Closing the door behind me, I took in the sight of Ashford. Although I was in a more suburban part, it was still a view to look at.
The neatly lined trees on the sidewalks, the symmetrical style of the buildings, and the cars that seemed to be perfectly parked. This would be paradise for someone with OCD.
Walking the usual route to school, I breathed in the fresh air of spring as I heard a voice shout my name. "Adrian, wait up!"
This was none other than my childhood best friend Victor Thron. Having grown up together in this neighborhood as kids, I knew everything about him. "Why are you walking so fast!" he asked, breathing heavily as he struggled to catch up.
Victor was not the most athletic person I knew, being a little overweight. He had green eyes and was dirty blond. His freckled cheeks were obviously chubby, and he looked like a ball that could roll down a hill. Claiming to have a six-pack one time, he showed me his belly flaps, which numbered six.
I slowed my pace and looked at him as he wobbled towards me. "Hurry, or we will be late for school again!" I said with a frown. I was late to school almost every day, having to listen to my teacher's scoldings each time. The reason for my lateness was still trying his best to keep up.
Seeing the school in the distance, I checked my phone and let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, I would make it with a couple of minutes to spare.
The school was a relic of the past, having stone walls that had endured the test of time. It might as well be a historic landmark. Having only three floors, it had a square-like design, with a courtyard in the middle.
Swiping our student IDs, we entered the building and walked towards our classroom.
Opening the door, I saw the teacher, Mr. Cross, stare at us with clear disdain in his eyes. "Take your seats and get ready for class," he said.
The desks were neatly arranged in rows, with each row slightly more elevated than the previous one, allowing every student to see. Too tired to argue with this senile old man, I walked towards my seat, which was located in the second row towards the middle. Victor sat in the back, so we parted ways.
Seated next to me on my right was a quiet girl named Amilia Vance. Though she was present physically in class, she wasn't mentally. With black hair flowing down her head, she slept soundly as we waited for the teacher to start.
To my left was an arrogant dimwit who thought that he was akin to a god, Sebastian Carter. Leeching off his parents' wealth, he had no shame when it came to showing it off. Wearing a designer watch, which he made sure that everybody noticed at every possible opportunity, he wore a smug grin on his face.
Although he was arrogant, nobody wanted to confront him. He was six feet tall and robustly built. With blue eyes and blonde hair, if his attitude weren't so heinous, he would've been popular with the ladies.
Seeing the teacher walk towards the whiteboard, I tapped Amilia's shoulder. "Wake up, class is starting," I whispered. Though I didn't talk to her often, she still allowed me to copy her homework from time to time, so I at least owed her this much.
Stirring awake, she shifted slightly before lifting her head. A small line of drool had formed near her lips, which she quickly wiped away. "Thanks," she whispered back.
"Ahem, today we are going to be learning about..." Mr. Cross began his lesson, but I was more focused on the subtle pain in my head.
At first, it was barely noticeable, a slight pressure behind my eyes. The pain steadily grew stronger as my ears began to ring.
"Ugh..."
I lowered my head as I started gripping my hair tightly. The pressure reached a point where it felt like my head was about to pop like a balloon.
A voice resounded in my mind as the pressure reached its climax.
"Congratulations, ████ ██ ███ ██████, you have earned the skill [Subtle Manipulation]."