Not all endings are beautiful

Book of the moon's exile.

Reflections of the adventurer

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2 days before reincarnation

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Before leaving his house he grabbed his bag, his books and most importantly, his scarf with the intent of making his way to the academy, the path he used to reach it was always purposely long and slow, giving him time to watch the crowd and pick every soul walking to his academy or job.

Almost every child and adolescent in the city of Lucien carried a scarf of some sort and depending on the color of said scarf a common passerby could identify them as a student of some area. For example, the color brown was used by everyone studying to become a sailor of some kind, which is the reason it was the prevalent color after all, everyone knew that the sea was the best way to move in life and ships were the life and blood that kept the city alive and well.

The color green was used by all those children that styled themselves mercantile students and future traders, usually, they were seen in small groups around certain parts near the ports were they trained themselves by seeing real merchants bartering and making deals.

The most enviable color to most children however, was blue, that signified a student of the navy, most of the time it was found in the daughters and sons of nobles learning how to become captains of their own ships, and whilst a commoner might well find themselves a rich man captain of a carrack of a galley, they would have to travel that road in the starting position of a deck-swaber.

No, blue scarfs trained how to command, learned sword fighting, tactics and more; in fact, they were shown how a ship actually works by actual acting commanders and when they were ready they became officers in the navy, leaving port to defend the city and spread it's influence across the entirety of Avan. Of course, that was only what people said aloud, in reality Lucan thought with some cynicism, they became captains of personal fleets that owed allegiance to a noble family and nothing to the city. But maybe that was his jealousy talking, because after all, a blue scarf was given only to the two eldest of the Graves scions and the rest were given the remains.

Three sons and two daughters of which only the older two held any importance, Lucan couldn't help but feel sadness when he looked at his scarf.

He hated his scarf, not only because it didn't protected him from any kind of weather all thanks to the material chosen by his mother to make it look pretty and all. No, he hated it because of the color…''Freaking yellow''he mumbled for the 1000th time since he got it, who on earth decided to make it yellow. It was that color to represent the light the priest had said; and that was it, no matter it was the most llamative and ugly thing in existence in the city. It signified that he, Lucan Graves du Lac, was studying to become something akin to a sage or a monk.

Nevermind the light hadn't answered to a single soul ever since the cataclysm, the only reason there was still any sort of belief in the church was because of the Seraphs and the light magic of the priest. Big difference. Light magic, not light miracles. They had to study spell casting now just like everybody else, and they guarded their secret just like everybody else. Alas, maybe if they had given him the opportunity to read a grimoire or two he might have been more attentive, but instead, the things they wanted everyone to learn in the academy was history, theology and nonsense in his opinion.

Such thoughts were often the only thing he had in his head every day when he walked to the academy, and today was no different. From the moment he entered the gates, past the statues of priest he never cared to remember into the courtyard; his day continued with students arriving and huddling in small groups that talked in low voices and were uninterested in other persons outside their cliques.

Every moment, more and more students arrived until at last Lucan saw someone of his own little group walking towards him. With a smile, Daniel, dropped his bag on the floor and greeted Lucan with a handshake everyone in the school used and yet, no one remember why.

Daniel Cornaro was older than Lucan by a year, he had a small oval shaped face with clear round eyes, copious amounts of hair and the sort of skin that always seemed dirty no mater what he used or how much he cleaned himself. Most of the times, he attributed this to him growing up and that he had skin problems, in truth, it was because he always had enormous bags under his eyes.

He was a really fat second son of a noble family, which gave him the best pedigree of the group, and made him insufferable.

''Hey there Lucan, how's life been treating you?'' He began with the usual greeting.

With a smile came the reply ''Meh, same as always…you?'' And immediately he knew what they were going to talk about when Daniel followed by asking ''It's good..hey, did you hear about Albert?''

''No'' came the reply

''I heard he told Nelson that he didn't study for his part in the history exposition we have for today, so, he asked Gabriel to make it for him, but good ol'Gabe forgot about it, so I don't think we are prepared to present anything; can you believe-'' On and on came the words until he finished and looked at Lucan as if waiting for some praise but in that moment, another member of the group arrived.

Gabriel Velaro was a small blonde unattractive boy from a rich merchant family, with protruding eyes, enormous ears and a squeaky voice he was a rat taking human form. He was also the most intellectual of the group.

