The Black Queen Card

chapter seven - machkie

Khraviell

Khrav never would have thought that he would involve himself frantically on women. Somehow The Queens were now becoming his most pressing concern. It dawned on him that one of these days might be the end of reaching his or his friends' dreams and to think that he and Ram's aspirations of justice could be snuffed out before they could even light up that torch.

The Queens, as Krash characterized them, were the most influential people in Axseania that once you get on their bad side, they'd want to drive you out of the University. They had their ways—unfair and unwarranted ways. Are there anymore crueler than those who decide something in a snap to destroy a person's life?

Khrav could say it didn't bother him, which he was used to these kinds of people. The only difference was there might be others involved whom he cared about, particularly his best friend, Krash, and his new friend, Ram. These were the people who strived hard to finish their degree in Axseania and his actions might be the sole reason for their expulsion for defending Krash from them. Khrav might think he had nothing to lose but Krash and Ram had everything to lose.

Ram could just leave Khrav and Krash to deal with their predicament with The Queens, but he chose to stick with them.

"You know what, Ram? You should really stay away from us if you don't want to get in trouble." Krash gritted her teeth, her eyebrows down.

Stopping in front of the Dewamin Hall of Technology and Artificial Intelligence she continued talking, "But I really want you to be our friend, so thank you for sticking with us. And oh! I'll introduce you to the game that started all this mess!"

She raised two thumbs up and winked at Ram. Khrav rolled his eyes and pushed Krash by the shoulders towards the building.

"Ram doesn't want to play your game. You better run to your next class."

Krash, who was still waiting for Ram to say something, ignored Khrav. Once her enthusiasm shot up, she won't back down.

"Sorry, I'd rather read my cases." Ram replied jokingly at Krash whose face turned sour. She stomped her feet and left the two for her next class.

The two guys started walking, shared a look, and laughed. It was nice to have a normal conversation after Krash's total crisis with the Queens' but the displeasure within Khrav wasn't subsiding a bit.

He couldn't contain it anymore and he needed to let it out. Instead of going to the Moonshine coffee bar, Khrav asked Ram to cover his shift. As for Ram, who had experience in handling coffee shops, he was more than grateful.

Khrav sauntered for a while, pausing to admire the lush greenhouse north of the university. A chapel was built on top of the greenhouse, its white curtains billowing out of the opened stained-glass windows. Khrav walked further west until he saw the University Hospital. It had diagonal wings that open to a wide balcony.

Krash mentioned about a sleeping quarters open for anyone at any time. He walked following the sign on the right wing of the hospital on the second floor. It is almost connected to the Girl's Towers.

He entered the room with the press of his thumb, opened the nearest curtain door and calmed his eyes with the color of mint, and flopped on his back on the weird smelling mattress. He sighed and covered his eyes with his right arm.

"Who the hell are those girls anyway? I can't believe there are still these kinds of people in the world. Queens?" He scoffed.

"What a disgusting, mainstream and unoriginal name for a group. They're not even real royalty."