Charles king lonely hope part 1
Chapter 8

“How are you, Charles?”

“You doing okay, Charles?”

“Nervous for school, Charles?”

All weekend it’s all I have heard, I appreciate everyone at the guild being nice to me and asking if I am okay, but I lie. I have been telling everyone I’m fine, I have been telling everyone I’m looking forward to starting school tomorrow. But if I am honest, I’m scared. Only at home or the guild, do I feel safe and happy. But anywhere else I get threatened. People will stop and stare at me then start whispering to their family or friends, I’ve seen people pull out their phones and record me walking past them.

Madison takes great offence to this, and she calls people out and asks them why they are recording a child, She makes me laugh, small but mighty my sister.

Mum and Dad didn’t need to call anyone out, they gave people a cold stare and that would work as a treat.

Tracy heard two men threaten to kill me if I ever hurt anyone they knew when I went into a shop.

“Why would he hurt people you know?” she screamed at them. “What makes your family so important ay? Your family will be safe if they don’t hurt him, but if they do, I’ll hunt the both of you down” She was so cool! She scared those two men I could have sworn one of them peed their pants.

Marvin appeared a minute later towering over myself and Tracy, and the second man may have peed himself.

I now replace myself laying on my bed staring at the ceiling, pushing down the urge to be sick, thoughts of what school might be like, oh god. What if the kids are like the adults I have met, I will only have Kevin, Lincoln and Yasmin and I don’t want to get them in trouble, especially on the first day of school, and what makes it worse I had forgotten about the rookie rumble! A giant free-for-all, battle royale between the first and second years.

Mum won it, she beat Dad in her first year and in her second she won it again beating Dad, Uncle Tommy, and Marvin, She was the number 1 ranked student in her year, and every year she was there. Now I must participate in this year’s one, with kids whose parents may or may not want me dead, or best-case scenario just not in the school.

“Did you sleep at all?” Mum asked me in the morning as I came into the kitchen dressed in my school uniform, bold white shirt, plain navy blue school blazer that has the school’s crown on the front pocket. My tie, blue with two yellow strips at the bottom, was loosely knotted up, I learned from Dad how to do it over the weekend I don’t think it has gone well.

“I tried to sleep but I’m a bit nervous,” I said, it wasn’t a lie I am nervous.

“Nothing to be nervous about,” she said. Stepping closer to me, she had her fluffy grey dressing gown on. She untied my tie and then pulled up my collar, “Watch me closer, your father can do this without magic, I can’t, and I can’t show you how to do it with magic in case you choke yourself, can’t be having that” she puffed her cheeks out and then stepped back took a look at the tie, I’m still so tired I don’t care, she can do what she wants and I will stand here and eye up the toast getting buttered by a knife in the background.

“Yeah, that’s not gonna work” Mum handed me a piece of toast and a cup of orange juice. “I’ll get Dad to fix it when he comes down, Lincoln’s is in the Living room” I yawned, took another piece of toast and left for the living. Lincoln was sitting dressed in his uniform, he looked at me when I walked in and nodded at me hello. He must be tired too. We watched Dungeon Dash together and woke up properly.

Dad walked with a piece of toast in his mouth and coffee in hand. He once again showed me how to make my tie.

“Nicholas” Mum yelled from the Living room, which made all of us here jump out of our skin, “why aren’t you dressed? We must go soon!” Dad exhaled loudly drank the rest of his coffee and stood up, in shorts and a top I had only noticed, and he left and came back 10 minutes later, dressed well in nice pants and a clean grey shirt.

“Have you two got your school bags?” Dad asked.

“Yep,” Lincoln pulled out a school bag from behind the couch.

