Meanwhile, a group of red cards approached Dontai, casually settling into the seats around him. Dontai raised an eyebrow, visibly confused by their sudden company.
One of the girls sighed dramatically, crossing her arms. “I’m so sick of this red card stuff. It’s all train, train, train, like we’re machines or something,” she grumbled, slouching in her seat.
Another boy smirked as he balanced his homework on his knees. “We’re sitting next to the new black card now? That definitely makes us cooler by association,” he quipped, scribbling lazily on his paper.
Dontai, still spinning a pencil between his fingers with uncanny speed using his Torque technique, finally spoke up. “What exactly are you doing here?” he asked, his tone flat but laced with curiosity.
The pencil in his hand spun so quickly it became a blur, causing the group to stare for a moment before one of them chuckled nervously. “Just… hanging out?”
Dontai’s face lit up in an unnervingly wide smile as he suddenly hurled the spinning pencil into the wall with a sharp thud. “Yes, friends! I’ve never had a friend before!” he exclaimed, curling his knees to his chest in a way that betrayed a hint of insecurity. His eyes sparkled with unsettling enthusiasm. “What do friends do?”
The boy chuckled mischievously, nudging his cousin. “Well, seeing as you’re new to this whole friendship thing, the first rule is you give each of your new friends 10 dollars!”
“James!” the girl groaned, smacking him on the back of the head.
“I only have 10,000,” Dontai replied earnestly, pulling a thick wad of bills from his wallet without hesitation.
James’s eyes widened as a grin spread across his face. “That’s perfect—”
“Don’t you dare,” the girl interrupted, glaring at James before turning to Dontai. “You don’t have to give us money to be friends, okay? We’ll be your friends because we want to.”
Dontai hesitated, then nodded slowly, tucking the money back into his wallet.
“I’m Alissa Stonekeep,” she continued, offering a small smile, “and this knucklehead is James Stonekeep. We’re cousins.”
“Stonekeep…” Dontai repeated, testing the name with a strange sense of satisfaction. “I like it. Friends, then.”
“Are you slow or something?” James asked bluntly, earning a sharp slap to the back of his head from Alissa.
“James, seriously?” she scolded.
Dontai, unfazed, tilted his head curiously. “No, actually, I’m fast. Really fast. I perceive things quicker than most people.” He tapped his temple thoughtfully. “See, I was born with my magical technique, Torque, but it came with… complications. My body was a grotesque spinning mess, like a human whirlwind.” He motioned vaguely with his hands. “The doctors fixed my body, but my brain? Still spinning.”
James raised an eyebrow, confused. “What do you mean ‘spinning’?”
Dontai’s eyes suddenly began to whirl unnaturally, like tiny storms trapped in his sockets. “Like this,” he said awkwardly. “Shoot!” He smacked the side of his head, blinking rapidly until the spinning stopped. “It gets stuck sometimes,” he muttered with an embarrassed grin.
Dontai noticed the wide-eyed admiration from his new friends and stood up with a small, almost shy smile. “That’s nothing,” he said confidently. “Check this out.”
In an instant, he spun his body at dizzying speed, transforming into a blur of motion. The spinning figure darted across the room, appearing in each corner like a whirlwind, his movements so fast they left faint trails of air swirling behind him. Within seconds, he was back at their side, stopping with flawless precision.
Alissa blinked, trying to process what she’d just seen. “That… was insane,” she said, her voice tinged with awe.
Mel stretched and cracked his back, wincing slightly at the ache. “Do I still have to apologize to Arid? He doesn’t even seem like he likes us.” He glanced at Elowen, who was absentmindedly chewing on her pen.
She shrugged, eyes still focused on the work in front of her. “Honestly? I’m not sure. He’s hard to read.”
Mel checked his black card and froze when he saw the text. His expression darkened as he stood up without a word. “I’ll be back,” he muttered, his voice tight. He walked out of the room, his mind already racing.
In the bathroom, Mel glanced around, the cool air filling the space. He moved to the sink and splashed water on his face, trying to shake the unease. “Why are you here?” he asked, his voice low, looking up into the mirror.
Behind him, Donatello appeared, his late Renaissance king armor gleaming in the dim light. “Told you I’d be back,” Donatello said with a smirk. “You really took down four wardens by yourself? Damn, kid.” He chuckled, but the amusement didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Mel dried his hands slowly, his gaze focused in the mirror. “Let’s cut to the chase.”
Donatello stepped closer, his presence looming. “I was in Ironclad when Baba Yaga’s kids got taken. I also watched when you fought my sister, Leonardo. I sent Baba the flier for the music festival—she knew Varek would be up to something because of it. Then, you met my sister, and I had to retreat, strategically.”
Mel nodded slowly, digesting the information. “Yeah,” he muttered, his thoughts still scattered.
Donatello’s tone shifted, becoming more serious. “But Michelangelo… he killed Dracula, and that’s likely what set Dorian on his downward spiral—turning him into the dictator he is now. But now, he’s killed other kings for the Magisterium. He wanted to join the Council of Wizards so badly… that it all makes sense now.”
