Onyx had always valued
honesty, despite its potential to hurt. However, her unwavering truthfulness
had been met with criticism and ridicule in her youth.
Classmates labeled her
"brutally honest" and mocked her for trying to be different
Elderly figures
reprimanded her, forecasting failure and disappointment.
The weight of those words
had crushed little onyx, leaving her tearful and fearful of nor meeting
expectations. Over time, she learned to adapt, twisting her words to soothe
others sensibilities. Though it didn't sit well with her, she mastered the art
of sugarcoating truths.
Onyx didn't know where
she mustered enough willpower to briefly smile and nod at Alexandra as she
persistently asked her questions when all she wanted was to punch her just so
she could shut up and leave her alone.
Onyx rationalized it as a
lie for the good. A necessary truth to shield those who she cared about
This internal
justification echoed in her mind, a haunting mantra. If spoken aloud, others
might deem her insane.
Perhaps they wouldn't be
entirely wrong.
Two more weeks passed,
totaling three since onyx returned to Wisterias academy.
Although the time seems
brief, it allowed her to observe her surrounding and draw conclusions,
Tony and Alexandra
remained close, engaging her in conversations since summer. Their concern was
palpable and Onyx appreciated their company even when she occasionally craved solitude
Something had shifted
though. Since the new year began, they'd been inseparable, responding on her
behalf and gently rebuffing other without consulting her.
Their interactions had
intensified, which was overwhelming
Not in a negative sense,
Onyx cherished having genuine caring friends, especially after she had spent
her younger years without such connections. She'd reflect on her fortune,
acknowledging how her friends had helped her reach this point.
Despite for her love for
them, Onyx needed occasional solitude, craving the quiet hours in her dorm when
others were at breakfast or lunch. Loud noises, even joyful ones, triggered
her.
She'd become instantly
alert, her body tensing, hands shaking and twitching to stretch outward in
defense
She'd adapted, however
learning to navigate the academy chaos. It took time but she managed
Nothing new sadly
What was new was her classmate's
behavior. Onyx mostly interacted with fellow students that returned from her
year, sharing common rooms, dorms and classes.
Initially they'd tried to
engage her, but now they respected her boundaries.
When needing something, they'd
gesture silently instead of asking aloud.
Some looked at her with
perplexity, others with compassion, and one gaze stood out Aiden's. His shock
bewildered Onyx.
Why would her former
adversary care about her downfall? wasn't that what he desired all along
Witnessing her
degradation?
Perhaps Aiden had
changed, as many had after Zha'thik defeat. The world had finally found peace.
Except of course, for Onyx's
mind. Someone had to be sacrificed and it was meant to be her.
She'd thought she would
perish. Believing her life would be the ultimate sacrifice, bringing external
peace, had been her solace.
But it wasn't her last
battle, nor her final breath. That realization tormented her, making life more
unbearable.
Months after the battle
and weeks into her return to Wisteria, onyx still wished she'd die.
Her purpose was
fulfilled. Why hadn't she perished? what other significance did her existence
hold?
Onyx was grateful to have
mastered mind blocks, concealing her thoughts from Tony and Alexandra. she knew
they wouldn't intrude, but Alexandra relentless research and Tony's bravery
would drive them to help her.
Onyx loved her friends,
united by their ambition and complementary strength, Alexandra's strategic
mind, Tony's fearless courage and onyx leadership.
Once she'd have called herself
the bravest, but no longer
Now she was scared,
fearful of the future, of falling and of continuing.
Even the young Onyx had
been more courageous
Onyx didn't go to lunch, not
because of anything happening but, just a lack of appetite, instead of staying
in her dorm and watching the plain ceiling like she usually would, she decided
to take a leisurely stroll around the schools' empty corridors. Walking would
soothe her, wouldn't it?
Honestly, she hadn't seen
the corridors empty during the daylight hours, actually, she had, but it was so
overcast it basically felt like nighttime.
There was something
calming about the morning sun reflecting of the giant windows and the warm,
golden light bathing the space and warming onyx skin.
For the first time in a
while, she could feel her lips turning up in a genuine smile. She smiled in
delight, feeling a sense of serenity wash over her. Maybe life had its good
moments.
For the first time in a
while, she could feel her lips turning up in a genuine smile. She smiled in
delight, feeling a sense of serenity wash over her. Maybe life had its good
moments.
"Onyx Black"
A couple of high-pitched
voices, probably junior students, shouted from behind her, close enough for her
to hear them and far enough for her to react. By react she meant flee. She ran
towards her dorm, having to circle her way back there, but she didn't care how
long she had to run it if it meant escaping the situation she would've been if
she didn't.
What happened as well,
though, was quick footsteps following her and little voices calling out her
name once more.
She felt frustration
bubble from inside her, threatening to come out with her screaming at the kids.
She didn't scream, but she ran and soon enough, the kids lost her. She couldn't
tell when or where, her surroundings were blurry and that didn't make her stop
running.
She continued to,
determined to get her things so she could be the first for mage history and not
be late again.
Yet as she was taking a
left turn, her legs slipped, and she collided with wall really hard
"Miss Black, are you
okay?" someone asked from behind her, but onyx didn't look up to see who. She
slowly pushed herself of the wall, her face probably bruised and red -and, ow,
her nose hurt. She touched it, and not only did it hurt more, but her fingers
were bloody.
Onyx didn't know she had
it in her to sigh but she did, great, amazing.
"You must visit the
infirmary, let me escort you" it was professor Syntaxia, their conjuration professor,
she found out after her vision finally refocused. Her instant thought was no,
but if she had the opportunity to skip class, why wouldn't she take it? so she
looked down at her bloody fingers, nodding, "follow me."
Surprisingly professor Syntaxia
didn't ask her anything while going up the academy floors.
Onyx supposed she'd seen
her run and crash into the wall, and she didn't doubt she wondered why she did
so, yet she looked as calm and patient as ever, like nothing had happened.
Professor Syntaxia had always been perceptive, did that mean she just knew why
she did so? she must have had assumptions at least.
She couldn't meet
professor Syntaxia's gaze, no matter how often her eyes drifted to her face.
Her gaze was just focused ahead. Yet she didn't miss the littlest bit of worry
in professors Syntaxia's eyes. Because, of course, everyone was worried about
her. It had started to become annoying.
They arrived in front of
the door to the infirmary, and professor knocked. Soon nurse Polly opened, her
expression alert.
"Miss Black, what
happened to you?" the question sounded more irritated than worried.'
"Not sure, nurse Polly."
Professor Syntaxia replied, Onyx realized.
"well," nurse Polly said,
"come on in, then."
"I shall leave you, miss Black."
Professor Syntaxia tone was serious. "hope I see you later in class.'
Onyx couldn't nod or show
any signs of hearing her words before she disappeared.
What happened after that
wasn't much.
Nurse Polly fixed her
apparently broken nose with a single spell, gave her a tissue to clean the dry
blood and another for the fresh blood.
She sternly told her to
be more careful and half-heartedly demanded to never show up again.
She was formulating her
sentences in a way that didn't need Onyx's answers, and she didn't demand any,
and when she told her she could leave for class, it turned out she'd missed
mage history.
As she walked towards her
dorm, again, to get her things, she could feel people looking at her with
interest and confusion, not surprised, having her hold a bloody tissue to her
face. She hadn't wounded herself without magic being involved in literal years.