'Anna!'

Arseus stretched out his hands, trying to reach the young girl with blonde hair. But just before he could grab her, drops of blood splashed onto his hands and face.

A black monstrous hand emanating demonic energy pierces the young girl's body, before the body was tossed aside like a ragdoll by the demon.

Arseus despaired over the loss of his childhood friend and his first love. The light in his eyes dimmed, as tears drops down his cheeks.

Rage surfaced in his heart. Feeling how useless, how weak, how pathetic he is. He was mad at the world, at the demon, and mostly at himself.

The demon_ dA zdge Dsaf gaadsd S lfjgjas

***

Huh?

I had a dream last night. I had a feeling like I had a dream about Ars... but, I can't remember anything other than it's about Ars. Or is it about Ars?

I am unsure.

My heart feels heavy. I don't understand.

Arseus. It feels familiar. But it doesn't at the same time.

I shook my head, waving away these confusing thoughts.

Maybe he was just too handsome and hot that he gets into my head.

I looked at the clock.

'3:15'.

It's still early. I closed my eyes, and turned by body sideways trying to sleep.

Even as minutes pass by, my mind still refuse to sleep. I take a look at the clock once more.

'3.28'.

Sigh. There's something heavy in my chest. I can't get it off.

I stand up from my bed, and went outside.

I am thinking of getting fresh air from the balcony.

I saw the glass slide door was already opened. Wind blew the curtains waving it slightly.

I approached it closer.

Moving my hand over the curtains, I saw a figure already standing over the balcony watching the scenery.

I stood next to him, breathing in the air and watches the buildings and the still bright streets.

'Can't sleep?', I asked Arseus while staring at the gibbous moon.

"Yeah", responded him shortly.

When I look at him, I noticed a melancholic feelings in his eyes. It reminds me of that time I was still despairing over things that had happened to me in my past life and when I was 7 in this life.

His eyes, carried the same burden.

My heart feels heavy for him.

'Are you okay?', the question blurted out of my mouth.

It was a weird question. Ars definitely didn't look sad or have any problems at all. We even hanged out the entire day.

And yet, I had the urge to ask him if he's okay.

Ars turned his head to my direction, looking at me.

His eyes, started to get teary.

'Ars.. '.

I didn't notice it before, but now, he was on the verge of breaking down.

My question triggered it, as if it was the last drop of water falling into a dam on the verge of breaking, completely releasing all the weight it holds.

Ars averted his eyes, and didn't say a thing. it's as if he was holding himself together.

'It's okay to cry'. The words came out of me, as if I can feel how he was losing it.

Ars placed his hand over his face, letting tears trickle down cheeks, quietly sobbing due to a heavy burden he carried in his heart.

I was once in his place, acting all fine throughout the day and yet breaking down in the middle of the night.

Those times when I can't sleep, lost my will to live, and being all alone fighting through it all.

I saw my past self in Ars. I wanted to help him.

I came closer to him and wrapped my hands around his body, hugging him tight.

'Just cry on. Let it all go'.

We stayed together for some times. And soon, Ars has stopped crying.

I let go of my arms wrapping him, letting him be.

"Sorry. That was embarrassing", Ars spoke while wiping his eyes with one of his arm.

'No, it's not Ars. We have our limits'.

'We have to let it all go at times', I spoke, as brief silence accompanies it.

"Thank you", Ars thanked me quietly. We continued to watch over the starry sky.

"Umm...", Ars was about to say something to me.

'You don't have to tell me why'.

'But, if you need someone to listen, I can be that person. Just take your time'.

Ars stayed quiet.

The silence continues for another minute.

I had already start to feel sleepy, and so I told him I am going back to my room.

He stayed behind at the balcony for a bit longer before returning to bed.

***

That morning we wake up as usual, as if nothing happened last night.

It was the orientation day.

Wearing our uniforms, we went out of the room waiting for Lucas at the living room. Lucas come out soon, wearing the uniform as we do.

We took the shuttle bus to the academic building, where the Great Hall is.

There were many students gathered at the hall.

We took at seat around the middle.

As we sat, many stares fell upon us. Towards the very attractive figure named Arseus.

The hall was noisy from the chatters of the students.

A person climbed up short staircase into the stage and walked towards the centre.

He tapped the microphone twice, testing it, making the chatters quiet down.

"Welcome all new students, to Imperial Magic Research Institute Starshear. I am Sir Xavier Sinclaire, the chairman of this institute representing all board of directors. All of you came from different backgrounds, some of you are sons and daughters of aristocrats. Some of you came from an average household. Some of you came from a remote village. But there is one thing common in all of you".

