The white-haired young master made his way to the room exclusively only for the VIP Personnel. He is the very same person who laughed and had a friendly manner towards Euphemia before.
He is the top, a very important person, and the owner of the exclusive companies built inside the empire. Seemingly, he was one of the emperor's trusted people who managed everything smoothly. No one can dare to defy him; he more or less got the level of emperor for himself.
The appearance he possessed is more than just a porcelain white aspect, his rarity is beyond rare. That's why people also consider him an ancient person. Ancient people are actually what they've called Raksha's before.
Raksha is once the guardian maintaining the balance of the world, however; up to these days, no one has ever seen them again. They became a myth, and mostly can only be found in some sort of children's book. Although the Raksha has vanished from the world, magic or commonly now called Magia still exists.
The empire maintained the source of Magia's life and only the people who were capable of serving the empire for the end of their lives are the people who are able to receive this kind of blessing. The candidates are mostly from the royalties, and nobles. If one may get Magia's blessing, then they will be treated as much of the privilege they want in life.
People in nobility are ambitious, their greediness has no never-ending cycle. Just take it, for example, if one noble has their firstborn, they will surely send the child at a young age to the empire to be trained and be useful. It was like this young child was a sacrifice for the empire. Even though this young child doesn't have any wish to have anything to do with the state of soldiers, armies, and knights of the empire, they wouldn't have much choice.
That's why being the older sibling in the nobility is a curse.
Some might think it was a curse but for some students, it was sure a blessing. After graduating, some don't go back to their families and start a new majestic life using the privilege they've gotten in the academy.
Going back to the white-haired young master, naturally, people who are with him won't hold any single conversation. No one has actually known him for what kind of person he is, and how they will roll over with a good conversation with this important person.
"Young Master Stale." People call him a young master instead of a higher rank title. He doesn't wish to be called out in some way; this was already decided a few years ago.
"That girl." Stale grew a little curiosity toward the young missy across the deck. He doesn't show much emotion but somehow, curves a smile on his face. He also pointed out with an effort, to be more specific he was actually talking about Euphemia.
Everyone shuffled their attention to the girl, "She is your—" before one can even finish the sentence. Stale abruptly halted him by having an unresolved sigh.
"There's no need to mention then. I'm just surprised she grew up into a fine, energetic young missy." he calmly muttered, "We should get going."
Although this kind of conversation he was engaging with his people made their heartbeats so fast, it was like they feared something about Stale. They are nervous and afraid that this young master might happen to shift his mood to a level that no one is wishing for.
"Y-yes, young—"
Stale was about to go, but; he was held by the stutter of one person who was serving him. He stood firmly, having a puzzled gaze on the man who was obviously uncomfortable around him.
Stale didn't even flinch.
"Am I that scary?" he questioned this man directly. "N-no, sir!" and the person answers him specifically from his question as fast as he could. Hence, the man would avoid his glance for his own sake. He doesn't want to get into some sort of trouble himself.
"Then quit being stuttered. Stutter once more and you'll see yourself out of this place." The warning contains both enigmatical threats and advice. One of the staff shoved the man away from who did negative actions in front of Stale, few of them would secretly break a sigh away to release the intensity of the surrounding.
"Let's go." fortunately for them, Stale didn't make any more unresolved matter towards his men. He let that incident slide without saying anything regarding it.
They proceeded inside the room and began the analytical report discussion regarding the current studies of the students as well as the status of the whole Magia's transplantation for their project.
"A human weapon who will surpass the power of the gods."
***
Euphemia's perspective.
My eyes were covered in morning dust keeping my eyes lids closed. I rubbed it multiple times, as I relaxed my body, continuously doing that for about one minute.
Today, I have a class, but I'm about to skip class again.
I am certain that I'm in my dorm, the door is locked, not going to let anyone enter but I'll go out soon.
And if you ask me why I am skipping class, there's no particular reason for it. My body feels so heavy, that I don't feel like doing anything at all.
I was finally able to brush away the dust in my eyes as I dramatically took sight slowly of my surroundings. However, an abrupt scene from the past eventually freaks me out. It was a trauma of mine where I can able to see the pit of the hellish blaze around me, then I would see my mother's smiling face, who also carries my older sister's body.
