The morning was unremarkable, a pale sun rising over the gray cityscape as Xavrix made his way to school. The streets were as predictable as his thoughts—quiet, orderly, and devoid of surprises.
He approached the school gates, his pace steady, his mind already bracing for the tedium of another day. That was, until a hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"Xav!"
Xavrix stopped mid-step, a muscle in his jaw twitching. Without looking, he recognized the voice.
"Eren," he muttered.
Eren grinned as he came around to face Xavrix, his light brown eyes practically glowing with mischief. "Man, you're always so serious. It's like the weight of the world's on your shoulders or something."
Xavrix stared at him, his expression blank. "Your hand."
"Oh, right," Eren said, pulling it back with a laugh. "My bad. I forgot you're not a fan of friendly contact."
"I'm not a fan of you, either," Xavrix replied, voice devoid of malice but cutting all the same.
Eren only laughed harder, unfazed. "Yeah, yeah. But here you are, tolerating me anyway. That's gotta count for something, huh?"
Xavrix sighed, his indifference as close to defeat as Eren ever got from him. Without another word, he turned and headed toward the school building. Eren fell into step beside him, chattering away about anything and everything.
"So did everything go smoothly?I'm pretty confident in my sources, but just making sure" Eren said, nudging Xavrix's arm.
"Yes, thanks to you we were able to end things swiftly," he replied.
"Anything for you bestie, see I always do the most for you the least you can do is admit we're like that"
Xavrix didn't reply, his gaze fixed ahead. The same halls, the same faces, the same dull rhythm. Yet somehow, Eren's presence—annoying as it was—made the monotony feel just a little less heavy.
They both strolled to the classroom door, where a girl stood quietly.
"Annabel, good morning! How are you?" Eren asked, grinning from ear to ear.
Annabel glanced at him briefly, her expression reserved. She gave a small nod, acknowledging his greeting shyly before turning and walking to her seat.
Eren chuckled softly at her reaction, heading to his own desk without missing a beat. Xavrix followed behind him, his expression as indifferent as ever.
_____________________
The monotony of the day was palpable, yet it didn't bother Xavrix as he sat near the window, staring blankly at the teacher. Her lesson, while lively and engaging to most of the class, barely registered with him. He admired her skill but found no interest in the content—it was all too familiar, all too… repetitive.
His amber eyes flicked to the chalk in her hand, tracking its every motion with disinterest. The hum of the classroom faded into nothingness as his thoughts wandered.
School, home, train, repeat. There has to be something more.
At the back of the room, Eren noticed Xavrix's faraway look and smirked. Mischief gleamed in his eyes as he raised his hand.
"Ma'am, I have a question," Eren said, his tone dripping with mock seriousness.
The teacher turned, her expression cautious. "Eren, I'm not sure I'm ready for whatever you're about to ask, but go on."
Eren gestured toward Xavrix, feigning innocence. "I just think it's unfair that some people get to daydream through your lesson. Maybe you should share your teaching magic with everyone, huh?"
The class erupted into stifled laughter as all eyes shifted to Xavrix. The teacher sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before walking toward him.
"Xavrix," she said, her voice sharp, "is my teaching that dull?"
Xavrix blinked, his gaze sliding lazily to meet hers. "No," he replied, his tone flat. "Just distracted. It won't happen again."
The teacher exhaled, shaking her head as she returned to the blackboard.
But the moment she resumed writing, the atmosphere shifted. The air turned cold and heavy, like a storm on the brink. A soft giggle broke the silence.
"Hehehe… wrong one again."
The atmosphere in the classroom shifted abruptly, a strange chill creeping into the air. Whispers died, and all eyes turned to the center of the room.
A girl stood there, seemingly appearing out of thin air. She was stunning, with flawless, porcelain-like skin that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, framing delicate features. But her dark, piercing eyes—empty and unnervingly deep made her look… 'broken' beneath her beauty.
The teacher paused, confusion flashing across her face. "You're not one of my students," she said, her voice calm but probing. "How did you get in here?"
The girl's lips curled into a small, unsettling smile as she tilted her head. "I just… wandered in," she said softly, her voice melodic. She scratched lightly at her neck, her nails dragging across her pale skin. "But it's wrong here. This place… it's so, so wrong."
"What do you mean, wrong?" the teacher asked, stepping closer, her curiosity overcoming caution. "Are you lost? Do you need help?, who are your parents?"
"Lost," the girl repeated, giggling faintly. "Yes, I'm lost. Always lost." She twitched slightly, her movements jerky and unnatural. "I'm looking for it, you know. A place that feels right. But it's not here. Oh no, no, no. Matter of fact this one is worse than the others."
The students exchanged uneasy glances, but Xavrix remained still, his amber eyes fixed intently on the girl. He didn't flinch, didn't move, even as Eren whispered, "What the hell is going on?"
The teacher, unshaken, pressed on. "What are you looking for? Maybe we can help you."
The girl laughed again, the sound high-pitched and jarring. She stopped scratching her neck and clasped her hands in front of her, swaying slightly. "You want to help? Hehehe, that's funny. But no, no one can help. Not you, she said pointing at her.
not them, she continued scanning the class. not anyone." Her voice dropped to a whisper, and her eyes locked onto the teacher's. "Do you want to know the world I'm looking for?"
The teacher hesitated, the girl's gaze pressing on her.
"If you tell me, maybe we can find it together," she replied, her voice steady.
The girl's smile widened unnaturally. "Oh, it's not a place for people like you. Not for people like them, either." Her head tilted sharply, her eyes flicking toward the students. "But let's see… let's see if you survive long enough to understand." she said before reaching out and grabbing the teacher's hands, in her small palms.
Xavrix, already on his feet, shouted, "Ellie, step back. Now."
Annabel, standing at attention near the front, though confused, didn't wait for further instructions. She moved. Eren grabbed a pair of scissors from a desk, rushing forward.
Xavrix moved faster than both, his cold expression breaking into a frown as the girl's giggle turned into a deafening scream. The world slowed to a crawl as all three of them made contact with her.
A black fog erupted from her, thick and suffocating, spreading across space around her in an instant.
The teacher, Xavrix, Annabel, and Eren were engulfed within it,
And before the stunned eyes of the remaining students, they vanished into thin air.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, one student screamed, and the classroom erupted into chaos.