I blew out a deep, shaken breath as I tried to soothe my flurry emotions. I shouldn't be as nervous as I'm right now, but I'm especially anxious the longer I stare at my uniform-clad body in my reflection in the mirror. The uniform the school required consisted of sky blue skirt and short-sleeved faded blue shirt that was tight on my bust, flattening my chest a little. The only attractive attribute about me is probably my breasts – no shame in admitting it – but with this kind of shirt it was making them look smaller than their real size. I frowned, trying to concentrate on that note instead of the whole starting my first class fiasco. I blew out another sigh, and tightened my ponytail that was held by a white, as plain as my personality, rubber band.
I took the three cards I had settled on top of my desk previously and kissed them all, summoning my three warriors. Sehun had the audacity to pretend to yawn, like he actually hibernated with sleep like myself. Baekhyun only stared at me like I'm the most important puzzle in his life that he couldn't understand whatsoever. Minseok was just staring at me with a small smile on his face, giving me two thumbs up when he noticed my eyes on him. I blew out another shaken breath, and gestured at my body wholly with my hands.
"How do I look?" the boys simultaneously tilted their head to the side, and Minseok was the only one who grinned like a sly cat. "You look great," Minseok commented with no obvious, or deep feelings under his tone. I glanced at the other two hopefully, a worried crease of my eyebrows as I watched them silently examining me. I've always been uncertain and insecure about anything new I put on. I know I shouldn't be so anxious about a mere uniform since uniforms are all the same – ugly and hot – but I was still anxious.
"Do you really want our opinions?" Baekhyun questioned gently, his eyes lingering on my flattened chest for a long minute before he guided his eyes up to meet my own eyes. I flushed slightly at the supposed-to-be discreet look, and found myself nodding anyways. Before Baekhyun can give his opinion however, Sehun rolled his eyes with a clear of his throat before speaking in an obnoxious way. "Well, I'm up for criticism," I waited for that so-called criticism without any eagerness like before. "You look like someone puked on you.. you're so.. ugly,"
"Noted," I rolled my eyes at the boy, and he even smirked at me bashfully and bowed mockingly, acknowledging my sarcasm with his own sarcastic 'welcome'.
I swiveled around and faced the mirror once again, scrubbing my feet together and making an annoyed squealing sound when my black, leather shoes scrapped together. I didn't pay any attention to the noise I was making, and nodded confidently to my reflection on the mirror, giving myself a giant, confident smile. "You look creepy. Stop smiling at yourself," Sehun groaned loudly while face-palming, and I waved his comment away with a roll of my eye. I gave myself a last encouraging pat before I twirl around, take a hold of my bag on my shoulder and stuffing my three cards in between a single book, not wanting any of the students to catch the twinkling stars on their backs.
"Alright. I'll be back whenever I finish. I'll call you out as soon as possible, I promise! Minseok, don't forget about training," I gave the said boy a look, and Minseok nodded curtly at me like a soldier, and I had to bite out a smile at his adorable actions.
"I'll be going now. Ehm.. do you like.. want a hug or something?" I awkwardly spoke, since I have absolutely no experience in this whatsoever. I could see all of their cheeks coloring into a deep reddish hue, and mine started to blush as well when I realized they were embarrassed. I decided to laugh it out before one of them could actually comment on my dumb actions.
"Never mind!" I chirped a little too loudly. I could see Minseok wince. "I'll be going now! Get back to your cards! O.. or whatever!!"
****
While I walked through the corridors of school, everyone were staring at me like I'm an alien object. I could hear their whispers about me, and they weren't really making it any less obvious. At every single step I took forward, I would catch one of the students whip their heads to whisper to their friends like retards. I rolled my eyes mentally. I had always received attention from others, but it has always been positive attention since I'm an overly friendly person – I would like to believe I'm pretty too..? – but the only thing I have been receiving right now are curious stares, mocking ones; and definitely scornful as well. I don't know what's so wrong about me. Yeah I'm new, so? I don't get it, whats so disgusting about new students? Everyone should start at somewhere no?
