During the darkest night of the year, a splatter of red decorated the wall while a flurry of crimson liquid bathed the floor. The red liquid made its way to the chalk drawing of a perfect circle with a triangle inside and complex Latin written in it. Black smoke slowly seeped out from the lines and almost filled the room.

Whispers. Sweet seductive whispers.

The unknown individual with blackened feathery wings stabbed repeatedly into a person with almost the same wings except for its size. This unknown individual had been stabbing the victim for a long time now until her hands caked with blood and flesh. Even the blade had become dull due to so much excess fat lingered on it.

Still, she could not stop herself due to her unbridled rage and the heightened longing. To finally took his life made her felt as if she became one with him.

The whisper called out to her, it encouraged her. It was promising her a wish only it can grant her. All she needs to do was to embrace her greed.

And she did so. Unfortunately, she had to stop eventually and needed to move the plan along. She needed to be with him forever and ever. She pulled out a gold coin and dipped it with her victim’s blood, then swallowed it whole.

The city of Orléans possessed several breathtaking sights. From its waterfront to its bustling city. Every piece of architecture included the style from a bygone Victorian era. Despite most having been integrated into a modern setting, some still stood against the test of time. A few examples were the building and house that still has wood in the foundation.

At the edge of the city was a national forest. Its beauty consisted of tall trees that had aged without any disturbance from the outside world. Its wildlife frolicked happily without the concern of being hunted down to extinction.

It was a foggy night like any other. Yet, it was different for some reason. Perhaps the fog had become thicker without anyone noticing it. A person could barely manage to see past two-meter ahead of him if it got any thicker.

A young man carrying a large backpack strode down the side of the road. He was mostly unbothered by the fog. Even though it was late, he seemed happier and enjoyed the chattering forest. Taking a sip of a steaming tea from his thermos warmed his belly and rejuvenated his mind.

To say this young man is a fool to travel during a time like this was true for the most part. However, to call him inexperienced was untrue. He had prepared for the cold nights, for the rain, and even for any challenge a person might face traveling during this kind of hour.

The acoustic guitar attached to his backpack swayed after he shifted the straps into a more comfortable position. His backpack has anything he needs and everything he owns. This was his life. It was a life he loved. Out here with nothing but himself and the vast world.

The chilling breeze was useless against his thick jacket and cotton glove.

For every breath he took, hot steams would come out from his lips and dispersed into the cold air.

Suddenly, his shoes stepped into something different from the tar road. Every step he took, a crunching noise followed. That was odd. He was pretty sure he didn’t take any turns. Upon a closer look, he realized he was on a dirt path.

He flashed his light around him to no avail. The thick fog overwhelmed his torch, barely giving him the sight he needed. To wander around right now was dangerous, so the only thing he could do now is to set up camp and wait for the fog to disperse in the morning.

The strangest thing unfolded before his eyes, an orb of golden light appeared in the distance. A sense of familiarity was coming from it. However, it could be the streetlights. Nevertheless, his lucky star has finally arrived, now he can get out of this fog and get back on the road. He began walking toward it, keeping his focus on it. He doesn’t want to get lost any more than he already did.

Weird enough, the closer he got, the further it became. He found it even weirder when it suddenly got quieter around him. There’s not even a single cricket noise that can be heard. The hair on the back of his neck stood when he noticed a soft murmur coming from the bushes near him.

He took a step back when he saw a red pointed hat appear out from the bushes. His eyes widened in disbelief when he saw it. The hat was similar to what a garden gnome would wear, but only longer.

“What are you, little buddy?”

A short creature stepped out, answering his question. He would be fine if it was a garden gnome. Weird out of it at first, sure, but eventually good with it. However, the creature that came out of it was something truly horrifying. Green moss covered its wrinkling skin. It was as if the creature was like an old man combined with the appearance of a child. Absolutely disgusting to look at. However, a tattered cloak covered its body and hid its nasty torso.

Its red, beady eyes glared at him and mumbled something. The young man couldn’t understand what it was, but he knew it wasn’t good. The second time it asked, the young man still couldn’t understand.

He took a step back when it started brandishing a small scythe. For a moment, he thought he could at least handle the creature, but another one appeared. Then another one appeared and another. More of them started to pop out from the fog. Each one of them held a scythe in their hands.

“Do you guys want to hear a joke?” None of them responded to his question. “What do you call an animal you keep in your car? A carpet.” He let out a nervous laugh. “Get it? Car-pet?”

It growled and he took that as a warning. Without a second doubt, he ran toward the light as fast as he could. A dozen, probably more, chased after him in a feat of rage. He didn’t even know what he did, but those creatures are mad as hell.

“It was just a joke!”

More light orbs appeared as if it was guiding him toward somewhere. With no direction in mind, he trusted those orbs. Not because it was his only choice, but something about them felt like home. That feeling grew inside him, pulsing and getting warmer by the second.

It got even hotter when he found himself at the border of a clearing. After looking around, he realized an unknown force was controlling the fog because it couldn’t enter this area. It became like a wall, all around this particular area with nothing except for a large stone in the middle with a moss-covered spear sticking out of it.

The light orbs gathered around it, and he found himself drawn toward it.

He turned back and saw an army of goblins like creatures with red hats coming toward him while brandishing a scythe.

The young man climbed up the stone and took hold of the spear. He expected it would be hard to pull out, but instead, it came out easy. Like a knife through butter.

With the spear in his hands, he felt another heartbeat. A few words kept whispering into his mind. The spear compelled him to say it, and he did: “L'éternel… lumière.”

As if the god itself cut the night sky open, allowing a bright light to cast upon where the young man stood. A golden spear banished the moss that had grown on it and became brand new. Then, it transformed itself into a banner. A flag of light fluttered in the wind. A pair of golden wings grew from his back. His brown eyes beamed with light as if it was the sun itself. His short brunette hair had become golden and grew tenfold. He hovered above the stone as a deity had just graced the earth.

The creature looked in awe and wonder, dropping their weapons and kneeling before him. Lowering their sights as if they were praying to him and repeating the same word over; and over again. “Saint.”

With a single hand raised, he banished the fog entirely without any effort.

When the young man came back to himself, he was stunned at the power coursing through his vein. He never felt this warm before. Never felt this rejuvenated before. Never felt this powerful before. However, that power only lasted for a few seconds and everything dispersed. His wings, his golden locks, his glowing eyes, the spear pulled everything back into it. The light from the sky disappeared, and lastly, a pulse of light escaped him.

He dropped to the ground with the spear beside him and fell unconscious from the extreme fatigue that came out of nowhere.

