On the roof terrace of the school building, I watched as cannon pelts rushed towards hir. Xe stopped hirs advance and jumped to the side.

“Use your tool!”

“I-I’m trying!”

Pu’er struggled to hold the bastard sword. Before xe could take another step, Cain fired another laser which went whizzing past hirs face.

Last time it hit hir point blank. Because I wasn’t in the right mind, I didn’t move to protect hir. That lingering regret still remains.

“Pu’er. I suggest you should use a smaller weapon until you get used to how to move your body.”

Cain lowered his arm; the plasma cannon integration.

“It looks so easy when Avner does it.”

“He’s a special case.

Cain then turned to me.

“Avner, what did you do exactly to become like this? If you know something, would you be as kind as to enlighten me with your secret?”

“I think it’s to do with my past life? If not that then I’m just as clueless as you.”

I’m grateful that Pu’er planted that mine earlier in the morning. After having reflected on my plans, I feel refreshed.

I regret not taking Novelle’s recommendation to go through a sales course before I died. I was too dependent on her as Shin. I recognize my mistake now.

I don’t exactly know how to proceed with my art career. Though, ultimately, the only thing I can do is try.

“Avner, could you lend hir the photon blade?”

“Sure.”

I materialized a torchlight-like stick. Pour in mana and it’ll pop as a lightsaber.

I passed it to Pu’er, the light disappeared the moment it left my hands.

“Now I want you to practice pouring mana into a weapon.”

“Okay.”

Pu’er scrunched hirs brows. The blade popped into existence, fading in and out. Cain beckoned me over.

“That sword, where did xe get it?”

“What sword?”

“That one.”

“The bastard sword? I don’t know, Pu’er just had it.”

He paused, then whispered.

“Xe’s the one that attacked you, wasn’t xe?”

“No, xe’s not the one that attacked me.”

I denied it. Pu’er Julis was the person who attacked me, not Pu’er Greenwood. Oh, so that’s why he didn’t hold back the first time he trained hir. He must have thought we were similar.

“Then, who was it exactly that attacked you?”

“I don’t know,” I shook my head.

Trying to hide Pu’er Julis’ existence. Is there any meaning in doing so? Yes. To protect Pu’er Greenwood.

“This is so hard,” Pu’er looked totally spent. Hirs beautiful silver hair was an absolute mess, arms dangling to the side in surrender.

“Pu’er where did you get the bastard sword from?”

“Bastard sword? You mean that black sword? I got the hairpin from an old lady.”

“Do you remember her features?”

“I was very small back then so no. Maybe she was an angel like me too.”

Weird.

“It’s questionable. This weapon would easily pass as an artifact grade.”

Cain examined the black surface of the sword.

“You’re very familiar with this weapon, aren’t you, Avner?”

“I’m familiar with most weapons?”

“I hope this isn’t a sign that you’re siding with the demons.”

“No way. Avner wouldn’t do that right?”

“It depends.”

“Heh? Really? Why?”

“I’m a demon. So if somehow there’s a problem with me associating with angels, I have no choice but to move.”

Pu’er agreed with a nod. Cain had a difficult expression on his face. He probably expected Avner to make some grandiose declaration that he would try to save the world this time around.

That won’t happen.

“Have you been in touch with Lynda?” Cain changed the topic.

“No. Not at all.”

“Are you not concerned?”

“I was too busy, no. I had trouble prioritizing the past week, so I didn’t spare any time to ask her about her condition.”

“You should do that, she was asking me why you’re ignoring her.”

“We were never good friends to begin with.”

“I heard a little bit about what happened from the rumors. So, Mister Cain was pulling the strings behind it?”

“Avner was the one who told me about her situation. I merely assisted him.”

“Really? So it wasn’t a lie? How did you know?”

“She was looking pale.”

“Don’t I look pale? Why don’t you suspect me then? Hmph. Tell me the truth.”

“I already said it right?”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Then you don’t need to know.”

“You’re only making me curious!”

“Avner.”

“Yes?”

“Though I may not be able to acquire something equivalent to the grade of the bastard sword, I hope that this is sufficient to make up for the low grade tools which I had passed you before. I put you in danger. As your mentor, I apologize for that.”

Cain took out a beautiful cyan jewel from his pocket and held it out to me. I received it.

“Thank you? It’s not your fault though. If anything, the weapons you gave me saved my life.”

