I've been tired as of late, tomorrow there MIGHT not be a chapter release. But please enjoy this one. I'll answer questions in the comments.

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"S-stop... please, stop." a girl cried softly.

"Shhhhh. Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

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I sit curled up in a ball on top of my bed. I think it's supposed to be cold, but I don't feel it. My room's dark, it's not the way like it, but I don't mind. It's just like old times, the times when I would curl up by myself on the bed and read a book. Ah, that's what's different, I don't have a book with me. I should go borrow one. Would Mr. Reader even want to give one of his precious books to me?

Just like my old room there's a window in here as well. Like that time, it's my only connection to the outside right now, it shows the hundreds of people walking by. Isn't it great, how the whole world leaves you behind, how it keeps on moving. I wish I was like that, able to move on. That's exactly what I came here to do, learn to control my powers right? To move on and break away from my past? Heh, if only. I know the reason why I was sent here, sent away from everything I ever knew, kept away from the room that gave me comfort.

I don't want to say anything bad about it, it was where I spent most of my life. But, the thing that was bad with that room, the only thing, was that it was lonely. But it's not too bad, once you get used to it that is. It's only bad when you get a taste of something else, that little thing called friendship.

"Hey." Iris says. "El, please come out and talk to us."

Iris and Elis knock on my door but I can't answer them, I don't want to see them. Not as I am now, weak and pathetic. No, that's not it. I'm just scared, scared of what they'll think of me. I almost killed him, I almost killed a person. They way he crawled on top of me was so similar, so scary.

Another reason, during that time, during the fight. I wasn't tired from using magic, it was my anxiety of having all those eyes stare at me while I cast spell after spell without the slightest hint of being exhausted that made me lose it. I just hate it when everyone focuses on me. It's like they're trying to pick out the people who don't belong.

"E-El." its Elis's voice. "We just want to talk to you."

I manage a few words, "I-I just, want to be... left alone." long moments pass. No more sound, no more banging, they've left.

For now, I just can't bear to see their faces. Their concern for me, I don't want to know, seeing a face like that, it would only haunt me more. The face of someone who's only pretending. Pretending to care, because they 'have' to care. I can't tell what's worse, looking into someone in the face and seeing through them, or having everyone stare at you with contempt in their eyes, trying to pick you apart.

Books, the only things that don't have a face, but will always be there for you. They don't judge, because they're not alive, they provide comfort, a place of belonging in spite of that fact. That's why I love them, they're my own little escape from this world that's too cruel to bear at times.

The room is silent for what feels like hours. The sound of no sound, it's truly deafening.

*Knock Knock Knock*

Three bangs come from door. I get ready to say the same thing, but the voice that comes isn't who I expect.

"H-hey. Ellar, are you okay?"

It's Rainen. What's he doing here?

"I... just wanted to check if you're okay." he says. My arms tighten, bringing my knees closer to my chest. I also don't want to see him. He's my partner, I should trust him. He even saved me before, but what if he just did it because he's my partner, what if he's here right now because of that? What'll I do if I find out, find out that he didn't come here because he was actually worried?

I turned Iris and Elis away, I'll turn him away too.

"I just want to be alone..."

He doesn't say anything but I know he's not gone, there were no footsteps. After another moment of silence, he speaks.

"Will you come out?"

I don't respond.

"Did he hurt you?"

"...No." I say.

"Are you okay?" he asks again. His concern in his voice sounds obvious.

I wait for a little bit before responding, "...I'm fi-"

"Don't lie." he stops me.

"El, we're here for you." Iris says. When did she get there? Was she the one who got Rainen? Now I really don't want to see him.

"Come on out, we can go get something to eat if you want." Elis suggests.

I put my hand over my stomach. I'm not hungry, I don't feel hungry even though I haven't eaten since this morning and that was just a piece of bread I bought. The only thing I want to do is read, I just want to go somewhere else for a little bit.

"El..." Iris falters. "Aren't we friends?" those words struck me hard. I almost move, I almost rush for the door, but I don't.

"Ellar, they- we're worried. Just open the door." after a brief silence he shouts. "Blue hair!" I'm startled by his voice. "Don't shut them out like this."

He's right, I shouldn't but I can't stop myself. I don't know if I can take the next step.

"Three seconds." he says. "I'll give you three seconds to open the door. If you don't... I'll open it myself."

Three seconds pass by, the door's still closed. Soon, I hear the doorknob rattle, he's not forcing his way in, it's something else. The door swings open, in his hands are two knives. My eyes go to his face and my fears take over. I'm not sure what my own face is showing but it's nothing pleasant. The face I didn't want to see, that look, his expression.

My voice escapes me without my consent, the sound is more like a scream. Iris seems to understand, she pulls him back.

"No guys." she says.

I can tell that he's still standing there, his eyes are burning holes through me. When I look up, he's no longer there. Iris and Elis stand by the doorway, they're unsure if they should enter.

"...Sorry." Iris says, she pulls the door shut and they leave.

His face still haunted me, for some reason, I could just tell that it was fake. That was what I was most scared of, their fake concern. Remembering his face... I just can't bring myself to look at my friends today. I'll just face them at school tomorrow.