A woman. Not quite a human woman, but shaped like a woman with blue skin and donned a formal black and white suit. Even though the suit had hidden her true body, one could tell she had the body of a warrior. A gentle breeze brushed against her medium-length hair that was tied into a ponytail. Despite her blue skin and the gills on her neck, her crimson eyes were the most striking part about her.

She was traveling through the sky on top of a silver trident. Before it crashed into the ground, she jumped and landed softly. The trident cracked the earth upon impact and flew back into her hands.

Her eyes wandered to the creatures and back to the unconscious young man. She walked to the creature and somehow was able to speak its language. However, no matter what she asked, the creatures only replied with the word: “Saint.”

The woman turned to the human once more. Her forehead furrowed.

“I warned you, Jonathan. To stop talking about her. For god’s sake, she’s not real, Jonathan!” An ill-tempered woman held a young boy by the arm, her grips tightened to the point of hurting him. “Why can’t you just be normal like the other kids?”

“I’m sorry. Please… Please. I won’t do it again.”

She brought the young boy down to the basement. Where she stored a collection of antique furniture and the lost memories of her youth. One particular closet caused the boy to panic.

“Don’t put me in there, please.” He begged for his mother’s mercy. “Mom, please… It wasn’t my fault. The priest asked me. I didn’t want to lie.”

“Well, you should have.” She seethed with rage. “Now everyone is going to know that I have a deranged son.”

“I promise I’ll be good. I won’t tell people about her anymore.” He sobbed against her feet, begging for her mom to let him go.

She crouched down and held her son by the cheeks. “Oh, my boy… my sweet boy.”

“Mom…” Relief washed over him as his mom caressed his head with love. “I-I promise I won’t do it again.”

“Jonathan. Jonathan. My sweet precious boy.” She cooed his name. “Begging won’t help you now.”

“Mom, please…” The young boy felt despair from the few words that escaped her mom’s mouth.

“You need tough love, my child. And I know how to do it.”

“No, please!”

She tossed the boy inside the closet. The young boy recoiled back when his body hit the back of the closet. Without giving him a chance to say anything back, she slammed the doors shut and tied the handles together with a rope.

Poor young Jonathan wailed against the wooden gate, pleading for forgiveness at every breath. There was no mercy. No chance for the wicked. He was deemed insane by his mother.

Darkness crept over him, choking him of hope and freedom. His body shivered in dread that he might never see the sun again. The only thing he can do now is to pull his knees closer to his chest and hug himself. Counting from one to ten and repeating the same thing over and over again.

1… 2… 3… 4…

5… 6… 7… 8…

9… 10… 1… 2…

3… 4… 5… 6…

He didn’t know for how long he had stayed in that closest. But, it felt like an eternity. His lips chapped from lack of water, and his stomach growled and shrunk over time. He wanted to puke, but he knew it was a bad idea. It will only anger his mom if he does so. Every time his throat would clog out from his vomit, he would gulp it back down.

This was the longest she had put him in here. He couldn’t even count to ten using his voice. However, he still does it in his mind. He leaned his side against the cold hardwood, staring at the nail protruded in front of him.

The young boy doesn’t know whether he could withstand it anymore. That nail might be his only choice to end this because what’s good is freedom if his mother is going to throw him back in here. The option to end the cycle of despair was alluring as a sip of water.

Who would even care if he was gone? He had no friends. No other relatives. His father hated his guts as much as his mother. The neighbor and his schoolmates thought he was crazy. He blamed it all on himself. It’s true. If only he was born with a normal brain that can’t see things a normal human shouldn't.

It was his fault. He is a burden to everyone, and the only way to fix it is to end it. Right here. Right now.

In his deepest despair, a sudden warmth enveloped him. As if he was embraced from behind by a woman made from nothing but warm light and soft clouds. He turned his head to see who it was. It was the same woman he had seen from the first he was born.

The woman who nobody could see but him. She has always been there, in the corner, in every room, in every dream he had. Not once in his life, this woman would come near him and every time he would go to her, she would disappear.

However, for an unknown reason, she had come to him and embraced his body. A single tear of light ran down her cheek. The young boy wondered if that tear was for him. Seeing that very tear broke his heart, he thought no one would care for him. Let alone shed a tear for him, but here she was.

Does she feel sadness for him? Does she feel pity for him? Did she feel guilty? What was that tear for? He may never know, but he knows one thing, he wouldn’t cause this woman who shed a tear for him to shed another tear. That was his promise to her.

Everything fades to black, returning old memories to where they belong.

Jonathan woke up with a tear running down his cheek. His breathing was heavy at first but slowly returned to its pace after his heart began to calm down. He tried to move his hands but failed to do so. Instead, it only caused the cuff around his hands to rattle.

He glanced around him. Seeing a room made from metal walls, metal ceilings, and metal floor. A mirror of sorts faced him. It reminded him of one of those one-way mirrors they would use in a cop show. After looking down, he realized the cuff was chained to the metal table, and the table had been bolted down to the floors along with the chair underneath him.

“Bonjour?” After a few seconds, it seemed no one had heard him or was willing to respond.

He turned to the chain. “I got a good joke about chains. You guys want to hear it?” And again, no response. “Do you know why dolphins are vital to the food chain? Because there can be no life without a porpoise.”

A snort of laughter came from behind him, followed by an intentional cough. Jonathan couldn’t see who was behind him, and the mirror didn't reflect the person.

“I know you’re there.” Jonathan cooed. “Come on. If you’re real, why don’t you show yourself or at least give me a sign that I’m not crazy?”

Another cough came from behind, it was a rough one, but he could tell it was a male from that alone.

“I’m Jonathan. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He didn't respond. “If you are ordered to not talk to me, then I understand, but can you do me a favor?” I rattled the chains. “I think this is a bit overdone. I won’t try to escape, I promise.”

No response.

“Please, … chains make me uncomfortable.” Jonathan’s hands can be seen visibly trembling. It was true, he never likes things that restrict his movement. It reminded him of the tight closet his mother used to lock him into.

Still, no response.

“Please…” He rested his forehead against his hands as sweat started to appear.

A sign of hope as the man behind him shifted and moved closer to him. He reached for his cuff. Jonathan widened his eyes when he saw the man had blue skin. What was weirder, the man unlocked his cuff with a single wave of his hand.

The cuff fell to the table with a loud clunk.

“Thank you.” Jonathan was finally able to feel calm again. “Hey, I want you to know that I appreciate what you did for me. If there is anything I could do to pay you back, just tell me.”

“It’s nothing, my saint, but please keep your head forward.”

“Weird request, but sure. Why did you call me a saint?” The man didn’t respond. He must have slipped it out because he wouldn’t answer Jonathan’s question. “That aside, I refuse to accept your kindness without paying back. Do you have my backpack there?”

“It’s beside me.”

