Okay, I think I might have a concussion. Or maybe I slipped into some weird coma-dream. Because right now, my teacher has goat legs. Goat. Legs.
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS GOING ON TODAY?!
Leo was still sprawled on the floor, gawking at Mr. Kay. His teacher stood calmly—horns curling from his head, denim torn around his furry legs like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Breathe, Leo," Mr. Kay said, extending a hand.
Leo didn't move. His brain refused to process reality. Mr. Kay sighed, grabbed him by the arm, and hauled him upright. Leo wobbled like a newborn deer.
Then, with a casual snap of fingers, a small circular table appeared beside them, complete with two chairs. A mini-fridge popped into existence next, humming like it had always belonged in this fog-soaked world.
"I know this is… strange," Mr. Kay said, opening the fridge. "But since you could enter this realm, we should have a little chat. Chocolate milk or regular? Sorry, strawberry's out. Drank the last one."
Leo slumped into a chair. His voice was flat. "I'm fine."
"Come on. Something to drink always helps calm the nerves."
"I said—I'm fine."
Mr. Kay shrugged, grabbed a box of milk, popped in the straw, and sipped with a loud slurp.
Leo stared blankly. What is he even doing? I'm the one losing my mind here, and he's casually drinking school lunch milk like it's a therapy session.
"…He's half monster goat," Leo muttered under his breath.
Damn it. Did I just say that out loud?
Mr. Kay froze mid-sip, looking offended. "Monster? Harsh. I'll have you know, I'm a satyr. We don't eat people. Trash sometimes, sure, but never people."
"So… you are those goat things from Greek myths that eat garbage?"
Mr. Kay groaned. "Wow. Centuries of culture, reduced to 'garbage eater.' Fantastic." He finished his milk with one dramatic gulp.
Leo scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "…Sorry."
The satyr teacher leaned back, tapping the empty carton against the table. "Still. The fact you saw me like this at all… that's surprising. Means you're not ordinary."
Leo blinked. "Not ordinary? You're telling me I'm not ordinary?"
"Exactly. Normal people can't enter this realm." Mr. Kay gestured to the fog around them. "You must be gifted too. Though…" He tilted his head thoughtfully. "You're not actually the one I was supposed to find here."
Leo squinted. "Hold up. Supposed to find? What, are you moonlighting as some kind of magical talent scout?"
Mr. Kay smiled sheepishly. "In a way. I applied to teach at your school because I was asked to locate a certain gifted individual. Bring them somewhere safer. Somewhere special."
Leo leaned forward. "Okay, but why are you telling me any of this?"
"Because you qualify, too."
The satyr suddenly waved his hand, and a pair of maracas appeared out of nowhere. He shook them with flourish, and confetti rained down across the fog.
"You, my boy, are eligible for the academy!"
"…This is officially the weirdest sales pitch I've ever seen."
Before Leo could ask more, Mr. Kay froze, eyes narrowing. With another wave, images flickered into the mist.
The school security guard appeared, pacing by the front gate. His baton twitched in his grip, his eyes red and irritated. At first it looked like allergies. But then Leo noticed the shadow under the guard's feet. It didn't match his movements. In fact, it stretched unnaturally, a jagged grin splitting across its dark surface.
What the hell?! Did that shadow just… smile?
Leo's stomach turned. For a moment he thought he heard a whisper—faint, like words just outside the edge of hearing.
Mr. Kay's expression darkened. "See? This world can be dangerous for people like you."
Dangerous? Teach, my whole life's been dangerous. Just usually with normal unlucky business like stubbing my toe against a rock or accidentally destroying my computer or glasses,not creepy demon shadows.
"How so?" Leo asked warily.
"For starters, you'll start seeing things you shouldn't. Creatures hiding in plain sight. Truths buried deep. And the more you notice them, the more they notice you." Mr. Kay walked a slow circle around the table. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed a chocolate milk box at Leo. "Keep it. It'll help calm you down when you need it. Best brand money can buy."
Leo caught it, staring at the box like it was radioactive. "…You really think milk is gonna fix all this?"
"Hey, don't knock it till you try it. Now…" Mr. Kay raised his hands.
A cloud of thick white mist burst forth, curling around Leo. He coughed, eyes watering as the world blurred.
When his vision cleared, he was floating in a black, infinite void. No ground, no ceiling, no walls—just endless nothing.
Leo spun slowly in place. "…Yep. Totally fine. Just floating in the world's biggest empty closet. No need to panic."
"Now," Mr. Kay's voice echoed, smooth but heavy, "shall we commence this little discussion?"
"You call this a little discussion?!"
Mr. Kay's horned silhouette emerged from the mist. "Leo, I am what's known as a guide. My job is to recruit special students like you to Lumhaven Academy—a school where gifted individuals are trained, protected, and prepared for what's coming."
"Gifted students. Monsters. Magical schools." Leo rubbed his face. "This sounds like the plot of a fantasy webnovel. And spoiler alert—I'm not buying it."
"Whether you believe or not doesn't matter. You're already part of this world now."
Leo slumped, holding the untouched chocolate milk. So let me get this straight. Monsters exist, my teacher's a goat-man recruiter, and I'm suddenly special? Great. Just great.
He groaned into his hands. "Fantastic. Next you'll tell me there's an entrance exam. Or homework. Because clearly my sanity wasn't suffering enough already."