MATTHEW'S POV
Breakfast was great.
We were currently relaxing in the living room. Samantha, Ashley, Samuel, and I were watching television. Ashley said that she was watching this series called, 'My forgotten past'. It was about a girl who was the prophesied royal knight from another planet, with ice powers powerful enough to freeze hell. Her enemy was a dragon with fire breath - the opposite of ice.
Afraid of losing, the dragon made a plan to kill the girl once she was born. Her parents - the king and queen - found out about the plan of the dragon. And so, they teleported their daughter to Earth, together with a loyal maid to look after her. I won't go any further to spoil the good series.
We were on the part where her pet butterfly turned into a human, and I freaked out about it.
"What?! Blue can both turn into a human and a butterfly?!" I said in disbelief. Blue was the butterfly's name. The girls' and Samuel's jaws also dropped to the ground.
"Of course... Throughout the series, they've been dropping hints." Samuel messed with his hair. "How could we not notice it?"
"The director's good." Ashley mumbled. "Everything's so detailed. And don't get me started on her sword."
The protagonist's sword had this special type of metal that only existed in her world, it made her blade glow an icy blue when powered up, just like her power. It also had a crest that resembled her kingdom - a blue butterfly with snowflakes on its wings. The crest was attached to the handle, making the sword look like it had wings. The loyal maid kept it from her until she was of age. I liked the maid, too bad she died though. That made me almost throw the television out.
We were completely obsessed and concentrated on the show, we didn't notice that quite the time had flown by. The other elites had descended to the first floor and made their food in the kitchen.
A guy around the age of twenty-one - his name was Paul, I think - recognized the series and joined us.
"What?! The butterfly turned into a human?!" He exclaimed, his reaction similar to ours.
We were all laughing and talking about the show when the doorbell rang. The laughs were cut short.
"Did the principal say he was coming?" Samuel asked and glanced at Ashley. The girl simply shrugged. "I don't think dad said anything." Regardless, an elite opened the door.
The principal marched inside the mansion. The look of excitement was evident on his face. The rest of the elites gathered around the living room upon seeing mister Angelo.
"I just came here to make a quick announcement." The principal cleared his throat. "At the first week of next month, we'll be going to France."
The news made the room erupt with shocked and zestful screams. The elites began talking about their plans once they would arrive in the foreign place - sight-seeing, trying new foods, meeting people, and more. I had questions though so I raised my hand. The principal noticed this and nodded for me to continue. "Why do we need to go to France?"
Mister Angelo's eyes sparkled. "The portals used to access the underworld are scattered around the globe. Each portal leads to different parts of the underworld. I just happen to remember that only at this time of the year, the Shoala flower blooms in the Night Fog Forest."
'I never heard of that kind of flower before.'
"According to my research, the portal in France would lead us directly to that flower." The principal added.
"Uh, what is this Koala flower?" I asked.
"Shoala." Ashley corrected. I shrugged.
"It's a plant that rarely blooms. If it does bloom, it would be on every first week of July. Wanna know a fun fact about that flower?" The principal grinned. "That flower is neither dead nor alive."
I blinked in confusion. "If it bloomed, wouldn't it be considered as alive?"
"Exactly. But nothing ever comes alive in the underworld - we are an exception since Selene specifically made us herself. Even the trees there are dead. So how did this dainty and fragile plant bloom in that place?"
My curiosity reached its peak. I wanted to see this flower. I never heard of such a thing that existed. And more confusing, for that matter.
"What d-does it have to do w-with us?" This time, Samantha was the one to question.
And obviously, the principal answered. "I want you elites to search and bring that flower back."
"Is it special or something?" An elite asked.
"That flower's essence could make people have amnesia. Not everything will be forgotten though, it depends on how strong the flower is." Mister Angelo clarified.
The eyes of the elites were full of interest, wonder, and excitement. I could tell they want to acquire one and see the results for themselves.
Paul sighed. "But that'll be after the collaboration."
I looked at him in bewilderment. "What collaboration?"
"Sometimes, at the end of the month, students from different classes will collaborate with their schoolmates to learn more about a certain topic. They'll help each other by informing them facts that they didn't know before. Then, they'll have some sort of competition on who can search up the most intriguing information about that topic. If you're lucky enough to be put in gym class, you don't have to do any research. Just practice running until the racing competition." Samuel responded to my question.
'Is that why dorms are needed? So you don't have to travel far to meet your schoolmate for purpose of asking about the lesson?'