They are standing right in front of me as if they are telling me that the tragedy of Sabrie is not done yet.
Yes. It probably wasn't done, but for me it is. I had already planned the things I was about to do on the ground. "That is to live luxuriously forever." I'm so done with the pain it caused me back when I was a child.
I moved on. The ghost from my past won't affect me anymore. "Except they sometimes startled me like a couple of minutes ago."
But it's probably just my mind, playing tricks again.
I sighed heavily, stretching myself, "It's good to start a new fresh day." without worrying about anything. If the exam is truly difficult, I would like to see it for myself and break some legs.
Clapping a couple of times, I see myself in the mirror. My hair has been messy since I just got up on the bed. My face was actually covered in dry saliva—just how good my sleep was yesterday night.
I don't remember much of what I did yesterday but that white-haired person's smile still appears on my head.
Although, I couldn't figure out why am I bothered by that brat's smile. It's not even interesting to contemplate.
"I should just fix myself." deciding on what to do next. I brushed my hair using a normal hairbrush. After that, I headed to the bathroom to wash my face and then brush my teeth, it's an actual normal routine for a person. It didn't take me long to fix myself, and so before I can even forget. I wear my uniform.
After doing the normal things I do every single morning. I head out, though, I won't particularly go to attend the class today. I decided to take a stroll right on this campus since I can't ride airships to get on the ground.
"The examination will take place tomorrow." I uttered to myself, "Pretty sure that everyone is preparing and honing their skills."
"But tomorrow is also basically my Freedom Day. So, I will use this time to enjoy myself in this place for the last time...
...There's nothing memorable happened in this place, though..." I paused myself for a while. Ungratefully recalling all the things that happened to me in this place. "I can only remember those people injecting something inside my body. It's painful, and an Artes appeared together with its mark."
The mark actually appeared right in the middle of my chest. "It has a fiery red colour, but..."
"Huh?" my thoughts are disrupted by somebody who abruptly makes a confused sound, 'huh'?
I glanced at the person who caught my attention. "It's you." the person who appeared, was that kid who had a mysterious smile on his face yesterday.
He is still smiling now. Seems like someone was grateful to meet me today.
Euphemia's perspective.The white person, I should call him that since he is all white. I never know his name, he wouldn't tell me, though, he seems familiar with me.That person approached me earlier, although I don't know what he wants. He asked me if I wanted to have tea with him. I rejected the offer since my limitation doesn't allow me to have a friendly start with anyone.As I said before, "That kid has been covered in a mysterious atmosphere himself." He was surrounded by the executives like they were all his slaves. I noticed how troubled they are, sweating most of them. Perhaps that kid has a powerful position in this place.I'm currently sitting on an unoccupied bench. Following the sight of the students who were with their friends."What would you like to have?""A parfait?""Alrighty! Hehe..."The two girls are acting like asses in front of me, it pisses me off."Why are they even asking each other like a motherfucking pussy...?...just get your asses out of here!" my burn
"Young Master Stale."Stale and the other important staff are now in the observation area, this area was certainly made for the VIPs, specially made to watch the students. The final exam will commence today, so everything is lively both for the supervisors and the students.That very same room is made of toughed tempered glass, it was made to shield the people inside from the Schattens, and students who are expecting will lose their insanity. The battle against the Schatten won't be going to be easy, now that Stale has decided to put the highest rank of Schatten in the examination.He is expecting that most of the students will die. Only the strongest will remain, and so does his pet."Everything is now well prepared, young Master." a female staff informed Stale, "We are only waiting for your signal.""Then, begin the examination.""As you wish, young Master."When the female staff received permission from Stale. She stepped out, informing the other staff about the signal that was giv
Euphemia's perspective.Everyone is on their feet, waiting for the fiends to come. We were locked in the huge dome, a place where will the examination takes its set. The atmosphere here is way more suffocating than breathing a miasma. The girls who are part of this examination are already crying because no one wants to team up with them. While the group made by most men were preparing for the worst.There are five sections of seniors who are taking examinations today. That includes our section, in fact, my classmates are here but no one really went to team up with me. It's not like I'm expecting one, I'm actually waiting for five people at least. But those stupid people think I'll be a hindrance."Don't worry. You actually got one." I told myself that, lurking a stare at this child who was looking at the others. His body is shaking, "So this is what you call 'Prodigy'? He looks like someone who'll pee here and now."I can't believe I have to babysit.I get back to observing people. Mo