I expanded the jewel and what appeared was a silver bladed longsword. The squared-off pommel and guard were made of blue crystals. The grip was black, contrasting the snowy character of the rest of the weapon.

The design looks like something you would find in a tundra fantasy. A feeling different from the mechanical weapons Cain passed me last time.

“It’s a 2nd grade weapon, Blue Kaizer. There are drones built into it.”

“Thank you Mister Cain.”

“This photon blade is his too, right?”

“Yes.”

“How about me..”

“You already have an artifact grade weapon.”

“So unfair.”

===

Weapons are divided by grade.

From the lowest to highest.

5th grade

4th grade

3rd grade

2nd grade

1st grade

Artifact grade

Ancient grade

Myth grade

There are other forms of categorization, such as class. Nevertheless, the grading system seems to be the most popular used in appraising weapons.

I decided to spend my afternoon studying.

I only have the lighting left to adjust for the commission pieces. I’ll continue again later tonight.

I should be grateful for the fact that I can accept currency even at this age. I remember having struggled as Shin because I couldn’t find any means of transaction as I was underaged.

As Avner, I’m only 16. I still have a long way to go in life.

Even if somehow the family breaks apart, Avner will still be alright. Probably.

[Avner, can I disturb you?]

“Sure. What is it?”

It’s amazing how Randell changes as I do. I was so dogmatic about my work the past week that the AI probably picked up the cue and thought that its appearance was troubling to me.

Which it is.

However, I don’t intend to disable Randell. The pros of having an AI outweigh the cons. I just need to create boundaries.

[You still have unopened messages from Ares, Pu’er, and Lynda.]

“Show them to me, thank you.”

Pu’er’s message was asking me about how I feel today. I replied with better, and a thank you.

Ares’ message was something similar. I told him that I went nuts trying to figure out a way to earn money online. And also an apology.

As for Lynda, her message had been in my inbox since Wednesday.

[“Are you online?”]

I finally replied to the above message.

[“What is it?”]

“Who are you chatting with?”

“A friend.”

I wonder why aether approached me at this sort of time.

“Is it the one in the hospital?”

I nodded.

“How is she?”

“I don’t know, I just replied to her message.”

“Alright, tell me about it when you get the reply.”

Aether went to do chores.

I noticed Lia eyeing me from behind the window of hirs game.

Since I’ve been overly obsessed the past week, xe must have felt the brunt of it too. Xe’s probably mad, since I always told hir off whenever xe tried to disturb me. Now there’s this wall between us.

The thought of it only creates a void in my heart.

What’s more important in life than family?

[“Took you long enough.”]

[“Sorry. So, how are you feeling?”]

[“I’m feeling great. What’s scary is how my personality has changed a little. Also, I have more strength. Must be because of the nanovirus inside me giving me the extra boost.”]

Vampires have increased physical abilities. It’s obvious to the person themselves and those around them. Though said, the enhancement in strength is not to the point of extreme.

Novelle toned down this aspect as this isn’t an apocalyptic story.

[“Good to hear.”]

[“I’m going to be under hospital care for the rest of the month. When will the next feeding happen mister clairvoyance?”]

The first feeding happens around 2 months after infection. The second one is also two months. Approximate.

[“Two months.”]

[“See you next year then.”]

[“Great.”]

“What do you think about visiting grandma’s place tomorrow?”

“Grandma’s place? I want to go!”

Father’s recommendation was well received by Lia. The thought of being distracted from work again irked me.

Even so, it wasn’t like I’ll make any big leaps by fretting the loss of an afternoon.

I’m already drawing 4 hours a day. I just need to be consistent.

[“Avner, are you interested in becoming my blood recipient?”]

===

dotturndot: –trying to portray frustration. If you’re the kind to chase goals, I’m sure you’ve felt it before. That feeling of.. not being there. It might not be in art or writing, but the angst is the same.

I always justify my efforts saying that It’s not working for me because I’m not lucky enough. I’ve been working to become an artist for quite a while now. The reason why I added writing into the fray was because I.. needed something to prevent me from giving up. And writing somehow felt right as the auxiliary to my art. I never intended to be a writer, I told myself it was only going to help boost my concept (which inevitably didn’t as the two crafts are very different things).

I’ve been grinding away for 2 years (for writing) and 4 years (for art). Still hadn’t had that ‘lucky’ strike yet (maybe this series will be the one?). Am still waiting for it to happen. I’ve already decided to make my dreams a reality, or die trying. How about you? Have you given up on your goals? Have you considered picking them up again?