“No, I’ll go get it now,” I said, standing up and leaving for my room, Still dark I haven’t opened the curtains yet. My bag was on my desk chair, I had spent hours sitting on that chair yesterday on my P.C. looking up all the stuff that was being said about me, none of it was good, the highlights? I’m evil, I’m here to take over the world, and the best one I’m here to lead the rebellions in Europe to success because they always have a dark mage leader, That one was a fun read. I put my grimoire in the bag, Mum said I would need it yesterday and I left it downstairs. Mum and Dad were standing by the kitchen door, Mum had a long summer dress.

“Ready?” Dad asked. I nodded and pushed down the urge to be sick and explode, with the truth of how much I did not want to go. Lincoln and Madison were waiting by the front door. Madison was dressed like Mum in a summer dress. She doesn’t start school until tomorrow, lucky her.

We left and made our way to the transmission station, I didn’t speak, I didn’t feel up to it at all, but I did smile and look like I was fine. I don’t want to worry Mum and Dad, thankfully I haven’t attracted much attention. We waited for Dad to buy the tickets, The kids stood around with a parent, both looking nervous too School must be having that effect on everybody.

“Here you go,” Dad said handing out tickets, I took mine and Lincoln took his. “Keep these tickets on your body when you’re coming back from school The magical signature will bring you back to the central station and then back here, Sound good?” Lincoln and I nodded, Mum pulled us both in for a hug, she held back a tear and was barely able to wish us luck.

“Be good, have a good day,” Dad said, keeping it cool, barely. “We will see you both just before the rookie rumble.”

“Sounds good,” Lincoln said confidently, I nodded. I was too nervous to say anything and my parents would be able to tell, me something was wrong with me.

“Have fun” Madison said, “don’t let the bullies pick on you or anyone else.”

“Madison!” Mum snapped.

“It’s the first day Madison,” Lincoln said, “we don’t even know how the bullies are yet, and besides, who is dumb enough to bully us” Lincoln laughed, “We’re the Kings, powerful mages who stand up for the weak and face our problems head on” Lincoln slapped my arm “let’s go.”

And I did, I waved bye to my parents and Madison then followed my brother down the narrow tunnel towards to shimmering silver wall.

“I know you’re nervous” Lincoln said, after he nudged my arm, “I’m not going to tell you not to be nervous, I don’t know what’s going on with you but you aren’t doing this alone, I’m here too, if you need someone to talk to come replace me and if I need someone to talk to ill come replace you, we will have each other’s back” we reached the silver wall and Lincoln reached his clenched fist out in front me, I hit it with my fist “game face on and let’s go”.

We walked through the silver wall; with a shiver, I appeared on the other side and was met with a rush of noise. Kids were all over the place standing around talking at rapid speed, and taking photos with each other, I noticed that not all of these kids were from Kingsborn, a group we walked past was wearing a light blue blazer that had a different school badge on it, we had to push past groups of kids making our way to the Kingsborn tunnel slowly the noise began to decrease and decrease till it was ghostly silent, It didn’t take long till I realised it why, a phone appeared in front of my face.

“It’s Charles King! Say hi,” said the boy holding it, he had the Kingsborn uniform on and must have been 17. Lincoln grabbed the phone and began to melt it in his hand.

“I’m Lincoln King, hello there” Lincoln dropped the charred phone on the floor, the boy looked besotted with anger.

“Problem here?” came a gravelly voice from behind me, stood there was a tall boy with a scar tracing down his right cheek, a long-haired pulled into a man-bun, brown eyes glaring down, he had a charcoal Black uniform with the Kingsborn School badge on. He walked towards us and reached his hand out for Lincoln to shake. Completely ignoring the kid looking over his burnt phone. “I’m Tim Bridges, You met my grandfather at the guild? Eric Bridges?” My brain responded with images of Mr Bridges in his Kaftan, drinking his massive glass of wine then I looked at Tim and I could not see the family resemblance, I shook his massive hand too.

“Let’s go” We left, and Tim pushed the kids face away.

“So, when I was away I got to go on a few missions with other guilds, I scouted during the last school year, and I ended up going to Egypt, where a whole tomb full of monsters had to be dealt with it was crazy.”