“Do you see a thermos there?”

“Yes.”

“Can you bring it to me?”

He didn’t respond, but eventually, he would move again. The guard placed the thermos right in front of Jonathan. The same blue skin, so it confirmed that Jonathan wasn’t seeing things.

“I got this tea from one of my trips. It’s strawberry flavored and good for people who have high blood pressure.” Jonathan poured two cups for him and his guard. “Have some. I promise you, it’s delicious.”

Jonathan took a sip of his cup in case the man behind him had suspicions about whether it was poison or not. Not that it was. A subtle gulp can be heard coming from the man behind him.

“Good, right?”

“It’s sweet.”

“I hope it’s not too sweet for you.”

“No, it’s not. I like it.”

“You can have more if you like.” A small smile appeared on Jonathan’s face. He stared at the thermos, taking a moment to enjoy his tea. “You know what? There is a pouch in my bag. If you open it, there are a few packets of strawberry tea inside. I want you to have it.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your gift.”

“Take it. I meant it.” There’s a moment of silence between the two of them. “Come on. It’s just tea. Take it.”

There’s hesitation in the man's voice, but he eventually accepts it. “I’m grateful for your gift, my saint.”

“You can call me Jonathan or John if you like. Why won't you show your face to me?”

“I was told that my appearance might alarm you.

“I bet it’s not that bad.” Jonathan stroked his chin. “Besides, I think I saw… a bunch of gnomes with scythes before I was knocked out. Huh, is that the reason I’m here?”

“They are called Redcap.”

“Redcap?”

“Dangerous goblins.”

“I see, goblins… Okay, goblins exist now, I guess. I think they don’t like my jokes very much. All of them started chasing me for a reason I have no clue of.”

“They don’t speak your common tongue, sir.”

“I guess that made sense.” Jonathan took a long breath before taking another sip of his tea. “You know? Judging from your voice, I picture you as this rugged gentleman of sorts. Quite handsome by the way with a cool but mysterious vibe.”

“I disagree, sir. A girl I knew once told me I had an average face.”

Jonathan let out an exaggerated gasp. “What? Screw her. She has no idea what she’s talking about.”

“How do you know if you never saw my face, sir?”

“Well. There’s only one way to find out.” He quickly turned around and was astounded by what he saw: a blue-skinned human with a formal black and white suit. Even though a spartan helmet covered his face, Jonathan could still see the crimson eyes underneath it. There are even gills on his neck.

The man held a blue trident by his side. He stood upright in a way that reminded Jonathan of a military officer. He tried to cover his face with his hand. It was a useless attempt because Jonathan could see the man’s face underneath despite it all.

It was surprising, it wasn’t at all what Jonathan had expected, his eyes widened. The man before him doesn’t have a rugged look at all. Jonathan would describe him as an androgynous beauty with a pair of striking crimson eyes.

Jonathan almost couldn’t tell whether he was a man or a woman if he didn’t take another closer look. This man could even be considered beautiful by Jonathan’s standard. However, Jonathan still hasn’t gone through the fact that this man isn’t human.

“You’re beautiful…” Those very words slipped out of Jonathan’s mouth. It seems what he said caused the man to turn bluer than he did. Jonathan couldn’t believe it. The man is blushing from cheeks to ears, which made him even cuter than before.

“I-I’m sorry, my saint, but you are making my job even harder than it is.” He averted his gaze while biting his bottom lip.

“Oh, sorry. It wasn’t my attention to invade your personal space.” Jonathan retreated to his seat, trying to laugh it off. In truth, his heart just skipped a beat.

“Do you mean it?” He looked at Jonathan with his lost puppy eyes.

Jonathan covered his smile because he refused to admit that this man just became even more adorable than before. “I mean there’s no point in lying, right?” He took a sip of the tea to clear his throat. “Well, anyway, I’m glad I finally got to see your face. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Handsome.”

“My name is Bor Pacifica.”

“Oh, unusual name, but simple. I love it. I hope this is the start of a lasting friendship, Bor.” Jonathan raised his cup toward him while donning a bright smile. Bor finally smiled, nodding his head before tapping his cup against Jonathan’s. However, something was bothering Jonathan, it was behind his eyes. He doesn't know the cause, but he knew what it was. “Please don’t do it.”

“Excuse me?” Bor tilted his head.

“Please don’t do it. We just got to know each other. It would be awful If we can’t see each other anymore.”

“How did?” The words that came out from Jonathan’s mouth completely stunned the undine. It is as if Jonathan read what was inside Bor’s head. Bor let out a chuckle, not without covering his mouth. He doesn’t know why he laughed, but it’s the only response he could come out with.

“Anyway, do you know what’s going to happen to me?”

“From what I heard, they just want to talk to you.”

Jonathan donned a less confident smile and stared into his cup with worry. Bor noticed his friend’s uneasiness and caused his heart to drop. He took a knee before Jonathan, placing down his trident on the floor while pressing his fist against above his heart.

“Under the eyes of my ancestors, I, Bor Pacifica, swear no harm shall come upon you till you depart from this academy.”

The door to the room opened, revealing two women. One of them was a woman similar to Bor only in terms of skin color. Jonathan finally understood why Bor called himself: average-looking. The woman who just entered the room tripled in terms of beauty. A chiseled face that is similar to a runaway model and dangled to her waist is her silky locks dyed in midnight black. She carried with her a commanding attitude that rivaled her proud posture.

“Mr. Bor! To take an oath for a newcomer without considering the repercussions afterward demonstrated a level of thick-witted beyond anything I had ever seen. Now stand up and follow me. You need a proper scolding.”

“But, Ma’am.”

“No ‘but’. Come now, Mr. Bor.”

Bor had no choice but to drag his feet toward her. However, before they could leave the room, Jonathan speaks up. “It wasn’t his fault. I--”

“Mr. Jonathan, please do not intrude. This matter is beyond your control.” She turned to Bor. “Quickly, Mr. Bor, to my office. Right, this instant.”

Before the door could even close, a part of her scolding could be heard. “I trusted you with one job. One job only, Mr. Bor, and that is to guard Mr. Jonathan. Not to make friends with him--”

The only people left in this room are Jonathan and the other woman. This woman in particular was entirely different from the woman before.

First thing first, her physique and tone of skin are a contrast to the other woman. Before, the other woman had blue skin, but this woman had pale skin almost nearing what a corpse would have. Visible medical stitching around her wrist and neck was unnatural. As if her joints had been sewn together. Her bushy black hair has two streaks of white in them and flaunted every time she walked.

The other woman had a commanding air about her, but this woman was more relaxed in her posture, more educational. Even her cape and suit reminded Jonathan of the professor he once saw having lunch in front of a famous university in London.

