Albert Gregory Percival spends most of his time in his Study alone. No children of his have ever seen what's behind the white wooden door with panels etched in black and slaver, and a sign that says "Gregory Study, DO NOT ENTER"
Albert was lost in his work, reading a book. This book was different, as it caused Albert to read every word with eyes of greed- Greed for everything the book has to offer.
The study was a large room, looking like a library. The floor was covered in a series of red, orange, or black rugs, with each rug portraying the face of all his wives. The room was filled with pieces of furniture, fridges, a stove, a bed, and 3 shelves filled with books of different languages, subjects, and topics, and the walls decorated and adorned with multiple paintings. Albert's desk was neatly arranged, with files and journals stacked on top of one another, and a simple lamp casting light on the book he was reading.
And then suddenly, there was a knock on the door, a light tap tap tap
Gregory got startled because he was lost in the book, and dispelled the person knocking, but the tapping continued.
Gregory was wearing his casual beach boxers, a red singlet, and huarache sandals. He calmly got up and trudged towards the door. The sounds of Ravens were heard outside, as they cawked so loudly that the Mansion guards were instructed to chase them away, but the flock won't leave.
As Albert reached for the door, he felt a drop in temperature and noticed the shadow of the person on the other side of the door. The knocking continued lightly, as the person on the other side waited patiently for an answer.
"Al?" Albert asked. "Mario?, Hezekiah?, Julius?, Evelyn? Who is knocking? "
The knocking continued, so light and gentle, and the sounds of the Ravens grew louder. Albert was hesitant to open the door, as he felt a presence, a very dark, gloomy presence that threatened him. Albert rushed to his desk, ran his fingers under the desk, and pushed a button.
Albert relaxed on his seat, trying to dampen the sound of his beating heart. He wasn't afraid, he wasn't worried, he wasn't frightened, but he was curious. Who dares walk into the Percival mansion, get through all the guards, and knock at the study of Albert Gregor Percival, who dares?
Albert doesn't see this person as a guest, but an enemy that should be vanquished.
Albert started to brainstorm, trying to figure out who could be here. An assassination attempt? Most likely, but why now? But in the middle of his internal debate, in the sound of a light click, the door was unlocked. Albert was shocked and amused; the enemy came prepared. He carefully watched as the door swung open slowly. The hinges of the door creaked, and the Study's temperature dropped drastically, making Albert regret wearing a singlet.
The figure walked over to Albert, or hovered. The figure's presence was what Albert thought: threatening, piercing, and overwhelmingly filled with evil. The presence was covered in a thick black smoke, but it dispersed when it reached near Albert.
The figure was a man, With a handsome but impossible pale face, a sickly gait, dirty green eyes crying streams of blood, heavy with sorrows, draped in an all black cloak decorated with feathers, bones and weapons, gloves tipped with slaver claws, and a helmet resembling the head of a slaver beaked raven, resting on his boney head like a crown.
"I was meant to stop at Black Meadows, but I was passing the neighbourhood, and decided to stop by." The man spoke in a husky but polished voice.
"What do you want from me?" Albert asked, "Who are you working for, and have you realized where you are right now?"
The man stared intently at Albert. "The book, where is it?"
The ravens outside began to perch on the study's window, desperately trying to enter the room, and they turned ravenous.
Albert's face showed no sign of fear. "I have no idea who you are talking about, I have a lot of books. You can call me a bookworm, but I prefer the term intelligent, brilliant, or even old-minded."
The man showed no sign of impatience. "Don't play games with me, old man. The book that you discovered on the ground of the extinct Rainbow clan, the book with no cover, no name, but with vast knowledge, give me the book, now."
Albert tilted his head and leaned forward. "Or else what?"
A guard dressed in a slaver armour entered the room.
"Master Albert," he screamed.
The guard held a triple-barreled shotgun and pointed it at the man. Three bullets left the gun with a loud bang. It traveled towards the head of the man, threatening to blow off his head. Albert was pleased with his competent soldier and smiled. The man faced towards the 3 spinning goz copper bullets coming at his head, closing in at his swamp green eyes. The Ravens' outburst grew more violent.
But realisation dawned on him. The button he pressed under his desk was meant to alert the guards as quickly as possible, so why did this guard take so much time, and why is he the only one present?
