Dedicated for sleepingintonight

***

Theodore Sanders.

He stared at Seb as if he were an alien that landed inside the bookshop by mistake. He then gave a snort and turned away.

"Hay Seb! This is the book I was mentioning before _ Oh!" 

Seb looked over his shoulder, only to see Samantha running to him with a thick book that said something along the lines of "Grandmaster" and "Cultivation". Seb got a bit confused. He wasn't interested in agriculture.

Beatrice followed from behind, totally bored.

"Your girlfriend?" Theodore asked, mockingly.

"No," Beatrice answered as she popped her gum.

"Hi!" Samantha said with a grin, stretching our her hand, "Theodore Sanders right? The weilder of Odin?"

"That's right," Theodore said.

Samantha turned to Beatrice, her eyes turned into crescent while trying not to grin too much.

"We heard alot about you! You are famous among the Level As."

Theodore nodded. He then turned to Seb.

"And you are with Seb because?"

"We met him along the way," Samantha said. She handed the book to Seb. "You gotta read this!"

"Uh. Okay..."

"So, Seb. You coming for Bonfire night?"

Seb was looking around the bookshop, trying escape the awkward atmosphere. The question caught him off guard for a while, "Bon fire?"

"It's the bon fire we hold once every once on the beach," Samantha explained, "You probably haven't heard much about it because you are new."

"Is it allowed?"

Samantha gave out a puff, "Of course not! That's what makes it exciting!"

"Are you coming?" Beatrice asked.

"I_"

"Ivan comes sometimes, you can come with him," Samantha said.

Seb laughed, rather uncomfortably as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I should get going..."

"Sure! Shit! We have to go to the Cafe before the eclairs finish," Samantha said. She shoved the book towards Seb before dragging Beatrice outside, leaving Theodore and Seb alone by the shelf.

"Bye," Seb said, turning away.

"You really have managed to fool everyone haven't you," Theodore said with a scoff. "Come to the bon fire tonight. Be there, or else I will tell everyone your secret."

Seb frowned. "What secret?"

Theodore and Seb stared at each other. Seb really didn't understand why Theodore always seemed to despise him. They only met in middle school and Theodore has always been giving him trouble ever since. It first stared with the rumours that Seb to this day didn't know, followed by people starting to avoid him to some reason. Some of the more rough boys whould shove him and laugh at his face once in a while. But Theodore always had dislikes him, seemingly hates him since the beginning.

"Your father," Theodore said. "I will tell everyone who your father is, then they will realize that all this heroics of yours is just a publicity stunt."

Seb simply stared. Dumbfounded. He never could have guessed that Theodore Sanders out of all people knew. How he knew was an ever bigger mystery. All of a sudden, Seb couldn't help but chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

"He would be the first person to kill the news," Seb said.

Theodore scoffed again as he folded his arms. "Riding on your father's coattails aren't you."

"You got me wrong," Seb said. "He is too ashamed to admit that he even has a son. Don't waste your time. He probably doesn't even remember I exist."

With that, Seb turned away and left the book store.

The knowledge that Theodore knew shook him so much to the core that he didn't even notice that he had bought an the Chinese translation Samantha gave to him. It was quite expensive, but seeing the cover of two ancient Chinese warriors on the background, he guessed that maybe it might not be a boding read.

Seb wandered around the small town, glancing at the ornament shops, butchers and the cafes. He ordered a croissant and a latte from a small bakery before making his way to the pier and stared at the painted boats and sea gulls.

When he felt like it was dark enough, he made his way back to his dorm where he ordered some pasta and salad from the cafeteria. The rest of the day was spent reading the new volume of Cataclysmic Adventures he bought from the book store.

Without his knowledge, he found himself falling asleep, only to be woken up by a knock on his door.

Groggily, Seb stood up from his bed and found Ivan standing in front of his door, dressed meticulously with a gray turtleneck and a black jeans with his golden hair combed to the side.

"Dress up," Ivan said.

"Huh?"

"It's bon fire night," Ivan said.

It took a while for Seb to register what it was. Seb shook his bed head and flatterned aome of his loose strands. "You... Actually attend stuff like that?"

"It's not mandatory, but attendance is expected. You don't want to be a complete social outcast. Also, it's a good chance to observe."

"Observe what?"

"You will see."

Ivan said. "Get ready."

Ivan quickly changed his shirt into a dark blue t shirt with a neon anime print and put on his shoes. He then quickly rushed behind Ivan.

The location of the bonfire seemed to be an abandoned stretch of beach on the other side of the island. Ivan and Seb left the facility premises through a defect in the fence that encircled the premises. As the fence somehow managed to cut through the local forest vegetation of the island, the defect was inconspicuous and unnoticeable. It also seemed to be one of the areas least patrolled by the guards. Ivan held the wire fence up as he passed through. Seb followed from behind. After walking through the vegetation, they fell into a small footpath that eventually led to the beach.

A bonfire was already burning bright in the middle of the beach as the teenagers gathered around logs and held party cups. There was one boy with an icebox that kept on handing out cans of soda and juice. Besides the boy was a group who were barbecuing sausages and kebabs.

