CHAPTER 17: THE RAVEN'S

"Wait! Thank you for saving me"

"I didn't save you... " Diane replied fiercely as the lady moved back a bit, Diane sighed as she walked out of the darkness

"Hey wait up! "

" Stay away from me kid"

" Please... I want to tell you something. I am not the only one who is being bullied like this everyday" The lady said as Diane paused

" There are more of you?"

" Yes"

" ......."

" The scholarship program that was given by the board was a scam, a concealed extortion, many of us don't have parents while many of us are alone, our guardians were given money so we would be under the pretence of attending one of the richest college in the world, a completely new life and opportunity, so it would seem... "

" It was a trade" Diane muttered angrily as the girl nodded

" We were brought here with the consent of our guardians, but they were paid, many of us don't have value to others. And that's what makes us the target of society, they need someone to make them feel they are rich or make them feel good about themselves"

" Doesn't old Li know about this?! " Diane growled as the girl froze

" You mean the VC, she's the reason we can still be here"

" Hmn?"

" When we reporter to the committee, the only solution they provided was for us to drop out, they said we had no right to demand equal rights, mud doesn't have the right to stand next to gold"

"But Ms. LI didn't believe that, she said gold only becomes valuable when it had gone through mud. And she said would fix it, I believe her, we all believe her" The girl said as Diane froze

*"Out for a few days, call it vacation..."*

"Vacation..." Diane muttered as she smiled

"... I see, what department do you major"

"Engineering, but I was denied the right to attend classes and test"

"Do you believe in me?"

"Ah?"

"No, that sounded wrong... Do you believe in yourself?"

"I'd rather believe in you, I'm useless..." The girl muttered in tears as she bowed her head

"I see, you have no hope left, I tried" Diane said walking forward, the girls froze then ran to her

"Wait! Would you leave me here alone?"

"Of course why should I help you?" Diane asked walking away

"Then why did you...."

" Just curious" She replied

" Curious.... You know what forget it.. I will do this myself, even if I have to die I won't give in to the likes of you! " The girls screamed in frustration as Diane stopped

"That's the spirit"

"Uh?"

"Even if I wanted to help you, If you had already given up on yourself, on hope what's the point?" Diane asked as the girl breathed heavily

"We will find your mates when I'm done with class for now let's go, or we will be late for class"

" Hmn" The girl nodded as she walked behind Diane

"Can I call you master?" The girl asked holding on to the the hem of her dress shyly

"Whatever" Diane replied as the girl smiled brightly walking after her. Diane arrived at the entrance of the class. Jessica gasped in shock as she stood up impulsively squishing her palm and glaring at Diane

*Jessica: Impossible! I heard you were severely poisoned even if you didn't die you should be able to move at all! What happened?!"* Jessica screamed in her thoughts

Diane looked around and sighed then she held the girl's hand leading her in the class

The girl froze in shock and she didn't think Diane would want to be seen associated with someone like her

"I seat at the back, is that cool with you?" Diane asked as the girl smiled

"Hmn" She said excitedly as Diane chuckled

" You're the lively type" Diane complimented as took her the hand heading towards her seat.

Diane paused as she noticed none of the girls were in class

" That's not right they came with me this morning...." Diane mumbled as Jackie waved

" Yo!"

" Yo!" Diane replied as the class got shocked by their gesture and familiarity

" Do you know where they are?"

" They got called home, didn't you know?"

" All of them?" Diane muttered with a frown as her aura became ominous again.

Bobby and Jessica turned at the slight change as their scales were up in defense, they immediately cover their arms with their sleeves turning to Diane who didn't seem to notice them.

*"No way, did I miss something?"* Jackie asked as Bobby frowned

*"How can a mere human slave make me so alert?"*

At the Ravens

"This... This ...." A young man said as he got agitated in anger

"Calm down honey" A woman said in panic as she tried to calm him down.

Meanwhile Sage and Astrid got picked up from college in a Mercedes Benz 540k, everyone murmured as they seemed shocked. Astrid covered her face as she quickly gets in while Sage entered behind her.

"Drive, drive" Astrid urged as the driver zoomed off

"Why did dad send you to pick us up?"

"I don't know Lady Astrid"

" Uh! Again with the lady" Sage and Astrid muttered in unison as the driver bowed

" You think Mabel has something to do with this?"

" My mom? Nah, if she did, she would notify us first"

" True, then it's the old man" Sage muttered as Astrid sighed

" What did you do?"

" Nothing, at least nothing he should know of yet unless....no, he can't know of that yet...so what could it be?" Sage said as she sighed

" What's that?"

