"Vierne, I heard... about Lict." Jenet said as he sat beside Vierne just before the lecture.
"Jenet? Who told you?" Vierne said.
"Iki" Jenet said.
"Iki? How does she know?" Vierne said.
"Iki can talk to animals and trees. They told her that the star of music has been cursed and is going on a fit." Jenet said.
"Well, seems like this is it.... But Lord Akagi's not ready to let me fight to save Lict, he is only after Lict's life." Vierne said.
"It's okay. Together, we can save Lict!" Jenet said.
"What?" Vierne said.
"We'll fight together!" Jenet said.
"Who needs Akagi anyways!" Jade said.
"JADE?" Vierne said as she looked at Jade Johnson.
"I heard you guys. I'll help for sure." Jade said with a smile.
"Are you crazy? We are still students, we cannot fight against a cursed elite. Are you begging for death?" Bella, Jade's star spirit said.
"It's okay, we'll use Kyle's star spirit. Riri is an elite star too, right?" Jenet said.
"As if he'd let his star spirit fight a cursed star." Bella said.
"He will!" Jade said.
"Idiot! Don't you know? Stars who get close to cursed stars are also infected by the curse. Only experienced Demigods can deal with cursed stars." Bella said.
"What are you people talking about?" Akagi said as he just stood behind them.
"UWA!! M- MR. AKAGI!!" Jenet said.
"Vierne, did you tell them about it?" Akagi said.
"Yes, I did. Wasn't I supposed to?" Vierne said.
"*Sigh* I forgot I'm surrounded by idiots." Akagi said.
"HEY! HOW DARE YOU CALL US AN IDIOT?!" Jade said.
"Oh! I'm sorry I hurt your feelings by calling you an idiot. I thought you knew it already." Akagi said.
"Why aren't you helping Vierne, Uchitel?" Bella said.
Akagi looked at Vierne and said "It ain't my problem that her star spirit is cursed."
"Don't act like you don't give a sh*t!" Jade said.
"I'm not acting." Akagi said "I may act unbothered but deep down inside... I'm still unbothered."
"It's okay.... I don't need your help." Vierne said as she got up and stood in front of Akagi.
"Thank you for your concerns guys, but I don't need anyone's help." Vierne said.
Then, she glared at Akagi and said "Never think that I need you in my life! I was alone for 10 years into that mansion and I was doing just fine."
Akagi just looked into her blue eyes.
"Vierne-"
"I'm sorry, guys. Just leave me alone." Vierne said and left the classroom.
Everyone just looked at her.
"Alright, let's start today's lesson. Everyone, be seated." Akagi said.
Vierne sat on the stone bench inside the garden as the moon shone upon her.
"Lict, I miss you...." Vierne said as she looked at the moon.
"There's suddenly so much distance between us. So many secrets, so many differences.
Lict, just give me one song. One song that means a lot to you. I will listen to it and then I will know you much better…
You said you'll come if I call you...You said you will.... so come before me.... Lict?" Vierne said as she got up and looked around.
"...At least give me some hint, anything will do." She said.
Nothing happened. She looked around her then she looked at her ring.
"If only I were stronger...you won't have to go as far as to break your seal....you would have been beside me even right now." Vierne said.
"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?! I'M TIRED OF LIFE ALREADY! "
"Why don't you sing something?" Melissa said as she sat on the stone bench.
"Melissa?" Vierne said.
"You know what, Lict always used to say 'When life leaves you speechless, songs give you lyrics to find meanings'." Melissa said.
"...I don't...I don't know any songs." Vierne said.
"Any melody will do. Think Vierne. You must know some sort of music. There's no one in this world who doesn't know any song." Melissa said.
"...I know.... a lullay which mom used to sing for me when I was little." Vierne said.
"Why don't you sing it? I'm sure you'll feel better." Melissa said.
"I don't remember very well." Vierne said.
"It's okay, sing the parts you know." Melissa said.
Vierne looked at Melissa, then she turned towards the fountain and closed her eyes…
"VIVIE!!! THAT WAS GREAT!!" Melissa said as she hugged Vierne.
"That song..." Akagi said as he stood behind Vierne, "How do you know that song?"
Vierne turned towards him and said "My mother used to sing it for me."
"Your mother, huh?" Akagi said.
"Lord Akagi, I was wondering where would Lict be right now?" Vierne said.
"Oh? You were wondering? Where else, he would be roaming around in the blank space, looking for Demigod blood." Akagi said.