We closed in on the entrance portal to Kingsborn, the kids had completely moved out of our way.

“Charles,” Tim pulled me and Lincoln by the arm. “kids in this school can be a lot, everyone is out to prove themselves so they can get noticed and get into school teams, anyone thinks they can push you around will and then word will get around and more will do it, from what I have heard from your dad, I spoke to him yesterday, he told me about you both... you should have no problem with anybody when you stand up for yourself and I know it’s a little different with the whole dark mage thing but remember one thing, fear is better than respect, you can be a nice guy, once the school is scared to mess with you” I think he is done now, he seems proud of himself with what he said. His scarred cheek touched his eye with his big smile. But I appreciate what he said, and I understand, I guess I have been trying not to make it worse when out in public but in school I will need to be a bit more of my normal self.

We passed through the transmission portal and onto the school ground fresh air graced my face, I looked up at the large defensive walls that surround the school and then walked through the gate,

“I’m going” Tim said, “get in any trouble or need directions come replace me, see ya” he left to a group of 5th years sitting on the grass to our left, they weren’t the only ones doing so, groups of students laced the field, one guy is on a hoverboard coming towards Lincoln and I, closer and closer and whoosh! He leaped over our heads landing like a surfer and continued going. Two girls were sitting on the fountain side in the middle of the path towards the school and

One girl was dying the other one’s hair with a magical brush, she had gone from blonde hair to a redhead.

Aunty Alex was standing at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the main door and neither Lincoln nor I was sure of where we were supposed to go.

“Hey Alex,” Lincoln said, “where are we supposed to go?”

Alex smiled wildly at us, she had her white shirt on and a black skirt on, “Charles you wait here with the other 1st years” she gestured to the cluster of nervous-looking 1st years, all in a line coming down from the top of steps. “I’ll take you to where you have to be Lincoln, oh and call me MS Hill while we are in school... Charles a teacher will be here soon.”

Lincoln pushed my arm and nodded before he left up the steps. I decided to wait and lean back on the stone handrails. I got to have a good look around while the students went about their day, the first years slowly gathering close to me.

Second years hugging each other excitedly showing off their new stuff,

Third years try to look cool standing tall and 4th and 5th years look cool gliding on hoverboards, playing with magic like it’s a toy they got as a child.

“There you are!” I turned around and saw Kevin coming closer his tie was a little loose at the top it looked like he pulled it down a little himself. “It all starts here.”

“It does, let’s smash it” Kevin and I fist-bumped.

“You don’t belong here,” said a firm posh voice I spun around looking for where it came from, thinking someone was talking to me. Tim’s words rang in my head.

“Fear is better than respect” time to stand up for myself, I guess. But I couldn’t see where it came from.

“I said move!” the posh voice spoke again this time louder and now I knew where it came from the top of the steps a cluster of 1st years gathered around one spot, the circle opened, and a ginger-headed girl staring at the floor clutching a battered bag began to leave it and walk down the steps. Suddenly a boy behind her raised his foot and kicked her. She flew down the stairs, I jumped out and grabbed her before she hit the ground hard!

“Thank you, thank you so much” she whimpered. I looked at the boy who did, his cocky grin made my blood boil I don’t like bullies.

Stupid slicked brown hair with more product in it than most models, and his stupid beady brown eyes gloaming down on us. His face will never be able to grow facial hair with how smooth and porcelain it looks,

“Charles King, I take it?” he said slithering down the steps “I am Wyatt Walkerstone, and I am the number one student in our year.”

“What’s he on about?” I whispered to Kevin.

“Think he is trying to call you out,” Kevin said. Shrugging his shoulders.

“I don’t care about any of that,” I said, I helped the ginger-haired girl to her feet properly, and then I stood on a step and moved upwards.

“Oh damn, here we go,” Kevin proclaimed excitedly and leapt to my side looking eager.

