"What are you doing here?" I paused in my tracks as I look at Cerix. It was too early for this.
Cerix grins, shoving his hands in his jean pockets, "I'm ordered by the Headmaster to be your shadow."
"In other words, stalker?" I say, walking to the cafeteria hall.
"Didn't you get your schedule yesterday?" Cerix says, jogging to catch up with my walking, "Where your friend?"
"Quite late at night. And if I remember I have Intro class in about an hour," I say, "Also, Elizabeth had early morning magic classes with Malcolm."
"That's Malcolm obsession for early morning training," Cerix muses, "Guess I'll get some breakfast as well. I'll tag along."
"You already are," I mutter.
Entering the cafeteria hall, I grab a tray and stand in line. The great thing about this place was it seems to be self serve unless you want a customized omelet or something. I dump some potatoes, pancakes, and scrambled eggs onto my plate and cheerfully drown it in a sea of syrup. I could feel Cerix's disapproval but I could care less about what he thought. I grabbed a separate bowl of fruit loops, and a bottle of water. Leaving Cerix to get his own food, I sat at an empty table and not long Cerix sat across from me.
"You realize that there are plenty of empty tables," I complain to him as I cut my pancakes.
"And you understand that I cannot go against the Headmaster's orders right?" he counters, "I'm your shadow until he figures out what you are."
"Why? Does he think I might blow up the school or something?" I say, "Does he think I'm a danger to the school?"
Cerix shakes his head, "On the contrary, I think he might think you might be a danger to yourself."
"Well," I say, "You could shadow at that table."
"Hmm, but it's too fun to tease you. You do know that when you get angry, you just look like an irritated bunny," Cerix states, "And bunnies are adorable."
I frown at his teasing and continue eating. "But seriously, I don't particularly hate you so it would suck to see you in bad shape," Cerix says, shrugging.
"And do you hate a lot of people?"
"Only the annoying ones."
"Are you sure? I think you took quite a liking to Patty," I say, teasing him.
His face grows cold, "Don't even mention her name. If it wasn't for her, you wouldn't have touched that poison." I take notice of how his entire demeanor changes, his shoulders are tenser and his eyes don't seem as light as they usually do. His multi-colored eyes darkened significantly.
"Cerix?" I say. He snaps out of the trance of whatever state he's in and clears his throat.
"Sorry, you were saying?" he says, a smile slipping onto his face.
"Nothing," I say cautiously, "Are you okay?"
He nods, "Of course, why wouldn't I be. You're the one always getting in strange situations." He happily takes a bite of his food.
"Um, excuse me," a voice says. I turn to look at a girl who had a body to die for, like no joke, she had the hourglass figure and everything. I discreetly down at my body, which looked like a poor version of what her body was.
"Can I eat with you, Cerix?" the girl says, placing her arm on the table and strategically blocking my face.
Cerix barely spares her a glance as he sighs, "Could you please move your arm, you're blocking my view of my cute little bunny?"
I give him a grossed out look, "Please never call me again."
Cerix's eyes twinkle, "Alright, how about angel?"
I cringe back in disgust, "Please stop."
"Cerix," the girl says, drawing the attention back to her, "I got you some water."
Cerix reaches out and grabs my water bottle without my consent before drinking it, shocking both the girl and me. Unlike the girl, I was fueling with irritation as I give him a pissed off glare. The girl freezes and stares at him in disbelief.
"I'm sorry but it seems I already have water," Cerix says, all the while looking at me and smiling. The girl, seemingly embarrassed backs away and leaves us. I predict she had a few choice words for Cerix, as he continues to eat his meal like nothing ever happened.
"Um Cerix?" I say.
"Yes, angel?"
"My name's not--" I take a deep breath, "You just rejected that girl I think."
"And?"
"You didn't even look at her," I protest.
"And why should I look at something I'm not interested in?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
"That's not the point," I argue, "And you know it."
"Well, maybe I do but now it's time for class," Cerix says, standing and taking our trays, "I'll walk you there."
"You're my teacher so we're going to the same place," I say, cleaning the table.
We both walk over to the classroom, and when we arrive there seems to be a lot of people who were there already. A class of about ten students. "Students," Cerix greets them, "Please welcome a new recruit to our family. Mila Ellis."
