A young woman sprinted through the woods under the cloak of night, a babe securely strapped to her body. Despite her efforts to evade her pursuers, they remained relentless in their pursuit.
"Bring back her head!" a man's voice thundered behind her.
She reached a clearing, a vast body of water looming ahead, with her pursuers closing in. Stepping back, she took a deep, icy breath before making a daring leap over the water's edge.
"Did you truly believe you could escape?" a voice taunted, and a powerful fist made of ice struck her to the ground.
"Now return what is rightfully ours. Return what you've stolen," commanded a man in a crimson robe, standing upon the frozen surface of the water, now turned into a block of ice.
"Stolen?" She scoffed "This child is mine, my heir, my flesh and blood. You'll have to kill me before I surrender him," the woman declared defiantly.
"So be it," the man replied, as more mages cloaked in black emerged from their concealment.
"This won't be a fair fight," she smirked, adjusting the child's position on her body and securing its cloth even tighter.
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A 15-year-old boy, standing at six foot and one inch tall, with stunning bronze skin, honey-brown eyes, and a head of black hair, exited the bathroom, humming his favorite tune. His mother, a six foot two inches tall beauty with similar bronze skin, curly black hair, and captivating honey-brown eyes like her son, called out to him from downstairs.
"Erhẹn," she called, informing him she was heading to work and that Victor would take him to school.
Erhẹn soon joined Victor in the living room, a 6'4" slender Caucasian male with hazel green eyes and hair dyed white, who engaged him in conversation.
"How's it feel to be almost done with secondary school? In three months, off to university to chase your dreams," Victor asked.
"Normal, I guess" replied Erhẹn.
"Be a little more excited" Victor laughed, pulling the boy in, elboylovk around his neck as he used his other hand to rough up his hair, Erhẹn trying to fight back as he called his mother for help, she looks at them with a smile and continued packing their lunch. She handed them breakfast, one to Victor and one to Erhẹn, Victor having an ear to ear smile as he sat on the living room couch devouring the food. A plate of spaghetti and stew with fried fish.
Erhẹn complained about the quantity of the food, stating that the cafeteria was making jollof today, he already promised the cafeteria woman to eat at the cafeteria.
"You and this mama Rayna." His mother joked "And how is our wife Rayna, she hasn't come by in a while"
"She's out of the country, you know she finished school last session, so she's touring before applying to the ace Academy"
"Y'all still talk?" Victor asked shocked
"Why won't they?" Erhẹn's Mom asked surprised, looking at her son and victor for answer
"You and your big mouth" Erhẹn whisper to Victor "we had a fight before she left the country, but we talked about it and we're good now"
"Ehen... Is that so?" She asked concerned "if your say so"
After eating, she handed Victor his lunch As Erhẹn would eat at the cafeteria. Victor on receiving the flask of food appeared to very happy. "Manage it" she said, and victor bowed and thanked her.
On getting to the care, Erhẹn took out his phone from his bag, a surge of sadness and anger washed over him—an anonymous text wishing for his demise, coupled with death threats from classmates.
Victor, reading the messages, grew furious, proposing to report the students. However, Erhẹn dissuaded him with a smile.
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During the ride to school, Erhẹn texted with his friends in the front passenger seat, expressing his apprehension about returning due to bullying and gossip. Victor, part of their group chat, intercepted the message, offering Erhẹn advice.
"You do know I can see the messages, right?" Victor stated.
"Damn, forgot you were in the GC," Erhẹn responded.
"I don't really wish for you to gain magic—not in a negative way, but as a friend. I'd prefer you stay away from anything supernatural. It's not the life I envision for you, and I'm certain your mom feels the same," Victor advised.
"I understand, but that's your wish, not mine. I hoped people would see me for who I am, not as the 'poor kid from Igodo,' the slums of Benin Metropolis," Erhẹn replied.
"I want magic. I want to stand with my friends, protect them like they've protected me. I want to join the IMG and prove I'm not the worthless trash they see," Erhẹn confided in Victor.
Silence enveloped them during the ride to school. As they arrived, Erhẹn disembarked wordlessly, leaving Victor with a promise to return at 3:00.
Taking a deep breath, Erhẹn approached the school building. Inside, students—both magical and non-magical—interacted freely. Military personnel guarded the premises, ensuring safety. However, despite some students possessing magic, the school focused on mundane academic studies, not magical training.
