Kyles and I started walking deeper into the forest in an awkward silence which I, definitely was not going to break.

Finally, Kyles spoke up first, " Why are you being so nice to me?"

Uhhhhhh- out of all the questions he could have asked.

"I'm trying to change." Was my simple reply. I can't lie to him that this is how I treat people cause the rumours about Adailia are spread throughout the Academy.

He looked surprised and was about to ask another question but I beat him to it, "Why did you ask me to be your partner?"

I already knew the answer but still asked cause I didn't want to be interrogated any further.

And the way he blushed after I asked him that just confirmed my assumption.

"I-I li-l" he stuttered.

Ohh! A confession?

I looked at him as he struggled with his words.

Aww! That's so cute!

" I-I...... Wanted to be your friend!" He finally finished his sentence and a look of surprise spread over my face before I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing.

He just friend-zoned himself!! Lol!!!

The kid also realised what he did and started sulking instantly.

"Okay. Then we are friends starting now." I said and he looked at me with a look of disbelief but recovered instantly and smiled brightly at me.

"Okay." He said, still smiling ear to ear.

"What's your power?" I asked, if he started asking shit about me, I'll have no clue and end up making some weird lie. Honestly, I should've got Adailia's memory or something, or at least pretended to have amnesia at the beginning.

"I can create and control electric sparks." He said.

Oh? So he is a Pikachu.

"Cool," I said and as we started going in deeper I realised that we won't be getting anywhere if we continued walking with this speed.

"Let's split up and search for the magic ball." I suggested.

"Uhh.. Okay.. But what about the key?" He asked.

"You keep it." I said and then we headed to different directions.

I didn't bother to search for the ball (since I already knew where it was) I just need to roam here and there and wait for Traashid to search the ball and end this thing.

I quietly walked around cluelessly, looking out for any sign of danger. I'll probably faint if I saw any monster here.

After what seemed like hours I saw something coming in my direction. I took out the dagger and hid behind a tree just to be cautious.

More crunching of leaves took place and just when 'that thing' was about pass, I felt something on my arm.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" I screamed and jumped out of my hiding spot and dashing into 'that thing' in process.

"WHAT IS IT?!?WHAT IS IT?!? OH GOD!" I screamed as my heart beat like it was going to break out of my ribcage any moment.

After a few seconds, my brain took control of me and I realised I was on top of 'that thing', and apparently, 'that thing' was a human, just covered in mud. I stared into those indigo eyes with a pinch of red and calmed down almost instantly.

Honestly, why am I running into Traashid (literally) so many times today?

And why is he taking so much time to process things?

His eyes widened yet again and before he could push me away from him I got up on my own.

"Why are you screaming?" He asked.

"There's a monster in the bushes." I pointed at it.

He raised an eyebrow and as if on cue, the 'monster' came out.

And guess who the monster was.

A small baby lizard.

"Seriously? That's your monster?" He pointed at it and my face flushed with embarrassment.

"I - I was just-" I didn't get to finish my sentence cause apparently a rock moved.

A rock covered with green moss moved and two red dots stared at me.

It took me three seconds to realise the red dots were eyes and the rock wasn't a rock.

It was a monster.

"Go hide behind a tree." Traashid ordered me as he took out his dagger.

I did as I was instructed.

The monster soon stood to his full height. It was as long as half a tree and had vicious claws. He snarled at Traashid showing his sharp teeth.

And I imagined this thing as a toad?!? I feel disappointed at myself for such lacking imagination.

Traashid attacked its leg and the monster tried to grab him and this continued for some time.

I couldn't make myself to see the fight any longer as Traashid was lifted up by the monster.

In the novel, Traashid attacked its eyes and the monster died, however, I don't think I should use this information if I don't want to be interrogated later.

But my heart never listens to my brain.

"IT'S EYES!!" I screamed.

And just when I said that I noticed another pair of red eyes hiding behind a tree opposite to the scene.

And I remembered those eyes as if it was yesterday.

I ran towards where the guy was hiding.

I know who he is!! I finally remembered!!

He was there on the day I died, probably a witness to my tragic death. He was also there at the library!

But that's not important. The thing is, how can he be in that world and this world??

As soon as he saw me running towards him he took an about-turn and ran away from me.

"STOP!" I yelled at him but he didn't.

"WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?" I asked.

"WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?" He countered.

"I ASKED FIRST!"

"ON INSTINCTS!"

And he didn't stop and we ran for I don't know how long till I had a better plan.

I stopped running, took off my shoe, aimed at him and then BAM!

