As Caius stepped into the bustling school grounds, he braced himself for another day of the same old routine. The students, in their usual cliques, were already gathering in groups, chatting and laughing. Caius tried to blend in, but it didn't take long for the inevitable to begin.
A group of boys, known for their antics, spotted him and grinned mischievously. Before Caius could react, they raised their hands and water floated and began splashing him with them. Laughter erupted as eggs began to float through the air, landing with a splat against his uniform. Caius just stood there, his face expressionless, his eyes shut tight as if trying to block out the humiliation. The crowd cheered, their laughter echoing around him.
Finally, the bell rang, signaling the start of classes. Caius walked briskly to the nearest bathroom, his wet clothes clinging uncomfortably to his skin. He locked the door behind him and immediately began to strip, tossing his soggy clothes aside. He was about to turn on the faucet when he felt a presence behind him. With a weary sigh, he muttered, "I can feel you. Get out."
A figure shimmered into visibility, revealing a young man with shaggy blond hair and a smirk that oozed mischief. He was a year or two older than Caius, with an air of arrogance that was hard to miss. The guy leaned casually against the mirror, watching Caius with an amused glint in his eyes.
"What's with all the water and eggs?" the guy asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Did you join the culinary arts program or something? Look at you, gaining weight like you're prepping for a wrestling match."
Caius scowled and slapped the guy's hand away when he tried to touch his stomach. "Don't ever try to touch me," Caius said, his tone icy.
The guy chuckled, unperturbed. "Oh, come on. I was just checking if you were expanding your horizons. You know, literally." He whistled as Caius began scrubbing the dirt off his body, trying to wash away the humiliation. "So, no more girls' uniforms? Did you finally go straight, or are you just pretending? You look awfully good crossdressing, You know?"
Caius glared at him as he started putting on fresh clothes from his bag. "Not in the mood for your jokes," he snapped.
The guy shrugged, his smirk widening. "Hey, just trying to make your day a little less dull. Or at least make you smile. But if you're too cool for that, suit yourself."
As Caius finished dressing, he caught a glimpse of the guy's reflection in the mirror. With a final chuckle, the guy vanished, leaving Caius alone with his thoughts.
Caius stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, adjusting his clothes and trying to smooth out the wrinkles. His mind raced with negative thoughts.
'What a bad reputation this body have. Cross-dresser, disgusting, gay, weak, and a loser. Why am I stuck with this body and these deeds?'
He picked up his towel and started drying his hair. As he worked, he sighed deeply. 'I wish I could dye this black hair into white. I should make it long again, like it was in my past life.'
Frustration and anger filled him. 'I hate this world.'
With one last look at his reflection, Caius left the bathroom and walked back to his room.As Caius approached his room door, someone suddenly shoved him from behind. He stumbled forward and fell face-first into the room, his body skidding across the floor. Laughter erupted from the hallway, ringing out clearly.
"Nice faceplant, loser!" one student called out.
"Did you see that? Totally pathetic!" another laughed.
Caius sighed, picking himself up and dusting off his clothes, trying to ignore the snickers and giggles from outside. He turned and glared at the culprit, a tall student messy black hair with a smirk.
"Whatever," the guy shrugged, unbothered by Caius's glare.
"Enough!" a stern voice cut through the laughter. Ms. Langley, the teacher, appeared at the doorway. Her face was set in a firm scowl.
"Everyone, sit down. Let's get this class started."
The students quickly took their seats, though a few continued to snicker. Ms. Langley walked to the front of the room and addressed the class.
"Okay, let's check everyone's status," she said, her tone brooking no argument. "You first."
The students in the first row began to speak, each one muttering their status quietly:
"Strength: 30," one student whispered.
"Agility: 25," came the next, barely audible.
"Level 24," followed another, trying to keep his voice steady.
Amidst the murmurs and occasional chuckles, Caius sit at the back, he watched the students in the first row list their statuses. The murmurs and laughter filled the space.
"Strength: 30," one student muttered.
"Agility: 25," another said.
"Mana: 40," followed the third.
"Stamina: 35," came the next.
Caius watched, Aiden The guy in the bathroom stood up and announced confidently, "Name: Aiden, Race: Human, Agility: 52, Stamina: 68, Strength: 70, Mana: 35, and Level: 15." a smug smile on his face.
Caius sighed and looked away, As Caius at his sit it's now his turn, he took a deep breath and calmly announced his status, his tone flat and indifferent.
As Caius announced his status, the room erupted into laughter.
"Name: Caius, Race: Human, Class: None, Agility: 5, Mana: 5, Strength: 5, Stamina: 5, Level: 0."
"Seriously? Still at Level 0?" one student mocked.
"What a joke!" another jeered.
"Pathetic!" a third added.
"You're useless!" someone else chimed in.
Derek, who had shoved him earlier, smirked wider. "Wow, Caius, still at zero? Can't even manage the basics. You're basically a walking failure."
The laughter grew louder and more scathing.
"Look at him, just standing there like a loser!" one student laughed, their voice dripping with derision.
"Probably too lazy to even try," another sneered. "Doesn't even have the drive to get better."
"Seriously, Caius," Aiden said with a smirk, "you're a walking embarrassment. You couldn't even scrape together a single point? It's like you're not even trying."
"You're a joke," someone else added. "No wonder you're stuck at the bottom. What's it like being the class's punching bag?"
The room's laughter continued to swell, each insult hitting Caius like a physical blow. His calm demeanor stood in stark contrast to the harsh mockery that filled the air.
Caius remained unfazed, his expression unchanging despite the barrage of insults and laughter that filled the room. As the laughter in the classroom continued, Ms. Langley's face softened with pity. She stepped forward, her voice firm but gentle. "Alright, everyone, enough. You may sit down, Caius."
Caius walked back to his seat, his expression calm despite the cruel laughter that had echoed around him. He sat down with his hand propped under his chin, gazing out the window as the class began.
A week ago, Caius had woken up in the bathroom, his head resting in the toilet bowl. Confusion gripped him as he looked around.
"Where am I? What is this?" he muttered, struggling to piece together the fragments of his memory.
As his thoughts cleared, Caius's face twisted with anger and betrayal. He remembered the sharp pain of his lover's and sister's betrayal.
"Why did they do this to me?" he muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness.
In his frustration, he slammed his fist against the bathroom cubicle, wincing as a sharp pain shot through his hand.
"Dammit!" he shouted, gritting his teeth. "Why do I feel so weak?"
He stared at his reflection in the water of the toilet bowl, his eyes wide with confusion.
"Black hair? Why is it so short?!" he asked aloud, his voice trembling. "And why do I look so different? What the heck is going on?!"