The Cursed: Legend of Neil

Episode One-Part II: First Day Chaos

Sandy clenched his fist and gritted his teeth, but felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw Neil shaking his head in disapproval, while the other girl walked up to the pale one.

“Delia,” she called. “What was that for?”

Silence answered her.

“They’re not the bullies,” she continued. “And even if they were, I can take care of myself.”

“If you say so,” Delia muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

She glanced at her smiling friend in disbelief before turning around to leave. The other girl bowed politely to Neil and Sandy before hurrying after Delia.

Sandy’s fist trembled violently, his teeth grinding against each other. Shoving Neil’s hand off his shoulder, he pulled a card from his pocket.

“Sandy,” Neil called, his tone warning. “Don’t—”

“Hey!” Sandy shouted, conjuring a fireball above his palm.

He hurled it toward Delia and her friend. But just as it closed in, the fireball vanished, leaving only a wave of heat that brushed past her. Both girls turned sharply toward Neil and Sandy, only to notice a man in a suit walking down the road with a woman at his side.

Neil quickly grabbed his furious friend, who kept ranting and bellowing about beating the girl up.

“Have some decency, man,” Neil hissed under his breath. “You’re making us look like the bad guys.”

“I don’t care!” Sandy yelled back. “wasebenzisa wabukeka njengomuntu omubi kwasekuqaleni—”

“Dude…” Neil rolled his eyes. “I’ve told you several times—I don’t understand Zulu.”

The man in the suit approached, pausing by the frozen chair before fixing his gaze on Sandy and Delia. He sighed, covering his face with one hand, then looked back at Neil and the other girl. His lips moved, forming a single word that made both Neil’s and Sandy’s hearts drop.

“My office… now.”

Neil groaned in frustration, dragging his palm down his face. Beside him, Sandy still ranted, swearing vengeance on Delia for almost killing him.

“Sandy…” Neil whispered, reaching for his shoulder.

“What?” Sandy snapped.

“He’s the principal.” Neil pressed his palm against his face. “He runs this place.”

“Eeeeeh…” Sandy wheezed.

<>

The Principal sat facing them as the four took their seats. Neil buried his face in his hand, ashamed and exhausted that Sandy had dragged him into trouble yet again.

“We don’t often accept duels with citizens who haven’t registered in our prestigious college,” the Principal said with a sigh. “But it seems two of your companions haven’t let go of the grudges burning in their hearts.”

Neil glanced sideways at Sandy. The Principal was right—Sandy’s eyes were locked on Delia, his body practically coiled to pounce at any second. Neil groaned again, pressing his face deeper into his palm.

The other girl raised her hand timidly.

“Yes, Miss Cho?” the Principal asked.

“Why don’t we just go our separate ways, since they can’t duel?”

“I support the motion,” Neil blurted quickly.

“Dude…” Sandy grumbled. “Not cool.”

“So cool—”

Sandy slapped his hand over Neil’s mouth before he could finish. The Headmaster chuckled at the sight of the two boys struggling. Then his eyes shifted between Delia and Sandy before delivering his verdict.

“There will be no duel. Not unless you’re accepted into the academy.” He leaned back. “Until then, consider yourselves dismissed.”

Neil silently thanked his stars. Escaping another long lecture from his father was enough relief for him.

“That’s not fair!” Sandy bellowed, storming out of the office. “So not acceptable!”

“Let it go, man.”

They were just about to leave when they noticed Delia stepping into a sleek black car, flanked by several luxury vehicles and bodyguards in white suits. The guards bowed as she passed, escorting her into the car.

“Is she some kind of big shot?” Sandy asked aloud.

“She’s the next in line to be the priestess of Marzanna.”

They turned to see Jade standing behind them.

“That’s why she’s so cold,” Jade added. “She isn’t allowed to interact much with people.”

“Who’s Marzanna?” Sandy asked.

Both Jade and Neil stared at him in disbelief. Jade excused herself, leaving Neil to explain that Marzanna was the goddess of winter and death. Sandy only understood after Neil repeated himself in every possible way. Neil didn’t mind—it kept his mind off the fact that the four of them had officially been demoted to Class D: the lowest of the low in the academy.

<>

The next day, they headed to their new class.

Neil stopped at the doorway, lowering his head as the noisy atmosphere assaulted his ears. The chaos was unbearable.

Sandy, however, fit right in. A classroom full of psychos was his natural habitat.

Neil dragged himself to the front row and collapsed onto his desk, resting his head while waiting for the teacher.

Sandy was already at a table, playing poker with three boys who argued and accused each other of cheating. At the back, a student casually painted her nails as if the world didn’t exist.

Neil spotted Jade entering and waved at her. She smiled, then sat closer to Delia on the other side of the room.

The door slammed open.

A woman in her mid-thirties entered, her long green hair shimmering to match the glow of her eyeshadow. She inhaled deeply, then spoke.

“Everyone. Return to your seats—now.”

To Neil’s shock, the rowdy students obeyed instantly, as if strings were tugging them into place. He felt the weight of an authoritative force pulling him down, heavy and irresistible.

One by one, the students scrambled into their seats.

All except Sandy.

He stood frozen in confusion, staring at the teacher.

“You must be the new student,” she said, her eyes glowing brighter.