"What the fuck is going on with your body?"
Aziel had asked in a joking tone, but Asher had thought deeply about the answer to that question. Everything that happened to him seemed to be affecting his life in some inexplicable ways, and he can't help but feel as if there's a deeper meaning to everything. Transmigrating into this world, changing lives, and merging his soul. Those were things that wouldn't have happened if the current Asher hadn't come to be.
Above everything else, Asher felt confused. Why was he given another chance after having died two times already? Why him, of all people? Someone who was so weak that the people around him had to make sure no harm would befall him?
Asher sighed and massaged his head. It doesn't matter how long he degrades himself or ponders over different ideas as to why he even exists, there was absolutely no way that he would find an answer right now.
Aziel stared at him in worry. He had no idea that the question he had asked half-jokingly and half-serious would cause such an effect on Asher. Aziel placed his hands on Asher's shoulders and softly talked to him to pacify his anxiousness.
"Hey, hey, you don't actually have to answer the question. I mostly said it as a joke."
Hearing this, Asher calmed down to some degree. He wanted to know the reason being his coming here, but it wouldn't be possible to find everything out now.
Asher stepped out of the bed he was lying on and turned around to look at Aziel. His long, white hair had been slightly messed up because of their rushing to the infirmary. It made him appear younger and more naïve.
"Are we going back to class?"
"Yep, let's hurry. Pithos, follow me."
"W-wait! I don't want to go back! Prof. Smickle is a bastard and he really freaks me out!"
"Well too bad for you," Asher laughed as he left the infirmary.
Aziel stumbled trying to catch up to Asher and grimaced while thinking about having to go back to history class. "Didn't your energy get sapped?"
Asher nodded. Pithos meowed as he asked Asher with his gaze about what had happened while he was gone. The boy shook his head and signaled a 'not now' with his expression.
"If we don't take it then we would've wasted our time. I prefer taking what's left of the class than have to take it some other day."
"Why don't we just skip class?"
Asher stared at Aziel with wide eyes. "Skip class and then what? How are we supposed to retrieve the lost material?"
Aziel sighed and noticed that his hair was all messed up, so he let his hair loose. Being completely truthful, Aziel looked like an angel. His white locks softly fell against his back. His round eyes were so full of life and had colors that resembled the most beautiful sunset imaginable. The sun was hitting his face, giving his creamy complexion a warm feeling to it. And although he wasn't smiling right now, Asher couldn't help but imagine how this incomplete scene would've been if Aziel were to display his pearly whites. Simply dazzling.
Asher was taken aback by Aziel's sudden charm. He had completely ignored his surroundings and blanked out while staring at Aziel.
Aziel was now retying his hair after failing to do so the first two times. He twirled around and swayed his hair before laughing. "Does it look okay?"
Asher smiled. "It does."
The two of them smiled at each other, both of them unaware as to what Asher had just felt. Needless to say, Asher pushed those thoughts and feelings aside before continuing their previous conversation.
"Prof. Smickle is stupid enough to hand over the materials to us, so let's just please skip class," Aziel slightly bent down as he begged as a way to show his sincerity. He really didn't want to go back to class.
Asher didn't want to skip this class. It was necessary for him to know more about the world and people that surrounded him, and this class was the biggest opportunity for him to learn more. However, he was still being influenced by the feelings he had felt before, so he couldn't help but give in to those feelings.
"Sure. At least make sure to make it worth my time."
"Say no more."
Aziel excitedly skipped ahead and giggled maniacally to himself, causing Asher to think if this was actually the best idea. Pithos nudged Asher with his head and meowed worriedly. Asher picked him up from the floor and caressed Pithos' fur to ease his worries.
"Just don't tell anyone we skipped class, okay?"
After a short few seconds of silence, Aziel said, "I'll take you to our spot since you've already been accepted as a part of our group."
"I have?" Asher asked, feeling rather astonished. They've together for less than a day, and they already considered him their friend?
Aziel nodded as he took Asher through the open plaza before returning back to the hallways. "Yeah. It was actually I who judged whether or not you're a good person, actually."
Both of them reached the training field where there were a few students training with a different variety of weapons. Most of them probably haven't used any weapons and were trying to find the best one for them. The ones that had already chosen their weapons were given instructions on how to properly handle them, hence there where three teachers in charge. There were also those who were there not for the class, but to train themselves. They were given their space and every-so-often a teacher would come up to them and give them pointers or commend them for their skills.
Asher and Aziel walked on the path next to the field as to not disturb the students or grab any unwanted attention.
"Divine power works in mysterious ways. It's not really my own power, but more so given to me by the goddess. It influences me in many different ways, one of them being able to judge someone based on their eyes," Aziel said once reaching the end of the training field. From here on out, it was a small forest that belonged to the school.
Asher bent down to pass through the shrubbery. "So you literally just look into my eyes and judge whether or not I'm a good person. Is that really all?"
"Not really," Aziel started. "In a way, I get a short preview of who you are when I stare into your eyes. Those feelings start getting stronger the more time I spend with you or just watch you in general."
"I first saw you in the cafeteria and you appeared to be rather intimidating, to say the least. After a while of seeing you around and actually talking to you, I got a general idea of if you are a good person or not. I might have not been as thorough with you, but it's always nice to live with a little unpredictability sometimes."
Aziel smiled as they finally reached their destination. It wasn't much, but one was able to tell just how much this place meant to someone. There were a different variety of wildflowers blooming from all directions and the grass was a healthy, vibrant green. On the floor underneath a tree, there were three stumps that Asher could only guess were used as seats.
