Solstice Rose

[DoubleZeta]

My longest work to date and is still under work. I'll post it segmentally here, so that it's not too much of a drag to read.

Review and comments thread goes here: http://otaku-streamers.com/community/showthread.php?7800-Reviews-and-Comments-for-Solstice-Rose

First chapter and first segment up here you go!:
Chapter 1: The first day (segment 1)

“I would like to begin this glorious first day of classes with a few words from our beloved school Principal Mr. Hyaweg. Kindly get up on stage your honor” announced a tall man in his middle twenties. He had a gentle face, too much gentle that he looked somehow dopey. His stance on top of the wide stage was that of a professional MC, his voice gave hint to it. He speaks clearly, brilliantly, precise and confidently in front of the thousands of new students this renowned school has taken in.

A soot black color of hair, a rather rugged brown coat with a gray tie on the white polo shirt he has underneath it. The crowd looked rather unabashed of his looks and concluded that he was just any other MC out there. He wasn’t the topic of the event after all and the student filled grand halls of the main auditorium turned silent as an olden man carrying a staff made from dark colored oak wood with a design of a metal snake coiled on its tip ascended the stairs to the microphone.

This old man, was Principal Hyaweg, his ashen white beard and hair are symbols of his long lived legacy as the principal of the grandest magic academy in all of Escadre. His wisdom and mastery of the arcane arts are undoubted and only a few select students, masters, professors and magical folk can take on under his wing to compete wand to wand, staff to staff, but with every great person there is a not so legendary side.

He wore a robe of an ashen white color with a hood attached to it. It had designs of symmetrically aligned triangles of red and orange adorning it. This was all that can be seen of his clothing as the rest is covered by the robe and his long beard. His right hand, filled with silver and gold rings and a huge golden necklace that was about three times the size of normal. Speaking of bling, this is more than enough to be melted and create a small statue of someone.

He calmly stood on the middle facing the dozens of awe struck students. “I have been the principal of this school for more than nine thousand years now!” began Principal Hyaweg with a grand voice that boomed throughout the vast halls, “Children from all over Escadre! Whether or not you are from Lordenfell, Hecatenze, Rosevere, Liften, Naght Seige, Capitolina, Sloavendaria or Vesenberk! I welcome you home boys!”

A loud “Eh?” resounded from the whole of the student body as they heard the last parts of the olden principal’s speech. “Hoho, do not be confused yourself fellas” continued Principal Hyaweg in a slang manner of speech, “This old mastah magician is your own homie, yeah. Based on what I see in all of you I can hear you all goin to the rhythm esse.”

A loud stress on the expression “Eh?” came following as the mood changed from something like a formal ceremony to a hip hop concert, “What are ya thinking of? You need to be cool on the first day and move to the groove!” After a few seconds of doing some classic hip hop moves he opened his eyes wide and returned to the same grand manner of speech he had earlier, “Because magic, is just like music.”

Another man on his early twenties came up on stage followed by an extraordinarily pale nurse. The man had gelled back grayish brown hair while the nurse had long flowing hair in between red and pink in color. He was also a professor of this school, with his brown coat looking a bit luxurious than the other one’s rugs. He was not as tall as the announcer, but had a fairly grand aura of respect as his presence seemed as important as the principal himself. Either it was that way or just the students looked a little lower on their principal after what they saw.

The lady following him was the school nurse; indeed she was beautiful and had a nice body shape, but looking closely on why she was so pale. Would rather give you an impression that she is already dead, setting the paleness aside, upon noticing the several stitches that keeps her dismembered body in place. You already get the point on why she’s still alive. Nearly anything is possible given a great amount of magic. Carrying a straight jacket she went on up the stage along with the aforementioned man.

“Principal, I don’t think that it was a nice idea showing that mentality of yours to the freshmen” he advised the principal as the other professors silenced the students. “Professor Felix, should we use this straight jacket on him now?” asked the nurse, smiling at the two of them as her light blue eyes latched on to that mahogany brown ones of Felix.

“Hoho” laughed Principal Hyaweg as he pat Felix and the nurse on their heads, “Silly little Stella, I am not crazy for you to use that on me. One of your jokes I presume esse?” He stared sharply at Felix and whispered to them, “The two of you come to my office later after class and we oughtta discuss some important things weddo.”

Soon after giving these words to the two, the Principal vanished in thin air and the whole crowd was surprised. Stella stood beside Felix as he faced the restless crowd and told them, “Nothing to worry children, Principal Hyaweg is really that kind of person. You know what I’m saying? You hip hop people there might not be surprised but for those who aren’t, must be a pretty huge surprise to believe that our principal for the last nine thousand years is like that. Well, that sums up the opening ceremony for this year and about that last thing Principal Hyaweg told you people, take that part seriously. That is all, thank you and we’ll be seeing each other again on the classrooms.”

The crowd dispersed and soon the whole auditorium was emptied. Each and everyone went to their respective classrooms. The faculty also followed and all that was left of the main auditorium was Felix and Stella. “It’s a very interesting year isn’t it?” asked Stella smiling at Felix as they descended the stage and headed towards the doors. Felix walked three steps ahead of Stella, yet, he was still able to notice her smile. “It’s good you’re smiling. Keep that up; we seem to have a rather promising batch this year also. Oh, by the way, I would need the medical records for the students of section A. I expect you to give it to me in a short while in section A’s room. Pardon me for I will be heading to my class now” reminded Felix as he turned around one more time to return the smile to Stella, “Don’t rush things; it would be hard to stitch you back together again, okay?”

“Oh, don’t worry! I can stitch myself, provided I don’t lose my hands” replied Stella as the two of them parted ways. Section A’s classroom was situated on the second floor of the main building. It was to the far end of the building and is between section B’s room which is on the right side of the building and section C’s room which is the opposite.

Inside, the students were all but busy preparing their stuff as they await the instructor’s arrival. They were all talented mages for being accepted in section A. All of whom have extraordinary talents for their ages. This was a period of getting to know each other and harboring new friends and rivals alike, since a magic school would never ever be free from rivalry. Similar to how families rival each other in terms of magical superiority. Among the crowd of people several others stand out among the rest and shine like diamonds. The remaining of course are not entirely mediocre, but are also talented but not to the extent on those destined to be great from the beginning of time.

Felix entered the room shortly, it was an olden room. The walls are rather pale colored as the paint was slowly aging and had been there for more than nine thousand years. The lights were still shining brightly; it was magically rekindled every time after all. Magic was infinite to begin with, such low level magic wouldn’t even tire out a seasoned mage even if he or she lights a whole continent for years. The class sits on a leveled terrace type of seats facing the board and a small stage-like platform.

The windows were also elaborately designed with dark metal pieces shaped in a pattern forming the school seal. The symbol was placed high up on top every window, a symbol shaped like a staff with a coiled snake on it and four magnificent wings spread behind it. The sunlight seeps easily through the glass windows, though old as it may seem. They were well taken care of and are not neglected by the academy staff.

“Good morning everyone” greeted Felix, walking up to the platform and facing his students, “Today as you all know, is the first day of classes. Introductions everyone, introductions! I do not necessarily supervise these types of occasions, but it is well needed. To start with our activities let me introduce myself. I am Professor Felix.”

The whole class was certainly puzzled on why he did not mention his surname. It gave mixed emotions and suggestions as they were surely piqued by the enigma of this special instructor. A certain blonde girl, with hair flowing freely as the rivers, but calm like a sea in peaceful waters dared to ask him, “Professor, wouldn’t it be a bother if we didn’t know your surname?”

He was rather amused with the young lady’s question and replied to her. His normally laid back black eyes stared at her tranquil blue ones. A smile etched on his face as he softly said, “I am the one and only Professor Felix in this academy. Is it possible to confuse me for any other person? With such magical prodigy in you I believe you could not possibly go wrong young lady.”

“Still one of the flatterers, Felix?” greeted Nurse Stella, carrying the records for section A and a rather eerie looking grimoire. Felix shifted his sight towards her, with her blood red colored hair of about shoulder length, her pale complexion and a gentle pair of eyes similar to the young blonde girl aforementioned. Beautiful as they seemed there was something hidden in those eyes, her past that was undeniably the reason for the stitches that ran through her body as if she was some abominable product of mad science. The grimoire about automatons, golems and their proper use seemed like a dead give away that she does know how to maintain herself or perhaps… looking for a way to get a better body that does not fall apart.

He gestured his hand, as if inviting her and said to her, “Would you like to join us and watch the presentations of my students?” She was delighted to hear the invitation and without further dilly dallying she handed the records and positioned herself behind a rather un-amused boy with messy brown hair seated on the highest and farthest seat. The students then finally grasped the idea of what Professor Felix said and were certainly nervous. It was time to show their talents… or in this case… show their weaknesses to their potential friends or rivals.

With these said, the young witch, beautiful as a rose and as deadly as one. Seated herself once again, with grace and etiquette that of royalty and was well prepared for the presentation. She was interesting indeed and most of the students have been talking about her nearly the whole time since classes had started. This story’s heroine and the undeniable grand daughter of Rosevere’s Arch Witch, her powers yet unknown all of which except the fact she was a practitioner of Black Magic, a little of White Magic and Necromancy. Nearly all her classmates revered to her highly in respect or either in fear.

“I do not go for things such as alphabetically calling students to introduce their selves; we would have you introduce yourselves voluntarily. When you are ready kindly raise your hand and head to the platform to prepare for your presentation” announced Felix, looking intently at his class and waiting for the much needed reply. After a few seconds of silence, the earlier mentioned young lady raised her hand, “Professor, I wish to go first if you may.”

“Very well then, please head on towards the platform and I shall be going to a seat at the back of the class and watch your presentation” Felix bowed slightly in respect and headed on towards a seat beside Stella. Quickly but elegantly, she stood up from her seat, picking up her staff of rosewood and descended down the terraced seats.

The female uniform she wore differed a little bit from the normal. Originally, the length for the uniform’s skirt was to be of any length the student wishes to wear, but hers was an inch shorter than the normal. Her long sleeve shirt was similar to others but what differed much were her robe and the knee socks. The normal robe was longer exceeding the length of the skirt and should always be below the knee. Hers was only a few inches below the knee and was adorned by a rose shaped brooch. The uniform looked nice on her; she alone carries her uniform with her characteristics. She wasn’t shabby nor fat, just at the right body built for girls her age. Given her physical being, she was mentioned in the medical records to be the third smallest in height.

Her posture as she walked, the way she talked and the seemingly soothing aura that envelops her seemed pretty much good to be true that most of them doubt it. Upon arrival in the platform she faced everyone and greeted with a smile, “Good Morning everyone, it is a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Elle Rosewood of Rosevere, sixteen years of age and a practitioner of dark magic at majority. Aside from learning magic, I also love gardening, reading and playing the piano. I wish to be good friends with you all if I am not asking too much.”

She was confident with her speech and gave a slight bow to all of them similar as to what Felix has done earlier. The class anticipated her introduction and was nearly positive at most and all waiting for her demonstration. Felix cut the introduction for the meantime to say a few little pieces of advice, “Miss Rosewood, anything basic would suffice for the presentation. Just go on ahead and emphasize your strong points if you please.”

“Yes Professor, I shall do so” answered Elle as Felix seated himself once again. “She’s a rather pretty girl to be the grand daughter of Rosevere’s Arch Witch don’t you think Felix?” commented Stella softly as not to arise any concerns from the students. The brown haired boy in front of her seems to overhear but does not show any signs of it. “Rosevere’s Arch Witch is not a very evil person to be judging her grand daughter so easily, Stella” smiled Felix as he watched closely on how Elle positioned her staff, “That girl has a golden heart if my instincts are to be concerned.”

Once her stance was ready, she started casting an apprentice level spell, something that can be easily dispersed by their instructor once she has finished casting. As she was casting, a strong gush of magical force can be felt around her. It carried the winds in currents that circulated around her, blowing her hair along with it and her clothes too. It was a tremendous magical power and her casting speed was of an exemplary level, but what surprised everyone was not her speed of casting… but the number of spells that emanated from a single cast.

Two individual ice based dark magic spells zoomed out from her staff towards the bare audience. They were not bothered at all by the fear of being hit, the place was contained in a powerful barrier Professor Felix had set. A roaring blizzard surged towards them followed by a solid ice ball spell. Perhaps the reason why her clothes were such in a short form instead of the normal was due to the cold nature of Rosevere’s climate. She just wasn’t familiar enough with the slightly warmer climate of Lordenfell.

“She’s a multi-caster!” exclaimed one of the female students to the far left of Felix’s position. The other students started giving out their comments on what they saw. The words most commonly heard were amazing, magnificent, and awesome and the more frequent beautiful from the male students. Beneath the positive remarks, the loud praises diluted the words of fear. Perhaps, many a student from Rosevere had ill impressions about her. Even though she wasn’t introduced to the public before this, judging from what the students from Rosevere are showing. The terrible image her grand mother has left in their minds kind of carried on over her, completely sending her warm friendly aura into oblivion from fear of her lineage.

“A very rare ability indeed, perhaps, if you had two heads, how many spells could you cast?” commented Felix as the commotion died down and Elle’s presentation ended with a round of applauses. “That has been concluded, you may now take your seat Miss Rosewood and again, a very great job.”

A vivid smile was visible in her visage, a smile that can overcome nearly any rage. A gracious exit she did and ascended up the leveled seats. From the momentum she left, another student dared speak in front. He raised his hand, silent, without any unnecessary noise. The chill running up their spine escalated, it was neither excitement anymore, but something different. Felix felt it too, but he was not bothered at all. No ill intentions can be found in him, but only a burning passion for his love of the undead.


More would be explained later on, I love cliffhangers if people might've noticed.

[DoubleZeta]

Second segment of the very long first chapter:

Chapter 1: The first day (segment 2)

The young man descended opposite the place where Rosewood was. With him a semi-crystalline dagger and an olden book of necromancy, he went in front and began his introduction. “Greetings, I am a student necromancer by the name of Ein Vondrez. Hailing from the continent of Rosevere and had lived there for seventeen years till today. My sole focus in life is to further improve the state of necromancers today. Necromancy was never an evil form of magic to begin with; it is only by those who use it that it becomes evil.”

“The zeal I see in your eyes young one, indeed, you love your craft as much as you love yourself” said Felix, a rather serious tone in his voice. Creating a rather shady atmosphere in the room, he was a professor and yet he talked cheerfully earlier with the exception of this certain student. The students were starting to feel that this boy was either too powerful that Professor Felix’ tongue got caught up and started getting serious. Then from out of the blue Professor Felix asked, “Mister Vondrez, does Nurse Stella here look to you as some work of Necromancy?”

A huge smile etched on his face at the question. As Stella was embarrassed from the question and was acting all soft on her seat. A slight chuckle was heard from Ein Vondrez and the class was caught in surprise. Immediately turning their sights towards him as he was seen… smiling.

“I do not get it that much either professor, but as far as I’m concerned…” he paused momentarily and caught a glimpse of Nurse Stella’s eyes, “She is a beautiful creation of a mixed union of three magical disciplines. Something that a necromancer myself wishes to create with my own bare hands.”

Yes, this necromancer has ambition indeed and his personality wasn’t dark as what others feel about him earlier. Even if his interests of the dead was there, he can not help but to appreciate the living as well. Ending the introduction through a necromantic demonstration of reviving dead cats and having them do tricks with much ease. The class did not held back too, to give this exemplary student a round of applause for his loyalty to his studies.

He bowed down in front of everyone, thanking them for their time to listen and then headed back up the leveled seats towards his place. The male students kept neutral whether they wished to like him or not. They all had their own preference of friends or rivals; it would just be a matter of time till they all get along hopefully. As while the female students are somewhat intrigued by Ein’s silent behavior, disregarding the fact of his thin appearance and a hairstyle similar to girls for he has relatively long black hair.

As Ein seated, the student beside him raised her hand. A really pretty student as the boys comprehend, even the messy brown haired boy in front Nurse Stella took time to take a glimpse of her for even a short while. “Oh Professor, shall I take my turn now?” asked the pink haired girl in a very sweet voice, tilting her head to her side as she waited for Felix to reply. Felix felt somewhat uneasy from her presence, but it wouldn’t be a nice idea to speak his mind out loud. Stella also feels the same; even a dead person can discern magical power.

She has deviously clever looking face, perhaps too sly and smart as she seemed. To the point that they all thought she was scheming something. Her beauty was undeniable, somewhat a double of Rosewood’s visage but she doesn’t look that much innocent as Elle. Though the confidence she has overpowers that of everyone, she most likely feels that she’s a goddess herself. She tried to make eye contact with Felix, but Felix looked away as he replied, “Very well then, go on ahead if you may.”

Her pink colored eyes, so vast that you will get lost in it once you stare at them. She somehow invokes fear in the hearts of the class, especially Elle and with the exception of the male students. They were all head over heels just to have a glimpse of her. She closed her eyes as she was given permission and gently stood up from her seat, reflecting the earlier grace Elle has shown. Upon rising from her seat, it was safe to say that her clothes were a rather revealing pair of the uniform. She just hung her robe on her shoulders, had one of the buttons of her white long sleeve unbuttoned and the absence of the necktie.

She carried nothing with her to the platform; her discipline might not require the use of catalysts. As she reached her destination she spun around gently to face the class and for a few moments took eye contact with Elle. A message of warning perhaps and with a menacing grin she started her introduction, “I am Erin Hel, a gifted sixteen year old girl who came from Hecatenze. I’m interested in only a few things and I wouldn’t like it if someone stands in my way. I hope we had this cleared up, because no one would like to mess with me, right?”

As she said those words she didn’t take eye contact with anyone and seemed to be just looking at her nails in front of them. It might be an insult or maybe her personality was just like that of a spoiled brat. “Shall I show you my powers?” she asked as she rolled her eyes towards the messy brown haired boy on the farthest seat. “I don’t think there is any need for that anymore, hadn’t the principal just passed you when he first saw you?” asked Felix, his voice was trembling slightly as he tried to seize an answer. “I think the principal thought that it would be a very fascinating year if my presence was noticeable” smiled Erin walking up towards her seat and as he passed by Elle she said, “By the way, I’m an Enchantress, a very powerful one.”

The class was really silent about what happened, the girls that is. She was headed for someone; they just couldn’t discern who it was. The boys just kept on cheering after this, except for a few who’ve noticed the terror in Professor Felix’ voice… as if he does not wish to disobey her or hinder her way. The fact that she was given no demonstration seemed that her powers would be something that would be hard for even Professor Felix and Nurse Stella to handle.

The morale had lowered after her turn; it was likely that they were afraid to show their weaknesses in front of her. Only someone who is confident of his or her magic would dare show up. The pause wasn’t too long, frankly speaking that it was section A after all. Those who show promise in magic, one or two in this class might’ve been able to match the earlier presentations. Another girl raised her hand, a girl with purple long hair that has a few curls on it. The only one wearing a witch’s hat in the room and carries an elaborately designed staff made of a material closely that of bones. Her uniform was normal, just like how Ein’s male uniform was closely following standards. She has pride filled eyes, confident without hesitation and a vigilant attitude can be traced from her actions.

She doesn’t seem to be very forgiving and might be the kind of a perfectionist. The hints were given away too that she is a dark witch just like Elle. She walked briskly, somewhat honorably, like one of the magic knights of Lordenfell. The morale boosted quite a few levels once she went on stage, an annoyed expression can be seen on Erin’s face. The girls looked a little bit joyful with this and Felix lightened up a little. “Go ahead with the introduction then” urged Felix, trying to have a change of atmosphere to save the day from being ruined.

“Greetings classmates, I am Lilith Falcen. Sixteen years of age, a Dark Magic practitioner and a citizen of Sloavendaria. I had enrolled here to further enhance my magic, I expect help from all of you and rest assured I shall help you too” she seemed normal, but it would be wrong to assume that for her confidence hinted that she had something special up her sleeve. Directly after introducing herself she continued on to the demonstration and conjured a high level dark magic spell. It was awfully powerful, but the barrier withstood it, not a scratch just like earlier with Elle. For someone to be able to conjure a spell like that, she was well ahead of everyone. Elle felt a light sensation on her, she appreciates such magic. She is at no point jealous at all and was inspired by it to resolve by working twice as harder as she has done so far.

The introductions continued on and the class was nearly finished. The last two who hadn’t introduced themselves yet are in cue. It was about time they get to know the one and only Alchemist to ever enter section A in the academy’s long history. Everyone was waiting for his turn and finally a boy raised his hand and headed towards the middle of the class. He was carrying a metallic wand, golden in color and was surely an olden one. He wasn’t an Alchemist, given the fact he has a wand in his hand, but the students did not think lowly of him… maybe, not before he introduced himself.

“Good Morning Everyone!” he greeted, scanning each everyone with his joyful brown eyes. His hair was a fluffy light brown one, a joyful personality, someone unaffected by the piercing stares of the others around him. “My name is Marden Ervellhald! A pyromancer! Nice to meet you all! I’m also sixteen years of age and a resident of Lordenfell! Let’s all be friends shall we?”

He smiled rather too much, not noticing the fact that various complaints aroused from his classmates. “A pyromancer? How the hell was he accepted in section A?” said one of the students as others kept their own opinions. Nurse Stella broke the ice as she got frankly a bit annoyed with the complaints, “You’re the rumored pyromancer aren’t you?” Felix noticed what Stella wishes to show at this moment, sensing the need to play along he started talking, “The boy whose fire magic beats that of the masters?”

He stood triumphantly in front of the class as he pointed his staff to everyone, “I’m glad you know about me professor! Let me show you all, the power of my fire magic!” He stood in position, reciting the incantations for a normal fireball. It was going on fine, a tad too normal that the other students lost their interest and ignored what was happening, “Bah! He casts too slow! Why is he in section A?”

The flames accumulated on the end of his staff. A huge ball of flame formed in front of him, a wave of magical energy spun around him. The magical waves meet up at the middle and further increased the size of the already humongous fireball. Upon seeing such a feat the other students stood on ready. The spell would not hit them at all, but the heat it emanates already is enough to have everyone break into a sweat. Upon reaching an estimate size of a small house, Marden fired the ball and it hit the barrier. Releasing a powerful shockwave as it took impact, a heat wave followed shortly and everyone stood up from their seats and frantically searched for any means of cooling their selves.

With this done, he stood triumphantly raising his hands to the air and laughing as if some kind of evil villain finally defeating the main character. Perhaps, it was enough… no, it was more than enough to shut the others up and with his display of superiority he even garnered Nurse Stella’s respect. He bowed down in front of them, taking his leave and ascending up the seats to his earlier place. Finally, the last student was to introduce himself.

Without further prolonging the wait, he headed up the platform. Standing up quickly, walking in a fast pace as if he was always being chased by something. He took haste and as once he has planted his feet firmly on the platform stated, “I wish to begin with my demonstration professor, if you do not mind.”

“Nervous about introducing yourself, then I give you the permission to demonstrate first” replied Felix. The class waited in anticipation as he flexed his fingers and took an alchemist’s chalk from his pocket. This somehow aroused some issues, the objections why no alchemist has ever been accepted in section A was due to the nature of alchemy, the time it takes to finish one task and the difference of subjects they need to take.

“He’s drawing a cirle, aren’t alchemists always wearing items that have transmutation circles already drawn on it?” asked one of the students to the person beside him. Other comments started swarming around the classroom as he was definitely taking time to draw a simple circle. He closed the arc he has drawn, forming a not so perfect circle shape. He rolled up the sleeves of his coat and removed the school robe. After doing this, he threw the whole piece of alchemist’s chalk inside the circle and with this he said, “Done.” They were puzzled by what he has done and were much more surprised as he smashed the chalk by stepping on it like a bug.

Elle was curious, it was the first time she ever saw an alchemist. Perhaps, it didn’t go the way she thought alchemists do things. She kept watching silently, keeping in mind that he must be no ordinary alchemist. The others watched closely, especially Erin, who seemed to have particular interest in him even before the introductions started. Marden was also keeping an eye on the circle, what he was doing looked fun if he was asked for opinion. Believing he might just be playing something instead before the real demonstration. Lilith wasn’t that much amused, Alchemists were all petty liars if she was concerned.

With his mahogany brown pair of eyes he stared down on the smashed piece of chalk and the circle he has drawn. He slowly bent down to place his hands on the circle, keeping a proper posture and breathing heavily as he focused his mind on what he wants to create. He closed his eyes and started the transmutation. The drawn circle and smashed piece of chalk all burned together. The circle began to expand, creating the other lines to create a more elaborate circle. Felix knew what kind of circle was being drawn and commented about it as the flames etched the circle on the floor, “I see, the Scheiffel family transmutation technique. As far as I remember it was called twilight transmutation, but yours is another case.”

The other students all turned their eyes at Felix and back to him. Words flew like crazy as the other students, who also came from Vesenberk, where the Scheiffel family resides, gave their negating opinions on whether he was a Scheiffel or not. “Scheiffel? I thought that the heir was a girl?” questioned a white mage from somewhere behind Elle. The enigma escalated further as he drew out a lance from the circle. He transmuted it with no more than a second and soon afterwards he changed its form once again and repeated the cycle, creating all forms of things with a single object and transmutation circle.