She took a seat across from Jonathan. “I do apologize for the…” Her eyes rested on my chains, then made their way to the thermos. “Rough treatment. I see you are more comfortable than a deer in a supermarket.” Even her tone has a slight British accent in it.

“Oh, I had to ask Bor to take it off. I dislike having chains around my hands.”

“I see. I apologize again for the treatment. I requested Commander Zey to ease off, but you know how it is. Security threat and all. I believe once you get to know her, she will grow on you.”

“Did she grow on you?”

“Absolutely not. She is a no-nonsense woman, and to be honest, a pain in my tush, but I do adore her. Where is my manner? I should introduce myself. My name is Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, the headmistress for this humble establishment of mine.”

“Frankenstein?” Jonathan raised an eyebrow at her. “You mean like the book?”

“Correct.”

“I thought the doctor was a man?”

“Ah yes, the writer took several liberties to make the book more relatable for the public. Nevertheless, it was based on my life. However, I’m not here to talk about my past. I’m here to talk about you.” She cleared her throat. “If you don’t mind, would you introduce yourself?”

“Uhm, my name is Jonathan Jameson. Uhm, I’m 19 years old, and I was born in a small town named Haven in Alaska. Is that good? It has been a while.” Jonathan took a sip of his tea and kept his cup close to himself.

“A young man from Alaska. Extraordinary. There’s quite a distance between you and your home. So tell me, Jonathan, what are you doing here in France?”

“I’m a backpacker.” Jonathan’s eyes darted to his bag behind him. “I like to travel.”

“Admirable hobby, Mr. Jonathan. I did my fair share of traveling back in the day, and let me say, I love every minute of it. Meeting new people. Learning new cultures. All of it was wondrous.”

“Did I do something wrong, Dr. Victoria?”

“Well. I don’t know. Before I went in, I was reading a couple of reports about a series of breaking into our secret vaults.” She tapped her nail on the metal table. “Did you know, we have a tight system for each of our vaults. It’s an incredibly clean system. For each vault, we installed a cover, be it a bookshop, a pawn shop, or a kindergarten. And underneath that cover is our vault. Nothing complicated like a maze. It’s just a simple vault with a simple guard: a golem, to be precise.”

“A golem?”

“An artificial existence constructed from graphite. Incredibly insusceptible to magic.”

“Okay, but… you still haven’t told me what I’m doing here.”

“May I?” Dr. Victoria's eyes darted to the thermos.

“Sure, let me just get another cup.” Before Jonathan could turn around, Dr. Victoria stops him. She grabbed Bor’s cup and took a sip from it.

“Strawberry tea. The floral taste is delicate, even though it was buried under all the sweetness. A personal favorite of mine. Did you know the shop was one of our covers?”

“What are you implying? I buy tea, so what? Everyone buys tea. I do admit that the tea is delicious, and I highly recommend it.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Wait, you made the tea?”

“I’m joshing with you.” A small giggle escaped her. “Will you shed a light on a conundrum of mine? Why is it that for every vault that was broken into, a description of you keeps reappearing? It’s all the same: short brunette hair, green eyes, and a young man who appears to be in his early 20s.”

“Coincidence? I’ve seen a fair share of coincidences during my travels. This one time I was on a boat, and I was learning how to fish. I kid you not, I managed to catch two fish with a single hook.”

“Two times is a coincidence. Three? Pure luck, but four?” She laughed. “Hmm, can you keep a secret?’

“I guess so if I’m not going to get in trouble for knowing it.”

“No, no, no, nothing taboo. In truth, I don’t care about the vault.” Dr. Victoria smiled.

“You don’t?”

“I don’t. It’s wealth. I can find wealth with a snap of a finger. I’ve been doing so for centuries. Material possession comes and goes. Nothing really stuck around. However, one thing that caught my attention was you pulling out that banner.”

“Banner? Do you mean the pole thing in the stone? Is there something wrong with it? I don’t know anything about that. I was running away from those things you called…” Jonathan snapped his finger, trying to remember what Bor’s called them. “Redcap. I thought I needed something to keep them off me, so I took it. If you want it back, you can have it.”

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that, Jonathan Jameson. You are a part of a much grandiose scheme, Mr. Jonathan. It seems fate itself has delivered you to us, and I can’t wait to see what you got in store for us.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You are going to attend my academy. You are going to learn about our world. You are going to meet new people. Craft a lasting and unbreakable bond with them. You could even find someone special here.” She stood up and extended her arms in the air. “Truly, this humble academy is a melting pot for all kinds of mythical races, creatures, and anything in between. You will learn from us, Mr. Jonathan! And by doing so, we will learn much from you.”

“I love a good joke, but no. I don’t settle in one place. I like to travel.”

“No?” Dr. Victoria’s shoulders drooped while her gaze went from warm to ice. She effortlessly tore the metal table and sent it flying across the room. She slowly cracked her knuckle as she made her way to him.

Jonathan gripped his chair tightly and tried to lean away in absolute fear. “Wait…wait. What are you going to do?”

“I do apologize, Mr. Jonathan. To put it simply, if I can’t have you, then no one can.”

For the first time in Jonathan’s life, never could a smile send so much fear into him. “Wait… Okay. Okay. Fine! I’ll do it.”

Dr. Victoria retreated to her warm self again. She took out an envelope and politely handed it to the frightened young man. “Welcome to Saint Jeanne Academy for Sorcery. It’s an honor to have you, Mr. Jonathan. I do hope you have fun here.”

Jonathan tried to calm himself by wiping the sweat off his brow and stopping his trembling hands.

Dr. Victoria snapped her finger. The door opened and revealed Commander Zey and Bor. Jonathan’s new friend became shocked at the state of the room. His gaze darted to a frightened Jonathan and back to Dr. Victoria. He wanted to ask whether his friend was fine, but a glare from his commander told him otherwise.

“Ah, Mr. Bor. I was hoping to see you. I hope Commander Zey doesn't give you too much trouble.”

“A light scolding is all. Nothing severe. I am assigning Mr. Bor here to be Mr. Jonathan's escort.“

“I do believe we share the same thoughts.”

“I hope not, Dr. Victoria. I prefer to keep your naughty mind away from mine.”

“Well, an introduction is in order. I believe you met Mr. Bor, but let me introduce you to Commander Zey. Tough, sterling, honest, dependable, brave, and true.”

“You flatter me, Dr. Victoria.”

“Oh, shut up, Commander Zey. You know I don’t mean it.” They both shared a laugh.

“Mr. Bor, could you please escort Mr. Jonathan to his new accommodation. Mr. Jonathan, if you found anything uncomfortable with your new room, please don’t hesitate to send a word. We’ll get on to it.” Dr. Victoria patted Bor on his back as he made his way to Jonathan.

