THE MARK OF ELDOREM: Rise Of Eldorians(Book One)

CHAPTER ONE: Chaos at Emberfall High

"Shit! No, don't go in, run!" he hollered, waving his arms frantically, but the noise of the panic drowned out his desperate warning.

The monster was closing in, and Kai's mind raced. He knew he couldn't live with himself if anything happened to the students. With no other options, he continued shouting at the top of his lungs, "Get out, everyone! It's not safe in here-run!"

His plea fell on deaf ears amid the chaos. Feeling like this was his dumbest move yet, Kai turned to face the monster head-on. Flames in hand, he doubted they'd do much against its tough hide.

As the monster approached, Kai braced himself, counting silently as he stood ready to shield his classmates. His mind flashed back to the events that had led him up to this moment. It had started out like any other day— well, almost any other day...

Earlier that day...

Laughter echoed through the halls of Emberfall High School as three seniors mocked a younger boy who had fallen after one of them kicked his crutches.

Approaching them were Kaito Shirushi and two companions. "Ugh, another group of overgrown idiots bullying a weak, helpless student. Typical Mondays," Kaito remarked. Glancing to his left, he asked quietly, "Are there any girls behind us watching?" His companion gave a thumbs-up, and with hands in both pockets, Kaito strolled up to confront the seniors.

"Excuse me," he said politely. The three seniors turned their attention toward him. "Hi, my name is Shirushi Kaito. My friends call me Kai. I'm-"

"Blah, blah, blah. I heard you like hearing yourself talk, so the rumors are true, eh?"

"Oh, you've heard of me before?"

"Who hasn't? The only Japanese exchange student this school, or any other school in Mesa, has ever had."

Kai turned to his friends, looking excited. "Did you hear that? I'm pretty popular."

"Hey, Japanese boy, why don't you go back to your country? You don't belong here, and you certainly shouldn't be interfering with things that are none of your business."

A crowd of students began to form, and Kai reveled in the attention; this was his time to show off.

"Yare, Yare. I hate dealing with guys like you, but it can't be helped."

Yare, Yare, meaning Good grief.

"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do, tough guy?" one of the seniors challenged, shoving Kai on the chest with both hands.

Kai grabbed the senior's hands as he staggered backward, making the senior stumble along with him. The boy tried to pull his hands away, but Kai held on firmly. He wasn’t sure why he couldn’t let go, but he felt a burning need for revenge in his chest.

"You asked what I was going to do. Well, here's a little send-off gift," Kai declared, channeling his anger at the seniors' attempt to embarrass him into his palms. The senior screamed, and Kai released his grip, offering him a calm smile as he saw the burnt marks he had left on the senior's wrists.

"Who are you?" the senior asked, his voice trembling and his hands wriggling in pain as he and his friends retreated down the hall.

"Shirushi Kaito, everyone," Kai announced, executing a mocking bow. He turned to where most of his female classmates stood, gawking at him. "Minasan, okirei hidoi," he winked, taking one of the girls' hands and placing a kiss on it, the girl blushed.

Minasan, okirei hidoi meaning-ladies, beautiful, terrible.

"That is just horribly, horribly wrong," said a girl approaching him from behind.