"Hoshimi". Reina's voice echoed in his head from the night before, "The middle child is a witch, be careful of her".
(Even in a family full of normal people, a witch can awaken due to dormant DNA being activated by specific conditions)
It was early in the morning, perhaps too early. The sun shone bright in the sky like a laser burning the back of Hoshimi's neck.
He kept his face neutral, even with the dark circles around his eyes. Reina had been spewing cryptic warnings and dirty jokes the whole night, keeping him awake.
Neila stared at the gate right in front of her, the green hues of the door reflected the light of the sun.
The Mirlo family's estate.
The head of the family is even unknown to all the children, only a single person knows of his face, the head servant.
"I can't believe they didn't even tell us who we needed to protect, totally pieces of shit".
Lucy stood back and stared at the extremely large building standing right in front of her.
Neila shrugged her shoulders.
"Your expectations are too high". Her eyes started to narrow.
[I doubt that our task is just as simple as guarding this family, this must be some kind of fucked up test]
Lucy scowled. "Maybe but they shouldn't be treating us like weapons".
Dominic had his hands in his pockets, staring up behind his sunglasses at the architectural monstrosity of clean concrete, thick steel and bulletproof glass that looked less like a home and more like a bunker meant to withstand a nuclear explosion.
"Is this really what they're up to nowadays? Forcing witches to do such menial tasks".
Sarah ran her fingers through her long brunette hair, as she spoke in a condescending tone.
"They're not even working together, the longer time passes, the more that their egos get the better of them".
She started to stretch as her crimson eyes narrowed, a glow unlike the Walker family's blood red, a sudden glow that was more divine and pure.
Kira's eyes wandered to Hoshimi's body.
[He's quite well built, but his mana, it's rapidly fluctuating. Like a child recently acquiring their use of mana for the first time, does no one else notice?]
Kira stayed quiet as always, half a step behind Hoshimi, her fingers fidgeting with the sleeve of her jacket. Her mana pulsed erratically, her soul shook.
"We have to work in a group? I-I'll just stick with you then".
(The middle child is a witch, be careful of her)
He glanced at Kira.
[One wrong move and she could kill everyone in the building, I really shouldn't anger her]
The tall green gates to the Mirlo estate creaked open with a deep and heavy groan. The head servant stood behind the door, he was an older man that looked like he was in his 60s, eyes that didn't blink enough and a long black coat that reached to his knees.
"Welcome, students of Hex Academy".
He bowed slightly, just enough to acknowledge them but not enough to show submission.
"My name is Tian. I will be your guide within the estate".
Neila raised an eyebrow.
[There's no mana emanating off his body, usually a head butler would be a witch in case the head would need protection, either that or he's hiding his mana output really well]
Dominic proudly stepped towards the butler, staring at him straight in the eyes.
"Who's the head of the family"?
The butler stood unfazed, with his hands behind his back.
"I'm afraid that I am unable to tell you his identity, even the master's children don't know what he looks like".
Dominic clicked his tongue.
"What's kind of parent doesn't show up to meet the witches protecting his family"?
Lucy walked in front of him, tapping at his chest.
"Our dad was the same, I really don't think you should judge".
Tian's lips twitched, barely to the point no one noticed.
"Please refrain from comparing the head of the Walker family, sir Johnathan Walker with the Mirlos. The master has his own personal reasons to stay anonymous".
Dominic scratched the back of his head as he rested his other hand on his hip.
"You really aren't going to budge, are you"?
"The 7 of you will be provided four rooms within the estate, don't worry about the head of the family, your main task right now will be to watch over the three heirs".
The butler stepped aside, gesturing towards the interior as the massive doors started to creak open on their own, revealing a long, pure white hallway of pure marble and cold glass.
Security cameras stood at every single corner like eagles, watching their every move.
"Your rooms are upstairs. You will meet the three heirs shortly".
Edward stared at the rapid red blinking of the cameras.
"They're watching us".
Dominic walked straight up to him, hitting his stomach with his elbow.
"I really think that you should stop being so paranoid".
"You're being way too carefree".
Dominic smiled, a look that looked cheerful but a look that led to the impression that he knew more than he should.
"So? What if they're watching us? They can't do anything".
The interior of the estate was clean, golden and sterile but the shelves seemed unusually messy for a place with this many servants.
Hoshimi stared at the walls, chipping away at the paint with his fingernails, revealing a shiny layer of steel underneath.
[What the hell are they hiding from? There's really no need to be this secure, even I'm nowhere near this cautious]
Neila clicked her tongue as she stared at the shelves.