Bor gently brought his new friend’s stuff and waited for Jonathan to finally find his bearing to stand up. Jonathan took a long breath before making his way to the door. Before they left Dr. Victoria’s sight, she called out to him.

“Mr. Jonathan. One more thing, if I found you scheming to escape or intentionally hurt my students. I will not hesitate. Do you understand me?”

“Completely. Geez.” Jonathan scratched the back of his head before following Bor.

“Good. And do come by anytime. I would love to have some tea together.”

“Sure, why not,” Jonathan yelled back.

“Marvelous.”

After Jonathan and Bor left their sight, Commander Zey leaned in close to Dr. Victoria. “Are you certain to have him attend here?”

“Undeniable. He’s a good kid, Commander. Just bad circumstances.”

The hallway itself was constructed in the style of an old medieval structure, carved column, and pointed arch. It seemed more like a lavish castle than a facility. A long carpet stretched out till the end of the hallway and never seemed to have an end. A pair of beautiful bouquets in a vase that was too big to carry by one person accompanied each door in the hallway.

“I almost lost my head in there.” Jonathan rested his hand behind his head as he walked alongside Bor. “You should have seen it. I thought I wet my pants.”

“I don’t believe Dr. Victoria could hurt anyone.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. I have known her my entire life. She is one of the kindest people in this academy.”

Jonathan glanced at Bor. There’s something there in his expression, perhaps it was admiration. “Maybe you’re right. I barely know her.”

“You seemed calm for a human. I thought you would panic with all the stuff you just learned.”

“Meh, I’m not the type to dwell on a technicality. So, what? A century ago, we thought a human couldn’t set foot on the moon, and here we are today.” Jonathan glanced at Bor. “What kind of race are you?”

“Me? I’m an undine.” Bor paused for a second. “We are a race that comes from the sea. My hometown is in the Pacific Ocean. There’s a city called New Marina. We have the best seashell collection there. I’m sorry. I know I’m bad at this. It’s just I never had to explain what kind of race I am before.”

“So, an undine? Cool. What’s up with the trident? Can I get a trident too?”

“Oh no. Each trident is unique to the undine. We were born with it, and we have a special connection with it. As we grow, so does the trident. I would highly warn you to not touch another undine’s trident. It would be considered rude to do so, and you may lose your head if you’re not careful.”

“Got it, but I can touch yours?”

“W-What?!” Jonathan's question sent Bor into a fluster of blushed cheeks and stuttering. He shoved the bag against his friend’s face to hide his bright blue face. “W-Why would you ask me that… Maybe, if we get to know each other… What am I saying? No! You can’t.”

“Calm down, Bor. I was just joking. Here.” Jonathan took out a mint candy and placed it in Bor’s palm. “Here, a candy for you. I didn’t know it meant that much to you.”

“You don’t understand. An undine believes that his or her soul resides in the trident. To let someone hold one’s trident is equivalent to giving their heart to that person. Only a special individual can hold an undine’s trident, not even a family member has that kind of privilege.”

“I see.” Jonathan was walking when he came across an opened window. Immediately, his eyes widened in awe. He didn’t realize it at first, but now he got to take a look at it. He couldn’t believe it himself. “Are we in the sky?!”

“Oh. Yes. Was it that surprising?”

“Yes, it is!” Jonathan’s eyes darted around. “Are we like in an airplane or something? A flying saucer? What are we on? How does it even work?”

“The academy had been built on a floating island. It even has its ecosystem and a small city. All of this was made possible with the large crystal in the centroid of the island and coupled with the complex Sigil system, it powered everything. It was done so by changing the earth’s spiritual energy into everyday electricity. It is also responsible for keeping the island afloat and casting an illusion veil to hide us from the rest of the world.”

“Do we stay in one place, or can this island move?”

“It can move thanks to the four massive propellers this island has. However, this island hasn’t moved for centuries and I doubt it will.”

“Amazing… I feel like I’m in a fantasy book. Floating city. Mythical race. What more, dragons?”

“Oh, you might be disappointed. Dragon doesn't exist anymore. They went extinct a long time ago, there weren't many of them back when they roamed the skies, but wyvern still exists. They do look like a dragon, except smaller.”

“Wait, dragon exists?” Suddenly, Jonathan grabbed Bor by the shoulders and shook him hard. “Answer me, me beautiful man.”

“They exist!” Bor gasped for air after Jonathan released him.

“Awesome, I would love to see one.” Jonathan leaned against the window’s stool and sighed longingly.

“We do have an exhibit about them. Maybe we could go together if you’re free.”

“I know having you as my best friend is a good idea.” Jonathan bumped his shoulder against him.

“I’m your best friend?” He looked at Jonathan with full-on lost puppy mode.

“Of course. It’s not like I have any other friends here.”

“I never had a best friend before. It’s an honor.”

Jonathan turned to Bor and found that irresistible genuine smile under his helmet. Scratching his head in frustration, Jonathan placed his arm around his shoulder and continued their journey down the hallway. “I’m lucky to have you. You know that, right?”

Bor brought Jonathan to the surface using an elevator. When they arrived, Jonathan became astounded with the sight. A Victorian city with brick roads and signposts that dated back to 19-century London. All kinds of mythical races, from small to large, filled the streets. They're even still using horse-drawn carriages.

“It’s like I'm in the history books. Everything is so old.” Jonathan ducked down when a humanoid with black wings flew above his head. “Of course they can fly. Duh. Oh, Bor, can I fly?”

“I don’t know much about human physiology. Perhaps you can if you attend a class.”

“I can’t wait,” Jonathan remembered the envelope Dr. Victoria gave him. He rummaged through his jacket pocket and took it out. Tearing the edge off, he took out what looked like several bills and a few papers. Jonathan took a closer look at the paper. “Schedule?”

“It’s your course schedule. Let me take a look at it.” Jonathan passed the note to Bor. “It says here, you have the basic courses: Magic Theory, Basic Elemental, Sigil Studies, History and Fable, and lastly, Combat.”

“This money?” I waved the bills in front of Bor.

“Yes. I think it’s for the textbooks and supplies. See, Dr. Victoria is kind. She even gave you money, and it’s more than you required.”

“Sure, but one generous deed doesn’t change how scary she is. Anyway, do you know where I can buy this stuff?”

“I know a store!” said Bor in glee.

“What about that one?” Jonathan pointed at a store filled with people, it was so full they even had a waiting line and a bouncer.

“We could go there if you want. They got all the trendy stuff.” Bor looked disappointed.

“I changed my mind. Let’s check the store you told me about. Besides, you're the expert here.”