I ignored the childish whispers, and lifted my head up in fake confidence, trying to show them how I wasn't affected by the attention. I decided to look for my supposed class, looking down at the schedule table given to me by the librarian. The class was something I didn't recognize, something along 'Aura's Adaptation Section One', what even is that? I rolled my eyes, and trotted towards the corridor with a bored expression. If these students won't accept me, then I shouldn't accept them, right? I mean I have my warriors who are wonderful people – eh, I guess – and I don't need anyone beside them in my life.
I was so absorbed in my direction that I didn't notice the foot sticking up under me, and I tripped over it and slammed my face square on the floor. A searing pain shot through my nose and forehead, and I let out a whimper. Then there was a stinging sensation on my knees, and I lifted myself up to find my knees scratched a little. I looked around for the culprit, but found the entire student body laughing at me with loud, obnoxious noises. I felt a sudden burning sensation in my cheeks and ears, and I knew I was drowning in embarrassment. I straightened myself on my feet hurriedly, brushing my clothes off and ignoring the taunting insults thrown at me.
"Loser!" a passing student mocked, raising his hand into an 'L' sign over his head, amusement sparkling in his eyes. I huffed, silently praying that he would trip over himself, fall and receive humiliation like I did. Sadly, he didn't trip; and only high-fived his friends like a group of seals. I reached for my nose, and I whimpered when it pained me to do so, but the pain soon left me. I sighed, thankful that the injury wasn't as bad as I expected. I then continued my walk to my class, rubbing on my twitching nose gently.
I found my class thankfully early, before any teachers were present. As expected, I didn't find anyone familiar, but the students turned completely mute when they discovered I was a part of their class. The noise was soon brought back to life immediately, and they openly mocked me and whispered badly about me. I sighed and rolled my eyes, feeling something akin to sadness and discomfort burning in my stomach.
I searched for an unoccupied seat, and only found empty seats at the back of the class, where a shaggy looking guy sat, and a beautiful girl beside him. A rolled paper was suddenly thrown over my head while I was standing like an idiot in front of the class thinking if I should join them or not. They could after all hate me as much as the rest of the class anyway. I looked at the one who threw the paper at me, and I found a group of mixed students crowding around each other with taunting smiles on their faces. I silently raised a single eyebrow up at them in question, and the one in the middle; a girl seemingly as old as me chuckled at me and pointed at the last seats with mockery.
"You should sit beside them, that's where the newbies and losers sit at," then she laughed obnoxiously loud, her friends joining her. I frowned at her absurdity, and staggered towards that table without any added comments. I never was a girl of violence, and I was actually pathetic and weak at comebacks – except if you disrespected someone I care about. A newfound courage washed over me from I don't know where – I took a seat behind the guy and girl, and I could hear the students chuckling mockingly at me as I did so, and more garbage of papers started raining down on me.
The guy and girl in front of me didn't look back at me, and they didn't even acknowledge my presence at all. They kept on mumbling to each other and whispering some things I couldn't hear at all. I could however, detect the slight glances they keep on giving me every now and then. I smiled faintly when my eyes met with the shaggy-looking boy, and he blushed madly before looking away hurriedly.
The teacher then came trotting inside, a boisterous smile on his face and a brown dull bag hanging on his shoulder. The class immediately shut up and everyone scattered to their seats in a second. I noticed a boy walking beside the teacher, and the said boy was shirtless. My cheeks colored at the sight of his well-formed muscles, and looked away. I knew almost right away with the way he is dressed that he was the teacher's warrior, especially how none of the girls looked as attracted to him as I was. He was wearing the familiar glittering pants, and his cold stare was focused on the ground beneath him. His hair was a fluffy black, his perfect bangs falling over his eyes. He had something dangerous about him, something sinister, and I wondered what kind of a rank he was put under.
