The Shadow Within Me

Chapter Twenty - Skirt

Calyx Nyxerian Paraiso

I didn't notice how late it was until I started training inside of the enchanted forest. I was trying to get that heavy feeling inside of my mind as I almost annihilated half of the trees around me.

The harsh breathing of mine was the only thing that I could hear aside from the blowing of the northern winds.

I still can't change into my dragon, I'm afraid that someone might talk to me again. My nightmares are getting worse and I'm pretty sure that Hailey's noticing it either and is waiting for me to reach out.

I can't lean on her any longer, like what Uncle Kenneth said before, there are going to be times that I have to be alone facing all of my problems that need solutions.

My senses became keen as I heard the slow flapping sounds of wings approaching my position right now.

I stopped when I smelled that it was the red small dragon that I helped tending its wound before inside of the forest.

"Red, you're back," I acknowledged his presence, but he roared at me like he didn't like what he had heard.

"Red isn't my name anymore, I'm Flash," he replied in my mind, so I glared at him before sheathing my sword.

At first, I was surprised that Red can freely speak its mind to me, other dragons can't do that but he can, which is really admirable. There are really few gifted dragons around this realm.

"Who on earth gave you that name?" I calmly asked, I took out my clothes and looked for his saddle for my dry clothes.

I always load my stuff here because I sometimes train without bringing appropriate clothes and this dragon always takes care of it.

"Your woman that has sapphire-like eyes," he casually replied, so I stopped for a moment as I looked at him intently.

"Why did she give you a name? Did you take her home safely?" I asked, so Red--err...Flash just nodded at me.

"She was upset with me and threatened me that she'll not ride me home if I didn't apologize," he informed, so I wondered for a moment.

"Why would you apologize? Did you do something that upset her? I told you that you should just take her home instantly once she mounted you," I reminded him of my orders, so he just nodded his scaly head at me.

"I did exactly what you're telling me and she says it was rude, though it's really my fault, I flew when she was still talking to that brown-haired guy with chocolate eyes," he shared, so I was instantly reminded of William Jay Falkor.

That guy, he knows that woman wasn't his mate, but he keeps on pushing to be around her or even being with her.

And what's worse because Red--err Flash mentioned that they were together until that woman mounted him.

"Why are they together? Is she alright?" I worriedly asked, so that small dragon just looked at me intently.

"Why don't you just take her home yourself if you're that worried about her?" Red--err…Flash sounded like he was scolding me, but I just averted my gaze at him.

"I can't be around her, she'll not be happy if I'm around her," I gripped my hands before wiping some of my sweat away using a clean towel. She will not be safe around me either, our relationship right now is already enough.

He didn't reply as he prepared himself from leaving, "Are you sure that's your answer? Because if you're already dedicated to avoiding her, I must send her reply towards that man," he stated, so I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"Reply on what? Was that also included in the explanation of why they were together?" I curiously asked, I don't know why I suddenly got worried for a moment. Flash just looked at me intently before facing the back.

"That chocolate-eyes man is trying to make an effort, a move to check if he could be allowed to claim your woman that he fancies, he asked to take her out tomorrow at the big library," Flash informed me, so I felt like I was washed with cold water because of what I have heard.

"And from your woman's reply, I think she'll go with him, to be frank, your woman is smart but too nice to notice obvious things," Flash started expanding his wings and almost flew, but I unconsciously stopped him.

"D-Don't take the letter, burn it here," I can't believe I asked him to do that, so Flash looks surprised either while shaking his head.

"I will not sabotage a good effort, plus I still like that woman to ride me home, she'll probably be mad if I didn't send this letter, she's much nicer than you because she gives me food," Flash replied before looking at me intently, that small dragon looks worried about my well-being.

"If you don't really like this then do something about it, but well, as you said, you're fine not being around her, so suck it up," after Flash said those words, he left me dumbfounded inside of that eerie gloomy enchanted forest, it's a little bit dark here since it's almost dinner time.

I can't help but get anxious about what's going to happen when they leave together alone, just the thought of it is making my blood boil. What will happen if I see it myself?

My eyes stared at the vast almost navy blue and lavender skies, the moon was full and the stars were waving at me like it's comforting me from my raging well-being.

"Why would I care? I already decided not to care, I already decided to leave her be," I talked to myself while unsheathing my sword.

"So why? Why does it anger me so much just the thought of her being with that guy?" I was so angry with myself that I have decided to train again.

After releasing all of my anger at the forest, I have ended in a conclusion, I'll make sure that they won't continue on their date tomorrow. I just can't allow it!

Crystal Raine Meadows

The weather was so nice today, the skies were blue and filled with fluffy looking clouds, the sun was so high up and was not ready to go down sooner.

My morning routine was the usual. After taking a bath and eating breakfast with the Woods family, I went out and noticed that Flash was waiting for me at the main gates of the Woods residence.

I gave him a breakfast which he enjoyed before he nicely took me to Draconis University, "Thank you Flash," I patted his head after he dropped me off at the main entrance.

My senses noticed numerous eyes staring at me intently before whispering to their companions, for a moment I was proud of myself because I didn't care anymore unless some of them might get aggressive and attack me.

