Chapter 9
Time passed by so fast. I didn’t notice that we were on the Kentron’s silver gate until the guards stepped in. I am not startled by their presence, or their highly acclaimed inspection anymore.
I don’t really get why they have to be so tight when it comes to security. Kentron is the district where people with special powers lived. No people in their right mind, even Argonians will think of attacking the centre district of Ezmer, except for the mixed blood rebels, maybe.
Mixed blood rebels are the casted race in Kentron. They were thrown out of Kentron because of highly opposing the governance of the Royal Bloods and continually threatening the peace of our country. They became fugitives and rebels for more than a decade now.
Soon after the guards left us, the driver starts its engine and drives faster than he used to. “Buckle up, children.” He instructs.
We all look for safety belt in our seats, but there’s nothing. “There’s no seatbelts sir!” one Sage yells. Some starts to panic, some closes their eyes in fear that we might hit something in the road.
“It’s just an expression!” the driver laughs contentedly. He’s enjoying the fast pace of the coaster and the screams of my fellow classmates at the same time. He’s insane.
I see Sirius sitting comfortably at his seat, tapping his fingers in the armchair, in rhythms like he is listening to some upbeat music. Like the driver, he’s enjoying the ride. Sirius is having the time of his life. I’ve known him since grade school, and I know that when everyone is in a miserable situation, he’s the one who enjoys it…, a lot. He’s a demon in a Sage body.
My stomach is twitching from the ride. When the coaster reaches the stop, near the central station, all of us want to get out as fast as possible, except for Sirius, who by his expression, wants for another ride. The surroundings wiggle or rotate; I can’t exactly tell what it is. Coaster is the third vehicle I have ever ridden in my entire life, next to the Whitehorn Academy bus and Kentron’s extravagant train. So naturally, I’m not used to such fast rides…. I vomit.
I don’t look to the trash bin where I puke; I already know how disgusting it is.
Laughs surround me. The laughs are not familiar to me; it’s not as loud and street like. There’s something in it that designate from the way we, laugh – filthy. I look at the people laughing at me, and recognize them by their posture and clothing. They are from Argon. Steady and muscular body, and chinned up face that suggest pride and arrogance. Five of them wear black cloak with tri-colour flames and the other guy, I bet he’s the same age as I am, wears black pants and feathered jacket that looks gorgeous on him.
One of them steps forward and looks at the trash bin where I just puked in. “You are disgusting!” He says, soft but intimidating. He’s not talking about my vomit; he’s addressing it directly to me.
The other Argonians laugh again, tapping each other’s shoulders, like they just won some kind of game of chance. They are having fun at me. As far as I am concerned, I didn’t do anything to receive such insult. The guy with feathered jacket tosses a knife in the air, catching it with his right hand and tosses it again. He’s not laughing with them. Actually, he’s not paying attention to what his friends are doing. It’s clear that he’s their superior. He looks like he’s from a high class family.
“Is this what Sages eat?” says an Argonian girl in disgust as she peeks at the trash bin too in curiosity. She kicks the trash bin with her right foot, but I’m quick and strong enough to handle the bin. The trash bin didn’t move an inch.
A wicked smile appears in my cheek. I may be a normal Sage, but I am not afraid of them or to anyone. “That’s all you’ve got, Argonian?”
All of them hiss with anger. The Argonian girl is about to throw her fist on me when the feathered-jacket guy shouts, “That’s enough, Luna!”
Suddenly, Luna, the Argonian girl, without questioning, lets her fist down and steps backward. “You’re lucky, Sire Alexander is in a good mood today.”
I look at the feathered-jacket guy with amazement. With just one order, his friends obey him. He throws the knife at my direction. Just as the knife is about to cut my face, it burns and after seconds, it turns into ashes. “That” he says, “is what we’ve got.” He says, reminding me of who they are and what they are capable of doing. They don’t just kick trash bins, they are fire powered people.
The Argonians already left when Terence reached my side. I still look shock. The ashes of the knife are still on the street, fine and gray.
I walk without looking at him, without touching a single fibre of his skin. I don’t want to be near him as much as possible. I had a very humiliating day, and I don’t want to add another embarrassment.
“Are you avoiding me?” he asks.
I don’t respond.
“So you are avoiding me.” he says from behind.
I am walking as fast as I can, toward the central station, but he still catches me. He grabs my elbow tightly that it hurts. I wince, but don’t turn my head to his face. The train operator announces that the train will leave in thirty seconds. I am about to enter the automatic door when he shouts, “Fine! If you don’t talk to me right this instant, I’ll stay here.” He crosses his arms like a child about to throw a tantrum.
Unbelievable! Terence is such a stubborn guy! He’ll get whatever he wants in any manner, even if it means losing his opportunity to study in Whitehorn Academy. I roll my eyes at him and say, “Don’t be a kid Terence!” He looks at me persistently for answers. He’s not joking; he’ll really stay if I don’t talk to him. “Okay! I’ll explain everything once where on the train, come on.” I wave my hand. He doesn’t still move.
“Promise.” I assure him.
A loud beep starts to fill the station, it signals the passengers that the doors are about to close. I see him grinning devilishly, with satisfaction. He holds my hand and I drag him in.
The train releases a puff sound, and then it starts to move.
