1
Long ago, when the world was not familiar with technology like now. The world was filled with all sorts of mystical and supernatural things. Every place on earth always had a unique life. The practice of magic and mystical rituals became commonplace. It was even believed that the spirits of the guardians and ancestors were the force that underpinned everything. Then, over time, that belief and fanaticism turned into an addiction that offered false happiness behind a very real ambition to surface as a solution. A war occurred. Massacres everywhere. Everything was done for a power beyond anything else. Something beyond the limits of our reality. Something that cannot be fully understood but demands our full obedience. Something that binds us to things we do not understand. In the end, we ask and search for the answer.
As I am experiencing now. I live in a coastal area of California city. I don’t understand why I lost her. I mean, who I’m talking about is my older sister. She disappeared just like that one day. Before that, we lived together. Our parents separated and we decided to separate from them too. My sister was an extraordinary woman. She was kind, friendly, and very, very beautiful. She never had a boyfriend. Her behavior was polite and she was very striking. But one night, she just disappeared, leaving me alone in the house I currently live in. She has been gone for four years now. During that time, I lived without her. I don’t know what feeling remains in me for her. I don’t know if getting angry would make her realize. I can’t question her reasons. She is not with me.
However, before she left, she once told me that ten stars had appeared in the sky and that indicated the time she had been waiting for all this time. I didn’t understand what she was saying. She seemed to be talking nonsense. Even though she was beautiful, she was quite strange and sometimes said things I didn’t understand. I even once thought, what if I was living with a crazy person. But she wasn’t like a crazy person. She was actually too normal to be called crazy.
My name is Thomas Randall Hoyle. I am a 19-year-old teenager and currently in my second year at the University. As you know, second-year students always have problems. Not much different from school days back then. In fact, this is much worse. Being a student at a world-famous campus makes me feel pride in myself as a smart and chosen person. Though in reality, I am not that smart. Maybe I was just lucky. To finance my studies, I work as a waiter at a large restaurant in London city.
Morning greeted my day and I went to college today. I am a Biology major student. Studying Biology is studying life and many interesting things in it. After I showered and had breakfast, I went to campus riding my bicycle. I rode my bike for several minutes before finally arriving. I was greeted by my friend, Kennedy. A bookworm guy but he doesn’t wear glasses like bookworms in general.
“Hi Tom, how are you?” Kennedy greeted me.
I think he is too formal. I don’t really like the way he greets me. But Kennedy is just like that. He is a polite person in attitude.
“Good. How are you too?”
Kennedy shrugged his shoulders. “Knowledge always bothers me. I always can’t sleep soundly.”
I hugged him. “Who can hold back someone as smart as you from seeking knowledge?”
Kennedy was shy even though I know he felt very flattered and a little arrogant with my praise. The two of us entered the class. Today is Biochemistry class. I am always bored with this one subject. I don’t really like Chemistry. For me it’s complicated. But the enjoyable thing in this subject is the presence of Joana. Yes, the woman I love very much. We met for the first time since becoming students at the University.
Joana Alexandria Celia, a woman with long, thick black hair and bangs. Blue eyes and thin lips with a pointed nose. Joana, the smartest student. Kennedy’s fierce rival but that bookworm is always slightly superior to her. Although she is not as smart as Kennedy, she is still an achieving student. She is different from Kennedy. Joana always participates in prestigious competitions and she always wins. She is more often the first champion. Whereas Kennedy is more different. He actually never participates in competitions. He doesn’t like competing. For him it’s boring. And according to him, the real challenge is not competing with others. But competing with oneself and testing it.
Kennedy often does research and experiments while Joana more often does research but she rarely does experiments. However, Joana is more often noticed by the lecturers and professors. For me, Joana might indeed be a good person to notice but she cannot be relied upon. The lecturers and professors only see from her achievement background. But in my opinion, they are mistaken. It should be Kennedy who is noticed. He can be relied on. He is a person with above-average intelligence but unfortunately, he is shy and rarely shows himself.
Besides being smart, Joana is also a model. She is very famous on social media and many students from other faculties are her fans. Including me. But unfortunately, I am never noticed by her. Joana has many ex-boyfriends and all of them are rich and handsome people. She is an extraordinary woman. She always disagrees with Kennedy. Kennedy always wins when debating with Joana about a certain knowledge.
Today Professor Alex is teaching. He is indeed an expert in the field of Biochemistry. There is something enjoyable from this subject besides Joana, which is that Kennedy also doesn’t really like this subject. I think I’m not alone in this and that’s enjoyable. Usually Kennedy will draw strange things if he doesn’t like certain subjects like this Biochemistry. While I will pretend to observe to be considered as paying good attention to the lecturer’s explanation. Though I don’t find boring things to do. Another reason is also to save myself.
Kennedy nudged my arm and whispered. “Tom, I just got the latest magazine discussing the witches.”
“Your weird magazine again? This time what, a weird conspiracy about witches or Aliens coming to our world and will take over everything?” I feel bad for mocking Kennedy’s hobby but for me it’s very amusing.
Kennedy seemed unaffected by my mockery and he continued.
“Recently that printing team said in their magazine that they know the hiding place of one of the witches from the ten sacred witches who is hiding from the power of darkness.”
“Listen Kennedy, such things don’t exist. Witches, don’t make me laugh. They only exist in fairy tales. Those magazine printers are just adding stories so their magazine sells.”
Kennedy shrugged his shoulders. “You may think so.”
Unconsciously the class hours ended. I was quite happy to know that the lecture had ended. I really wanted to get out right now. The class felt very boring with a subject I don’t like.
But the worst wasn’t over. When I had just left the class, someone who I’m sure intentionally bumped into me until I fell and looked up to see who did it.
Turns out it was that jerk, Austin and he was with his friends. Austin is my senior and he is the person I hate the most at the University. Austin is the ‘stupidest’ student because he always repeats subjects. Because he spends too much of his time only for youtube.
“Sorry idiot, I didn’t see you there.” Said Austin mockingly. His friends laughed behind him.
Kennedy helped me stand up. I brushed the dust off my clothes and stared at him challengingly.
“You want to show you’re a tough guy?” I turned to Kennedy and laughed bitterly. “Or maybe a jerk?”
Kennedy laughed amusedly. Austin was furious and he threw a punch at me but with reflex, I avoided it. Then I launched a hard kick towards his crotch. Right hitting his favorite thing. Take that Austin, your son will be very disappointed in you later.
Austin groaned in pain and he collapsed. While trying to catch his breath, Austin ordered his underlings to beat us up. Kennedy and I ran away from them and bumped into several students standing blocking our way.
Once outside and far from the reach of Austin and his friends, we were panting from running too long and then rested on a park bench.
“That was a great progress.” Praised Kennedy.
“I could do more if he wanted it.” I said breathlessly.
Kennedy chuckled. “Austin will eat that shame. I hope he learns not to be a jerk anymore.”
“Yeah I hope so.”
Austin bullies me because I once asked his girlfriend out. Cristina Angelina. Actually I didn’t know that she was dating Austin. Cristina never told me and because of that when we were caught hanging out at the Mall. After that I was beaten up by Austin and his friends. And what about Cristina? She just went home. Annoying woman.
I went home bruised and helped by Kennedy after I contacted him that time. After that gang beating that night, the next day on campus, Austin bothered me again by playing a prank on me. He put a mouse in my bag and the whole class got angry then I was kicked out of the class by the lecturer. Kennedy told me that it was Austin who did it.
But that was still better compared to Cristina’s attitude who considered my relationship with her as non-existent. She even pretended not to know me. Damn annoying woman.
Kennedy and I continued by going to visit the park in the city.