" You'll know in time" Sage said as Astrid glared at her.

The driver drove into a mansion as they got off the car walking into the house

" Mom! " Astrid called out as she ran towards a tall woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes identical to Astrid's

"My baby, how have you been?"

"Nice but I still missed you"

"I missed you more"

"Spare me the mushy feelings" Sage said

" See? See? She hasn't changed a bit!" Astrid whined as Mabel smiled

"It's nice to see you too Sage"

"Never said it was nice, but it isn't bad either" Sage said as Mabel sighed

"See? See how rude she is?! I'm sure she did it! She even dragged my daughter into it!"

A tall man in his 30's walked out with a black walking stick designed with golden pattern.

" Magnus... " Mabel interrupted as Sage frowned

"Look at her, not an ounce of remorse on her face!"

"What's going on?" Astrid asked holding Sage's hand to ease the tension but Magnus drew her closer cutting their gesture and making Sage frown further.

"What's this about?"

"Honey, dear, did you offend anyone lately?"

" Did something go wrong with business lately? " Sage asked as Mabel gestured 'yes' secretly

" Don't engage her! I can take your nonchalant attitude because your mother is dead, but I won't tolerate you destroying all I have built in a day! " Magnus scolded as Sage froze

" MAGNUS! " Mabel called out

" SHUT UP! You will make things right, apologize to the Xu's!" Magnus replied as Sage widened her eyes, her heart squeezed in pain but she didn't want to express it or rather didn't know how to, with Magnus voice ringing in her head over and over

*Magnus: "You killed your mother!"*

*Magnus: "The woman I loved the most if she didn't insist on bringing you to life she'd still be with me! "*

*Magnus: " You are a murderer!"*

" The Xu's ....Jessica did this to get back at Diane?" Sage muttered as they turned to her, her red eyes glimmered with a dangerous fiery aura pushed further by Diane's spiritual power, the surrounding became filled with dangerous aura leaking from Sage.

"Then the others...." Sage muttered as she stepped back in shock

" Where do you think you are going? Take one more step out of this house and I would disown you! " Magnus scolded but Sage's mind was occupied with what was going on with Diane

Sage turned outside as that enraged Magnus

" SAGE?! "

Sage stared blankly as she didn't respond then she took another step backwards

"Sister!" Astrid called in tears but Sage still didn't reply then she ran out taking her bike and zooming off in full speed

"SISTER!" Astrid called as she ran out too

"ASTRID! YOU WILL LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER!...." Mabel shouted as she walked up to her

"You both be safe" Mabel whispered as Astrid widened her eyes which glistened with tears, she nods riding after Sage on her bike.

"ASTRID!" Mabel shouted as she hid a smile running into Magnus' arms in fake tears

"Sister wait for me" Astrid called as Sage froze

"Why did you...Magnus will not accept you!"

"I know..."

"Mabel...why didn't she...she let you go?!"

"Hmn, who else who look after you but me? Sides we can go back after he has cooled down"

"I'm never going back" Sage replied as Astrid frowned

" We will talk about this later, first we see Diane"

Meanwhile at Y University... Diane noticed hostility written in everyone's expression of course except Jackie ....and Bobby who just had a poker face as usual.

The 7 boys walked on as they met the scene confused about the situation. The girls turned their attention to them squealing and cheering silently with flirtatious looks

Robbie scanned the class for the girls as he only saw Diane then frowned.

"Something seems off, I just can't quite put my finger on it" Jim muttered as Nathan sighed.

" Let's take a sit" Robbie said as they nodded walking towards their seat.

"Do you love it here?" Diane said turning to the girl who followed her in

"Uh?"

"Here? Do you love it?"

"N...no....But I was given and even if I transferred I would be treated poorly anywhere" She whispered as Diane frowned

"That's good enough for me" Diane replied as the girl froze then widened her eyes

" You don't mean..." She whispered as Diane smirked looking at everyone with darkness in her eyes.

"What's your name?"

"Mo...Moyun.."

"Mo...yun" Diane muttered as a smile formed on her lips brightening her face

The lecturer walked in as they all took their seat.

"The results for the test are out, some shocking discovery were made but I guess that is why you are all here, with hidden talents you only need guidance, you are all shiny stars waiting to be discovered " The lecturer praised as the students smiled.

Sage and the girls ran in as everyone turned to them

"Here!" Jackie whispered as Sage sighted Diane then heaved a silent sigh of relief, she then made eye contact with Jessica as he glared at her angrily making Jessica flinch in fear

The girls head towards Diane as they felt the heavy gaze on them but ignored it.

