Kameron was nervous. He was currently sitting in a lavish office space within the huge castle. If he remembered correctly they were somewhere in the East wing. HE had been led there by Zach who had left him alone in the office with a grim look on his face. Now all Kameron could do was wait. And he was terrified.
Apep had told him that Sophilicles hated him. So either he would be taken out of the school, killed or maybe something worse. And as crazy as it sounded Kameron had already grown fond of his power. Of Apep. The idea of losing both….it was too much to think about.
'You need to breathe. I can feel what you feel and its not helping.' Apep whispered, startling me.
'Sorry. I'm just...I'm scared. I like this place. I want to stay. Learn more. Maybe even fix a few things.'
Apep was silent for a few seconds.
'Tell me more. What would you change.'
'Well I would start with how Chaos users are treated. We're obviously viewed as evil and that doesn't feel right. Maybe double down on any bullying or misuse of magic and power.'
As I continued to tell him my dreams, i realized he had subtly stopped me from having a panic attack by making focus on something else.
'Thank you.'
The snake shifted in my mind.
'For what?'
I scoffed. 'You know what.'
Before the snake could answer the door abruptly opened and I jumped as multiple people strolled in. A few I recognized from the assembly.
The first one was a young Asian woman her skin smooth and unblemished. I could see the mass of white tails trailing behind her. She smiled reassuringly at me. Behind her was a light skin man with white hair. He stared at me, seemingly amused. After him came a tall dman with dark skin and red eyes. I instinctively recoiled at his presence. His skin almost seemed ashy and he felt...dead. He smiled at me coldly but it didn't help me relax like the kitsune woman had.
After him came a large dark skin man with long pointed ears on his head blending with his long messy back hair. He was buff and stared at me, uninterested.
A few more people came in and one of them I instantly recognized. I felt Apep tense in alarm and caution as a tall man in a white suit and long white hair walked in. He glared at me and i swallowed nervously as they all stood there quietly.
"Your name..is Kameron right? I'm Sana, head of Balance." The kitsune woman said, smiling. Suddenly I realized why she looked familiar. Sana laughed at my expression. "Yes you probably already met my sister, Jia. I hope she was nice."
I nodded, surprised. "Yeah she was."
"We're not here to mingle, Sana." The big buff man said, yawning again. He had dark circles under his eyes and he looked ready to drop.
Sana rolled her eyes. "Oh please. look a him. He's terrified. We're not going to hurt you, honey." She said. I smiled and relaxed a little. Until I felt something on the very edges of mind. It slithered it's way in and before I could stop it it was too late. I saw memories flash before my eyes. Personal things. And before whatever it was could reach Apep, I violently pushed it out. A pulse of red erupted from my head everyone stepped back in alarm. The light skin man cried out in painand doubled over clutching his head.
What the hell?
'That fucking...he tried to get into your head. You subconsciously struck back. I hope that shit hurt.' Apep explained.
The tall white hair man stepped forward and a light appeared from his hand as he placeed it on the light skinned man's head. "I told you all he was dangerous." The man snapped.
"Oh, be quiet, Sophilicles." A tall muscled red haired man stepped forward. "He was only reacting to Clint's unauthorized die into his mind."
The light skinned man, Clint, shrugged. "Sorry. Couldn't help it." He seemed unaffected by the glares Sana and another man threw at him. Sophilicles laughed. "Please. He is a denizen of Chaos. We know this."
"You agreed, Sophilicles." A man said. He was also tall with blue white hair. His eyes were silver blue and Kameron could see pointed ears underneath the hair.
'This is ridiculous.'
Kameron silently agreed. If they wanted to kick him out they should at least say it.
Sophilicles turned to Kameron. We teachers have agreed to let you stay in the school for 2 months. If any incident happens that is any way related to you, you will be removed from this school."
Kameron frowned. It sounded like he wanted to do more than remove Kameron from the school.
"You will be under the care of Tyran, Head of Destruction." Sophilicles said, Pointing to the red haired man from earlier.
"Um..nice to meet you, Mr. Tyran." Kameron said.
"Drop the mister. It makes me feel old." The man said smiling softly.
"You are." Clint said grinning. A few of the others laughed. "Since you are all brutes, I'll show Kameron the rest of the school and then to his dorm." Sana said, brushing some invisible dirt off her flawless tails.
"Any objections?" She asked glaring at each teacher in turn. No one said anything other than a scoff from Sophilicles.
