"…you've got to be kidding me."Seth's voice came out in a low whisper, yet it carried the weight of disbelief pressing down on his chest.Standing before him—stepping out of a sleek, obsidian-black luxury car—was Willow, the same girl from the bridge.The same girl who had pulled him back from the edge.Only now… she looked completely different.
Gone was the soft, almost playful aura she had the previous night. In its place, stood someone untouchable. Her posture was flawless, her expression calm yet distant, and her presence alone seemed to bend the atmosphere around her.
Students fell silent. The moment was a perfect description of disbelief. Even the wind felt like it had paused to watch.Seth's brows furrowed. 'What the hell is going on…?' He thought to himself upon noticing the atmosphere. Everyone was acting strange upon seeing this chocolate-skinned beauty. Whispers broke out among the gathered crowd.
"Isn't that…?"
"It is! That's her!"
"No way… why is she here?"
"Wait… why is she walking toward him?"
The tension thickened. Victor, who had been enjoying the unfolding scene, suddenly felt something was off. His smug expression faltered as his eyes darted between Willow and Seth. Something about all this seemed strange to him.
"…don't tell me…" he muttered under his breath not wanting to believe whatever thought was running in his mind. A strange expression, comical enough formed on his countenance.
Willow walked forward, each step measured and elegant. Her silver ornaments chimed faintly with her movement, a soft sound that somehow echoed louder than the murmurs around them. Seth didn't move, nor did he speak but simply watched her approach, his mind racing. When she finally stood before him, their eyes met. For a brief moment—The world faded.
"Good afternoon, Seth." Her voice was calm, polished and unfamiliar. Seth blinked once. Twice. "…what is this?" he asked bluntly. This was so like him.
No greeting. No hesitation. Just confusion laced with irritation. A few students gasped at his tone. Did he just speak to her like that? They couldn't believe their ears and eyes at this point. Willow didn't react. Not outwardly but there was the faintest flicker in her eyes—something that only Seth could notice. 'Uncomfortable, huh.' He silently deduced.
"I came to pick you up," she said simply.
Silence.
Then—
"What?"
The crowd erupted into whispers again.
"Pick him up!?"
"Who does he think he is?"
"No, who does she think he is!?" Many students couldn't believe that someone of Willow's caliber would associate themselves with a nobody like Seth. Actually, nobody here really knew about Seth's background. That's why they could imagine all sorts of things.
Victor's face twisted slightly, his pride taking a hit he hadn't anticipated. Initially, he had thought that Seth had offended someone powerful and was about to get a public humiliation but it seemed like the universe was playing tricks on him. Seth let out a short, humorless laugh as he looked around.
"You've got the wrong person," he said, turning slightly away. "I don't associate with people like you."
A bold statement and a dangerous one at that. But he meant every word.
"People like me?" Willow tilted her head slightly, her tone curious.
Seth clicked his tongue.
"Yeah. Rich. Powerful. Calculated." He looked back at her. "I'm not interested."
The words were sharp but beneath them—There was something else. Hurt. Willow held his gaze. Then, without warning— She stepped closer. Too close. Seth's breath hitched slightly, but he masked it well. 'What does she think she's doing!?' He could allow it to show but he was a bit flustered within, after all Willow was a beauty.
"Get in the car, Seth," she said quietly, her voice dropping just enough for only him to hear. "It's not a request." She added in a firm tone. Seth's eyes narrowed. "And if I refuse?" He countered.
For a split second—Something cold flashed across her face. Then it was gone.
"You won't."
Simple.
Certain.
That did it.
Seth let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "You really think you can just show up and order me around?" He took a step back before adding, "I don't care who you are."
The atmosphere shifted. Students leaned in, eager to see what would happen next. Victor smirked again, sensing potential chaos. 'This is going to be good…' He thought in amusement, a stupid grin on his countenance.
Then—A man stepped forward from behind Willow. The same middle-aged man from the bridge. Black suit. Calm demeanor. But his presence was suffocating and Seth felt it instantly. That pressure. That invisible force pressing against his chest. His instincts screamed. 'Danger.'
"Young master Seth," the man spoke politely, though his tone carried weight, "it would be wise to comply." Seth's jaw tightened.
"You talk too much," he replied coldly.
Gasps. Murmurs. 'He's dead.' That was the general thought running through the crowd but the man didn't react aggressively. Instead, he simply looked at Seth and smiled. A small, almost imperceptible smile. Willow raised her hand slightly and the man stepped back immediately. Only she knew his capabilities.
"Enough," she said softly. Her gaze returned to Seth. "This isn't the place." Seth stared at her.
Long. Hard. Then exhaled sharply.
"…fine."
The crowd froze. Victor's stupid grin vanished. He agreed!? Seth shoved his hands into his pockets and walked past her toward the car. "Let's get this over with," he muttered.
Willow watched him for a moment then followed. The door was opened so Seth got in first, not paying gentleness any heed. Willow entered after him. The door shut. And just like that—The convoy moved, leaving behind a bunch of stunned students.
"What just happened!?" Someone mattered in disbelief.
Among the students though, Lincoln watched silently alongside some other seniors. He was also a bit shocked to see that boy from earlier having a not so common but usual interaction with someone of his league. "Interesting!" He said then walked away, leaving some people contemplating the situation. Seth wouldn't ever imagine that he had attracted many elites' attention and that his school life would never be the same ever again.
Silence filled the car. Heavy and uncomfortable. Seth leaned back against the seat, arms crossed, eyes closed.
"…you've got about five seconds before I lose interest," he said.
Willow sat across from him, her posture straight and a demeanor so composed just like an aristocrat she was.
"You're surprisingly calm," she noted.