He began by saying ''Hey'' and giving a handshake to both Lucan and Daniel ''Are you both ready for the presentation?''.

At this Daniel smiled and saw a chance to continue his tirade so he asked ''Is it true that Albert didn't do anything in his part of the project?''

Gabriel looked at him for a moment and answered''No, he didn't, I had to prepare some of it but didn't have the time for the whole thing.''

Suddenly Daniel looked victorious and smiled''we should tell him that we are going to kick him from the group, I made my part just fine and I don't think we should risk failing because of him.''

Gabriel seemed to agree but didn't reply, instead he changed the subject and asked ''What are you going to say to Nelson about the biology subject.''

Once again, Daniel looked smug and answered without remorse ''we kicked him from the group.'' Then he noticed the look he received and he began to explain'' The thing is, Nelson never does anything good in a project, he always leaves his job for others and tries to cut corners in the expositions, that's why i send a message to Lucan asking for his permission to kick Nelson from the group.'' He would have continued, but then, the last 2 people of the group arrived.

One was Nelson Morosini, a small pale skinned child with a face invaded by acne, he had the misfortune of both stupidity and bad musical taste; which he proved every time he tried to sing. Somehow he was actually the eldest of his family, which meant that his presence in the school was either his family giving up on him or economic problems.

The other was Albert Loredan, the heir to a rich family, he had a rectangular face, deep blue eyes, a big clear forehead with two enormous eyebrows and short hair; somehow he had gained the title of being the only person in the group no one bothered. And the only one no one cared about.

''Hello people''One of them began''how are you, everything good.''

''All ok…you?'' Lucan replied, and as usual, everything was well with everyone, most likely they were lying, but they knew better than to say otherwise.

''Is everyone ready for the presentation?''Nelson asked''it's going to be a pain, I need a good mark to pass the subject and move to the next year.''Repressing a sigh, he looked like a man without hope.

And on went the conversation, with unimportant questions everyone in the group either didn't care or didn't want to talk until Albert looked at Daniel and began the daily routine.

''Why did you guys kicked Nelson from your group, did the teacher gave you the ok?''

Shooting everyone a look of incredulity, the next words that came from his mouth Lucan could have guessed a hundred times over''I asked the teach and Lucan and they said yes. So I had to do it.''

''Of course Lucan said that''came the reply from Nelson, who looked at him with pity ''you never know how to work in a group, that is why you always look like a fool in font of the class.''

Picking on the signal Gabriel immediately added ''Yeah I mean, it's quite obvious with the things he usually claims,''with a laugh he tried to imitate Lucan's way of speaking ''Hey guys, I wanna be the class representative this year huh.''And Daniel, not to be overshadowed ''Hey guys, I need to go to the bathroom because I don't like the pictures of the bodies in the laboratory.''

After some laughs the reply that came was quick and merciless''Every time Daniel and i do a job, I create the paper, I send a message and the only thing you do'' Then Lucan pointed at him ''is pay to make it look good, you are the purse of the group, nothing more.''

Continuing he pointed at Nelson ''I'd rather have one person in the team that does nothing and pays, than two teammates that do nothing and just one that pays.''

And that was the usual morning greeting Lucan and his friends had every morning. No, not friends. Classmates, it had taken him years to realize this, they were classmates, and bad ones at that; every day they got together and every conversation was insulting and criticizing each other behind their backs, but when the entire group was present, one of them had to find something wrong with Lucan and that was the only conversation for the day.

Not one of them were bad people, the simple reason was that if they didn't insult Lucan in a group then there simply was no group. Of course, he also had to admit that he had given them plenty of material to use, between lying about everything to fit in and the worst physique of the class, he had found his way to the very bottom of the social ladder.

Luckily for today, the teachers opened the different classrooms and every student marched towards their designated spots.

The day in a classroom began with a student walking to the front of the room, and guiding the rest of the people present in prayer. Sounded orderly but in reality it was a bunch of teenagers mumbling words they learned to recite yet never tried to understand. Afterwards a teacher walked to the front and classes began in earnest.

In the academy they had one teacher for every subject of varied quality, some had a silent room where no one dared to speak, and others had only front row paying attention whereas the rest of the students behaved and speaked like monkeys on caffeine. Today, it was one of those teachers.

