Cavina

She stared at the clouds outside, white fluffy airships hovering in the air. She wondered if they tasted sweet, just like cotton candy.

"Class, I'm giving you back your tests." a stern but comforting voice announced, a voice she has constantly ignored with little regard that it had been there for half an hour.

"As usual, Claire scored the highest in the test. Please give her a round of applause, class."

She heard the people around her clap, and so instinctively she did the same. Yet she kept her eyes locked on the clouds, trying to figure out where they were all heading.

"Claire? Can you hear me? Come on out." The stern voice asked, this time more directive. The sound of applause started to fade.

"Claire Vixen!" Now the voice was no longer comforting but threatening.

No one was applauding.

Except Cavina, who finally turned back her head to see the forty pair of eyes staring at her.

"Oh right," Cavina thought,

"I'm Claire."

Though she was still in her first year of senior high, Claire had long surpassed that level. Compared to her peers who found themselves struggling to adapt to the senior high syllabus, everything they were learning felt like a cakewalk to Claire. Her outstanding capabilities and docile personality has led to her popularity among her peers and teachers. Her peers envied how effortless it was for her to score full marks in the exams, but had come to love her for that she was always willing to help them on their homework and duties. Her teachers might feel a bit miffed by Claire's inattentiveness in class, but seeing she never caused much trouble and the fact that she could easily enroll herself in university and still do fine, they thought they would just let her be.

It wasn't just because she was intelligent, Claire was also charming. At least once a month someone would try to ask her out, and despite none of them ever succeeding more admirers came to try their luck. Everything about her was loved, her deep blue eyes, her oval-shaped face, her charming smile, her soft voice… In the eyes of many, Claire was the perfect girl.

But as much as people loved her, no one really liked her.

As much as people loved to invite her to their parties and celebrations, Claire could hardly remember anyone who she would casually hang out with outside of school. She never felt comfortable around anyone in particular and felt little need for a bestie. Being around others is a nuisance, probably because she has to keep her fake persona on.

Her parents were strict and demanding, only showing kindness and care when Claire met their expectations. Claire was raised to be perfect, and she dare not find out the consequences if she were to disobey.

Deep down she knew she was someone else, a free-spirited, adventurous and jolly girl who lived a life without boundaries nor restrictions. Oftentimes she imagined how life would be if everyone around her had someday disappeared, or if one day she found herself in an unfamiliar city. What places will she discover whilst exploring the unknown? Who would she meet during the peculiar voyage? She could not live that life for now, so she dreamed about it.

In her dreams, Claire found herself doing things she never would nor could do when she was awake. Slaying ancient warlords and climbing up humongous lollipops, she was finally free to be who she was, and that person is definitely not Claire Vixen.

"Here, I am Cavina Vixen."

And for a long period of time, Cavina found herself enjoying this lifestyle. She felt like a superhero who appears to be a regular student during the day but saves the world at night. She was happy to go through her daily routines as long as she could be Cavina at the end of the day.

Then one day, someone came knocking on their door.

Her father opened it, simultaneously the smile on his face turned into disgust and hatred. Claire could sense his anger even from behind as his body shook fiercely.

"I thought I told you to never come back." Claire's father said.

"I need something, Ned. Give me a hand and I'll leave." the voice answered.

"Do you really expect me to trust you after all you've done? Leave my family alone and get lost!" Ned slammed the door, a huge echo followed the motion.

"That's no way to treat your old man, son." The voice continued to speak behind the closed door.

Claire's father did not respond, a silent but deadly air was in the atmosphere. Seconds later, the voice outside grunted, and they heard footsteps soon after.

Claire would not have put much thought to the incident. The voice proclaimed to be her grandfather but she couldn't care less. She had never met her grandfather and nor did she plan to meet him, her parents never spoke of him and she never asked knowing it would provoke them.

"He's probably a bad person." Claire instinctively assumed.

That night, Cavina continued to pursue her regular adventures in dreamland. She was swimming in a long channel of water separating a desert in half. Halfway into her swim, she came across a figure walking in the desert. A pale old man, nothing under his 60's, standing no taller than 5 feet.

Normally random figures in Cavina's dream never interacted with her, yet this time the old man waved at her and walked towards her. Cavina instinctively jumped out of the channel of water, she held up her hands in a battling position as the man approached.

"Ha ha ha! Why there's no need to fight me, granddaughter."

The answer made Cavina flinch, shocked by the fact that the figure actually talked.

"Allow me to introduce myself, Ms. Vixen." the old man continued.

"My name is Walder Vixen."