Chapter 108 Girl in the courtyard

Chapter 108 Girl in the courtyard

The late afternoon sun filtered through the ornate windows of Ebony High, painting the hallways with a golden glow. The air hummed with the energy of a bustling magic school, its corridors teeming with students in their distinctive robes, each engaged in animated conversations or rushing off to their next destination.

As lunchtime descended, the atmosphere became even more charged. The students reveled in their precious freedom, dispersing in all directions like leaves caught in a gust of wind. Some headed to the grand dining hall, stomachs grumbling with anticipation, while others congregated in small groups, finding cozy corners to share meals and tales of magical endeavors.

Amidst the lively throng, an undercurrent of excitement pulsed through the air. Gossip buzzed like wildfire, carried on hushed voices and eager whispers. The hot topic on everyone's lips was the impending announcement of the "All Year Trip". Speculation ran wild, fueled by wild theories and vivid imaginations. Some claimed it would be an adventure through enchanted forests, while others swore it would be a journey into the heart of the mystical realm.

Among the students, theories swirled like leaves in a playful dance. Some whispered with wide-eyed wonder, sharing their fantasies of the upcoming escapade. Others gathered in clusters, fervently debating the potential destinations and the magical encounters that awaited them.

The anticipation hung in the air, a palpable force that added an extra spark to the already vibrant surroundings. For the students of Ebony High, the promise of the All Year Trip was more than just an excursion; it was an opportunity to explore the depths of their magical abilities, forge new bonds, and unravel the mysteries of the enchanted world they called home.

In the midst of the bustling activity, a lone student stood by a stone pillar, his gaze fixed on the open expanse of the grassy courtyard where a cluster of male students had gathered. Hidden within the confines of his ear, a discreet black device hummed with quiet energy.

"Mendy, do you read me?" The voice crackled through Mendy's earpiece, distinctly belonging to Kan. Mendy glanced around, ensuring no prying eyes were fixed on him.

"Loud and clear!" Mendy confirmed, subtly acknowledging that the line was secure.

"Why do I have to keep watch outside again?" Mendy inquired, fidgeting with his trousers to rectify a minor discomfort. A quick, surreptitious adjustment ensured that his act went unnoticed.

"And seriously, these pants don't fit well at all!" Mendy grumbled in frustration.

"Yeah, I saw you pull off that wedgie just now. Hahaha... Your face, man. You really thought you got away with it, didn't you?" Kane's voice teased from the other end, indicating that he had eyes on Mendy.

"You still haven't explained why we're observing a bunch of boys. I'm starting to doubt this plan of yours!" Mendy expressed his growing dissatisfaction with the unfolding scheme.

"Relax, Mendy. I didn't have you stitch us these shoddy uniforms just for you to bail on me now!" Kan reassured.

"What? That was the easy part. Blending in, pretending to be one of these pampered, feeble-minded kids - that's the real challenge! I could probably teach every single one of your teachers!" Mendy's disdain for the school was palpable. His return to an educational institution, this time incognito as a student, was far from what he had anticipated.

"Alright, listen up. During the test last week, I overheard a group discussing gangs in this school. I wasn't initially sold on the idea until I spotted a bunch of guys parading a specific color around their necks," Kan relayed through their covert communication.

"I might not be an expert on gangs, but that, to me, seemed like a well-organized crew!" Kan's voice held a note of conviction. The pieces of their covert operation were slowly falling into place.

In the dimly lit room, tension hung heavy in the air as Mendy's frustration boiled over.

"Okay, what exactly are we supposed to do when we find 'this' gang?!" Mendy's voice held an edge of exasperation.

"All you said was you knew a gang we could recruit in your school. I thought you had a pretty solid relationship with their leader or something!!" His words reverberated with impatience, almost accusing.

"Well, you miscalculated!" Kan's response was sharp, his tone reflecting the mounting pressure of the situation.

"Besides, bonding with a gang leader isn't as easy as you might think!" Kan's voice softened, carrying a note of wisdom gleaned from experience.

"You should also be the smart techie one, right? Why am I the one -" Kan's frustration was about to escalate further, but Mendy swiftly interjected.

