Ugh... where am I? I can't move and I can't talk. I don't see anything, I've been blindfolded and my arms seem to have been tied up.
"Just a little longer, our purpose will be complete." A voice said. Where have I heard this voice before.
"It's them!" Another male voice shouted. "Protect him at all costs!"
"Lia, get him out of here!" Another female voice said.
"On it!" Another male voice said and I could feel my ropes loosening. "Stay safe and hide. Now hurry! Lia!!"
"Please, stay safe." A female voice said before I felt myself getting tossed off whatever I was sitting on.
I wake up the next instant and I find myself sweaty and soaked. What was that?
Ah!! I don't have the time think about it. I have only an hour left before class start. Why didn't William or someone else wake me.
I take a shower and change into my uniform before rushing out of my room and find that the dorm is empty. There's a letter on the table though.
"We went ahead since we couldn't wake you no matter what. For breakfast we ate out so feel free to do what you want." Is what they said. "Arata, Next time you sleep, don't put up a barrier around yourself."
Barrier? I never put one up. What's going on exactly. Ugh. But before I find out what's going on I need some food.
I make a sandwich and dash out in a hurry. I don't have time to waste I have to get to class. I manage to arrive at the classroom in a nick of time. The bell rings just as I sat down.
"Alright, today we have new students. One transferred here from a foreign world the other is someone you should've already known." Our teacher said. "Come in you two."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Ophelia Orchestra." Ophelia, the one we saw on tv when we had a sleepover at our place was standing in front of us in simple school clothes and her beautiful black hair tied in a simple tail down her back.
"Theo Hounts." The boy said. He had silver hair with red eyes and white skin. He looks vaguely familiar.
"Both are from the foreign world, Unified Palace." Teacher said. "Be good to them."
"Nice to meet you all." They smiled.
At lunch the whole class was crowded with people interested in the transfer students buy for some reason I feel Theo staring at me and when I look at him he turns away.
"Arata~." Zhen suddenly stood in front of my table. "Wanna have lunch together?"
"Ah, sure." I answered.
We had lunch in the cafeteria and the others soon joined us.
"So, why was there a barrier around you this morning?" Hiro asked.
"Don't know." I answered. "I don't think I even erected it consciously."
"That means you erected it in your sleep? Did you have a nightmare?" Liam asked.
"Not really." I answered.
"Hello there." Theo said as he stood beside our table with Ophelia carrying a tray. "Mind if we join you?"
"Sure." I smiled. "I'm Arata."
"I know." He smiled. "Alistar, Alexis, Andrew, Ethan, William, Liam, Zhen and Reinhardt. Lina, Diana, May and Hiro. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you." Andrew smiled.
"I hope we can be friends." Ophelia said as they sat down.
"Same here." I answered.
"Arata has a nice name. It means 'new' right?" She asked and I nodded.
"William 'Protective Guardian', Liam 'Noble', Reinhardt 'Wise Counselor', Zhen 'Loyal', Alistar 'Caring Protector', Alexis 'Artistic Shield', Ethan 'Enduring One', Andrew 'Unchanging Will'." Ophelia said. "You have wonderful names."
"Ah, thanks." Zhen said a bit embarassed.
"Lina 'Wise', Diana 'Moon', May 'Gentle', Hiro 'Brave'." She enlisted. "You all have wonderful names that reflect who you are."
"T-thanks." Hiro answered a bit flusttered.
Just then, my world suddenly turned black and I couldn't see a thing. Where am I?
"Y-you." A voice said and I turned to see a silver glow. "K...key..."
"What?" I asked.
"K-...y... y-..r... m...mories..." I can't make out what they're saying and the world shines bright and I'm back to us having lunch.
"You okay?" Ethan asked and I nodded.
"Key?" I asked and suddenly I'm hit with an intense pain. "Ahhhh!!!"
"Arata!" Alistar catches me as I scream in pain. "Ugh... ahhh! Ha... ha.... Arghh!!"
"Requiem!" Ophelia begins to play piano that at first calms me but the effect is only temporary. "No way! Requiem dulls a person's sense of pain."
"Argh.... ahh... ha... ahhh!" I touch my shadow and take out a bottle of something. I don't hesitate to drink it and the pain immediately disappears.
"Arata, are you okay?" May asked as I panted.
"Pen... get me a pen..." I said. "Quick."
"Here." Lina handed me one.
I wrote down the words that came to my mind and some coordinates I have never heard of before. For some reason I have a feeling they're connected to my past.
"Le Fleur est le clé." I read the words aloud. "Black 12, Vermillion 5, White 73, Azure 34."
"What are these?" Ophelia asked and just then I notice the strange mark on her neck. My Brave Mark on a fan?
Suddenly something breaks my calmness. As if someone has dropped a rock into the still water causing it waver and drawing out old memories.
"You two, who are you?" I asked Theo and Ophelia.
"Huh? Why are you asking that?" Karin asked. "Don't be rude."
"Why? Why are you two here?!" I asked and a sword materialized in my hand. "Tell me, why you two were there. The night before I was brought to this world!"
"What are you talking about?" Ophelia asked.
"Answer me!" I shouted and suddenly I realized something and dropped my sword. "V...Vassal Braves...?"
"We get it. Calm down." Theo answered.
"Believe it or not we aren't your enemies." Ophelia answered. "If you know what we are then you should also know we mean no harm."
"All I know is that you were there that night seven years ago before I lost my memories." I answered.
"Calm down and I'll explain everything." Ophelia answered. "Arata, we'll tell you everything you want to know so could you put that sword away?"
I place the sword into my shadow and sit down. I want answers to what happened seven years ago.
"The two of us are or were members of the Petal Knights." Ophelia said. "Petal Knights only have one purpose, to protect the Scared Flower that blooms in the Unified Palace."