The students were indeed impressed, the other transmutations need not any circle anymore and all was done in fractions of seconds. Lilith’s attention was drawn in by what she has witnessed, Elle was also fascinated and so are the others. Felix stood from his seat and approached him, as he walked he said to the students, “Your powers do not rely solely on your alchemy if I’m right?” Lilith nearly had her jaw drop down upon amazement of what she had heard. Here was an exceptional student, someone whose use of magic was to augment their combat expertise. Her imagination played at the thought of him being close with her. Surely someone who can be a great partner to a mage without any other means of combat except by casting spells.

Elle herself had some few things going up her mind, remembering what her mother used to say to her. “A mage couldn’t possibly do anything once an opponent, skilled in physical combat comes too close. Therefore the need for a familiar to protect the mage is essential, but since a familiar’s capabilities are finalized in a world where they are summoned. There are no more possibilities of improvements unless sending them back to where they came from and re-summoning them. Though a re-summon would not always assure that you will receive the same familiar… there is always a possibility that another creature might come out” she whispered these words softly, as a faint blush appeared on her face. Perhaps both Lilith and Elle had the same thing in mind, being witches whose mastery is dark magic, having him as a familiar might be great.

Though it wasn’t always the case, summoning a living person in the same world is impossible. So the thought that maybe going on inside their heads was to have him as a partner of some sort, or something deeper… something that lurks inside them.

“I am a combat alchemist professor, I merely use my alchemy to create my weapons” explained the alchemist. “Go ahead and introduce yourself then boy, your classmates have all been itching to learn your name” said Felix, tapping his staff on the floor four times and then the barrier disappeared. He dispersed the sword he had in his hand and it returned as the earlier piece of chalk. He slid it down the pocket of his pants and put on his robe properly before he introduced himself, “My name is Christian Vendre, a seventeen year old alchemist from Vesenberk. My ambition is to create life with my own bare hands.”

The students gave him a round of applause as he bowed down to exit the platform. The bell rang alongside this and it was about time for the first recess break. The claps and cheers were cut with a rather strange comment from Nurse Stella, “Create life with your own hands? I believe boys can already create life?” The class fell silent; Felix had a weary smile on his face as she said this “Isn’t that something different Stella?” “That’s quite a p…” Christian was about to give his comment on what Nurse Stella had said but was cut short by Felix when he silenced him with a spell. “Oh look at the time! It’s already recess, well class see you later after thirty minutes! Don’t be late okay!” after saying this he removed the silence on Christian and headed out the room. Stella followed and everyone felt that something was indeed strange in this section.

Elle stood up from her seat quite the same time as Lilith did. The two took eye contact for a while and dismissed the fact as it might just be coincidence. The two walked on towards Christian’s direction. He was about to climb up to fetch his stuff and where Elle was descending. Elle was a bit nervous to approach him; he seemed as if he was a moody person. Through nervousness, Elle tripped on her feet and was about to fall over and roll down the stairs. Luckily enough, Christian ran forth and caught her. Her face landed on his chest, her hands gripping tightly on his shoulders as she had her eyes closed.

“Are you okay?” asked Christian, looking down as he surely was taller than her. Elle flushed pink as she looked up to reply, a tame look can be seen in her eyes. Her face was angelic and it intimidated Christian he looked somewhere else. He could not possibly dare to look at her that much and also, to hide his blushing face. “I’m sorry to trouble you, I’m fine” replied Elle, though not noticing the fact that she was still clinging to him.

Lilith was surprised at what happened, believing that Elle did stumble on purpose. She hurriedly went down and passed them by. She did not budge at all and hit Elle as she passed. She did not turn back to say sorry; it was her own way of declaring war with her. This marks that she’s now a rival, believing that Elle tends to play this dirty. “So the Arch Witch of Rosevere’s grand daughter wants to play this dirty huh? She’s no different from her grand mother” thought Lilith, leaving the room and scheming a way to get close to him and eliminating her competition along the way.

“If it’s not that much of a trouble to you, can I go now?” asked Christian, he was getting quite uneasy with the closeness they were getting. Not to mention the fact that he was getting flustered feeling her chest close to him. Elle finally gets the idea on what he was referring to and shyly looked away, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be a hindrance.” She took her stuff and left the room too. “What am I doing…” thought Elle to herself, remembering the earlier feeling she had felt. Her mind was floating somewhere, their position earlier made a clear reprint on her mind and then she noticed. “Eh…” she stopped walking and stood there in the middle of the corridor. She turned around to a corner wherein no other students went and hid there.

Christian left the room soon afterwards; he was feeling hungry after doing such a feat. He decided to go towards the cafeteria when a crowd formed in front of section A’s room. A little girl was ranting along the corridors shouting something like, “Where is section A’s alchemist!? Come out where ever you are!” Christian went over to peer over the edge, but as he closed towards the crowd. They split as if pointing out that he was the said Alchemist. The girl hastily approached him and pointed her index finger at him, “So you’re the rumored one! I challenge you to a duel! Show me why you’re in section A.”

[DoubleZeta]

First Chapter third segment, hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1: The first day (segment 3)

He showed annoyance at an utter level when he heard what the girl wanted, “You see little girl, you want to fight me? You should just go back to your room now; it’s not good for elementary students to go cutting classes.” Without further notice she threw a rather volatile flask of chemicals at him. She was fuming up in anger as she heard the words, “little girl” and “elementary student”. “My name is Rune Rhun of section B! I am no Elementary student!” she transmuted a portable cannon from out of the floor. Christian noticed that she had a transmutation circle drawn on her gloves. Perhaps, she was a normal alchemist after all.

Pointing the firearm at him, he took time taking a good look at the girl daring him to a duel. She had short orange colored hair, with several hairclips forming either letters or images. The noticeable ones were the hairclips forming the letters E, R and X. Which E and X were placed on the left side and R on the Right. The clips were made from a strange form of metal; it was pinkish in color and was obviously a premature work of alchemy too. The clip’s elemental structure as it seemed to Christian, was similar to that of Sol Niger and must be something to be used for gold transmutation.

She was a petite girl, she was no taller than Christian’s chest and showed nearly no sign of being a teenager yet. Her chests were flat to begin with and her childish attitude all adds to why people conceive her as a kid. Christian saw that the girl shows promise in the field of alchemy, maybe it would be good to give her what she wants. Christian reached inside his bag, pulling out a vial of bluish liquid and threw it towards the portable cannon.

The vial broke on impact releasing the fluid and taking contact with the metals. The portable cannon disintegrated to a fluid like substance, mercury as it seemed. “Then I’ll accept your challenge, on one condition!” declared Christian, taking a grip of his alchemist’s chalk and taking of his school robe to prevent it from being soiled or damaged. Rune seemed fine with what she heard agreeing without any slight doubt in her voice, “Good, what is the condition then?”

“The loser would give in to any wish the winner requests” said Christian, taking his goals further using this duel to expand his influence as to gather more information in his quest, “So, what shall it be? Is it your pride as an alchemist or to prove yourself better than me?”

Christian’s mahogany brown eyes showed the intensity of his desires. It was an overwhelming kind of determination, perhaps, being lax about other stuff made this much concentration on one certain goal. Rune was nervous about what the outcome would be; she was still a girl to begin with. Losing to him might mean losing everything; she was never sure what it is that Christian wanted from her.

From the crowd of section B’s students came out another girl, by the looks of it she was either a friend of Rune or a guardian. On her hands were a glaive, nearly the same size as her. This girl was nearly as tall as Christian; she seemed confident and was likely to be skilled in physical combat aside from her magic. She stood beside Rune, with her right hand on her waist and the glaive on her left. She stared back at him, giving something like a warning for him, “Rune? Are you sure about this? He’s section A’s alchemist after all, you might not stand a chance.” Three strands of hair that stood up in the middle of her head swayed with the breeze. Rune halted her from approaching Christian by standing in front of her, “Kanade! This is a duel between alchemists; a chaos mage should not meddle with this.”

A doubting expression came out from Kanade’s face as she replied in a weary voice, “Rune! If you just want to learn whether he was worthy for section A, I should be the one doing it because I’m the fifty first student in rank and if ever we think on who has a better chance of winning against him it is me. You should care for your self you know!” She stood firm on her resolve as the wind blew stronger and carried her long black hair along. Their eyes were arguing but then Kanade was defeated by the firm determination Rune’s eyes showed to her. They were the same as what she saw from Christian’s eyes. She lowered her glaive down and gave her consent to the duel.

They went on to the school grounds just outside the cafeteria. Christian readied a small circle on the ground as usual and squashed the piece of chalk after the said ritual. Rune was puzzled why he did this, squashing the chalk gives him no other way of creating transmutation circles making her win quite easier, or so she thinks. It was customary for an alchemist’s duel to prepare for it, in this case, readying the first transmutation. Rune had her share on the drawings too, a very elaborate circle compared to the child doodle Christian has created. The two transmuted their weapons; Rune had hers finish earlier and had a huge howitzer on aim at Christian.

Christian then used the same method he used in the demonstration and transmuted a lance. He stood on guard and waited for the go signal. “Any final words?” asked Rune, she was sure that the howitzer’s trajectory was in fact correct and would not miss Christian even if he strafed to the left or right. “Prepare your second plan then” replied Christian, taking off to attack as soon as the signal was given. The one who gave the signal was Kanade herself. She raised it earlier as a sign of readying and the signal to start the duel was once she lowered it down.

Without hesitating Rune fired the howitzer, the cannonball howled as it scorched through the air. The smoke from the trail was thick that Rune did not quite see how Christian dealt with the speeding cannonball. The reason he transmuted a lance and why he said the words “prepare your second plan then” all came clear as Rune saw him rushing towards her with the lance cut in half.

He faced the cannonball head on, using the lance as a pole vault to dodge the cannonball. Explaining why it was cut in half, was due to the lance being split by the zooming projectile. Rune was taken aback by what she saw and hastily transmuted a chimera. The transmutation was rather faster than it seemed, perhaps, chimera creation was her turf and it seemed as if the chimera created was a lot stronger than conventional chimeras.

The creature was a cross between a dragon and to everyone’s comedic relief, a rabbit. Surely the dragon with buck teeth was annoying, not to mention the fact that it was savage as a dragon and as nimble as a rabbit. Quite an oddball combination, but proved to be useful. The dragon-rabbit lunged at Christian with deadly speed. He dodged and re-transmuted the lance into a curved sword.

Rune moved a few more meters away from the current position of her chimera and Christian. She was drawing another circle to finalize the match. It was then that Elle came out from the corridor she hid earlier. She’s finally gotten over what happened earlier and dismissed the incident as coincidental and not done on purpose. This was the other way round for Lilith though, believing that Elle was indeed up to no good. The two of them appeared from other sides of the cafeteria and saw the commotion happening. The two were rooting for Christian as both of them were definitely cheering for him to win.

They were, of course, oblivious to the fact that they were just a few meters to each other and Christian was bound for something nasty. After finishing a better version of the earlier chimera transmutation circle, Rune decided it was time to release her current greatest masterpiece. Upon placing her hands on the circle, the lines illuminated with a dark kind of light and there from the midst of the smoke came out a wolf-like chimera. As usual, the creation was faster than normal, giving Christian the idea that Rune was… an alchemist with the formless elemental alignment.

The new comer chimera was a tad bigger than normal wolves. Its claws were metal based from the scrapings it done on the ground as it walked slowly. Christian took out something from his bag, it was best he saved something like this for certain occasions similar to this duel. He threw the vial of dark green liquid towards the newly transmuted chimera. This was a slight miscalculation on his part, though stupid as the earlier chimera looked like, with its buck teeth and all… it proved to be much smarter than how it looked like.

Wasting no time and using its agility, the buck teeth chimera jumped in the vial’s trajectory and the vial broke. Leaking the highly corrosive fluid on it and vanishing like dust in the wind. It was a high class acid, but since the buck teeth chimera wasted it. Christian had no more choice but to fight the wolf-like chimera, with only luck and his skills. “Damn it! That wasn’t meant for that stupid buck teeth dragon! Arghh… that was a gift from my aunt!” yelled Christian, he seemed somewhat decent, though he’s actually more broke than a normal student.

Christian changed the form of his weapon once again, in contrast with this faster looking chimera. He transmuted dual swords from the earlier curved sword he held. He dashed forward, planning to slice of the chimera if it ever lunged up at him. Halfway there, the wolf started to charge electricity from its claws and then shot out a ball of lightning from its mouth. There wasn’t much time to dodge but the chimera’s aim was luckily off. The ball of lightning exploded an inch in front of Christian, leaving a small crater and blasting him to the sky a few meters high. He fell down to the ground with a loud thud and slowly tried to stand up.

“So you we’re accepted to section A, because you transmute fast with any type of stuff? That’s quite a nice ability you have but you’re just fast because your affinity to elements are that of fire and earth. Weapons are your turf, but isn’t it a shame that you’re an alchemist who can’t create chimeras?” mocked Rune, standing beside her chimera. She was drawing another circle beneath the chimera; it was a circle for voltage improvement.

Standing up from the previous damage, Christian got back up to reply, “Normally, I would keep quiet if my opponent thrash talks with me. I just need to correct one thing; you were right about me of being a fire and earth element alchemist. Transmuting metals would be done in a jiffy for me, while you’re of lightning and formless… your chimeras would be better and might even have the ability to use lightning, but what use would be an alchemist who can’t fend for herself?”

Rune was caught off guard by these words, subconsciously, her feet backed off and her expression became gloomy. The fact that if Christian did have a chimera with him, even if her chimera was stronger. It would end up with a two versus one battle, since she herself would be useless in battle. “I won’t go to that extremity, I would be enough to defeat your chimera, since beating it means beating you in this duel!” exclaimed Christian, re-shifting the dual swords to a giant bow and whose arrows had some strange contraption attached to it.

Rune hastily finished transmuting the upgrade; the chimera launched an attack after the other and desperately tried to hit Christian. Even if he was carrying a giant bow, he was moving along keeping a clear shot of the chimera and after a few successive shots. The chimera stopped, it seems as if it was recharging and taking the opportunity. Christian aimed and pulled at the string, releasing the arrow and transmuting the bow back to the dual swords form.

“Go Christian! Whip her up so badly that she won’t be able to talk back to you!” yelled Lilith, Elle was about to cheer at him also, but was stopped when she heard Lilith’s voice. Elle shifted her view towards her and Lilith did so in return. Elle was surprised on how terrifying Lilith’s stare at her was; she must be harboring a deep sense of hatred for her. She still does not know why, but it would only be clear soon after the battle.

The bow zoomed in fast, faster than normal to be precise. The wolf chimera, agile as it was, didn’t have time to evade similar to Christian earlier, but Christian’s aim was sure and it zoomed past the two front legs of the chimera. Severing it badly and having the creature to lie down on the ground as it growled in pain. Seeing the now vulnerable chimera, the time to end this draws near as recess break was already draining so fast as all these things happened.

Drawing momentum from his shoulders he geared up to cut the wolf chimera to two, but as he approached the wounded creature. He noticed a huge stitch on its back; he was bothered by it but did not hesitate to finish the match. It was just a stitch, no big deal but he was proved wrong.

It was as if the clouds darkened and the air shrieked in immeasurable torture as the stitch started to eject a hefty amount of blood. Christian backed away by a few meters, it was strange that Rune did not seemed awful when she knew she was about to lose. There was some trick up her sleeve; she wouldn’t go down without a proper fight. “Now show your true form!” commanded Rune to the chimera as the stitched wound busted out like a geyser of blood and a grotesque silhouette of a humanoid body emerged from the wound.

Christian was thrown to the floor as the putrid breath of the macabre other half of the chimera showed itself. Shriveled bare skinless limbs and bloody dripping muscles added all the more to the monstrous teeth that lined up the circular mouth. It had no eyes, the head looked like that of a leech and the body was conjured up of segmented pieces of flesh. One can wonder if ever she was an Alchemist or a Necromancer in this case.

“This is seriously not my day!” said Christian, backing off quickly to rethink of a better approach, “You have no intention of killing me don’t you?” He kept considerable distance, keeping in mind that the lower half was now immobile.

A grim look can be seen in the audience. The chimera was unfathomable but some are still fascinated by it regardless of the horror movie look it has. The school has lots of necromancers and people who prioritize magical research more than anything else. Seeing such a display of magical prowess, the professors are all keeping their eyes at the duel from the faculty office.

“That kid shows promise! Is she in the primary school department?” asked Professor Lucreed Igneous to a currently busy Felix, “She can fight on par with that Alchemist kid of yours.” Hearing the word Alchemist, Felix diverted his attention away from the current work at hand and entertained the infamous professor’s questions. “Lucreed, you aren’t fascinated about that girl from section B. You’re fascinated about that patchwork of a chimera she’s created” he replied sternly, showing opposition to what Lucreed might suggest.

Lucreed’s glasses seemed to fog up as he held out his hands from his lab coat and was awfully trembling as he said, “Oh you’re right Felix! You’re right! Such a creature that shows up from a little girl’s nightmares stir up my nerves so much that I want to go and take both the subject and the creator away to my lab! A little series of tests might do… NO! A little would not do! Since you did not agree to me conducting tests on Stella I demand you to let me do it on the students instead!”

He started laughing like a complete nutcase inside the faculty room. The others seemed to be bothered and so Felix took action. With a point of a finger, he zapped Lucreed with a low voltage lightning stunning him in the process and soon dropped to the floor, “Never mind Lucreed, he hasn’t been sleeping for days.”

“Seriously, who agreed to him becoming a professor here?” thought Felix to himself, staring outside the window from his desk at the far end of the room. “The situation does not look too serious for the genius alchemist if I am to be asked” he murmured to himself, shifting his attention back to the papers he was tending to and was surprised to see one of his students sitting on top of his desk.

“Miss Hel, why am I not surprised to know that I’m the only one who can see you in this crowd of people?” greeted Felix, sarcasm in his voice as he declined to take eye contact with the mysterious student of his. She took off her shoes and rested her feet on Felix’ shoulders, which he pushed away. “My, my, you surely do not respect someone of greatest wizard of all time material, don’t you Miss Hel?”

“You should see the clear difference in abilities professor” replied Erin, crossing her legs instead and swinging her feet to and fro as she was conversing with Felix, “I know who you really are, but I’m not scared of you or anything. Don’t you feel so helpless? If you want me to stop bugging you then you gotta do my requests.” She leaned closer to him, still in her rather annoying calm face and as she was about to speak, her facial expressions changed into a menacing glare, “Understand your position!”

It was true, no one seems to notice what was happening on Felix’ side of the room, all they knew is that the crazy necromancy professor got knocked unconscious due to his over-exertion of his interest in the chimera fighting outside. The worst was to be expected; surely the school would not be a safe place for the student’s given presences like that of Erin Hel.

The other students were worried, it looks like the two would want to try and finish each other off due to the circumstances. Elle was lost for words, subconsciously holding her staff to blast any harm that might come towards Christian. The same was for Lilith, she knew that the chimera was no pushover and Christian might need some help if ever things really go for the worst case scenario. Something was throbbing inside their hearts, whose beats sound exactly the same. Everyone was oblivious to the fact, except for the two themselves.

After a few moments of thinking thoroughly, Christian changed the dual swords into a broad sword. The others thought it was foolish, a broad sword could only slow him down, but Christian has another thing in mind. He slowly approached the creature and readied himself to whack at it if it does anything weird. Upon entering its proximity, the chimera swiped at him with its sharp claws. Christian backed away, seeing that the creature’s reach was longer than his.

“You are some strange girl” commented Christian as he showed annoyance once he saw the stains on his clothes made by blood that flew to him when the chimera attacked. He thought of something just this while, the only way to beat this chimera without using his full capabilities was to use “that”. The similar flames enveloped the broad sword but did no major change to the broad sword. It was likely that he transmuted it to the same form and just added minute details to it.

“Do you still want to belittle me after seeing how capable I am as an alchemist!” said Rune, standing triumphantly as Christian was glued to his place. Her fun was cut short when Christian replied a rather obvious answer, “But you are little.”

The crowd was about to burst in laughter at the remark, here was a girl trying to make someone stop thinking of her as incapable when the words make up a pun on how… “Short” she was. “Idiot! I do not refer to my height!” replied Rune, she was embarrassed at the situation, her looks does not really befit a girl of her age. “I refer to your appearance, there really are girls who are short at that age so it doesn’t matter” said Christian, stabbing the broad sword to the ground as he took a break from the fighting.

“Really? My height does not matter?” a slight blush appeared on Rune’s cheeks, though she did not get the first part on which Christian pointed out that she was little in appearance and not in height, “I accept your humble acceptance, but that will not save you from defeat! Go and finish him!”

“Oh, so the chimera can still move” said Christian, pulling up the broad sword from the ground and stood in a ready stance, “Sure! Let’s finish this! My recess is flying away every second we waste!” The chimera resumed mobilization using its extra limbs to crawl its way towards Christian. Christian ran towards it in response and geared up to separate the wolf from the upper half with a horizontal slash. The Chimera swiped at him but Christian made a fake and back slid away and slammed the broad sword to the ground in front of the chimera.

“This ends now!” the crater resonated a strong force, multiple transmutation circles appeared underneath them and the whole crowd was caught in awe. Steel spikes jutted out from the ground and impaled the chimera into position. Christian dispersed the broad sword and returned it back to its original alchemist’s chalk form. With the chimera now in restraints Christian pulled up his sleeves and placed his hands directly on the series of transmutation circles. “The first stage Nigredo” said Christian as if chanting something as the circles responded to his words. The circles glowed red and the chimera alongside the steel spikes started to disintegrate, corrupting the elemental composition of both and dissolving them to a different matter.

“The goal of Alchemy was to bear witness once again to the hidden sun consisted of the essential fire and conjoined with ether. Of which the ancestors of Escadre are made from, but to all attempts vain, the material sun, Sol Niger was the only one conjured” a brief pause from his words as he pressed deeper into the circle and the chimera alongside the steel spikes burned out in white flames, “The second stage Albedo, knowing the errors of those who tried before me. I proceed hereby to the second forth coming, with a desire to harness the power of the true and hidden sun. With my own hands I purify these creations of the dark material sun, Sol Niger along with myself which is also one of its creations.”

Rune knelt down as she heard the words and witnessed what was happening. Everyone was definitely in awe not just by the flashy transmutation circles but on how much power he can dish out. “The third stage Citrinitas, as the chemical wedding takes place, a small glimpse of the one true sun I saw. Upon which, light purified and enlightened me and with this I say my name, the conjurer of this foolish act, Christian Vendre of Vesenberk. User of alchemical knowledge decline from this pact and return these materials to what they should be!” he removed his hands from the circles as it slowly died down. The Chimera and the metal spikes vanished and returned to their original state as dirt on the ground.

Slowly he stood up, looked at Rune and approached her. “That was your magnum opus…” stammered Rune, “Why did you stop in on the third stage and not continue on to Rubedo?” “The words should’ve reached you already, I do not wish to search for the hidden sun” he offered his hand to Rune to help her stand up as he smiled at her, “I wish to create life with my own hands, you can help me with it if you gladly accept your punishment for losing.”

Rune was hesitant after hearing these words, she was obviously happy hearing such a word. Perhaps the things that she watches and read occupy much of her daydreams and got the words wrong; similar to how Nurse Stella thought it was. “I…I would like to accept… but… I haven’t had” she was about to say the reason why she couldn’t accept but then, a rushing shadow of a person zoomed past her and hit Christian squarely.

“Take this you bastard!” yelled Kanade as she hit Christian with her glaive and followed by a fast turn, stabbed it to the ground and dark flames rose up horizontally towards Christian. Upon seeing what happened, Elle and Lilith broke free from the crowd and launched spells at Kanade. From Elle came out a frost ball spell and from Lilith a homing curse. Everything was in a blur and the students thought that one or two people would die from what happened, but then a black hole appeared in between Christian and the rising dark flames and consumed them whole.

Christian fell down to the ground as he held his face from the solid hit from the glaive. The two spells were still zooming forward to Kanade but these two were also dispersed in mid-air by an unknown barrier. Kanade fell down to the ground as the spells were simply inches away from her and Rune. From out the faculty building came out Felix, “That’s enough. Shouldn’t you two be worrying on how you’ll fix that hole on the wall?”

Christian then stood up to answer, “Sir, we had a bet on whoever loses would follow the winner and that was to be what the loser would do. I was just about to help her stand up when…” Kanade barged in and said, “No professor! He was about to force Rune to do something…”

Felix stopped her from saying the word and said to her, “What Vendre means with the creation of life is not what you think. He means creation of life through alchemy, so there was no practical purpose on why you were allowed to hit him!” Felix then shifted his gaze at Christian and Rune, “You two would fix this; that is your punishment!”

Without further ado, he left the scene and went inside again. Erin was waiting behind the door and asked, “See, no one would notice it if you act as if you got mad at them.” “What exactly are your plans?” asked Felix without facing her still, “If you think I would just play along forever then think again. You better be ready for the consequences.” “My, that scares me!” mocked Erin, planning to exit the building after leaving her message for him, “You wouldn’t last one second against me.”