Asher stood by the side taking in the sight as Aziel took out two of the stumps and placed them close to Asher. They both sat down as Asher asked another question in curiosity.
"What can you deduce about me using only your divine powers?"
Aziel closed his eyes and breathed before opening his eyes back up. He placed his elbows on his knees as his head rested upon his hands. He smiled mysteriously and said, "The best way to describe you would be lost and insecure, but also thankful? It's a strange combination, one I haven't seen before."
Asher stopped. Lost? Insecure? Thankful? While he hadn't thought about himself that way, he could strangely relate to those three words. He wasn't sure how he related to being lost and insecure and it would require too much mental and emotional energy to think about right now. However, he knew he was incredibly thankful to have been given another chance to live and grow.
"What have you seen on other people?"
Aziel didn't respond at first. "Sometimes happiness and purity, other times greed and pain. This world is filled with people that have either haven't been hurt enough to learn or have been hurt way too much and wish to inflict that pain onto others. Which one do you think I am?"
"Neither," Asher said without any hesitation.
"Why do you think that?"
"I don't believe anyone would purposely put themselves in harm's way by following someone with excessive greed or pain. You have a high position, so I'd assume that you would stay clear of those who harbor negative feelings. However," Asher's eyes narrowed as he stared into Aziel's guarded gaze. "I think that a person who hasn't been hurt would ask something like that. You haven't been hurt enough to inflict pain onto others, because Dashiell and Zyair seem to really care for you and not be afraid of you. You also don't seem so pure and naïve."
"How can you call the Child of Divine not pure?" Aziel laughed as he skillfully changed the previous subject. He seemed much more open and relaxed than before.
"Why don't I try to read you again? It isn't fair if I'm the only one being read."
"You were the one who asked me too."
"Please! Let me do this!"
Aziel begged again. It seemed as if this would become a normal thing between the two boys. Asher had quickly agreed after letting Aziel beg for a while longer.
"You just have to stare into my eyes, right?"
Aziel nodded. They both slightly turned their heads and looked at each other silently. At first, Asher felt anxious. Should he think? Should he not think? Can he stare elsewhere, or does he have to stare directly into Aziel's eyes for this to work? After a while of this, Asher blanked out. He focused solely on Aziel's eyes.
Dark pink, sky blue, and purple. There was also a hint of a soft orange once the colors were exposed by the sun. Just like the sunset. Or maybe the sunrise? Both? Fuck it, it's everything. The sky, the sun, the clouds, and the birds. It's an unknown world that's out of reach for normal people, only available for those who reach out to it incessantly. They have to prove themselves worthy to be able to reach the sky and see its real beauty; both the liberating calmness and the unending chaos. It was also something that Asher was able to possess without having to go through a harsh struggle.
Aziel's gaze gradually softens as time went by. Maybe it Asher's honest and unguarded gaze what made him feel more at ease. Or maybe it was the feelings Aziel could feel was radiating off of Asher. It was nothing dark nor intense, but more open, clear, and overall warm. A warmness that Aziel could feel draping over him, gently embracing him.
Soon enough, Aziel forgot about the reason he was staring into Asher's eyes. He focused not on his feelings, but on Asher himself. His cold, navy-blue eyes were intimidating. Not to mention the dark hair with the streak of red that covered those cool-colored eyes. However, for just a split second, you could see how that cold color turned into a dazzling sapphire blue. A type of blue that you only saw on the clearest of waters; ones that resembled crystals themselves. Aziel couldn't help but lose himself in those clear eyes that Asher possessed.
The two boys lost track of time. They forgot about the class they were supposed to take. They forgot about their surroundings. They forgot that they were in school. There was only Asher and Aziel.
The leaves behind the two rustled as Zyair came out from the shrubbery. Almost as if enchanted by a spell, Asher and Aziel turned to the newcomer, their minds hazy.
Zyair stared at them both in concern, noticing their unusual states. "Are you both okay?"
"Y-Yeah," replied Aziel as he shook his head to get rid of the haziness. "How did you know we were here?"
"I saw Dashiell skipping class. I scolded him for a bit before asking about you two and he told me what had happened. I assumed that if you weren't in class then you would take Asher here," Zyair replied as he smiled towards Asher.
"You officially became a part of our group, you know? No one else besides us can come here. Although I thought we would wait for a bit more before taking you here but..."
Zyair glanced over at Aziel who lightly blushed while laughing. "It's always nice to live life unpredictably, y' know? I don't want to always have to live without any surprises."
Both Asher and Zyair sighed at Aziel's words before laughing themselves. They couldn't possibly argue about that.
"Also, Asher," said Zyair as he grabbed the other stump and sat with the two. "I was tasked with teaching a new student who will be enrolling next week on how the school works, but he immediately asked me if you could teach him instead. Do you know a Zacharia Ace?"
"Zacharia? He came here?" Asher's eyes widened in surprise.
Zyair nodded and Aziel stared at Asher in curiosity. If he had come here and specifically asked for him, then that means that they are going to start working together to uncover the secrets hidden behind the Rising Fairies.
"Who is he?" Aziel asked.
Asher sighed as he remembered the last time he saw Zacharia and the mess he had caused. "You could call him a coworker or a partner in crime."
"I'll tell him that you agreed. Is next week okay?"
"Yes. Please tell him so."