"Welcome everyone!" the young-looking teacher chirped loudly, but I couldn't help but feel uneasy around him. The students all greeted him back, with me included; and he grinned back boyishly before he settled his bag on the table. "How was your vacation?" he joked, and everyone groaned out loud because they didn't get to enjoy the said thing. He laughed at them loudly, and some of the students started to crack as well.
"Well, how many of you are new in here; and how many are old but aren't good yet with their Auras! How about you?" the teacher leaned against his desk in what he assumes to be boyishly stand, and pointed at one student with thick frames that was sitting in the front rows.
"I'm new," the said student shyly admitted, scratching on his nose and I wondered why he wasn't treated as badly as I was. "But I'm a three star," oh, that explains a lot. I rolled my eyes at the racism they were making; but didn't objectify loudly.
"Oh wow! We have nobility in here," the teacher chuckled, and the uneasiness in me spread again at the layered chuckle of his. "How many of you are third, or fourth ranked in here?" the teacher asked, and amusement seemed to sparkle in his eyes at his question. I watched a few students raise their hands, and they were little, seven in total as I counted. The teacher hummed in apprehension "Five?" he questioned yet again, and I could see the anxiety growing in his eyes even from my position on the seat. I gulped, finding my heartbeat increasing. None of the students in the class raised their hands, and neither did I. I could see the students all looking around each other, wanting to see if everyone in here was someone they should fear, or respect. They found none, and they all; along the teacher, breathed in relief. I gulped yet again, wondering what would have happened if I raised my hand?
I felt eyes looking at me, and I looked at the teacher's warrior to find him staring at me in curiosity. He looked down at his feet when he noticed I caught him staring; and I couldn't even catch a single emotion in him. I scratched my head in curiosity, wondering why the warrior spared a glance at me from everyone in the room.
"Alright, I assume most of you are first and second ranks then," the teacher concluded with a faint smile on his face, and I had this hidden urge to punch him on the face. "Wonderful!" he chirped suspiciously happily, and I wondered why he was making me feel so anxious.
"If you're all wondering what's the meaning behind the class's name, fret not, I'll explain everything accordingly," the teacher paused to see if everyone was paying attention to him. We all were. "Well, I'm sure every one of you guys in here knows that you all have individual Auras that separates you from others. First ranks have similar auras, second ranks have similar ones, but different than first ranks. In short, every rank has their own aura, and it's only identified to other ranks if you activated it from within," the teacher explained, and I found my mouth hanging open wider the longer he kept explaining. The information he was telling was slightly familiar, but completely new as well. I'm sure my mom said something about five ranks having powers that identify them as five ranks, but I didn't know others have auras to identify them as well.
"Right now, I could detect only three of you fully unlocking your auras for others to detect. Many students have the ability to cover up their auras, since they like their privacy. Now I won't demand you to show your auras constantly to me, but I need you to adapt to it. So you have to give me access to feel you to know if you know how to hide it, or you're still new at this. Is everyone alright with it?" the teacher inquired, raising an eyebrow up. I knew the moment he opened his mouth this teacher was trouble. I don't know how to control my power, nor my aura; and my mother told me no one should know about my five ranking position. But my dad told me they would help me grasp it and enhance it. So should I trust this teacher? And even if I did trust this teacher, what about the students? They shouldn't know or they would come for my cards. I broke into a cold sweat, and I yet again received a curious look from the warrior. I just hoped the bell rings before the teacher even notices that I exist.
"Teacher?" a student raised his hand suddenly, and the teacher politely nodded his head at him to speak. "Can we feel the auras of warriors as well?"
"I'm afraid that's not possible. Only warriors can detect each other's aura and strength; while we can only detect our own species," the teacher replied, sending the now pouting student a small, strained smile. I think the teacher doesn't even like teaching us at all.