Christian went on to help Rune stand up as the misunderstanding was cleared up. “What exactly were you thinking earlier? I can’t imagine myself doing that with you… you know” said Christian, annoyance in his voice as Rune took his hand. “I’m sorry…” she stared at Kanade to apologize also, “Kanade!” “Okay, I was wrong” said Kanade as she looked away, “I was just worried about you… I heard that the twenty-seventh student in rank was a pervert.”

“Pardon me, I’m the twenty sixth!” said Christian and then he noticed Elle and Lilith. They seemed like they were angry about something, “Rosewood, Falcen? Why are you two here?” The two did not reply to Christian and fixed their eyes on Rune. Rune didn’t understand the stares even though their eyes were burning red for some reason. Christian decided it was time to fix the damage and pulled Rune along. Elle and Lilith still had their eyes fixed on Rune… The reason they were angry… Rune was holding Christian’s hand.

[DoubleZeta]

Fourth segment of the first chapter! It's a rundown of whose who in section B.

Chapter 1: The first day (segment 4)

It was a not so favorable day for both Elle and Lilith. They weren’t allowed to follow the two, so Elle decided to go for a short walk around the classrooms. She was getting along the cold treatment Lilith was giving her, reflecting the same manner as Lilith obviously does not want to talk to her. She left the cafeteria grounds and headed upstairs, everyone was in a hurry to get back to their classrooms. Elle wasn’t hurrying at all, Professor Felix seemed too down to be coming early and took her time leisurely.

Upon reaching the second floor corridors she noticed a woman on her middle twenties. It was rare to see someone of her age in this part of the school, so she may either be part of the staff or a professor. Her lab coat and class record in hand gives away the obvious, upon Elle’s deduction she was the second professor to be wearing a lab coat. Aside from a suspicious person she saw standing beside section F early that morning. She seemed rather normal and not so crooked looking as the man on section F.

The woman noticed her, she smiled at Elle and was about to approach her. Elle responded courteously and greeted, “Good morning Ma’am.” She stopped in front of Elle and crossed her arms, “Good Morning, I’m section B’s class advisor, Professor Rue Sylphid and you are?” Elle was caught a little of guard by her smile. Elle can discern it even though she was wearing something that covers up so much… she was hot.

“Elle Rosewood of section A, Professor Rue” replied Elle; she was nervously standing beside the staircase. Even if she has the same aura as that of Christian’s she can’t help but notice her influence on the earlier alchemist, “Umm, Professor, that girl earlier was a student of yours am I correct?”

“Oh, Rune?” Professor Rue’s eyes started to got interested in the discussion and loosened her lab coat a bit, “Yes she is one of my students, the girl shows a lot of promise. She’s getting attention for section B so early this semester. I never knew she had such talent on the chimera topic, the whole faculty was watching the fight earlier. Say, you were cheering for your classmate earlier right?”

Elle was slightly petrified by Professor Rue’s words, so it really did look obvious that she has some sort of liking for Christian. Elle was getting nervous again, the other students passing by though she was getting lectured at by Professor Rue. Rue leaned closer towards her and murmured, “So the grand daughter of Rosevere’s Arch Witch likes someone? That’s quite a startling discovery.”

“Uhm… No! Absolutely not professor, I was just… it was because he was a classmate!” denied Elle, she doesn’t know why but she’s feeling all fluttery when Professor Rue said those words earlier, but she just feels like denying it for some unknown reason. Professor Rue slid her hands inside the pockets of her lab coat and chuckled at her response, “My, you’re so cute! Well, it was the likely response, wouldn’t root for someone from another section because that would mean accepting they are better, though if I was to be asked, he was a perfect pair for my Rune. Felix’ alchemist that is, he might be the second greatest.”

Elle got a bit of an idea on what kind of personality Professor Rue has. As she slid her hands inside her pocket, Elle finally noticed that the lab coat was unbuttoned, meaning that when she took of her arms from the earlier crossed position, the lab coat split apart to show her normal clothing. She seems to be lax about uniforms, as she knew; most of the teaching personnel were wearing formal to semi-formal attires. Professor Rue, on the other hand was wearing denim shorts and a modified long sleeve shirt. Whose lower half was cut off along with the sleeves and tied by a knot instead of being buttoned. Her hair was a short wavy red one and her eyes were the same color as that of Christian’s.

She took out a box of cigarettes and a lighter from her lab coat. Taking out a stick and then plunging them back in to her pocket. She lighted it and started smoking, “Pardon me if I had to smoke all of a sudden. An idiot is coming this way.” Elle wasn’t bothered by the smoke, she was a bit interested on who this “idiot” might be. Coming out from section F’s room was another professor. The man had spiky black hair and upon seeing them, went to their direction followed by a greeting, “Good morning Rue! Have you followed my suggestion about wearing glasses?”

“What do you want from me you idiot?” asked Rue roughly, her eyebrows rose as she looks certainly pissed. The man then smiled a sly one, “Acting all ‘tsundere’ doesn’t make your looks any better.” She turned around and gave a sharp glare at him, “Do you want me to transmute you to something else lower than what you are?”

The words seemed to inflict fear through the corridors and the students ran hastily away from the scene. The man took out a pair of square rimmed glasses and covered his face with his hand. He shifted his gaze away from Rue as she started depleting the cigarette stick and faced Elle. “You must be Miss Rosewood, I’m pleasured to make your acquaintance” said the man, his eyes seemed more terrifying than that of Rue’s but she guessed that everyone has their own fears in this school. He had normal black eyes except for his right one, which was yellow and looked like a snake’s eye.

“Do you wish to know the source of all life?” asked the man, a serious look on his face as Elle was surely lost for words on what she heard. This was a perfect opportunity, if by chance she can learn the source of life… getting closer to Christian would be as easy as pie. “Really… Professor, you know the source of life?” asked Elle, she had her hands together as if begging to learn it so badly. Professor Rue then kicked him on the groin part yelling at him, “Kira, don’t even dare poison the student’s mind!” The hit was a solid one and the serious look on Professor Kira vanished as quickly as water being strained by a strainer whose holes are as huge as that of a manhole. He started rolling on the floor, soiling his pure white mantle as he groaned on the floor in pain.

“Rosewood, follow me” said Professor Rue, turning her back on the squirming co-worker and taking out a similar pair of square rimmed glasses from her pocket. Elle ran towards her side and slowed down in pace as she was directly adjacent to her. Professor Rue wore the glasses shortly after and drained the cigarette straight. The fire on it was dying; perhaps it can’t burn the cigarette butt. She threw the remains to her left opposite Elle and gave a heavy discontented sigh.

“What was it about wearing glasses…? I’ve been wearing them ever since I was a student of this school” said Professor Rue as she was walking rather heavily. Elle leaned a bit and looked at Professor Rue’s face for a brief moment. “Professor, you seemed troubled” commented Elle, she was worried for what happened and at the same time, getting back somehow to what Professor Rue said to her, “Are you worried about him?”

Rue gave a rather meaningful stare at her, “Are you implying something with that?” “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend” apologized Elle with a slight chuckle. They continued walking and passed by section E’s room. Once they passed the room Professor Rue started talking, “I’m sorry for my earlier attitude, he just sickens me on certain occasions.”

“It’s okay Professor, I’m not bothered by it” Elle smiled at her, trying to make her at least feel better. Professor Rue took out her right hand from her pocket and patted Elle on the head, “You should stay away from Professor Kira Duran also, or else he’ll poison your mind with other worldly nonsense such as ‘MOE’.” “MOE?” asked Elle, vexed by the unfamiliar word as Professor Rue’s face seemed to have calmed a little bit now. Rue stopped in front of section D’s room and whispered something to Elle, “It’s some dreaded kind of fetish from another world. He’s been infected by strange allergens from his constant other world summons.”

Elle wasn’t that much moved by the words as she inquired further more, “Is it some sort of diabolical artifact?” Rue pulled out her hands and placed them on her waist as she answered, “I’m happy to know the fact that you’re study habits are good, but I do not refer to magical terms.” With this said, Elle flushed all pink when she got what Professor Rue meant. “Huh! That kind of…” yelped Elle, this caught the attention of the students inside section D’s room and some students came out to see what was going on. Elle quickly returned her posture and Professor Rue slid her hands back inside her pocket.

“Okay, everyone go back to your rooms there’s nothing much to see here” ordered Professor Rue, as she gestured to Elle that they should go. Elle took a short glimpse at section D’s room, she saw someone standing in front of the class but did that person did not look like a professor. She asked Professor Rue again just to clarify something, “Professor, section D’s advisor is late right?”

Professor Rue pointed to the girl standing in the front of the class, “No, that’s their adviser, Professor Candice Enixya.” Elle took a closer look at her and peered through the classroom doors. She was really young for a professor and by her looks; her age was around eighteen or twenty. Her class seemed to be having a good time, especially the boys. Having a cute professor was rare and by luck might just be one or two years older than the first year students. She has a slim figure, decent sizes and an angelic face in contrast to Professor Rue’s blazing hot figure. She must be on the mellow side; her voice seemed to calm the students down to listen to her lecture.

Professor Candice turned towards the door and noticed Elle and Professor Rue. She greeted the both of them with a wave and a smile. Elle took reference of her appearance, three to five inches taller than her, bust size was slightly better, a calm cutesy appearance, a gentle aura surrounding her, light green long flowing hair that reached butt length, a good voice befitting a choir member, graceful movements, fair complexion, crystalline pink colored pair of eyes, pinkish lips and a warm smile similar to hers.

Another fact that came into mind was her clothing; it was the uniform similar to the students, the third year emblem was patched to her robe, its distinctive staff with a coiled snake and four magnificent wings inside a grand pentagram. The first year emblem was a bit the same, which difference lies on the symbol that surrounds the school’s, a grand pentagram for the third years, a spiral triskelion for the second years and a triangle for the first years.

“See you later Candice we’ll be going now” bade Rue farewell as she headed towards section B’s room. Elle then followed her, leading for Candice to resume her lecture after waving goodbye to Rue. “You wouldn’t mind sitting in my class wouldn’t you Rosewood?” asked Professor Rue as they passed section C’s room, ignoring the wails of the students inside on their dilemma. Elle was bothered by the voices, but still followed Professor Rue, “I would like to Professor, but I have classes.”

“Don’t worry, Felix wouldn’t show up on your next class” reassured Rue as she smiled at Elle, “He’s too much in a bad mood to be teaching after what happened earlier.” The students inside section C’s room started running outside as they were looking for something or someone. They passed by Elle and Rue, some were reckless and bumped into them, knocking Elle down to the floor as the girl did not bother to apologize.

“What should we do!? I knew we did pull the wrong string then, he’s nowhere to be found!” yelled one of the students from inside the room. Chaos was running rampant along the room and another student said, “Argh! If we didn’t get Professor Kira back those students at section D might replace us as section C! I do not want to step down any more ranks, we need to study!”

Rue helped Elle stand up and while she was just halfway there, another student zoomed past them and bumped into Professor Rue. They were really in a pinch, desperate to search for their missing class advisor. Professor Rue pulled Elle back up in a quick snappy way and kicked the door to section C’s room. The door was disjointed from the hinges and fell down flat on the classroom floor, “Shut the Hell up bastards! If you want your idiotic professor to teach you, get on his good sides for crying out loud!” The whole class fell silent as Professor Rue stood there burning red in anger as she glared furiously at each and everyone of them. Elle followed her inside and tried to pull her out from the room, “Professor we should let them be, I’m not hurt.”

“If the advisor is foolish enough, isn’t it just, as the advisory class to fix your defective professor instead of walking the same path of idiocy?!” lectured Professor Rune as she took out an alchemist’s chalk from her right pocket and drew a circle on the door she just wrecked. “Fix yourself” she said as if ordering the door to fix its own. Soon the circle responded from Rue’s words and a brownish light covered it. The door affixed itself back to the hinges and Rue left the room. She held the door open and waited for Elle to exit too, as soon as both of them had their feet off the classroom, Rue shut the door with a wham and continued with their walk.

“You transmuted the door without touching it professor that was amazing!” praised Elle as she was really fascinated with what she just used earlier. Rue took out a paper with a transmutation circle similar to the one she used earlier, drawn on it. “I used this to do that, it’s a form of command alchemy. The transmutation reacts to the alchemist’s voice and would only work for the one who drew it, though alchemy would not work if you do not touch the circle itself or the material to be transmuted and so I use this paper. The circle drawn here is connected to the one I drew on the door, so we can say that I didn’t do something special. I believe you’ve seen command alchemy of greater scale earlier?” explained Professor Rue, referring to the false magnum opus conjuration Christian did earlier.

“That was called a magnum opus wasn’t it Professor?” questioned Elle as she was getting in to this alchemy stuff, “Somewhat like a specialized spell in black magic right?” “Your explanation was close, but it isn’t likely a specialized spell. A specialized spell is exclusive to its creator while a magnum opus isn’t” corrected Professor Rue as they stopped for a while in front section B’s door, “All alchemists can conjure a magnum opus, it translates roughly to great work and thus, a magnum opus is an alchemist’s greatest work and that is a philosopher’s stone at the most basic, but Rune was mistaken by calling that transmutation as Vendre’s magnum opus. I’m sure he’s more than capable of creating gold with his skills… his magnum opus is something we can’t comprehend yet… or simply put, he still has no magnum opus. He was just borrowing a modified form of Athena Scheiffel’s magnum opus.”

Elle was a bit shocked with this revelation; of course someone who isn’t familiar to the field of alchemy or is still a beginner would think that it was Christian’s greatest work so far, due to its grand presentation. “I feel like taking him up as my apprentice alongside Rune” confessed Professor Rue, “But I need to beat the crap out of Felix first to get him.”

She laughed after saying this and opened the door, “Welcome to section B.” Elle entered the room and was surprised to see the difference in atmosphere from section A’s room. Everyone seems to be going along fine with each other; unlike the aura of competition in section A. Everyone had their eyes towards Elle and Professor Rue’s direction. “Fuguriya?” called out a voice from the front of the classroom. “Present” replied Kanade as she stared towards Elle also. The one calling out the student’s surnames looked to his left and closed the class attendance, “Mistress Rue, I’ve just taken attendance till F of the girls. The boys are all present; shall I return to my seat now?”

“That’s fine Percival, you should go rest in your room for the meantime” said Rue as she went towards the platform in front of the class, “Good morning class, and I have a little announcement to make.” The homunculus, Percival resembled an eleven year old boy. He doesn’t make any difference from a normal human being, due to the fact he wasn’t in battle or something. At first, Elle thought Percival was a girl, maybe because his purple hair was longer than usual than that of a boy’s. His eyes seemed demure also and had a rather feminine look on it. His black eyes weren’t always still, always rolling on to some side of the room, taking a look on everything as much as he can.

“Her homunculus was substituting for her while she was delayed for class. She must really love her students to not make them wait so much” thought Elle to herself as she stood besides the door smiling. Percival exited through the door as Professor Rue begun, “We’ll have a student from section A sitting for class today, Miss Rhun is excuse while she cleans up the mess from her earlier duel and it wouldn’t be nice starting the next activity short one person. So I pulled out Miss Rosewood from section A, Professor Felix wouldn’t be having class after what happened so its okay” announced Professor Rue as she winked at Elle, “Well then, shall you introduce yourself to us Miss Rosewood?”

Elle nodded, accepting the request to introduce her to section B. Professor Rue stepped aside to make way for her. The whole class silenced themselves, except maybe for Kanade who was still brooding grim resentment on the earlier incident. Elle stood in front of them, when she was about to start, Kanade raised her hand. “May I ask why you threw that ice ball spell at me earlier?” a serious foreboding stare pierced through Elle, Kanade wasn’t so nice to let the ice ball pass.

“I know the difference in skill we have, but shouldn’t you be apologizing for doing that to me?” Kanade stood firm on her resolve to push Elle to apologize. Elle was petrified by the words thrown at her, “I… I didn’t…” “Kanade, she didn’t really want to throw that ice ball at you. It was your fault when you bashed section A’s alchemist” said Professor Rue as she defended Elle from Kanade’s pointless argument. Kanade sat silently on her seat; she did find her wrong when she did that attack on Christian. It was just that Elle wanted to save him from harm that she did launch the ice ball spell at her. Though Kanade accepted her wrong, Elle apologized still which shocked everyone, “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”

She bowed down in apology; everyone had their jaw drop in awe. Elle really didn’t mean any harm to others; the students of section B were touched. It was rare to see someone as nice as her. Everyone clapped their hands; it was the little they can do to appreciate her kindness. Professor Rue approached Elle and patted her again on the head, “You can start your introduction now, Elle. They seem to like you very well.”

Smiles were etched on each and everyone’s face, Kanade also has one on her. Elle lightened up as soon as he saw the warm acceptance of those from section B. It might just be a friendlier room than that of hers, but she can never tell unless the days move from one to the other. She lifted her head and started her introduction, “My name is Elle Rosewood of section A, It’s a pleasure to meet all of you. I am sixteen years of age, a practitioner of dark magic.” She bowed down again to end her introduction but then, some of the students started asking questions.

“What are your hobbies?” asked someone from the back row, it was automatically followed by another question. After a few seconds she was overwhelmed by so many questions that Professor Rue had to step up again and organize the students, “Ask one question at a time! Damn it! She’s just one person!” The students were silenced by her words, but her students are already used to her way of disciplining students. The students raised their hands and waited being called to ask their questions. Rue picked out the earlier person who asked the first question, “That’s why I love this section. Everyone’s so obedient, okay; let’s start the questions with you Ms. Lanceforde.”

She joyfully stood up and gave her question with utmost interest in her voice, “Can I know your hobbies?” She stood in a rather timid manner; Elle was quick to notice her uniform in a different color. Perhaps it was really easy to notice a white student’s uniform in a room filled with brown robes. The school did not forbid having different colors of uniform, as long as the robe bears the year emblems. Her clothing was all white with a black miniskirt underneath the robe. They bear quite a nice resemblance, being both blonde and blue eyed. She might be fit to look like a daughter for Elle if they were to be mother and daughter.

She has a more naïve and innocent face than that of Elle. She might be a happy go lucky type of person as the laid back look in her eyes dictates so. In terms of personality she looks childish and sweet. Elle thought for a few moments and answered with a happy look, “Gardening, especially Roses, playing the piano, reading books, I also like to swim but it’s really not a common hobby for me since waters in Rosevere are cold.”

“You also like plants, I’m happy to know that. My name is Cleo Lanceforde, let’s be friends!” said Cleo, deeply moved to know someone who shares a large deal of her hobbies and interests, “Do you like cats also?” “Yes, they’re really fuzzy and warm” replied Elle, they were getting drawn into the conversation that both did not notice Professor Rue’s signal. “Miss Lanceforde, let’s leave the extended questions later if you may? A lot of others want to ask questions, right?” she gave a rather meaningful wink at the others and all of them replied, “Yes Ma’am.”

Cleo bowed down in apology, “I’m sorry Professor…” “Don’t worry about that Cleo, I’m sure Miss Rosewood didn’t mind, but the others might. You know? Especially the boys” symbolisms traceable in her speech, Elle waved back at Cleo as she sat on her seat. Professor Rue picked out the next student to ask a question, she called out to the girl seated beside Cleo, “Miss Lohengrin, it’s your turn now.” The brown haired girl stood up and started asking a question, “Why did you choose to study here in Lordenfell instead of Rosevere?”

“Ehhh? Hermione, you should ask yourself instead” jutted Stephen as he was looking somewhere else, Hermione scanned from left to right as she faced him. “Of course the reason is obvious, but I ask for a deeper answer.” Professor Rue sighed from the commotion as she threw a chalk at Stephen, “Whoever said you can butt in must be an idiot.” Elle was really uncomfortable with the scenery, though she felt relieved when the others started laughing. “Professor, you know me I just feel like it” answered Stephen as Rue shifted the attention back to Elle. “Feel free to answer if you like” reminded Rue.

“The obvious answer would be because the magical academy is situated here in Lordenfell, but if it is a deeper answer then it might be because my mother has nothing to teach me anymore” answered Elle seriously; the matter wasn’t a joke for her. Some people really do search for eccentric answers rather than asking conventional first day of school questions. A slight smile can be seen in Hermione’s face. The answer did not seem satisfactory enough. Elle was a bit nervous, but Hermione insisted, “I should get know you better later. There are a lot of things I want to talk about with you.”

Though discontented she sat down, perhaps she was planning to get closer later. The classroom just doesn’t give enough freedom to begin with. On a brief evaluation of the last fifteen minutes she stayed inside section B’s room. These were the facts that she noticed. First, the students at section B are a family. The aura was not that of a classroom, they were all close friends inside in such a short period of time, in contrast with section A wherein she received an arch enemy in just an hour. Second, they do not discriminate other sections that much, well except for Professor Rue who discriminates section C’s advisor. Third and the most easily noticeable fact… their uniforms… do not follow the normal.

It was better to say, that theirs was the first year fashion capital. From Cleo’s earlier white themed school uniform to Hermione’s black themed one. “Could it be that Cleo and Hermione are related to each other? Their uniforms are complete opposites in color, I guess Cleo is a white mage and Hermione also a dark mage” thought Elle as she joyfully answered the other students questions. The whole room was in a joyous mood, it was rare to have someone else this fun going to their room.

[DoubleZeta]

Fifth segment of chapter one, something like page 29 to 36.

Chapter 1: The first day (segment 5)

Meanwhile, as Elle continued on with the questions and activities in section B’s room. The other class advisors entered the clinic due to some strange reasons. Kira in a note-worthy display of hyper activity entered and greeted, “Hey Felix! How’s your day?” “A demon is currently having me under surveillance” replied Felix in an annoyed voice as Stella was taking care of him.

“It’s very rare to see you being taken care of Stella for something so minor, don’t tell me there is something we need to know?” asked Lucreed taking a seat beside the window as his eyes were hidden by the foggy glasses. “Would you like another lightning bolt for that comment Lucreed?” threatened Felix as he sat up from the bed he was lying in, “I’ve never been so annoyed in my life.”

“Hey! Don’t tell me that you’re annoyed because of me?” replied Lucreed as he was offended by the words Felix said to him. Felix raised his hand and his staff came to him, “That is one of the reasons though, but that isn’t what bothers me most.” Stella returned to her seat and opened up her grimoire to continue reading. She kept silent as they talked about what bothers Felix. Candice sat somewhere close to Stella and Kira, just beside her. Felix stabbed his staff to the ground and set up a powerful anti-magic barrier around the room, “This is a private conversation, but I doubt this would hold that demon from hearing what we’re going to talk about.”

Section E’s advisor entered the room as he sensed the anti-magic barrier set up inside. He was in his normal trance state; his mind seemed like floating with his currently blank eyes. “I felt unrest in this place, would you mind if I come in?” asked the rather strange white mage. “It’s okay Jazhra, you’re a part of the staff as well” said Felix, Jazhra’s eyes returned to their normal black color as he paid attention to what Felix has to say. “It’s about a student of mine” started Felix, but then Kira butted in. “A ‘MOE’ student I presume and she’s black mailing you because you won’t accept her feelings for you?”

Felix pointed his index finger at Kira, electricity surging around it and was about to shoot lightning, “A lightning bolt perhaps?” “Ehehehehe… I was joking… REALLY!” said Kira as he was sweating profusely from the threatening lightning about to jump at him. Jazhra sat crossed legs in the middle of the room and tried to sense for what was wrong, “Is it something about that student the principal agreed to accept though her powers are obviously stronger than normal?” an iffy expression can be seen from everyone as Jazhra’s hair was obviously standing up one by one.

“Jazhra’s doing it again” commented Candice with a fascinated look in her face, “That girl is Erin Hel isn’t she?” “The enigmatic enchantress, so even section A’s advisor can not stand her power. I must examine her as soon as possible!” exclaimed Lucreed as his sense for experimentation was going to overdrive again. Kira approached Felix and hit him on the head for some certain reason, “YOU DARE CALL SOMEONE WHO IS ‘MOE’ A DEMON?!”

Felix hit him hard with his staff as he replied, “OF COURSE I DO IDIOT!” “WHO’RE YOU CALLING IDIOT!?” said Kira, voice rose to stress the fact he was getting to. Stella closed the grimoire she was reading and bluntly stated the fact, “She’s watching us right now.” A terrible chill went up their spines as they surely felt the malice in the air. Felix turned a serious face to the others and said to them, “Are we ready to enter hell?”

Everyone was petrified to their seats; Jazhra ended his meditation as the malice overpowers that of his trance. His eyes turned to a blood red color as he said in an eerie voice, “We are no match for this power, we can just hold on until someone else comes and beats her.” He stood up and his hair fell down to the normal brushed back red hair he had. Stella came to his side and took care of the bleeding wound on his cheek, “Over exerting your magic is bad you know.” Jazhra stood still as Stella treated the magical wound on his face and as soon as Stella covered it with bandages he added, “We must sacrifice a lamb.”

As this commotion was happening inside the clinic, Elle and the others at section B were currently having an activity. The whole class went out towards the school grounds for the activity requires materials from outside the classroom. Elle was chatting with Cleo and Hermione about what they should do. “I didn’t think about you two being a floramancer and faunamancer” confessed Elle at the revelation given to her earlier. Hermione walked alongside a Racxreph as they moved from the stairs school grounds via the stairs.

