Stars Above {A Zodiac Story}

✨Chapter Two✨

Leonardo's POV

Excuse me? Chosen Ones? This has got to be a dream.

"Ouch!" I yelp after pinching myself just to make sure. Nope. Not a dream. My new friend Vinaya, who's sitting next to me, stifles a laugh.

"Don't worry, I'm pretty none of us can believe it either," she whispers, gesturing to everyone else. I look around and, sure enough, there are several people either staring open-mouthed or looking like they've been slapped in the face.

Principal Draco chuckles, "I'm sorry that I had to drop this information on all of you so suddenly. However, this is a very important topic, so I didn't want to wait."

"Um...I still have no clue what's happening," a blonde girl volunteers. Many others nod in agreement, including me.

"Let me explain," the principal continues. "Basically, you twelve students are the human representations of the zodiac signs. These Markings appeared on you because of your turning of age. You all are now 16, yes?"

Once again, we all nod.

"Exactly. This was set to happen - once you all turned 16, the Markings would appear as signs that you are ready."

"But ready for what?" a pink-haired girl asks impatiently, and Principal Draco's expression turns grave.

"There is a threat to the world. Yesterday, you should have heard that I was telling the staff to look for 13 students, yes? But there are only 12 of you here. This is because the 13th zodiac - Ophiuchus - wants their identity to remain secret."

"Hold up - there's a 13th zodiac?!" a girl with beaded braids exclaims, and the principal nods.

"Although many people don't recognize Ophiuchus as a zodiac, including space institutions such as NASA, it is technically still supposed to be one. Now, the human representation of it is also in this school - and he or she is out to get you."

Dead silence.

"So...we're in one of those supernatural movies?" I ask.

"I suppose," Principal Draco replies, chuckling. His smile quickly drops away, however. "I don't know much about Ophiuchus, but I can tell you that he or she is not someone you want to mess with. Ophiuchus is looking to somehow take over the world, as cliche as it sounds...and you are the only ones who can stop him or her."

"My brain is hurting from all this," the Pisces guy complains. "What are we even supposed to do about the situation? We're literally just random people who don't even know each other."

"Well, that's why I've prepared a special building for you all. It can be called a mansion, I suppose, and you all will live there. Your biggest weakness - and Ophiuchus likely knows this - is if you are separated. Together, you can defeat the enemy, but as soon as you are apart, everything will get burned to ashes."

At this, a brunette boy bursts into laughter, and the principal turns a stern gaze towards him.

"Something the matter, mister?"

"Ah, sorry," he says, gasping for air. "It's just, this is so ridiculous! Like straight out of a drama or something! And there's twelve of us anyway, so how can we 'stay together' or whatever? I mean, we're obviously going to be separated most of the time, like during school or if we go to the bathroom or something. It's literally not even possible to stay together 24/7, so if what you're saying is true, we're doomed from the start!" Huh, he has a point.

"Yes, I am aware of that. You don't have to physically be together at all times, just mentally. I've been informed that the Markings help you in that somewhat, but I'm not completely sure how. That's why living together will at least give you enough room to figure out how they work."