Mel stood motionless, the weight of the revelation pressing heavily on his chest. His voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke, more to himself than to Donatello. “It all connects... everything he’s done—it’s all been for that power.”
Donatello’s gaze sharpened, and he folded his arms, his tone calm but deliberate. “What is it you want to know about, Melanthius?”
Mel turned to him, a flicker of confusion breaking through his thoughts. “What do you mean?”
Donatello raised two fingers, his expression unreadable. “Do you want to know about the Seven Deadly Kingdoms? Or the Council of Wizards?” His voice carried a knowing edge. “I can see it in your eyes—you want to understand them both. And I’ll tell you everything, right here, right now.”
Mel took a step back and leaned heavily on the sink, his mind racing as he tried to process the weight of Donatello’s words. “He’ll only tell me about one of them? What do I even choose?” His reflection stared back at him, conflicted and tense.
“If the Council of Wizards knows about Michelangelo... what can I even do about it?” he muttered under his breath. “But I do want to know who they are—what kind of power they hold. On the other hand…” He tightened his grip on the sink, his knuckles white. “If I learn about the Seven Deadly Kingdoms, I might finally get answers—about my father… my mother. Yaga said the Wrath Dominion might hold the truth, and that’s where Merlin was born.”
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He exhaled sharply, staring down at his trembling hands.
Donatello’s voice broke the silence. “If you choose to learn about the Seven Deadly Kingdoms, I’ll ask something of you in return. Take care of the Gluttony Kingdom for me. Do that, and I’ll give you something that belonged to your father.”
Mel’s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat. “W-what? Even if I agree, what am I supposed to do—just storm in there, blasting black lightning everywhere?” His voice cracked, a mix of disbelief and nervous humor, but deep down, he felt the gravity of the choice before him.
“Of course not,” Donatello replied with a faint smirk. “You’ll need a plan. A gate of trusted, strong allies. Intel. Strategy. I’m not telling you to rush in recklessly—this isn’t something you can do today, or even tomorrow. But when the time comes, I believe you’ll know it. You’ll pick the right moment.”
He stepped closer, his tone steady but pointed. “Melanthius, all I’m asking is that you consider it. Promise me you’ll think about it, and I’ll give you what you want.”
Without waiting for a reply, Donatello turned and strode toward the door, pausing just long enough to glance back. “Think about it,” he repeated, then disappeared into the hallway, leaving Mel alone with the weight of the decision.
Mel doubled over, retching into the garbage bin beside him. His stomach churned as he wiped his mouth, gasping for air. “What the hell is going on?!” he muttered, his voice trembling. Another wave hit him, and he clutched the edge of the bin, coughing as he emptied his stomach again.
“Why would he show up here, of all places, and drop something like that on me?!” Mel rasped, his mind reeling as he struggled to steady himself.
“So, if I deal with the Gluttonous Kingdom, he’ll give me something that belonged to my father,” Mel muttered, staring at his reflection in the mirror. The thought churned in his mind like a storm. “But what could it be?”
He turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on his face, trying to wash away the tension gripping him. As droplets dripped from his chin, the sharp ring of the bell echoed through the halls, snapping him back to reality. With a deep breath, Mel straightened up and exited the bathroom, his thoughts still racing.
In the bustling lunchroom, Mel approached Sera, Lumi, and Caius, setting his tray down with a casual smile. “So, how was your first day of school?” he asked, glancing between them.
Sera cracked her neck, leaning back with a sigh. “It was… alright,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain. “I don’t do well with bureaucracy, and I hate being told what to do. Honestly, I miss the freedom of being a latchkey. No schedules, no rules—just me doing my thing.”
“But Shenelle’s over the moon that we’re finally in school,” Lumi added with a soft smile, pulling out her card to show Mel a picture of the three of them together.
Mel glanced at the image and grinned. “You guys look great! Shenelle must be thrilled to have Klaus all to herself for once.”
Meanwhile, in Klaus—Baba Yaga’s sentient, ever-shifting house—Shenelle sat upside down on the floor, a tub of ice cream in hand, tears streaming down her face as she watched a sappy television drama. “I miss my kids!” she wailed, shoveling another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
Klaus groaned, its wooden beams creaking in what sounded like shared exasperation.
“I can’t just sit here crying with my sentient house forever!” Yaga wailed, wiping her face dramatically. She sprang to her feet, her voice shifting from despair to sudden resolve. “I need to get out, meet people—do something social! Maybe King Aldara will want to hang out!”
With a snap of her fingers, her form dissolved into a shimmering blue blob and vanished.
Meanwhile, in his opulent throne room, King Aldara sat amidst the grandeur of his kingdom, his gaze fixed on a glowing map sprawled across a marble table. The soft hum of his court’s activity buzzed in the background.
“Percival!” Yaga’s voice rang out behind him as she reappeared in a sudden swirl of blue light.