“We don’t look like one?” asked Cleo, tidying up the flowers on the plant box as they go along. A lively tune can be heard playing from somewhere else as they walked. The flowers seemed to dance, had no one noticed it, it was the Racxreph that was doing this sound. The sound resonated tranquility, reflecting the vivid fields where Racxrephs once roamed. Elle hummed along as Hermione patted the Racxreph, “They were so plenty before…”

A look of sadness started looming over them, the sound darkened also; a song of wailing can be heard across the grounds. Behind the marvelous appearance of the Racxreph sadness lurks, pity for its own kind. The creature lied down on the ground, its head tucked to the ground as it pierced the soil with its curved horns. It was a thin animal, whose body built is like that of a dog and a long tail of bushy fur. Its magnificent curved horns are the means of how it emanates sounds. Elle felt the distress on the creature, and the weariness in Hermione’s face.

Elle approached her and patted her back along with a compliment, “Its okay, and we’ll help ban the use of Racxreph hearts for staff cores.” Hermione lifted her head up to stare at Elle’s face, the Racxreph, though unable to understand Elle’s words, did the same implementing that it might be instinct. For a brief moment, Hermione felt as if an angel has descended from the heavens. The Racxreph stood up from its lying position and started playing a joyful tune once again. “Rosewood…” stammered Hermione, eyes teary in disbelief as Cleo bent over closer to them.

“I’ll help too!” volunteered Cleo as the three of them gathered up beside the Racxreph. “It would be unfair for creatures with such crystalline heart to be used just for that purpose, they create beautiful music, I can not let that go to waste” added Elle, Hermione hugged her shortly after saying these words. “Thank you, I never thought someone else would understand!” said Hermione, tears flowing in her eyes as the other classmates finally noticed the commotion happening in Elle’s circle.

Kanade couldn’t ignore the situation so she decided to approach them. She greeted them casually and went straight to the point, “Hermione? Is there anything wrong?” Hermione stopped clinging to Elle and wiped her tears with a handkerchief she took out from her pocket. After a few seconds of gathering herself together she faced Kanade and smiled, “They’re just tears of joy Kanade, you don’t need to worry. I’m just glad I found a new friend.”

Cleo and Elle smiled alongside Hermione. Kanade understood what they meant and smiled also, “Good luck on the activity then. Show us the power of your friendship okay?” “Kanade you sound like some heroine from a novel!” commented Cleo, as the other students gave a little bit of chuckling as they heard this. Professor Rue fastened herself to a tree as she was trying hard to suppress the laughter, “Heh… Hehehe…” She was really red from all this, only a few more seconds till she finally bursts out in laughter. Kanade was slightly embarrassed from what the others were doing; she really was acting like a heroine. Though everyone knows she’s not acting, she’s just like that.

“Bwahahahaha!” laughed Professor Rue as she started pounding on the tree, “Hahahaha! That was classic, oohhh… Ahahaha… I can’t… Haha… stop laughing! Ahahaha!” “Come on Professor! That’s already overacting!” said Kanade, a slight pink flush visible in her cheeks from the embarrassment. “Ahaha… I know Kanade, never mind me… Tsk… Ahahaha!” laughed Professor Rue as she started rolling on the floor from laughter. A big sweat came out from everyone’s heads as they watched Professor Rue roll on the floor.

A teeny tiny detail voiced itself inside Elle’s head as she witnessed this, “She’s not that different from Professor Kira in some few terms.” Elle started laughing along with the whole class as she noticed this. Everyone was having fun but the commotion stopped as soon as Cleo pointed out, “Professor Rue really is Professor Kira’s childhood friend! They have the same mannerisms!”

The scene slowly turned black and white as the fact sank in to each and every one of them. Professor Rue stopped rolling on the ground automatically as the words reached her ears. Everyone’s laugh was paused as if time magic was used and instead had their mouths open. “That was a taboo was it?” asked Elle to Hermione as both of them were shivering like hell. Figure ably speaking Professor Rue was depicted as a rising corpse from the dead as she slowly got up from the ground. The flames of hell seeped out from the cracks left on the ground; of course that was a joke.

“Miss Lanceforde! Have you forgotten about RULE NUMBER 13!?” said Professor Rue as she flamed up in anger. The class was in a comical view from this point on. “She’s on fire!” exclaimed Elle as her imagination was going wild, to lessen the fear seeping out from each and everyone. “You know that I DISLIKE hearing that NAME!? Do you not know that? Or was that done on purpose?” asked Professor Rue as she was drawing a transmutation circle on the ground. A maniacal look in her eyes was showing up, she really does dislike the fact of being related to Professor Kira in some ways. “Oh, maybe you were thinking that ‘it would be fine’, or ‘Professor Rue wouldn’t get angered so easily by it’, or maybe ‘Professor Rue just made up that rule earlier because she doesn’t want her class to know that she has feelings for Professor Kira’ or some sort close to that?” said Professor Rue, everyone was nerve-wrecked from what was happening as each and every ruthless stroke on the drawn circle drew them closer to doomsday, “Guess what? The reason why that RULE was made was because, I HATE THAT IDIOT! So, are you prepared to meet your doom Miss Lanceforde?”

Cleo was rather calm even though a huge popping vein can be comically seen on top Professor Rue’s head. “Yes, what is it?” said Cleo in a rather clueless way. Professor Rue hit her face with her palm from the earlier way Cleo responded and murmured, “I forgot she was this much of an airhead.” She let the comment slide for now, putting into understanding Cleo’s personality as she took off her lab coat and hangs it over her shoulders, “That was my bad. Okay class, were in location already as you remember I’ve grouped you guys in threes. Our goal for this activity is to create something artistic using your combined magical knowledge. I give you five hours to finish this, so go ahead and start.”

Professor Rue pulled over to the side and rested her back on the earlier tree she was hitting. She pulled out another cigarette stick and smoked for the meantime. She was thinking about something as she stared towards the sky. Elle watched her as she readied the preparations they need for the activity at hand. There was a blush on her face, Elle noticed this, but did not bother to ask as they were currently planning what they would make.

Work was tedious for sculpting a gigantic cat from out of a boulder. The sculpting was to be done by Cleo’s floramancy, Elle’s black magic and with the help of animals from Hermione’s faunamancy. The vines were good enough to hold the boulder as the winds swept away at it upon Elle’s control, while the animals did the details to further enhance the sculpture’s quality. The others were doing sculpture work also using other materials aside from rocks. Everyone was serious about the work, at least for a few certain people who tend to goof off without reason.

Professor Rue took time to observe from her spot as she was quietly smoking her way to the time limit. This was a rather heavy one, as she’s been emptying two boxes already in just an hour and a half since the activity started. She was lonely for some unknown reason; she just tries to hide it. After taking a scan on everyone’s work, she shifted her attention back to the skies. As if recalling something and has been doing nothing at all except stare at the endless blue filled with clouds.

Everyone looked busy and no one seems to be paying attention to her. It was expected though; they weren’t related by blood or anything at all, except the fact that they are her students. The frail barrier that made her hold on to the position for so long, was being shaken and tested every living second she exists. The pains she was keeping for so long, something that might be beyond repair…

The cold atmosphere slowly crept from her, though the setting sun has finally come to view. The first day would soon come to an abrupt end, a first day just like the others she had. The script goes on and on, before she knew it another batch has graduated before her eyes without any special things happening in between. The reddish glow of the setting sun casts itself on the students along with their work. Rue looked somber, pale, but not as pale as dead.

As the realization that everything would be all for naught once again, nothing worthwhile for this year as her eyes turned meek. Her glasses giving a reflection of the vanishing star and darkness slowly looms. “Time is up, we should start grading your work and head on to dismissal” said Rue, sorrow traceable in her voice as a shivering lonely being resounds inside her. She dropped the coat she hanged over her shoulders to the ground, no one might notice her sorrow, so why would they even notice such a tiny gesture she made?

Elle stopped her half on her track and so did the other students, “Professor, are you sad?” The words were like a searing heat that pierced through Rue’s currently frozen heart. “I’ve been noticing that Professor Rue’s been chain smoking the whole time we were doing the activity, it’s so unlike her” said Hermione, having the other students nod in agreement. Professor Rue was silent as the conversations go about and the others were getting up on the point she never would’ve thought of.

“Do you think her life is about to end tomorrow?” the comment cut through everyone’s conversations and definitely took Rue’s attention. Everyone stared at Cleo, perhaps doubting the fact that this was a joke. “Only those with problems become lonely right?” asked Cleo, still clueless as she was and the others knew at once that she was indeed getting the air headedness she had shown for the past few hours already.

“Hey Cleo that’s not a good thing to say” said Kanade, entering the conversation as she was silent a few minutes ago. “We can’t possibly blame her if she thinks of it that way” suggested a violet haired guy to Kanade’s left. No one noticed his comment, except maybe for Elle or it was just because he barely has charisma to be noticed at all. He wasn’t that tall, perhaps Christian was taller. Among section B’s students he wore the uniform close that what it should’ve looked like.

His existence seemed pallid and empty, but his determination to make a difference did not break away. He stood up to the middle of the crowd and approached Cleo, “We can’t possibly blame her if she thinks of it that way!” “Yes, he’s right” agreed Elle, trying to help him get noticed to have him get a go at his ideals. He silently thanked Elle with a short bow and got on with what he was to say, “We all know that Miss Lanceforde is somewhat on the ditzy side. We shouldn’t assume anything bad about her just because she thought that Professor Rue is about to die tomorrow because she is lonely.”

Everyone reflected silently on what the guy said. Indeed they might be wrong to judge and since Professor Rue did not react at all, she might be fine on what she heard from Cleo. The class were caught in deep contemplation when Kanade broke the silence, “By the way, who are you?” Everyone halted from the current matter at hand and shared the same concern as Kanade. “He’s the boogeyman” stated Stephen, only to get hit by a classmate next to him.

“Eh… I’m Gregory Res’cardes, I’m the aquamancer here in section B. I was the forty third one to introduce myself earlier this morning before Miss Rhun” explained the violet haired guy with royal blue colored eyes. He was sweating from the cold stares of his classmates as if he was some stranger who just barged in. “Really, I’m a classmate of yours!” added Gregory, now evading eye contact with Kanade as she was surely being suspicious of him.

Kanade was a really uptight person, she might well be section B’s class president even though the election of officers haven’t commenced yet. Everyone agrees to what she says as she is a voice of reason in the class. “Really?” asked Kanade once again, approaching him to at least intimidate him, “Why won’t you look at me straight when you say that?” “I say it’s kind of a bit… unnatural if I did that” reasoned Gregory, backing off from Kanade as she comes closer, “You see, how do you say this… erm…”

“Say what?” replied Kanade, keeping the pressure on him at a steady level, “I’m waiting for you to crack up and reveal yourself.” Gregory was getting annoyed; this was the extent on how much he was ignored in class. “Hey? What’s next?” Kanade continued on barraging him with questions when his fuse finally lit up. He stood up straight and pushed Kanade away and stared right through her eyes, “Gregory Res’cardes, seventy second in rank and a student of section B, I’m the only aquamancer here and you are Kanade Fuguriya, the so called fifty first student in rank and a chaos mage. Your interests are as you said ‘a secret’ and you ignore things you dislike. Which practically means you do not know me because you did not pay attention to my introduction earlier because you dislike me, then let me tell you what I think about you!”

Kanade was on the ground as Gregory raised his voice at her. The other students retaliated from the words and defended Kanade. “Hey! You can’t just push one of our classmates just like that!” said one of the students from the back. Similar sentences flew back to Gregory like, “How the hell did you know her whole name, likes and dislikes? Are you some stalker!?” Kanade stared back at him with the same ferocity in her eyes. Professor Rue kept silent as the class quarreled over this certain person who claims he is a classmate.

“I do not know what kind of girl you are but seeing you bug people as if you have authority over them pisses me off. Just like how you push those primary school kids to do some idiotic stuff for you earlier this morning!” Gregory continued on to what he wants to say, disregarding the other classmate’s views on what he was doing there. The words hit Kanade hard, she does not know if ever this guy knew what she was doing earlier or had just misconceived it. She stood up weakly, on a low morale from the earlier accusations.

The other classmates were about to take action, but then Professor Rue quelled the commotion, “Okay children, enough with that. I’m sorry about earlier, but I’m glad you care for me.” She threw the last remaining cigarettes away and smiled at everyone. “Professor…” Kanade was about to say something but Professor Rue cut her short to clear up everything. “It’s okay Kanade” she approached Cleo and patted her on the head, “I’m fine now Cleo, I wasn’t lonely or anything because I’ll be dying tomorrow. It’s just a trivial sadness, there’s no need to worry. Gregory, calm down for now and you too Kanade. I’ve noticed that everyone either got busy when he was introducing himself this morning; I need to blame you all for that. Gregory, lift up your confidence for a bit just like what you did now, when you need people to listen to your ideas you need to voice it out.”

Section B reflected on their actions, surely no one was to blame for all of this. They should’ve accepted each and everyone’s differences before taking action. Elle was happy beyond remark upon seeing such a heart warming display of teacher student affection. How she wished section A could experience something like this. “If only Christian was here…” thought Elle, subconsciously thinking of Christian for some reasons. Elle was surprised and was cut from day dreaming as she felt a warm hug. Professor Rue was hugging her for thanks.

“I need to thank you for helping Gregory there and also for everything” she let go of Elle and smiled at everyone, “Should we continue on with the grading?” “Yes ma’am!” replied everyone as they headed for one work after the other. “What should we do with Professor Rue’s coat? Can we use this as a blanket?” said a particular quirky voice from behind them.

A small comical vein popped out from Professor Rue’s head as she hears the comment, “Somehow, I got this sudden urge to hit some idiot that emits the same idiocy aura as that of Kira.” Professor Rue knelt down and started drawing a transmutation circle on the dirt. The other students were also wielding their weapons one after the other as a grim look on their face can be seen. Eyes blazing like hellfire along with Professor Rue.

“Everyone just let him slip for this once! It’s not like he means something about that! Come on! Listen to me!” said a fairly cute girl with short coffee brown hair. She was accompanied by a dragon soul in trying to calm everyone down. With her strange acquaintance with this wandering soul, she must surely be a soul mage. Elle knows that the one who took the lab coat was Stephen. Acting irrationally as he normally does, the soul mage girl surely does show a bit of interest in him, going so far as to save Stephen from trouble.

“Everyone please listen to me!” yelled the soul mage with her half tearful emerald eyes as the others were like war freaks out to get Stephen. “It would be fine Aea, we’ll be sure to skin him gently” said Professor Rue as she pulled out a highly serrated long sword from the transmutation circle she just drew. Aea, the aforementioned soul mage knelt down on the ground as she was surely beaten by everyone’s determination. “Let’s go and catch that bastard class! Whoever gets him to me first would be exempted from the first quiz” ordered Professor Rue as the whole class raced to get Stephen, “Catch him alive! Catching him dead would also be better!”

Elle approached Aea and offered a hand to help her stand up, “Don’t worry, I’m sure they’re just joking around. I’m Elle Rosewood, what’s your name?” Aea accepted the offer and stood up with assistance from Elle, she bowed down in thanks as she replied, “Thank you, I really thought they would skin him alive. It’s a relief they were just joking, I’m Aea Nurengrad and this is my guardian soul Efrclas.” The dragon soul lowered its head in front of Elle, acknowledging the introduction. “Don’t you love this section? I really do love it even if I’m from section A” confessed Elle, as they walked to the direction the class ran to.

“Oh, your robe isn’t closed properly” reminded Elle as she noticed Aea holding the robe together with her left hand all these times. Aea waved both her hands to tell Elle that she knew, “Oh, don’t worry about it! I don’t have the robe’s brooch right now… Stephen has it…” “He took it from you?” asked Elle, alarmed by what she heard and she was taking off her rose brooch to hand over to Aea, “Here use mine.” “Ah no, please don’t” refused Aea as she returned the brooch back to Elle, “Stephen was just acting irrational earlier, I’m sure he’ll return it afterwards. Besides if you give me your brooch you would be bothered to hold your robe together by your hands. It’s getting dark soon and it would be cold outside, I don’t want you to get a cold just because of me. So, no thanks, I appreciate your help… but I can not possibly accept it.”

“I would be fine from the cold, I’m already used to the climate in Rosevere which is colder here and your upper uniform is sleeveless so you might as well accept this. I might consider having a cute and short uniform like yours because mine feels so hot” smiled Elle as she offers the brooch again. Aea nodded in disapproval, “I’m okay Miss Rosewood. I can’t possibly accept something as valuable as that… Arch Witch Teiss’ brooch that is… perhaps, my brooch is from my grand mother also, I would wish to use only that one. Thanks for the comment earlier; I would like to hear a comment like that from a certain someone…”

Elle felt that it was not a good choice to further offer the brooch. It was popular after all; an Arch Witch’s personal belonging. There might be no one else other than family members with the mindset to accept such an honor. Keeping the fact that Aea might be looking forward to get her own robe’s brooch back. The two moved on as the night was drawing close.

“Mom… school is a fun place, I wonder why… why does grand mother dislike it so much…” thought Elle to herself, reminiscing the days she shared studying at home with her mother. Everything was shaping up nicely for Elle, except for the relationship she has currently with Lilith. Which seemed impossible to fix in this current state, she just hopes that everything would end fine… that something terrible be avoided to happen.

[DoubleZeta]

Sixth segment, features some of the people in the Alchemy Club.

Chapter 1: The first day (segment 6)

“Christian! I’m done over here” Rune joyfully reported as the wall was finally patched up good and new. Christian stood beside her and fascinatingly looked at Rune’s work, “Wow, this one is rather better than mine. You’re not that bad at all, Rune.” Rune was rather flattered by his words. She was all giggly with everything they spent on working with after all. This was a date for her, though it obviously wasn’t, “That’s because I’m more artistic than master.” She clung to Christian’s hands even though Christian was bothered by it; he wasn’t used to being clung at.

“I’m not your master, I’m just a fellow alchemist who happened to be better in some fields” corrected Christian as he went closer to the wall to touch it. He was examining the wall closely and took out his chalk to draw a circle on it. “Just let Rune, call you master her master, it wouldn’t hurt being called master by a kid right?” said Rune as she let go of Christian’s arm to continue on with the transmutation. Christian proceeded on with the transmutation as the circle got enveloped in flames and the details draw themselves upon Christian’s command, “Okay, just leave the other details between us. It doesn’t sound right being called master by someone as it sounds somewhat fishy.” “Structure check” commanded Christian and the circle shone brighter. A wide smile can be seen in Rune’s face, they were alchemists after all, and then how did repairing a single wall take that much long? Surely they might’ve slacked somewhere else before repairing it or either they were really not into repairing it to begin with, because it was punishment and was just caught by someone else and ordered them to repair it as soon as possible.

“I really am sixteen years old now, I’m so happy someone else thinks of me as something more than a kid” said Rune, standing behind Christian and waiting for him to finish the check. Christian hit his head to the wall and replied, “You really think of it that way? But you really are a kid to me… I might as well call you a younger sister in alchemy.” Rune laughed at what he did and pulled him towards somewhere, “Whatever, but what’s done is done right? Come on, I want to introduce you to someone!”

“Okay, okay!” agreed Christian as he followed a very energetic Rune, “Isn’t she exhausted or something!?” Rune entered through the club building and hastily climbed the stairs just like an excited little girl. Christian wasn’t any slouch either, he runs fast and so he caught up with Rune easily. “Last one there is a rotten egg!” said Rune as she turned around to see whether she was meters ahead of Christian.

“You’re the rotten egg then!” replied Christian as he dashed right through Rune, “If it’s running then I won’t lose to you!” Rune stopped from running and stuck her tongue out at Christian, “Bleh! I won’t lose to you even if you run like hell! You don’t know where we’re going!” Christian stopped from running and was annoyed with what he had just heard, “That’s cheating all right.” “I’m not cheating!” replied Rune as she walked towards Christian, “Let’s walk together?”

Inside Christian he wanted to say this, “Like hell I have a choice!?” instead of, “I guess so.” Rune was getting all clingy again as they walked along the corridors. They passed by Professor Jazhra on their way to that certain place Rune wants to show to Christian. Professor Jazhra, on his normal state, noticed Christian and reminded him, “Even if she is your younger sister, primary school students aren’t allowed in the club building.” “Uh… Professor, she’s a student here, I was just invited here” answered Christian as Rune was clutching his arm tightly as if she wants to break it. He whispered this to Rune, “Hey, stop that, I know you’re annoyed but at least don’t squeeze my arm too much.”

Professor Jazhra went on trance again, his eyes turning white and he said, “Sorry about that, now I’ve noticed that she was that girl fighting you earlier. By the way, there’s something dripping on the floor.” The two of them were alarmed and stared below them to see nothing. “Of course I was joking” laughed Professor Jazhra as he floated away from them. “Nothing’s dripping right?” asked Christian as he stared beneath them. “Yes, nothing is dripping” replied Rune as they continued on towards their destination.

“Really what was that all about?” asked Christian, puzzled by the remark earlier. Rune wasn’t bothered at all as they passed by other students zooming in and out of the clubrooms, “Maybe he thought that your brain is dripping out because of slacking on the first day?” “Couldn’t happen in a thousand years, I manage somehow even if I slack off,” defended Christian, trying to divert the attention from the suspicious topic, “Are we supposed to go to some clubroom here?” “Yup, the Alchemy Club’s room” replied Rune, when Christian pulled a door open and went inside. “You’re the rotten egg, I came in first” said Christian as Rune stared up to see the sign.

The clubroom was nice, it doesn’t seem too old as that of section A’s room. Books lined the left side of the room, while flasks, vials and containers of different kinds of things are stored on the closets at the right side. A long rectangular table of dark brown color was placed in the middle of the room and near the door. There were four pairs of chairs on its sides and to the far end of the room behind the windows was the club chairman’s table and chair.

The room wasn’t anything grand but Christian has a strange feeling that the room was mostly occupied by girls. Not to mention how the books and other stuff were perfectly aligned and the smell of perfume fills the air. “Pardon me, shouldn’t the Alchemy Club’s room smell somewhat like how alchemist’s chalks smell like and several transmutation circles written on the ground or even on the walls?” asked Christian to Rune as they both entered.

“Excuse me? This room is for the Alchemy Club’s members only; if you two aren’t members can you please vacate the room?” the club chairman’s chair turned around to reveal a girl with long black hair seated on it. She was a third year student from the emblem on her robe. The dull colored black pair of eyes looking at them was showing authority over the room. Yet, somehow the girl seemed distressed, maybe not by their presence because it was something that does not involve them.

“We’re new members, Professor Rue told me to come by and thought it would be better if I brought him along” replied Rune to the earlier request for them to leave the room. Christian stood motionless beside the door as he gently pushed it to close. He was either waiting for Rune or the upperclassman to finish conversing before he interjects with his own remark about the idea. “You two are section B’s alchemists? Oh, I need to apologize for my rude greeting. Please have a seat and wait for the other members to come in, it’s about time the first club meeting starts” said the girl, averting her gaze and turning the chair’s back on them.

Christian sat on the far end of the left side nearest the door, Rune sat beside him. Some muffled sighs and sobs can be heard across the room as they waited idly. The third year club member was definitely troubled by something, it was best not to peer in other people’s personal troubles, especially when you just met. Rune, a naturally curious girl, couldn’t let the chance slip by and asked her up, “Miss third year club member, do you have a problem?” The sobs stopped as she said these words and the girl faced them once again. She was wiping off the tears on her eyes as she replied, “It must be hard to call someone by that name right? My name is Gabrielle Valentine, third year section B’s one and only alchemist. About that question you asked earlier… please do not mind me this is just some little personal problems.”

By the degree of swelling in her eyes, she seems to have been crying for hours now if not days. Christian felt the inevitable sting of the situation as he whispered to Rune, “Hey, that wasn’t a good idea to be asking someone you just met with such a personal question.”

“Come on Master, it’s not that bad, we should help her!” said Rune as she stood up to introduce herself, “Nice to meet you Miss Valentine, I am Rune Rhun of first year section B. I will be in your care from now on.” A faint smile appeared on Gabrielle’s face; perhaps having company can drown the sorrows away. Though the two weren’t aware that they were in for something wacky, but before that the drama would heighten up. Rune stared at Christian as if waiting for him to introduce himself too, “Master! Introduce yourself too! That’s being rude if you don’t!”

A slightly annoyed grin appeared on Christian’s face as Rune said these to him. He stood up casually and greeted, “I’m Christian Vendre of section A. Please pardon her ma’am, she’s really childish.” Christian sat down, pulling Rune back to her seat by pressing her down from her head. Rune followed the order to sit down but still continued asking anyways, “Miss Valentine, if you have a problem you can tell us about it. Master would be able to help you if you’re lonely.”

“Hey! Stop endorsing me to people as if I’m some help agency!” said Christian, he was about to stand up and divert the topic to something else more productive when Gabrielle replied. “My older brother is about to be wed next week” she crossed her arms as she waited for a reply from the two. “What’s so bad about that?” though Christian as he tried to picture out what Gabrielle wanted to tell them, “Is there anything wrong with that?” “You don’t want him to marry the girl?” asked Rune, guessing something near the correct answer. Gabrielle responded from Rune’s guess and gave her a thumb up. “That was a close guess but it goes somewhere deeper than that” hinted Gabrielle as Christian jutted in with a somehow offending answer.

