Several hours whisked past in a blur. As I gathered my belongings, preparing to embark on my journey to school, I exited my room and embarked upon a solitary walk through the vacant corridor."It's been quiet today..." I mused aloud, the words softly punctuating the stillness. The once-familiar cadence of life within these walls seemed to have shifted inexplicably.I remembered the time when my cousin was still a child. We would often play outside until we're tired. Over time, much like the others, her disposition underwent a subtle metamorphosis, a transformation coinciding with my own affliction of blindness. To clarify, my sentiments towards her remain untouched by animosity. Rather, I suspect her malleable nature might be the root cause—susceptible to the prevailing influence of those around her.Children are easily influenced, which is why my cousin, who was once innocent, now exhibits a brattish demeanor."Speak of the devil..."Abruptly, my steps came to a halt as I fixed my ga
"This is it..."As I gazed at the solitary figure seated on a park bench, I involuntarily clenched my fist tightly, my emotions in turmoil. Ever since my vision was restored, my facial expressions also returned after a year of absence... This explained why I could express my joy when Jack presented me with the action figurine.However, such thoughts were inconsequential at this moment. My focus was solely on preventing her from spreading the foolish mistake I had made.Taking her life wasn't a viable option. She held significant influence and popularity, not to mention her pivotal role within the academy. Why? Because the girl before me happened to be the principal's only disciple!She was born with a magical prowess that was remarkable like the principal, a stark contrast to my own inclination towards physical strength. My proficiency extended to a multitude of weapons, though ranged arms like bows and firearms remained beyond my mastery.Strangely, there was a hint of familiarity i
"Why...?""Why.... Why...?""Athan.....!"As the voice calling a familiar yet weirdly unknown name became faint, I could feel someone grabbing me from behind.It was pulling me further into the darkness.I felt like I was drowning in a deep ocean; however, for some reason, I could still breath properly.Help... I wanted to scream, yet no words came out from my mouth except for bubbles. The experience felt suffocating.As the hand kept pulling me further away from the light, I felt my eyes becoming heavy. Soon, I let the darkness consume my consciousness as the feeling of emptiness overtake me......."....Ah!"My eyes shut open as I immediately sat up from my bed, my hand extended forward. What happened...? I thought, looking at my palm as I pant heavily. To calm down, I clutched on my chest and closed my eyes to take in some breath.After snapping out of trance and recovering my stupor, I immediately turned my attention to scrutinize my surroundings."I..."Noticing the action fi
After I finished explaining, Chloe finally released her grip on me. I fell on my bum, and she left me alone."Ugh..."...What should I do now? I pondered to myself. I had left my mask back in my room, and my remaining money would barely last a week. Therefore, I decided to head to school, looking rather disheveled. My hair was a mess, and I had developed dark circles under my eyes for some unknown reason."How troublesome..."I put on my glasses, the same ones I usually wore when venturing out incognito, and slung my bag over my shoulder.I should mention that when my vision partially returned a few years ago, it was still somewhat blurry.With my bag in tow, I left the estate to make my way to school.---(Alicia's POV)Staring at the imposing school gate ahead, I gripped my bag and adjusted the sword hanging by my side."I hope Vallen stops following me this year."The person in question is my childhood friend, Vallen. For some reason, after he lost his sight, he has become somewhat
(Vallen POV)Earlier...As soon as I arrived at the school, I immediately noticed Alicia standing in front of the gate. From the looks of it, she appeared to be nervous. It was probably because, after this year, she would officially become a Guardian.Upon graduation, each student had the option to choose a profession. For civilians, the options ranged from entrepreneurship and accounting to science, police work, politics, and various other common occupations.However, for students like us who attended a Magic School, there were six special job categories to choose from. These options included Guardians, Magic Police, Mages, Mercenaries, Hunters, and Wanderers.Guardians were often likened to modern-day heroes. They were ranked by number, with the number one spot occupied by a Guardian known as Felix. This number was both a codename and an indication of their mastery of Sky and Lightning magic.Magic Police were essentially law enforcement officers who wielded magic.Mages acted as re
"Vallen!"I was jolted from my thoughts as the sudden call of my name pierced the classroom. Slowly, I turned my head toward the source of the voice, managing a forced smile in response."Erm, yeah?" I replied, affirming her guess.Before I could say more, our professor intervened, addressing Alicia with a request. "Miss Alicia, could you please take your seat? We're about to begin our class."A look of realization crossed Alicia's face as she glanced around the classroom. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she promptly returned to her seat.Professor Cossette continued with her introduction, and soon she delved into the topic of magic and its elements. I listened attentively, thankful for the return to normalcy.During the lecture, I couldn't help but feel the weight of Alicia's gaze on me. It was unusual and slightly uncomfortable. To distract myself, I lightly tapped my index finger on the table and shifted in my chair.As the class progressed, I found myself gazing out the w
I found myself disoriented, uttering a bewildered, "Where am I?" As I gradually opened my eyes, a faint glimmer of light pierced through, beckoning me to the surface.Panic coursed through me, and I knew I had to swim back to that elusive light above. I attempted to move my limbs, but an invisible force held me in a motionless state.In a frantic bid to escape the drowning darkness, I scanned my surroundings, but all I saw was water. My mouth finally moved, releasing a bubbling cry as I continued to sink away from the distant light.My attempts to swim upwards were thwarted when an unseen force gripped my foot, pulling me deeper into the abyss. The sensation was strange; I could still breathe, as if there was air within this underwater realm."Help!" I screamed, though I knew my voice only resonated within my own head.Am I... Going to die?Time lost meaning, and though I could breathe, a suffocating sensation began to creep over me. My vision dimmed, and my eyes grew heavy.In that
"Ah!! Brother!!!"Chloe's piercing scream rang in my ears, snapping me back to reality.Am I going to die again...? I thought, my vision blurring. I could feel my life's blood pooling beneath me, the room growing cold, and my vision splitting into two. One eye remained locked on the heartwarming scene of Chloe's father hugging her tightly, while my other eye swung back and forth like a pendulum, as if someone were pushing it on a swing."Are you okay? Did that person do anything strange to you?" Chloe's father asked her, his concern evident.This jerk... I'm not some sick guy with a sister complex! I tried to speak, but my jaw only twitched slightly. It must have been a gruesome sight for Chloe, and I felt a pang of guilt for putting her through this."You killed him!!"Those were the last words I heard before my consciousness began to fade.......Water...?I awoke to the sensation of being submerged. I was back in the eerie underwater abyss, unable to move an inch. Something seeme