I remembered the letter I received before any of this started. It was written in that letter that I had to stay in a dorm for school purposes like events, projects, and collaboration.
Tired sighs and tepid groans echoed in the mansion, replacing the surprised and cheerful voices a minute ago.
"Don't be so down. It'll be over before you know it. And we'll be flying off to France." The principal tried to bring our spirits back up. "I'll go now and prepare the private plane. Can't forget about that."
My ears perked up at that. I always forgot that this school's wealthy. I wouldn't be surprised anymore if they own a private yacht.
The principal left. The elites went back to discussing their plans on what they would do in France. The announcement made the atmosphere noisy and joyful. What a good mood to start the day.
"France, huh?" Samuel hummed in approval. "I've only been to Germany, Korea, Japan, and Russia because of some ventifio that escaped. Now, I get to see France!"
I was in awe when he said the countries that he had been to. My mom was a flight attendant, so we often get discounts when we take flight. But I only got to see Spain and China since my mom thought it was a fun idea to go there for vacations.
"And for a different reason aside from hunting a ventifio down." Ashley let a small smile escape. "We can enjoy the place for a bit. The last time we went to another country, we had a hard time chasing a ventifio. I remembered nothing but panicking and yelling. It was in the middle of the night too. We were so scared that people might wake up."
As the two reminisced their memories and their experiences, Samantha and I looked at each other. We were slightly envious that they had traveled places around the world. But for me, it was mixed with slight shame. Samantha had a reason why she didn't go with them - because it was her first time summoning a soul protector. If I just summoned my soul protector 2 years ago, I would've joined the others.
'There's no use moping about it now.'
After Ashley and Samuel finished conversing, we, the ones enjoying the series, unpaused the show. Samuel went to the kitchen to get us popcorns. The blonde boy rushed to us once he heard the epic music of a fight scene.
"Go, Eliza! Show that beast what you're made of!" Samuel yelled at the television. It was finally the long-awaited part where the protagonist had a showdown with the dragon.
We finished our popcorns in a flash, but the battle raged on. Our eyes were glued to the screen when somebody's phone rang.
First things, first, I'mma say all the words inside my head-
It was mine. I told the others that they could continue the show without me, but they insisted to wait for me. I thanked them and went outside to answer the call.
I checked who it was first. My lower lip quivered when I saw the picture of mom displayed on the screen. Her pearl white smile made her eyes turn into crescents. She looked so happy in this picture that I took for her when we visited a park. It was around autumn that day, so the background was orange leaves that were falling. The color complimented her brown eyes - the same shade as mine.
'Should I... Tell her the truth? Or keep her in the dark?'
I thought of my dream. Mom said she kept the whole elite thing a secret because she didn't want anyone to know about me - to know how much a burden I was. I didn't believe that. I always thought that she didn't tell me I was an elite because she didn't want me dying at a young age like my dad. Now, I wanted to know the real reason. For that to happen, I needed to talk to her first.
'If I want to know the truth, I'll also need to reveal that I'm part of the elites.'
I sighed scratched the back of my head. I feel so stressed in deciding. I took a long time to answer, my ringtone had already ended.
'Damn it. I just can't do it.'
I did tell myself yesterday that I would talk to her though. I shook my head, deserting the plan. If I couldn't talk to her over a call, I would just text her.
'Sorry, mom. I'm a bit busy so I can't call you. Haha.' I typed. I added the last one to try and convince her that I was okay.
I saw three dots pop on my screen before her message showed.
'If that's the case, then I'll just text you. Where were you, Matthew? You disappeared for almost a week! You almost gave me and your grandparents a heart attack.'
I smiled. I wonder if grandma and grandpa were doing well? And most of all...
'I was just overwhelmed with school work, relax. You went to this school so you should know, mom. How are you, by the way?'
I wanted to keep this conversation as casual as possible. No mentioning of the elites. My phone chimed, indicating I received another message.
'Well, they do give unreasonable amounts of homework from time to time... But that's still no excuse on why you haven't been answering my texts and calls! Also, I'm fine, thank you for asking.'
I typed back, the keyboard on my screen making small clicking sounds while I did so.
'I'm really sorry, mom. I just want to finish all of this and get high grades. I didn't enroll in this school for nothing. Some of my friends left so many messages. I got tired of it so I put my phone on silent.'
She replied a minute later.