“You love your older brother!” said Christian, hands shaking as he kept them inside his bag, “Am I wrong?” Rune and Gabrielle were alarmed by the answer. Rune was a bit disappointed with his answer, “Master, you have such a dirty mind.” “Well, look who’s talking, I bet I’m cleaner in some few aspects than you” defended Christian as he was obviously killing himself from embarrassment for what he said. “I don’t deny it, I want the wedding be stopped because of that reason” said Gabrielle, sinking down on her seat as the mere thought of it sends her in anguish. “Hey isn’t that in…” Rune stopped him from mentioning the word as she didn’t want to get involved further, “Master, this is something we shouldn’t mess around.” Christian broke free from her and said to her with resilient eyes, “And you were the one who said we’ll help. I can’t possibly back away from this, it seems impossible to do so.”

“Miss Valentine” called out Christian as he stood up from his seat, “If there is something you want to do. Then go ahead and do it, as my mother told me once, nothing can be accomplished if you sat idly by and you must do what you can do today for the opportunity might just vanish some other day!” The words weren’t that much convincing, since these words were just simple proverbs that nearly everyone can think about. Christian stared down to the floor as he continued on and while clutching his fists narrated a short story, “Just like how I pursue the creation of life through alchemy… to show how valuable life is to some certain idiotic childhood friend of mine.”

These following words triggered a sense of initiative in Gabrielle, making her smile at him and comment, “You sound just like Professor Rue. You’ve got my attention, let’s do this.” “Huh? What do you mean let’s do this?” asked Christian, while Gabrielle went over to the shelves and took out some pieces of alchemist’s chalk. She handed the pieces to him and Rune as she started drawing a large elaborate circle, “You two would help me right?” Rune stood up and was definitely fired up by the situation, “What should we do?”

“Wait? How’re we supposed to help you!?” questioned Christian as he was starting to panic with the thought of something. He took time standing there and visualized what Gabrielle might have in mind, but nothing seems to enter his mind. Her actions are definitely not related to the goal she has in mind. “Help me draw some transmutation circles” said Gabrielle and Rune started automatically as this was said. Christian was reluctant to start without learning the reason why they need to draw. “Why do we need to draw these circles?” asked Christian, Gabrielle did not reply as she carefully drew the details on a very grand transmutation circle. Rune took the liberty of explaining the use of the said transmutation circles. For Christian can draw circles without even knowing their use, he was particularly clueless as to what purpose their circles were for, except for some basic transmutation circles he has used earlier in his training years.

“We’re going to create a homunculus” said Rune, taking a break from drawing to incite Christian to help, “Master, please draw a circle there on that spot so that we can form a triangle.” “A homunculus, for what purpose?” thought Christian as he drew a simple circle in the formation suggested. He placed his hands on the circle and thought of what he wanted to show up. The circle redrew itself to become the same circle the other two were drawing in full detail as a master’s work of art. He waited for the other two to finish theirs and as the clock’s ticks echoed across the room, the sun took a little step closer to setting and the day was near its end.

Gabrielle stood up as soon as hers was finished and gathered the two closer to her, “We’ll be hunting a dragon’s heart for ingredients.” Normally, Christian tends to examine how the people he just met look like, but since Gabrielle was seated on her desk he didn’t bother to do it. Though this current scene, she was standing up in front of them. He examined carefully but tried hard not to fall into idleness as he did so.

Compared to how his classmates looked like, except Rune, Gabrielle was indeed a young lady of her age. A young adult and not a teenager like them. By what he briefly glimpsed of her appearance, he found no fault nor blemish so far. Her outside appearance is lovely, but does not have that much impact on him unlike a certain girl running along his mind for hours now. From her body built, he can tell that she could most likely fight without using her magic, but it wouldn’t be to the level in which he fights. Of course, he wasn’t that good at physical activities himself as he was lazy. He can not fight well against stronger enemies if it is just a fight by power alone. He depends solely on his other abilities, his speed, accuracy and the mindset he has when it comes to calculating the output of things. He can see a comrade in Gabrielle herself as they are likely fighters by skill.

Christian took Gabrielle’s appearance into mind before he continues with helping her. Asking another personal question, but it was inevitable the problem involves asking questions such as what he was to say. “Miss Valentine, if you do not mind may I ask one thing?” with half-hearted determination he wanted an answer that would give him a reason to continue, “By any chance, does your older brother love you too… more than just a younger sister?”

“Shall I show you the proof?” Gabrielle replied signifying obvious body language as to what it might be. “Ah! No, it’s okay! I just wanted to know so that we have an excuse why we should be doing this… It would be troublesome if ever you got rejected on the day you wish to stop him from proceeding with the marriage” refused Christian as he did not want to see something not meant for his eyes. No matter how Gabrielle might look like, he does not have the mindset to bask his eyes in something that he thought might be owned by somebody already. A sly grin appeared on Gabrielle’s face as Rune showed signs of jealousy, “What’s this? You’re worried too much; don’t tell me that you have hopes if ever my older brother refuses to marry me?”

Christian was a bit nervous with the remark as Rune was certainly passing on messages to him showing her annoyance. “It’s not like that really” defended Christian as he was backing away from Gabrielle who was approaching him, “It would just be a waste of effort in our part if ever that happens that is all.” “Oh, you just meant it that way then? Yeah, you’re right but I won’t mind settling for you if that happens right?” smiled Gabrielle as she has no obvious intentions of being rejected, “That is why I need to make it look like I really mean what I say!” She closed her fists as she showed a triumphant expression in her actions.

She went to the middle of the three circles, knelt down and bent over to touch the ground. Rune and Christian backed away, as Gabrielle began the transmutation. Rune quickly left her spot and went towards Christian who was on the tip of the triangle formation. She pulled Christian to have him face the other direction away from Gabrielle. Perhaps she thought that Christian was staring at Gabrielle’s chests as she was obviously leaning forward to Christian’s direction.

Christian faced the other way without any resistance, this calmed Rune for a bit. “Are you thinking of anything bad about me? It’s about time you change that outlook on me” said Christian, he really wanted to see the homunculus transmutation. Creating a homunculus was a tad closer to what he originally wanted, since homunculi use a form of artificial life, but due to the situation he was forced to just listen to audio and forget about the visuals.

Even if he was not facing the circles, he knew that the transmutation was taking place. The room was filled in a white light and a mild gust of wind blew around the circles as the energy in the room rose to a critical level, “Hey, Rune you’re the one who knows much about chimeras in here. Is she doing fine? Is it supposed to be this unstable when transmuting homunculi?”

“I don’t know I’ve just been able to transmute chimeras…” said Rune; she was also worried with the critical level of magic. If this continues, the transmutation might fail and give consequences for Gabrielle. Hearing this from Rune, Christian turned around quickly and yelled at Gabrielle, “Miss Valentine! The magical level is going haywire abort it now!” Gabrielle was still in fierce concentration as surges of lightning started leaping from one circle to the other. She lifted her head for a moment and smiled at them, “Don’t worry, this is supposed to happen.”

Rune went to the windows to look at the strange formation of clouds outside. “Master look outside!” called Rune to Christian as he rushed towards the window and saw the bolts of red lightning flashing insanely outside. “Sprites! How the hell can a thunderstorm like this exist below the atmosphere?” exclaimed Christian as he observed the reddish halo of clouds above the grim looking bolts of lightning, “No one can use brooms for flight as long as that storm cloud lasts. It’s only possible for a mage to replicate such phenomenon if he or she is of arch witch level… Does this mean…”

He turned around to witness what was currently happening on the transmutation. Gabrielle has somehow managed to stabilize the magic field around the circle and was getting on to the final stage of transmutation. Then the fact hit him as soon a great flash of red lightning zoomed past outside the alchemy club’s windows, “What material was she transmuting!?” Rune was alarmed by this too as Christian said, “I didn’t notice also, she’s not transmuting anything to give as an equivalent.”

[DoubleZeta]

First Chapter, segment 7.

Chapter 1: The first day (segment 7)

“I Gabrielle Valentine of Lordenfell, user of alchemical knowledge, offer these things in exchange for a false soul. Let the barriers split open giving passage to the soul to enter the body created from dust and from this day forth walk alongside me, without doubt, without regrets, without shame, a being created to fight alongside the master. As I enter this pact with the dark material sun, Sol Niger, I call forth my servant… show yourself!” Christian and Rune tried to run to her and stop her from transmuting, but they were too late as the circle was finalized. An explosion of forces blew them away; Christian was able to catch Rune before she hits the wall, cushioning her with his own body.

The forces dies down and the sprite thunderstorm vanished exactly as the transmutation ended. They tried to search for Gabrielle amidst the smoke but it was just too thick for them to see anything. Then from behind the thick smoke a voice of a young girl resounded through the room in an echoing manner, “Are you the one who created me?” The words were repeated once again as the smoke died down a bit and gave them a glimpse of a young girl of about twelve to thirteen years of age. Her hair was that of a dark red color and was a long flowing one similar to Gabrielle, but its length goes on further down her back. Her blood red eyes stared without expressions at her, waiting for the correct answer come out from the lips of the once who conjured her into this world. “I am your master, Gabrielle Valentine” said Gabrielle rising up from the ground as she dusted her clothes. Christian and Rune were petrified on their position as the conversation continued.

Christian noticed a pure red blade held by her right hand and was hidden behind her. Of course, she might not possibly keep the blade hidden to perform a surprise attack on the one who created her, but it seems that the homunculus created has a vile nature as she was drenched in blood. She had a reverse grip on the blade and clutched it harder as Gabrielle talked with the homunculus. “Isn’t it rightful to call you mistress instead master?” asked the homunculus, a vigilant look on her face as if she was looking for something to slay.

“It’s not that bad, since I’ve already introduced myself would you please tell me your name?” asked Gabrielle, but the homunculus remained silent, sweat was dripping from the other two’s faces as they were really terrified by the homunculus’ aura, “As I figured… I got a nameless homunculus, and then shall I name you?” The homunculus shifted her piercing gaze to Christian and Rune as she replied, “I do not need such things be done, I am Rel Azuris, you can call me Rel, Mistress Gabrielle. What shall I do with these two here?”

She widened her stance from the meek stance she stood in earlier and showed the blade to them. Before Gabrielle can even give the command, she vanished like a wraith and just appeared in front of Christian and Rune. Rel was only seconds before cutting their heads off when Gabrielle ordered, “Rel! Come back here as soon as possible! Don’t be a naughty girl on your first day here or else I’ll de-transmute you!” Gabrielle had her hands on her waists as she waited for Rel to follow. Rel turned around to face her and was teary eyed as she returned. Christian and Rune felt a bit relieved as the very aggressive homunculus went farther away from them.

Her articles of clothing were similar to that of a noble, though the maroon colored dress was soaked in blood. Her posture befits that of a noble also, similar patterns of movement aside from her fighting stances reflect that of a princess. “Do homunculi get random personalities when they are created?” asked Christian to Rune, as they rested their backs to the wall. Rune sighed as she heard the question, “I really wonder why you’re in section A when you don’t know things like this Master.” “I’ve read about them right, but this one is different” reasoned Christian as Rune pointed to Gabrielle. “Miss Valentine conjured a homunculus through the homunculus transmutation method, since the other way to get a homunculus is by failing human transmutation” explained Rune as Rel lowered her head while Gabrielle was scolding her, “A homunculus produced by the human transmutation method gets to retain some few personalities and traits of the one attempted to be transmuted, while a homunculus created through the homunculus transmutation method gets personalities and traits from an external being that exists in some other parallel dimension.”

Christian nodded as he said, “Miss Valentine looks like a young mother when you look at this scene.” Rune hit Christian on the head from annoyance as she left him there to approach Gabrielle instead, “Aww, what was that for!?” Christian followed also; the room doesn’t look as if it got damaged or anything so he proceeded to listen to the plan’s second phase. Gabrielle smiled at them as they gathered around and ordered Rel, “Rel, go apologize to them!” She was hesitant to say sorry at first, but at least she wanted to get on good terms with her creator and as she swallowed her homunculus pride she gave a slight curtsy to them, “Forgive me for my actions earlier.”

“We’re fine, you don’t need to worry about it” said Rune, giving Rel some comfort while Christian did not reply yet. “It’s okay; we don’t mind” as Christian asked Gabrielle, “Shall we proceed to the next part of the plan?” Gabrielle called Rel and gave her a pat on the head as she briefed the two of the plan, “Since I have a homunculus now, our combined efforts might give us a chance in obtaining a dragon’s heart. The location is not a problem for a dragon resides in the mountains behind the school.”

“How are we supposed to go there?” asked Rune, reminding them that neither one of them knows how to fly. They weren’t dark magicians or any practitioners of other disciplines that allow the usage of flight. Rel raised her hand to say something, they gave her permission to speak and so she did, “Rel can go there faster.” “Yes, her speed is quite exceptional, but Rel, you can’t possibly bring all of us there just by yourself” said Gabrielle keeping the wellness of her homunculus in mind. “I can provide a fast chimera for times like this!” offered Rune, which to Christian was a very bad idea.

“Keeping your earlier homunculi in mind, it would be best not to use them” rejected Christian, looking for a better way to transport them there. He stared out the window, staring at the sky when a shooting star passed by, “That is strange… a shooting star, wait a minute… I get it!” The three looked at him with mixed amusement as he headed outside, the two followed outside without doubt and readied for their quest.

The grounds were empty by this time as everyone was readying for supper at the cafeteria or just idly waiting for the time they get to enter their dormitories. “It’s not a very good idea to miss the first day of school events, but an adventure is always better than to sulk up in a corner and wait for your sentence” said Christian as he drew a circle on the ground, “It’s about time I show you guys my chimera.”

“Wait a minute! You told me that using my chimera was a bad idea, and then what made you think that yours is any better?” whined Rune, throwing a tantrum at the idea of her chimeras being denied. “First things first, have you ever tried riding your chimeras?” asked Christian, emphasizing the weight of the sentences implying his extreme rejection of Rune’s chimeras. The words really did sink into her head; she created chimeras for the sole purpose of battling rather than for other purposes. That was the reason she did not even focus on their appearance.

“Do you get my point now?” asked Christian, as he conjured the full chimera transmutation. Gabrielle came to compliment Rune as she told Christian something, “We get your point, but what’s the second thing about Rune’s chimeras?” Christian stood up to face the two of them and smiled, “I present to you two my chimera Grimlock.” The flames from the transmutation were slowly dying down as a silhouette of a gigantic figure appeared in front of them. The two were quite surprised; Rel wasn’t because she felt nothing much about the chimera’s power.

“So master, explain how this gigantic thing can travel us faster than my chimera?” inquired Rune, doubting the abilities of Christian’s chimera. “Do you doubt my capabilities little girl?” said the figure extending its neck to have a closer look at Rune. The head of the creature was that of a dragon, jet black scales lined the rocky armored creature but how it became a chimera was a real riddle. “No Mr. Dragon, we don’t” said Gabrielle as she asked Christian a vital question, “You say that your creation is a chimera, but where does it’s other parts come from? From every angle, it really looks like a very cool dragon without patched up parts!”

“He’s half magreol that is my reason on why I propose to use his flight capabilities instead of Rune’s chimeras” explained Christian, showing confidence in the plan he formulated, “Rel can take you there as she said, and I do not doubt her speed. The only problem now is how Rune and I can catch up, that is when Grimlock comes into account. Though we may be late a few couple of minutes it would be better than taking an hour to go there.”

“If it is half magreol, then it will burst into flames when it starts to fly! Do you want to toast the two of us?!” exclaimed Rune, but she was halted by some random idea that came in to her mind, “On a side note it wouldn’t be that half bad.” “Don’t get any random ideas! We won’t get burned by riding him and I wouldn’t want to be burned beside you” said Christian as he started mounting the chimera, “Let’s go, so we’ll still have time for supper.”

Rune followed him on top the chimera and soon they went towards the mountain behind the academy. Rel and Gabrielle went earlier as they were arguing about where to sit. The view from the top was marvelous; enough to say that it was breath-taking. The buildings were grand, though old they may be, these buildings carry history and had it written all over its walls both literally and not.

The main building, directly at the center of all other buildings was the oldest of the three. It houses the faculty lounge, the dean’s office, the treasury and everything that there is to be used by the staff of the school. It wasn’t the largest of all the buildings, but it is the largest in terms of collective history and worth. Numerous events that shaped the world of Escadre happened in this very building, from the apprenticeship period of all Grand Wizards to Arch Witches walking along these sacred corridors. Though the Grand Wizard himself might still be walking these same corridors even today, no one is aware of it except for the dean and principal himself, Mr. Hyaweg. He has been the dean of the academy for more than who knows when as it has been there for more than nine thousand years by now.

The academy was roughly the size of a small city, to which the dormitories are just beside it. To the right of the main building are the male dormitories and to the opposite side are the female dormitories. These two buildings are identical in size, shape, design and purpose and are the largest buildings in the vicinity and is mostly the home of nearly all the students who study at this prestigious school that has produced more than enough legacies in its own right.

To the left of the female dormitories is Escadre lake, it serves as the leisure place for students. It is understandable why only a few of the boys wander around the lake. The female social club has its base of operations on a lovely clubhouse on the lake shores. It was overwhelming to go just near it or maybe they have other reasons. Just behind the female dormitories is the school garden and to the right side of it is the club building.

Grimlock turned a sharp left, leaving the school vicinity and avoided the other buildings to the right as turning round would lengthen the time of their arrival. This proved correct, they have reached their destination in due time and as they dismounted from the dragon chimera they were greeted by Rel and her mistress.

“We should go at this time, the dragon would most likely be sleeping” said Gabrielle, leading the others towards the dragon’s cavern just on the side of the mountain. The forest surrounding the cavern was thick, various forms of plant life and animals are scattered everywhere. Rune was in euphoria for some unknown reasons, she was excited but wouldn’t tell anyone why.

“Can you calm down a bit Rune?” asked Christian, showing obvious signs of slight annoyance with the hyperactivity. “Can’t a girl just have her fun?” replied Rune, ignoring Christian’s plea. “Just let her be for the meantime, I don’t know why she’s so excited but it surely gives a good feeling to know we’re on a dragon hunt” smiled Gabrielle as Rel cut the overgrowth for them, “Then I will not forget the two of you. My family and all my descendants will be forever indebted.”

“It’s okay, there wasn’t any much choice either since we’ve already agreed, I do not want to back out of it without any valid reason” Christian was either a bit gloomy about something but the three does not notice it whatsoever. He had in his hand a handkerchief, hidden inside his bag as he clutches it with a grim resentment. It was stained with blood… looking at it brings vile shudders into his spine. As he closed the bag, he thought to himself, “Is there still any purpose for me to create life through alchemy? Or do I need to learn other disciplines as well… just for that promise…”

The group had finally arrived at the dragon’s lair; the sun only a few more minutes till it sets. Gabrielle stood in front of the opening and started drawing a circle to place a trap for the dragon. Rune transmuted a howitzer directly in front of the place, hoping to blast the dragon’s head off once it comes out. Christian decided to think of a way if either these two methods fail. Rel would be the one to fight against the dragon, the traps would be more than enough if it was any ordinary dragon and they could go back to the academy in time for dinner. In the case that it was no ordinary dragon he had a plan up his sleeve. Turning the chalk to a huge hammer, Christian positioned himself on top the cavern’s opening, planning to jump off from it once the dragon’s head comes out and cracking it’s skull with one power slam. All seems well in the beginning and the others wait for Rel to lure the dragon outside.


“The dragon sure is taking it’s time doesn’t it Ms. Gabrielle?” asked Rune as they both stood in front waiting for the dragon to make its appearance. Rel soon came out from the caverns and warned her master, “Master! Move away its coming!” “Huh? Why? We have the traps ready?” Gabrielle was puzzled by Rel’s warnings but was soon overwhelmed when she knew why Rel was asking her to get out of the way.

The dragon’s head busted out from beneath the ground where Gabrielle and Rune was standing. It roared at Rel and Christian as the two girls flew a few meters up towards the sky along with debris from the ground. Rune’s howitzer was also sent upwards back flipping and fell on the ground without any more use. Grimlock wasted no time and tried to catch either one of the girls. He reached Gabrielle in time and landed her down safely but missed Rune.

Rune was either too terrified to scream or do anything else as she plummeted down towards the ground fast. Christian did his worst as he threw the hammer towards the dragon, forcing it to hide below the ground again. With the hammer gone from his hands, he jumped from the top of the cavern trying to catch Rune as she passed by a few meters away from him. It wasn’t exactly timed, but at least he has decent aim and ability to catch her. Much to his luck, Rune was really light and the fact gave him less difficulty in pulling the stunt.

He landed down safely carrying Rune on his arms. The heroic deed was enough to stir Rune’s interests in him. She was just in a matter of aspiration and friendliness to him earlier that incident, but with this done, it has blown into a full-pledged liking. Christian placed her down and dashed to retrieve his hammer, “Go somewhere safe Rune! I’ll handle this! Grimlock go blast some fireballs at it when it comes out again!”

[DoubleZeta]

First Chapter, 8th segment... Just a little more push and we're near the second chapter! Page 48 - 54 / 65. Some 11 pages or two segments to go till the second Chapter! Woohoo. XD

Chapter 1: The first day (segment 8)

She stood there blushing, trying to feel the warmth she felt earlier. Of course, she lost track of what Christian advised her to do and was left in that place speechless. Rel went to check on her mistress. Gabrielle was fine as she sat beside a tree, “This isn’t any ordinary dragon… I forgot about it…” Rel was worried for her mistress and so she approached her and asked, “Is there any problem mistress Gabrielle?” “This dragon is the god of all earth elementals… I’ve forgotten all about it from the hype” explained Gabrielle as Rel readied her blade. “Elemental god or not, I will not fail my mistress” vowed Rel as she stood on ready for the next attack.

Christian leaped towards where the hammer was stuck from landing after the hit done on the dragon. The dragon’s head jutted out from just beneath where he has taken his hammer, it was waiting for someone to get close. Christian rolled on the ground and stood up, his clothes were soiled but it was better than being gobbled alive by the dragon. “I’ll have you as roast dragon for what you just did! Grimlock, blast this dragon to bits!” ordered Christian as he charged forward to hit it some more. Grimlock fired at the dragon alongside Christian’s charge. The dragon anticipated this move and using elemental magic conjured a wall of stone in front to block them both. Christian halted from charging as he was about to hit the wall and Grimlock’s fireballs were blocked.

A reddish halo of clouds appeared above the dragon and then sprite lightning rained down on it. The dragon was an earth elemental to begin with as Gabrielle had said and thus the high level sprite lightning storm was null against it. The dragon resurfaced exposing not just its head but the whole of the body. The dragon seemed to be pissed by these mortals and was about to fight back. Rel seeing that her lightning spells won’t work resorted to physical attacks.

She was quick when it comes to movement, nearly as fast as just teleporting to where she wants to appear. Having exceptional speed was always a plus for any combatant, but having a strong instinct can beat it any other time soon. Christian transmuted the stone wall and continued his attack alongside Rel and Grimlock. The dragon was calm even after being attacked from both sides. It stood there, using its connection with the earth to sense where Rel might come from. It stomped on the ground and it caused a powerful earthquake to occur.

Gabrielle, Rune and Christian stumbled down as the earth shook violently. Rel was able to jump off as soon as the ground trembled and got a better foothold as she landed down. Grimlock flew to the skies and tried if bombarding it with flames from above would be any better, but it still doesn’t seem to work fine. Rel tried to attack once again but was blocked by stone walls everytime she tried. By this time she noticed that the dragon knew her movements a split second before she reaches her desired destination.

“It’s no use fighting it on the ground… your chimera has better chances of winning” said Gabrielle as she noticed that the dragon was using the ground to sense Rel’s movements. Christian was reluctant to listen; he was pursuing a different approach and was willing to try it now. He ignored their warnings and continued to push forward to smash the dragon’s feet.

“Grimlock! Stall it while I go closer!” commanded Christian, the chimera agreed without further ado and rained down flame breaths on the dragon. Rune was worried, yet she tried to help Christian in any other way she can. She transmuted another howitzer and gave heavy artillery support to the two as Gabrielle and Rel were trying to convince Christian to back away. “Vendre! You do not need to prove yourself! Just turn back and we’ll try something else!” called Gabrielle as Rel returned to her side.

Christian pushed on, even though Rune did want him to come back she still continued to believe in what Christian wanted to do and put the dragon under heavy fire. The dragon saw what he was about to do and conjured an earthen armor around itself to defend the long range attacks. It was waiting for him to come close; something was in store for him. There was doubt in Rune and so does Grimlock, no matter how powerful a combatant he is or how powerful an alchemist he was. His enemy is an elemental, something with wisdom and craftiness that exceeds what other living creatures may obtain. Christian had something in store also, perhaps something more dastardly clever that no one would even imagine using it. He geared up ready to smash the earthen carapace when the dragon smashed him first with a furious swipe.

