Spiteful, she walked and walked as she pulled on the string of the hand spool - the silver thread floating about before disappearing to who knows where. No one told her that she had to make the thread from mana or anything of the like! Now she felt like crying when her petty revenge came biting back at her ass just as quick.

“Don’t worry, if you can’t finish it before this month ends, I’ll just give another bill according to what I can make with all the spools you’ve created!”

Remembering the rather unintentionally insulting words from Lisa, Aediva pulled at the clear thread harder and faster as she gritted her teeth - seething in anger.

“Damn headmaster! Don’t underestimate my will for revenge. I’ll make sure your pockets are dry with all my school uniforms!” Aediva growled. After a while, the fatigue weighed heavily on her body. It was weird since she ate quite a lot during lunch and even ate a lot of the cookies while waiting at the shop.

Aediva let out short huffs as she stopped - finally noticing that she was somewhere she… Oh no.

“Agh! I’m lost again! Wait, I’m with Cath though” Aediva was about to panicked when she remembered that Cath is tucked inside her sweater. She poked at the bump on her chest.

“Oii Cath~ Can you show me the way back to the dorm? I’m about ready to drop to the ground from exhaustion now. Even you started to feel like a damn rock at this point” Aediva said to the bump in her sweater. Cath popped his little head from the inside of the sweater with a bored expression.

“Munyaa… I’m tired too. Find your own way back” he said, groggily. Aediva almost ripped the monster from her sweater out of annoyance but quickly find she can’t even lift her hand to even struggle with her annoying half. She collapsed on the ground, panting for air.

“Huh… Huh… I feel like I’ve run a 10km marathon in just half an hour… So hungry… Ugh…” Aediva murmured, wincing when feeling her headache throbbing wildly inside her head. It felt like minutes had passed as she laid tiredly on the dirt - wanting to cry when she heard someone stopping right before her.

This warmth…

Aediva was only able to lift her head slightly, enough to see “Blackhorns” towering visage staring down at her.

“What are you doing…?” confused, he asked.

“... Dying…” Aediva idly answered, her head light-headed. Silence draped on them like a heavy rock. When the young male saw the hand spool Aediva’s holding, he finally understood what happened.

“Ah… You’re making mana threads…” he said, kneeling right beside Aediva collapsed body. He hesitated before touching her - for who knows what reason or what he was thinking.

“You’re going to be covered with dirt if you keep rolling on the ground… I’ll move you to the bench” he said. Aediva let out a sigh as the young Adonis easily lifted her off the ground - noticing the bump on her chest that is Cath.

“That thing in your clothing…”

“A parasite who refused to help me find my way back to the dorm…” Aediva said. “Blackhorns” blinked, suddenly let out a snort at Aediva’s answer. Aediva herself would’ve cracked a laugh at her stupid joke if not for her incapacitating fatigue. It didn’t take long for the mysterious “Blackhorns” to settle her on a much comfier bench.

Aediva let out a shaky breath as she leaned against the bench - noticing “Blackhorns” staring at her while still standing for some reason.

“Why... are you just standing there…?” she asked. “Blackhorns” looked at her, bewildered before looking away.

“... I don’t want you to feel like I invade your personal space…” he said. Aediva frowned with a smile before letting out a sigh. She patted the space beside her with what little energy she had left, gesturing at “Blackhorns” to just sit.

“You’re odd. I’m pretty sure you’re my senior. The bench is wide anyway and I hardly think of you as a bother. You would know if I actually think of you as one” Aediva said. Hesitant at first, “Blackhorns” finally sat on the same bench, leaving enough space in between them. He glanced at the spool in Aediva’s shaky hand - hesitating to reach out to take it away from her until he deemed it was a bother for her to recover her lost energy and mana.

“How reckless” he said. Tired, Aediva looked at him with somewhat of a confused expression, feeling her palm bare and numb.

“You shouldn’t be hasty when making mana threads. It could injure you if you kept forcing yourself” he suddenly berated her, putting the spool aside before rummaging his pocket. Aediva looked at the round candy unwrapped by the male student, casually popping it into her mouth when he reached it out to her lips. Sucking the sweet treat, her eyes almost shine at the taste of the candy.

