A young woman sprinted through the woods under the cloak of night, a babe securely strapped to her body. Despite her efforts to evade her pursuers, they remained relentless in their pursuit.
"Bring back her head!" a man's voice thundered behind her.
She reached a clearing, a vast body of water looming ahead, with her pursuers closing in. Stepping back, she took a deep, icy breath before making a daring leap over the water's edge.
"Did you truly believe you could escape?" a voice taunted, and a powerful fist made of ice struck her to the ground.
"Now return what is rightfully ours. Return what you've stolen," commanded a man in a crimson robe, standing upon the frozen surface of the water, now turned into a block of ice.
"Stolen? This child is mine, my heir, my flesh and blood, the very essence of my being. You'll have to kill me before I surrender him," the woman declared defiantly.
"So be it," the man replied, as more mages cloaked in black emerged from their concealment.
"This won't be a fair fight," she smirked, adjusting the child's position on her body and securing its cloth even tighter.
---
A 15-year-old boy, standing at 5 feet 11 inches tall, with stunning bronze skin, honey-brown eyes, and a head of black hair, exited the bathroom, humming his favorite tune. His mother, a 6 feet 1 inch tall beauty with similar bronze skin, curly black hair, and captivating honey-brown eyes like her son, called out to him from downstairs.
"Erhẹn" she called, informing him she was heading to work and that Victor would take him to school.
Erhẹn soon joined Victor in the living room, a 6'2" slender Caucasian male with green eyes and white hair, who engaged him in conversation.
"How's it feel to be almost done with secondary school? In three months, off to university to chase your dreams," Victor asked.
"Normal, I guess," replied Erhẹn.
"Best wishes," Victor added.
As Erhẹn picked up his bag and phone, a surge of sadness and anger washed over him, an anonymous text wishing for his death, coupled with death threats from classmates sat on the screen of his phone.
Victor, reading the messages, grew furious, suggesting that they report the students. However, Erhẹn dissuaded him with a smile.
During the ride to school, Erhẹn chatted with his friends in the front seat, expressing his apprehension about returning due to bullying and gossip. However, Victor who waspart of their group chat, on seeing the messages, offered Erhẹn advice.
"You do know I can see the messages, right?" Victor stated.
"Damn, I forgot you were in the GC," Erhẹn responded.
"I don't really wish for you to gain magic, not in a negative way, but as a friend. I'd prefer you stay away from anything supernatural. It's not the life I envision for you, and I'm certain your mom feels the same," Victor advised.
"That's your wish, not mine. I'd hoped people would see me for who I am, not as the 'poor kid from Igodo,' the slums of Benin Metropolis," Erhẹn replied.
"I want magic. I want to stand with my friends, and protect them like they've protected me. I want to join the IMG and prove I'm not the worthless trash they see" Erhẹn confided in Victor.
Silence enveloped them during the ride to school. As they arrived, Erhẹn disembarked wordlessly, leaving Victor with a promise to return at 3:00.
Taking a deep breath, Erhẹn approached the school building. Inside, students both magical and non-magical interacted freely. Military personnel guarded the premises, ensuring safety. However, even though some students possessed magic, the school focused on academic studies, not magical training.
Plugging in his earbuds, Erhẹn ignored the stares and walked down the hallway, recalling past instances of bullying. Suddenly, he collided with a senior, falling to the ground. Standing up, he faced Ikenna, a student shorter than himself, standing at about 5'7" with a shaved head and brown skin.
"Why'd you push me, Ikenna?" Erhẹn asked.
"You were in the way. Useless dud," Ikenna retorted, smirking.
"Just because you're older doesn't give you the right to shove me. You don't even have magic yourself, so what's with it with you always calling me a dud?" Erhẹn responded, fists clenched. His words seemed to strike a nerve.
