you're incredibly wicked

14: first quarter in capricorn

"So, let me guess. You still haven't found your soulmate yet?" Claudia sipped on a latte.

"Don't even mention it." Serena sighed.

"Aww. Why?" Lizzie worried.

"You know, I really didn't come here for a soulmate. In fact, I actually never wanted to come to this academy, I was forced at my own will to go here."

Aubree instantly noticed that Serena was off.

"So, that's what's been bothering you."

Serena looked the other way.

"I never told anybody, but I feel like if I did, then you would all call me ungrateful and selfish and say it's an excuse."

Serena sipped on her coffee as well. 

"Don't ever think that you are invalid for feeling this way. Believe it or not, a lot of Levela witches are here against their own will. Mainly the stronger ones since they feel like the academy babies them." Claudia said.

"Really?"

"One prominent example is Nikolai Reve, the third year valedictorian. That man loathes this place, he sometimes is seen sneaking out of the campus grounds at times." Lizzie said.

Serena felt her heart pitter patter when Lizzie mentioned Nikolai's name.

"Is that so?" Serena asked.

"Last year, that's all he did. Eventually, he got caught. But, you can't let the strongest student in the class go. Rumor has it that he knows a lot of the secrets the academy tries to hide." Lizzie said in a low voice.

Claudia slapped her arm.

"Watch your mouth, you never know who is listening." She scolded Lizzie.

"Fine, fine. But, it's true." Lizzie sipped her latte again. 

Aubree had somebody go over and hand her a paper and Aubree read it.

"News flash. I just heard that the dark magic demon Maestro has been defeated."

Lizzie and Claudia gasped in shock.

"WHAT?"

"BY WHO?"

Aubree gestured towards Serena.

"Serena, of course."

"You did not tell us that you defeated him!" Claudia couldn't contain her shock.

"This is huge news, now girls won't be murdered and live longer!" Lizzie applauded.

Serena got shy.

"It was..... an experience. A lot had happened in the past week. I got Devil's Flu, then I get teleported to his palace, and well. I'm not that good of a storytelling so do give me a moment."

For a second, Serena calculated how she was going to tell the story in her point of view.

"Was he wearing black? He normally does." Aubree asked.

"No, he actually wore white." Serena snapped out of thought.

The girls murmured.

"You must have been special then."

"I know that I'm a Levela 8. At least that's what they told me." Serena said.

"Actually, you're a Levela 10. You are just marked as a Levela 8 since you aren't fully trained in a lot of magic. But, you are powerful." Aubree said.

"Is that so? I don't know anything about this magic tier or level status."

"You are as strong, if not stronger than Nikolai Reve. Because, you are at the top of your class as well." Lizzie said.

"Do you want me to have a dual with this... Nikolai Reve?" Serena asked.

"I'm not going to lie, but you two would look cute together. But, maybe a dual would be fun to watch too." Lizzie giggled.

"And why is that?" Serena became curious.

"If I'm being honest, both of you are so opposite of the other that you can make it work. He's all doom and gloom while you naturally light up a room. You're sweet and caring and he's cold and tranquil."

"That actually makes sense. Maybe you are his soulmate. He was waiting for you." Claudia realized.

"Like that would ever happen. He wouldn't be into a girl like me, let alone an angel. We're as opposite as a hot black coffee and an iced vanilla latte."

"But, have you ever spoke to him before?" Aubree asked.

Serena hesistated.

"I did one time. But, we are getting off topic. You all wanted to hear about what happened to Maestro, didn't you?"

"Oh, right. You're right." Lizzie backed down.

Serena got herself together.

"Here's how it begins. I woke up on a balcony extending a bountiful garden. It was so eye catching, but I wondered what this place was. The door to a bedroom was opened, I went in and I'm in this bedroom fit for a princess. A mirror is in the room and I see myself in this wedding dress that could be everything that I ever wanted. It was a ballgown and this is going to sound so bad but I actually loved the gown. But, I was like "How did I get here?" So, I walked down a hallway and hear some muffled voices. By the time I get there, I see Maestro waiting for me, in an all white suit. He comes over to me and says that he was waiting for me and wanted to make me his wife, but I never met him in my life. Yet, he claimed that he knew all about me. I told him that I didn't want to marry him, and he said I have to fight him, and if I lose, I become his wife against his will. We fought, and I'm not one for combat magic. But, after a long battle, I defeated him. I did an extremely powerful spell that only angels know: it was called "Arrow of Light and Death." But, that was all that I remember. After that, everything fell apart and I came back to here."

Everybody at the table was speechless.

"Serena, you surprise me everytime." Claudia broke the silence.

"I-I do?" She exchanged an awkward smile.

"You took down one of the most prominent figures in dark magic, at your age. At XX years, that is an achievement." Aubree gave a small round of applause.

"I didn't know all about this. Really, it's still new to me."

"I get it, it's a lot. But now, that means that you will need to be more aware than ever. Dark Magic is still looming around, and you will be targeted, so please be aware of everybody and everything." Lizzie suddenly sounded worried.

"But don't worry, we have your back." Claudia put her hand on Serena's hand.

"Thank you all. I know I still have a lot to learn, not even 1 month into my time here and I'm already with a curse, defeating dark magic, and being in these weird situations."

"We're always here for you." Aubree said.

"Thank you." Serena nodded and saw right in back of Aubree was Nikolai, at a pillar in the tearoom, arms crossed and he was staring right at her and when they locked eyes, he smirked and vanished from thin air.