"Watashi wa Edward Freeman des."
It was awkward eventhough I've been here before. After introducing myself, I could hear the students' voices.
"This is the founder's son."
"He is quite handsome."
"He must be a potential Conquistador."
Err… Sorry guys. If you get to know me, I may be not as what you've imagined.
"Excuse me, may I ask who is the girl beside you, Freeman-san?" Here came a question from a student sitting in the front row.
"This is…"
"I'm Athena. Edward's Spirit and also his sister."
Everybody was shocked hearing Anna's explanation. A bunch of amazed noises appeared next in the lecture hall. Oh no! What are you doing? You've made everybody to misunderstand us…
"Athena? The Goddess of Intelligence?"
"Eh! It's impossible for the Spirit to be the master's sister."
"I never thought that guy to be having that kind of preference."
"This is my first time encountering a brother-sister like relationship between a Conquistador and a Spirit."
Oh… I'm dead. I have to make something up so that our secret won't be revealed.
"Err… Actually, it is true that this Spirit is a Greek goddess and their terms are too tough if one to make a pact with them. Just like Athena here. Ahahaha…"
They understood my fake explanation. Fuh… It's good that my secret is still safe.
"Ow… So that's how to make a pact with a European Spirit."
"Aish… He is lucky to have a beautiful Spirit."
Anna who was standing on my left moved her face closer to mine. Woi! Can you just stop doing things like this? But… Looking at her face, she seemed disappointed of my lies before.
"Brother…"
"Sorry Anna… If I were to explain out true relationship, the condition will turn out worse and we might have to live under their eyes. This is for our own sake. I hope you can understand me."
Without any expression, Anna nodded her head. And she told the class about our relationship with convincing my explanation before. While Aisyah as the homeroom lecturer was just smiling sarcastically watching us introducing ourselves. You will also do the same thing if you are in my shoes right?
"Alright! Done with the ice-breaking session. Freeman- san, you can find your seat now. Athena can beside you."
Anna and I walked towards the seating rows in the hall. Earlier plan was to choose the last row as there were a lot of empty seats there. But then a student greeted me.
"Bonjour, Mr. Freeman. There are two empty seats here."
That student was talking with a French slang, having a pair of blue eyes and his light, blonde hair tied in a ponytail, while his forehead was tied with a red band… It seemed like he was an international student. Perhaps a young Conquistador from his home country.
"I'm Harry, Harry Hardouin. Nice to meet you. It seems like you're becoming quite popular here than me."
"Hahaha… It's really out of my expectation."
Then we shook hands. Anna was just watching us and she stared at Harry's face. Harry greeted Anna but as usual, no respond from her. Harry was the only international student in the freshman class and it was undeniable he would be the main attention among the local girls who adored European guys. It could be my chance to befriend him because we came from the same continent.
"You're 20 years old right?"
"Err… Yes. What about my age?"
"Hahak.. There's nothing wrong about your age. It's just that the majority students here are about 17 to 18 years old. So, we are the most 'senior' here."
"That's the issue… So you're 20 too? The same age as mine?"
"Yes… We are of the same age. Originally before I came here I was an army cadet in a military school. I was on final year there when the intake for young Conquistador was announced then my family sent me here due to my potential to be a part of the Spirit Army."
"So, how about your study at the military school?"
"Ow… They'll appoint me directly to join the French Spirit Army when I finish my study here."
So, the French guy was an army cadet. The more shocking question came from Harry later on.
"Actually both of you are more than the master-Spirit, am I right?"
"Err… What if you're guessing it wrongly?"
"I believe that you're more than that. And I know the history of how you get the Spirit."
We were both shocked to hear the statement coming out from the person that we have just met for a few minutes. Who is this guy? How did he know about me? He must be not and ordinary guy then.
***
Lunch time. Harry, Anna and I went to the cafeteria to grab some free food to fill our stomach. Although it was a university, the academic system was very much following a high school's. We started classes early in the morning, break would be at 9 to 9.30am and classes would end depending on the lecturers' subjects. The difference here, Conquistador students needed to practice controlling the Spirits in the evening, while Shamans to accustom themselves with the witchcrafts, and to practice the military skills. The students here were also prohibited to wear casual attire during classes unlike the other universities out there. Because the university accustomed with military administration, the army blue-black uniform became the students' official attire to differentiate them with the other military officers.