Bor took Jonathan into a lonely alley. It was giving the young man the creeps because he had read one of those stories about a serial killer in 18th-century London. They arrived at a small bookshop with no sign. Looking inside, Jonathan could see the messy interior and doubts begin to rise.

“Are you sure about this shop?”

“Absolutely. I brought all my academy stuff here when I first enrolled. The owner is lovely and sweet.” Jonathan was about to enter when Bor stopped him. “Wait, there’s one more thing. We should hide the fact that you are a human.”

“Why?”

“Commander Zey told me that it would alarm the masses. We never had a human in the academy before. It might cause panic.”

“So what should I call myself when they ask me who I am?”

“Tell them that you are a Nephilim. Humans and Nephilim shared the same physical trait. They also lived alongside humans.”

“Got it.” Jonathan opened the door and set foot in it.

The doorbell rings twice, a clutter of books thrown aside as a short woman with silver twin-braided hair pops out from the counter. Despite her short height, Jonathan would not mistake her for a kindergartener. She pulled up her goggles and went wide-eyed when she saw Bor. She vaulted over the counter and embraced the man tightly.

“It has been a while, kid. You’ve grown. Why do you never visit anymore?”

Bor averted his gaze before returning it to the short woman. “I was busy. Never mind that, I brought a friend today. He’s here to get supplies for the academy.”

“My shy Bor brought a friend?! I don’t believe it.” She squinted her eyes and leaned closer. The woman tried to poke Jonathan and accidentally tickled him. “He is real. Oh my, is this the end for me? My heart. I can die now in peace.”

“Don’t be melodramatic, Dezz. I don’t want you to embarrass me in front of my friend.” He glared at the short woman.

“No fun. Anyway, my name is Dezzesli Dragonbraids, a genius inventor, scholar, and occasionally champion of the national pie-eating contest.” She gestured to her awards on the wall. “But, you can call me Dezz.”

Jonathan shook her hand. “My name is Jonathan Jameson. I’m new to the whole magic thing, so be easy on me. Also, I am a self-proclaimed best friend to Bor, and I’m proud of it. But you can call me John.”

“Jonathan!” Bor sighed. “You both…”

“Well, a best friend to Bor is certainly a friend of mine. Say, what do you need from me? I got knick-knacks that went boom. Things that go clunk. Jaboozle that goes jabooozz.”

“I have no idea what all that means, but I will take them all.”

“No Jonathan.” Bor turned to Dezz. “We’ll take the usual stuff. We need books, uniforms, tomes, writing supplies, chain mail, and goat blood. Jonathan is going to attend classes tomorrow.”

“You are lucky, my friend. The semester is about to start tomorrow. If you come any later, you might have missed it.” Dezz dove into the mess; she called the backroom and started rummaging through it.

“Why do I need goat blood?”

“It’s for Sigil Studies Class.” Bor froze in front of a picture. He took off his spartan helmet for the first time he met Jonathan, revealing short deep blue hair. A warm smile appeared as he stared into the frame. It was a picture of him, pure and filled with joy. Posed beside him was a familiar old woman: Dezz, and a normal-looking woman who once broke his heart.

“Is that you?” Jonathan stood beside it, looking at the same picture. “Aww, you look so happy.”

“Here you go.” Dezz prepared everything Jonathan needed into a single bag and placed it on the counter.

Bor handed Dezz the bills before he gave the rest to Jonathan for him to keep. Jonathan took the bag and almost dropped it due to its weight. Before they could leave, Dezz stopped them. “Bor, just a reminder. Eri came in earlier and bought her stuff. It would be good for you to see her again. It has been a while, right?”

“I’m sorry, Dezz, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why? She’s your little sister, right?”

Bor left without giving Dezz a proper answer. Both were confused about his sudden foul attitude. Jonathan wanted to ask what was wrong, but he rather kept his mouth after seeing the painful gaze underneath his helmet. Something is going on between him and his little sister that is better left unspoken.

However, this is not how Jonathan wants Bor to feel as he spends time with him. “Hey, where can I get a good drink around here?”

Bor turned his gaze at his best friend. After seeing Jonathan’s smile, his glare softened. “There’s a place near here called Bizz Buzz Diner. They have the best Hydra Pancake in the city.”

“We should go there.”

“Yes, we shall. Let’s go.” His brightened self appeared again.

Bor brought Jonathan to a diner located at the corner of an intersection. The diner had a distinctly American style, despite being surrounded by Victorian architecture. The diner reminded Jonathan of his home, he always used to go to one of them when his parents were being unreasonable. They set foot into the establishment. Immediately, a delicious scent of fresh pancake, grilled meat, and scrambled eggs bombarded the room.

A girl who appeared to have a set of horns protruded from her forehead and fully dyed in deep red, but had charcoal black wavy hair. She wore a waitress uniform and a black cloth choker around her neck. She made her way toward them.

Jonathan had been mesmerized the moment he laid his eyes on her. He couldn’t see anything else but her. Except for heart-shaped balloons, flowers rained down, and a pink fog around her. The throbbing of his heart deafened his ear, and the closer she got, the more his heart was about to go into cardiac arrest.

She was saying something to Jonathan, but he couldn’t hear any of it. He was so in trance by her beauty that he forgot where he was.

“Jonathan?” Bor snapped Jonathan back to reality.

“Y-Yeah? Uh… Hi…” One could see the hearts formed in Jonathan’s eyes as he lovably stared at the waitress.

“Aww, you’re so cute. I’m flattered that you fell for me.” The waitress giggled and let out a small, adorable snort.

Bor sighed and snapped his finger in front of Jonathan. “I’m sorry about my friend. He’s new here.”

“Oh, he never met succubus before.”

“I think so.” Bor even tried shaking his friend but to no avail. Given up, he turned to the waitress. “Ah, two of the specials, please?”

“Got it.” The perky waitress noted down. She looked at Jonathan with a mischievous grin.

The waitress leaned in and pecked his cheek with her soft lips, leaving a black lipstick behind. From the single kiss alone, Jonathan fainted with a dumb smile on his face. Bor shook his head in disappointment. He took a seat right next to him and fanned his friend from overheating.

The food was as delicious as they expected. “Come back anytime boys,” the waitress winked at Jonathan. They left with a full stomach and a hangover for Jonathan. He groaned loudly while Bor tried to keep him upright.

“Why does my brain hurt so much? I didn’t drink anything weird, did I?”

“It’s because of the waitress. A succubus has a certain kind of effect on people who are not used to them. It’s like someone drinks a love potion. By the way, she was wearing a suppressor, so you were only exposed to a tiny fraction of her power.”

“A suppressor?”

“The choker around her neck. It has a system of Sigils hidden in it to keep her power at bay.” Bor pouted while he kept his gaze away.