"Be nice to her," Cerix says, taking a seat at the front, "Please take the front table, Ms. Ellis."
I do as he says as some girls eyed me suspiciously. "Now, can someone summarize how the classes are split?" Cerix asks, and hands raise immediately.
"There are four student teachers also know as leaders who are in charge of specific ancestry classes, which include Cerix, Ronan, Malcolm, and Erik. Cerix is in charge of fairy and miscellaneous ancestries. Ronan is in charge of werewolves and other types of shapeshifters. Malcolm is in charge of wizards, witches, mages, and warlocks. And Erik is in charge of vampires," the student says, "And there are also other classes taught by professional teachers, where people of different ancestries can be in the same class. And every weekend, we also have combat battles between people of different ancestry classes."
"Good," Cerix says approvingly, "And in order to prepare for the combat battles, all the things we learn in class are very important while battling. So, take good notes."
"Now," he continues, "let's continue talking about how to manifest your power that you have as fairies or some other species. Firstly, you have to accept and bond with the power inside you. You must feel it and allow it to become one with yourself. So, everybody close your eyes."
Seeing how obediently everyone was doing it, I closed my eyes as well. "Imagine something inside you, and grab it," he says, guiding us. I try to see something inside me, a glowing source of power and try to reach out for it but once I get a sense of its warmth, it runs from my very fingertips. I gasp, opening my eyes as I try to understand why it ran.
I closed my eyes again to try to contact it again but to no avail, it dodges my grasp and instead buries itself somewhere it thinks I cannot reach. Come on, please come to me.
The warmth from my power denies me once again, and I grow frustrated. "Don't force it," Cerix warns, and I opened my eyes again in defeat. He stands in front of me as if he was observing my struggle from the start.
I run a hand through my hair in frustration, "I'm sorry, I don't think I can do it."
Some snickering erupts from behind me as I peek to see everyone having some sort of glowing orb in front of them. I looked down in disappointment. I really was the outcast in this department.
I feel a hand on my shoulder to look into Cerix's eyes. "Hey, don't worry, it'll happen," he says, assuring me.
"If anybody lets out another laugh, they will be given a 50-page speech on the school rules," Cerix says, addressing the entire class. Immediately, no laughter was heard.
From that point, Cerix continued his class and I was honestly trying my best to listen but I couldn't help but think about how utterly different I was. It was like elementary school all over again, where the kids were vicious in their attacks and their ignorance was all-consuming. "See you in the next class," Cerix says finally, and students started to filter out. Somewhere slower than others (like the girls who wanted to get their fill of seeing Cerix). I hurriedly shoved my stuff in my bag since I really wanted to get out now. I wanted to vent to Liz again.
"Ms. Ellis, can I see you for a moment?" Cerix stops me.
My heart drops, I was really expecting to depart from him. I turn to face him with a weary smile, "Yes?"
"I wanted to offer you some after school help," he says. I shake my head immediately.
"No thank you," I say as pleasant as I could, "I couldn't take over your personal time."
Cerix frowns, "As your teacher, I would humbly let the topic slide. But as a friend and a fellow classmate, I think it would be good for you to have extra help so you could figure out your heritage as soon as possible rather than waiting."
"I mean, you do want to find out what you are right?" he says, tilting his head.
I bite my lip, "I do."
"And I have expertise in helping people find out their heritage," he continues, "After all, I, myself is unique to the species that attend this school."
"You?" I say surprised, "Aren't you a fairy?"
Cerix chuckles, "If only it was that simple."
"So, what are you?" I say, curious.
Cerix lights up with mischief, "How about a deal? You accept the help and I will tell you my heritage?"
"I could ask one of the other leaders, you know?" I say, coyly.
I start to leave when he says "I'll bring you one of those strange creations the cafeteria has, anytime you want it."
I turn around with gleaming eyes, "So like my personal GrubHub and free of charge?"
Cerix nods, with a strained smile. "Deal," I say, shaking his hand.
He gives me a full-blown grin, "Well, your first lesson starts after your last class."
I tap my chin, "You know, I'm really craving some of that Nutella hot chocolate."
"Your wish is my command, angel," he says before disappearing to get the drink.
Realization hits me a second later, as I yell, "My name's not Angel."
However, he was already gone.