“Whoa. This candy is delicious!” Aediva chirped happily, feeling a bit of her vigor returning to her. But as expected, her hands still feel numb. The tips of her fingers felt cold but she tried to shake it off from showing on her face. Not in someone’s presence, she won’t.

“Are you cold?” suddenly “Blackhorns” asked. Aediva almost flinched when hearing his question. She fake laughed.

“Nah. I’m okay! Just tired!” she lied with a smile on her face but those golden eyes stared at her in the eyes. He scooted closer, although still a little hesitant. Aediva sucked a breath when sensing the air around her warming, dispelling the constant chill not just around her body but her insides as well. She looked around, immediately her eyes widened when seeing the tiny orbs appearing from thin air around them.

“I’ve always wondered what these are. It is your doing huh, Blackhorns?” she smiled, hardly able to contain her awe at the sight laid in front of her.

“Hm” a short response from the young man.

“Thank you, Blackhorns. You’re amazing!” Aediva thanked after a while of silence. The young man froze when hearing Aediva’s meek appreciation.

“... You’re welcome…” he replied. Aediva had to refrain from letting out a small laugh when seeing the serious look on “Blackhorns” handsome face. She had no idea how long she remained there with the golden-haired boy but it was almost like a dream.

The fluttering golden dusts that glimmers like fireflies. The warm air around him. The disappearing fatigue in her system. He only sits there while reading his book while she regains her energy from her recklessness with the hand spool. She didn’t even realize she had fallen asleep. “Blackhorns” lost his attention to the book in his hand when he felt something softly leaning against his arm.

He closed the book, feeling the odd palpitation in his chest. He lingered his hand on his own chest, his face impassive but his mind confused. “Blackhorns” lifted his head when seeing the familiar white shadow appearing in front of him - their always serene look and gentle expression is a common sight.

“Oya, she’s asleep. Must’ve felt comfortable with the heat of your flames” Marith said, poking at Aediva’s cheek - smiling wider when seeing her frown.

“... She’s a strange girl” the ebony-horned boy said. Marith didn’t react, only smiling as they usually are. In their mind, they couldn’t help but agree to what their ward was saying.

The young dragon who had always been alone because of his frightening aura that repelled even the bravest people. To have someone approaching him. Someone who isn’t the ancient soul, Aerelle or the noisy twins. Marith knew it’ll be a precious experience for him - an experience of a normal friendship with someone, at the very least.

At that moment, Marith noticed the passing dark look on their ward’s face. The albino chuckled - knowing full well of the dragon’s over-thinking tendencies.

Especially when it comes to humans.

“Naffael” Marith called him, snapping “Blackhorns” back to his senses.

“Let’s send her back to her dorm. She might catch a cold if we leave her outside for too long” Marith suggested.

“... Of course. Ah, do you have that candy you gave me this morning?” suddenly “Blackhorns” asked. Marith smiled.

“I can go back to the dorm to get some. Or… you could give her some more if you ‘meet’ her somewhere again tomorrow” Marith said with a chuckle. “Blackhorns”, no rather, Naffael’s cheeks turned slightly pink. His eyes widened slightly in shock - trying to not accidentally drop the girl who’s fast asleep in his arms.

“I’ll just… write a note… About the spool…” embarrassed, Naffael murmured as he walked away. Almost like the wind, he went past the garden where he had first seen the girl trapped in, then to the steps of the stairs leading to Aval Dormitories where she stays.

“Thank you, Blackhorns. You’re amazing!” those words among other words said by this girl, lingered in his mind as he came to a stop right in front of the doors to the dorm. He looked at her face - a strange sense of longing and pain that he thought he would never feel once more surfacing in his chest. A sigh escaped his lips.

“You’re really… just pleasantly strange…”

“Aediva…” he said. A rare smile ghosted his face - disappearing quickly as it appeared. There are times when he wished such fleeting moments would last forever.