***
I grinned excitedly when the bell rang loudly after two hours and stood up from my place to stretch. Apparently, every day we have one single class that goes for two hours, and some days we have two or three classes only. Basically; the school is run like a college, and we only learn things related to cards. Since there aren't many things to learn anyway. Thankfully; just like how I wished, the bell rang before my turn arrived, and actually a lot of of student's turns to arrive as well. Apparently, this aura unlocking thing takes a pretty darn long time, and the teacher decided to do it separately instead of all of us together for some strange reason. I didn't really care to think about it, since I was growing sleepy from the boring class.
I rushed immediately to a clearing where no one could be around, so that I could summon my warriors and start practicing without anyone knowing where I am. I didn't forget to send the mysterious warrior a look before I dash away completely, giving him a giant smile as well.
I found a clearing, some kind of a garden at the back of the school; close to the walls. Apparently, the back of the school gates consisted of a large garden, filled with different kinds of flowers and a big clearing in the middle. I was surprised no students were lurking around. I sat down in the middle of the clearing, and crossed my legs comfortably and took off my shoes and socks completely. The weather was windy, and the wind brushing along my hair and body was fresh and cold. I felt refreshed immediately, and took the cards out of my bag hurriedly before summoning them with kisses.
The three stared at the place around them with wide eyes, and I could see the longing in their eyes. I bet they miss this place so much. I grinned and hopped up from my place, momentarily forgetting just how tall the three boys were compared to me. I was like a dwarf in comparison, and while I stared up at them with an open mouth, Minseok patted my head like I'm a little kid. "You alright there Hani-yah?"
"What is the view from down there, master?" Sehun mocked as soon as Minseok finished his words, a smirk growing on his lips as he hovered over me like an over-sized giant. Baekhyun smiled a little at their teasing, and I sent him a glare because it's not funny.
"Oh! The short jokes, aren't you creative!" they only chuckled, and I can't believe Baekhyun chuckled with them (well Sehun was cackling evilly, I wouldn't call that chuckling) I could only huff at them helplessly.
"Are you done? 'Cause we have training to do,"
"Aren't you sassy today," Sehun mocked yet again, and I face palmed so hard I could feel my forehead bruising. I ignored the giant asshole and turned to look at Minseok, who had an adoring look towards the two warriors beside him, a gentle look I haven't seen him show before. I found myself smiling unconsciously, and wondered why this look on his face appeared. Nevertheless, it was a good emotion.
"Minseok, should we start?" the boy glanced briefly at me, before he nodded his head with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, but I still appreciated the effort.
***
"Spread your legs, straighten your back; and concentrate," Minseok commented while he took a fighting stance two meters apart from me. I took a deep breath, ignoring the loud cheering of Sehun wishing for Minseok to crush me but then take care of me since I'm a little weakling girl as he claims. I just wish I could crush Sehun's arrogant ass and fly him to Neptune. I stared at Sehun and Baekhyun from the corner of my eyes, and I saw Baekhyun surprisingly holding my phone and fiddling with it strangely like he isn't from earth, and Sehun lazily lying down beside him and whooping loudly for Minseok to win.
I rolled my eyes and actually tried to concentrate like how Minseok instructed me to do. I squinted my eyes at my opponent like how they do in TV and put my fists in front of my face, copying Minseok's stance. I looked ridiculous, since I've always mocked the stance they make on TV, but now even I'm doing it. I shook the thought away from my head, and focused more on Minseok's body in front of me, slowly heading towards me with a predatory aura around him.
"You have to be attentive. You have to predict every move I make. I'll go easy on you," Minseok smirked, and I gulped my saliva in fear because I don't know why I think he was just joking about going easy on me.
Two and a half hours later, I was dead. I couldn't move my legs, and I'm pretty sure I'm bruised all over my body. The moves Minseok taught me were fresh, fast; and deadly. Some of his moves he wouldn't try on me, and would only show them to me so I could learn, saying something about the possibility of death if he tried it physically on me. From my experience with Minseok, I could tell he was a great fighter. He was so agile, and he attacked me like he was surfing the wind. His moves were swift, and I couldn't see him most of the time. He told me I needed to work on my stamina, and that I needed to run for at least two hours a day. Of course I objected, since I'm a lazy person, but he told me if I wanted to be able to protect myself, then I needed to listen to him.
