𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇. meguru bachira

II

—★—

Eris could have stayed waiting in that room forever. It was annoying how much time the boys took. Watching the clock arm move was satisfying. Even though it did make her look a little weird. Nobody was there anyways. That room was empty, but that didn't last.

Finally, the boys came rushing into that room. Scattering around like animals; it was funny to watch. Sadly, they stopped their parade of entertainment once they noticed her standing in the middle of the room. Although, honesty is a feat many struggle with, every one of them could admit Eris was enchanting.

That did not mean they were enchanted. She was a threat to them and their career and they knew that. It wasn't respect that they showed, it was fear. Honestly, at times she wondered why she was feared. The more an individual is feared, the more control they have over those who fear them. Fear is a weapon to have the enemy in the palm of your hands.

Of course, that rule did not apply to her. Eris would like to say that was because she didn't feel fear but that wasn't it. She had the ability to feel afraid but she denied it; She blocked it out from her brain in any way she could. Instead, that fear was replaced with hate. A type of hatred one doesn't show, one cannot act on. Hatred that stems from fear is the worst. After all, there was a reason to fear them.

It's not love. She knows that he does not cherish her. She knows that it's not 'for her own good'. Still, she listens. She lets him believe she has indulged in the delusions he provides her with.

Her focus then directs itself to the swarm of teenagers infront of her. Long hair, pretty, pink. "Strawberry." She whispered out loud. Her eyes looking over at him. He heard her. But it didn't matter because she was no longer focused on him. Instead on the boy who had managed to fall asleep in the few minutes he had been in here. It was impressive. He looked peaceful; she liked peace.

Weaklings. That's what she once thought of them. But something about a few of the sort was nice. The type of nice you want to play with. She wanted them to be her angels. Her lesser subordinates. Even though that was true, it would only happen until she no longer saw use in them. If they could not put their potential to good use then they weren't destined for this. And only Eris could beat destiny. Their misfortune was that they weren't Eris.

The girl opened her mouth to speak but a screen came on instead. Ego Jinpachi at the center as he always was. Ego was the nurturer. Ego was their designer, and she just had to help him polish his gems. Still, everything he did often caught her attention. It never amounted to shock but she acknowledged him.

"As you all may know, you are team Z. Lowest of the low. In other words, you're shit." The man's voice echoing through the speakers. He was so blunt it was almost amusing. "And one of you will be discarded today. And I'm going to leave that to your abilities. A game of tag. Last one with the ball loses. Simple enough, right?"

It wasn't that simple. People questioned his thinking but he simply left them there as the ball raised and the timer came on. Aimlessly, the ball was kicked around. A bald boy obtaining the ball and kicking it towards a sleeping boy. That sleeping boy managed to somehow wake up and kick the baldie. The ball landed on someone she was expectant of. Isagi Yoichi, who had already caught the curiosity of Eris. If he could live up to that, then it was over.

Truthfully, she hoped he wouldn't disappoint. It wouldn't be fun to be underwhelmed on the first day. Luckily, Isagi did not disappoint. He could have gone to Igaguri. He could have shot it somewhere else. However, he went for Kira. Isagi so clearly had a grudge against that boy that he didn't show. It was instinct to target somebody you dislike.

"Good." The words leaving her mouth as the timer stopped. Kira was pissed, and Ego simply found comedy in this. Maybe he had more in common with Eris than he believed. Yells from the boy were followed by tears as he was forced away after hearing Ego blatantly state his faults.

But the voice of Eris caught the attention of the boys. Nobody had gone up to talk to her yet. Nobody except Raichi Jingo. "Oi. Why are you here anyway?" His voice wasn't respectful. She liked that about him. He wasn't scared of her. "Gonna answer me?" Instead, his voice got louder as she just watched him.

"Ah, to destroy you." Eris said ever so sweetly. Her face moving in closer to his causing him to grow a little uncomfortable and step back. "Don't you want to get crushed?" Nobody wanted that. She knew the answer to that question but she asked anyway. "I doubt bugs liked dying. So I doubt you will too."  That got on the blonde boy's nerves a little.

Nobody defended him. Nobody did anything. It was a little sad to be honest. Watching those who should be your comrades watch another talk down on you. However, Raichi wasn't phased by that. He wasn't too phased by any of it. "I see. So, what? What if the bugs didn't want to die. I'd kill them anyway. Don't forget: little spiders can kill." He knew the right thing to say.

Raichi Jingo was an interesting character. Eris would like to keep him around if possible. She couldn't show preferential treatment so she'd have to let him rely on his own skills. Which frankly, weren't so great. But there was nothing she couldn't fix. She instead smiled at the boy, she smiled often. It wasn't genuine, it almost never was. It's not as if she was upset, but there was no need to smile.

So as the boy walked away from her with a scowl on his face, she scoffed. Although she was a human, she didn't quite understand her own species. Why do we hurt our own kind? It's because humans are vicious dogs. They're territorial. It was her job to put them on a leash.

"Miss Vasílissa. I do not trust you."

"I see, it would be stupid of you to trust me. So, who are you?"

"Me? Oh, no. You know."

—★—

Thank you so much for reading. I don't really like this chapter and it's not as long but I'll have to suck it up. Because I wrote a lot today.

Chapter rewritten on: 21/01/2024
Total word count: 1166 words.

Goodnight, my stars. Today's constellation wishes you great fortune. Goodluck with it all.

Take care, with everything. Eat right, sleep well and hydrate more.