ASEL JULES CARSON
"What the hell? Why are you blocking my way? Don't you know who I am?" the guy I'd just bumped into shouted at me in the middle of the quadrangle.
I rolled my eyes and chewed my bubble gum.
Jeez. Trouble must be in love with me, because it follows me everywhere I go—even now that I'm trying to turn over a new leaf. How touching.
"Oh? Cat got your tongue?" he sneered.
I just stared at him while lazily chewing my gum. His voice was already drawing attention from the surrounding students. Perfect timing too—everyone was gathered here for the assembly, and we were right at the center of it.
I stretched my arms and shot him an irritated look. Why was this guy so damn petty?
"Ah," he scoffed when he saw my expression. "You must be the new kid. Acting all cocky already. Looks like someone needs to teach you a lesson."
He burst out laughing, his friends joining in.
I shifted my weight onto one leg and slipped my hands into my pockets. I counted them quickly and smirked.
"Why are you smirking, darling? You're about to face hell," he said, reaching out as if to tuck my hair behind my ear.
I caught his wrist before he could touch me and squeezed.
His eyes widened.
"What the—! You're fighting back?" he barked, trying to pull his wrist free, but he couldn't. My grin widened when I saw the flicker of fear on his face—though he quickly tried to hide it.
"H-hey! Help me out here!" he snapped at his companions.
His smirk returned when they stepped forward and surrounded me. They were all dressed like butlers.
I shook my head and popped my gum.
Oh, darling. Hiding behind your guards now? Rich kids are so pathetic.
"Get her!" the guy yelled.
They lunged at me all at once, trying to grab me, but I simply dodged their huge arms with a grin.
Four of them. All built like thugs.
Ganging up on one girl? This guy had really sunk low.
I dropped to one knee and twisted my foot in a quick sweeping motion, aiming for the legs rushing toward me.
A quiet giggle escaped me when they all crashed to the ground at the same time—piled on top of each other.
Yes. Just like sardines.
Before they could even get up, I moved straight for the guy who'd provoked me earlier and locked his arm behind his back.
Gasps erupted from the students watching.
I glanced around. No one was stepping in.
I sighed.
So much for trying to be a better version of myself.
What else could I do if people refused to leave me alone? I wasn't some pushover they could treat like a punching bag whenever they felt like it.
I learned that the hard way.
If people insisted on being immature and petty, then someone like me had no choice but to shove their crap right back in their faces.
The guy kept thrashing in my grip.
Damn, he was squirmy.
"Y-you'll pay for this!" he shouted—and then suddenly bit my arm.
"Hey—!"
He kicked my leg just to break free and sucked in a breath before swinging a punch at me.
I caught his arm and twisted it behind his back again.
"Enough," I said coldly, kicking the back of his knees.
I was about to let him go when he struggled again and tried to elbow my head.
I reacted instantly, shoving him away. He fell face-first onto the ground.
He rolled over, about to stand, but I was already on top of him, raining punches down on his face.
He tried to fight back, but he was already too dizzy from everything I'd done.
I grabbed his collar and pulled his face close to mine.
"Sleep well, darling," I whispered.
Then I headbutted him.
Blood instantly spilled from his forehead as his head slammed against the concrete.
A moment later, hands grabbed both my arms and dragged me away from the guy I'd just beaten senseless.
I frowned when I felt how tightly they were holding me.
I glared at them, but they only returned disappointed looks.
Oh, man.
I know those looks.
I'm the bad guy… again.
"Jules! You never do anything right! You've been kicked out of how many schools already? And now you've only been at this one for a few days and you've already sent someone to the hospital!" my father ranted.
By now, I'd learned how to shut my ears to his lectures.
I remembered coming home once covered in bruises after a fight I had no choice but to defend myself in—otherwise I would've come back with shattered kneecaps.
But instead of asking what happened…
Instead of asking if I was okay…
My family just scolded me for beating up the neighbor's kid.
Don't get me wrong.
I tried explaining.
They just never listened.
They never did.