[These children are messing everything up, I really really can't stand these messy shelves, why the hell aren't the servants cleaning this up?]
Kira walked behind Hoshimi, nudging at his back.
"I've never been in a house this big". She looked around at the hallway. "Walking in here makes me feel like I'm invading into someplace that I'm not supposed to". Sweat rapidly poured down her cheek like a flood. "I'm feeling really really anxious, I c-can't stand it".
She grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, slightly tugging it.
"I'm not being a loser am I"?
[She really does talk a lot]
Hoshimi smiled softly as he pat her head.
"You're not a loser, don't listen to what other people say to you".
Kira smiled, a crooked one, like she was trying her best but not really succeeding.
"You will now meet the three heirs".
The group was led into a lounge, the walls covered with antique paintings that clashed with the modern concrete esthetic of the room.
Three children stood inside.
The eldest child was a boy with black slicked back hair with amber eyes, he spun a kitchen knife between his fingers.
His eyes wandered dismissively, not even looking at any of the witches.
"Why did you even call these fucking witches, I can't even stand their scent".
He threw his knife straight towards Neila's face.
She caught it, right before it hit her face, the blade stuck within her fingers as blood trickled down her arm.
Her eyes widened as her fingers clenched around the blade, dropping it to the floor as she took a step forward, clenching her fist.
Dominic stepped on her foot.
He got close to her and whispered into her ear.
"Don't do anything rash, just stand it".
"Are you kidding me? He just tried to kill me".
Neila stared straight into his eyes.
Hoshimi's eyes stared at the girl sitting to the left on the couch.
She looked to be one year younger than him, one year before she was to get dragged into the exam herself.
She was 16.
Long blonde hair curled up into a ponytail, green eyes that had no sign of any life.
The eyes are the window to the soul, mana is the essence of the soul. A witch that couldn't access any mana is one who cannot access their soul.
She had sun touched skin, her hair reached to her mid back.
She stared down at the carpet, her hands had bruises yet her face remained pristine like a doll.
[I see what's happening here, she's getting abused for being a witch in her family]
Hoshimi's eyes narrowed.
Neila rolled her eyes as she grabbed a nearby piece of paper and wrapped up the wound.
[Look at that girl, she's not fighting back against them even though she's being ostracized, how pitiful]
"Really? You all are mostly female witches, you aren't going to protect me in the slightest, you all can't do anything".
The first son pointed her finger towards Neila.
The last child was young, around 14 years of age. He sat perfectly in a high backed leather chair, his hands folded neatly on his lap.
His hair was shoulder length like that of a girl, hair as white as an angel matching his pale skin.
"Brother". The child spoke up. "Please try not to provoke our guests even if they may be witches, they're protecting us on their behalf".
"Shut the hell up Elias, they're witches, who cares what I do to them". The eldest brother scoffed, dismissively waving his hand.
"Master Adrian, please refrain from insulting our guests, the children of the two of the four great families are here", Tian spoke up.
The oldest son flinched slightly.
Kira slightly tugged at Hoshimi.
"That girl, she has gone through years of abuse, I can tell just by the look on her face".
She looked down at her feet.
"I can't talk to her, I h-have problems with social interactions, but she looks hurt, can you try to comfort her"?
Hoshimi sighed as he begrudgingly scratched the back of his head.
"Fine".
He cracked his neck as he walked towards the girl, his calm eyes suddenly started to widen as a fake smile flashed across his face.
"He-"
"The seven of you will be guided to your rooms, follow me".
Tian gestured the seven of them to leave the room.
The youngest child smiled, an unnatural expression on his face.
"I hope you're comfortable".
Tuan's voice echoed.
"Quickly decide on who is going to sleep in the same room".
Lucy immediately scoffed as she stared daggers into Neila.
"There's no way in hell, so stop looking at me".
Neila's face didn't change, instead she looked away from her.
"I never said I wanted to".
"Come on Neila". Dominic placed a hand on her shoulder, immediately sending a chill down her spine. "I'll sleep with Lucy, we share the same blood".
"You do you, I guess".
Neila leaned against the wall, she looked away nonchalantly.
"I guess I'll sleep with one of the girls".
Kira held onto Hoshimi's arm tightly.
"I'll sleep with him".
Neila's eyes suddenly widened as she stared at Hoshimi, it was like she was staring at a ghost.
[His mana isn't wavering because this is his first time, it's wavering because he's compressing his mana, his body's mana is already high. It's even higher than that!? He could be the key to my mana deficiency, this might be my only chance!]