During this one week, she prepared her luggage, paid the rent in advance, and told the good new to Aine when she visited the hospital. Her reaction was :
"Are you sure it's not a scam ?"
"Don't worry I verified, everything is in order."
"But the salary is a lot. Are you going to teach in a prestigious school?"
"From what I read, I will be going in a foreign country to teach."
"Oh. Is your passport ready?"
"I prepared everything."
"It's great new! I will tell the girls about it. But it will be sad to not be able to see you until next holidays..."
"I will call you often. After all, I need you to keep an eye on my mother."
"Yeah!"
The conversation being finished, she went to her mother room. Last week, she got an attack because she told her she would go back to do exorcisms. Her mother fervently refused and the fear of also losing her daughter provoked the attack. Astrea asked for forgiveness and told her about her new work. Her mother was really happy about it. It was much better than hunting ghosts. After having reconciled with her, they spent the rest of the afternoon together.
After leaving the hospital, she returned home and rested early. In her sleep, she dreamed of her time with her teacher and fellow apprentice. Was it a sign she would meet them again? If so, she didn't really feel happy as they would surely nag her because she left without telling them. Morning came and she took her luggages down. The appointment was 9:00 am in front of her apartment building. She descended ten minutes early. Then she saw Janus and his driver already waiting for her. They also noticed her. Janus closed on her and greeted :
"Good morning Miss Elysium, I hope you passed a good week."
"Yes, thanks to you."
"Hammond, take her luggages."
"Yes, sir." He took the luggage from Astrea hands and put them in the car's trunk.
"Well, let's get going shall we?" Janus opened the door for her and invited her inside. She looked back one last time in direction of her apartment. Janus was amused by this and asked her :
"Already regretting your decision?"
"No."
"You can always change your decision."
"A contract doesn't work like that."
"Yes."
"I don't regret it."
"Mn."
"I just felt like I needed to look one last time."
"Why?"
"My instinct told me. It's often accurate."
"Mn. Your teacher also had a good instinct. Maybe it has to do with your art?"
"Maybe." After saying this they fell silent. Hammond entered the car and started the engine. She turned her head away from the window and looked straight ahead. Looking at her profile, he could see the resolution in her eyes and he smirked. He also turned his head away.
The journey was very quiet. They took a lot of turns and the scenery began to get less and less civilized. Astrea began to suspect something was wrong and was about to ask something. Before she could do anything, she only felt weightlessness.
"!?" She turned her to the window and only saw water in front of her. She wasn't prepared and froze with her dark grey eyes wide open. She could feel her heart trying to jump out of her throat. Then the car hit the water. Strangely, the liquid didn't enter the car. Her mind short-circuited and she stayed paralyzed. Janus found her reaction really funny and couldn't help but say:
"So you are the type to keep who keep a stoic face in front of danger.Huh." but the following event made him deeply regret his words. A sudden wave of energy hit him and hurt him quite a bit. It was even worse for Hammond as it was him who caused the car to fall. He could only cry in his heart:
'I shouldn't have listened to the chairman! Next time, I will take the usual path. OUCH! It hurts!'
Seeing his assistant suffering, he suddenly felt guilty. He quickly tried to stop her from rampaging :
"Astrea! Please stop it! I'm sorry It's not his fault, I asked him to do it! Ah- Ouch! Please stop! It hurts!?" Janus was very surprised. A human was able to easily hurt him even though he is part of one of the most powerful beings in the universe. Her teacher clearly told him not to underestimate her but it seems like he still did.
"Explain." coldly ordered Astrea.
"I just wanted to see you make a different face than the expressionless one you always wear."
"And making the car fall from a cliff was your BEST! IDEA!!!!"
"I-I-I-I...." The pressure coming from her was the heaviest he ever felt in his life. With his stature, no one dared to lecture him. He should be feeling vexed but deep inside, there was something telling him not to anger her any more than she is. He could only lower his head and sulk.
With her attention directed somewhere else, Hammond could finally breathe normally. He quickly directed the car to a hidden passage. When the car crossed it, it suddenly fell on the ground as no water was around to hold it up. The shock caused Astrea to hit her head against the passenger seat and the pain made her stop emitting her strange power.
With the tension suddenly gone, he raised his head only to see Astrea holding her forehead in pain. Seeing this he couldn't help but ask :
"Hey, are you okay?"
"..."
"I'm sorry, okay? I won't do it again, I promise." he didn't realize it but he just told her a lie as the events that will unfold during her years here will almost give her heart attacks. While he was begging for forgiveness, Astrea ignored him and looked outside. The first thing she saw was a giant golden gate. Through the gate, she could see a forest road leading to who knows where. The car stopped before the door. Someone neared it and questioned :
"Welcome to Arcadia Academy. What is the reason of your visit?"
Hammond just showed him a card and the guardian gasped in surprised. He turned his head to look at Janus and he widened his eyes even more. He stuttered :
"W-w-welcome b- back c-c-chairman! I- I will open the door!" He quickly ran in the cabin and the gate opened. As the car moved away, she noticed that the gatekeeper had longer ear than normal. He also had a weird eye color. It was pink. Astrea just shook her head. She thought the hit on her head must have caused her to see incorrectly. But Janus also had strange eyes color. After all, she never saw someone have natural silver eyes...