Chapter 1

Zandro

"The rumor was right. The barbarian in class D moved here in Class A," the student said as he read the names posted on the doorway.

"What?" The student searched the name to confirm. "But this class has a high grade standard, right? It's either he cheated every exam or his family threatened the school principal."

"Yeah. There's no way he could get this kind of grade. He should learn a lesson once he becomes our classmate. I'll hire someone to take a picture every exam, then let's expose what he is doing."

"That's brilliant! I hope he gets expelled soon. He might have pulled dirty tricks in the lower sections, but thinking he can get away with it in class A? Unbelievable."

As they doubted Zandro's academic ability, the conversation took an unexpected turn.

"Speaking of his clan, I heard a rumor that they kidnapped a princess two years ago."

"That's just a made up story against them, though. They say that the princess never really existed."

Meanwhile, the barbaric student they were talking about was behind them–knees were trembling, and teeth gritting against each other. A girl who just arrived patted his shoulder.

"Hey, are you okay?"

The two students blocking the doorway turned to greet the girl. But instead, they were shocked to see the barbaric student–its muscles were trembling, like itching to crush them into pieces, and his sharp teeth couldn't stop gritting, that seemed excited to grind their flesh. The two students jumped away in fear.

"Zandro! How long have you been there?"

"Don't take our words seriously! We're just joking around, right?"

"Yeah!" They both kneeled down. "Please spare our lives!" 

Zandro was actually there the whole time, excited to meet them, just afraid to ask them a way so he could pass. But upon hearing them, he suddenly felt a tingling pain in his stomach so he ran away. The whole class noticed the scene.

"Oh, no. They made Zandro walk away. He's completely angry."

"I doubt these two would be still alive after what they've done to him."

"Yeah, even if Zandro forgives them, his family surely won't let this slide. Just like what happened to his classmate two years ago. They were beaten badly by his brother. Their parents were scared of them so they didn't report them."

The two guilty students freaked more upon what they're hearing.

"Akaesha! You're our class representative! Please save us!" they shouted to the girl–but she was already missing a while ago.

Zandro went to the bathroom to release the crumbling pain in his stomach, the weight of his anxiety that had gripped them at the beginning of his first day as sophomore (10th grade). After his emotion subsided, he found himself staring at the graffiti of the walls in the cubicle. The sunlight struggles to penetrate the dimly lit space, casting shadows on worn tiles. The silence pierced through his ears, making him feel safe. 

"Why can't my life be just normal like others?" he whispered in desperation, "I was excited. I thought people would start liking me if I proved them myself through my grades but…"

He fought back his tears, clutching his trembling hands against his weighted chest, crumbling his ironed white school uniform. He sobbed, "Nothing's changed. They believe I just cheated. They have no idea how much it means to me."

He never had a normal life. Everyone treated him as a delinquent because of his family background: The Garnaro Clan.

Garnaro has nomadic culture despite the modernization of the world. They live where they could harvest their preys–if they were not in the forest hunting animals, they were in the city stealing whatever they wanted to use or eat. They were basically criminals because of their barbaric culture. Though they don't do anything physical harm with people like murder or satisfying their lusts.

Additionally, their family has exceptional survival and combat abilities based on reptiles, as if they were born as predators. They've become part of the Great War in the past decades when the King himself asked for their help. That was why the Kingdom didn't exile their race despite their destructive culture.

Once animals become extinct in a forest, or all the eyes of the military focus on them, they'll move out to other locations. His family already moved out from the Gazian city but Zandro stubbornly stayed here to continue his study. He believed he could have a different and better future if he would study and blend with civilization.

So he tried his best to make a real way of living. He applied for a part time job in the Civil Guard, assigned for locating missing persons, things, detecting drugs and gunpowder using his snake-like tongue. He only needed a single reference then he could taste the air, and follow the distinct flavor. His physique and abilities resembled the Monitor Lizard–Dark sclera and dragon-like purple eyes, the ability to envelop his dark skin with thick chainmail scales for defense, and hardening his nails for offense.

"Hey. Are you okay? Do you need help?" The voice was thin and smooth. It was a girl's voice.

