The Hidden Kingdom // DreamSMP

Chapter 2: The Door

RINGGGG.

The rustling of papers and tapping of pencils can be heard as students pack their belongings, ready to head back to their dorms to do whatever they please.

Karl was always the first to leave as he usually would pack up as the teacher was giving out announcements at the end of class; grabbing his notebooks and pencils and stuffing them into his backpack.

As soon as the lecture finished, he dashed out of the door.

The teacher could only sigh and mutter grumpily to himself, taking a swig out of his coffee mug.

Packing quicker than the rest of your peers, you sloppily put your bag on and follow him out the door.

Almost getting lost in the sea of students and drowning in the voices that clouded your senses, you managed to keep up only slightly.

"Hey!"

"Sorry- 'scuse me!"

"What the fu-"

"Oops! Sorry-!"

"Yo- you need to watc-"

"Shit- My bad!"

You cursed in frustration as you almost ran into several students along the way and burst through the doors that led into the courtyard.

You squinted and covered your eyes from the harsh sun and scanned the tree line, finding Karl, spotting his foot and immediately dashing after him.

You cursed at your stupid curiousity.

This is stupid. You shouldn't be running after someone into the woods alone. Especially when it's someone you don't know.

Even if he is completely harmless, this would then be creepy on your end. Disrespectful too! A total invasion of privacy.

Internally screeching, you barely managed to keep up with the strange student.

Left.

Right.

Right again.

Left.

Straight.

After several minutes of running, you notice he had started humming at some point as he slowed his pace to a skip. Furrowing your brows, you slowed to a stride and hid behind a tree, watching as he entered a small clearing.

Further confused, you watch on as he takes his backpack off, placing it on the ground and starts to remove the blazer of his uniform.

He neatly folds it and tucks it under his arm, kneeling down to his bag to pull out what seems to be a hoodie. Stuffing the blazer in his bag, he pulls the hoodie over his head.

You scrunch your nose at the detail that covered his back.

KJ in bold letters were embroidered on the back. You could only assume it stood for his name, Karl Jacobs.

To have your own name in large letters on your own back... a little self centered but you didn't want to judge him any further.

Shaking your head you looked up to see him strap his backpack over his shoulders whilst checking the time.

He stood in front of the largest tree that looked towards the clearing, still eagerly looking at the time.

His head swerved to check the tree in front of him, before looking down at his phone for the time once more.

"Huh..?" You mutter under your breath.

Before you could question his actions, the tree starts to glow slightly.