Euphemia's perspective.The dust.***"Good luck, may God protect each of you." The proctor stated.Silence engulfed the whole area. Here we are, inside of this huge dome made of glass, as we witness how the light was slowly being tucked away by a small-scale black pixel. My mind envelops a common question in my head."Why?"It wasn't like this in the previous examination I had, everything is just not familiar as it was before. I can hear everyone's voiceless worries. It's deafening and fretting."Sister." the child goes sideways. I barely see how he is looking at me, he was stiff and seemed to be uncomfortable. However, I can't just let him be like that. I poked him, trying the best I could to cheer him up."Scardy cats usually end up dead.""E-ekk? I don't want to die!""Wait, did I scare him instead of making him calm? Ugh. This is why I don't babysit." I murmured to myself.A huge snap after, the next thing we saw was the dome was completely shut, there was no speck of light that
A young petite boy who possessed a massive red bush surrounding two wide green eyes was staring out the window on the second floor of his room. Silently, he was observing the people, including his family and his beloved older brother who soon will be taken away. The people who were dressed in military uniforms are sent by the Chasseur magia academy, to collect his brother, like he was a thing that pays off the debt of their family.It was given on their rules that every oldest son and daughter of a noble family would be designated for the empire. However, this family has twins. By means of twins, they were gifted with identical appearances that one can barely see the difference. In the way, their parents only picked the most reliable one, leaving the weak on the corner alone."Tch." This child can't measure his affection for his brother, they were born on the same day, grew up together, and are now because of the law. They are going to be separated for good."I wish they would take me
"Watch out!"We're in the second phase of the examination. The Ghost can easily possess the one who has negativity. Half of the examiners had already surrendered their minds to the sinister darkness."S-sister!" and we're being attacked by our own kind. Naturally, this will be nothing if I don't have someone who needs to protect.Creating multiple types of weapons at once is taking my vigour, and even pushing me to my limit. But I have no choice. While shielding this child from harm, the guy who helped me before is ruthlessly taking the life of the mindless students. The pattern of red dots unfurled across my vision by then. The dots hung there for a while, burying a sword in one's face doesn't seem to be a problem to him at all."A monster."Only a monster could do that. The students are begging for their lives, yet his ears were shut. He doesn't mind or probably he doesn't care at all.Although I'm not in the right position to judge him, he has done nothing but protect us so far. Ho
The drowsy atmosphere in this place was hounded both by fear and consternation. As the last opponent, we are facing will surely have the highest level so far. My eyes and the rest were staring at the entrance door where the Schatten would enter."Our final opponent will be a mimic.""H-how did you know that?"Surprisingly, the guy beside me can tell what we will be facing this time. I'm kind of doubtful of him."Why does he know? Did anyone tell him about it before? He doesn't seem like the guy who will have a long conversation with anyone." I snorted out of my thoughts.The steam from a newly opened door was released, and there was a momentary silence for all of us. Footsteps, we overhear a footstep that most likely was from the mimic. From the darkness, someone stepped in. The heavy sensation is, here again, what I can only do is stand firmly to my ground.A rough crackling laugh was the first thing we heard from the mimic, "Wahaha—!...The President told me that if I can kill each
Trigger warnings; This content can potentially harm the reader mentally, triggering stressful episodes, panic attacks, depression, and anxiety.***That day.She was there before me, carrying my older sister's lifeless body. My mother's eyes directly glanced at mine, and she made a devastating smile. The soot was swaying around, together with her hair lurching in the background.The reason?I would probably never know.Our household was in a pit of hellish fire, cries and begging were visible in my ears. Everything is burning, humans, furniture, together with our simple happy memories within. As for my mother who only stands there, doing nothing at all.She whispered a cryptic word. At first, I couldn't hear them clearly."...Li.." It was unclear, noises from the burning house were louder than her voice. I just stared at her, unable to say any words.To be honest, I want to ask her, 'why are you on the other side? And not here with me.' however, regarding how she smiles at me. My hesi