I've always wondered what makes people act the way they do. Life answered that question for me, but the price, you ask? BRUTAL!.
Life lessons don't come with gold tags or receipts. You earn them the hard way, slowly, chapter by chapter.
This chapter began with a bathrobe, a cup of hot coffee, and a sunrise from my ocean-facing mansion. My secretary gave me a rundown of the day, trying to keep my already crumbling career from falling off the rooftop, courtesy of the devil I'd managed to make my enemy.
Today was the payoff: ten years of work. Everything is riding on this one morning.
I checked my reflection one last time. Perfect—except for the scar slashing across my left eye. Out of place. Like I had wandered into someone else's pirate story.
Everyone thought I was attractive. Until he gave me that scar. Now, every morning, he's the first thing I see.
Then the drive to the secretariat blurred by. I was anxious. I had a really bad feeling.
I walked into the building and jumped a little as someone called my name, only to see my friend walking toward me while adjusting his tie. He greeted me with a hug, and we started walking to the main hall together.
"Is he already in there?" I asked my friend, Ralph.
"The white-head? Yep. I wonder how such a delinquent is punctual at all the worst times," he replied while fixing his hair.
I opened the big teak door that led us into the main hall. I couldn't help but notice all the heads turning in our direction.
I'm usually confident, but for some reason, I wasn't feeling it today. We continued toward our assigned seats, which faced the jury. I was placed next to the devil himself. Ah, the joy.
"Will you put that stupid game away, Viktor? It's getting on my nerves. Are you that chill?" I heard an exasperated voice nearby.
I turned to see a tall guy in a black suit, silver hair slicked back and tied with a hair tie. He had on black sunglasses and was casually walking in while playing some game on his phone. He was followed by two of his closest aides—one tall with short black hair, olive skin, and an irritated expression; the other, a girl with black hair, purple highlights, and glasses. He looked up and saw me. He smiled in my direction and walked over. I responded with a curt nod. He lowered his sunglasses, revealing his icy blue eyes as we shook hands.
"Hold on to it till the end of the ceremony, Drey," he said in a low voice, handing his phone to the irritated guy and taking his seat next to me.
"I double-checked the facts and stats this morning. I don't see any probability of him winning, yet he's so unbothered. It's putting me on edge," Ralph whispered to me, fidgeting with his wristwatch.
"When has he ever been expressive? That's just how he is. Don't think too much about it. Optimism, Ralph, our golden era is about to begin. Don't be anxious, take a deep breath, we will be fine!" I whispered back, slightly shaking myself.
I glanced at the cross-legged, slumped-back figure next to me, who sat there rather comfortably, might I add.
The crowd fell silent as the jury entered. We all stood to greet them. The chief of the jury, the governor of the city, began his speech:
"We gather today to appoint a new Ultra-Elite. With the tie in public votes resolved by the elite council, I—Roman St. Clair—am honored to announce the next appointee—"
BANG!
There was an explosion. The crystal chandelier fell from the ceiling and shattered.
Smoke filled the room, and a group of masked individuals descended from the ceiling.
Panic erupted among the crowd.
Fireballs were thrown towards the crowd by the masked men, they had a weird purple aura emanating from them.
"Lucas! Come to your senses!" Ralph yelled, shaking me.
"They're starting the party without us, huh? Rude!" Viktor drawled with a scoff, launching a barrage of icicles at the masked attackers.
I wanted answers. I needed some of them alive. But the guy next to me was taking them out left, right, and center. I couldn't help but wonder, does he not want witnesses?
"Fire serpent!" The girl with purple highlights launched a literal dragon made of flames, burning a horde of masked men to a crisp. Gave Viktor a fist bump.
I leaned in close to Ralph. "Distract Viktor and his people. I'm going to grab one of them."
"Eternal Whirlwind!" Ralph launched a massive twister of wind toward the white-head.
I bolted after the closest attacker, a man with a scar over his left eye.
He ran, throwing electric zaps over his shoulder. Luckily, I had an artefact that protected me from low-force close-range attacks.
The roads outside were blocked. Security forces swarmed in with shields to protect the civilians and prevent a crowd from forming.
The chase ended on the open terrace of the secretariat building. I summoned my vines to wrap around the man. He kept trying to break free with his electric bursts, but my level was higher. Eventually, I overpowered him.
I stepped forward to drag him up for interrogation.
But then, I heard something flying toward me.
Fast.
Before I could react, something pierced my heart. The air was knocked out of my lungs.
And I was knocked off the building.