"Honey, please forgive our daughter," my mother said gently to my father. "Let's just enroll her in another school, okay? Actually… we received an invitation letter earlier. Have you read it? I think Jules would be a good fit for that boarding school."
I looked away and kept chewing my gum.
Boarding school?
So they really wanted to get rid of me.
"Jules," my father called.
I didn't look at him, so he clicked his tongue. "Look at me."
I sighed and finally faced him.
His dark eyes were serious.
"Starting today, you'll be studying at Pandora's Academy of Forbidden Arts."
"What?" I raised a brow. "Is that even real? That name sounds ridiculous."
My mother sighed.
"No, dear. To be honest… they're already waiting for you. I called their contact number when I heard what happened at your school earlier."
"You didn't even ask me about this?" I said in disbelief.
What did you expect, Jules?
"Jules, you should be grateful there's still a school willing to accept someone like you," my father cut in. "This is your last chance to redeem yourself."
I scoffed.
"Do you even know what kind of school that is? I've never heard of it in my entire life! Just admit it—you really want to get rid of me!"
My mother's expression softened.
"That's not what we—"
"Yes, you're right, Jules," my father interrupted.
My teeth clenched.
"We couldn't control you even before this. Maybe we failed as parents—that's why you turned out like this. But we're tired of begging schools to accept you when the same thing keeps happening again and again."
He raised the invitation letter.
My eyes caught the insignia on it—a woman opening a box.
"And this academy," he continued, "is inviting you despite your school records!"
"And that doesn't sound suspicious to you?" I shot back immediately. "You're basically handing me over to them!"
"This is for your own good," my mother insisted. "I spoke with their representative. They promised they'd take care of you—and that they'll use your abilities for the greater good."
"Abilities?" I snorted. "What abilities? Beating people up? What is this, some fantasy trope—"
"Language, Jules," my father snapped.
I was about to argue again when a car horn sounded outside.
My father walked behind the couch and pulled something out.
My disappointment deepened when I saw the large suitcase he dragged forward.
I chewed my gum and smirked.
"See? You really are kicking me out."
My mother hurried over and hugged me tightly.
"Be careful out there, sweetheart."
I didn't hug her back. I just let her hold me.
When she finally pulled away, our eyes met briefly.
Then I turned around and walked out of the house without looking back.
My mind drifted the entire ride.
Everything had happened so fast that I hadn't even processed it properly yet.
Besides, I had no idea where this driver—who had suddenly shown up to pick me up—was taking me.
So I just watched the scenery.
Earlier we were still in the city.
Now all I could see was forest.
Dense, tangled forest that looked like it was hiding creatures no one should ever see.
I glanced at the driver through the rearview mirror.
His eyes stayed fixed on the road.
"Where exactly are we?" I asked.
Rude old man.
Didn't even glance at me.
I know I'm the last person who should talk about manners, but seriously.
The car suddenly stopped so abruptly I nearly slammed into the seat in front of me.
I shot him an annoyed look as he got out and walked around to open my door.
"We've arrived," he said.
I grabbed my luggage and stepped out of the car.
Cold air greeted me immediately.
I looked around.
Forest.
Still just forest.
I raised a brow.
Yep. Definitely a scam.
I turned to look at the driver again, but he was gone.
My eyes searched the darkness until I spotted a flashlight moving in the distance.
Dragging my luggage behind me, I followed.
Soon we reached a massive gate made of gold and silver.
The driver walked straight inside.
Meanwhile, an old man approached me from the guardhouse.
He wore a tuxedo, had a monocle over one eye, and his hair was mostly white.
"Are you Asel Jules Carson?" he asked.
I nodded and spat my gum into a nearby trash bin.
"So it's true—you don't talk much," he said with a grin.
I raised an eyebrow.
Was that written in my school records or something?
I noticed the gloved hand he suddenly extended toward me.
He snapped his fingers—and a red slip of paper appeared in his hand.
"Here is your dormitory room number."
I waited for more explanation about the academy.
But that was all he said.
I tilted my head and held up the red paper.
"That's it?"