The bullet hit the man's head, but the head of the guard got blown off. With blood splattered everywhere, the headless corpse of the guard stumbled to the ground. Albert still wasn't convinced to be scared, but he was just amused.
"Oh my," Albert asked, "What divinity was that, reflection?"
The man faced Albert, and surprisingly, not even a scratch was found on the man's pale face. "I prefer not to use the term 'divinity'. But you are going to give me that book" The man's slaver claws glistened "Or else..."
Albert's right eye glowed bright orange. The sound of the Ravens dampened.
Caesar was expecting a gloydon star, a well-done sticker, or even a word of appreciation. He didn't expect a ball of glowing green energy to be directed at him. He felt his right eye turn crimson, and the energy coming closer to him. Where teachers are allowed to kill students, Caesar thought.
Caesar was about to punch the energy, but it swerved out of his hands i the last minute, and the energy exploded into a brilliant flash of light, which looked marvellous.
"Always read for an attack." Ms. Fiah said while writing her name on the large chalkboard with a chalk, "Very impressive. But I remembered saying that it was a reward, not a punishment."
The entire class chuckled, except for Caesar and Zeus. Caesar was expecting a fight, a real challenge. But he realised that he had to stop overthinking things.
Caesar sat down on his seat. "Thank you for the reward."
Class started, and it was enjoyable for everyone. While most teachers write on a chalkboard and explain some far-fetched historical stories, Ms. Fiah used her Divinity 'Flashlight' To re-enact a story, a story about a man named Melios.
Melios was a legend hailed across the lands as a very powerful ghoul. He was born 3000 years ago, in a province of ghouls called Black Valley, which was always being attacked by humans who were racist. The ghouls are distinguished by their long black horns protruding from their foreheads, and rarely, their pure black wings. Melios didn't acquire a divinity because he was a ghoul, but he was potent. He acquired powers so great that even Zion feared his wrath, and he brought the terror of Blak Valley to an end. But one day, He led an army to the capital of Zion, and he attacked. He used his most powerful weapon, the "Bell of Melios".
According to historians like Ms. Fiah, the bell of Melios was pure gloydon, and had the power to destroy the entirety of the Zion Empire. The powers were still unknown, but they theorized it had something to do with the moon, specifically the first moon, Astreas. And according to Apothecaries who studied the causes of death, they theorized that the bell, allegedly, could rain down 'Curses' from the heavens; it was never established. But by the mercy of the Almighty, he's army was defeated. Melios got executed, which made the ghouls the prime enemy of humans for 2 thousand years, and the bell of Melios disappeared when Melios died himself.
But the story made no sense to Caesar.
It was 45 Brumite left, 5 more until this lesson ends, and Caesar was confused. When Ms. Fiah asked for questions, Caesar's hand was the first up.
"So, I have questions," Caesar started. " Why can't ghouls use divinity?"
Ms. Fiah scratched her ears. " Simple, the Almighty blessed the ability to humans, not Ghouls."
Caesar's face looked unsatisfied. " So why do you have a divinity? You aren't human."
Ms. Fiah tilted her head. "The Almighty blessed other creatures and races with divinity, but with a condition that it would be very rare."
Caesar still looked unsatisfied. "So you are telling me that Divinity is rare, but there are 209 pupils in year 1 only. And I recalled the announcer saying that everybody in Black Meadows Academy has awakened their divinity. Take my friend Zeus, for example. " Zeus gave Caesar a side eye when he heard his name. "He used pure training and hard work to, quote on quote, 'Awaken' his divinity. So does it mean that people can have divinity after birth? And why did Melios attack the capital from nowhere? You can use the argument for hating humans, but why Zion of all places. You said that the town he was living in was a province, and it means that it was independent from any kingdom, and since Zion was so afraid of him, they would have left him and his race alone, so why?, why?"
Before Ms. Fiah could understand the grand magnitude of Caesar's question, a sound was heard. A sweet tune, like a melody, repeatedly playing.
"Already?" Ms. Fiah asked, "Well, children, looks like class is dismissed, you can go to your next lesson."
As everyone was exiting the class, Ms. Fiah rested her hands on Caesar's shoulder and whispered, "You asked too many questions, do you doubt your kingdom?"