The shoe hit him on his head and then he tripped on a tree root and fell facedown.

And before he could get up I was on top of him, pinning him down, huffing badly. We were near a pond and I couldn't see a single person around the area.

"What..... Are you.... Doing here?" I asked as I gasped for breath.

"Hah.... what do you mean?" He asked, his chest rising and falling.

I stared at him for a second, thinking if I should reveal my identity or not. And I decided later.

"You're not from this world." I stated.

As soon as the words left me he stiffened and then a smirk appeared on his lips as he said, "Ohh! I didn't think you'd remember me, "

He said as his smirk widened,

"Haeun-ah"

Wait a fucking minute...how does he know my real name?!?!

I stared at him in utter shock as he smiled at me.

"How do you..." I started but trailed off, still confused.

The guy got me off of him and stood up, dusting his suit. Now I noticed that he was in a formal black suit and pants with a tie. His white hair combed back.

He cleared his throat, "Let me introduce myself, " he said smiling, "I'm a reaper."

Le gasp.

"Okay." I accepted the fact quickly. It's no point in denying the truth. This is a novel world. Weirdest shit happens here.

"Ohh, that's not the reaction I was expecting but -"

"Why are you here and how do you know my name?" I asked him quickly, there was no point in beating around the bush. I need to get my priorities straight.

"Straight to the point I see." He chuckled, "Well, for the first question, I'm here because I was checking on you and for the second one, you were my ex-client, kind of, that's why I know your name."

Woah!

"Okay, why were you checking on me?" I asked.

"So that you don't accidentally die."

"But wasn't I originally supposed to die?" I asked him. Didn't I die and accidentally end up here? Guess not.

He sighed, "You're not going to like what I'm going to say next," he said, "I put you in here."

It took me four seconds to realise what he meant.

"Why the fuck would you do that?" I yelled at him in disbelief.

"See, let me explain.", he quickly said bringing his hands forward trying to came me down, " You weren't supposed to die yet, you still had 45 years of life left."

"Then what was that truck accident about?" I asked him, my brain processing everything surprisingly fast.

"Would you just let me explain everything without interrupting?"

I nodded quickly, I wanted to see what shitty explanation he has for my early death.

"A man back in Korea had done some horrible things due to which he was supposed to face an early death. My teammates were given orders to have him die in a truck accident." He took a breath before continuing, "However, after we did that change, we realised that you will also die because of the same truck. You had a good life and didn't do anything wrong so you weren't supposed to die yet. So I was sent to make sure I delay your visit to the grocery shop by a few seconds."

He looked at me to see if I was following what he was saying, I nodded, "Well then, I was in your room, invisible, while you were busy reading that internet novel. Aaaaaannnnd....." He dragged his 'and', I raised an eyebrow.

"....and I got distracted by your manga collection."

He gotta be kidding me!

"And by the time I realised that you were gone and searched for you.... You were already struck by the truck. So I quickly swiped your soul with Adailia's before you died and that's how you ended up in her body."

Oh my God!

"So basically.... You killed me." I said, anger rising in me.

"Uh no. That was the truck driver."

"But you failed to save me."

"Yes"

"So you killed me."

"No. I was -" before he could finish the sentence I took that shoe (which I used to hit him the first time) and started hitting him with it.

"Oww! Stop!" Like I was going to stop.

"STOP!! Or I'll make you a toad in your next life!" I stopped midway, my face was red with anger.

"Let's talk calmly." He said, I sighed and took a deep breath trying to calm myself down.

"Listen, I don't want to be here. Just send my soul to heaven." I said and his eyes widened in surprise.

"You don't want to live? People usually beg for this kind of opportunity." He said an amused expression on his face.

"I said I don't want to live 'here'. Like people here get a heart attack just by looking at my face."

"That's kinda sad but I can't send you to heaven, you still need to live for years. If I did, my boss would kill me." I glared at him, I died and got stuck here because he is a lazy and irresponsible reaper who only cares that he doesn't get fired (if that's even a thing in underworld or wherever he works).

"Then just send me to a different world. A more 'normal' world." I tried to negotiate.

"I can't. If your soul goes out of this body, Adailia will be in coma forever." He said. Oh, that'll be a shock for everyone.

"Can't you bring Adailia's soul back in her body then?"

"Oh. I already sent her to hell." He shrugged. But why would he do that?! Adailia wasn't supposed to die till Traashid becomes the Emperor.

"But she wasn't supposed to die yet too, right?"

"Yeah, but her soul was evil and she was going to die after a few months anyway, so she could be made an exception. But you had a lot of years ahead of you."