“Why are you in a bad mood?”

“Nothing.” He pinched Jonathan’s arm.

“Ouch. What did I do?”

Despite Jonathan's eagerness to find out why his friend was in a bad mood, Bor still won’t tell him anything. They took a long walk toward the center of the city. The Academy; Jonathan thought it was supposed to look like a run-of-the-mill university, but screwed his expectations. It doesn’t look like anything he imagined. The whole building was a massive royal palace, with literally undine soldiers like Bor keeping guard at the gate.

As they made their way through the long courtyard with a fountain in the middle, one tall statue caught Jonathan’s attention. A woman with a bob haircut donned in plate armor with a set of chain mail underneath. She posed valiantly with six large wings attached to her back. The banner she holds seemed familiar to Jonathan. It is almost like the spear he pulled yesterday.

“Saint Jeanne d'Arc, The Light Protector.”

“Tell me about her.”

“Born into a small village to a normal parent in the middle of a war between the humans and the mythic. A war brought on by a single nameless demon. It tempted both sides with the promise of wealth and money. Saint Jeanne d’Arc led a small crusade against the demon. Though the Saint had defeated the Demon, it came with a cost. Many lives had been lost during the battle. Among them were the Saint’s closest allies. The war didn’t end. It only got worse. In our darkest hour, she sacrificed herself to save us, so that we may be excluded from the chaos.”

“Earlier, why did you call me a Saint?”

“Huh? I don’t know what you mean.”

Jonathan looked at Bor with a raised eyebrow. That wasn't suspicious at all. Then he let out a small sigh. He knew that his friend was lying. His superior must have told him to do so, but what Jonathan didn’t know was why.

“I’ve been looking for you, Bor,” A woman called out to him from behind. She had a cold and calm voice.

Bor turned around with a slight panic in his eyes. “Eri?”

Jonathan glanced at his friend, concerned about his state of mind. He never saw his friend this scared before. “Are you okay?”

“Bor…” She shook her head with disappointment. “Why must you ruin our family’s reputation even further? Haven’t you done enough? Haven’t you learned your lesson?”

A woman, a bit younger than Bor, but she had a similar facial feature as him. They must be related to each other. Perhaps, they were brother and sister. Her black hair tied into a ponytail dangled behind her. Her eyes were the same as him: crimson red. Though her brother’s body was leaner, she has the body of a warrior underneath that suit.

“I-I…” Bor dug his fingers into his palm. “I’m sorry.”

“Wait, what? Bor hasn’t done anything wrong. I’ve been with him all day.”

Eri looked at Jonathan with wide eyes, then back at Bor, this time with a glare. “You haven't told him yet, do you?” She pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a sigh. Eri turned to Jonathan with an apologetic gaze. She lowered her chin. “I apologize for my brother’s deceitful nature. He is not worthy to stand by your side.”

“I don’t understand. What’s wrong with Bor?”

“It’s better that I show you. Bor, I challenge you to battle.”

“Wait, what?” Jonathan glanced back at Bor.

Bor took a step forward, agreeing to the challenge. It’s not like he had a choice. They twirled their trident while circling each other. The surrounding passer-by gathered around them but kept their distance. Murmurs of excitement began to gather above the crowds. Jonathan got confused at how far apart everyone was from the center.

Their tridents clashed. The ground cracked. The air shook. A blur of blue and silver bounced against each other. They were abnormally strong and fast. Well, they aren't human after all, but Jonathan couldn’t believe that this was how undines fought each other. No wonder the crowds gathered around them and watched. With no idea what’s going to happen next, Jonathan raised his fist and cheered for Bor.

“Come on, Bor. Show her what you’re made of!”

However, the fight had a clear outcome. It doesn’t look good for Bor as he was slowly being pushed back by the endless onslaught from Eri. Bor blocked an attack, but he wasn’t strong enough to withstand it. He was thrown back near the fountain. Bor managed to keep himself upright by planting his trident into the ground and leaving a destructive trail.

Eri pointed at the water with her trident, she was seemingly controlling the liquid, then blasted Bor with it. Bor blocked by twirling his trident, but the jet was too strong, he was pushed to the side. Still, the man showed no sign of surrendering.

She kept blasting him with water, unrelenting and unforgiving. And every time she did, Bor would do his best to block and dodge. After a few blasts, Eri charged forward and brought her trident down on Bor. He blocked it with his trident and caused it to ring loudly. The energy from the hit cracked the earth underneath Bor’s feet.

Bor flung Eri back from him with a swing. The little sister easily landed on two feet while she twirled her trident. A dribble of sweats dripped from underneath Bor’s helmet, however, the battle hasn't even taken a toll on his little sister.

Jonathan was getting worried about his friend. This fight seemed one-sided and Bor was on the losing side.

Eri took the air, hovered with her trident alongside her. She muttered something under her breath. The skies began to darken, thick clouds gathered over the courtyard. The crowd quickly dispersed with alarm in their eyes. Something big was going to happen. At first, it drizzled across Jonathan’s face, then a heavy pour of rain came down on them.

The cloud twirled above them. Even to a neophyte like Jonathan, he realized that the hovering woman had summoned a large typhoon over the courtyard. The winds became violent and forceful. Jonathan kept himself on the ground by grabbing the nearest tree. A heavy downpour makes it hard to see without wiping his eyes every five seconds.

Despite it all, Bor charged forward. He planted his trident into the ground and launched himself toward Eri. He pulled back his trident for a powerful strike. However, Bro couldn't even get close before he was swept by the wind and flung across the sky. He crashed down against several trees. His body broke the trees in half before he was dragged across the dirt and thrown into the pool.

“Bor!” Jonathan yelled out for his friend, but his voice got muffled out by the violent wind.

The water swirled around Bor, took hold of him, and lashed him into the stone fountain. The impact shattered the fountain into pieces. Bor felt a thousand needles pricked against his back. He had lost his trident during the chaos. He wanted to scream in pain, but seeing his friend's terrified face, only made it harder to do so. Not only that, but he doesn't want Jonathan to see him like this.

Eri did not know when to stop nor know the word: ‘Mercy’. Five tentacles formed from the pool whipped Bor endlessly. His suit got torn as each lash left deep gashes on his chest. Her gaze was bleak from emotions as his brother’s blood decorated the lawn.

“Stop!” Jonathan yelled out.

Upon hearing Jonathan plead, Eri banished the storm away and stopped her attacks. Columns of light cast over the courtyard as the skies began to clear again. Jonathan jumped into the fountain and made his way to Bor. Blood dripped down his chest, Bor’s breathing was painful, it was a mix of gasp and wheeze.