King Aldara jolted upright, clutching his chest with a gasp. “By the gods! Could you not do that?!”
Yaga shrugged nonchalantly, wiping a smear of melted ice cream from her shirt and casually licking it off her finger. “What are you up to?” she asked, strolling closer.
Aldara sighed, his gaze dropping back to the glowing map sprawled across the table—a detailed layout of the school. “Just trying to figure out how to organize this year’s sports programs,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “It’s more complicated than it looks.”
“Jeez, you’re terrible at this!” Yaga sighed dramatically, waving her hand as if to shoo away his struggle.
Percival shook his head with a faint smile. “I’ll admit, it’s been a challenge. But I owe you my thanks for rebuilding the schools. I genuinely don’t know how I would’ve managed it without you.” Rising to his feet, he stepped forward and pulled Shenelle into a quick, heartfelt hug.
Shenelle hugged him back with a grin. “Glad to help, King Aldara.”
The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor echoed through the room as Queen Ruecrix entered the throne room. Her gaze swept over the scene, immediately narrowing at the sight of the hug. “And who might this be?”
Percival quickly stepped back, straightening as though caught in the act. “Honey! This is Shenelle Upan. She’s the one responsible for building the school,” he explained with a nervous laugh.
Ruecrix approached Shenelle, her sharp eyes scanning the towering, curvaceous figure before her. She arched an eyebrow, lips curving into a faint scoff.
Shenelle, unfazed, narrowed her eyes slightly before breaking into a sly smile. “I didn’t realize Princess Rue had a sister,” she remarked innocently, unintentionally complimenting the Queen.
Ruecrix froze for a moment, her eyes widening in surprise before a rare laugh escaped her lips. “I like this one,” she said, her tone amused. “Though for the record, I’m Rue’s mother, not her sister.”
“Why don’t we sit down and have some lunch?” Yaga suggested, her tone light and casual.
Percival and Ruecrix exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement.
Moments later, the three sat around a small round table, deep into a card game. Shenelle smirked as she confidently laid her hand down. “Full house,” she declared with a snicker.
Percival groaned and smacked the table in frustration. “Damn it! That’s her third win in a row!” He begrudgingly slid a small pouch of coins across the table, which Shenelle snatched up with a triumphant grin. She tucked the winnings into her pocket. “What can I say? You can’t beat the queen,” she teased, leaning back in her chair with an air of smugness.
Ruecrix sipped her wine gracefully, not even glancing at her cards. “I warned you not to play against her without me.”
Shenelle chuckled and shot Percival a playful wink. “You really should listen to your queen, Percival. You never know when she might decide to leave you,” she quipped, shuffling the deck and dealing a fresh round of cards.
As they started the next hand, Shenelle’s expression softened. “I hope my kids are doing well at your school, Percival,” she said, her tone carrying a mix of genuine curiosity and motherly pride.
“They should be fine. They’ve got the best headmasters possible,” Percival said, his tone tinged with nostalgia. He glanced up briefly before returning his focus to his cards. “If only my brother were still alive…” His voice trailed off, but he quickly cleared his throat. “Anyway, you have nothing to worry about.”
Shenelle narrowed her eyes as she drew a card. “But why were my kids and their friends put in Tier One? Even Melanthius? Don’t you think that’s… odd?”
Percival nodded slowly. “Headmaster Draven has always been strict about his evaluations. That’s just how he is,” he replied, tossing a card onto the table.
“Maybe too strict,” Shenelle countered, pulling another card. “I mean, my kids, Melanthius, and his group? It doesn’t add up. I’d understand if the test had been challenging academically, but it was just a personality quiz. My kids can’t help it if they’re confident and competitive.” She threw her card onto the pile with a snap.
Percival sighed, considering her words as he picked up the discarded card. “You’ve got a point. But what do you expect me to do? Just bump them up to Tier Three? That would look biased on my part, especially considering you helped build the school.”
Shenelle shrugged nonchalantly. “Wasn’t there another kid who failed? Dontai, or something? Just move him up to Tier Three along with the others. Call it balancing things out. It’s just a favor.”
Percival scratched his head before nodding. “Alright. You’re right. Consider it done.”
Shenelle smirked triumphantly and laid her cards down on the table. “Royal flush.”
Ruecrix, who had been silently sipping her wine, chuckled and gave Shenelle a high five. Percival groaned and grudgingly slid another pouch of coins across the table.
“You’re unbelievable,” he muttered, but a small smile crept onto his face.
“I had fun, Percival,” Shenelle said, pocketing her winnings with a grin. “The three of us should do this more often. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even become friends.”
Back at the school, Melanthius, Renita, Lincoln, Elowen, Arid, Sera, Lumi, Caius, and Dontai sat in their different classes, each checking their cards. The moment their eyes landed on the ranking, seven voices erupted in unison in different places in the school.
“T-Tier Three?!” Melanthius, Renita, Lincoln, Elowen, Arid, Sera, and Lumi shouted in disbelief, their reactions echoing through the hallway.