Zandro leaped in surprise. "W-Who are you? W-Why are you talking to me?" he stammered in a raspy voice. Chills resonated through his spine as he watched the door, hearing the footsteps coming, anticipating that someone would break it suddenly and expose his pitiful situation.

Until a woman's heels stood in front of the door. "I'm the class representative so it's my duty to welcome our new classmates and help them with what they need." Then an ointment was reached from below. "I hope this will help."

A help? Is he hearing it right? It was the first time when someone approached him for help. And it's from a girl.

But first, how could a girl go inside the men's bathroom? Or could it be–

Zandro's cheeks heated up in deep embarrassment when he realized. Until he bursted out in panic. 

"Sorry! I went to the wrong bathroom!" he screamed as he packed up quickly and rushed the door open. He was supposed to hide his face and run as fast as he could but instead, he was petrified seeing the girl in front of him.

Her blonde hair danced in the air, curls resembling the rays of the sun, framing her green moonstone eyes. A few strands gently brushed against her neck, as fair as the blinding lights of the stars.

Zandro always bowed his head, never making eye contact. But the first time he unintentionally looked up, all he could see was the collision of celestial bodies beyond the skies, causing a rapid thump in his tightening chest. Unsure of what to do, he quickly shut the door

"Hey–wait!"

"The class has already started! What are you doing?" A man at their age came from the doorway with his husky voice full of irritation, hands were on his pockets. "Wait. Why are you in the men's toilet?"

Akaesha calmed down as he turned to his friend. "Oh, Kairus. You're here. I just came to help our classmate. He didn't seem fine."

"It's just the first day of our class and you're straining yourself already."

"It's my job as the class representative. Besides, don't worry. I'm completely fine with it."

"You'll be misunderstood if someone sees you here. Tch. You can go to the class. I'll take care of it."

"But you will miss the class."

He smirked. "That's the point! Our teachers are just a bunch of boring people!"

Akaesha smiled. "Okay, then. Please don't be rough with him, Kairus."

"Alright, alright, just go."

Zandro watched the shadows merging with the echoes of approaching footsteps. Until a pair of polished black shoes stopped at the doorway, he clutched his bag tightly, giving him strength to confront whatever awaited if the door were to burst open.

Kairus, with his deep husky voice full of irritation, demanded, "You there, are you doing fine?" The room echoed with his words. "What's your status? Just tell me if you need anything. Don't take too long there."

While Kairus knocked, Zandro climbed the walls and crawled over the ceiling, managing to flee without getting noticed. Though, before his silent escape, he left a note on the toilet.

~

"Whoever he is, he just wasted my time!" Kairus muttered his frustration, kicking the stone along the path to the cafeteria. The rhythmic tapping of his heavy footsteps blending with the flow of students heading in the opposite direction.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch break. "Seriously?"

Akaesha met him along the way. "Kairus! How is it?"

His blood boiled up remembering what had happened. "Argh! I waited an hour for nothing! If I didn't open the door by force then I might still be there wasting more time! Now I realized that waiting is more boring than attending classes!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't know about that. He also didn't attend the class so I thought you both are doing well."

Kairus reached the note from his pocket. "He even left a terrible note in the toilet! Written only a word of sorry! Is that sarcasm? Was he just pranking us? I would chop his neck as soon as I saw him!" He shouted to the sky, "But I have to eat first because I'm starving!"

"Gosh! You haven't eaten yet?"

Zandro was also on his way when he turned back quickly as he heard them. 

I would chop his neck as soon as I saw him! He remembered Kairus words. 

His stomach crumbled in anxiety again. Didn't know what to do, he ran to the school backyard and climbed on top of trees. He can't go back to the bathroom with the commotion he left there. 

Maybe he should have just faced Kairus earlier and told him he was now fine. But it was too late now. Even if he apologized again, he bet his head would be chopped off before he could say a single word. 

No. He shouldn't cross their paths again. It will be a huge chaos. But how would that be possible if they were classing in the same room? Should he stop going to school? Or transfer to another?

-inkofdeath