3 minutes later...
"That guy really punched me for that book," I said in a low voice. I brushed off my uniform and walked out of the library, rushing to find the transfer student.
I searched for a really long time; I even checked the faculty office, but I didn't find him. Suddenly, I realized the place where he had been standing when I was looking at him suspiciously.
I walked slowly, trying not to reveal myself in case he was really there, and then I peeked and saw him reading the book.
I slowly walked towards him, but suddenly he punched my face again; this time it was an accident. "Oh, I didn't know you were there, sorry, I must be so blind," he said in a voice that didn't sound really apologetic. "I need the book," I said in a commanding voice.
"Sorry, but no, this book belongs to me now," he said, crossing his arms. "I found it first," I sighed. "You can't just take it, and it's part of the library," I continued.
"Oh, is that so? Well, I don't really care. Besides, no, wait, it's not really a part of the library; it's more like a hidden quest," He let out a small, mocking chuckle before continuing. "And having a book all about information on powers, they won't let it be in the public library," he continued. This guy thinks he's him, I thought to myself. "Also, I seem to notice you kept checking me out, maybe because I sat down on the elegant chair of the protagonist's?" he said.
"Come on, life is short; seize it! Don't be the guy who avoids tropes for the sake of being different. Lastly, if we get reincarnated in the novel, maybe they would like the protagonist who avoids clichés and tropes, but in the end, they will like the same style propaganda present in every novel." I didn't know this transfer student was this smart.
"You said a lot of thing-" I said, but I was suddenly cut off by the transfer student's expression, the expression of seeing the principal for the first time.
The principal attire was flawless he wore a white polo, a black tie, a blue coat, black pants. His hands tuck in his pockets, and his shoes were shiny with sharp edges on the front.
The principal was behind us; I knew it. The principal gazed at the both of us, but then I realized where his gaze is landing; his attention was in the book that the new transfer student was holding.
The Principal took a slow step forward. The click of his sharp-edged shoes on the floor sounded like a countdown.
"That book," the Principal said, his voice as smooth as silk but cold as ice. "It doesn't belong in the hands of students. Hand it over."
The transfer student tightened his grip on the book, his cocky attitude from a moment ago vanishing. "Sorry, sir, but I found it first. Finder's keepers, isn't that how the protagonist's luck usually works?"
The Principal didn't smile. He didn't even look angry. He just sighed.
"I was hoping you'd be the smart type," the Principal muttered.
Suddenly, a thick, grey mist began to seep from his coat sleeves. It wasn't just steam; it was heavy, swirling smoke that smelled like burnt ozone. Within seconds, the hallway began to disappear.
"Wait...what is this?" I coughed, covering my mouth as the smoke began to sting my eyes.
The smoke didn't just drift; it moved like it had a mind of its own, coiling around our ankles like snakes. The temperature in the hallway dropped. I tried to move, but the smoke felt heavy, pinning my limbs down like invisible chains.
"This is a school," the Principal's voice echoed through the grey haze, sounding like it was coming from everywhere at once. "And in my school, I make the rules. The book. Now."
The transfer student stumbled back, clutching the book to his chest. "If you want it, you'll have to take it!"
He was still trying to act like a hero, but I could see his hands shaking. We were way out of our league.
"The more stubborn you get, the harder the consequences will be," the principal spoke, his voice dropping into a low, gravelly tone of a final warning..
"What is this book, sir?" The transfer student said, still acting cocky but I can see his hands shivering in fear.
"That book is very important, it was never meant to be found by the likes of you or any other students, it was just an honest mistake, bad placing of the book I would say. Now Hand it Over." The principal said, arms clenching.
"Principal, We aren't just a normal kid or teenager to you doesn't it, I know this school is not normal, someone tell me that people have powers here, I remember a class where I've answered wrong on the professor questions about wishes, but why are you hiding this books if you knew powers exist?" I said.
"Of course power exists in this world, but that book contains very important information that if suddenly it got stolen by the others we will be in great danger, they cannot be held by others," Principal spoke, the air in the room growing heavy and cold.
"The others?" I questioned.
"What I meant is The Nightmarers," Principal said, the name hanging in the air like a foul scent.
"The Nightmarers are our enemy, they have been a threat for us. Even in the last decade,"
Then suddenly the transfer student gave the book back.
"Sorry sir, I thought this was just some random cutscene that I can skip," he said.
LOL, this guy is unbelievable.
"Sir, I'm sorry, but... can I ask a question?" I said. my heart is thumping against my ribs.
"Can we become, like you, what do you even call the people who have powers... like you or anyone else?" I said.
"They are Called Wishers,"the Principal replied, his tone calm.