Seb couldn't imagine how they even managed to bring all the equipment needed for a barbecue, but it was going on in full swing. There was even a makeshift volleyball court set up in the corner where there were people playing volleyball.

The moment the smell of barbecued meat wafted over to Seb's nostrils, he felt hungry all of a sudden.

"Seb!" yelled a voice.

Seb looked around and found Samantha running towards him. She was wearing a green summer dress with Beatrice who was in a crop top and denim shorts.

"Glad you could make it!" She said. But the moment she saw Ivan, she shrieked and tried her best to hold her scream.

"H-hi!" She gasped.

Ivan turned to Seb.

"You... Know them?"

Seb nodded. "I uh... Met them today, while going to town."

"Can I get an autograph?" Samantha asked.

But the frown on Ivan's face was too obvious to ignore.

"Uh... There is barbecue and drinks if you want. We want to play volleyball for a while. See you later!"

With that, the girl's disappeared.

Ivan glanced at Seb, rather judgementally.

"What?" Seb said, almost hearing Ivan's thought. "She likes Cataclysmic Adventures as well."

"Is that your critiria for finding acquittances?" Ivan replied. He had grown quite accustomed with Seb's obsession over fantasy novels.

"No, but... They aren't bad. I guess."

Ivan glanced at the two girls, his frown lessening a bit. "Maybe so. But you really should be careful when picking... Friends."

"They are not... Friends... Right. I mean, I only met them today."

"There are two types of people who can approach you, Sebastian."

"And that is?"

"Those who think you are interesting and those who think you are useful."

Seb glanced at the people around them. Some were trying their best not to look their way.

"What category do you belong to then?"

"I never dared to approach you. I just got stuck with you. And you are useful, in a way."

Seb felt a chuckle leak out of him. "I guess I can take that as a compliment."

"You should."

It was Jeremy who brought a paper plate with some kebabs and a cup of lemon soda to the two who were seemingly observing the crown from near the tree lines.

"Thanks," Seb said as he took a kebab.

"Must be your first time," Jeremy said.

Seb nodded.

"Great. Ricky is hosting the barbeque this time, feel free to get what you want. I guess Ivan will be happy to just scowl and watch."

"Yes," Ivan replied.

Jeremy left to where Gabrielle was having an arm wrestle with a boy on top of a log.

"So you just... Stand here and do nothing?" Seb said.

Ivan sighed. "No. Come on."

The moment Ivan stepped towards the more sandy side of the beach, most turned their heads to watched. He then picked a place to sit as he watched the waves. Seb sat on the ground next too him, not minding the sand.

It was rather peaceful if you could ignore the chatter in the background.

"Oi! Seb!"

Seb jumped with a start, only to find Theodore running towards him.

"You really had the guts to come."

Bryan followed from behind, with Killian peaking from behind him.

"Hi, Seb," Killian said meekly.

"Oh. Hi."

Theodore was about to say something when he noticed Ivan sitting next to Seb.

"You never leave Ivan's side, huh," Theodore said.

Seb simply stared, wondering what Theodore was trying to do. It's not like he could shove him around and make names at him like back at school.

Ivan cracked his neck bones as he looked up at Theodore.

"Do you know him, Sebastian?"

"Old classmate."

"Ah. I see. Shall I leave you to it then?"

Seb would have prepared if he didn't, but he couldn't keep Ivan.

"As you wish," Seb replied.

Ivan looked at Theodore, before ignoring him and staring back at the sea.

"I want to challenge you to a friendly duel. What do you say?"

Silence slowly encroached the beach.

Seb looked up. "What?"

"A duel."

"On the beach?"

"Yes. It's customary. I've always wanted to know how truly strong you are."

All that was left was silence. Seb turned to Ivan. "Is it_"

"It's usual. You can accept if you want. But if you refuse they usually make you do an embarrassing dare it seems."

"Oh."

Seb really didn't want to fight. He looked back at Theodore.

"Do you really want to?"

"Are you scared people might know you are really weak?"

Someone took a deep inhale of breath. Bryan stepped forward, "Theo... That's _"

"Leave yourself out of this Bryan. So? What do you say?"

"I really don't care what you think of me, Sanders," Seb replied. "Or anyone else."

"So the media is just exaggerating everything?"

"Believe whatever you want," Seb replied.

Theodore felt blood rush into his face. "If you don't accept the duel, I will tell everyone!"

Seb raised his brow.

"Tell what?" Someone asked.

Ivan looked at Theodore, "Tell what exactly."

"Who your father is!" Theodore whispered so that only Seb and Ivan could hear.

Seb and Ivan looked at each other.

Eventually, Seb stood up.

There was some cheering, along with curious whispers onto what Seb's secret was. Theodore walked towards the shoreline and a jewelled battle axe materialised in his hands.

Seb simply stood by the shore. He swept his hand over the air, forming Gilgamesh with levitated steadily as if nailed into the air.

And so, Theodore attacked.