Classes went by peacefully and I noticed that Calyx was awfully quiet at my back, Liam also kept reminding me that he received my reply.

He looks genuinely excited about us going to the big library, he must really want to get my advice on some novels.

"Jenny? Let's go have some lunch before training?" I invited Jenny while fixing my things before standing up.

"Sure! Let's go! I don't want you fainting on your training again," she insisted, so I just chuckled. I didn't notice that there was an uneven carpet on the side as I tripped over there and was catched by someone by holding my waist.

I glanced at the top and noticed that it was Liam who caught me, "Are you alright, Crystal?" he worriedly asked before helping me to stand up properly.

My eyes accidentally peered on the back and noticed that Calyx looked like he was just about to catch me either, but Liam was closer to my position, so he didn't manage to reach me.

I bit my lower lip because I was a bit upset that he wasn't the one who caught me, but that's crazy thinking.

"Crystal hey? Are you alright?" Liam asked one more time, so I flinched before nodding as I tried to make myself look more decent. My skirt was so short that it almost flew when I fell! Good thing Liam caught me that fast.

"O-Oh yes, thank you, Liam," I smiled at him, so I heard small chuckles on the back and whistles.

"That's a shame, we didn't get to see what's underneath, why did you catch her that fast, William?" we all stopped upon hearing that strange voice, I immediately held on to the back of my skirt and felt really anxious.

Did they see it? I bit my lower lip as I glanced at the back and noticed a group of rebellious-looking boys and girls together with Clara who's just smirking at us.

I remember all of their names, but there's no point because I'm planning not to talk to them either. Plus, their leader hates me a lot, which is Clara.

"What the hell did you say?!" I heard Jenny raged and was about to attack when she was stopped by Rowen.

"Don't be a jerk, Henry, you're disrespecting a woman," Rowen firmly said, he even sounded like he was warning them to stop.

"Quit it, Henry, nothing good comes out when you open your freaking mouth," Liam warned him this time so he laughed.

"What did I do?" that messy rebellious-looking boy with dark lipstick freely raised his hands like he was being arrested by someone.

He looked at me with lewd eyes before smirking, "I was just appreciating good racks, just look at her legs, what more if--" our eyes widened after seeing what happened after Henry said those words.

Calyx swiftly approached that guy and threw him on the other side of the wall, "You're too loud, people like you make me sick," I heard Calyx coldly whisper as he started throwing some chairs over there.

Some of the students panicked as they ran to the exit of our room, "Calyx! Stop!" I heard Peter Hughes stopped him together with his friends. David Ronin, on the other hand, started listing students that will be attending detention later on.

Calyx managed to calm down as he exhaled out a lungful of air before looking at me intently.  He looked highly pissed as he harshly threw something on my face.

"Wear it, woman, have some decency," he sounded furious at me as he left, what the freaking hell did I do?!

I checked what he threw at me and noticed that it was a jacket. Why did he give me a jacket? Does he mean I need to tie this on my waist? I tied it to my waist anyway.

My eyes peered at the back and noticed some worried faces of the people near that man Calyx almost killed, they all looked terrified of what just happened.

I'm too overwhelmed with what's happening right now, I can't even react that much even after I was almost harassed verbally. Why is this happening to me?

My mind was too preoccupied that I didn't realize that I was being taken away from our room by Liam and Jenny.

"W-What just happened back there?! I'm so freaking confused!" Jenny exclaimed while dragging me alongside her.

They were all quiet like they were shocked by what just happened, "Crystal doesn't deserve this kind of treatment! She deserves a good school year with me so why is this happening?!" Jenny sounded like she was about to cry, so I went towards her side to console her.

"Jenny, I'm alright, you don't have to cry for me," I emotionally stated as we four quietly reached the cafeteria and ate lunch together.

We finished eating lunch and surprisingly, no one bothered to talk even after we ate and cleaned our table. They decided to change into our training clothes, so I accompanied Jenny.

Jenny doesn't want to let me go when we bid each other goodbye, but she has to because we all have training of our own. I kept on walking with my mind clouded with thoughts until I arrived at the special training room.

I entered the room without noticing Calyx was already there, my feet paced towards the lockers over there. I left some clean clothes here yesterday.

I was about to take off my clothes when someone coughed that surprised me for a moment, I slowly glanced to where I heard that and was astounded upon seeing Calyx idly leaning on the windows on the east side.

"G-Gah! Y-You have to leave, I'm changing into my training clothes," I gasped before rolling my blouse down.

"There's a freaking bathroom for a reason, why would you change here?" he coldly asked, so I bit my lower lip for a moment.

I just got comfortable because he's always not around every time I enter this special room, plus he really takes a long time before he gets back.

"Would you check if there are people around? Your carelessness and clumsiness are all over the place and to be honest, it's starting to get irritating," he coldly added, so I stopped for a moment before staring at him intently.

His blouse has two buttons loose and his sleeves were rolled up against his elbows, he looks really damn attractive. He also looks like he's in a bad mood too.

"I'll wait outside because we're not training here," he announced before pacing towards the main doors, so I got confused for a moment.

"W-Why? Where are we going?" I worriedly asked because I have to go with Liam somewhere later on.

"On a place where I always train, quick and dress up," he ordered, so I have no other choice but to abide.

To be continued…