You could say the training was a fail, since I couldn't even reflect one of his punches. I fell down on all four in front of Minseok, who was peering down at me with a frown. He honestly couldn't believe I was this weak, but give me a break, I didn't learn how to fight when I was a child.
"It.. burns," I wheezed while crawling towards the two amused warriors, panting like there is no tomorrow and clutching at my throat. "W-water," I mumbled, falling down on Sehun's legs and snuggling into them immediately.
"Ew!" the said warrior grimaced at me, and shook his legs to get me off of him as soon as possible. I sent him a deadly glare, and I know I looked hideous with my bruised cheekbone and busted lips. Minseok showed no mercy.
"I'll get you water," Baekhyun gently said and stood up to leave, and I lazily pointed towards my bag where he could take some money. "Don't be like Sehun, stealing things like an idiot," I muttered on Sehun's legs, and the warrior scoffed because I bad-mouthed him and snuggled on his legs like a koala. He shrugged me off of him with a powerful nudge on my sides, making me yelp at the searing pain. I glared at him, but my eyes softened when I could see uneasiness and anxiety in his orbs. I guess he isn't used to skin ship yet, huh? I rolled off of him and crawled to Minseok instead, giving him large, puppy eyes for permission. Maybe he isn't traumatized as badly as Sehun?
"Alright Hani, you deserve it after all that beating," Minseok patted his legs, and I grinned at him cheerfully before I plant my head on his cold lap, sighing in relief because I was sure sweating a lot. "Thanks Minseok,"
"Just call me Xiumin," that statement made Sehun sit up straight from his lying position to stare at Minseok with wide, unbelievable eyes. I gave Sehun a wondering look, since he looked paler than usual, like he was drenched with ice. Minseok spared Sehun a single look, before he looked down at me with a far gentler look than before. "Because I trust you, and I only give the ones I trust the permission to call me that," Minseok completed, looking at me straight in the eye. I felt my heart skip a beat, and a small smile filled with gratitude bloomed on my face. I know the other two warriors don't trust me fully yet, so I felt pretty much complete when Minseok said he trusted me.
"Xiumin.." I tried out the sound of his voice on my tongue, and he lifted a single finger up and traced it on my swollen cheekbone, sending a trail of icy coldness on the skin he had touched. I shivered in delight as the heat in me lifted, and was replaced by a cool sensation by Xiumin himself.
"Thanks Xiumin. I'll make sure to be up to that trust,"
"You better," Xiumin smiled a little, despite the meaning behind his words. I vowed deep within that I wouldn't break the trust the boy had given me, and that I would work so hard to make it grow. I looked at Sehun, and there was a dark expression on his face, mixed with surprise from Xiumin. I vowed again in my heart, that I would gain the two warriors's trust as well.
"Xiumin. I won't let you down," I peered up at the said boy, still resting on his lap. I looked back at Sehun, and I found him looking at me as well. "I won't let any one of you down,"
"Anyways," I coughed awkwardly when I could feel the aura growing tense. I shifted from Xiumin's lap and sat up straight, wincing a little when my bruised thigh made contact with the grass. "What are your powers Xiumin," I took my bag in my hold and searched for his card. Taking it on my hold, the purple color of it faded a little, but it still looked purple. 'Barrier Of Ice,' was written on his card, and I titled my head to the side.
"Ice,"
"Ice?" We both said in the same time, while he was only making a statement, I was questioning him like a dork. "Why ice? I thought there are only five main categories," I brushed the thought of some card having different powers than those five categories away, since I still feel like I would never come across such rare beings.
