Nightblade (Darkest night)

" Where do you think you're going?"

The short, muscular youth who had yelled had a smirk on his face. He stepped in close, getting right in Warren's face. His brown hair was stylishly parted to the side, and his deep blue eyes were filled with disdain.

He glanced at the emblem on Warren's lapel, and his grin grew wider.

" Huh, you're one of the talented."

He tauntingly jabbed Warren's chest with a finger.

"Still, you ought to know that there are rules in this place. When Axel speaks, you listen."

The hall had grown so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

Warren stared at the guy, his eyes unblinkingly boring into the other's eyes.

Axel smiled in amusement. The soup bowl in his hand landed with a clatter on the tray.

"It's alright, Draco, leave him be, there's a first time for everything."

Draco poked Warren's chest again, slowly and deliberately.

" You hear that, we're letting you off the hook this time. Oh, right, sorry for interrupting you, Axel. I just couldn't help myself."

Draco shivered slightly, rubbing his hands together.

" Wow, it sure is cold in here."

Edmund glanced outside the hall. It was a warm sunny day outside.

Inside the hall, the temperature plummeted even lower. A light mist slowly filled the hall. Axel cast a furtive glance at the soup on the table. It was slowly freezing up.

He quirked a smile.

" Are you the one doing this?" Warren expressionlessly glanced at Axel, his eyes glowing slightly.

"And what if I am?"

Draco shook his head and then smiled derisively. He turned around and raised his hands, gesturing in the air.

" I don't get what the fuss is all about with the talented and all this effort to get us to work together."

He turned back to Warren, His smile becoming sinister.

" What I do know is, you really should learn your place."

Warren shrugged nonchalantly, staring him down.

" And what, pray tell, is my place?" He asked.

A split second later, Draco's fist flashed towards Warren's face, meeting no resistance. He'd hit air.

Warren ducked under the blow and started walking away.

Draco snarled and darted forward. He wildly tugged on Warren's shoulder, spinning him around.

Warren's eyes glowed, his ability activating once more.

Draco disappeared from Warren's sight, appearing behind with his fist poised to strike.

Talia suddenly appeared between the two of them, grabbing Draco's fist in one hand.

Edmund blinked, then blinked again.

" Did you guys see that? I didn't even see her move."

Emily cast him an amused glance, then turned her attention back to the fight.

Draco strained against Talia, the veins on his fist visibly bulging. Warren's eyes returned to normal.

" Get out of my way, Talia. This isn't your fight." Draco snarled.

" You're wrong. It is my fight. It became my fight once you decided to disregard the Council's decision and tried to use violence against our allies. I can tolerate yours and Axel's shenanigans, but openly disregarding the Council's decision is tantamount to spitting in the Council's face."

She increased the pressure on his wrist. Draco groaned slightly, then forcefully pulled his fist out of her grip. Talia stared at him expressionlessly.

" You're a disgrace to the Gracian name."

Draco snarled, launching a kick at her head.

"Enough, Draco," Axel said quietly. He shot him a scathing glare.

" Come, we're leaving. "

Warren coldly stared at their retreating figures.

" That's right. Follow your master like a good little puppy."

A few gasps erupted through the hall.

Edmund failed to stop a chuckle.

" Well, that was unexpected.

Talia furtively stole a glance at Warren's nonchalant expression, her hazel eyes widening in surprise.

" Hey, stop it, that's enough." She whispered.

Axel and Draco stopped in their tracks.

"Don't let him get into your head, Draco." Axel quietly whispered. He stared into space, his eyes hardening.

"Yeah, listen to your boss, just like that, like a nice obedient mutt. " Warren continued, despite Talia's warning. He calmly stared at the back of Draco's head with a calm expression on his face.

At this point, some of the students were positively laughing.

Draco snarled, his body trembling with rage.

" Draco..." Axel whispered in warning.

Talia glanced at Warren, her eyes narrowing as she saw the sparks quietly crackling around his fingers.

She slowly shook her head and sat down.

Warren's voice rang out again, loud and clear through the hall.

" But it makes sense, I mean, you couldn't even beat a girl in a contest of strength. For all your talk, it seems it's you who needs to know your place."

A rare grin formed on Warren's face, his dark eyes glinting gleefully.

Draco snarled and spun around, lunging at Warren.

Warren's eyes lit up, glowing eerily.

His hand shot forward, crackling with electricity towards Draco's unprotected face.

Draco's eyes widened in surprise. He tried to duck under the blow, but Warren had predicted this and shifted his attack accordingly. The attack was a feint. Warren spun, kicking the back of Draco's leg, forcing him to kneel.

Draco grit his teeth in pain, then spun on the ground, aiming for Warren's legs.

"Is there a problem here?"

A short blond-haired man calmly made his way towards the two boys. Warren turned, giving him a blank look.

"No, Professor Skye. There's no problem at all. Draco here was just thanking me for teaching him a valuable lesson about how the world works. He was so grateful, he decided to kneel in gratitude."

The professor frowned.

" And what lesson would that be?"

Warren shrugged.

" What you dish out to others is what you get in return. Karma."

" Is that right? I'll see both of you in my office after classes. Draco, get off the floor. Everybody move along, it's time for your afternoon classes."

News of Draco's humiliation spread quickly through the academy.

That day, Warren made his fair share of enemies, those he knew and those he didn't.

Talia Varas quietly made her way to the headmaster's office. Talia was second second-oldest daughter of House Varas.

Her father was strict but loving to his children. Naturally, she wasn't next in line in the line of succession. Unless something happened to her elder sister, Nadia Varas, who was next in line as the Lord of House Varas, and was currently overseas.

Of course, she was quite powerful and very few of her peers could pose a challenge to her.

The headmaster's office was located above the reception hall. She entered, furtively glancing around the waiting area without really observing anything in particular before taking a seat.

A dark-haired youth and a stunning redhead were the only people in the waiting area.

Talia quickly became lost in thought, thinking about the afternoon's excitement. She frowned, remembering Axel and Draco's callousness despite hailing from distinguished families.

"Then that talented, I didn't quite catch his name."

She hadn't expected him to be so careless from his looks. His scathing remarks and taunts had also caught her by surprise.

A slow smile slowly formed on her face as she remembered the shock on Draco's face when he fell to his knees.

"Morgan Thane, the headmaster, will now meet you. Right this way."

The secretary's voice snapped her out of her reverie.

" Did she say Thane?"

She quickly looked up, glimpsing the back of the tall, dark-haired youth disappearing around a corner.

" I probably misheard."

Morgan and Rebecca made their way into the headmaster's office.

A white haired man with long hair stood up to receive them.

"Welcome. You must be Morgan Thane."

His amber eyes sparkled as he smiled, the jagged scar on his face wrinkling.

" My name is Gregory Whizen. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."