Agamemnon's Dowery

Chapter 2

The bus pulled up to the sprawling school campus, its towering structure casting long shadows over the surrounding neighborhood. The campus was laid out like a college, but the air was heavy with the oppressive atmosphere of a supermax prison. Encased in a tall, black, and stone metal fence that gleamed menacingly under the June sun, the entire space exuded a sense of foreboding. The main building loomed above, its gothic architecture a fortress of knowledge that seemed to watch over the city with disdain. Tall spires clawed at the sky, casting long, jagged shadows over the courtyard, where students reluctantly gathered.

At the gate stood a school guard—a Typhon—whose muscular, lizard-like form was covered in glittering sapphire blue scales. The scales shimmered hypnotically in the oppressive summer heat, reflecting a spectrum of colors that danced with every movement. His sharp, reptilian eyes scanned the students with a predatory vigilance, making it clear that nothing would escape his notice. His presence, like that of the school itself, was a reminder of the rigid order and harsh discipline that ruled this place.

As Aggy approached the entrance, he noticed a large group of students clustered together, naturally segregated by species. The more powerful beings—demons, angels, and demigods—carried themselves with an unbridled confidence, their aura of prestige and dominance radiating outward like a force field. Aggy could feel it pressing against him, suffocating in its intensity, shaking him to his core. He knew that if it weren't for the strict rules of the school and the city, his life could be far worse. The thought haunted him as he shuffled forward, trying to make himself as small and inconspicuous as possible.

As the gates creaked open and the throng of students slowly filtered into the school building, Aggy walked at a brisk pace, dodging wings, horns, and tails that seemed to jut out at every turn. The bustling crowd was a maze of limbs and appendages, and he weaved through them with the practiced agility of someone who had learned to avoid trouble. But just as he thought he might make it through unscathed, a large white wing appeared out of nowhere and knocked him off his feet, sending him sprawling onto his back, the hard ground knocking the wind out of him.

"You better watch where you walk, weakling," a nearby blonde-haired angel sneered, his words dripping with venom. It was Jared, a known face to Agamemnon, and a constant source of torment. The guard, only a few feet away, didn't move an inch from his spot; instead, he let out a nasally snicker, clearly enjoying the spectacle before him. For someone like him, seeing a human get knocked down was probably the highlight of his otherwise dull post. His scaly lips curled into a look of disgust, as if the mere sight of Aggy lying there offended him.

Lying on the cold ground, Aggy could feel the eyes of the crowd piercing into him like daggers. Embarrassment and fear surged through his veins, his heart pounding as he desperately wished he could disappear, to be back home in his bed where it was safe. The laughter and whispers around him grew louder, each one a needle prick against his fragile confidence. He decided it would be best to just stay down, to wait for them to leave, hoping the moment would pass without further humiliation.

But before he could sink any further into despair, a familiar voice cut through the murmur of the onlookers, sharp and commanding. "Jared! Leave Aggy alone this instant!" The voice belonged to Toff, a girl with a strikingly recognizable pink afro that bobbed defiantly as she pushed her way through the crowd. Her hair began to glow with an intense, fiery pink, wisps of magical energy sparking off her in waves as she approached, parting the sea of students with her sheer presence.

Though Toff was blind, she navigated the world with an unparalleled sense of awareness, using her powerful shockwave magic to send out pulses that allowed her to "see" the world around her with a precision that others found astonishing. The ground seemed to hum beneath her feet as her anger simmered, her shockwave magic rippling outward in invisible waves of force that made the crowd instinctively step back with every step, a sense of unease rippling through them.