"Come on, Belle, be polite," Dorothy said, her voice sharp with annoyance. She glared at Belle, who only stared back with an uninterested expression.
Viktor stood between them, caught in the middle. A faint, awkward smile clung to his face, though inside he felt insulted. He thought about leaving, but forced himself to stay. His fists tightened at his sides, hidden from the girls' view.
"Anyway… my name is Viktor," he said, turning his head slightly, looking from Belle to Dorothy. His heart pounded faster, each second heavier than the last. His feet itched to move, but he waited nervously for Belle's response.
It came quick.
"No one cares, Viktor."
The words hit him straight in the chest, crushing what little confidence he had. His smile stayed on his lips, but inside his mind shattered. He wished he had never walked over, or better yet, that he could vanish altogether.
"Belle! What's wrong with you?" Dorothy snapped, her voice rising. She turned to Viktor, her tone softening immediately. "Please, my name is Dorothy. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Viktor replied, forcing a smile at her kindness. "I'll just… move over there. It's really nice to meet you, Dorothy."
Unable to endure the humiliation, he turned swiftly and walked away, making sure not to look in Belle's direction.
"Coward," Belle muttered under her breath as she watched him leave.
Dorothy spun toward her, angry. She lunged to grab Belle, but Belle dodged out of the way.
"Come here!" Dorothy shouted.
They repeated the chase for a while, Dorothy trying to catch her, Belle always slipping aside. Finally, Dorothy stopped, out of breath and fuming, while Belle stood grinning, sliding a lollipop into her mouth.
"We haven't made any friends since we got here," Dorothy complained, folding her arms tight. "And all you do is push people away. What's wrong with you?"
"I don't know. Maybe I don't like anyone?" Belle answered coolly, twisting the lollipop in her mouth. "I just hate seeing their faces. And that Viktor guy is even more annoying than Mark."
"Don't say things like that," Dorothy said with a frustrated sigh.
Belle shrugged. "Where the hell is John, anyway? He doesn't have abilities, so maybe there's some special place for him."
Her tone was casual, almost mocking. As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward the corner where Mark, still weak from her earlier fight, was being lifted to his feet by others.
"Weak ass bunch," she muttered with a small laugh.
Before Dorothy could answer, their wrist devices lit up with a sudden blue glow. Everyone raised their arms to look closer as a small holographic figure appeared above the devices.
"Attention everyone," the hologram spoke. "The wait is finally over. Today, you will be divided into your clan colors and addressed by the Council members and the Captains. Please exit this building and follow the lady you will see at the entrance. She will direct you to the main hall. You will receive further instructions when you arrive. Thank you."
The message faded, and at once the room burst into noise. Excited chatter filled the space as boys and girls talked over one another about the Captains, the Council, the Furious Three. The air buzzed with joy, they couldn't believe they were about to see their idols in real life.
"Why is everyone so happy?" Dorothy asked, still looking confused.
Belle slid her lollipop aside and answered, "The Captains are powerful. Some of the strongest people on this planet. Of course they have fans, even back on Earth. Who wouldn't want to see them?"
"Do you have anyone you admire?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Yeah. Captain Deborah," Belle said without hesitation. "The lady who looks almost like me. She's got blue eyes too. Coincidence, right?"
Together, they followed the stream of Izigans outside. At the entrance, a tall woman in a grey dress stood waiting. She led them down a wide road that ended at an enormous building, its size dwarfing everything around it.
When they reached the doors, each student was asked to place their left wrist on a standing device. A blue light scanned beneath the skin, then displayed one of the eight clan colors.
Many others stepped in, the machine displaying Their supposed clans.
Hina—scarlet clan (pink).
Derek—mage clan (red).
Belle—earth clan (blue).
Dorothy stepped up next. She placed her arm on the scanner, but the machine took longer than usual. Blue light flickered… then shifted. A new color appeared. White.
The officials nearby immediately noticed. Two of them walked over quickly.
"Please follow us, young lady," one said firmly.
Dorothy looked at Belle, her eyes wide with confusion. Belle stared back, stunned. Already, she felt a sinking weight pressing down inside her chest. The moment Dorothy walked away with the officials, Belle realized she was alone.
"Shit," Belle muttered under her breath. She crossed her arms, rubbing her shoulders like she was cold.
Inside, the hall was massive. Rows upon rows of seats curved outward in a fan shape, each section divided by clan color.
Thousands of seats waited, but most were already filling up with laughing, chatting Izigans. At the very front, raised above all others, was the high platform where the Captains and Council would sit.
Belle found her clan section and stepped in. To her surprise, not a single person was there. She sat in the second row of the front seats, telling herself not to panic.
'It's fine. People are still coming.'
Minutes passed. Then hours. She watched as group after group streamed in but none stopped at the earth clan seats. Every other color filled up. Blue remained empty.
Finally, Belle understood. Out of thousands of Izigans, she was the only one in the earth clan.
The whispers began. Heads turned toward her. Curious stares lingered, full of questions. How could this be? Why only her?
The earth clan had long since fallen into nothingness, barely recognized even back on Earth. Some said they should just merge into other clans.
Belle sat frozen, embarrassed. Her heart pounded. She let her hair fall to both sides of her face, trying to hide herself from their eyes. But she could still feel them staring.
'Why is this happening to me? Maybe that Viktor boy cursed me. I'm losing my mind. I can't even lift my head. These dumbasses won't stop looking.'
She pressed her palms to her ears, then dragging her face skin.
"Someone just make me disappear right now," she whispered.