The monotonous rhythm of the days at Hermes Powder Academy began to blur together, each one indistinguishable from the last. Silas went through the motions, attending classes in body but not in spirit, his mind a million miles away from the droning lectures and arcane theories. He dutifully marked his presence, occupying a seat in the back row, his grey eyes scanning the room with a detached curiosity, cataloguing the faces and mannerisms of his fellow students. He ignored the facts and formulas because he wasn't here for the learning, no matter, he still existed here.
Of course, there was one exception to his disdain for the daily routine, or at least if he ignored the faces. Dinner. He definitely did not ignore that, and it was a highlight that stood out from the otherwise repetitive hum of the days at the Academy. The thought that he was actually able to keep himself satiated was enough for him to actually try in some aspects of his life, even the classes, to be able to live up to the expectations of himself.
Silas viewed the dining hall and the staff as his personal hunt. He approached to ensure that there wasn't someone waiting to ambush him or anything of the sort. It helped him to sleep better, almost as if he were a pet now. More like a caged wild animal. He carefully surveilled the room as he ate, ensuring that no one dared to go near his prey, noting the presence of that bully. Every night that he thought that the bully who had picked on Daria before was planning to attack him. Silas would make his death slow if the bully even tried. Silas made his way back to his room, a small haven of solitude and quiet in the midst of the bustling Academy. He ate his fill of pilfered food, letting hunger rest easy in his heart. Then, he fell back onto the bed and bundled himself up in the warm blankets, grateful for the chance to escape the day and the complicated stirrings in his own head and heart. His sleep came quickly and easily, pulling him into its warm embrace. For once, he slept soundly through the night, a rare and welcome respite from the restless sleep that more often plagued him. Although from what he could vaguely remember of his dreams, they all centred around Daria to some extent, woven into fantastical and elaborate scenarios. He was in love, and he was planning to ruin her life; that was probably love. Right? Silas was doomed.
His dream was suddenly and rudely cut short by a loud, insistent knocking on his door, jolting Silas awake and catapulting him from the depths of sleep into a state of instant alert. In an instant, Silas was up, bolting upright with the speed of a coiled snake. Every waking moment was a dance around a potential for destruction because that kept the hate alive. He reached under his pillow, his fingers instinctively closing around the familiar hilt of the knife he always kept at the ready. Moving with cat-like silence, Silas crept to the wooden door, his bare feet making no sound on the worn floorboards. Some habits would never change. His hand rested against the cold doorknob, his heart hammering in his chest as suspicion ate at him
In a single, fluid motion, he threw the door open, his grey eyes widening in disbelief as he looked at who it was, realising it was Daria who stood before him and not some punk looking for revenge as he had originally feared. That made him even more confused because Daria was one of the most beautiful girls he had ever laid eyes on. He couldn't help it. A rush of confused fluster brought a rush down his face. It took him only a fleeting glance for her eyes to linger on his half-naked body, clad in only a pair of ragged boxers, to register the sheer impropriety of the situation. Fuck, he had nearly stabbed her!
In an instant, mortification and self-consciousness crashed over him. He was aware of what he was and what he meant for her, which was everything, maybe. Heat flooded his cheeks. In a near-panic, he slammed the door in her face once more, his mind racing, he ran around to find clothes. His face twisted. Cursing himself for his unthinking impulsiveness. A fool!! He scrambled to gather his scattered clothes, fingers fumbling with buttons and laces as he tried to clothe himself with a speed bordering on frantic. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he considered himself presentable enough not to scare her.
He took a deep breath, attempting to regain some semblance of composure, and cautiously opened the door once again, managing a strained, awkward smile. “Hello~” he managed, his voice attempting a level of smoothness he was far from feeling right at the moment. The word sounded wet and wrong on his tongue; she wouldn't shut up. He couldn't help but wonder why this woman was going so far for him. Was that genuine?