"Shut up, I see something!!" Mendy's eyes lit up, excitement dancing within them. He focused intently on the courtyard, where three figures were moving together, aligning with the description Kan had provided earlier.

The courtyard, drenched in the golden hues of the setting sun, became their focal point. The trio, distinct from the rest, exuded an aura of camaraderie and purpose. It was a scene that ignited a spark of anticipation within Mendy.

His voice lowered to a conspiratorial hush, "These might be the ones. Let's observe for a bit, see if they display any other signs."

Kan nodded, his gaze unwavering. The gravity of their mission hung heavy, the unknown lurking on the edges of their vision. They were on the cusp of a clandestine endeavor, their every move calculated, their every word weighed with caution.

In the midst of the bustling courtyard, the trio Mendy had spotted stood out like beacons with their distinctive white and black scarfs neatly wrapped around their necks. Their purposeful stride and unified presence hinted at a bond that ran deeper than mere camaraderie.

As they traversed the courtyard, a subtle ripple spread through the student body, a well-coordinated dance of activity. Seats were abandoned, conversations cut short, and students dispersed with an efficiency that might escape a casual observer.

The trio settled onto one of the leisure benches, surveying their surroundings. The courtyard, once teeming with life, now held a vacant air, as if echoing the hushed anticipation that hung in the atmosphere.

Then, with a sharp, piercing whistle from one of the guys, a hidden corner of the courtyard disgorged an additional three members, each adorned with the distinctive white and black scarf. But they weren't alone, among them was a girl, her demeanor betraying a hidden distress that she fought hard to conceal.

Mendy relayed his observations to Kan, providing keen insights into the situation. "There's a girl with them, and she doesn't seem all too happy!"

Kan, acknowledging Mendy's perceptive abilities, sought clarity. "How do you know this?"

Mendy's response was a blend of confidence and pragmatism. "Well, one because I have a pair of eyes and can read emotions that are quite glaring, and two because I've been around Jessica for a while now to know how girls work!"

Recognizing the validity of Mendy's assessment, Kan conceded, avoiding further banter. Instead, he proposed a cautious course of action. "For now, we observe."

Mendy's eyes returned to the unfolding scene, his focus unwavering.

After minutes of what appeared to be casual conversation between the new occupants of the courtyard and the girl they had brought along with them, Mendy's eyes suddenly bulged out as he watched the scene transform before his very eyes, the scene took a very disturbing turn that Mendy for a moment zoned completely out and only recovered himself after the high point of it. Immediately,he sought to alert kan immediately.

"We might have a problem Kan!!" Mendy said over the telecommunication device but at that point, a response came from behind him.

"I see it too," Kan said, already standing behind Mendy.

In front of them, they could see a lady with short brown hair, almost around the length of her neck and a timid look forced down to her knees before a particular guy, the one whom from Mendy's observation appeared to be the one in charge of the whole show.

When she got on her knees, a few words appeared to have been uttered and it then seemed as though the girl stalled in her reply which didn't go unnoticed by the apparent gang leader who then took this the wrong way and proceeded to land a heavy slap on her cheek, pushing her to the ground.

But just as quickly as she fell to the ground, the other boys wearing the black and white scarf were quick to pick her up to face their leader once again. And then, a few more words left the leader's mouth before yet another slap descended on the girls face. This time around, she didn't fall to the floor because she was being held. However, her nose had given way to a burst of mucus that splattered all over including reaching the gang leader's trousers.

Now things took a wicked turn as a palpable anger surged through the gang leader who forced her face against his trousers, rubbing her own mucous all over her face. But it seemed the gang leader wasn't satisfied as he led her face to somewhere else.

"She's been molested," Kan mouthed as he watched along with Mendy.

"Yeah, things like this happen in gangs. Must be the fact that she must have done something!" Mendy responded as he too had his eyes on the scene.

"No, not that girl. She's too fragile to have sinned again, not especially after the last time," Kan said.

"What? You met her before?" Mendy asked.

"Yeah, something like that. I mean, she was unconscious and bleeding but yeah, I did meet her," Kan responded.