Of course he was sent rolling on the ground with the hammer flung to the air and the dragon, releasing its carapace lunged towards Christian. It was aiming to crush him with its enormous body weight. Rune closed her eyes, she wasn’t ready to mourn and lose someone she thinks would be the one she’ll adore. Rel turned her back away from the melancholy scene; she was more disappointed than sad. Here was an idiotic death she wished not to see.

Gabrielle stood there speechless; this was trouble and a possible loss for her as she was thinking of transferring the position of chairman to either of the two. She has no more choice but to give it to Rune, whom she thinks would not accept such a title. Grimlock dived down to at least push the dragon away from Christian, but his speed was not enough to be able to do such a thing. Only a miracle would save Christian if none comes, then his death is inevitable.

Christian sat idly on where he was sent to after rolling in the dirt. He was annoyed to see the looks on their faces. If ever he wanted to die, these weren’t the kinds of faces he wanted to see… or better yet, not the people he wants to be in his presence in death. “That’s right! Come closer!” yelled Christian, as if to taunt the dragon to move faster. The taunt was effective, the dragon, furious of what it had heard jumped forward and dived towards him.

Then suddenly, the dragon fell short a meter in front of Christian after blood rained all over the place. A young boy stood behind the dragon’s corpse, clutching in his hands a piece of flesh soaked in blood, most noticeably as the dragon’s heart. He had his back turned against them, staring down to the ground as he let the blood drip from his hands to the ground, “Ms. Valentine, Mistress Rue is here to question your actions.”

“Percival” gasped Gabrielle as she noticed the familiar long purple hair. He turned around towards them, but the demure eyes were no longer that of his. It was a monotonous sharp glare and his expression was plain. Rune looked all over the place, trying to see if they were to be punished by this so called Rue. Percival took out a jar and placed the heart inside. It was a huge one, nearly the size of a human head and was still beating after being severed from its body. The aura he had earlier vanished and he returned to being the timid self he was once as Professor Rue made her appearance.

“Gabrielle! Rune! Whoever told you two to leave the clubroom?” scolded Professor Rue, walking towards them as Percival approached her to hand over the dragon heart, “Just to leave the clubroom would be fine but to go on a dragon hunt? Aren’t you endangering the first years Gabrielle?” “Mistress Rue, I shall be going back now” said Percival; signs of weakness can be traced in him as he was clutching his right arm. Rue patted him on the head and smiled at him, “Rest for now.” Percival walked away from the place, eager to regain the energy he lost in such a brief period of time, while Christian sat there, though he wasn’t relieved that they came at all. The hammer was in between him and the dragon’s corpse when he knelt there doing nothing. Rune noticed this and said to Professor Rue, “Professor, we should go check on Master Vendre.”

Rel kept close to Gabrielle as the four approached Christian. As soon as they came close, Christian took the hammer and threw it at the dragon’s corpse. He was disappointed about something, but they just couldn’t tell. Grimlock vanished a few minutes ago as Christian recalled him back. “Damn it!” he swore and then turned around to leave when Rune stopped him. “Master, don’t! Professor Rue wanted to talk you” she tried to convince Christian, but he was trying to pry her off his arms. “Rune let go of me!” he was seriously trying to get her off by force when Rune clung tighter to him. He calmed down; he didn’t want to hurt her anyways.

“I’ve forgotten to introduce myself” said Professor Rue as she called Rune back to Gabrielle’s side, “I’m Professor Rue, class advisor of section B and the advisor of the Alchemy Club. I formally ask you to join us and be a member.” Christian faced them, he can’t take the reason why he was in a bad mood away, but it would be rude to ignore the proposal. “I was planning to join the alchemy club even before you asked Professor, please do not think I’m rude or something… It’s just that…” he paused for a while as the others looked at him in the face.

“It’s just that?” asked Rue, feeling that the reason had something to do with her. “It wasn’t so nice getting in on someone else’s plan. I should’ve hit that dragon hard with the hammer, but your homunculus had to come along and slay it even before the hammer fell” the others were worried about what he said. Was he some egotistic person with a huge pride to say such a thing? Or was it something different?

“It’s okay Vendre, at least you weren’t harmed. I wouldn’t know what to do if that ever happens, this is my entire fault after all” comforted Gabrielle as she stood to Christian’s left. Rel tailed her back as usual while Rune stood in the opposite direction of Gabrielle’s. “It’s just…” Christian was about to reason again when Professor Rue pulled him closer towards her and clamped his neck underneath her arms. She clenched her right fist and used it to do a screwing motion on his head, “Oh, stop being a show off to the girls! All’s fine that ends fine, I’ll be sure to give the dragon heart to Gabrielle. There’s no punishment to the both of you, except Gabrielle here!”

“Hey! Stop that” said Christian, with a mixed feeling of pain and a little fluffy feeling in his head. After a little more of these things done to Christian, Rue let go of him. She just noticed that what she did was a complete no-no. “Well, that much sums it up; I expect to see you in the club room tomorrow. We should hurry back to the academy, dinner is a few minutes from ready by this time” she added as they left the vicinity. “Which makes me wonder why of all people I am invited to join the alchemy club?” thought Christian as he asked a question to Rue, “Professor, might I ask why I am invited? Shouldn’t it be common logic already that an alchemist would join the alchemy club?”

The three were a bit sweaty with the question; they started walking like stiff clockwork toys as they were stammering to answer. “Well you see… how… we say this… erm” Gabrielle and Rue were really having difficulty saying the reason. Contrary to Rune’s personality, she broke the silence and answered with a broad smile on her face, “The alchemy club had only female members for two decades now.”

“Oh my…” gasped Christian as he heard the reason, he took out his bag and counted things inside it, “Crap! So Aunt Athena was right, I would be the only male Alchemist this year.” “What was that thing you counted inside your bag?” asked Rune trying to peer in what was inside, but Christian closed the bag as soon as possible and replied, “That was my money.”

Professor Rue sighed upon Rune giving the answer to Christian so fast. She thought it wasn’t a nice idea to reveal the problem why they were so eager to have him in the club. “So the main reason for inviting me was to let other male alchemists join the club if ever some few appear next year. Just to reassure them that the club doesn’t just hang out all day in the club room and talk about girls stuff am I right?” questioned Christian as they already came out from the overgrowth and headed straight down to the road towards the academy.

Professor Rue handed the dragon heart to Gabrielle as she replied, “You had it slightly correct, it would be a problem if the club was forever composed of females.” “I mean why? It’s not so bad if there really are no males to enroll” said Christian. Professor Rue was silent again, frankly she would like to tell him why, but the mere thought of “why” already sends a chill up her bone.

“Professor Kira of section C always calls the alchemy club as Rue’s angels. She really doesn’t like Professor Kira at all that’s why she wanted him to buzz off” and again Rune broke the moment when she said the reason. She doesn’t really have much difficulty in expressing herself; maybe she doesn’t know the word shame at all. Going so far as to challenge someone to a duel on the first day of school was enough proof.

Professor Rue hit her face with her palm as Rune did this. She walked faster than normal to keep the others behind her. Gabrielle walked faster though and approached her. She leaned towards Professor Rue’s ear and whispered to her, “You’re blushing again Professor.” Professor Rue stared away from Gabrielle as she whined, “Who wouldn’t this is so embarrassing… I’m a Professor and one level higher than Kira. Why do I lose like this so much?”

“Oh speaking of which Professor, I’ve just noticed that Rune’s quite attached to you. Is she your daughter or something?” asked Christian. Rune was also surprised by the question and was left speechless. While Professor Rue was halfway to tears from the remark, “It’s okay Rue, its okay, he just doesn’t know that you’re still single and perhaps, Rune’s name sounds a bit like yours.” Gabrielle signaled to Christian that he hit a spot there as she tried to comfort Professor Rue. “It’s okay Professor, you don’t look that much old to us… erm” she was thinking of a sentence that would raise her morale a little bit, “Just think of it as… like you had Rune when you were just twelve years old and now she’s sixteen and you’re… twenty eight… ehehehe… That wasn’t reassuring was it?” She faced the others and waited for their opinion but Professor Rue just went down the depression hole.

“Yup, that wasn’t a really nice compliment” said Christian as he shut his mouth after this. Rune on the other hand tried her best to soothe her idol’s ailing pride, “I think it’s an honor to be Professor Rue’s daughter! She’s a very great alchemist and an understanding advisor.” Christian and Gabrielle were able to smile with what Rune said; at least the girl knows how to make others feel better.

This quelled Rue’s melodrama for the meantime as she approached Rune and hugged her, “I’m so glad I had a student like you Rune! As usual, it seems that Felix’ students are blunt sharp as ever, unlike Rosewood.” Rune took out a handkerchief from her coat and removed Professor Rue’s glasses to wipe away the few tears in her eyes, “I should be the one to be happy I had a mentor like you Professor!”

It was a heart-warming scene, minus the fact that Elle was mentioned and it would really be fine. Christian was a bit touched when he noticed, “YOU HAD A HANDKERCHIEF ALL THIS TIME!?” “Oh, yes I had” replied Rune as the others focused their attention to Christian who was banging his head to a tree. “What’s his problem?” asked Gabrielle as they were glued to the spot watching him wreck the tree with his head. “I borrowed his handkerchief earlier… without permission” said Rune as Rue smiled at her. “Divine retribution really is fast today” she rolled her eyes towards him and said, “You should think of something to make do with an apology on what you said to me earlier. Don’t forget that okay?”

They carried on towards the academy after a few more minutes of head banging. They arrived just in time for dinner and parted ways for the meantime. Christian went somewhere far from the others as he was lamenting on something, Rune went her way to meet up with Kanade for dinner, Rel and Gabrielle headed for the usual spot that third years sit down and Professor Rue headed towards the cafeteria area where the faculty members gather.

A certain classmate approached Christian. It was Marden Ervelhald, the pyromancer of section A. He approached him casually and sat opposite his chair, “It seems you took a trip to the forbidden world of the alchemy club as I heard?” “News surely travel fast here, from who did you hear that news?” said Christian, trying to be polite but at the same time keeping his distance. Marden sat comfortably on his seat and replied, “Some stalker you have in our class. She’s the one who filled me in on the information when I asked. I didn’t think someone would answer a rather personal question so easily.”

Christian’s attention was caught, if not intrigued to learn the identity of this stalker. Might as well, he was hoping it was that person. “By stalker you mean a girl from our class who’s been tailing me since this morning?” asked Christian; he made it sound as if he knew about the said stalker. “Yes, she’s a practitioner of dark magic and has been keeping an eye on you since you introduced yourself earlier” informed Marden. Both of them were measuring each other, waiting for the other to crack up. “I think I know who you’re talking about” said Christian, as he hunched that certain person as the stalker. Marden smiled at him as he asked, “Can I learn the name?”

“Huh, I thought you talked to her? Don’t tell me you didn’t listen to the introductions” said Christian, he was being a bit careful; it would be bad if he gave the wrong answer. “Well yeah, I wasn’t the least bit interested in listening to their introductions. I only listened to a few select people” reasoned Marden as he placed his hands on the table, “So, can I ask the name of that girl?”

“Isn’t it Rosewood?” asked Christian, a slight sweat on his face. He was dubious if not just hoping he was right. Marden’s face darkened a bit as he leaned closer, “Ever danced with a Racxreph in broad daylight?” “Okay, I get it…” said Christian, packing up the things that contained the food he ate earlier, “So I was wrong, but do you even know who Rosewood is?” “Of course, the cute blonde witch from Rosevere?” answered Marden as he laid back. An annoyed look appeared on Christian’s face as he heard his answer, “I thought you said you didn’t pay attention to the introductions?”

“I said I paid attention only to a few select people, I know your name and surname also so isn’t that proof already?” he replied with another question which Christian bluntly answered. “Sorry, but NO!” said Christian as he stood up from his seat, “At least tell me if you even know the name of the first one who introduced himself!” “I don’t really know his name” replied Marden as he scratched his head while trying to resurface the name of the first person who made an introduction. “Oh, I get it! It was Professor Felix who made the first introduction” added Marden as he looked enlightened.

That obviously was true, but it wasn’t what Christian wanted to hear. He was waiting for something like, “Ein Vondrez or something” but instead the literal first was said. Christian calmed down and tried to recollect his thoughts upon having his hunch wrong, “So it wasn’t Rosewood?” “So you have an interest in her?” inquired Marden as he returned the dark malicious look on his face again, “Why so serious?”

“Only a fool would say no” said Christian, looking at him straight in the eye, “So it was a mistake on my part, but at least tell me how the girl looks like so I can check.” “I see your point” replied Marden as he recollected the looks of the so called stalker. He took a few minutes of quiet meditation then he started with the vague description. “Well, she has long hair and as I said she was a dark witch…” he paused for a moment and continued, “She was taller than you… no wait, she was taller than me and maybe a few inches shorter than you.”

A non-amused look showed up on Christian’s face and he said, “Like that would help.” “Well, you can’t blame me! I have no reason to hunt girls from the beginning, I came to this school to study you know” whined Marden as he made a proposal, “Here’s the deal, I’ll show her to you tomorrow morning in class. There’s no way I won’t be able to remember someone I just talked to.” “You can’t even describe her for crying out loud!” yelled Christian as they caught the attention of the other students around. “Calm down, I’m not that much good with descriptions so just forget about what I said about the description” said Marden, as they both sighed. “It’s a deal then, but what will you do if ever you can’t remember her?” asked Christian, finalizing the other end of the deal.

“Then I’ll make sure you get close with Rosewood” said Marden as the two stared at each other. “Mark your words” said Christian as Marden responded, “What about my other end of the deal?” “I’ll treat you lunch tomorrow” answered Christian, “is it fine for you?” “No problem with it, you got a deal” then the two left the cafeteria and headed on for the male dormitories, it was about time they get to see their rooms for the next three years.

[DoubleZeta]

First Chapter, segment 9.

Chapter 1: The first day (segment 9)

Meanwhile, as Elle and her friends were eating peacefully on their end of the cafeteria, the faculty members where having their heated debate about something really… eccentric. Rue started the conversation when she told Stella and Candice about the happenings that day. “You people seemed like you went through a lot of hardships, I had some little trouble with my students but all was fine” started Rue as Candice and Stella looked at each other. “My, do you really think so?” asked Stella as she smiled, “I always look like this.”

“You’re joking again Stella, but do we really look like we had some trouble up our sleeves Rue?” asked Candice, mixing up the floating jellies in her drink. Stella took her time with the mushroom soup. This caught their attention as they knew Stella was long since dead, “You’re eating mushroom soup?” “Oh, haven’t I told you people?” said Stella as she put the spoon down, “My secret benefactor made my sense of taste to function incompletely once again. Though I still can’t taste sweet stuff and others as it wouldn’t register, but at least I can taste the salty ones.”

“But where does the food go?” asked Rue as she was surely confused on how that would work when she has a lot of stitches. “The food stays inside my stomach for a minutes or until it gets flushed out manually. I really don’t need nutrition, it’s just for me to experience eating once again” explained Stella as the two was totally left in awe at what was happening. “Do you think that secret person would be able to make you function like a real living being again?” asked Candice, raining down questions after learning about this good news.

Stella smiled at them as she continued eating, “I think that’s impossible, even the Grand Wizard might not be able to do such a feat. Then how can an ordinary person do such if someone legendary can’t do it himself?” “You had a point there” said Rue, as she sipped some coffee, “But wouldn’t it be good to be near alive when you know you’re dead?” Stella took out her grimoire and scanned the pages followed with a reply, “I really do wish it so, but being alive like this is enough a gift in itself. I shouldn’t ask for more.”

“Though you need to be careful” warned Rue as she fixed her glasses, “Are you sure that person isn’t just fixing you up to be some sort of lewd mechanism?” “There you go again Rue, Kira’s influence is really getting into your systems doesn’t it?” joked Candice as Stella chuckled at it. “Yes, you’re a few steps away from becoming a female Kira!” added Stella which forced Rue to recoil, “That’s not playing fair! How am I close to being a complete idiot of a pervert such as him!?” The three laughed at the thought of it and continued on conversing about other stuff. Another peculiar path came into account when they talked about what happened to Rue earlier.

“Speaking of Ms, Rhun, I saw her earlier with Mr. Vendre at the back of the other building just outside my clinic” said Stella. “Oh, they went on a dragon hunt with Gabrielle just this noon” said Rue as she continued talking to Candice, “As I was saying.” “I meant earlier before the second period” added Stella as Rue and Candice stopped when they heard what Stella said. “Weren’t they punished by Felix?” asked Candice, clarifying if this was about the earlier duel. “Felix just ordered them to fix the wall of the secondary level building” said Stella.

Suspicion was now arising from Rue and Candice as it did seemed fishy that two alchemists took about four hours to fix a wall. “Say, you were there to watch what they were doing right?” asked Rue, a bit worried on what the two might be doing behind the buildings. “Yes, they were doing something but you don’t need to worry about anything, if I am to be asked, I think Vendre was at a loss” smiled Stella as she continued on the soup which was just three fourths of the earlier volume. “I’m glad to hear that they weren’t doing anything strange” said Rue in relief when Candice barged in the conversation, “Maybe they’re dating?”

Stella was quiet about the matter while Rue reacted from what Candice said, “That can’t be, and he sure didn’t look as if someone who’ll take Rune as a girlfriend and Rune looks up to him as someone in a higher league in alchemy.” “Alchemical kin ship? Is that what they call it?” asked Stella, remembering a few things she learned from Felix, “It’s when a fellow alchemist treats someone as his or her own brother or sister am I right?”

“Yes, that’s it! Stella’s right, it has to be that” said Rue as if she was really sure of what she said. Candice chuckled as she commented, “Or are you just afraid to learn that one of your students already has a boyfriend before you can actually get one?” Rue flung herself to Stella, “I’m not unattractive right Stella? I’m going to be married right?” Stella patted Rue on the head as she replied, “You still have Kira though.” Rue instantly got off Stella as she heard the name and said, “To hell with Kira! I wouldn’t marry him even if he was the last guy in Escadre!” “Oh come on Rue, I’m sure we won’t be stuck like this forever” complimented Candice as she finished her drink. “You have the guts to say that because you’re just nineteen” then they laughed at the conversation they were having. They sounded like kids arguing on who’ll get married someday and they just noticed it.

Felix then came into the scene as he was carrying a rather huge tray, “Oh, isn’t it Rue.” He greeted her as he sat beside Stella, “How was your first day of classes?” “Splendid unlike yours” smiled Rue as she finished her coffee, “I heard you had a bad day today?” “Yeah, quite bad but it wouldn’t be too much a blunder you should go ask the others about the details later, I wouldn’t want to share the bad luck this time of night” replied Felix as he started eating his sandwich first. “Quite a lot you are eating there Professor” said Candice greeting him with a wave. “I didn’t notice you there Candice, so how are things going for you?” said Felix, Candice was quite dumbfounded when she heard these words but replied otherwise. “There’s nothing to worry sir” she replied in a polite tone leaving Rue to speculate on what happened. “I think I need to hear what’s happening? Am I right?” questioned Rue, obviously threatened by the aura the three were emitting.

“Keep it down for the moment Rue” advised Felix as he went on to his main course, “This year’s ride would turn out to be a bit bumpy.” “You took overtime classes earlier Rue, that’s why you weren’t present in the meeting earlier” explained Stella as she kept her grimoire somewhere. The faculty members ate their fill as they continued with discussing things while the students went to their dorms one by one.

“It’s too bad we can’t be in the same class tomorrow Elle” said Hermione, saddened by the fact that they can only hang out together every lunch or dinner. “You should go visit us every Saturday and Sunday at our dorms” added Cleo as they all stood up from their seats carrying the food trays to be returned. “Speaking of the dormitories, we should go look for our rooms so we know where we’ll go” suggested Elle as the two agreed without thinking twice.

It was a long trek down from the second floor to the tray docks. This was no problem for they were not lazy nor fretting about stuff and it was also a way of slowing down time to converse about more stuff. The cafeteria was no slouch from all the other buildings; the same grand structure can be seen and reflects the school’s fame. Eating in this place was equal to being invited by an Arch Witch to dine, or by royalty. Some students would think the same, while others think it was just a place for eating and contains nothing more. Elle wasn’t indifferent from the aura of the place; she herself had dined with an Arch Witch herself for more than enough years now. Not to forget the fact that her family is of near royalty by now, or is indeed the reigning royal family of Rosevere.

The chandelier lights flickered a few times for some unknown reason as the three passed by the stairs. Elle stopped for a moment and lifted her head to examine what happened. “The lights flickered” said Elle, catching the other two’s attention. They stared up also for a brief moment and told Elle, “Maybe the magical focus in this place got a bit neglected due to some certain problems in the other buildings. It’s not a big deal.” “It’s not some bad omen Elle, flickering lights don’t mean someone would die soon” said Cleo, trying to at least cheer her up, but those words weren’t even meant for cheering someone up.

“Cleo, those words weren’t so reassuring” reminded Hermione as she waited for Elle to reply. Elle returned her gaze back and smiled at them, “Cleo is right, we shouldn’t think of superstitions at this early moment. Thinking negatively wouldn’t do us any good since nothing bad has happened so far.” “Only boys tend to think negatively if you ask me, same goes for animals” said Hermione, heading down the stairs for the two to follow and not think about what happened earlier. Halfway down the stairs, Elle stopped for a brief moment and checked on the chandelier again. The lights flickered once again, but this time the lights turned a bloody red color for a few seconds once the flickering stopped. “This can’t be any good… but I don’t want to make them worry” thought Elle as she rushed down the stairs to catch up with the two.

Even if there were no forms of divination involved with the flickering of lights. It was common sense to know that it wasn’t ordinary, the blood colored lights may pertain to something tragic or in Rosevere customs it was the sign of a girl’s coming of age. The second choice was out of the question since this had already happened on Elle’s sixteenth birthday. The flickering lights might mean a slow death, like a candle dying slowly in the wind. She was worried for there was no way to tell who of them would die, but she was sure it was someone close to her, or worse, she herself.

Upon returning the trays they took their leave from the cafeteria via the main door, entering the grounds behind the main building were Christian and Rune battled earlier. The marks from the battle were all cleaned up by now. So nothing seemed to have taken place there. Their destination was the main building which was situated to their right when they first exited through the cafeteria. “There are plenty of guys in section A right?” asked Hermione, the question was straightforward but there were still some signs of holding back.

Elle halted thinking about earlier and replied accordingly, “slightly a bit more than the number of girls. Why do you ask?” “Eh… Umm” Hermione was fidgeting slightly as she was thinking of what to say, “I was just trying to know the difference of section A from ours.” “Maybe Hermione wants to have a boyfriend?” said Cleo, Hermione quickly denied this making it all the more obvious. “No! I’m not looking for a boyfriend, it’s too early for that yet!” said Hermione, who can not help but to blush at the topic. “I also want one though, but I don’t have a guy of interest in our section” confessed Cleo, though it seems she doesn’t know the weight of the words she just said.

“I can’t really know if I can introduce you to the ones in my section” said Elle, this was obviously true since she took classes in section B, “I’ve just met them this morning and haven’t been company with anyone else there. So, I’m not really sure if I can get to know them faster for your needs.” “You don’t need to bother Elle, there really is no need to rush things like this” said Hermione, she was a bit shy to tell Elle that doing so would be great, but it wouldn’t be nice to push a friend around. “I want to have a boyfriend who will protect me” said Cleo, giving her preferences so that they would know.

Hermione nudged her and told her to cut it off, “Hey Cleo, don’t give any preferences yet. You sound as if you’re giving Elle pointers on whom to look for.” “It’s okay for me Hermione; I would want to hear yours also. We can get to know each other better by this way” said Elle, listening intently to what Cleo would add. “Someone brotherly could do, but I really don’t sound like someone looking for a boyfriend. I think I’m looking for an older brother don’t you think?” asked Cleo, thinking carefully on what to add next time. “I can’t really tell I don’t have an older brother” said Hermione, looking at Elle to incite her to give her own remark. “We’re all inexperienced and are yet to know what love means. Personally, I think Cleo’s choices are good but according to what my mom tells me…” she paused for a few seconds, suspending the two for a cliff hanger as she continued, “We’ll only know once we see him.” They could not help but smile with what Elle said, it was true to some point. Only when they see that certain someone will they learn how love feels like. Hermione giggled at the thought of Elle feeling something like that as she seemed like someone fascinating in that sense, “Then shouldn’t we hear what kind of guy you like?”

Elle seemed petrified when she heard the words, the shock was there but it wasn’t anything to stop her. Perhaps a similar feeling is beating inside her heart; whether it was what her mother told her was yet to be known. Elle, with all due confidence started telling them what she wanted in a guy, “The man I wish to love and wish to be loved by is someone who has dreams. Though he may not look like someone who can fulfill those dreams, as long as I know he strives to make it possible. I myself would lend my hand to that cause. I won’t look at how he looks like, he is already fine for me as who he is. Though they may be room for improvements… emotionally, I’d be sure to lend him my hand to express those thoughts. How do I know when he is the right one? All I can say is that he is not a different individual… but someone who is part of me.”