"Talent. All of you possess more talent than most people out there-".

The speech goes on for some more minutes.

Soon, the microphone was passed over to woman. She asked to gather at different sides of the hall, depending on if you had a Preparation School certificate or not.

Lucas, Ars and me went to the left side of the hall.

After everyone seems to have gathered accordingly, a lady came to us and brought us all to the classroom designated to us.

It was a large lecture hall, with a large magic screen at the very front.

The seats were arranged like on you would fine in a stadium, with an elongated table at each row.

We all took a sit at one of the row like other students.

After everyone was seated, the lady proceed to activate the device at front, which shows us different texts and diagram.

She briefed us about the subjects we would learn, and the area of studies we could choose to further study if we want to.

She says that if we wanted to just become a mercenary, or join dungeon exploration teams or become a beast exterminator and similar jobs that requires fighting power, we only had to pass practical magic application class in the 4 years of Imperial Institute Baccalaureate.

Although some employers may want to look at different subjects and may give you better pay and position.

She gave an example, that to be an Imperial Knight, we had to have high qualification for both practical magic application and swordmanship classes.

So it is advised to do research on the job we wanted and it's general requirements so we can set a target for ourselves.

The swordmanship class isn't necessarily just swordmanship. Students are free to choose any weapon and instructors will value our grade individually. The grades will be reflected on the certificate along with weapon type.

To get into field of research, such as in the field of magic programming, the subject related must be of certain grade to be allowed to continue study for another 2 or 3 years, qualifying for an Advanced Imperial Institute Baccalaureate certificate (AIIB) for different specific courses.

To be a magic researcher or magitronic engineers for examples, they had to have AIIB certificate for Magictronic Engineering course or equivalent certificates from other recognised institutes as employers always take in those with such qualifications.

Afterwards, she also briefly tell us about student opportunities to study in other continents such as the Eastern continent, the Elvendom, the Dwarven Sanctuary ect.

Basically, if one wants to become a mercenary we really just have to pass the practical magic application subjects throughout the years studying here.

The briefings was finally over. She told us we could find our class schedule in the phone.

It was then lunch break. We had a 2 hours rest before the first subject we would have. Which is General Theories on Mana, Magic, and System of the World.

Lets shorten it to GTM class.

We three went to canteen for lunch. It was even more crowded as students gather there at the same time. Then we went back to our room. I took a nap for an hour or so.

It was then time for class. Shuttle bus carried us to the academic building.

Walking some distance, we reached the classroom. We sat together at the middle-front row. I sat in the middle, with Ars on my right side and Lucas on the other side.

As usual, many people are staring at our direction due to Ars handsomeness.

Most of them girls came over here to chat with Ars, asking him stuffs.

Seeing many girls lining up to chat with him made me glad I am not handsome.

I may be pretty, but because I am a guy, no guys will hit on me (publicly).

"Heyyy!".

One of the girl is too loud. I don't know if Arseus is ignoring you but maybe don't disturb those not related.

"HEYYYY!!!!"

That startled me. A girl standing in front of my table, wearing glasses, with freckles and dark short hair screamed straight at me, stealing my attention.

'Yes?'.

"What's your name?".

For some reason, this girl is talking to me.

'I am Bell'.

I replied. She then told me her name is Jessica and asked me to call her Jessy.

"You are really pretty", she praised me.

That was a first time someone called me pretty in this. Even though my hair and eyes weren't the original colour, it still cannot hide my pretty bone features and clear skin.

I said thanks for the praise. She then went closer to me, saying she wanted to ask me something.

I said sure.

She hold one of her hand on her mouth, making a c shape, trying to whisper her question.

I leaned in trying to hear what she's gonna say.

"The guys next to you, what are their names?".

I answered it for her. She wanted me to introduce her to them or something?

She then reach even closer to me, acting bashful and wanted to whisper more.

I leaned even closer to hear it.

"Which of the two do you like, or both?"

'W-what?'

The girl giggles at seeing me flustered.

She said her goodbyes and sat on the seat in front of me. She took a glance at me, and the two guys next to me.

She had a weird smile on her face, and its as if she was giggling by herself as she opened one of her book and start writing something.

I had a bad feeling about it.

The chatters in the class died down as a woman in her 30s enters the classroom and stand in front of the class, readying to give her lecture.

"Good evening everyone, I am Madam Beth, I will be your homeroom teacher as well as your GTM class teacher. If you have any problems, you can tell me".

She wrote her phone number on the big flat device.

"First, we will be taking attendance".

The teacher continued to take attendance. Each student raised their hand after being called out. There were a few students who weren't here.

The class then starts without further ado.