"THAT MEANS HE NEEDS OUR HELP!" Vierne said.
"Vierne, listen." Akagi said as he tapped his hand on her shoulder, "I won't stop you from trying your ways, unless you wanna break like a beautiful flower."
"I will not be just any flower." Vierne said.
"What?" Akagi said.
"I will not be any beautiful flower picked up and left alone to die! I will be wild, difficult to find and impossible to forget! That's the kind of flower I'll be!" Vierne said.
"Woah Woah Woah! What do we have here?" Melissa said.
"Better be bold and strong than pretty and useless." Vierne said.
Akagi looked at her and said "Are you sure you'll not chicken out?"
"I WON'T! IT'S DO OR DIE NOW!" She said.
"...I still think you can't do it." Akagi said.
"If someone tells you 'you can't', they are showing you their limits, not yours." Vierne said.
"Wha-" Akagi said with a surprise "Looks like I'm raising you to be my rival. I must say I'm impressed."
'Those eyes....' Akagi thought 'That's what I was looking for.'
He punched Vierne on her head.
"Oww-"
"You lack basic strength, we'll have to work on that first if you wanna defeat Lict in a battle. Training starts tomorrow morning at 4 A.M. sharp." Akagi said as he started walking back to the mansion.
"What? You will teach me?!" Vierne said.
"Meet me here and don't be late." Akagi said.
"OHHHHH THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!" Vierne said as she back hugged Akagi.
"Rule 1, if you get friendly with your teacher, you're dead meat." Akagi said.
"YES SER!" Vierne said with a salute.
"Idiot" Akagi said with smile.
"*Bang* WAKE UP LADY VIERNE!! Bang bang in the morning! Bang bang at night! Don't matter if girls or boys! TIME TO FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!" Melissa said as she fired shots in the air.
"Melissa, you aren't supposed to wake up the entire neighbourhood..." Vierne said as she got up.
"Alright, we'll first start with your agility and balance training." Akagi said as they stood under a tree inside the forest.
Since it had rained a few days back, the ground was muddy and slippery.
"What do I have to do?" Vierne said.
"That tree, jump and pluck the leaf without moving the branch" Akagi said.
"That's it?" Vierne said.
"Just try it." Akagi said with a smirk.
Vierne shook her head and looked at the leaf. She jumped up and grabbed the leaf.
"GOT IT!" She said. But as she plucked the leaf, the branches swindled.
"I told you to pluck the leaf without moving the branch." Akagi said.
"Lemme try once more..." Vierne said.
"See those marshmallows into the fire?" Akagi said as they looked at a bonfire.
"Yeah! They look delicious!" Melissa said.
"What about them?" Vierne said.
"You have to pick them up from the fire" Akagi said.
"THAT'S DANGEROUS!" Vierne said.
"It is, for humans. It isn't, for Demigods. You won't burn as long as you have speed." Akagi said as he picked up some marshmallow.
"Now you do it, before they melt." Akagi said.
Vierne quickly moved her hand towards the fire "UGH!! UWA!! MY SHIRT! IT'S ON FIRE!!!" She shouted.
Melissa quickly threw some water at her.
Akagi covered Vierne eyes and handed her a bow.
"Shoot." He said.
"But where?" Vierne said.
"At the birds above you." Akagi said.
"But, I can't see them." Vierne said.
"You don't have to see them, just feel the changes in the surrounding and hear the flapping of their wings"
"OK…fine, be optimistic." She said to herself and almost killed Melissa.
"You have to jump inside this water but the water should not splash." Akagi said as he made a puddle and poured in the water.
"That's impossible." Vierne said.
"Just do it." Akagi said.
Vierne jumped inside the water, it splashed and landed on Akagi's trousers.
"Un...ha ha....Sorry..." Vierne said with a nervous laughter.
"*Sigh* This is gonna take a while." He said.
"You've gotta read these." Akagi said as he kept a pile of books beside Vierne.
"All of these?" Vierne said.
"Yes and there are more coming. Finish this by tonight." Akagi said and left her room.
"Lord Akagi, you are really kind." Melissa said as she sat beside him.
"And why do you think I'm kind?" Akagi said.
"Why else would you help Vierne? You don't even like teaching in the first place." Melissa said.
"I'm trying to fix some mistakes..." Akagi said and blew a cloud of smoke from his mouth.
"I...didn't quite get you...." Melissa said.
"That lullaby.... I know it" Akagi said.
-To be continued