The Shadow Within Me

Chapter Five - New school year

Crystal Raine Meadows

A few days have passed and I have finished reading almost all of the books and lessons that we're probably going to tackle this new school year.

The day after we visited the legendary best friends of Ate Kathy was the best, though I couldn't forget those red eyes that were staring at me intently at that specific night.

It scared the hell out of me, what the heck was that? Are they keeping an animal inside of their house that's why it was that massive?

My feet paced towards to get my towel and dried my hair, it's the first day of our new school year. 

I woke up earlier today than my usual waking hours during vacation. I'm diligent when it comes to my responsibilities, so of course, I'll wake up early for this awaiting day.

I also couldn't help but get nervous after I wore my uniform. It's just a simple all-black style and there were some white linings on the corners of the sleeves and hems of the blouse and coat, nothing else feels new about this, but this time, it feels like it was a little bit shorter.

Did I gain height or something? If I lean forward I think my skirt would fly, I just shook my head. I was supposed to enroll last year, but due to my family concerns, I didn't enter and just took homeschool tests so I wouldn't be left behind.

Jenny was like me, we saw each other studying at the public library in the center of the Dragon Realm, from then on, we became friends.

"Crystal! Breakfast is ready!" I heard Ate Kathy shouting downstairs, her voice was enough to call even our neighbors for breakfast.

"Coming!" I beamed before deciding to grab a few of my things and ballpoint pen, I have to make a good impression.

After threading my bag lightly on my right shoulders, I left my room before descending downstairs towards the dining room.

The smell of freshly cooked bacon, eggs, and sausages filled my nose as my stomach started growling. Right, I forgot to eat dinner last night.

"Good morning people of the house!" I greeted them all as I kissed little Trevy who just beamed at me and bowed at Ate Kathy and Kuya Draven.

"I wonder who would beat you in being this polite," Kuya Draven chuckled before drinking his morning coffee.

"No one, I'm the greatest girl ever," I joked before looking at the big table that's filled with lots of goodies that will probably fill me up.

"Oh! Looks like breakfast looks good today," I inhaled my hot chocolate before sitting boldly on my chair.

"Of course, it's someone's first day today, so I would like you to have a fresh and great start," Ate Kathy beamed, so I smiled at her as I started helping myself to my breakfast.

"Oh and you should start packing your clothes and some other things little by little, our move in the flower park village is getting closer and I want us to be ready before that day comes," Ate Kathy informed, so I just nodded at her.

"A-Are they informed about this move, Ate Kathy?" I curiously asked so she stopped working in the kitchen for a moment before looking at me.

"Of course they are informed, but they didn't say anything about it," Ate Kathy looks like she's watching my reaction about this matter.

She knows how cold my family treats me despite my high grades due to my lack of physical abilities, they're very disappointed about it.

After they found out about my weaknesses they started to treat me like I wasn't born in that family since our family is known to be one of the toughest warriors that have been participating in defending the Dragon Realm from natural disasters.

The war between the light and dark was over but the natural disasters started to be more active around the realm like the floods, landslides, volcano eruptions, the vines that have poisonous thorns, and many more dangerous natural disasters.

My family, the Meadows, was one of the influential people that's been participating in those kinds of important things for the Dragon Realm. That's why they're putting too much pressure on me and end up hating me for not being good enough as their only daughter.

"Don't worry Ate Kathy, I'm fine, I'm used to their cold treatment of me, I'm just so glad that I moved here, it feels like I'm finally home," I smiled before eating the warm breakfast she prepared for me.

She just sighed before smiling at my presence, "We'll be here for you from now on, so if you have concerns, don't hesitate to reach out for certain problems alright?" she reminded me, so I just smiled at her.

"I'm so lucky I have you, Ate Kathy," I sincerely said, so she just laughed like she was embarrassed at what I said.

"Me? Me?" Trevy raised his small hands, so I giggled before messing with his hair, Kuya Draven just smiled at me before pointing at himself.

"Of course I'm also lucky to have you two," I laughed before we all enjoyed breakfast together as they all saw me off on the small dragon outside they called for me to escort me to school.

"Well, I'll be going now, good luck to me," I exhaled out a lungful of air before waving my hands at them.

"Have fun in school, Crystal," Ate Kathy smiled at me before carrying little Trevy who looks like he's about to cry while seeing me leave.

"Don't worry little guy, I'll be back later!" I bid them goodbye before mounting that small dragon. I feel uncomfortable since I'm wearing a slightly short skirt.

"Okay, I'm ready--Ahh!" I screamed when this little small dragon flew without a warning, I reached out to hold on to its saddle before biting my lower lip.

I couldn't appreciate the breathtaking few rights in front of me because of my skirt that's being blown away by the winds.

"Slow down, please!" I exclaimed, but that small dragon didn't listen to me, so I just sighed before pouting at its treatment towards me.

It didn't take us that long to arrive at the main entrance of Draconis University, the small dragon looked like it really wanted to do its job as quickly as possible.

After I unmounted its saddle when it landed, it immediately flew away, so I just sighed. That dragon must've really wanted to earn a lot from students that are about to come here this early.