"So basically..." I started but he finished the sentence, "you're stuck here."

I sighed.

"See, kiddo, just try to live your life here, it's not that bad."

"Okay first off all I'm not a 'kiddo' and second of all you're one hell of an irresponsible and insensitive prick." I gritted out.

"First of all, you are a 'kiddo', I'm millions of year old for your information. And... I'll make it up to you."

"Oh! Okay Ajhussi**, and how are you going to make it up to me?" I asked.

"You say how?"

I pondered on it for a second.

"Go drinking with me."

He looked surprised.

"Wow, that's a kind offer! But I can't drink and eat human food." He said. That's kinda sad but not that sad when he is the one suffering.

"I'm not inviting you to drink with me. You are going to drop me to the bar, hear me talk, manage my drunk self and send me back home safely." I said. It would be pretty stupid of me if I invited my murderer for a drink with me.

He looked disappointed but nodded anyway, "Oh. Fine, we can go next week then."

"At the end of every week until I'm in this world."

"Hey! That's too much."

"Okay then, twice a month till I forgive you."

"Still-"

"You can't even do this much? You basically ruined my life and took everything away from me. Don't you think this is the least you could do?" I played the guilt card.

He sighed.

"Okay."

"Cool. I'll call you at the end of this week... Wait, how am I supposed to call you?" I asked.

"Right. Let me give you a gift." He said and extended his hand for me to take and I glared at it suspiciously. I don't exactly trust him.

"I don't have all day kiddo." He said rolling his eyes.

I hesitantly gave him my hand and he held it for a second, wrapping his palm around my fingers, before releasing it saying, "Tada!"

I looked at my hand and found a plain metal ring on it.

It was on my pinky finger so it was kind of uncomfortable, so I tried to remove it.

"Hey! It's stuck!" I said pulling on it.

"Of course. It would be a problem if you lost it. Now you just have to touch it with your other hand and say, 'Handsome reaper, please appear' and I'll be there. However, don't call me for small things, I'm busy."

"Ah, okay but is 'handsome' required?" I asked.

"Of course! I was going to add more adjectives but then it would've been too long. Now I'll be going. Bye kiddo." He said and was about to snap his fingers.

"Wait!" I said grabbing onto his arm.

"Give me Adailia's memory before you go. You can do that, right?" I asked.

He smirked and said, "Only if you say 'pretty please'."

Bitch, I'm this close to beating the shit out of you so you better do what I say!

A scared look took over his face as I realised I said that out loud.

"O-okay." He said as he scrunched his eyebrows in focus. Wow, Adailia's body is pretty intimidating.

And then he raised his hand to bring it near my face and then, he flicked me on the forehead, really fucking hard.

A rush of images came through me and before I realised it, my body was falling down and into the pond.

Shit!! I'm drowning!!

My heart screamed.

Bitch, open your eyes.

My brain said and I realised that the pond (more like a huge puddle) was just a foot deep. I sat up and stayed like that for a minute.

The reaper was nowhere to be seen.

That fucker....I was planning on poisoning his beer but that asshole can't even drink.

As I was about to get up, my hand touched something and on reflex, I pulled it out of the water (I didn't know I had such a shitty reflex, like think if that thing would've been a skull). Luckily it wasn't a skull but a ball and on my touch, it started shining.

"Eeeeekk!" I threw the ball (now that's a proper reflex) and it hit a tree and started shining even more.

"A voice came from the ball, "

What the fuck?

That was the magic ball!

Shit!

What about Traashid?

I messed up.

I can't believe I ruined such an important event.

Before I could drown myself in the puddle out of regret, it disappeared.

So did the forest and everything. I could see students and teachers making their way towards me.

"Congratulations, Lady Adailia!" Kyles congratulated me.

"Open it!!" Someone said.

Kyles handed me the key (and the ball) and I put it in the only hole on the ball and it opened to reveal a purple stone that was revolving mid air inside the ball.

I could hear a lot of gasps.

"It's the magician's stone!" He said, looking at it with eyes wide.

It was mentioned in the novel that the magician's stone was a rare stone which could make a mage's mana powerful and neverending. For a knight, it could be attached to the sword hilt and the owner of the sword can never be defeated.

Traashid gave its other half to Seanna later in the novel which was a very sweet moment.

And I can't believe I ruined that.

Uhh!!

I broke the stone in two halves (it broke easily) and threw one to Kyles and said, "There. We shared the price now I'm heading back to the mansion."

I need food or else I'm gonna sulk.