Considering the university being managed by the principal and her staffs including Aisyah, who were previously in dad's research team, it was not that hard to survive three years of studies because they emphasized on Conquistadors and Shamans to be the professional Spirit Army and skilful enough to deal with paranormal phenomenon.
After taking food from the counter and sitting at the round table at the most right corner near the entrance door, Anna started to stare at her food. Eh? Isn't she a robot? It's impossible for her to digest food like a human does.
"Bro, how do you eat this?"
"Anna… You can eat this?"
"My body consists 80% of human biological cell and 20% of machine operating like the artificial intelligence which acting as the heartbeat to support the Spirit in my body. So, to preserve this bionic body, some nutrients is needed to supply sufficient energy for the body and to make sure the Spirit can remain longer in it."
"Ow… So, you're actually a Spirit living in that cyborg."
"Shortly, you're exactly right."
"Okay… I got it. I never know that an e-Spirit should have food like we do."
"It's not your fault for not knowing this. After all, the invention of e-Spirit itself is confidential. To consider that you've already know the secret, you must keep your mouth shut and just act like you know nothing."
Anna ordered me to keep the matter as a secret. Yes, that was a restricted information not to be known to public. It must be kept quietly to not let it out and falling into the wrong party. That was why my dad didn't talk about his first research even to his own son. It was logic if we put into account the God Slayer project that he had been working for so long.
"Harry, you should also keep this to yourself." Harry was given the same serious warning.
"Don't worry Anna. I'm a trustable friend."
"Alright. I trust you. So bro, can you show me how to eat this?" Her white face drew nearer to me. Oh… Are you deliberately come nearer to me every time you talk to me?
I glanced at the food and it was just a normal Japanese food. It was not easy to teach a person how to use a pair of chopsticks to grab food and bring it into the mouth like an Asian do. But, Anna was an intelligent cyborg, there would be not a big problem for her to learn the skill.
I taught her for only once to use the chopsticks, and she immediately became an expert. One scoop of rice went into her mouth, followed by next using her chopsticks. I was at ease… There would be no need for me to demonstrate for few times as if I was teaching a small kid.
"So that's the real connection between the first God Slayer and the first e-Spirit." Harry's voice made me realized he was there with us, knowing our secret.
"So, you actually know about my dad's research?"
"I need to know more about the university before deciding to move here. But I didn't expect to come through about Prof. Danial's previous research."
"So that's the story. I should praise your ability as a French army cadet then. Hahaha…"
"Hahaha… Never look down on a French soldier, Mr. Freeman."
Since Harry already knew about the secret that might change the world, I had to make sure he would conceal it. I never knew a stranger would've known about this. "Harry… Can you keep this as a secret and not telling anyone?"
"I won't misuse the information and I don't have any bad intention towards you. If I do, you should have be my enemy by now. Besides, I came here to study with the founder's son. I can do that right?"
Ah… I never expected his answer. That's right. If he is feeling bad about me, he should have already be my enemy. If that's the case, I can form my own platoon soon.
"Hahaha… It won't be a problem for us to be comrades. How about if we work together to form our official platoon. Okay?"
"If you want it, I'll be with you!"
Our handshake became the sign of the beginning of our official platoon for the three years of study. We needed three more students to form our platoon. I couldn't wait to gain knowledge here, the place that would change my life, with the other colleagues.
"Waaa… It seems like Ed has found a new friend!" Suddenly came Aisyah's voice from out of nowhere, making both of us shocked from our conversation. Meanwhile Anna was busy focusing on her mean without even blinking her eyes for Aisyah's sudden appearance.
"Woi Aisyah! You made us shocked!"
"You need to address me as Aisyah-sensei here! Don't call me like you always do!" Her fist reached my head.
I just realized that we were not on the same level. Here, Aisyah was a lecturer, a scientist and the director of the Witchcraft Investigation Department. And I was only a freshman student.
"Duh! Sorry, Aisyah-sensei."
"Hahaha… So Mr. Freeman is close to Aisyah-sensei."
