The first challenge to the new start of my high school life. Lina thought to herself as she began climbing a steep hill on her way to her new high school. I never thought there would already be hardships on the very first day…or on all the following days for that matter.
The fresh spring air blew down the hill, welcoming her and dozens of other students on their way to Arcana High School – which, aside from its intriguing name – has no interesting characteristics or backstory in particular. It was a completely normal school filled with mostly completely normal students; but like they say, there are always exceptions to the rule.
Sweat trickles down Lina’s peach colored skin, and downward wind is ruffling her shoulder-length auburn hair. She wore a completely normal school uniform: a black tie over a white blouse, and a blue skirt just right above her knees. At first glance, she would look like a completely normal high school girl by every standard.
“Aah…I’ve already been left behind by the other students. Climbing hills like these isn’t really my forte…” she says as she catches her breath for a bit – halfway up the hill, where she was the only student left climbing. “I even told myself I’ll overcome any challenges in this fresh start I’ll have...”
“No…I won’t give up this easily!” Lina picks up her bag and resolutely stands up. She starts climbing up the hill again, walking faster than she did before. Although her bag was just a standard school handbag, she was carrying it with both hands – as if it were as heavy as a bowling ball. The trees along the path sway along with the wind, their branches seemingly cheering Lina on.
“I made it! – that wasn’t so hard after all.” Lina exclaims as she reaches the top, smiling a little but obviously fatigued. From here on, it’s a relatively straight part toward the school. The hardest obstacle is over – time to begin my new life as a transfer student –
“Hey you!”
‘Eek!’ Lina lets out a squeal in surprise, then scampers over to hide behind a concrete post to her right –
“You have the nerve to graze the boss and not apologize about it?!”
“Who the hell do you think you’re disrespecting here?!”
“I told you, I already apologized. Are you deaf or something?”
Hearing different voices from a about a few meters across the street, Lina assesses the situation. Three students wearing blue blazers are ganging up on single guy. Two of the students wearing blue blazers were surrounding the guy; one had a nose piercing, while the other was wearing shades – she decided to call them nosey and shades. The third student was a head taller than the others while having a bulky, intimidating figure. If she tiptoed, she thought, the top of her head would barely reach his gruff chin.
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Aah, these must be what you call “student delinquents” – the city sure is scary. That big one must be the “boss” while - wait, isn’t that lone guy’s uniform the one from our school?
The guy being surrounded was only wearing an unbuttoned white uniform over an inner black shirt, standing out as he’s surrounded by blue blazers. Although he’s not wearing a neck tie (which is supposed to be part of the dress code, Lina thought) she could recognize the crest of Arcana High on the guy’s chest pocket. Being surrounded by three others, Lina couldn’t get a glimpse of him.
The “boss” as Lina decided to call him – broke the silence first. “You sure are cocky kid. What are you, a second year? Don’t you know who I am?”
This is too much tension in the air for me – I think he’s even in my year too. I just hope that student from our school would apologize and end this -
“Are you supposed to be someone I should know? Well, if you were such a whiny baby that you’re hurt from a small bump on the sidewalk - than I’m surprised I haven’t heard of you.”
Lina almost fell backwards from disbelief - what is he doing?! Is he trying to get himself killed?!
“You! How dare you insult the boss!” Nosey snapped and swung at the guy - as the lone student hopped to the side to evade it, Lina observed. He looked like a typical delinquent – he had unruly black hair, an unbuttoned uniform, and a mean look on his face. Lina didn’t think he looked that bad – in fact, his toned figure partnered with the fact that he was a “delinquent” would put him as good-looking in other people’s books.
But there’s something about his face. His eyes in particular – it just seems … depressing. And the way he dodged the punch, there was something unnatural about it –
“Wait – did he just hop a full 2 meters to the side?” Lina whispered to herself.
“You’re gonna pay for that –“ Shades started to say, cracking his knuckles as he walks toward the lone student - when the boss put a hand on Shades’ and Nosey’s shoulders. “Stop it. Look around. We’re already gathering enough attention, and we can’t get suspended for violence at the very start of the year.”
Lina looks around them and finds a few spectators, some of them students like herself, worriedly watching from the side.
“How about we follow the rules and settle this with a Trial? If you think I’m the person who’s a real baby here, then you wouldn’t chicken out right?” The boss said with a grim smile, while his subordinates were sweating from the force of his hands gripping their shoulders.
Eh? Delinquents following … rules? A Trial? What’s happening? A glint of curiosity appears in Lina’s eyes.
“Sure – I’m feeling lucky today, so you can even choose the contest. You better not regret this.” The lone guy said with a bothered look on his face. Maybe it was only Lina’s imagination, but she swears he took a glance at her direction and shook his head.
“Then we’ll settle this over at the arcade. I’ll be having fun destroying your cocky attitude – we’ll settle the conditions there.” The boss, with his lackeys in tow, passes by the lone student –
“– You have some nerve ... for a Cursed Child” the boss tells him as he passes by. The lone student takes on a serious expression, then turns around and follows.
The other onlookers started to disperse; some to head to work, some to their respective schools – this was the norm to them – save for a certain auburn haired girl, who couldn’t contain her curiosity.
“Cursed Children – those who were born with a disability that cannot be explained nor cured by the laws of this world – a disability that can be afflicted to another person temporarily if the cursed one wills it.” Lina giddily follows them, excitement on her face. “Interesting – it wasn’t a mistake to move to this city after all!”