“Bor…” Jonathan gently took off his helmet, seeing the tears in his eyes broke Jonathan’s heart.

“She’s right. I don’t deserve to be by your side,” said Bor.

“He cannot do magic. He cannot fly. He’s not strong enough, and he dared took an oath to protect you.” She spat. “Taking an oath is the equivalent of setting yourself for exile. Not to mention, if you fail, it’s not only your name that is going to be tarnished. All of your family members will too. Imagine that kind of shame on our family. Mother wouldn't be able to go out without someone cussing at her. Why can’t you think this through?”

“Is that true, Bor?” asked Jonathan.

“It’s true.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“Because for the first time in my life, you have shown me happiness beyond anything I could have. A weakling like me to have someone like you? I’m not worthy, I know, but I wanted to protect your smile. I’m sorry for deceiving you.” Bor’s hand balled into a fist as he tried to hold a cough at bay.

“You dummy. Being a weakling doesn’t mean anything to me. You are my friend no matter what.” Jonathan turned to Eri. “You need to help him.”

“You want me to help a weakling?”

“Yes, he’s your brother, isn't he?”

A defined and visible frown appeared on her face. “You would still pick him?”

“I’m not picking anyone. Don't you understand that he’s hurt?”

Eri sighed. “On one condition, you accept my oath alongside my brother. I will not let him ruin our family name without giving me a chance to fight for it.”

“Fine, anything you want.”

Eri took a step closer to reach Bor and extended her hand over his brother's wounds. Her hand enveloped itself in green light. The wounds slowly closed themselves and left no scar behind.

The light dispersed, and she turned to Jonathan. “We should leave before the teacher arrives.”

Without giving Jonathan a chance to say anything, she took hold of them both in her arms. Before Eri could carry them away, Jonathan grabbed Bor’s trident at the last second. She flew away with Bor and Jonathan in tow without even a single sweat. After a couple of minutes of flying, she landed softly in front of a two-story house.

The house had been built on a slanted hill with a minimum gap of one person between each house. A soft violet color had been chosen for the exterior. It exhibits this aura of balance and inner peace. To the left of the garage was a set of short stairs that led to the front door. It had no front yard. However, since it was built on top of a garage, one could say it’s a three-story house.

Each floor had its bay window where one could sit and enjoy the view. One of the most amazing things about this house is the view. It had a clear sight of the rising sun, though not many would agree of waking up to see the sun at its peak.

Eri carried Bor up the stairs as carefully as she could. Jonathan was slightly surprised at how well she handled her brother’s body. It seems Bor had fainted during the ride. The cause was his overwhelming fatigue after the fight. When they arrived at the front door, Jonathan turned to the plate beside it: Hestia Hearth.

He leaned back and took a peek at the other house, but none had a plate beside its door.

“Hestia Hearth?”

“It has been there for ages, even before I was born.” She turned to the door. “Can you open the door for me?”

Jonathan helped them get inside and closed the door again. It’s how Jonathan imagined it: a humble home that has been well maintained for ages. There are a few spots in the house that indicated it had been here for a long time. A few Inevitable rusts here and there. A water stain on the ceiling had been fixed many times, but still somehow reappeared again.

As they walked up the stairs, Jonathan accidentally set foot on a creaking step after noting it down in his mind, he continued forward. They arrived at the second floor and walked to the end of the hallway. Eri gestured to a door nearby with a nod. “That’s your room.”

“How do you even know that?”

“I got the information from Miss Zey.”

“You called her: Miss? I thought she was your commander.”

“She’s not my commander.” She left it at that and walked toward a room across from Jonathan.

He stopped her. “Hey, where are you going? What are you going to do with Bor?”

“To my room. He will be fine after a couple of hours of sleep.”

“I thought you didn’t like Bor.”

She closed the door behind her. Jonathan had been left alone in the hallway. He turned to his room’s door. A sigh escaped him, he entered, and it was a normal bedroom. He didn’t expect much from it, but there’s a sense of uneasiness that plagued the back of Jonathan’s mind.

Jonathan closed the door behind him and walked to the built-in closet. A few hangers and a clothes iron were there for him to use. He goes to another door in the bedroom. Inside it was his private bathroom and toilet. It was a decent one, nothing too impressive. He left the bathroom and made his way to the bed.

The golden woman from his childhood stood in the corner of the room, always there, always watching. Not a single word nor the slightest movement. Jonathan had grown used to her, she only showed up when no one was around him. However, seeing the statue in the courtyard does remind him of her.

It was a regular bed in a regular room, nothing wrong with it. Not one thing. Despite it all, everything was wrong at the same time, Jonathan rubbed the back of his neck. He left the bed and sat on the floor beside his backpack. The thought of staying at one place bogged him from keeping himself calm.

He turned to the window, and for the briefest moment, he saw iron bars.

A beep coming from his backpack snapped him back to reality. He hesitated to reach in, but he knew better to delay the inevitable. It was a pager, an old-school one. Written on it: I got another job for you. Call me as soon as possible -Memory

His jaw tightened and turned into a frown before he shoved the pager back into the bag.

Jonathan stood up and made his way to the window. His eyes caught a glance of the backyard: a young woman so pale that one might mistake her for a dead body. She swung her long sword in the air with a precise movement. Her well-toned body was visible due to her chosen sporty attire; consisting of a gray sports bra and runner’s shorts. Every time she took a swing, her long ponytail swayed in the opposite direction.

Not far from her, another young woman with a green complexion tended the lively garden. Her eyes were so black that they reflected the garden and were a bit large from a human eye. Even her hair was green with a subtle blue and cut short. Out of nowhere, she summoned a see-through green canary from the empty air. It hovered above her head playfully, and she seemed to enjoy its company, judging from the small smile she had.

It struck Jonathan as odd, they both were adjacent to one another, but not a single glance or a word had been exchanged for nearly a minute now. Even worse, it seemed they had entirely ignored each other's existence.

It’s not Jonathan's place to intervene in other people's relationships, he backed away and slumped down to the floor. It had been a hectic and overwhelming day for Jonathan. Secretly, he had always known about mythic existence, but not to this extent.

He always kept his distance. Now that he’s here, he can’t keep playing dumb anymore. He’ll admit that it’s a little exciting to learn about them. However, there’s one thing that’s been bothering him: the bedroom. His head tilted to the left and stared yearningly at the open sky.

Jonathan knew that moping around won’t solve it, but he does have a choice to make it better. So, he lifted himself and flipped his backpack upside down. Everything from his clothes, toothbrush, Russian nesting doll, and many others fell out. Despite all kinds of stuff he had, a few things drew his attention. It was the paint cans. A mischievous grin appeared as he took one and turned to face the beige wall.

An art project was just the thing he needs to keep himself afloat.