NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38: Marked
No, not even a shadow. Two shadows, it was.
Zmey glanced up and questioned the reason for the two guys crossing his path with confidence.
Both were of the same height, taller than Zmey. They had this resemblance to each other that it seemed like they were clones.
They had chiselled jawlines. Their torsos arched through the red jackets they were putting on. And even their bodies seemed to be inhumane; somehow extra-large.
The only difference was that one had a long scar stretching down his face.
Tension hung in the air. Nero had strode towards them, at least to be there for Zmey if all this encounter called for was a fight. He had only seen the librarian rushing towards Zmey earlier.
But as if they had been waiting for Zmey, the two guys crossed him without delay. Even the woman seemed bewildered by why she stood a few metres behind with her brows furrowed.
At first, Nero thought of them as a kind of library security. Employed to deal with those against the rules, exactly like Zmey.
Because Nero realised that he had done something against what the librarian had told him to do.
But, she didn't seem to know who the guys were. If she had, curiosity and hesitation wouldn't have shown on her face.
That means these guys might be some bastards... hooligans!
But, Nero himself couldn't grasp why he wanted to assist Zmey. Was this really himself?
Survival was always his thing - always staying on the fence.
'Can't believe I'm intentionally running into trouble. Damn... whatever.'
Zmey saw as Nero came into existence behind the guys.
He only gave him a momentary glance until he resided by his side. He glanced back at the guys.
"Why are you standing arm-crossed all this while in silence? Are you truly dumb or trying to be intimidating?" Zmey asked, non-blinking.
Not even a flicker of anything decipherable was evident on his face. Nero glanced at him in wonder; he wasn't evading trouble at all. He was damn going all out.
"Try to explain, please," Zmey added.
Nero clenched his fist as he swallowed.
One of the guys gave a jesting chuckle. He didn't seem affected or caught off guard by Zmey's bold quarry.
Same as the twin brother. Despite everyone having weak mage bodies, they didn't see the two shorter guys as a threat.
But Zmey, although noticing that, remained grounded as well.
He bored his eyes into the vibrant pairs of the one who chuckled as if he was searching for something there.
"You..." The scarred one began but paused without warning.
He looked for a split second at Zmey's eyes, lips parted, and seemed as if he were not alive for that meagre moment.
Zmey didn't want to chuckle. He had already got why he had faltered then.
The guy cleared his throat. He chuckled again, though something felt off.
He extended a hand to Zmey and said, "You have already had that book for long. Know you aren't the only one who's clueless about things. Hand it over and go your way."
"Mm?" Nero mumbled in wonder. 'Are these guys for real?'
As his lips parted, about to speak, the other guy locked eyes with him. Before he even knew it, the words froze in his throat.
He clenched his fist and jaw. For how long should he be a coward? The sight of his mate intimidated him. Was he truly fit as a tamer he called himself?
With a gentle sigh, Zmey walked left, then passed by the guy's side.
The scarred guy chuckled, his hand hanging in the air. He glanced back. "What? For real? Are you seriously walking out on me?"
Zmey, not turning back, replied in a low, unstressed tone, "Think of the daft request you made."
The guy chuckled; not one of excitement, but an attempt to hide away his rage.
He licked his lower lip, clasped his waist and turned to the other one. The twin brother, unscarred, gestured towards Zmey, tilting his head.
"Get the bastard," he said.
The scarred twin turned his eyes here and there. Most people were already looking their way. Down to the last seat in the hall, eyes were on them.
Though some shifted their views away when he had looked. Not terrified, but having little interest in whatever was happening to begin with.
The librarian was back in her position; her attention shifted somewhere else.
She thought, 'Why is it these little demons every time? I should get them reported soon... Can't imagine how hard it would have been for their mother to have raised such kids.'
The two brothers decided to let the arrogant guy off. They snatch library books without paying or returning them. But, they couldn't afford to start a fight in public.
Also, they hadn't seen anyone do it in over two weeks. The Sanctuary, if very much against quarrels, might lead to expulsion. And hell no... that would be the last thing they could ever wish for.
They couldn't do anything to the guy, but at least his friend was with them.
....
Zmey was about to exit the door. Then he paused and glanced back. His eyes locked on the two guys huddling around Nero.
Nero was busy curling up like a scaredy cat while they laughed and joked about his frailty.
Zmey shook his head. 'What a quack. He's too different from his identity back then.'
He recalled the purple glow in Nero's eyes. It vanished when he punched him in the back of the head. He made him unconscious because that was the only thing he could do.