I timidly faced the main entrance and saw a lot of human dragons, mortals, and warriors coming inside of the University with big smiles on their faces.

My hands formed into a grip as I could feel it shaking, this is it, new school year and I'm finally in a setting where I could fully engage with many students like me.

I'm not homeschooled anymore, I exhaled a lungful of air before gripping my bag intently, I have to be confident for them to like me or maybe leave a good impression.

"Crystal!" I heard someone calling me from the main entrance, my eyes glanced to where she was and smiled after seeing how beautiful she looks today in our uniform. I beamed and ran towards her to give her a warm embrace.

"Jenny! It's so great to see you!" We almost cried in the middle of the main entrance and didn't notice that a few people were looking at us weirdly, but that didn't matter, I missed my girl!

"I was so worried about you! How was your sprain?" she broke our hugs and examined my feet, so I sneered at her.

"It's all healed up and you'll never guess whom I just met days ago!" I excitedly said as both proceeded at the University's arena.

I heard that's where the orientation will be held for the new and old students of the University, I couldn't help but get excited.

We didn't have a hard time looking for the arena because there were signs plus, I have memorized the map of the school.

I can't afford to be lost, being late is a very irresponsible thing a student would do, at least, that's what I read in the university handbook.

Just like what Ate Kathy has explained to me before, we have four big fields from around the University.

On the north side, that's where the biggest library is located, the place which I will not forget to visit of course during this entire year! It contains the ancient and recent books that hold the past and legend stories of our world!

While on the west side, that’s where the biggest maze and arena can be seen. That’s where the Dragon Games was held last year, that's what I heard from Ate Kathy also. She tells me a lot of things during our bonding time together.

And on the south side, different courts are built there for the students to practice or play their favorite sports.

Finally, on the east is where the biggest training field grounds are located, that’s where students can practice their combat, summoning, and possessing skills with their dragon human mates. That part is what I hate the most since I'm almost turning eighteen, which means, I'll get a mate sooner or later.

"How are you familiar with this place when you haven't been here yet?" Jenny curiously asked, her name is Jennifer Redfield, short for Jenny, she's a mortal like me that's been living peacefully inside the Ruby District.

"You know me, I won't like it when I get lost or something, most especially when that happened back there at the enchanted forest," I pouted, so she just laughed at me.

"Yeah right, we're supposed to meet that day, you left me hanging you, nerd! It was so boring without someone to share what I gained in reading!" she sighed, so I just smiled.

"I'm really sorry for being clumsy that day, but even though I was unlucky after gaining that sprain, I still feel so blessed because I met with our respected legends days ago!" I beamed, so I told her what happened in the enchanted forest and how I met those two respected legends in our world.

"You're so lucky! I wish I could've seen them either!" she wanted to strangle my hair, but she restrained herself, thankfully.

"Oh! Did you know that it was said that the enchanted forest will lead you to the right path by itself?" Jenny claimed, so I scoffed while shaking my head at her.

"Who told you that? The weird guy who harasses that fake crystal ball? I'll pass," I mumbled, so she just chuckled at my response.

"It is true I swear! It was said that the enchanted forest may lead you to something or someone, or the path where you'll be destined to be," she continued explaining and I don't want to believe it.

I only met my sprain there and someone who healed my wound, nothing else is special aside from that...weird ninja-looking guy.

That's right! I forgot that Mrs. Hailey wanted me to look after her brother, Calyx Nyxerian Paraiso, he's a bit older than me, so it's weird that I have to look after him either. I bit my lip before anxiously glancing around our surroundings.

"Why are you acting like that?" Jenny curiously asked after we stepped inside the arena that looked so big, it could probably fit the whole Dragon Realm Districts!

I flinched before shaking my head, "N-Nothing, just bothered on how others look at us," I half-lied, I'm also worried about that right now.

"That's normal, we're new here!" Jenny beamed, I hope I had her enthusiasm for meeting new people.

We're greeted by the new student council heads, I heard about them, they're the fastest flying dragons inside the University.

Peter Hughes the blonde one, David Ronin the black-haired guy, and Razer Black the red-haired guy, they're known as the three idiots. Ate Kathy told me that's what Mrs. Hailey calls them.

"Hello there! Welcome to Draconis University!" Peter Hughes greeted us before gesturing us to the list.

"Hello! Thank you and we're from the Ruby District, is there where we will sign?" Jenny did the talking while I stared at them intently, they looked nothing like what Ate Kathy explained to me.

I heard they stayed in the University for a certain friend, where did I hear it? Was it Kuya Draven or Ate Kathy?

My mind wondered for a moment and didn't notice that I was about to get stuck on something while I was pacing back and forth on the red carpet while waiting for Jenny to finish listing both our names.

My feet got stuck on the uneven red carpet and gasped when I realized that I was about to fall and my skirt would go flying.

I'm wearing black short cycling, but it's still embarrassing to trip over just because of this freaking carpet!

"E-Eep!" I thought I was going to stumble when someone caught my wrists and harshly pulled me up.

"Woman, is there any place where you'll not trip over in my presence?" I flinched after hearing that voice, it sounded so familiar again.

To be continued...