Caesar smiled, "I'm just a boy in a big world, what change will my question bring?"
Ms. Fiah didn't smile, but kept a neutral face. " Meet me tomorrow during 2nd break, then I will answer your questions, deal?"
Caesar nodded and left the room. His brain was still itching for answers. None of the main points of the story made any sense. Melios sounded like a good man at the start of the story, and then he just turned bad. What a written story, in my opinion.
And this is where you get to see Caesar's talent; the talent of curiosity. He is always asking questions, and won't stop until he is fully satisfied, and in this case, he wasn't. It felt like there was a big hole in his chest waiting to be filled with answers, but it wasn't present.
Next lesson was Hexes; the study of potions and their composition, and Caesar asked countless questions. The professor of the subject was a human male, hailing from Shawnforth. His name was Pierrot Zeen Cumberland, or Mr. Pierr for short. He was slow to anger with Caesar's countless questions, such as "Why does the Assassin lizard venom kill mammals, but not other creatures?" or "Why does the luck vile kill ghouls" or "Why do Galeburst ectoplasm strengthen Elves only when the moon of Rui shines" and at some point, the questions became unbearable, to even some students. Often, when Caesar asks one of his brilliant questions, the teacher would reply with "The almighty didn't give me infinite wisdom, or limitless patience."
1st break arrived after the sweet melody of the dismiss sound.
Caesar, Chalybe, Izobel, Zeus, and Fenrir met up in the fields. The Black Meadows grassfield was impecibe. Low-cut grass caught the light of the sun, Zuizui. Trees were randomly planted around the field, housing various fruits that were safe for consumption. Many students arrived at the venue, so the quintet lounged under a gerry-plum tree. Fenrir was the most ecstatic, as he hugged Caesar, seeing him as an older brother figure.
They all plopped themselves under the tree and brought out their food and cuisines, and began to share stories of their experiences. Fenrir said that he attended Biology, or Life graph inputting, which made Zeus cough up his red-grape juice. He said it was confusing, but he had fun, and he also enjoyed getting acquainted with a student, Megara. Izzy had Art for the 2nd lesson, and she confessed that she didn't enjoy it because Aurelia was, well, being Aurelia.
Caesar shared his void of intelligence with his companions, and he appreciated the way they listened and understood.
Chalybe's snow white hair glistened under the sunlight, as he took a bite of his Cardigen fish rice. "I am not going to pretend that I was not aware," Chalybe said. "I know of your hobby of asking a lot of questions, and you are never satisfied."
Caesar blinked at Chalybe. "What do you mean?"
Chalybe gulped down a spoonful of rice. "Anytime you claim that you are satisfied with your curiosity, another just comes up. You are always wondering, looking for a mystery to be solved."
Caesar spread his arms. "That is because this entire world is peculiar, filled to the brim with unanswered questions that even our professors don't know. This world is a world of Mysteries."
Izobel looked at the two boys and sighed, "You boys and your fantasy. But I have to say, Caesar's question in history intrigued me. The story of Melios sounded too, what's the word?, incomplete."
Caesar's eyes gleamed, "Like they are hiding something."
"Well, I'm no smart wolf," Fenrir proclaimed, "But I don't think the kingdom is hiding anything." Fenrir's eye drifted to Zeus. "Hey Zeus, is that red grape you're drinking?"
"NO"
"C'mon, they are really good."
After a series of discussions, the sweet melody sounded, and the group headed to class. Caesar walked slowly, siloquizing on his companion's words. I don't think the kingdom is hiding anything. That's what Fenrir thought, that's what they all thought. Caesar took a deep breath and trudged to his class through the halls, marvelling at the countless luminous pillars.
"Hey, Ceasa, stop slacking," Zeus called out.
Caesar smiled with one of his devious, yet charming smiles and galloped to his confidants.
Alarms beeped. The entire house is shaken to its core. The Percivals are in despair. Albert's study was thrashed, like a mighty hurricane had rummaged through the place. The paintings, the pieces of furniture, the rugs, the bed, the stove; they were all destroyed. Albert Gregory Percival was attacked, and two giant claw marks wounded his chest. Is he dead?