Talk about the damned strength that the current scaredy-cat had back then. And he was so much more persistent in gripping down on the other newbie.
If Zmey looked at things with greater patience, it was... as though Nero wanted to devour the newbie.
Whatever kind of creature or human Nero was, which shadowed Zmey, he at least knew they had one similarity.
'Both of us have our meridians opened. Unlike other newbies.'
He put that aside. He had no time to carry someone as a burden. If things get hectic for Nero, Zmey thought, he could turn into the hungry creature he was yesterday.
And screw himself up. It was fine as long as not both of them would get either expelled or questioned by the Magi Lords. Whatever.
Zmey turned around.
At that moment, the door opened on its own. No, someone opened it. Zmey stood there, held back by something.
Why wasn't he moving? Why did he feel curiosity about whose skin shone with a radiant glow behind the door?
A fair, glowing complexion.
In the next second, the person came into view...
Zmey shook his head. He rubbed his temple, and at the same time, walked forward.
Without notice, his arm bumped into another. Next, he saw a lady. Then, he saw books falling. And toppling over the surface.
It was a lady in a tailored red jacket, the intricate gold accents on her attire surprising Zmey. Her skin had a flawless tone. Her hair, in cascading waves, framed a glowing face.
Her speaking eyes seemed to have the ability to invite others to share in her joy. The subtle gold accessories on her hinted at an affluent background.
All Zmey could do was to sigh.
"We should have been more careful not to have bumped into each other. Mm..." With that, he took a step forward.
But the lady raising her arm in his way stopped him. He shifted his glance between her and the stretched part.
The lady could as well see the increasing discomfort in this guy with every passing second. He didn't want to acknowledge that he was completely at fault, which led him to tell her that they both were to blame.
But she grinned. She didn't mind wasting her own time here to irritate him more if that would mean getting back at him for such a reaction.
She then motioned to the scattered books.
"You said it right earlier, sir. We both were at fault, so..." she shrugged, "... isn't it reasonable that we both pick it back up?"
Zmey's eyes locked on hers. He stayed silent, only looking at her. As he expected, she cleared her throat and shifted her glance to the side. Zmey then chuckled, sighing out loud afterwards.
"I see. You're that lady... Number 1007. "Skyler Kingsley, I suppose," Zmey said. He seemed to be making a confirmation only.
The lady, Skyler, crossed her arms. She sighed out loud. Zmey raised his brows in wonder. Her behaviour had changed after his question. Was that too much casualness or something else?
She sighed again. "No surprise. It is something to be from the Kingsley family, you know?"
If the Kingsley family was popular in Eldengrove, Zmey thought, then... that explains why the test coordinator addressed only this lady by name.
They do not care at all about the background or names of ordinary people. That was just an assumption for Zmey.
Being from a noble family must have got her to the Peak Mountain. Zmey cleared his throat - he's got to leave already.
"Well, I suppose so," Zmey said in a simple tone. Then he washed past Skyler even before she knew it. He had already exited through the door when she turned around.
She didn't cuss at him for running away. But it seemed like she was holding back on one. She wasn't one for too much argument, though.
It was pointless to her because she knew they might cross paths again.
As she turned around, the twin brothers caught her sight. She smiled.
Both of them first chuckled with excitement at each other, then bowed to her. They even helped her fetch the books from the ground.
When Skyler looked behind her, she saw a young man. He was walking towards the exit, his shoulders slumped.
Like a weakened and not-too-good person. Unbeknownst to her, that was Nero Norman.
....
Zmey passed through the gate of their living unit. The next thing that greeted him was the usual noise.
But at least one thing stood out. People were huddling before the noticeboard. As he took a step forward, he halted as Lucian's firm gaze locked onto him.
Lucian reverted his gaze, whispering to the other roommate, Ronan, "Why's he returning alone? Thought the good-hearted guy went to fetch this thing..."
A shadow loomed closer to them without warning. As they looked forward, they met the firm stare of Zmey.
Lucian cleared his throat and moved away from the spot. Zmey already knew that would happen to begin with.
'Let's see what the announcement is all about, then.'
The noticeboard glowed with words: "Good morning to you all, marked ones. This is your instructor, Archsage Magnus Alaric.
We will be holding another class today, exclusive to only beast tamers. Today, we're exploring the true meaning of being a tamer and the methods involved. Exorcists should wait for further notice."
Zmey grinned. Lucian shivered at the sight of the stretching corners of his lips.
'Finally.'