“Elle that was wonderful!” praised Hermione as Cleo was halfway to tears. “I wish I had someone like that” commented Cleo as Elle was definitely in cloud nine. “I think I know what type of guy Elle likes” said Hermione with a wide grin on her face. Cleo and Elle both replied to her with, “What kind?” “The type of guy you’ll fall in love with even when he does nothing. Somewhat like a loyal dog? Those types that you need to train hihi, Elle’s got a naughty side!” teased Hermione as Elle shrunk up at embarrassment. “Hermione it’s not like that!” said Elle, trying to hide a blushing face. Hermione pried Elle’s hands away to take a good glimpse at her face and chuckled at what she saw, “How cute! So I was right aren’t I?”

“I wouldn’t think I’ll fit with someone like that” confessed Cleo, confused on how such a thing might work. Hermione approached Cleo and stopped with doing stuff to Elle, “That’s because Cleo is like a kitten. You’re the one who needs to be taught…” Hermione paused for a while as she said these words; Elle noticed this too and asked, “Hermione are you okay?” Hermione pulled the two closer to each other and scrutinized them, “I think was have something here.” “Something?” asked Cleo and Elle, the two stared at each other, puzzled on what Hermione might be saying.

“Two blondes, both cute, the other is the top while the other is the bottom” said Hermione, confusing the two much more as they asked once again. “What do you mean by that Hermione?” asked Elle. “Tell us already!” begged Cleo whose head was spinning in circles with all the symbolisms. Hermione placed her hands on her waist as she announced to them, “You two are a perfect pair!”

The two were cut speechless upon hearing her say these. Cleo looked at Elle’s face, and the later did so too. After a few seconds of looking at each other, they diverted their attention and told Hermione, “It can’t be, we’re sisters.” A series of laughs emanated soon after and the three headed on towards the main building. It stood at its grandest form at night, with the main door archway rising up high and towering over the trees. It was adorned by magic’s finest, a grand display of lights all powered by the school’s faculty. No one knew who or where the source is, all they knew is that this person can handle the school’s lighting whether he or she is asleep, anywhere and anytime. There are people with magical capacity great enough to hold a whole city lit up for more than a year without getting exhausted even a tiny bit.

“I do not always have a flair for the grand things, since nature is naturally breath taking at its own right but I must say that the school really has enough power to set this thing lit up even in the morning” said Hermione, stopping by for a moment and was examining the details of the olden gateway. “I hear that this is just excess magical power” notified Cleo, passing by and entering the main building leaving Hermione behind. Elle paused for a moment to ask Hermione, “Shall we follow her now?”

Hermione agreed without even wasting words, they both followed shortly as the main hallway came into view. The place was filled with students zooming in and out; the place was no ordinary school after all. With a school so prestigious and flamboyant, the tuition must be of a steep slope rising upwards. Since not all of the students came from wealthy families, they need to make ends meet somehow. The place was filled with different stalls giving services, selling items and stuff that can be availed for a given amount of money. This was allowed, anyone can set up a business inside the school given that it was legal and was approved by the school’s business board.

There were shops that offer fortune-telling for those not skilled enough to use divination, student’s selling specialized goods, some food stalls that offer specialties that can not be bought from the cafeteria, and some even offer tutorials of certain spells and abilities. It wasn’t all magical based, since there are still some things that do not require magic. One of these shops were the numerous clothing stores, we could say these are designer clothes in equivalence to our world. People with can put their non-magical abilities to work in this place.

Shopping can also be considered as one of the things that were trained in this part of the school, though there are other shops not in the main hallway. These shops or business were either the illegal ones or those who just choose to set up their place of work somewhere else.

Cleo went straight the crowd of people; it seems she was in a hurry to get to the dormitories taking the west wing route which was the only way to reach the female dormitories. They followed quickly for they really have no business in the main hallway shops. Cleo halted movement when she reached a certain stall that was just opening up for the night. A few third year students were carrying pots over to the stall and Cleo inquired, “Is this The Plants and Pots store?” A boy carrying a pot where a golden colored Teldrassil flower was planted answered her, “Oh, yes this is The Plants and Pots store, we’ve just opened for tonight so I’m afraid we can’t entertain your request yet. If you can wait we’ll just place these plants on the shelves and we’ll get right back to you.”

“Yes, I can wait” said Cleo, Hermione and Elle inquired on what business she might have with the shop. “Are you here to buy something Cleo?” asked Elle, as she was taking her time too at looking over the roses. “You’re a floramancer Cleo, why do you need to buy some plants?” asked Hermione, puzzled as to why Cleo was consulting a shop that sells plants for decoration. “I’m just here to look for someone” answered Cleo, as she was really looking forward to something.

The plants were all set up, but no sign of the person Cleo wanted to see so far. The three stood there taking time looking at things. The time wasn’t as fast as it nearly stood still while they await this person. As promised the boy earlier returned to entertain Cleo’s request. “Can I learn what business you have here Miss?” asks the boy politely, smiling at her as he waits for the much needed reply. “Is Professor Candice of section D in here tonight?” she asked, sending the other two quite intrigued why Cleo is looking for a different section’s advisor.

“I want t…” Cleo was about to state her business with Professor Candice but paused when Elle called out a name. “Vendre?” was what Elle said, looking worried when she saw Christian zooming in and out of the crowd like he was looking for something. He was approaching people at random. Asking a question but was soon turned down one by one for reasons unknown for they could not hear what the conversation was. Elle tried to turn a blind sight at the scene; perhaps she was trying not to be rude with her friends. She was about to resume their conversations when she caught the two beaming at her.

“Don’t be hesitant about it, you should go” says Hermione kindly. Cleo nods in compliance that the chance was now. They do not know if this was the person Elle refers to, but they can tell by the looks in her eyes. That she was worried about him, even if they were oblivious to what he might be doing. “Thank you, you two… I’ll be back later” thanked Elle with misty eyes. She ran off towards his place leaving the other two to the earlier unfinished business.

[DoubleZeta]

Final segment for Chapter 1, that concludes it folks. There'd be a pause before chapter 2 comes out, for sorting reasons.

Chapter 1: The first day (segment 10)

The huge cluster of people nearly served like a wall for Elle not to be able to reach Christian easily. Elle was unsure of his origins, but she can tell that he was used to squeezing in and out of crowds like this without difficulty in contrast to her who still is amazed on the huge number of people. She was searching for alternative routes towards his position while Christian pushed on through farther and farther into the depths of the forest of people. It was of her nature to excuse herself while passing through people, but that isn’t likely in a crowd.

Exhausted from waiting and being pushed around by the crowds, she thought that a distraction might cleave a path for her. She tried to resort in using her broom to fly over the huge crowd, but that would be like giving away her chastity since she was wearing a skirt. So she cast a wind shockwave spell towards Christian’s direction but was disguised underneath a simple frost spell used for cooling someone in the heat. She was a dual caster after all; they wouldn’t notice that she was the one who cast the secondary spell.

The wind cleaved through the crowd, some expressed annoyance since it pushes them to be compacted to the sides, or just because some skirts were lifted by the wind. Christian felt the shockwave flew by but it was of a weaker nature now due to the distance it has traversed. He turned around on instinct to see where the wave came from and noticed Elle in the crowd of people. He was hesitant to approach her and dismissed it as sheer coincidence that she was there in his presence. “Vendre!” called Elle, weariness in her voice and stood there in anticipation that he would come closer.

Christian heard her voice though the noise might’ve diluted it, strangely enough he heard it loud and clear. He walked down the path created by the wind and approached her, casually though still with proper manners. He greeted him cordially, “Good evening Ms. Rosewood, you’ve called for me?” He bowed slightly, acknowledging Elle’s position in society as an Arch Witch’s grand daughter. The gesture was ignored by the other students, it was normal to see such students giving courtesy to the popular and highly valued members of the school body.

“Please, stand your ground, I came by because I saw you were having some problems” said Elle, thoughtfully as she asked for Christian to spare the pleasantries. Christian was more than glad to hear such words from her and obliged to what was mentioned. Placing his hands inside his pockets he started, “I’m glad to hear such words, Ms. Rosewood, but the thought itself is enough. I couldn’t possibly stay in the way as I might be bothering you; rest assured that I am fine.”

It was a very good lie, but Elle was sensitive to things like this and the fact that she saw him zooming in and out the place was more than enough evidence that he was having trouble. She was careful with her reply, trying to hide that she had seen what he was doing earlier. It wouldn’t be good to embarrass him and so she asks, “I insist that you tell me if you ever have problems, I might be able to help.”

“I’m quite in the need of someone who can access the crystal network, someone who is able to use dark magic as I need to talk to my parents about something” Elle was about to take out her staff when Christian hinted not to, “Oh, please do not bother! I couldn’t possibly trouble you at this time, you should be in the middle of searching for your dormitory room am I right? Really, just the thought of helping is fine by me. I would just look for someone in here who can offer the service.”

Elle hid her staff once again, but instead of leaving asked Christian to come with her, “I would really wish to help you. It’s the least I can do as a classmate, because we might just end up competing for grades in our section.” There was loneliness in her voice, only then did the idea sink in to Christian’s mind. Elle wanted to be friends with him, for the road ahead of those in section A is bound to be one filled with hardships, treachery and competition. Lazy he may be, but his desire to help others overcame his hesitance to employ the aid of the girl he might be having a crush on currently.

“I… I think I’ll accept your offer, if you insist so to help. I couldn’t possibly turn your generosity down, lead the way then” replies Christian with gentleness in his voice. Elle was delighted to hear him say this and headed off outside to the school grounds. Christian followed a contented smile in his face as he was feeling a very good sensation. They weaved through the crowd and finally reached the grounds that connect the four buildings, the main, the academic buildings, the cafeteria building and the club building. Elle settled on a bench somewhere just outside the main building gates. Pulling out her staff and conjured a reddish crystal beside her. “Please take a seat and I shall contact your guardians” she was more than happy to do this though Christian does not notice this.

“Is it okay if I sit here?” asked Christian nervously, trying to see if there are no other presences nearby. He sat slowly beside the crystal that was between the two of them. In Escadre, there are many uses for crystals. Aside from using it for divination, they are used as catalysts, decorative materials, status symbols and for communication via the crystal network. The night sky was perfectly clear; Escadre was a pristine world in its early state as it is. With the planet’s magical power serving as its main source of energy, it is still far from its peak.

As the stars in the sky dictate the future of those underneath them, there are still things that are inevitable. Elle cast the spell on the crystal to access the network, hiding a divination spell underneath it using her dual casting. As the crystal clarifies the images inside it, Elle was taking opportunity of the shift to look into Christian’s future. Since it was impossible for someone who can use divination to have their futures read, Elle’s only chance to see if they are to be destined together is by looking through his future. There are glittering lights inside the crystal as Elle was completely enthralled by the scenes she saw inside it.

The crystal showed to her a scene where Christian was carrying a little girl with long black hair. Contrary to what she believes, this girl with a triangular shaped fringe is Christian’s daughter in the future. She was searching for the sign she wanted desperately, but it did not show so far and as it was only a few more seconds till the crystal enters the network. Something caught her attention which likely lowered her enthusiasm, a woman with long flowing silvery hair appeared. Of which she believes is to be Christian’s wife, but then she was saved from the benefit of the doubt when Christian talked, “Mom? Is Dad in there?”

The beautiful woman in the crystal replied to his question with a cheerful voice, “Isn’t it Christian! How are you dear, have you eaten dinner yet?” “I’m fine Mom, I won’t skip dinner. I have to ask something if you don’t mind” said Christian, quite nervous on how his mother might react to what he is about to reveal. “What is it? Is it something about girls? My, my, my son is already grown up!” as she smiled at him with a radiant and soothing smile. Upon seeing this, Christian was a bit sent to ease as he said with all courage, “Mom, I think I couldn’t keep my promise…”

Elle was curious about what was happening, though puzzled on why the divination was cut early by the network. She still had a few more seconds before it was to start, but it was really strange to even conclude that Christian’s future was to marry his own mother. “Promise?” asked his mother, trying to recall what Christian might be referring to. Christian was a bit embarrassed to say the words but still said so as to not extend the conversation into the depths of the night, “About the handkerchief…” “You’ve stained it am I right?” she questioned him, but the lecturing Christian was expecting did not came as she comforted him instead, “Do not worry about it, Mom isn’t angry at all. As long as you fulfill your other promise then I might think of forgiving you for this.” Christian was relieved to hear these from his mother and thus bade farewell, “Thank you Mom, I will get in contact with you again next time.”

The crystal’s lights died down and the two were left in each other’s company. Elle was itching to ask questions as to what had just happened, and to quench her thirst for the truth behind the scenes she saw. “Can I know the names of your parents?” asked Elle, in a friendly manner as she took the crystal back into its rightful place. Christian was a bit more open for conversations that night after releasing his guilt over the broken promise and quickly answered her, “My mother’s name is Serina Vendre and my father is Arhezen Vendre. Mom is a time magician while Dad is a dark magician just like you.” “Shouldn’t your father be in that room when you talked to your mother? She’s a time magician right, she couldn’t possibly have access to a crystal aren’t you hiding this stuff from your father?” asked Elle, completely worried for Christian that she subconsciously held his hands.

The two stared at each other, both were speechless. An unusual throbbing echoed from their chests as they kept in contact. The skies were clear, the stars shine brightly and Efilmarge’s reflected light blessed the scene. Elle shyly took her hands away; Christian declined eye contact and gazed at the stars instead. This was an awkward scene, but when all hope was lost. Christian broke the silence, taking note on a shooting star that has just passed by.

“It’s pretty right?” asked Christian doubtfully, knowing that shooting stars mean bad luck in Escadre. Elle recovered fast from the earlier scene, being bashful wouldn’t give her another chance at things. She gazed up to the sky as the flaming debris from outer space etched a trail of fire across the night. “In appearance it is, but shouldn’t we be prepared for misfortune tomorrow?” says Elle truthfully, waiting for the right words to be said so that her move is secured.

Christian lowered his head, taking some few things into account. Elle watched over him wearily, that what she said wasn’t the right words. “You might’ve heard these words so many times before… but its best you know” said Christian, picking up his bag while standing up, “I think you really are pretty… ever since I saw you this morning, but I should get my hopes up too high. Thank you again for helping me contact my mother, I shall be taking my leave now.”

Elle was caught in surprise by these words since it was an indirect way of saying he has affection for her. It was her first time hearing words like this if she was normal, a girl like everyone else she would’ve known how to act fine. She was confined inside their home, something which she does not regret but it could’ve been a needed experience, experiencing things like this beforehand. Her only points of reference are the romance novels she has read at home and the things her mother has taught her. Right when Christian had turned his back on her, she ran after him and clung to his back with a hug, “Raise your hopes a little bit for me…” It was yes, in an indirect way that Christian doesn’t get it at first. A smile can be seen in his face as he mildly answered, “I would do just that, but isn’t it too easy?” “Easy?” asked Elle, since she wasn’t that much into other people’s preferences. She is oblivious of the fact that she’s nearly given herself completely to someone she just met.

He turned around and replied with a hug as he whispered, “Just think that all of this never happened and I’ll pick everything up from the beginning starting tomorrow. You wouldn’t want people to say I cheated on the whole getting acquainted thing that’s why it went so easily. I’ll do it as how it should be.” He let go and with this gave her a reassuring smile. Elle waved farewell at him giving him permission to leave the scene. As he walked slowly away from her, the throbbing of her heart nearly went twice as fast as before.

“I’ll be waiting tomorrow, show me how to do it the right way” murmured Elle as she rushed in towards the main building, overtaking Christian in the process leaving him in jeopardy, like how he was in an earlier case that morning. It seems that people tend to misunderstand him, but maybe this misunderstanding wasn’t what he thought it was. Though he feels that he might’ve said the wrong things, he would still try winning her again tomorrow, which was the opposite reason as to why Elle rushed to the main building, more of, she was rushing to meet her friends again to tell them the good news.

The wheels of destiny started spinning fast once again, leading to the future where everything really is uncertain. Though many might have the power to see through it, there are others too that have the power to alter it. Though magic be useful for most circumstance, it still reflects their humanities.

As each and every one of them lie in their bed that night, the distant future draws all of them closer to one destiny. Even if the winds drove them faster or slower, all of it would end up the same to the inevitable.

“Dear diary, this day was filled with lots of good memories with very friendly people. My years in this place might have just started but it’s shaping up to be one good year. I’ve also been very close to Cleo and Hermione, too bad I didn’t even find out where their rooms are but I’ll be sure to get it next time. Section B wasn’t so bad too, they all treated me nicely especially Professor Rue. I wasn’t able to know how my real section would be like, but I know Falcen bears some ill resentment towards me. I should go talk to Mom about the most fascinating thing that happened today too! I think I found him, though I’m still quite shy around him, but he promised me he’ll teach me the right way to do things!” read Elle softly as she hid her diary inside the drawer of her bed’s side table. Turning of the lights, she closed her eyes and snuggled comfortably underneath the blankets, as the sounds of carriage wheels boomed through the night.

[DoubleZeta]

Whew! After the very long hiatus, I'm back with the next chapter! Things would start to pick up pace from here on out, to those who read this story. I am very very grateful to you people!

So here it is!




Chapter 2: The heroine, the alchemist and the fiancée (segment 1)

The morning mist hasn’t cleared out just yet as the group of faculty members along with the dean himself trekked the forests behind the academy grounds. The shooting star last night was a very beautiful one visually speaking, but it was a sign of disasters to come. Setting superstition aside, taking magical samples from the felled outer space rock was the group’s main objective. As they went nearer and nearer to the target location, they were in for a surprise.

After having disposed on the blunders that hinder the pathway, the three gentlemen had reached the blast crater. They were expecting a huge glowing rock from the unknown planes of existence but instead saw a metallic humanoid being kneeling down in the center of the crater. “What do we have here? An automaton from another plane of existence?” said Lucreed joyfully as he maniacally approached the enigmatic contraption. He rose up some of his undead vanguards if ever the automaton would attack.

“Kehehehe! This is very fascinating indeed!” yelled Lucreed, raising his arms like a complete nutcase who wants world domination. A sound of gunshot blared through the air as one of his undead minions blocked an attack aimed at him. Principal Hyaweg walked on towards his direction along with Professor Jazhra. Jazhra called out to the automancer so that he or she would show up, “If you could understand what I am saying show yourself!”

A gunshot was replied to him, but the bullet stopped in mid air as a barrier of forces nullified the impact. “Not so friendly are we?” said Lucreed, conjuring the remaining undead to one enormous being. It formed a being with three heads and five limbs. It was four times larger than them, enough to say that its brute force would really be astounding as the huge mass of rotting flesh stomped the ground to shake things up a little.

Jazhra entered his trance once again, his eyes turning a blood shot red as the place manifested itself to him in a magical form. He cancelled it first hand which left Lucreed to react, “Jazhra!? What’re you doing?” “This thing does not contain any trace of magic, but I sensed life inside it” explained Jazhra, pointing to the automaton-like being’s chest. The principal stayed calm, he felt the presence from the beginning but decided to let the two to figure it out on their own. “So the idiot who’s been attacking us is hiding inside this automaton’s core? Then all we got to do is rip it apart and then dissect this being! Mwahahaha!” the idea of dissection thrills him to begin with. He ordered the abomination to rip open the chest part of the immobile thing in front of them.

It was immobile after all, so there won’t be any struggles as the thing was being ripped apart slowly. It was made from a white metallic substance, considerably tough even for such a monster to be able to have difficulties ripping it apart. The sound of creaking metal could be heard as wires snapped into two while the cover was being wrecked. It was mostly removed by now as repeated gunshots came out from inside. The undead abomination recoiled and threw the piece of metal away as it backed off.

“Get that person out now!” ordered Lucreed as his undead held the thing by its shoulders and shook it to have the person inside come out. A scream was heard as a lady in her early twenties hangs on to the broken metal parts of the automaton-like being. She had something like a weapon on her right hand that resembled a magic pistol, while her left hanged on to the torn metals. She had long flowing radiant blue hair, a fair white complexion, sharp light blue eyes, great physique and strange clothing.

“That’s quite enough! Return” ordered Lucreed as they approached the lady. She dropped down and pointed her weapon at them, “Scram!” “I pretty much understand what you mean but NO in a million years!” shouted Lucreed as he pointed his index finger at her. She did not hesitate to shoot him, but Jazhra created a barrier in front of Lucreed and nullified the attack once again. “There is no use in resisting, state your purpose as to why you have come here and tell us what you are!” they demanded her to reply as soon as possible with piercing sharp stares.

“So you people wield magic? The problems pile up one after the other. If you do not wish me to eradicate this planet of yours tell me if you know how to counter magic” demanded the blue haired lady, her voice was a charming one. Yet you know that she’s dangerous just by hearing her words. “How are we supposed to be afraid of some woman who’s already shaking at the thought of magic being used against her?” ridiculed Lucreed, as he was frankly annoyed by the threats that show no proof of even being successful.

“Ho ho, we know how to defeat magic ourselves, these home boys gotta say the same” said Principal Hyaweg, with a spark of interest for this young woman. She pointed her gun at him and replied, “Speak, how do you defeat it?” The two were outraged by her manner of speech and they both yelled at her, “Watch your tongue! Don’t you know how to show respect!?” Principal Hyaweg stopped the two from doing something foolish as he stepped up himself, “Hold it fellas, leave all of this to your homie esse. Do you really wish to learn how to defeat magic?”

She lowered her weapon and stood straight, “Tell me and I will leave this place unharmed.” “Ho ho ho” smiled the principal as his voice turned serious, “Then let us have a deal young lass.” “A deal?” she asked, clutching her weapon on ready if ever they make any strange movements. “I am the founder of a certain magic school in this planet, if by far you wish to learn how to defeat magic. Then you have come to the right place, but information like this doesn’t come for free. So I ask this deal of you, we will share knowledge with you if you share knowledge to my students equal to what we will teach you.” The two fell silent with this; it was a dangerous bargain as what this lady was searching for is a way to counter magic, which is the only weapon they have at their arsenals. The silence was short-lived as the lady placed her left hand on her waist followed by her reply, “Very well, I am not in a hurry to begin with since my way of leaving this planet is currently non-operational. I accept this deal, but I expect payment similar to that of your employees.” “The hell!?” whined Lucreed, outraged by the condition, “You’ll get what you want and ask payment still!?” “Then how can I finish my end of the deal if I die out from starvation?” ridiculed the lady as she stared at him.

“Then it shall be, you will receive necessary payment, proper lodgings while the food is up to you through the payment you receive. If you could kindly introduce yourself by now so that we could get going?” said Principal Hyaweg, waiting for her to answer. “I am Xion Raybeam from Earth, what planet is this?” replied the lady, taking a good look of her surroundings. Jazhra was alarmed by the mention of the word “Earth” but he did not budge otherwise.

“This world is known as Escadre, a world ruled by magic. If you do not mind we shall get going, if you may disguise yourself for the meantime so that people would not think you are different, we could arrange everything once we are at the academy” explained the Principal. Xion turned around towards the huge metallic thing behind her and said, “I have clothes similar to those of people here. I’ll just get dressed so can you three please leave the vicinity?” The three obliged without protest and let her dress herself in private.

After a few minutes of travel, they finally arrived at the academy. They entered via the northern gate from the forests; strangely enough there were quite a few people. The southern gate seems to have gathered the students’ attentions as the late coming enrollees entered like a flash flood. It was a good cover for Xion, it wouldn’t bring in too much rumors about her and they might actually introduce her as a new member of the teaching staff without any unnecessary explanations to do.

It was still a few more minutes before classes start. Elle decided to go to where the students were compressed and tried to welcome the incoming transferees and late enrollees. This was when she bumped in to Christian; the latter greeted her cheerfully, “Good Morning Ms. Rosewood, how are you?” Elle greeted back cordially as a certain presence observed them both, “Vendre? I’m fine, what might you be doing here?” “Is it quite a surprise to see me here?” smiled Christian, the two seems to be having fun. Some other person feels offended, though it can not be felt yet but the stares really gun them down.

He held her hand; this took in quite a commotion, because someone holding the hands of the grand daughter of Rosevere’s Arch Witch has to be someone courageous enough to face the wrath of the heavens. Christian has nothing to worry about this though; Elle was with him from the start. The sensation was like drugs for Elle, somehow she just feels so good seeing this even if she can’t really much keep herself together as she blushed. Christian was obviously making his move, a pre-war declaration as it may seem, “I’ll dissolve anyone who tries getting in our way!”

There were a lot of people who witnessed the event; among these people are some of the first year transferees. A person who hides his or her identity underneath a pure white mask and a cloak goes over to see the commotion. The person stood there, clutching fists as if wanting to break someone else’s face while watching the said event. “Vendre! It’s about time we go to class” said Elle, stammering and all red from embarrassment. Christian beamed at this and took her off towards the classrooms. Apparently, Christian is bound to have a new competitor.

The two dashed up towards the corridors, no one was outside anymore and is most likely ready to start classes. Elle wanted that dash to last forever, that time would slow down to a crawl so that she can be in her own fantasy world. “Rosewood! Rosewood, kindly take a seat if you may, we’re about to start class” said Professor Felix as the whole class was staring at her. Christian was already seated beside her and she was still standing up, she bowed down in apology and sat as soon as possible.

