49. Undead hearts rock!

“Shashashasha! Wake up, everyone! Come on, wake up!”

I was planning on faking I was asleep to skip breakfast, and judging from the grumbles I heard cursing Ilija, it seemed that I wasn’t the only one.

I opened my eyes and only then noticed there wasn’t any window in the room. I had spent the whole night with my eyes shut, circulating my deathforce along with the path Ray’s cousin had created, listening to my roommates’ snores… And not only that. One of them talked in his sleep. It was Oliver, the kid who apparently shared his thoughts with everyone. He said, ‘water, Angelika, water…’, and much to my surprise, I heard the same words repeated by two other roommates. Maybe Azwyne and Zacharias? I couldn’t tell, but it seemed the kid was able to influence people even in their dreams… Fortunately, undead seemed to be out of his reach, and I was quite happy about that.

“Wake up, wake up!”

“Shut up,” I grumbled. I covered myself with the blanket again, but Ilija knocked on my bunk.

“Armen-kun, the bus will set off in twenty minutes!”

“That said, why are you wearing your red knit cap even when you’re sleeping?”

I sat up and lowered my eyes to my roommates. Only Oliver and Ilija were still there. I hadn’t even realized the others had already left. I may not be able to sleep at all, but sometimes my head—or more exactly my core—stopped analyzing my surroundings. Also, the fact that Ray hadn’t been nurturing my necro-bond for two days now probably didn’t help. I answered Oliver’s question:

“My mom knitted it.”

The kid snorted with laughter.

“And so you wear it all the time? You’re weird.”

“Shashasha, you must love your mom a lot!” Ilija said.

I smiled as I landed on the floor.

“Yus. But, kid, you’re weirder with your helmet.”

“Well, that’s true,” Oliver admitted. “But it’s necessary if I don’t want to drive everyone mad. Well, except you… Excuse my curiosity but do you have a mind power or an amulet that protects your mind? If it’s not too indiscreet…”

He sure was polite. I shrugged as we left the room to go down to the first floor.

“Nope. I said it yesterday: I’m a telekinetic.”

The cafeteria was noisy. Well, the admitted candidates were the loud ones, but those who had failed to pass were gloomy. Actually, most of them had already got on the buses. I waved at Nina and Jing, and passed by Arkifa saying quietly:

“Morning, Arkifa. When I heard you were in fourth place, I almost had a heart attack. Do you transform into a dragon or something?”

Arkifa chortled.

“Not quite.”

“…” It seemed that she didn’t want to talk about her power. I said cheerfully: “Anyway, congrats.”

“To you too!”

The girls sitting beside her were staring at me with a mix of curiosity and mistrust as if they were afraid I would steal their heroin. I sauntered to the exit.

“Armen-kun! What about your breakfast?” Ilija asked, surprised.

I raised a hand.

“I pass.”

It was drizzling outside. The Nyomin judge with the cute braids was answering to a little group of candidates and pointing at a bus while holding a black umbrella with her other hand. She sure liked the black color.

“This bus is for the admitted candidates,” she said as she saw me approaching. So the other two vehicles were for the rest.

I smiled.

“Thanks. Also, thanks for yesterday. I was almost sure I wouldn’t pass.”

“Mm… Armen Moon, right?” Heh. She remembered my name. “Let me ask you something. Did you already know Jing Ferrier and Nina Clover before the tests?”

“…? No. I first met them the day before yesterday.”

When her purple eyes pierced me, she reminded me of Arkifa.

“You do help others very easily, don’t you?”

I swallowed. Was it a compliment? Was it a reproach? I couldn’t tell. I rubbed my neck, forcing a smile.

“It’s not like that,” I assured. “I only help people I like, so you could say I fall for others pretty easily. Especially when it’s a cute and mysterious person. Like, I would have helped you if I had met you in that jungle too.”

For a moment, we only heard the distant voices of the candidates muffled by the rain. Did I say something weird? Well, I did: I had just called the Nyomin judge cute. If she got angry at me and decided to take back my badge, that would be bad.

