Ennet's Crimson Witch

Chapter 3: Golden Hour

Ennet wakes up. He didn't dream at all.

He was already at his desk before he noticed.

His father leaving, his mother's footsteps. All the same sounds.

But Ennet's mind seems to be in disarray. He notices himself tapping his ballpen more than usual, and when his mom checks on him he pretends to be busy at work. Something has changed.

Next thing Ennet knows he finds himself eating breakfast.

"This isn't normal..."
"No... this isn't good." He corrects himself.

Ennet zones out lost in thought. That dream was the one irregularity throughout years of routine. It couldn't have just been a random event, it stuck with him so much it must have meant something. Thats what Ennet wanted to believe.

Suddenly Ennet hears paper slapping against the table. His attention snapping out of his mind.

The tv was on. His mother usually has it off, its weird having something to look at other than his food.

"—its finally time for these students to show themselves in the international scene!"

It's a news report about some prestigious school, or at least thats what Ennet took from it. Their uniform was unfamiliar, but it wasn't like he knew much about overseas schools.

It was like some sort of ceremony, the students were lined up and marching across a large stadium. Their uniforms had an air of prestige about them, they were maroon, with boys wearing vests and ties, while girls wore skirts and had neatly tied hair.

All the students somehow looked distinct. Even if some had similar faces, there were unique features about them. Some had different colored skin, some had scars, and some had modifications to their uniforms that just barely fit the dress code while visually making them distinct. Each student stood with an aura which clashed with those around them for who gets the spotlight.

The camera then zoomed in on some students. They sit earnestly, minding their manners and proper conduct for their public appearance. The camera pans to the right looking at the honor students. Big public names, all of which Ennet did not know. As the camera pans, more peculiar people show up, one person immediately noticed the camera from across the stadium and started smiling and waving at the watchers, another was asleep the whole time despite keeping up with the program, another showed no manners, completely ignorant to the camera, and another was focused on the student next to him. When the camera follows the student's gaze, that was when Ennet saw it.

Red. Red as vibrant as lava flowing out of a volcano. Red so hot his body felt warm seeing it. It glistened in the sunlight. You can almost catch embers emanating from it.

The camera catches the tail end of bright red hair before cutting to the stage revealing the leaderboard for academic achievements.

"W-wh—"

"—Ugh how disappointing! Not a single academic award for a Navitas this year." His mom cuts in before turning off the television.

She looks at him, he has a shocked expression.

"You're shocked too aren't you? See I always knew we were on the same page Ennet." She says.

"Based from the look of your face and how intently you were watching I can tell you were also waiting to see how many awards the Navitas could accomplish, but we're both disappointed it seems."

"Thats why you have to step in and save this family's image. Just focus on your studies and your future will be set." She says before a slight pause to look him in the eye.