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The guard quickly left his post to go inside the barracks, "Follow me." he said. "I'll bring you to someone who'll take you there." after he entered, Hector and I waited outside for a few minutes.

"Hello." a tall knight exits the barracks. His armor looks much tougher than the average guard's. The hilt of his sword's filled with decorations, a single emerald lies in the center of the hilt. His pummel is solid gold and his fingers are adorned with rings.

"So you're Frederick's grandson." he analyzes me all over. His eyes seem to stay focused on my chest and arms. "Can you roll up your sleeves?" he asks. What a strange question. However, I do it anyways.

He looks on in confusion. Am I supposed to have a birthmark or something? I guess my mom forgot to give it to me when I was born.

"What are you looking for?" I ask him. Surely he was looking for some kind of mark. He doesn't seem interested in my bracers, his eyes just keep wandering up and down my arms as if he's trying to confirm something.

"How old is Aisha?" he suddenly asks. I don't quite understand the question, why would he need to know that? I notice his hand slip down to his waist where his sword is.

I quickly reply, "She's two years younger than me, so fourteen," his left hand's thumb pops the blade slightly out of his sheathe. "this Larbram on the third." his posture relaxes and he smoothly transitions his arm away. If one were more oblivious they wouldn't have noticed him getting ready to draw his sword.

He scratches his head, "Hahaha. It's good that you remember your sister's birthday. Okay, follow me, I'll lead you there." My sister's birthday was weird. My parents used to tell other people that she was born on the first of Larbram, the fourth month of fall before winter, because the third day is seen as a jinx or a bad omen.

I mean, it was the day the war started five hundred years ago.

The only people who should know her real birthday are, my family and I. Or now it seems like it also includes my grandparents and this knight over here. With us in tow, the knight moves rather quickly, he's eager to get us to our destination.

"This is it." he motions for the guards to part. The stop is a giant hou- mansion around the middle of the city. The mansion stands taller than the Adventurer's Guild and the length is enough to have a whole caravan line up against it. The grass surrounding the home is still green, totally unhindered by the changing season. A fountain, much like the one at the academy, sits in the middle of the pathway, allowing for a small split.

The people standing guard seem much more experienced than the ones that usually take these jobs. Their eyes are quick to look for weapons and their attitudes suggest they've done some work in the army before. The last war happened three years ago, it was between this empire and another kingdom. In the end, the empire won and the kingdom became a vassal state.

"Let's go." he starts towards the intimidating house.

"Your grandparents seem like powerful people." Hector comments.

"How much do you know about them? You already knew that they were nobility."

Hector laughs a little, "Haha. That's all I know about them. A few years ago, a Yurfray graduated from the academy. He was quite the student, but a little arrogant."

Hector isn't very knowledgeable is he?

The interior of the house is just like I'd expect it to be, a lot to take in. Paintings line the walls with large white spaces in between, many plants are in expensive vases placed on top of drawers. A chandelier hangs from the top of the ceiling, it's right over the massive marble stairways before me. They split in two directions both leading to the same place, a giant door is right in the middle.

The railings look like they're made of solid gold. Between the bars that attach them to the steps, the metal bends to create a simple but beautiful shape and picture such as what looks like a flower. Appearing from the large door in the middle, are an old couple, plastered across their faces is a large grin.

"Rainen, it's good to see you again." my grandfather, Frederick, comes up to me and firmly shakes my hand. The last, and first, time I saw him was eight years ago, when my house burned down. The place we lived wasn't very far from here, as soon as word got out he rushed over.

"So you're my Ayleth's son." she embraces me. "It's so nice to meet you." they sure didn't act like the nobles I've met before. Certainly, if one were to observe them they'd look like normal grandparents. Have they always been like this? I don't think that they'd make it very big like this, it must be their side they only share with family. Maybe it's also just a farce?

"Please, come come." Frederick leads us into a large living room where masterfully crafted sofas sit on a well made rug. They sit opposite to Hector and I.

"Where's Aisha?" I ask.

"Ah, yes." Frederick turns to a butler. "Please fetch my granddaughter."

My grandmother, Juliana, shifts uncomfortably in her seat. I stare at her but she refuses to meet my eyes. What are they hiding from me?

"Is something wrong?" I ask.

Again more shifting, "I-I, before she comes. You need to know that I-"

The door behind them opens.

"Nervan said that you wanted me to meet a guest?" I slowly shift my attention to the red haired girl in a beautiful dress. The sleeves are long and she has gloves on. Her back is straight and her body is not one of a child's.

"Aisha." I say.

Focusing on me her eyebrows knit, "I'm sorry but I don't-" they suddenly widen.

"Hey, it's been a while huh?"

Her surprised face turns into one with anger. The words that come out of her mouth hit me like a horse, "What are you doing here?" she turns to our grandparents. "What is he doing here?"

"A-Aisha?" I'm taken aback.

"I-I'm leaving!" her back faces me as she opens the door.

Frederick and Juliana don't say a word. Aisha opens the door and twists her head around.

With a cold voice she says, "Leave."

She slams the door and I hear her footsteps get quieter as she walks away.