Lord of Origins

Chp 8 - Damien Fits better

“Hmm,” Damianus said in thought, as he rubbed his finger on his upper lip “So, what you are saying is that I will have to be part of a kind of society to be fully immersed in the way they…you do things in this new world”

The elders hummed in agreement.

“I would suggest you start by enrolling in high school, leader” Sky, the youngest of the elders suggested. 

His black hoodie gave his lean body a much younger look and no one could have easily detected that despite his youthful look, he was over two hundred years too. 

His mischievousness could be detected in his twinkling eyes though and a smile touched Damianus' lips as he looked straight at him “What is this high school of yours?”

Sky proceeded to explain to him how it was the middle school needed to gain admission into a college.

“And what is a collage?” Damianus asked as he thought of what he had read in The Book. The Book only mentioned a university and as it explained it was similar to the academy of transition back in the world of Origins. The difference is the content that students were taught.

He couldn’t understand what the collage was again.

Sky looked over at Micheal before looking back at Damianus “I meant the college. It is a place where students go to learn. Even though most of them are there to party, make out with friends and do drugs but it is a place of learning after which you can have a certificate to do whatever occupation or career you want to choose”

“Just like the university?” Damianus asked, realising that the book must have phrased it differently.

“Yes! Exactly so” Bo and Sky said in unison.

“Why can’t I just go to this uni…college then instead of attending the high school?” 

“Because you need the certificate from a high school to get admitted to one” Sky replied

Damianus knew that he did not need any certificate to be anywhere he wanted to be. All he needed to do was to use the power of will and whatever he wanted would be done. He remembered Kostos words though.

“Okay, I will attend this high school of yours,” he said, then turned towards Michael with a questioning look. “A question though, just how high is this school?”

The elders all laughed and even Michael cracked a smile “I think I will leave you to find out on your own, leader”

“And I think you will confuse your people too,” Damianus said as he look back at the elders with a twinkle in his eyes “I could swear that I saw Bo’s eyes crossing whenever he heard the word “leader” as he was wondering which of us it was meant for.

The elders laughed when they got the hang of his joke.

He turned back to Damianus “Call me Damianus, Michael. I am not here to undermine your power nor make your people doubt your superiority”

Michael stood up in respect “I wouldn’t want to disres…”

“It is only a disrespect if I say so, don’t you think?” Damianus said evenly with all trace of amusement gone from his tone.

“Yes, lea…Yes, Damianus” Michael answered immediately.

“Great” Damianus said with his smile back on his face.

“I don’t think that name would work though,” Sky said as if in thought.

“Are you saying that you fault my name? Sky of the mischievous mien?” Damianus asked with his smile in place, steel lacing his tone.

“Yes,” Sky said still in thought but then he noticed the others looking at him in surprise and he straightened up from his slouching position. He waved his hand in denial “No, no… I mean no. I just meant that Damianus is not a name you hear often in Santa Eyre. I am sure I have never heard it before. And those kids did have some pretty crazy names. None as…” he trailed off when Damianus raised his brow at him.

“Crazy as mine, you mean?” Damianus finished for him.

“What? No, I would never say that” Sky said urgently as he flipped back the cap of his hoodie to unveil his thick ponytailed blond hair “Unique. That is the word. None of their names is as unique as yours”

“In his roundabout way, what Sky is saying is that; your goal of blending in would be hindered with a name like that. Nobody would forget such a name easily and that could bring unwanted attention as these humans are quite curious and one of them might decide to make enquiries”

“Such a person would come up empty as there would be nothing for them to find out” Damianus answered confidently.

“That can only cause more suspicions” Jerrard added quietly “Humans don’t like the concept of mystery. They are always doing one multimillion dollars project after another just to find the answer to anything they find mysterious no matter how ridiculous it is”

Aaron snorted “Silly lots”

“So you all think I should change my name?” Daminaus asked with his eyes on Michael’s.

The latter nodded.

“What would you suggest then?” 

Sky rubbed his hands together in glee “That is my area of expertise. What about…Dracula?!”

“What?” Michale said with a shake of his head and the others laughed at Sky.

“Come on, you have to admit that the intrigue fit. I can picture him having those snobs eating straight out of his hands just because of that cool name”

“Right, or he would be tossed out of school on the first day” Aaron added “No, offence, lea…Dami…” he looked around. "The name needed some getting used to, truly”

“Damien or Damon” suggested Gregory, who had been silent during their banter and they all nodded.

Damianus smiled “I like both of them. Though I like Damien better. It s closer to my name,” he said with a nod.

“Damien, it will be then,” Sky said “Still not regular but not too…unique,” he said with a laugh as Damianus gave him a look.

“Cool, it would be so much fun having one of ours around. It gets too boring having those kids who think they knew everything because of some few travels around”

“Really?” Damianus asked, wondering why the boy was so excited.

“I forgot to add that Sky is a student of Maryland High school”

“Sweet, isn’t  it?” Sky added.

Damianus nodded, unsure if he was comfortable with the glint in the boy’s eyes.

There is another way he could get acquainted faster too. Through parties” Gregory said.

“There would be an abundance of that, so there is nothing to worry about. Those kids are always looking for an excuse to do one party or the other” Sky added.

“No, I didn’t mean that. I meant the acclaimed party of the month”

Aaron gave him a sharp look “You mean a party with the unclan? How can you even suggest that?”

Michael raised his hand before Aaron could go any further “He might have a point. Damia…Damien needs to be at a party. The unclan is having one”

“But it is the unclan” Aaron emphasized.

“It is a party” Michael answered, his tone ringing with authority.

Aaron subsided as he looked away.

Damianus wondered about the reason for the tension.

“Who is the unclan?”