"My mom's not a witch, and neither are any of my parents supernaturals. That's what makes me better than you. I'm not a dud; I'm just a regular non-sup. You, on the other hand, nobody knows who your father is, and your mother, a coven witch, acts as a midwife and aids people in your backward community, rumours have it that she lost her magic, that's why. Now tell me, how does a coven witch lose her magic, how does one of the most powerful class of supernaturals become something as pitiful as a common midwife?" Ikenna whispered as he drew closer to Erhẹn
Pulling the towering Erhẹn by his collar to his height, ikenna whispered "Your lack of magic is your own mistake. Worse yet, all your friends are mages, born from powerful ACE assembly lineages. So, who's the useless one?" Ikenna's words pressed down on Erhẹn.
"Looking for a fight, Ikenna?" Erhẹn challenged.
"See?" Ikenna scoffed releasing Erhẹn "Violence is all you know, but being good in martial arts doesn't put you on our level. Besides, you know you can't use those skills outside the ring. It'll only create more problems for you and your mother. Your dad can't save you," Ikenna sneered.
Erhẹn took a deep breath, countering, "Wasting my time talking to you won't prove anything. I'm not the first 'dud,' and I won't be the last. You'll have to deal with it."
Watching from a distance, the teachers smiled. "He's grown," one remarked.
"That's why your dad's ashamed of you, isn't it? I heard he was a respected mage who worked in the assembly. Little Prince Nasya was abandoned because his father's ashamed of him. And your whore of a mother is fucking a boy 2 times younger than her, in the name of sending you to a private school. You should do yourself a favor and drop out of this school. It's a private school for the prestigious and elite, not for worthless sons of whores like your—"
"That's enough, Ikenna!" a firm voice interrupted.
The tension snapped, and Erhẹn succumbed to his anger. Despite the teachers' attempts to intervene, it was too late. Halting abruptly, he swung a punch at Ikenna, connecting with his face. The impact sent Ikenna hurtling halfway across the hallway, shattering his nose and dislodging several teeth.
"Yes I'm poor and I'm a dud. You can say what you want about me or my worthless father, but never in your life say anything about my mom. Ever.." Erhẹn asserted before walking away from the struggling Ikenna
It's clear Erhẹn reached a breaking point, defending his mother and reacting in the heat of the moment.
But Ikenna, fueled by rage, attacked Erhẹn from behind. Swiftly turning, Erhẹn executed a spin-kick, connecting with Ikenna's face, sending him crashing into a locker, shattering it. As Erhẹn's leg lowered, the teachers quickly intervened, subduing him while tending to Ikenna's injuries.
After a brief moment, Erhẹn calmly requested to be released, and the teacher complied. Disappointment flashed in the teacher's eyes, leaving Erhẹn disheartened.
"I'll see you in the principal's office later. For now, go to class. I'll take responsibility for what happens next" the teacher instructed before departing, leaving Erhẹn alone.
As the bell rang, students filed into their classrooms. Erhẹn, on his way to class, was greeted by his best friends, who had witnessed the altercation. Proud of Erhẹn's newfound ability to stand up for himself, they no longer felt the need to protect him as before.
Soon, Erhẹn was summoned to the principal's office. A student from ikenna's class, SSS3 D, escorted him, and when Erhẹn asked about Ikenna, he learned that Ikenna was in the hospital, citing Erhẹn's actions as the cause. However, the student assured Erhẹn that she nor the rest of her classmates held it against him, stating Ikenna got what he deserved.
Erhẹn found himself in a daunting situation as he entered the principal's office. His mother, Victor, and his teacher sat opposite the principal, their expressions indicating disappointment and concern, particularly from his mother.
Taking a deep breath, Erhẹn moved to stand beside his mother, feeling the weight of her stare. The principal, seeking Erhẹn's perspective, prompted him to share his side of the story.
The tension in the room was palpable, and Erhẹn realized the gravity of the situation, knowing he needed to explain his actions and confront the consequences of his altercation with Ikenna.