“Vendre, why didn’t you tell me we’re already here” asked Elle, trying to suppress the embarrassment. “Sorry about that, but I did try saying that to you but it seems you dazed out awake” smiled Christian as the two focused on to what Professor Felix was talking about. He tapped the board three times as to call the students’ attentions, “I need to formally apologize to you class about me being absent yesterday for class due to some unpredicted problems. We could formally start this class now, since I’m here to teach you, we’ve got our top student back in the room and our late enrollees and transferees… speaking of which one of them is already seated inside even though I haven’t given permission yet.”

Christian noticed this too, the earlier cloaked person whose identity is concealed by a white mask was seated right behind him. He can tell as the person was repeatedly grumbling things behind his back in a deep grim manner. Among the words were, “How dare you do that in front of me”, “You better explain yourself”, and “You think you were cool earlier, let me tell you that you’re just normal like anyone else.” Elle seems not to be paying attention, but Christian can’t really take it anymore.

“And now to start of with the introductions…” Professor Felix was cut off when Christian stood up and faced the masked person. “You friggin think you’re something then why don’t we settle this already so that you’ll stop grumbling behind me!?” this was serious, he practically lost his fuse. Felix sighed as he heard what was happening, he closed the class record he was holding and tapped the board three times again, “Wouldn’t allow to make me even start teaching eh, Vendre? You’ve just fought with someone yesterday and you’ll be fighting another one again today. That’s really something alright; just to make sure I don’t need to get scolded by this certain someone then I would supervise this duel of yours. Everyone head outside to the grounds.”

“Forgive me Sir, this person is just bugging me since we got inside the room” apologized Christian as he descended the stairs. He was stopped somehow when the masked person called for him, “Whoever loses shall follow what the other says. You know were I’m going right?” It was obvious the person was staring at Elle; Christian felt that whatever it was that this person wants, he needs to win for Elle’s sake. Elle was also worried, though a bit excited and would be eager telling this story to Cleo and Hermione later on. Marden was silent though, Christian seems to have forgotten their deal and it was really up to his favor since he forgot who the girl was. Lilith, followed on through with the events, secretly hoping for Christian to lose… if this was a way to have Elle fed up to some other person. It was really a tension filled room, section A’s that is but Felix stayed calm. He’s got to make do with it somehow.

The students all started exiting the room and off towards the school grounds. It was starting to sound as if section A’s curriculum was combat practice instead of starting with theories and basic knowledge. Either way it was better than the later, since they’re all just nearly great at what they do about now and would really like to use it practically than theoretically.

Christian marched on forward, emphasizing the heavy stomps he’s been doing on the ground. Though his supposed enemy was walking along silently like a cat and would most likely be light on the footwork. Christian didn’t focus on whether his enemy was a mage or someone like him who also uses combat, but by the looks of it, this person was mostly magic oriented. Elle approached Christian shortly before they reached the exit to the school grounds and was about to give moral support, “Vendre good luck on your match.”

Christian smiled at her and gave her a pat on the head, “Thanks, I’ll be sure to win so that you people don’t get disappointed.” The masked person sighed as this happened and told them off, “Get away from her will you?” Though Christian could not really tell how ferocious his enemy is, the voice was given depth by the muffled noises being conjured by the mask. He can be sure that this person was annoyed every time he and Elle get close together. “Who are you to give me orders?” replied Christian, keeping Elle behind him as the two headed on towards the middle of the school grounds.

“Rosewood, go to where the others are, It’s about time this ends” advised Christian, Elle obediently following the advice since Professor Felix would also tell her to go on the sidelines. “Trust me, I have every right to do so” said the masked person as the two faced each other. Professor Felix got on between the both of them and questioned both, “Any preparations you need before we start this?” There was a few seconds of silence and the crowd was in unrest. The commotion was starting to get attention once again and students, faculty members and others all peeked out from their windows to witness yet another display of section A’s prowess. The silence was broken when both of them went in ready for attack as they said, exactly timed for some unknown reasons the words, “None at all.”

[DoubleZeta]

Latest segment for Chapter 2, this is the second segment.

Chapter 2: The heroine, the alchemist and the fiancée (segment 2)

As Christian drew a circle on the ground, the other drew a knife from underneath the cloak. This confirms to Christian that his enemy was not magical at all or may just be someone who uses magic to augment combat abilities, but then again, why would this person be in section A?

“Claudilus” said Felix, rising up his staff to solidify a magic barrier around the school grounds. Perhaps the other students were wondering why Felix erected a barrier on the field. He cut all commotions as soon as possible and told the students, “Professor Lucreed would probably be gathering data from our students right now. So we need to barrier their powers inside so that no information leaks out.” Of course, Felix understands the nature of this person’s power. It wouldn’t be so nice showing others key factors of how his students’ powers work. It would be as if they are giving their ranks away.

Once again, the other class advisors were watching from the faculty room located at the second floor of the main building. It has a clear view of what was happening outside since it was a method for the instructors to understand what the students do in their free time. Currently Xion was seated on her newly acquired workspace. Legs crossed over, arms crossed as she tunes in on what the duel has to offer, “It looks like duels are common among the students here for a Professor to act as the referee?” Professor Kira was busy reading something when he heard her talk about this, “You might say Felix’ students are quite the attention hog these days.”

Xion, shifted her viewpoint from outside the window towards her fellow co-worker and was surprised to see him reading something that isn’t associated with that world, “Tell me, can you understand what you are reading?” Kira was intrigued as to why someone asked him such an obvious question so suddenly, “You’re new here are you? Whoah, wait a second…” He slammed the “manga” he was reading and pictured out what she looked like, “A ‘tsundere’ in corporate attire!”

Xion raised an eyebrow on him as she was obviously offended by the remark, “Do I look anything like a ‘tsundere’ character to you?” Kira stood up from his seat as he went on to the glass pane windows to see what the commotion is all about, “So you do know what I’m talking about. That’s rare, I only see a few people interested in these stuff summoned from a place called ‘Japan’.” “I assure you that I’m not interested even a slight bit, I just learned all about stuff like that while studying” reasoned Xion, hiding the fact that these things are long gone from earth by now. Though maybe through some strange time paradox, the things that are summoned to this world are not entirely from the present time and are warped from random places and timelines.

“So you can obviously read the holy scriptures?” inquired Kira, taking hype from meeting someone who is knowledgeable with this stuff like him, “Would you be kind to translate some things I cannot understand fully in this one?” Xion has been avoiding taking a glimpse of what Kira was reading all these times as she stood up and slammed her fist on the table, “I really hate perverted people if you don’t know.” She sighed and placed her left hand on her waist, “Geez I really do get surrounded by people like him.”

“I can’t possibly agree any less” noted a familiar voice approaching them. Xion turned around to see who it was and was slightly skeptical upon seeing the said person. “Hello there, my name is Rue Sylphid and if you really hate this idiot over here then I think we’ll be good friends” greeted Rue, emphasizing the idiot on her sentence and pointing towards Kira. The annoyed look from Xion’s face vanished quickly, perhaps she remembers someone from seeing Rue. She returned her stare back to the school grounds after taking eye contact with Rue, “I think so too, since us both hate perverted men.” Kira was a bit annoyed with the searing insults; he’s got to make do with it somehow, since he’s already used to Rue treating him so badly. Now matters are all the more worse with this other blue head ‘tsundere’ backing up Rue’s campaigns to rid Escadre of the summoned stuff and other worldly influence he has in his hands. “Sure, you two really hate guys in the beginning but crack up in the end” said Kira, as he also watched below.

“As much as it pains me to see Vendre defeated, I believe it’s for the best” said Lilith from behind Elle. It was an obvious way of expressing her annoyance of Elle in an indirect manner, “Wouldn’t it be better if you get engaged to this masked person instead of trying to squish your way into Vendre’s life?” Elle also has her fuse lit up this time; Lilith wasn’t playing passively anymore and was declaring an all out war with her. Elle faced her with her usually calm face, keeping it cool as her way of countering Lilith’s mockery.

“I should be saying the same” replied Elle, while the tension between them and that of Christian and his opponent were heightened. “I would like to correct a few wrong parts in that story you just said, I am in no way squishing myself into Christian’s life” defended Elle, standing up to Lilith for her ideals and for the well being of her relationship. “I’m giving you an early warning Rosewood. Get away from Vendre, he’ll be mine and if you don’t follow my advice you’ll regret it!” threatened Lilith, while the other students were looking at them. There were two fights currently happening at that time, between Elle and Lilith and that of Christian and the masked person.

Returning to the two in the middle of the school grounds, Christian has already transmuted an axe. It was a hatchet to be precise, for a much needed balance between power and speed. He was just going to test his enemy’s capabilities, rushing forward he leapt at his enemy to cut a wedge. Since formal duels do not really allow the students to hurt each other, Felix had himself ready to cast barriers at the losing student. When a barrier is cast on someone, it automatically spells defeat and thus eliminating the need for useless bloodshed.

His enemy was able to evade with minimal movement, not even this person’s shoes appeared from inside the cloak. It was such a swift movement; Christian thought that it was a bad idea to use slow weaponry. He immediately changed the hatchet to a short sword but was surprised to see the masked person right in front of him. The masked person supplied a punch at him and backed off away after doing so. The punch wasn’t that painful, it just made him recoil a bit since it was a direct punch to the face.

Christian wiped his face just to get back on concentration. His enemy kept distance for the time being, giving a false impression that the sword was of real threat. Elle was trying her best to morally support Christian while Lilith goes on and supports the masked person. “Vendre don’t lose hope! You’ll figure this out eventually!” cheered Elle as some other classmates who favored Christian to win helped in cheering. Lilith on the other hand cheered for Christian’s enemy along with an explanation as to why she wants the later to win. “Go win this one Late Enrollee! Sorry, Vendre, It’s just that I think you don’t deserve to win this match since you’ve already won one yesterday” said Lilith, she was rather on the lax side of cheering. She didn’t know this masked person to begin with. Felix was watching the movements of the new student; it wasn’t a really polished form of physical combat though traces of magical augmentation can be noticed. Among the noticeable things he saw was the fact that the new student’s speed was when put into terms is quite blocky in terms of transition.

Christian doesn’t notice this still, since there was just a minimal margin of error between every movement. The perfect choice of weaponry to be able to determine this was either bow and arrows or some other ranged weapon. The blocky movements would be hard to notice at close range since it would appear to be some sort of very fast movement instead. Christian stood back up in a ready stance and tried a frontal attack once again. He slashed at his opponent in a carefree haphazard way just to make sure that his speed could match up.

Once again, it missed due to the masked person evading with minimal movements. The counter attack was about to come as Christian thought it would be and so he tried to grab something in front of him. His enemy back stabbed him fast, sending his earlier attack to be null as he groped on for thin air. His enemy seemed to be somewhat intelligent, striking vital parts instead due to lack of power. He was hit on the nape, but it wasn’t a direct hit for some unknown reasons.

Christian feinted to the right after receiving the hit, hoping that a circular cleaving attack could hit his enemy but the masked person was really fast. The other students do not notice the blocky movements since they were too far away and tiny details could be very hard to notice. Christian was starting to doubt his enemy’s physical boundaries as he desperately thought of a solution to beat his opponent. “Let’s sum this up…” murmured Christian, calculating some few things under his breath while he stood there on ready if ever his enemy has decided to attack already, “This person was able to dodge two attacks with minimal movement. This would be one hell of a puzzle since the cloak is huge enough to even conceal his shoes… He should be moving slowly due to restrictions on movement. This is obviously augmented by some sort of magic… but what kind?”

The masked person held the dagger higher and talked to him for a brief moment, “Are you prepared?” It was time for the counter offensive. Christian was still lost in thought as he was trying to figure out his enemy’s capabilities. He settled for a make-shift tactic for the meantime and changed his weapon in to a giant sword. It was purposely made heavier that he can barely lift it up with both his hands. “Sure, fire away!” said Christian, confidence traceable in his voice as he started running away in circles.

His enemy followed closely and was able to reach him after a few seconds and starts attacking him in quick succession. He was able to keep safe from the dagger attacks, since the dagger reflects the sunlight quite effectively and warns him if ever it was to be used. It was a rarely used dagger as it seemed, since its quality is similar to a newly forged one. He kept on standing back up every time an assault was mounted on him and running around in circles to stall his enemy until he is done thinking of something.

He was able to receive three more similar attacks when he finally finished his planning. He stood up straight and called out at his opponent, “You’re done for!” He was about to activate the massive circle he drew by dragging the giant sword around when his enemy taunted him. “Have a good look around you” advised the masked person, which Christian ignored and went on to activate the circle.

It did not activate for some reason and only then did he take the masked person’s advice into account as he saw the circle deformed by slashes disfiguring the circle. The slashes were made when he was attacked; the dagger attacks weren’t really directed at him directly but were intended to disfigure his circle from the very beginning. “Crap, how did this person know that…” unlike normal alchemists, Christian can create any kind of transmutation with just a normal circle, but if he ever fails to create one he is bound to be unable to create transmutations as he does not memorize circles.

He was cut short again as his enemy attacked once again, but this time; he was able to notice the blocky movements. Upon repeatedly witnessing these attacks, Christian thought that it was a dejavu or something. All of which are the same in execution and most noticeably… all of the attacks face only one direction.

Christian transmuted the giant sword into a dagger as he strafed to his right setting of the angle of attack by ninety degrees. Even after dodging the attacks, the masked person continued with the succession of attacks and then did Christian notice the open window to beating his enemy. His enemy was open for anything he might use to perform a new transmutation aside from morphing his weapon that already has a circle transmuted on it. He was aware that this person knows more about him for some strange reasons and is able to stop all of his hidden tricks to create a stage for his alchemy. Seeing the repeated action take place again and again, a certain memory enters his mind that shows something similar.

Christian kept his distance and stood up straight to give a few words to his opponent, “Shouldn’t it be time for you to show your true weapon?” “By weapon do you not see this dagger?” asked his opponent, Christian looked at the person grimly and replied, “You’re not magically augmenting your speed! I’ve already found out about it, isn’t it time to show your pocket watch, time mage?”

A blunt smile appeared on Felix’ face as Christian said these words, “About time you figured that out Vendre.” The masked person’s tightened his grip on his dagger, uneasy due to Christian figuring out the secret behind the trick. “Shall I explain?” mocked Christian; it was about time he gets to do the mocking. Since figuring out how something works spells the same as that of doom. The masked person attacked once again, Christian dodges to his sides a second once he noticed his enemy vanish in front of him. The attacks surely have great speed, but its consequence is that of very poor accuracy.

Since it was fast forwarding the attacker while keeping the surroundings at normal speed, it would literally send a blind sight to the caster seeing a second in to the future instead of what was currently happening. That was the margin of error and added the fact that his enemy can not target properly once he moves fifteen or more meters away. Now, Christian only needs to find a way of landing a successful fatal hit for Professor Felix to cast the barrier on his enemy. All was thanks to a memory of a certain idiot who wastes life for the sake of magic. He devises a fail proof plan to finish this duel in no time, “Say your prayers!”

The masked person refused to give up after having the trick known by the enemy. This match proved to be very instrumental to this said persons interest. Which Christian believes to have Elle taken away from him? The masked person tries to strike at him again; Christian currently held his dagger by both hands as the attacked was launched. When in one swift movement Christian broke the dagger into two using alchemy and reformed it again for his right hand. The masked person mysteriously slowed down as this was done and Christian was able to land a shallow cut on the person’s mask.

The barrier was lifted as soon as the blade made a crack on the mask. The force of the blow sent the masked person backing away and covering the mask by the hands. Several dozens of miniature pocket watches dropped down from Christian’s left hand. All of which totaled to fifty one and was the reason for the slow down, “A time mage is only able to use their magic if they are able to manipulate all the clocks in a given area. Though there is a limit to that power and a certain time mage can only manipulate a certain number of clocks accordingly. You are just the same age as me, there is no way you can beat my mother’s clock limit.”

He closed his eyes as he said these words trying to make his victory a lot cooler for Elle. Elle was without doubt delighted that Christian won for her sake, but the issue was not yet resolved. As Christian stare upon his opponent, the mask cracked up and fell into pieces exposing the true identity of the masked person. Christian froze in his tracks upon laying eyes at this person's face.

[DoubleZeta]

This one seemed... so short for some reason... should I post the next part already?

Chapter 2: The heroine, the alchemist and the fiancée (segment 3)



“A…Arcan…” Christian stuttered, he was lost for words in shock while Felix sighed. “I thought that this person was some other student…” said Felix, shaking his head from left to right as the masked person removed the hood covering her face, “but it turned out to be Miss Scheiffel herself.”

A huge commotion concentrated on the crowd of students. Other classes descended from their rooms and went in to see Vesenberk’s so called “Princess”. Upon taking of the cloak and mask that concealed her identity, she showered the crowd with her full splendor and smiled at Christian. Her silver long hair, angelic complexion and natural beauty revived interest among the numerous male students. Her clothes were the normal female uniform, a perfect fit size that shows out her fabulous curves. She had an air of goodwill surrounding her, friendly like Elle as she seems for she’s mostly a social person by her attitude according to rumors.

“That was a good duel Chris, it’s been years isn’t it?” greeted Arcana as he gave a demure wink at him. He was caught by surprise, feigning ignorance as if he already knew, “Yeah, I knew that it was you all along.” Arcana tilted her head to her left as she asked, “Really, you seemed to be annoyed earlier. Anything I did wrong before we parted ways?” He turned around and spat out curses underneath his breath as he hit his face with a palm, “Crap…” “Any way or the other, it’s fine though I’m bothered by something” said Arcana moving her hands gently in an elegant way as she pointed at Elle, “Why were you so affected earlier when I was referring those words to her?”

Felix beamed a malicious one as he turned around to leave, before setting off towards the faculty he left a simple message, “Clean your way out of this Vendre, my duties here are done.” He quickly left the place, waving his hands with his back turned around all of them as he marched right up into the main building. Christian could not stop prying in on why Arcana, his childhood friend, said all those things earlier to Elle, which he thought was directed to him.

He approached her and quickly took hold of her arms, “What have you got against Rosewood, Arcana? I don’t remember you being so cold to other people?” Arcana was quite ashamed from what she said, but her determination was as hard as steel. She looked at him in the eyes straight. Her silver pair of eyes possessed a strong sense of justice, Christian thought that it was just self justification… but Arcana gave way to an interesting proclamation.

The students were already shocked at how Christian treats such an influential person so casually. Some of them weren’t able to hear that they were familiar with each other. Elle, Lilith and Marden approached their location. Trying to learn the reason as to what was happening. When the others were already in close proximity, Arcana said out loud point blank at all of them the shocking truth, “I have the right to get angry if ever any other girl comes close to you, I am your fiancée!”

Shattered like broken glass, Elle and Lilith stood there petrified as Arcana took the situation to give Christian a kiss. The crowd was shocked, amazed, left out of words; cat tongued and what ever words that can describe how shocked they were to learn this. “Whoah, you also have a fiancée like me?” said Marden, smiling at him giving full approval of his choice. Christian broke free from Arcana, he wasn’t the least bit shocked from the kiss. They were, after all raised together and adults tend to have kids do mushy stuff like this since they still have no idea. He recoiled, stepped a few steps away from Arcana as he expressed his protest, “How? When? I don’t remember my parents telling me about this!”

Arcana placed her hands over her chest as she took out a familiar pocket watch. Then as if everything happened before, Christian repeated the earlier statement. The others were quite confused as to why he repeated his sentences, though others know what capabilities Time Magic is able to accomplish. “You looked cute saying those words Chris, shall I repeat it again?” asked Arcana in a playful tone. This doesn’t lighten Christian’s feelings at all, he tried to hide a sour grimace underneath a weary face as he replied, “Tell me how this happened! Please!”

“I guess it can’t be helped” sighed Arcana, she kept the pocket watch back inside her robes and explained the gist of it, “Mother has sent the proposal for an arranged marriage yesterday to your parents. Sir Arhezen agreed with no hesitation at all, though your mother is still thinking about it. Even if the deal is not complete yet, I am to be your fiancée as I wish for it too.” Christian was left speechless with this said, four out of the six people involved already approve of it… what else could the remaining do?

Elle shook in utter defeat; the chill went up through her spine in succession after another. She was about to break, her heart can’t take it for the time being. Perhaps she needed a much prudent choice before rushing in to things. She was about to flee the scene when Christian noticed this. He grabbed her by her torso and asked for her to stay, “Rosewood, I can explain this.” “Sorry Vendre, I forgot I have to do something important…” paused Elle for a while as she broke free from Christian’s hold on her, “See you again… later.”

She took of as fast as she can, her eyes tear filled and her heart in the brink of breaking. Arcana was a bit offended by this as she asked Christian, “Is she more important than me?” Lilith was cursing underneath her breath, when she already has Elle and Rune to deal with come another girl to the scene with a much higher advantage than everyone else. She took off without any more words to spare and bothered Arcana no more. Christian was left in jeopardy again; despair filled him as everything was going awry. Just as when he promised to Elle, come the girl whose life is his main priority?

Christian clenched his fist, his face steaming red in anger as he dragged Arcana away from the crowd. “Oh, going already?” asked Marden waving goodbye to both of them, “Have fun!” Christian shouted back at him with an annoyed sneer, “We’re not going to do anything funny! Sheesh!” Arcana was worried about what was happening around them and decided to find out why they were quarrelling like newly weds.

The crowd was left to speculate things since it would be rude to follow the two to learn more. The direction they traversed aimed forth towards the club buildings, furious as he may seem but Christian was really much in a desperate bid. He was hiding despair beneath the angry face he was showing to Arcana. This wasn’t a very exemplary work, Arcana knows and knows very well that he is trying to hide something big when he’s all worked up about something.

“You should’ve at least told me about it somewhere private instead, not in front of the whole middle division” whined Christian resting his back to the wall as he watched carefully if no other students were around. Arcana kept her hands behind her back and replied, “You said you wanted to know already, right? I just thought that saying that in public saves me a lot of work from visiting each and every girl here to mention I’m your fiancée.” “It’s not as if there were many” Christian sighed, shaking his head in grim resentment. “So there were some as I thought it would?” said Arcana approaching Christian to comfort him, “There, There, I’m still here.”

Christian kept his head down up until now, he just remembered something again. “Say, Arcana can you come closer for a little bit” ordered Christian, Arcana followed promptly but was caught in surprise for Christian slapped her on the face. “Don’t think I forgot what you did earlier!” Yelled Christian, for a moment he was furious but suddenly lowered down to a melancholic attitude, “You shouldn’t waste any more seconds of your precious life…” Arcana understood what he wanted to say but an obedient little lady like her, should still have her own mischief and so she replied, “Don’t go slapping me like that! Is it so bad to practice my Time Magic?”

“That wasn’t practice!” argued Christian, rising up from his resting position to face Arcana with full disapproval of her earlier behavior, “That was a reckless display of magical prowess!” “Weren’t you being battle frenzied over something so trivial?” countered Arcana standing straight with her fists clenched. The two paused for a while as they reflected on their actions. Christian quickly turned away hitting his head to the wall as Arcana chuckled, “My, My, we really do look like a couple.” “Crap, is this the reason why they say childhood friends are scary…” thought Christian hitting the wall with his head one last time before he bade farewell to Arcana, “Keep yourself out of trouble so you don’t need to use your magic. Speaking of which, it’s your first day at class right? You should go around and look for your dormitory room.”

Christian left the place as soon as he said this, Arcana wasn’t able to reply as Christian quickly vanished to the second floor. She rested herself to the wall where Christian was earlier and whispered softly, “I don’t have a dormitory room… we have a house here. Guess I should go take a rest and a bath will do too.” The place was soon deserted similar to how it was earlier; other students have classes so the club building might be scarce of people.

Christian walked briskly along the corridors, his mind deep in thought. Elle was surely hurt and it was the first day of being close with her. An apology couldn’t possibly do unless she’s motivated to fight with Arcana for the attention. He did not knock at the door and pushed it aside like it was an obstacle. Christian was caught by surprise when he saw some other girl inside. This was to be expected; he was the only male in the club and has just met few of the members.

The girl was shocked to see a male student entering the club room which she knows only has female members. Christian apologized as he slowly approached the seat farthest from the girl’s seat, “Sorry to startle you, I’m a new member.” “It’s fine…” said the girl with short blue hair in a distanced manner. Christian felt a little pressure on the place since the girl seems to be intimidated by his presence. He just sat meekly in his corner as the girl continued reading a book but had her royal blue eyes watching him from the edges of the book cover.

Somehow he felt like he was suspected of something, but he decided to kept low. The girl seems to have a hefty amount of bandages on her arms. She was a second year as Christian can discern from the upper body clothing. The lower parts could not be viewed so far, they were seated on the opposite sides and it would be rude to go down the table just to see what she’s wearing below. Of course no idiot does that, except if that idiot was a hell of a pervert.

The depressing aura kept on pushing at Christian, he wanted to go somewhere without pressure to think of a way to reconcile with Elle. Though luck wasn’t really on his side, perhaps he has recharging luck. Once you get your lucky break it goes down in one go and so long does it take to recharge. He had his movements limited; though there was fear in the girl’s eyes, she surely was vigilant to do something if ever anything happens.