'Hmmm, I suppose that's understandable. Although, I want you to answer my texts from now on! If you miss so much as one call, I'm coming over there myself. I don't care if the guards have to fight me. I will come and see you.'
My lips curled into a smile. I was worried for nothing. I could finally breathe freely without guilt smothering me. I felt anxious for nothing.
'I got it, mom. I will do that from now on. I gotta go back to studying. Say hi to grandma and grandpa for me.'
Even though my worries withered away, I still felt bad for lying.
'Okay, sweetie, I will!'
And that marked the end of our conversation. The plan of casually talking to mom went better than I expected, but my lies fueled the remaining guilt. Still, mom didn't have to concern herself with me anymore.
'You have your secrets, mom. So, I'll have mine.'
I pocketed my phone and waltzed inside the mansion. I passed by some of the elites who wanted to spend the weekend going outside. Despite finally talking to my mom, a feeling of remorse lingered.
I walked over to the couch. Once the two blondes and the raven-haired girl saw me, they resumed the show. "So, who was that, Matthew?" Samuel asked amidst the show.
"Oh, just my mom. She was checking in on me." I told him.
Samuel snorted. "Did she ask how you were holding up in summoning your soul protector?"
My lips fell into a frown. The others didn't know that my own mother, who was apparently an elite herself, was unaware I followed in her footsteps. If she found out about it, she'd passed out. Her reaction when I enrolled in the university was bad enough. I could only think about what she would do when I neglected her warnings.
'It's your destiny to become like your parents!'
The principal's voice rang in my head. I wonder... Is it really? People said that there was always a reason for everything. So was there a reason why I followed the elites that day? Would mom understand if I told her that everything happens for a reason? Would she accept that as an excuse?
I sighed. I was overthinking things again. Samuel heard my sigh and shot me a quizzical look. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. My mom didn't ask me that. She just wanted to know how I have been." I said in a monotone voice.
"I wish for the same. Whenever our mom calls," He motioned to Samantha and him. "She's interrogating us like she's the boss and we're the new employees! Don't get me wrong, I love my mom but she can sometimes be..."
"E-Extreme." Samantha finished for her brother. Samuel snapped his fingers. "Yes."
I scoffed. "My mom can do that if she wants to. I hope she doesn't. I don't think I can handle my mom being crazy to that extent." I really did think so. If my mom acted like that, then I wouldn't dare bring up the elites.
"Hey, g-guys. Do you think w-we can go out today?" Samantha chimed in. Samuel and I shared a look, remembering yesterday in unison.
"Why? Do you need something? Or do you have something to do?" Samuel questioned.
"N-None in particular. I-I was thinking that it's a-a great day today! So, I w-wanted to go out and have s-some fun."
'I didn't want yesterday to happen again. Chances of that man finding us are low, but not zero.'
"I wish I can come with you, but I'm a bit tired today." I rubbed my nape. "And we still have to go to the Night Fog Forest later."
Samantha's voice faltered. "You h-have a point. Maybe it's best n-not to go."
I didn't want to ruin her mood, but I still haven't moved on from the event that took place yesterday. And I was sure Samuel felt the same too.
"I'll go with you, Samantha." Ashley said, which slightly surprised me. The blonde girl's eyes lit up once again. "You will?"
The blue-eyed girl hummed. "Sure, why not? Just don't drag me to ridiculous amounts of stores. As Matthew said, we still have to go to the underworld, I don't want to waste my energy too much."
"Yay! T-Thanks so much." Ashley couldn't help but smile at Samantha's bubbly personality.
"I'll stay here, have fun though." Samuel's eyes turned stern, his voice stooped lowly and was laced with alertness. "If you feel like you're in danger, call us immediately."
Ashley and Samantha raised an eyebrow at Samuel's sudden change of tone. The raven-haired girl scoff. "We can take care of ourselves. No need for that."
Samuel took one long look at her. Ashley glanced away, a slight blush crept up her cheeks. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. I think I was starting to hallucinate.
"I'm serious, Ashley. If you guys feel like trouble's coming, don't hesitate to call us."
Ashley cleared her throat and relented. "Fine. Whatever."
After that, the girls went to their rooms to change into a more suitable outfit for going outside.
Samuel raked his hair using his hand. "I hope they wouldn't get into any trouble. I couldn't protest because it would raise suspicions."
I nodded. "You're right. And I thought the same. Don't worry though," My gaze flicked to the second floor, where I could hear the girls' serene voices talking to each other. "They're just as capable as us when danger decides to make a move."