"You guys were almost late, the scores will soon be announced"

"Are you alright?" Sage murmured as Diane froze then turned to her with a smile

"Why wouldn't I be?" She asked as Sage froze the turned away. Astrid smiled at their gesture while the girls were extremely confused.

" That being said some of you could have done better, but it was just the first test so there is no need for me to be hard on you" The lecturer said as the students murmured

"The scores are being announced now" Harley muttered nervously

" Don't worry, it will be okay" The Diane said as they turned to her then nodded confidently

" The scores are.... " He said as the smart board tv was switched on and the results displayed according to the the lowest scores but only read the top 4 out loud.

"Jackie, Harley, Vanna, Vanessa, Tamar, Nathan, Dick, and Jim all finished at number 4 which is quite impressive but I believe they can do better" The lecturer said as Jackie sighed, Harley cheered making the girls sigh

Jessica's name appeared at number 3 making everyone murmur

"She's number 3?"

"I thought she'd be number 2"

"I guess the questions must have hit harder than we thought"

" Hmn.." Jessica said as a smile formed on her face, she meets Bobby's hard gaze as she quickly erased the smile off her face bowing her head, Diane noticed and sighed, placing a hand in her head

"You did great" She said as Jackie raised her head with her eyes glistening with tears

"But you could have done better" Diane added as Jackie chuckled a bit cleaning her tears

"Thanks" She said as Diane smiled.

" Jessica, Sage, Astrid, Ruby, Courtney, Zamiel, Chris and Jake, all finished as 3rd" The lecturer said as everyone murmured again

" No way then who's number 2?"

Sage smirked as Astrid turned to the board then to her

"No way.." Astrid muttered as Sage looked up confidently

" You mean who are?" The lecturer said as the score board revealed the names again

Bobby's name appeared as number 2 causing an loud murmur of gossips

"Bobby, Robbie, and Tony made it to number 2" The lecturer said as everywhere became silent

" No way, the prince was beaten?!"

" Who else could compete with the prince?!"

" Was there a mistake?"

" They don't dare release it if there was mistake"

" Look, the princes' mark are 99 which and if they all emerged as number 2.."

" Someone got a full mark in all courses"

" But who though? Whose name wasn't called out?"

" Only one" One of the girls said as they all turned to her

Then the smart board tv went blank, taking everyone in suspense

" And the one to finish off with a perfect score....Ms Diane" The lecturer said as everywhere became pin drop silent.

" She...she..impossible, a low life beat our princes?"

" She must have cheated.."

"Yeah that's right, I saw her cheat! That was why she submitted first!" The students voiced out in protest as Diane smirked, her opening her eyes.

" Investigate the exam!" The students shouted in anger shouting towards Diane who didn't seem to bothered by them

"Are you ready?" Diane muttered as Mo yun turned to her

"Hmn" She nodded as Diane smiled then stood up making everyone turn to her. Then she raised up her hand

"I'm changing my major" Diane announced as everywhere became silent

"I'm applying to withdraw from the dual program of business and engineering." Diane said as she bowed slightly

"I'll take my leave" She said turning to Mo yun with a smile taking her by her hand

"Let's go" She said as Mo yun who was in shock got drawn out by Diane.

" She really is something else" Astrid muttered as she turned to Sage who had a deep dangerous look on her face

"Don't tell me..."

"Anyways if she isn't doing business there is no reason for us to apply for this course anymore, it isn't our major anyways" Ruby said lazily as the girls nodded raising their hands

" We withdraw " They said in unison packing their bags

Sage walked out passing by Robbie who stared at her silently

"Well it's been fun JK" Ruby said with a smirk as she followed

"See you later" The rest said to Jackie, walking out together as Jackie froze staring emptily then frowned as she stood up impulsively

"I withdraw!" Jackie said packing her bags as she ran out of the class. The class murmured in shock as Robbie turned to Jackie shaking his head slowly with a smirk.

"What are you guys doing here so early?" Astrid asked as the girls sighed

"Left home" They said in unison as Astrid froze in shock

" Why?"

" No reason...you guys?"

"Left home"

"Really?! Why?!"

"No reason" Sage and Astrid replied as the girls sulked

Diane walked out weakly, her white skin pale without blood and skinny, she walked slowly as Mo yun supported her under the snow

"Master, why did you do that?"

"You didn't like the course"

"So you did it...." Mo yun trailed off as Diane smiled

"You wish, I wanted to check out of that class a long time ago, don't tell me you thought it was for you"