“I care more about you kicking a girl down a flight of stairs, from behind too, That’s pretty cowardly from the number one student.” It’s become obvious this diff and I, are now the centre of attention; a balloon pop would sound like a gun right now.

“She now knows where she belongs, down there, with the rest of the scum.”

“You should be careful because I don’t take too kindly to prissy little posh boys playing the big boy in front of his friends” I looked over his shoulder at the group he was with and my eyes caught Charlotte she was the only one not laughing at what was going on. A chunky boy with the forehead of a car window stood in front of Kevin trying to look mean, which did not have the desired effect, Kevin turned to me hiding his face and mouthed “Look at his forehead.”

There was only one step between us now, we glared into each other’s eyes, I knew what he was thinking because I was thinking the same thing.

Go on make your move.

“This has to get more interesting or pack it in” said a playful voice from behind me, I didn’t turn to see who it was, seconds later the same voice spoke but now he was standing next to me, “Seriously you’re both just looking at each other, it’s boring and nobody is impressed, stop it” the boy then left up the stairs and was followed by a girl with bright pink hair. But I still haven’t taken my eyes off Wyatt and what that guy said repeated in my head. The ginger-haired girl started pulling on my and Kevin’s arms.

“Come on just leave it.” She said, in such a low volume, Wyatt’s group started pulling back and eventually we went to separate parts of the steps, “Thank you.”

“It’s cool,” Kevin said, “can’t let you fall on the ground can we.”

“Yeah, it’s cool,” I said, “I’m Charles by the way” I reached my hand out for her to shake.

“Kevin, nice to meet you.” Kevin did the same, and she looked at both, putting her hands out and trying to shake them both at the same time before crossing her hands over like the letter X and shaking them.

“Fair enough,” Kevin said.

ATTENTION 1ST YEARS!” a voice boomed from the top of the steps, “PLEASE FOLLOW ME INTO THE ASSEMBLY HALL” Everyone began to shuffle up the steps,

“I’m Grace,” the Ginger-haired girl said so loud that Kevin and I stopped and so did a few other 1st years.

“Okay, are you coming?” Kevin said, nodding his head in the direction of the main door. We all followed the crowd up the steps and into the school, Just as spectacular as I remember, we walked through the main entrance area into the big doors that were under the stairs at the back. Excited chatter rippled out like waves of the ocean. I didn’t know what was so exciting until I entered the assembly hall, It should be called the grand hall because, damn! This must be where the old queen held court, a long golden path with a red carpet that led to a large stage with Headmistress Simmons standing in the middle flanked by three students on either side, each with different coloured blazers on. Rows of chairs facing the front flanked the red carpet. I took a seat with Kevin and Grace and looked around the hall. I noticed the ceiling had 6 paintings drawn perfectly.

Firstly, Sagittarius is in beautiful gold writing and next to it a purple bow.

Second, Cancer in gold writing, with seaweed green claws next to it.

Third, Scorpio in gold writing with a black staff next to it.

Fourth, Aquarius in gold writing with a blue blade next to it.

Fifth, Aries in gold writing and golden armour next to it.

And the sixth and final one, Taurus in gold writing and a red arm flexing its bicep.

Then it hit me that’s why the students next to the headmistress were dressed in, purple, green, black, blue, gold and red.

“Welcome students!” boomed Headmistress Simmons, The hall fell silent instantly, chairs screeched to a halt and every student sat up straighter. “And Welcome to Kingsborn, here you will learn how to control and grow your magical power” Cheers and applause rippled through the hall. “But while you’re here I expect you all to behave in fitting of future mages, that involves treating each other with respect” I could have sworn that headmistress Simmons made eye contact with me then. “Working hard in your classes and trying your best. For those looking to join a school team school” she gestured her arms to the students next to her, each other them waved and then rubbed their chest pocket and from what I could see, it looked like a symbol.