"Yes. For now. You must attend the Welcome Ceremony first before you're sorted into your respective zones."
Zones?
What the hell was that?
I wanted to ask, but his face clearly said he wasn't going to explain any further.
I exhaled and nodded.
He immediately opened the gate.
The moment my foot touched the academy's pavement, a strange feeling crawled through my body.
A chill ran down my spine.
The hairs on my arms stood up.
There was no one around…
Yet I felt like countless eyes were watching me.
I swallowed my brief fear and looked around.
The buildings were strikingly different in color.
To my right stood a black building dominated by silver accents.
To my left was a pure black structure with faint white patterns.
And in the center was a building made of black and silver—topped with gold.
They were spaced far apart but shared the same architectural style.
Were these the "zones" the old man mentioned?
I looked down at the paper in my hand.
204 — Vermillion
"Let me take that for you."
I nearly jumped when the old man suddenly spoke beside me again.
He took my luggage and smiled.
"I'll have it delivered to your dorm room."
He gestured toward several bicycles parked beside the guardhouse.
"The Dean is very strict about limiting vehicles inside the campus. You may use these bicycles to reach your dormitories quickly."
"Uh," I said, grabbing one. "Where exactly is my dorm?"
"Just behind those buildings, Ms. Carson."
"B-but—"
"You'll know which one is yours when you see it."
I closed my mouth and just followed his instructions.
He walked away as soon as I started pedaling.
It didn't take long before I reached the area he meant.
I stopped.
Stunned.
Vermillion.
I didn't even need to think.
The building's name matched its color perfectly.
Only one structure here was painted in that deep vermillion shade.
I parked my bike and got off.
I pulled out a piece of bubble gum from my pocket—
—but suddenly it vanished from my hand.
My jaw dropped.
A girl with long straight hair, pale skin, and round brown eyes was now chewing my precious bubble gum.
What the—
She grinned at me.
I rolled my eyes and pulled out another piece, popping it into my mouth.
Who the hell is this annoying girl?
"Hi! I'm Catherine Mae Vellaguez. Nice to meet you! You're Asel Jules Carson, right?" she chirped, cheerfully extending her hand.
At first I just stared at it.
But since she kept looking at me expectantly, I eventually shook it.
"Nice to meet you too—"
I stopped.
Her smile suddenly vanished.
Her grip tightened around my hand.
Pain shot up my arm as I pulled away.
My eyes widened when I saw two tiny puncture marks on my hand—like needle pricks.
My vision began to darken.
I clutched my head and forced myself to look at her.
My body felt heavy, like clouds were pressing down on me.
"D-did you just… poison me?" I managed to say.
She quickly stepped forward and caught me as I lost my balance.
I gasped when I felt her breath against my neck.
"Yes. I did."
"What the fuck…" I muttered weakly.
She giggled and started guiding me somewhere.
The world spun the more we moved.
"Where… are you taking me?"
"You don't need to know. Believe me, I don't have bad intentions! You'll forget about this, and we can still be friends!" she said with a bright smile.
I gritted my teeth and gathered what little strength I had left.
I shoved her away and leaned against the wall.
Sweat dripped down my body.
I raised my middle finger.
"Over my dead body."
She laughed.
"You know, this is a first. You can stay conscious even after that amount of poison? That's new—"
I didn't let her finish.
My fist slammed straight into her cheek.
My grin slowly returned as the fog in my mind began to clear.
She hadn't expected that.
She flew backward and hit the ground.
I immediately planted my foot on her stomach while still leaning against the wall.
"W-what's happening? Why isn't the poison working on you—"
"Wanna hear something cool?" I cut in between heavy breaths, pressing my foot harder into her stomach.
"The more I hurt you, the clearer my thoughts get. Guess I've got no choice but to blow off some steam on you, huh?"
She screamed in pain, her eyes widening in shock.
"S-shit… You're immune?!" Fear crept into her voice. "How is that even possible?!"
I leaned down until my face was inches from hers and smirked.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said quietly. "But we should finish what you started, right?"