"I took care of Edward in Malaysia when Prof. Danial was busy with his work. Hahaha…" Aisyah proudly mentioned about our matter.
"You can just tell him that we were from the same high school."
"Shut up!" Her fist knocked on my head again. Ouch! It was harder this time. Aisyah… It is not too hard to tell the truth.
"Okay,okay, okay… Now I understand your connection. So Aisyah-sensei, why do you come here looking for us?"
"Ow ya! I almost forgot about that. I'm handing out to you your first assignment."
"Eh? Why is it so soon?" Aisyah gave us the task earlier than it should be. Based on her previous explanation during class, it should be next week that she would give us the field investigation task on the paranormal case.
"It is exactly my intention to give you the assignment earlier. Besides, it is a special case for you. Hehehe…"
"Special for me?" Looking at the paperwork she gave us, stated there:
Case: Carol's Rage
Difficulty Level: C
Location: Yamamoto's Mansion, Tokyo
Dealer: Hasegawa Takio
Difficulty level C? Isn't it too soon for freshmen like us to go through the assignment?
"Aisyah-sensei, I think it's too soon for you to give us a task with this level of difficulty."
"Don't worry. The three of you just need to investigate why Carol get into rage at the mansion. That's all. Hehe…"
"Mr. Freeman, we can accept this assignment. It think it will give us an interesting experience to finish a second year's task." Harry persuaded me to accept the case.
If Harry said so, I had to accept the C-level case although ours should be the D-level and E-level cases. I hoped that Aisyah had her own reasons behind her action as the director of the Witchcraft Investigation Department.
"Okay, Aisyah-sensei… We accept the case."
"Hah! That's it, Ed. So by next week, you can start the investigation. Rest assured, it won't be hard. Okay then! I have to go now. Bye…"
"Thank you Aisyah-sensei!" Harry waved his hand to Aisyah who was leaving us. It seemed like it was a start for us as the Spirit Army's apprentices by engaging in the field investigation assignment for the first time.
"Don't worry, Bro. I'll protect you if you get into trouble during the investigation process."
Eh? Since when that Anna heard our conversation with Aisyah? I thought she was so busy with her food just now?
***
In the corridor towards the principal's office, there was a small and petite looking girl, about 14 to 15 years old, her black hair tied up like a rabbit's ears, there was also a round-shaped tattoo with a straight, vertical line below her left eye, she wore a hat and furred robe like the traditional clothes of the northern mountain tribes. Her character did seem like she was a traditional woman, not affected by the modern world.
She walked happily in the university compound. She was excited with everything that she had not found in her hometown before. But she looked a little lost. She was searching for something important.
"Hmm... Where is the principal's office? This is my first time being in a foreign country… And I got lost in a university… Hmm…"
Luckily for this girl, the principal appeared in the left corridor on the way to her room. The petite girl realized there was somebody walking there and she immediately asked for help.
"Yeah! Somebody is here. Hey you! Can you help me…" The small woman ran towards the principal. The principal also knew that the woman came to her before she entered her office room. Looking at her, the principal recognized her face.
"Eh… It's you!"
"Hmm? Me?"
"Yes. You are Noy Krishna from Tibet, am I right?"
"Yes… I'm Noy Krishna."
"I've been waiting for you for a long time! I am the university's principal."
"The principal? It's worth it for me to explore the university then!" She was happy to meet somebody who helped her to register into the university.
"Your effort is not a waste." The principal supported her achievement too.
"Actually, Master Riva has given me some tips to find my destination while being at an unfamiliar place. Thank god, because of him and you, I can enrol into this university to learn and socialize with the people. But…"
"But…?"
"But... I need somebody… To help me…"
The principal knew what she was trying to say. Noy was too new to the foreign world, and she needed a guide to help her here.
"Ow… You need a life partner?"
"Eh?! No! I just need a friend to guide me..." Noy's reaction by waving her both hands denying and her blushed cheeks made the principal laughed.
"Hahaha… I know exactly what you need. Besides,Master Riva has told me before that you might need a friend to guide you."
"So, you can help me?"
"Hehe… I know somebody who can help you to know more about this world."
"Is it true? Yeay! I'll be having a friend soon!"
The principal had given a thought about somebody to guide Noy along her three years of study at the university. Who might be the person is?