“No offense intended!” I hastily added. “I was just saying I’d probably help you—”

“Thanks, but realistically your help wouldn’t be needed.”

“Haha, that’s so true.”

“Also, being nice to people is good, but being too gullible can be a fatal flaw.”

Was she referring to how Aishah Suzuki had deceived me and attacked me with her sleeping gas?

“Being too gullible,” she repeated quietly, “can ruin relationships too. You can see someone as a good friend, even as your best friend or your lover, only to realize later you have been deceived.”

I frowned, troubled and also annoyed by her words.

“That… I may be gullible sometimes, ma’am, but the people I call my best friends… they won’t ever betray me. I know that for sure.”

The Nyomin judge was looking at me as if weighing me up.

“Then it’s all good. You should get on. It’s raining.”

“Ah… Yeah.” Why the hell did I get so worked up? “Then…”

I headed to the bus. Geez, what was with that weird conversation just now? I was about to get on when I received a call. If I hadn’t been just checking the weather forecast on it, I wouldn’t have seen it, since I had turned off my ringer. I stopped dead as I saw who was calling.

Darkness12.

I took the call and hastily stepped away.

“My Lord? What’s up?”

« Mmph. Armen, right? »

“Yeah, since you called me, it should be me, right? Did something happen?”

« Mmph. »

Huh? Was he sulking for some reason? Then a thought crossed my mind, and I grinned.

“Could it be you’re worried about me? Hehe, my Lord, you are worried about me, I’m happy!”

« Shut up. I guess you passed. »

“Well, since I’m a genius. Heeheehee…”

« Geniuses don’t giggle like idiots. And… I didn’t call you for that. » Liar. « Did you see Lizzie? »

I frowned one eyebrow.

“Lizzie? You mean your wife? Should I have seen her somewhere?”

« She’s the Nyomin judge, idiot, you can’t possibly have missed her. »

I froze. That beauty with black braids that was holding an umbrella next to the red base was…

“Your wife?!”

I couldn’t help but blurt it out loudly then corrected:

“Ah, sorry, she’s not your wife, since you guys got divorced.”

« Armen… » The Lord’s voice sounded harsh on the other end. « I have to tell you something that could hurt your pride very badly. Are you ready? »

I swallowed hard upon hearing that.

“N-No… I’m not. What is it?”

« Yesterday, Lizzie came to my house. »

“…” Huh. “Are you saying I shouldn’t flirt with her because she’s your ex-wife?”

« What nonsense are you spouting? »

“Haha… Nothing. By the way, my pride’s still intact.”

« That’s because you are slow to catch on. Yesterday morning, Lizzie went to my house and saw the photo you gave me for Christmas, she noticed you, and recalled you were a good friend of Ray. That’s probably why she let you pass. » I gasped and heard a chuckle on the other end. « How’s your pride doing? »

“… It’ll survive, I think.” But I was a bit hurt and disappointed. Had my performance in the practical test not been good enough? My eyes looked hazily at the jungle through the silent drizzle. “Did you call just to tell me that? You’re so cruel, my Lord.”

« I told you I wouldn’t forgive you easily for messing with my son’s safety. Anyway, the truth hurts but is always enlightening. So? How’s Lizzie doing? »

I glanced around, looking for the Lightning Veil, but she was nowhere to be found. The remaining candidates were already leaving the red base, led by the Independent Heroes. My lips went up.

“Aha… Now I get why Ray is good-looking and kind-hearted. Thank goodness he doesn’t take after his father.”

« You insolent brat! I can be kind-hearted too! »

“Oh, sure. That’s why you gave Ray a freezer for Christmas. What a wonderful gift.”

« … I won’t argue with the likes of you. Anyway, drop by my house in the afternoon. I have something important to discuss. »

He hung up. Yet another appointment. When was I supposed to gather up my luggage? Annoyed but a bit curious, I shoved my cell in my pocket, then got on the bus with the others. There were still empty seats by the window, and I sat down. Short after, Noah settled down beside me without a word. There was a silence, then:

“How about we switch places?”