“As some of you may have noticed the students standing here with me, these are the heads of each of our school teams, there will be opportunities to impress them and one day be invited to join a school team, in the purple Blazer head of team Sagittarius, is Nicola rose” another round of applause washed over the hall, I leant out of my seat to get a better look, Nicola, it was hard to see because I am so far back and all of the people in the way doing the same thing I am. From what I could make out she was tall and brunette, very tall actually and she was eating a packet of Crisp.

“In the green blazer, the head of team cancer is Mathew Burr” This guy has long shoulder-length brown hair and that’s all I can see.

“In the black Blazer, the head of team Scorpio is Timothy Bridges” Kevin and I looked at each other quickly,

“I didn’t know that was him,” I said,

“Neither did I, and I have known him for a long time.”

“Who is he?” Grace leaned over and asked so quietly Kevin and I barely heard her.

“I grew up with him,” Kevin said, “his name is Tim as you heard, his family are in the same guild as mine and Charles’“.

“In the golden blazer is Bartholomew Archibald” Wyatt and his gang of difs jumped up and cheered loudly, the temptation to blast him in the back of the head with a spell was unreal! Bartholomew looked like how did, just smug in a bottle.

“In the red blazer head of team Taurus is Patrick Octane” he was smaller than the others so I couldn’t see him well over the people now standing up.

“Last but certainly not least in the Bright Blue Blazer head of team Aquarius is Michelle Mirage” a blonde-haired cracking her necking.

“These are the head of the team for your first year here, Who thinks they can impress them and become the first, first year in two decades to be invited to join a school?”

Instantly an Explosion of noise boomed and almost everyone began shouting, I looked at Kevin, he shrugged his shoulders and giggled and then looked at the seat next to him and Grace, she looked a little taken back and scared,

Kevin nudged her and asked if she was okay. She turned and looked pale but nodded her head solo. Eventually, the noise died down.

“I’m the strongest here,” a red-haired boy with a familiar accent said, a few rows in front standing up and pounding his chest.

“Oh please,” a girl said a few seats across from him, standing there with her hands on her hips, “we all know that I am” no idea where her accent Is from.

“Stop lying I am, and I’ll be the first to join a team” A second girl stood up on the other side of the hall, headband pulling back her hair.

“No! I am” a gangly boy stood up not too far in front of me, “I’m the strongest here and I can beat everyone here too, and that’s including the little posh boy” he pointed at Wyatt, I laughed, “and the Demon King” he pointed at me. Kevin leant over to me,

“Yo that’s a cool name,” he said.

“I know right, I like it,” I said honestly, I couldn’t lie it did sound cool, everyone spinning around the look at the demon king not so much, I saw Wyatt stand up in the corner of my eye so I thought I better had too and after catching Tim staring at me lifting his head I definitely should. Great now I’m standing up in some weird Mexican standoff with 5 other kids who all think and probably think they can beat me up how fun. “Now what I should do? Do we go outside and settle this?” The other 4 looked shocked apart from Wyatt, who seemed like he would be up for it, I caught chuckles of laughter from Kevin and the team captains and even a smirk from headmistress Simmons.

“There will be no need for that Charles” Headmistress Simmons said, “you will all get the chance to show what you’re capable of today, as today is maybe one of the most fun days you can have, today you’re sorted into your form class that is a class you will have until your very last day of school in your final year, once you’re sort your form teacher will explain your day but to give a brief explanation today is your assessment day, everything will be assessed and after the first and second years battle royale your very first rankings will be revealed” Simmons clapped her hands and then the wall behind started to sprout numbers and letters. At the top in bold letters, “FIRST YEARS”, underneath was blanked apart from numbers going from 1 going downwards to 10 and that’s it.

“The rankings help guilds in recruiting pick prospective new members, That being said they have and still do recruit outside of the top 10 but being in there certainly does help, I think that is enough let’s get everyone into their forms and get your first day going shall we.”