Carly and I make our way to Glowing Academy’s locker room. It seems that we made it just in time. They haven’t left yet.

*Creak*

I open the locker room and look at Pears and his whole team ready to leave.

“Just in time.” Pears says with a smirk.

XXXXXX

Carly waits near the locker room of Glowing Academy while I and Pears have a conversation away from them.

“Tarand, you were about to say something about him.” I say to Pears.

“Yeah, I know about Tarand. After all, Tarand and I were in the same class and close friends.” Pears says.

My ears meet with surprise as I listen to Pears say that. I never knew that Pears and Tarand were of the same class.

“Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?”

XXXXXX

“I met Tarand when I joined The Academy of Wise And Learning. I was a recommended student from Glowing Academy that joined this academy.” Pears says, “Interesting, I thought that Glowing Academy and Wise Academy were always rivals.” I say, “Well, yeah are rivals but that doesn’t mean they can’t be friends.” Well...Pears ain’t wrong there.

“I was mostly alone since no one from Wise Academy wanted to be my friend. I even got bullied for being from their rival academy. Life in Wise Academy was not easy until I met two people.” There was a hint of a smile on Pears face.

“One was as you can guess Tarand Rover and the other one was...The most beautiful girl in our class, Amy Schzen.” The girl that he mentioned...She has been the one who has always been appearing in my dream. Amy Schzen...

“We were known as The Three Elemental Mages. I used one of the main elements of this world Water Magic from the Tree of Poseidon while Amy used Light magic from the Tree of Thea and Tarand used Dark Magic from the Tree of Thanatos.” So he was the odd man out huh.

“Everything seemed fine. We were living a pretty normal life.” I already know where this is going.

“Then one day, Tarand suddenly turned crazy. He said he had found the magic that will help him bring back the dead. Tarand always wanted to bring back his dead parents. So he kept on researching for that very purpose and finally, he found a way to bring them back but...”

“He performed the taboo, didn’t he?” I ask.

“How do you know?!” Pears asks.

“Hmm? I don’t know...I just know...” I say.

“That is true, he performed the taboo. He contacted the God of Death himself, Hades. He broke the magic contract with his own God of Death and made a contract with Hades and Hades did bring back his dead parents but...They were total monstrosity...They weren’t normal...”

There was a sudden shift in Pears’s expression. It was almost as if he feared something. Sweat all over his face.

“I won’t forget Tarand’s smile from that day too. It was so calm like he accomplished what he wanted to and he just stood there smiling so calmly. Amy tried to shake him out of it but he just smiled and said, “I failed this time but next time I will surely be able to revive them.”"

I can see that whatever Pears saw that day, it still traumatizes him.

“That’s all I got for you.” Pears says.

“I appreciate you telling me about Tarand.” I say. Tarand...That guy...

“Hey, one last question, Amy Schzen, where can I find her?” I ask.

“Why do you ask?” Pears asks me.

“I don’t know...But I feel like I want to meet her.” I say.

“It’s impossible to meet her.” Pears says.

“What does that mean?” I ask.

Pears clenches onto his shirt, “I mean...You can’t talk to the dead, can you?” Pears says as he looks away.

“Talk to the dead? Amy Schzen is dead?”

How is that possible? She is dead?

I remember something from the past, “You couldn’t save me...”

That’s what she said to me in my dream. What does that mean?

“All I can say is, if you want to defeat Tarand, you have to think way out of your normal thinking and defeat him, even if it means thinking like a murderer, a molester or even a monster. Use every bit of skill you have.”

He isn’t wrong from his perspective.

“Thank you for your advice.” I say.

Pears nods.

“One last thing...I will cheer you on from the crowd but I can’t do anything more than that.” Pears says.

*Tap*

I keep my hand on his shoulder and smile, “That’s enough for me. I will definitely win.” I say.

Pears nods.

“Dan! Some woman came asking for you.” It seems that Carly has arrived behind me.

I look behind me as I look at Fishie who has come to take me.

“Right, I gotta meet the King.”

Fishie bows.

“Let’s go.” I say as I walk past Fishie.

Carly follows.

XXXXXX

His hand was filled with warmth and his smile was all cheerful. It was almost as if...He is a light just like you, Amy...

“Who is this woman, Dan?! Why the hell do you know her?! Do you like her too?!”

“Hell no! She is too old!”

“I am a widow who is young at heart.”

“Don’t go saying that you old hag!”

I think I can smile and relax because if there is someone who can defeat Tarand, then it’s him.

A dangerous smile against a cheerful smile, who will win? I believe the cheerful one.

XXXXXX