"There is only five. But ice is a part of the water category. There are many warriors who only have a small share of the main categories as their main element. Like I have frost ability, and it's deadly because I'm a five ranked warrior. But I'm still a part of the main category water,"
"Oh," Xiumin didn't look so affected or sad that his powers weren't a main one from the five categories, in fact he looked rather happy he was different. "I have an advantage over water benders. Since they can't exactly shift their water into ice, while I can morph any liquid into water, and can create ice from nothing," he smiled down at me, lifting his right palm up and suddenly there was a white glow surrounding his hand before a rose made of complete ice hovered over his palm. I was so amazed with that magic that I found myself poking the said flower, sending my body a rush of icy cold sensation. I shuddered and immediately pulled my hands away from the rose. Xiumin crushed his hand closed and the rose vanished into liquid that sneaked down his fingers like a mini waterfall.
"That's amazing," I commented, and Xiumin only smiled at me, his eyes seeming distant. "Yeah.. amazing," He repeated, almost in daze, looking like he wasn't really seeing what's around him, as his mind traveled away.
"Hani.." Sehun suddenly called me from behind, and I turned to look at him with a frown. He was fiddling with his fingers, and his eyes were glancing down at his fingers nervously. I wondered how this boy could change his moods and feelings so easily. "Yes Sehun?"
"How did you trick that girl into not taking hyung's card?" was he talking about that student council president angry girl? Well it was simple. I took his card from my back to show him how exactly she overlooked the stars in the card.
"When I was in the cafeteria, I could see what kind of a color Xiumin's card was, which is purple. Your card is silver colored, by far different than Xiumin's card. So I focused on that point," I raised Sehun's card, and twirled it around so he would be facing the stars. I could see his eyes were furrowed as he watched me silently. I held the lower part of the card that has the stars on tightly around my fingers, hiding the last three stars between my fingers and only giving Sehun's eyes a sight of the first two.
"She knew Xiumin's card was purple, so she wouldn't even hesitate to believe me when I tell her I didn't have his card, because when I showed her your card, it was silver. Since I didn't want her to be suspicious of the stars, I made her think I wasn't hiding the stars by showing her the first two, tricking her into thinking it's two stars ranked warrior. Actually, this plan wouldn't have worked if she didn't mistake you and Baekhyun as mere boys," I snorted at that, biting back a chuckle. If Baekhyun and Sehun refused to put on the clothes I bought for them, she would demand to see their cards to see if I was hiding something. Thank god for not making us go through that at all.
"Come to think of it, why didn't you dress up like Baekhyun and Sehun, Minseok? I mean Xiumin? You can borrow from them. And gosh Sehun, you have been wearing that exact same clothes for how long now? And it still looks as new as when I bought it!" questions started swirling in my head, and I looked back from Xiumin to Sehun with confusion. Sehun only snorted at my frantic questions and waved me off with his hand.
"Oh don't worry. Everything we wear turns permanent once we travel to our cards. Nothing ever gets ruined when it travels with us to the cards. Why do you think we never age? Or our hair never grows?"
"Why is that?" I asked yet again, feeling my head blur from the odd words of Sehun.
"We don't know. Everything is just like this ever since we were brought. We never questioned it," Xiumin answered this time, and I turned to him with a look that screamed confusion because what does he mean 'ever since we were brought?' brought from where? Before I could ask him, Baekhyun came jogging towards us with two bottles of water.
"Here," he handed Xiumin and I the water, before sitting beside Sehun in his original place. "Girls are vicious creatures. Keeps on asking me what my name is. They especially loved my bunny t-shirt," even though tension was growing between us, those comments of Baekhyun made us all burst into laughter.
"What?"
Oh Baekhyun. Innocence doesn't suit him at all.
***
Author note:
Questions of the update: who do you think the warrior in the class was? And is the teacher suspicious, or is Hani being paranoid? How are you liking Xiumin's character so far? Don't worry, more explanation would come out in the upcoming chapters.