"I'm not," Seth replied. "I just don't care enough to panic."
He opened his eyes.
"And you still haven't explained anything."
Willow studied him. Then sighed faintly. "I suppose I owe you that."
A pause.
"My full name," she began, "is Willow Aurelia Viremont." Seth's eyes sharpened instantly. "…Viremont?" he repeated. Even he knew that name. One of the major ruling aristocratic families.
"Yes." She didn't elaborate. In fact, she didn't need to because her family was bound to be known by almost everyone in the world. Seth let out a dry laugh. "Of course you are."
He looked away. "Figures."
"You don't seem surprised."
"I am," he replied. "Just not in a good way."
Silence again.
"So," Seth continued, "what does someone like you want with me?"
Straight to the point. Willow's fingers interlocked gently.
"You have something my family is interested in." There it was.
Seth's expression darkened slightly. He was dreading this all along and now it was happening.
"Ah… there it is."
"I tried to avoid this," she added quietly.
Seth laughed. Actually laughed. But there was no humor in it. A wave of anger was surging within his heart but he had to keep his cool around people like her.
"Don't lie to me." Willow's eyes narrowed slightly at his words. "I'm not." She countered.
"Then what was last night?" Seth shot back. "Coincidence? Fate? Or just part of the plan?" His voice was calm. Too calm. He really wanted to hear her say something along the lines of, "maybe it's fate" or "it was a coincidence" but he knew better. "Oh! Sorry for asking 'cause if I remember, it wasn't your first seeing me." He added, his voice dripping with a hint of anger.
Willow didn't answer immediately. And that silence was answer enough for him to understand or perhaps make his own deductions. Seth leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto hers.
"You used me." He said.
"No," she replied firmly.
"Then what do you call it?" Seth asked.
Another pause.
Then—
"…complicated."
Seth scoffed. "Of course it is."
He leaned back again, running a hand through his jet black hair.
"Let me guess… your father?" Seth said and indeed it was. Just a guess but it yielded unexpected results for him because Willow stiffened though barely noticeable. But Seth caught it.
"Yeah," he said softly. "I hit the mark."
She looked away briefly. Then back at him.
"My father is… interested in your ability."
Seth's expression went blank and dangerously so. "And what ability would that be?" he asked.
Willow hesitated just for a second. But it was enough.
"…you don't know?" she asked.
Seth's gaze hardened. He couldn't help look at this girl in front of him. 'She doesn't know anything, does she!?' He thought to himself as he scrutinized her beautiful countenance.
"Know what?"
The car fell silent once more.
Willow leaned back slightly, her eyes studying him more carefully now.
"…that explains a lot," she murmured. "Explains what?" Seth snapped. He didn't remember when he last lost his composure like this and he hated feeling like that.
She didn't answer directly. Instead—"You're coming with me."
Seth's patience snapped. "No. I'm not."
The temperature in the car seemed to drop.
"You don't have a choice." Willow said quietly with grace.
Seth laughed again. That same laugh. The one that didn't match the situation. The one that carried something broken beneath it. Willow noticed but she couldn't do a thing about it.
"Funny," he said. "That's exactly what my family says too."
Willow froze. Seth leaned forward, his smile widening—but his eyes were cold.
"Tell me something, princess…" he said quietly. "Do you people ever get tired of treating others like tools?"
The words hit hard. Willow's composure cracked—just a little.
"…you don't understand—"
"I don't want to," Seth cut her off.
Silence. The car slowed.
"We're here," the driver announced.
Seth glanced out the window. Massive gates, an estate. No—A kingdom.
"Of course," he muttered.
The gates opened. And as the car drove in, Seth felt it. That same feeling from long ago. A suffocating presence. A memory so haunting that his nights are disturbed. That trauma that left a deep gash on his heart and in his mind. His smile faded.
"…so this is where it all begins again," he whispered under his breath.
Willow looked at him but said nothing. She felt a bit guilty within but that was just it, a bit of guilt that would sooner or later vanish into nothingness. The car stopped. The door opened.
"Welcome," the suited man said calmly.
Seth stepped out slowly and carefully. His eyes scanned everything, taking it all in.The mansion rose like a sovereign among lesser structures. Not overly extravagant—but perfect.
White marble walls stretched across the vast expanse, polished to such a degree that they reflected the sky itself. Veins of gold ran subtly through the stone, like frozen lightning captured beneath the surface. Tall pillars supported sweeping balconies, each carved with ancient patterns that whispered of legacy and bloodline pride.
The architecture blended old-world nobility with something far more refined—timeless, untouched by decay or trend. At its center, a grand staircase flowed outward like open arms, leading to towering double doors of ivory and gold. Doors that had never known hesitation.
Surrounding the mansion were gardens so meticulously crafted they felt unreal. Crystal-clear water features wound through the land—streams, ponds, and fountains that glowed faintly under certain lights, as if infused with energy. Exotic flowers bloomed in curated perfection, their colors rich and unnatural, their fragrance soft but intoxicating. Statues lined the pathways. Not of random figures—but of past heirs. Each one carved with such precision that their eyes seemed alive… watching… judging. Further beyond lied a vast open field—used not for leisure, but for training. The ground bore faint scars, as if reality itself had once been bent and broken there. Truly, the Viremont family lived up to its reputation. Such a grand architectural work!
"…I hate places like this," he muttered.
Willow stepped out beside him. "Get used to it."
Seth glanced at her. Then smiled. But this time there was no warmth, no humor. Just something dark.
"…I don't plan on staying long."
And deep within something stirred. Something old and broken. And for the first time in a long time, Seth Williams felt like he was stepping back into a nightmare he never truly escaped.