I snorted loudly in disbelief.

“Seriously…” We looked at each other. Why did he even sit down beside me? There were other empty seats by the window… Was he really bullying me? Or was he just bored without me? I managed to compose myself and smile at him. “Let’s rock-paper-scissors it. If you win, I’ll never sit by the window ever again; if I win, you give me your earphones.”

He smirked.

“Works for me, but don’t ever break your promise. And don’t say it like you’re going to win.”

“Then… Rock, paper, scissors!”

I played paper, he played rock. Phew. Without a word, I held out a hand. He put his earphones on it with a grimace. I connected them to my phone, and as the bus was setting off, I began to listen to one of my favorite music, hoping Noah would leave me be, and he did.

At the rear, the new Independent trainees were cheerfully chatting among them.

“And those berries turned my skin blue for at least five hours!” a guy was saying.

“Those were Aotama berries, didn’t you know?”

“I was so hungry…”

“Shishishishi!” That was Ilija laughing heartedly.

“BE QUIET!”

The Bloody Cook glared at the tall white-haired afro guy, who bowed his head saying earnestly:

“Sorry.”

Under Gilda’s surveillance, the voices turned into whispers. After maybe half an hour, Noah grumbled.

“Why do you keep looking at me sideways?”

I smiled.

“Ah, you noticed.”

“I’m not blind. What do you want, stupidstar? I’m poor, so I can’t rock-paper-scissors things as thoughtlessly as you do.”

I grinned.

“How about this, then: if you win, I’ll let you have the earphones back, if you lose, you’ll have to listen to the music I choose for you.”

Noah grimaced.

“Huh? Why should I listen to your music, stupidstar?”

“Are you saying you’re gonna lose?”

Noah looked bored, but I guessed deep down he was excited. He was fond of challenges. He sat straight on his seat and faced me.

“Okay, let’s do it. Rock-paper-scissors!”

My rock destroyed his scissors. I chuckled.

“You suck at this game, don’t you?”

“That can’t be. You’re cheating. Rock-paper-scissors!”

We did it seven times in a row before I lost. Noah let out a ‘ha!’ of victory.

“My kudos, perv. I only know one person who sucks at this game more than you.” And that was Louise.

“Curse you…”

He grabbed my neck and pushed me forward until my head hit the seat in front of me. I complained:

“Don’t be a sore loser, hey, are you a bully?”

“I am. Got a problem with that, stupidstar?”

“Yes. I don’t like bullies.”

“Oh? Now you show your true colors! I figured you had something against the Champion Institute’s students after all. Rich kid.”

“No, it’s not what I said.” That guy… Did he have some kind of Champion Institute complex? I breathed in his lifeforce. He was tasty. I reluctantly asked: “Can you let go of me?”

“…” He released me. Then, I put one of the earphones in his ear and he jerked up. “The hell is that music?”

“Heehee… Mad Archers’ new single: Dementia Love.”

“…” Noah stared at me then laughed. “You’re crazy, man. Is this really music?”

“It’s electronicore.”

“Electrowhat? Honestly, I just listen to the same old songs someone gave me when I was a kid. Don’t know if they’re good, but at least they are music.”

“Don’t dismiss things just because you don’t know them,” I replied. “I’ll have you listen to Kokoro Madness too. Oh, and Deberek, The Beaks, The Zarkingou, those are pop music. You don’t know them? Even the Diabolo Girls? The Crazy Dolls?”

“Ah, that last name rings a bell.”

“You see? Now, now, let me introduce you to the world of music,” I said excitedly.

Maybe because of his scary power and the harsh education he had received in the Champion Institute, Noah was bossy, easily offended, and a bit aggressive, but even so, I quite enjoyed making him listen to songs I loved. He kept saying “what is this garbage” again and again, but he didn’t take off his earphone, so I guess he wasn’t suffering that much. I even took advantage of the moment and slipped in a song Zeeta and I had made.

