The morning shone bright, the golden rays spilling through the tall windows of the Goldschild estate. Servants bustled quietly in the halls, their movements precise and purposeful. Everything in my life, it seemed, was decided before I even opened my eyes the clothes I would wear, the breakfast I would eat, the routine I would follow. Such a boring life, I thought as I sat up in bed, stretching lazily.
"Young lady, it's time for your morning routine," came the familiar voice of our butler, his tone as steady as always.
"I know, I know," I replied, waving him off as I slid out of bed. My mornings were always the same: a round of cleaning like a normal person, a light breakfast, and some prescribed exercises—an endless loop of monotony.
I headed to the lavish washroom, its marble floors cool against my feet, and went through the motions of cleaning up. The intricate gold fixtures gleamed in the sunlight, and the scent of lavender soap filled the air. My reflection stared back at me in the massive mirror, the pink of my hair a stark reminder of my lineage. I tied it back neatly, ensuring every strand was in place. Presentation, after all, was everything.
Soon after, I made my way down the grand staircase to the dining room on the other floor. Even though this wasn't the main branch building of the Goldschild family, the mansion was vast, each room dripping with opulence. The chandeliers sparkled above me as I walked past rows of antique vases and paintings that lined the halls, all carefully curated to reflect our status.
Breakfast was a work of art as always: a luxurious omelette crafted from the finest ingredients—lobster, caviar, eggs, potatoes, sour cream, chives—all topped with a rich lobster sauce made from its shells. The flavors danced on my tongue, a symphony of indulgence.
"It's delicious as always," I said, dabbing my lips with a napkin. "Please convey my compliments to the chef, Butler."
"He will be glad to hear it, young lady," the butler replied with a slight bow.
Once breakfast was over, I made my way to the backyard—though calling it a "backyard" felt like an understatement. It was more like a private field, stretching as far as the eye could see. The neatly manicured lawns and rows of exotic flowers seemed to go on forever, bordered by tall trees that shielded the estate from prying eyes. A faint breeze carried the scent of roses and fresh grass, a calming yet oppressive reminder of my gilded cage.
Today, I had a plan, one that would break the dull rhythm of my days.
"I'm sorry, Butler, but I'm going for a walk," I said casually, a small smile playing on my lips.
"What do you mean, young lady?" he asked, concern flickering in his eyes.
Before he could protest further, I teleported away, disappearing from their sight in an instant. The servants would no doubt panic, spreading word throughout the mansion that the young lady of the Goldschild family had vanished.
"Everyone, inform all the servants to search for the young lady! We must find her quickly before the patriarch hears about this!" the butler would surely order, his calm demeanor cracking under the weight of urgency.
Meanwhile, I stood atop a tall tree in the distance, surveying the world beyond the confines of the estate. The wind tousled my pink hair as I scanned the horizon for something—anything—to spark excitement. Then, my eyes caught sight of a city in the distance. Among its sprawling streets and buildings, one structure stood out: a high school. Curiosity tugged at me, and I decided to head there.
As I approached the school, I distorted the space around me, bending light to render myself invisible. Though I couldn't see as others did, I could sense the vibrations of space, the sounds of footsteps, laughter, and even the occasional sigh of frustration from students. It was a symphony of life, so different from the sterile quiet of the Goldschild mansion.
I wandered the halls undisturbed, taking in the sights: rows of lockers, bulletin boards filled with announcements and club posters, and classrooms buzzing with activity. But as I turned a corner into an empty hallway, I decided to drop my invisibility. For a moment, I simply roamed, enjoying the novelty of the unfamiliar surroundings.
Then I heard it—a desperate cry for help.
"Help!" a girl's voice echoed, tinged with fear.
My heart quickened as I followed the sound, arriving at a scene that made my blood boil. A girl was cornered by a group of bullies, both boys and girls. Some took turns kicking her, others slapped her, and a few held her pinned against the wall. The rest simply watched, their faces twisted with amusement. At the center of it all was a girl with fiery red hair and eyes, laughing as she barked orders to her lackeys.
"What a disdainful sight," I muttered under my breath, stepping forward.
The group noticed me immediately, their attention shifting to the intruder.
"Hey, hey, what's a kid doing here?" one of the boys sneered.
"She's probably some teacher's kid," another chimed in, smirking.
The red-haired girl strode up to me, looking down with a condescending smile. "You shouldn't be here, little girl."
"Wait, doesn't her pink hair look like… the Goldschild family's?" someone whispered.
At that, the group froze. Everyone knew the Goldschild family—their wealth, their power, their unmatched lineage.
"The Goldschild family wouldn't come here," a girl scoffed nervously. "They're too arrogant and rich to stand in a place like this."
I narrowed my eyes, their words igniting a spark of fury within me. "Not only have you presented me with this disgusting display, tainting my eyes and this school, but you've also dared to insult my family. Ah, it infuriates me."
The atmosphere shifted as the ground trembled beneath their feet. One by one, the bullies collapsed, pinned to the floor under the crushing weight of my power. Their faces contorted in fear and pain, eyes darting wildly as they struggled to comprehend the invisible force bearing down on them. Only the bullied girl remained standing, trembling as she watched the scene unfold.
"Wait! My father's company is a subsidiary of the Goldschild branch family!" the red-haired girl stammered, her bravado crumbling.
"Quiet," I commanded, my voice cold as ice. "Those who insult my family will face their punishment."
With a snap of my fingers, the girl who insulted my family had her tongue retracted into her mouth unnaturally, and her jaw snapped with a sickening crunch. She screamed, tears streaming down her face, her hands clawing at her own throat in terror.
"And those who have tainted my eyes will receive the same fate," I declared.
The other bullies watched in horror as I gestured with my hand. The ones who had struck the girl screamed as their arms twisted inward, mangled beyond recognition. The ones who had kicked her fell to the floor as their legs collapsed, the bones shattering under invisible pressure. Those who had watched for amusement clutched at their faces as their vision was stolen, their eyes reduced to empty sockets.
As for their leader, she faced it all: her limbs crushed, her vision stolen, her screams were guttural, raw with desperation and agony. She screamed, her voice hoarse and raw, cursing me even as she writhed in pain.
"You little b*tch! I'll make you pay for this! I'll hire a hitman to kill you!" she spat, her words dripping with venom.
The mention of a hitman was the final straw. My anger erupted, distorting the space around me. The pressure intensified, and the walls began to crack. The bullies fainted under the crushing force, and the red-haired girl's head crumbled like a brittle stone, splattering blood across the hallway.
The bullied girl—the one I had intended to save—stared at me in horror. Her eyes, wide and tearful, looked at me as though I were a monster.
"Please... spare me," she whispered, shrinking away.
I sighed, snapping my fingers to release the pressure. The trembling stopped, and the hallway fell silent once more.
Sadness washed over me as I realized the girl's fear. I had saved her, but in doing so, I had become something far worse in her eyes. A monster dressed as a child.
Without another word, I teleported away, leaving the ruined hallway and its horrors behind. I reappeared in the heart of the city, amidst the bustling streets where no one paid me any mind. People hurried past, absorbed in their own lives, their own problems.
I stood there, alone in the crowd, my back turned to the flow of humanity. Here, at least, no one looked at me with fear or hatred. But even in the anonymity of the streets, the weight of their terrified eyes lingered in my mind.
Was this what it meant to be powerful? To be feared, even by those you sought to protect?
The thought lingered as I walked away, my lonely figure swallowed by the endless tide of people.