Zero Grimmwood

Chapter 11

Zero stormed into his room, the door slamming shut with a resounding bang that echoed down the empty corridor. The lock clicked sharply as he turned it, cutting himself off from the outside world. For several minutes, he paced the small space like a caged animal, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Finally, he collapsed onto the bed, his breathing heavy, the air around him thick with frustration.

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his eyes burning with unresolved anger.

"Damn it! Damn it! I screwed up again!" he muttered, his voice low but laced with venom.

"And those two, Joon and Miki… Who do they think they are?" His voice grew louder as he spoke, his frustration mounting. "No matter how hard I try, I’m always stuck in their shadow!"

A sharp scream tore from his throat, a raw release of the tension boiling inside him. He fell back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.

"That girl… What was her name?" he muttered to himself. "Doesn’t matter now. I’ll have to deal with her parents too… Damn."

The oppressive silence of the room was broken by the sudden creak of the door. Zero shot up, eyes narrowing as he realized the lock hadn’t held. In the doorway stood Damien, his figure dark and foreboding. His cold gaze swept the room, and the air seemed to grow heavier with his presence.

"What’s the point of locking the door if you’re going to scream loud enough to scare the first-years?" Damien asked, his voice flat, devoid of sympathy.

Zero scowled but said nothing, his jaw tightening. Damien stepped inside, his movements slow and deliberate, each step amplifying the chill in the room.

"You’re upset. Why?" Damien asked, his tone betraying no curiosity, only a detached observation.

Zero hesitated, the weight of the day crashing over him again. "I keep losing, no matter what I do," he admitted, his voice trembling with anger. "They keep winning, and I keep losing control. And you—" He turned to Damien, his voice sharp. "You don’t even realize that because of you, I’m always one step behind them."

Damien leaned casually against the wall, his arms crossed. "Is that what bothers you? Losing to them? Or losing to yourself?" His voice cut through the tension like a knife, and Zero froze, his frustration momentarily giving way to uncertainty.

Before he could respond, a firm knock on the door broke the charged silence. Zero and Damien exchanged wary glances. Damien moved into the shadows, his figure almost melding into the darkness as Zero approached the door.

When Zero opened it, he was met with the calm, composed figure of Shirakawa Tatsuki. Her high ponytail swayed slightly as she stepped forward, her posture flawless, her presence commanding.

"Miss Shirakawa," Zero said stiffly, masking his unease behind a veil of formal politeness. "What brings you here?"

Tatsuki’s dark eyes locked onto his, unflinching. "I’ve come regarding Kurosaki Harabi," she said, her tone quiet yet razor-sharp. "You lost control of your magic, Mr. Grimmwood, and nearly killed her. That is not something the Shirakawa family takes lightly."

Zero’s fists clenched at her words, anger simmering beneath his calm facade. "It won’t happen again," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

"I sincerely hope not," Tatsuki replied, her words deliberate, carrying the weight of unspoken consequences. "You’ve already put yourself in a precarious position, Mr. Grimmwood. Allow me to remind you of the stakes: the Shirakawa family has long-standing ties with the Kurosaki family. Any harm to them is considered a direct affront to us."

Her words struck like a blow, and Zero’s jaw tightened. "So, you’re here to threaten me? Is that it?" he snapped.

Tatsuki tilted her head slightly, her expression unchanging. "This isn’t a threat, Mr. Grimmwood. It’s a warning. Another incident like today, and the Shirakawa family will act accordingly. You would do well to remember that your family does not hold the same influence here."

Zero stepped closer, his voice a low growl. "You think I’m afraid of you? Of your family?"

Tatsuki’s gaze didn’t waver. "Fear has nothing to do with this. Reputation does. One misstep, and you’ll find yourself facing consequences far beyond what you can handle. Do you understand me, Mr. Grimmwood?"

The silence between them was electric, and for a moment, Zero didn’t respond. Finally, he muttered, "I understand."

"Good," Tatsuki said, turning to leave. "I trust we won’t have to discuss this again."

As she disappeared down the corridor, the weight of her words lingered in the room. Damien emerged from the shadows, his expression unreadable.

"I’ve never seen Shirakawa Tatsuki that direct before," Damien remarked.

Zero scoffed, his anger flaring again. "Save your commentary. I don’t need a lecture from you."

Damien’s cold gaze settled on him. "You should take her words seriously, Zero. One more mistake, and it won’t just be your reputation on the line."

"Get out," Zero snapped, pointing toward the door.

Damien didn’t argue. He stepped out without another word, leaving Zero alone with his thoughts. The room felt suffocatingly quiet once more.

Zero stood alone in his room, wearily leaning against the windowsill. The sun was slowly setting, casting a soft golden light over the room. He looked down at the academy garden, where the first-year students were enjoying their free time. They laughed and chatted happily, chasing each other.

Zero smirked as he watched them. Their movements and words were filled with naivety—they had no idea yet how dangerous and ruthless magic could truly be.

"Fools," he muttered quietly, smirking crookedly. "You think magic is just a game? Wait until reality slaps you in the face."

His smirk widened as one of the first-years clumsily fell while attempting a spell, only managing to burn his fingers. Zero’s laughter echoed through the empty room.

"And there it is again."

But suddenly, amidst the laughter, he heard a voice. A familiar voice that abruptly cut off his laughter. He glanced over his shoulder.

There, in the corner of the room, stood a girl dressed in white. Her long, light hair gently swayed as if she were part of something ethereal. She looked at him calmly, her gaze piercing, as if she could see right through him.

"Alone again, Zero?" she said softly, her voice gentle but with a hint of reproach. "Where's Joon?"

Zero froze. He had known this voice for a long time. It had been with him as long as he could remember, but every time she appeared, something inside him tightened with an uncomfortable feeling.

"Back again?" he managed to say, trying not to show his unease.

The girl didn’t respond immediately, only gliding closer, as if floating across the floor, and stopping right in front of him. Her eyes studied his, examining every detail.

"You know that all this..." she began, gesturing toward the window where the first-years were still running around, "is an illusion. It’s all temporary. They don’t yet know the whole truth—how magic can kill someone."

Zero frowned, looking away. Her words, as always, reminded him of what he tried to ignore.

"Who cares?" he said coldly, turning back to the window.

"Magic lost its purpose long ago. Everyone uses it the wrong way."

The girl remained where she was, continuing to watch him, but her figure slowly began to fade, like smoke in the wind.

Zero glanced back again, but she was gone, leaving him alone in the quiet room. He felt a little unsettled.

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