“How’s this one? It’s called ‘My World Is ODD’.”

“… Meh. They’re just barking and playing the violin, right?” That hurt. I saw it coming, though, since Noah was being negative even about the Crazy Dolls. He went on: “I can’t catch a single word… Wait, I just heard someone yell ‘stop the ruckus, brats’. Can they even sell that?”

I remembered that my former neighbor, Beethoven, had lost it in the middle of the recording. I laughed.

“No, I bet they can’t. Oh, but the group has a song much more relaxed. This one. The guitarist is singing solo. I like his voice a lot. What do you think?”

“It’s just music.”

So this one at least wasn’t scaring the bully, huh? I grinned.

“But the guitarist’s voice is good, isn’t it?”

Noah shrugged at my insistence.

“Not that bad.”

“Heh.”

I tried hard not to look at Leon sitting behind us.

* * *

“Stupidstar, I endured your music, you’d better buy something good now.”

“How about ramen?”

“On reflection, I’m gonna eat stupidstars for lunch.”

“Don’t, I’m toxic.”

“Toxic food is the best.”

Haha… Was he serious? I shook my head as I was walking with Noah along the docks. Behind us, Nina and Andrea were talking with Azritz about powers…

How did it turn out like that?

Well, it was pretty simple: when I arrived at the Nyomin University, Azritz excitedly invited me to lunch to celebrate my feat, then Noah meddled and said that I had promised him a free meal, which I hadn’t but well. Fortunately, all my roommates but Noah declined the invitation, since they had to prepare their luggage for the EPHT training.

As for Nina and Andrea… When I had seen the lucky girl looking at the city’s map, I had thought that, being from the countryside, she had nowhere to go, and I had happily made her come along, to which the girl with green dreadlocks had said immediately: “I won’t let you guys do anything to Nina. I’m coming too.” She didn’t even know her since the day before yesterday, and she was so overprotective? Well, I think she also was worried about Noah. After all, they knew each other from the Champion Institute.

“Luck power, so interesting!” Azritz was saying behind. “In all the years I worked for the Nyomin, I’d never heard of that. You see, not all the powers are flashy, some are even hard for the user to notice, but that doesn’t mean they are not powerful!”

She sure was excited.

“Oi, stupidstar,” Noah said glancing regularly over his shoulder. “Know what? Your sis is totally my type.”

I would have punched him if Azritz hadn’t been there.

“Too bad, she’s got a boyfriend,” I lied. I ignored Noah’s disappointment and turned to the left, entering Market Street.

“Where are we going, anyway?” Noah asked.

“Why did you choose the Coquelicot Square in Somerville, yesterday?” I replied, curious.

“Oh… I just heard someone say it was full of expensive restaurants. I’ve never been there. Actually, I barely know the city.”

“Is that so?” I asked. “But isn’t the Champion Institute in Farskyer City?”

Noah snorted.

“You really don’t know a thing. The Champion Institute is on a small island on Windchester District’s shore. Students can’t go out. Well, at least orphan students can’t.”

I frowned. So Noah was an orphan. Jing and Arkifa were too. How many more orphans were there among the Independent trainees? Noah added scrubbing his nose:

“I’ve been in the Champion Institute since I was seven, so I don’t know much about the outside world.”

I widened my eyes, gazing at the ground as I walked and thought: seven? And he had never been outside the Champion Institute since then? A kid surrounded by other kids like Andrea and him, always reminded by his teachers of his dangerous power… I shut my eyes, trying to choke back my tears.

“Huh? Stupidstar? What’s with you, all of a sudden?”

I opened my eyes, just in time to see a hooded man jump off my old house’s staircase and lunge at Noah. He punched him hard. Azritz screamed, Nina and Andrea stopped, Noah’s hair, eyes, and hands ignited in crimson fire… I gaped at the scene.

Zeeta?