𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐

The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the mansion, casting a warm glow across the polished floors. Giran adjusted his glasses as he buttoned up his uniform, glancing briefly in the mirror. His hair was still a bit unruly from his restless night, and the dark circles under his eyes hinted at the nightmare that had kept him up. Shaking it off, he grabbed his bag and headed downstairs, hoping a good breakfast might clear his mind.

As he reached the grand staircase, the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries wafted up to greet him. The house was quiet, his parents already off to work, leaving only the soft clatter of dishes in the dining room where the maids had begun setting up his meal.

“Good morning, young master,” one of the maids greeted as he entered the dining room. She placed a glass of orange juice at his place, bowing politely before stepping back.

“Good morning,” Giran replied, offering a faint smile as he took his seat.

The table was arranged with his usual breakfast—a spread of fresh fruit, toast, eggs, and pancakes. He picked up a fork, but his mind drifted as he stared down at his plate. Flashes of the nightmare crept back in: the masked figure, the icy touch, the ominous words… “You’re next.”

He shivered slightly, forcing himself to focus on his breakfast instead of the unsettling memory.

As he took a sip of orange juice, one of the other maids approached. “Shall I prepare the car, young master?”

“Yes, please,” Giran replied, grateful for the distraction. He wasn’t eager to get to school—especially with Filan’s mysterious presence there—but anything was better than dwelling on last night’s dream.

He finished his meal in silence, gathering his things and stepping outside where the driver was already waiting. The ride to school felt longer than usual, and the closer he got, the heavier his chest felt. The fear from his nightmare lingered, blending with his confusion and curiosity about Filan.

As the car pulled up to the school gates, Giran took a deep breath, readying himself for the day ahead.

Stepping out of the car, Giran felt the familiar weight of his glasses slipping slightly down his nose. With a sigh, he nudged them back up, pressing his finger gently against the bridge to secure them in place. The frame felt looser than usual, as though it might slide down at any moment. He made a mental note to tighten the screws later or get them adjusted.

The school grounds bustled with students chatting and hurrying to class, but Giran’s mind was elsewhere, still lingering on the nightmare. He fiddled with his glasses again, pushing them up as he scanned the courtyard. His gaze caught sight of Filan, standing alone by a tree, eyes fixed on something distant. The sight made Giran pause.

As he adjusted his glasses, he couldn’t help but wonder: was Filan somehow tied to the fear that had plagued him all night? Or was it just his imagination, projecting onto the new student? The questions tugged at him, but for now, he took a deep breath and forced himself to walk past, pretending everything was normal.

Just as Giran walked past the main entrance, he spotted Dini hurrying toward him, a worried expression on her face. She waved him down, her bag slung over one shoulder, and her usually bright eyes seemed clouded, as if she hadn’t slept well either.

“Hey, Giran!” she called, falling into step beside him. She studied him for a moment. “Did you… get any sleep last night?”

Giran let out a sigh. “Barely. I had this nightmare… It felt so real. I don’t even know how to describe it, Dini, but I was in some dark alley, and—”