"Ill go with." The buff teacher said standing up and stretching. "Thank you, Karl. Come on, sweetheart. Let's get you situated." Sana said taking my hand and leaing me out of the office. It was silent for a few seconds.
'I have no idea why you're so nervous. Or silent for that matter.'
'Shut up you overgrown reptile.'
"So you've already been to Yolema Hall." Sana suddenly said snapping Kameron out of his thoughts. They had arrived back at the large room with the huge doors leading to different corridors. Thhere weren't many students around at this time of the day but the ones that were there turned to stared at him. Kameron squirmed under their gazes. "Yeah."
"The school has several floors. The dorm for the students are located. in their respective Halls." Sana explained pointing to the large doors.
Kameron glanced at the closed Chaos Hall.
"Um..." He fidgeted, unsure.
"Can we go in there?" He asked pointing to the Chaos Hall. Sana frowned. "Well not exactly. You see there were a lot moe Chaos students back then. Way before I came. Enough that they needed their own Hall. Unfortunately they started to disappear. Until only a few remained. As you've probably already heard one Chaos student decided to turn against the school." Sana explained, while Karl looked on uninterested.
Kameron walked over to the large doors and he was filled with great sadness. He placed a hand on the door and with a pulse of red the doors began to glow. They all watched in awe as the doors began to open. What Kameron saw inside made him grieve more.
The hall was almost devoid of color. He could tell the walls had once been a rich red but it was faded and peeling. The chandeliers above were dark and covered in webs. The entire corridor looked run down.
"Wow. Those doors haven't opened in years." Sana said softly. "Come. We cannot stay." She said gently pulling him away.
Kameron nodded, unable to speak over the swirl of emotions within. To think that they had neglected an entire hall because a Chaos student had turned against the school.
He would change that. Even if it killed him.
* * * * * *
Sana had thoroughly shown him the school. There were many staircases and hundreds of hallways and even more classrooms. It was so confusing. And not only that, Kameron had been getting a strange feeling. Not anything too bad...just the school. Something about it spoke to him. Called. It felt like it was saying hello, singing in joy and relief. Which made no sense.
'The school's sentient, idiot.' Apep suddenly said, distracting Kameron from Sana's talk of the gardens and miles of forest around the school.
'I'm sorry?'
'You heard me. the school was made with magic. That magic eventually evolved. Try to talking to it.' Apep explained, sounding bored.
Kameron cautiously extended his awareness like Apep had taught him and...there. It was big. A bundle of emotion, magic and memories. And it laughed happily at him. Finally! Someone who could speak to it! It didn't realize how overwhelming it all was for Kameron, who staggered to the side holding his head as the school shared it's entire self with him. He could feel every body within, every stone and crack, every memory soaked floorboard.
Of all the things to happen to him, this was probably the last straw. He hadn't sat down and fully processed this. And it was all coming back with a vengence.
"Kameron? Are you ok?" Sana asked rushing over to him. They were in the middle of the gardens. A few of the plants trembled, statues rumbling. Sana only touched him for a second before she recoiled as his magic seeped out stinging her. Karl snarled, crouching defensively.
"S-sorry. I just...I need to breathe. I-I..I need some space. Please." Kameron mumbled. Sana was prepared to call the other teachers but something stopped her. Maybe....with a sigh she reluctantly backed away.
"Ok. Just...know that we are here." She said. She turned, letting her tails brush against Kameron's face gently before she pulled Karl away who looked at her in disbelief as they left Kameron alone in the garden.
"Are you insane? What if something happens and he destroys the school?" He snapped. Sana stopped and glared at him. "He's a child. Ripped away from what he thought was his life. He needs space. give it to him." She said. Karl frowned but he reluctantly followed her. He never understood why, but Sana always fascinated him. He would follow her anywhere. And if she said that the boy need space and time then he would do it. Even if it went against the danger bells ringing in his head.
And so Kameron laid on the ground and cried. He allowed himself to feel it all. Pain, emotion, the magic of it all. It weaved through his limbs and his mind and soul.
And Apep was there. Cradling him mentally and physically in a wave of chaos magic.
'You're ok. Breathe.' The snake whispered. and Kameron breathed. He breathed it all in and let it out in a shuddering gasp.
He was not ok. And it was ok to admit that.
The boy born of Chaos wept surrounded by the magical embrace of his reptilian friend.