughed because I got what she meant this time.

"Are you thinking of something dirty?" I blurted out, so she flinched before turning even redder.

"Well, I didn't know that you're interested in topics like that, I should study more about it," I claimed, so she hit me again.

"No silly and you don't have to stay away just to give us some time, we can always eat together you know?" she scolded me while wearing her training clothes.

"We'll always be together, alright?" she insisted, so I smiled. This is what I like about Jenny, she never once leaves me alone since we became friends, in a good way.

"Alright," I laughed before proceeding to change our clothes because we're also running out of time.

"Plus, Rowen wouldn't mind having you around together with us, he must understand that you were my friend for a long time now, I can't just leave you be," Jenny bit her lower lip, so I giggled at her response.

"I'm not going to be in danger or something alright? You can't worry about me all the time, though I highly appreciate it," I told her while we're both walking towards the east side. That's where the fields are located.

"But I have to! You're the epitome of clumsiness!" she exclaimed, so my eyes widened in disbelief. That's just plain rude!

"Hey! I'm not that bad! That's way out of the li--" I bumped into the post near the hallway and felt my headache.

"O-Ouch! W-What the?" I groaned, so Jenny panicked as she touched my head and checked what else was wrong.

"Nothing's wrong, see! I told you that you're the epitome of clumsiness, who bumps into a pole for no reason?!" Jenny argued, so we started scolding each other until we arrived at the east side.

"Oh, by the way, Crys, your figure is looking so good! You're physically hot and fit!" she complimented me, so I blushed while shaking my head.

"Thanks to your suggestions," I gave her the credits, so she just laughed. She told me what I should eat even though I'm not training to maintain my body.

"Hey girls! Over here!" I heard Liam's voice on the far front with lots of students gathered in the middle, he's waving his hands like a maniac.

I just chuckled as Jenny and I went over there, "Looking good," I complimented after we arrived at their side.

They look much more decent in their training clothes, we look like we're ready for war and I don't know why I feel so giddy about it.

"You look good too, so beautiful that I can't compare you to anyone right now," Liam beamed, so I just chuckled because he sounds like he's used to complimenting girls a lot.

We waited for our professor to arrive and I couldn't help but get nervous because of how I'm going to manage to survive this class when I haven't been a fan of these things myself. The images of my disappointed parents we're flashing before my eyes.

I flinched when Jenny held on to my hands, I looked at her as she stared at the students before us. I smiled and gripped her hands tightly.

She's the only one who understands and can comfort me like this. I'm really lucky to have her. She deserves everything that she has right now.

My eyes roamed around the surroundings and almost gasped when I noticed that Calyx was staring at me intently. He's with his friends, it's an odd group because his friends look lively and yet he's there making their group so unusual.

His face looks perfect, but it doesn't contain any emotions. How can someone manage to be like that? Can he even make an expression? And why the hell is he staring at me?

I just shook my head and avoided his gaze, there's no point in asking these questions. I just have to look out from afar, though there's nothing I should really worry about, he looks like he's fine by himself.

"Good morning students!" a girl professor has arrived and motioned us to come closer in her front.

"I'm Ms. Brown and welcome to Draconis University! As usual, we're here to train our physical abilities!" A lot of students cheered and clapped their hands, but I remained silent.

"Now everyone to your respective places! Human dragon on the right, Mortals and warriors on left, we're going to have some warm-up and footwork!" she clapped her hands and blew her whistle.

I can tell that this year is going to be hard and interesting indeed, I could tell by just how these classmates of mine look so professional and powerful.

To be continued...