Plugging in his earbuds, Erhẹn ignored the stares and walked down the hallway, recalling past instances of bullying. Suddenly, he collided with another student, falling to the ground. Standing up, he faced Ikenna, a student in the same year but different class, the boy, slightly shorter than himself, with a shaved head and brown skin.
"Why was that for, Ikenna?" Erhẹn asked.
"You were in the way. Useless dud," Ikenna retorted, smirking.
"Why do you keep doing this? what gives you the right to shove me? What do you hope to gain? You don't even have magic yourself," Erhẹn responded, fists clenched. His words seemed to strike a nerve.
"My mom's not a witch, or was not a witch, neither of my parents are supernaturals. That's what makes me better than you. I'm not a dud; I'm just a regular non-sup. You, on the other hand, nobody knows who your father is, and your mother, a former coven witch, acts as a midwife and aids people in your backward community. Your lack of magic is your own mistake. Worse yet, all your friends are mages, born from powerful ACE assembly lineages. So, who's the useless one?" Ikenna's words pressed down on Erhẹn.
"Looking for a fight, Ikenna?" Erhẹn challenged.
"Violence is all you know, but being good in martial arts doesn't put you on our level. Besides, you know you can't use those skills outside the ring. It'll only create more problems for you and your mother. Your dad can't save you," Ikenna sneered.
Erhẹn took a deep breath, countering, "Wasting my time talking to you won't prove anything. I'm not the first 'dud,' and I won't be the last. You'll have to deal with it."
Watching from a distance, the teachers smiled. "He's grown," one remarked.
"That's why your dad's ashamed of you, isn't it? I heard he was a respected mage who worked in the assembly. Little Prince Nasya was abandoned because his father's ashamed. And your whore of a mom is fucking a boy 2 times younger than her, in the name of sending you to a private school. You should do yourself a favor and drop out of this school. It's a private school for the prestigious and elite, not for worthless sons of whores like your—"
"That's enough, Ikenna!" a firm voice interrupted.
The tension snapped, and Erhẹn succumbed to his anger. Despite the teachers' attempts to intervene, it was too late. Halting abruptly, he swung a punch at Ikenna, connecting with his face. The impact sent Ikenna hurtling halfway across the hallway, shattering his nose and dislodging several teeth.
"Yes I'm poor and I'm a dud. You can say what you want about me or my worthless father, but never in your life say anything about my mom. Ever.." Erhẹn asserted before walking away from the struggling Ikenna
It's clear Erhẹn reached a breaking point, defending his mother and reacting in the heat of the moment.
But Ikenna, fueled by rage, attacked Erhẹn from behind. Swiftly turning, Erhẹn executed a spin-kick, connecting with Ikenna's face, sending him crashing into a locker, shattering it. As Erhẹn's leg lowered, the teachers quickly intervened, subduing him while another tended to Ikenna's injuries.
After a brief moment, Erhẹn calmly requested to be released, and the teacher complied. Disappointment flashed in the teacher's eyes, leaving Erhẹn disheartened—it was his favorite teacher.
"Nasya" he started "I'll see you in the principal's office later. For now, go to class. I'll take responsibility for what happens next," the teacher instructed before departing, leaving Erhẹn alone.
As the bell rang, students filed into their classrooms. Erhẹn, on his way to class, was greeted by his best friends, who had witnessed the altercation. Proud of Erhẹn's ability to stand up for himself, they no longer felt the need to protect him as before.
Soon, Erhẹn was summoned to the principal's office. A female student from Ikenna's class scorted him, and when Erhẹn inquired about Ikenna, he learned that Ikenna was in the sick bey, citing Erhẹn's actions as the cause. However, the student assured Erhẹn that unlike some of her classmates she didn't hold it against him, stating Ikenna got what he deserved.
Erhẹn found himself in a daunting situation as he entered the principal's office. His mother, Victor, and his teacher sat opposite the principal, their expressions indicating disappointment and concern, particularly from his mother.
Taking a deep breath, Erhẹn moved to stand beside his mother, feeling the weight of her stare. The principal, seeking Erhẹn's perspective, prompted him to share his side of the story.
The tension in the room was palpable, and Erhẹn realized the gravity of the situation, knowing he needed to explain his actions and confront the consequences of his altercation with Ikenna.
"Welcome Mr Izeoduwa Erhẹn Nasya" the principal said, eying him from behind her glasses, his academic files on the table in front of her. "How about we here your own side of the story"