Professor Corrales was a fat short man from a foreign city that styled himself as the best from the entire teaching group, and treated some of his students with undeserving respect whilst forever forgetting the rest, but what forever baffled Lucan was how a 40 years old could believe a class from a subject no one cared or even remembered was so important, sometimes he talked and behaved as if his words were gold and expected every student to butcher his way to find mine the riches.

How disappointed would he be if he knew everyone just read and learned from memory some passages from the books before the test, and the moment the pencils finished writing the answers it was as if a mind eraser affected everyone.

Lucan tried to hear him over the ruckus behind him, not because he cared, but because he was already falling asleep and he had no one else to speak in the classroom.

''The geography of Avan is ever changing, there are islands that disappear and islands that are permanent just like the one where our city's built. Lucien was founded years ago by the doge of the era of molding, Pietro Venier, when our people escaped a flood that destroyed our homes in the boats that create the foundation of our homes today. Alas, if the fates were kinder we would have been united under one banner and faith but war and rivalry plague all the city states in the archipelago of Avan''After a pause he pointed at a map on the wall and continued.

''Lucien is, as far as we know, located some ways north to the center-most islands of Avan, and we share our coast with the city of thiva to the northwest, and the Qin directly north. Moreover, surrounding us we find directly west our principal rival in the region, the city state of Lunda. To the south and southeast lies the allied cities of Aegis and Caledonnia, and another suspicious lot in the city of Knidos''

On and on the professor spoke without an end, suddenly he began to daydream, gods i'm bored I wonder how he can speak for so long without pausing, maybe it has something to do with his head and the way he tries to use the remaining few hairs he has to hide the enormous bald spot…wait. Why is he looking this way. oh, false alarm.

Suddenly some students at the end of the room called his name, Lucan didn't recognize the specific voice, but knew the group already. When he turned around he saw them sitting there some spaces away, beckoning him as if he should be glad they were calling him. Obviously, ignoring them wasn't going to happen, and them coming to him was worse, so he stood up and walked to the end of the room.

This particular group was composed of three stooges: Enrique, luis and Ricard. Leftovers from nameless families sent here to rot away and get away from home so their parents wouldn't be troubled.

The moment he reached them he knew it was going to be a bad day ''Lucan, is it true that you have never been invited to any reunion in other households before?'' Of course, they already knew the answer. But, that is not why they called him, so Lucan did what he always did in the hope of striking a conversation or finding someone.

Lie

''I have been invited to some, not many, but some sure…why?''

The demand came like lightning ''Name one.''

With a straight face he replied''Well, three week ago I visited the house of the Decies family. How about you?''he asked, trying to steer the conversation; but instead Lucan received what he expected.

''Three weeks ago, that long? that's so garbage''After some laughs Lucan didn't want to give up so he rolled his eyes and stood there saying quickly ''I have gone to enough places these last few months, how about you?''

''I have never seen you…oh, wait, that's not true. you were at that one months ago weren't you, the one were Cristinna invited you out of pity?.'' That one stung a lot, especially because it was the truth, a girl he had been friends when they were about seven years old had called him after his mother had asked the girl( he didn't knew that until after the whole fiasco was over), and it had been a complete disaster; so great that he had actually gone sick from the embarrassment.

But gods are great in some regards, so instead of forgetting, he had everyone in the bleeding academy to remind him of that atrocious day, and oh they did. ''Did your mother dressed you up for that one?''

''Is it true you can't dance?''

''Lucan, why did you go there, did you know my mother called my to go speak to you?''

At last, he had enough so he said in the most force full voice he could ''Fuck of you idiots, I was asking you if you had gone to other parties, I was feeling awful that day and you know it''that was a lie, but telling everyone he was sick made him feel somewhat better.

''What did you say to me''…Oh no, rule number 1. A bully can insult you all he likes, but he doesn't stand for the victim to defend itself. Luckily, the professor had had enough of the noise and with a loud voice from the front of the room demanded ''Everyone shut up!'',when he realized they paid full attention he fixed the glare on the stooges and continued'' all right sit down everyone, is this a circus or a classroom, you are here to learn'' he then pointed at the three stooges ''you lot in the back go to your seats, I will be deducting points of your exposition for this.''

No one cared to notice, but next to the entrance there was a board with the name of every student, and at that precise moment, several beads near the names of the three stooges changed position with a clack.

The look they gave him could kill. Why everyone cared so much about the points teachers gave or take he had no idea, but around here it was law apparently.

One whispered''We'll meet you after class Gravie''and the promise was set in stone.