The auditorium was dim only the stage was lighten. Chattering of students filled the air as they fill in each rows, to the right side of the auditorium was where the freshman and sophomore year located, whereas to their left was the Seniors.
Students suddenly put their hands onto their ear pressing it as a loud static noise filled the room, after that was a thud and an appearance of a person in stage holding a microphone.
Everyone quiet down as the person started to speak.
"I see we all have new faces to see this year, anyway, Good morning and Welcome to Starlight Magic Academy, I am Marvin Theobald— the one and only vice principal of this school."
Everyone excluding the sophomore and seniors were agape as they look at the person in the stage. The man has a fluffy messy Raven hair, his eyes was lifeless not to mention a dark circles below his eyes, he was pale too; what they don't understand was that, he was wearing a hoodie, a jogger and a pair of slippers as if he just had woken up.
"Mr Theobald's at it again. Look at the faces of the freshman." Whispered one of the seniors, as sophomores and other seniors started to chuckle as they shook their heads.
"Anyway, forgive me for appearing in such manner. It's not like there a dress code— but just because I look like this doesn't mean you will taken me lightly, the seniors know really well of what I am capable of."
The 4th years felt shivers crawl into their skin as Marvin looked at them with a mischievous smile. 3rd years also felt some kind of terror that'll come to their way this year. Well, we was a vice principal after all.
On the last row of the left side there sit Luna and the others. Casually being a good student who seem to be listening to the vice principal's speech.
'Marvin Theobald... I wonder if he'll be a subject teacher.' Luna thought.
"Ah! That's right, Mr Theobald is in charge for the 3rd year's training, I heard that he spar with the 4th year last year. Yikes! Just thinking about being able to spar with him give me a mix feeling. Plus, he's terrifying." Suddenly stated Remus who was on her right.
"You say that as if he's gonna kill you." Scoffed Luna. Remus was silent for a minute, she looked at him who has an expression as if telling her that he indeed can kill you. "H-he's that terrifying, huh?" Luna somehow tremble after that.
After the incident in the classroom, Luna, Arlo and Remus met on their way to the auditorium. And somehow Remus began to be rather friendly with her after, though, he still looked at her as though she's his nemesis.
Luna's eyes wander to her front, and in front of her seat was a boy with a muddy brown colored hair. It has been bothering her since. She was sure he saw him at first glance with a vibrant pink colored hair and golden eyes, however when she started to rub her eyes, his hair has turned into a brown muddy color, whereas his eyes were in the same shade. Was her brain playing a trick on her? Or perhaps someone used magic without her noticing? It couldn't be agapius for he was, at that time, sleeping soundlessly. Moreover, he got the same face as the guy who agapius turned into, to approach her before.
'That's really weird, he's not from the outside word too is he?'
Luna's train of thought was interrupted when Remus nudge her and nodded as if telling her to look in front. All she did was frown, it still doesn't sit comfortably to her that Remus is being oddly friendly, just what happened between him and Arlo earlier?
Once Luna looked in front, it was when marvin called the student council president. And Luna was thunderstruck at to what she is seeing.
How can it be? She blink multiple time and even rubbed her eyes to confirm what she saw. This time it wasn't an illusion or a trick, it was real this time.
But, she doesn't understand, how did this happen? A parallel universe? No, this world is fake after all. It was all made up, but why does the student council president look exactly like him?
After all that confusion, Luna started to be teary as she was in a daze and mumbled a familiar name.
"Anthony..?"
"H-hey, what's wrong, why are you crying all of a sudden?" Rina who was on her left suddenly whispered when she glance to Luna. She then started to rummage her pants to see if she bought a handkerchief, but to her surprise, Remus handed one to Luna.
Ah.
How embarrassing of her, suddenly crying out of nowhere. Why did she cry exactly? She just saw a familiar face...ah, that's right, it was that; Up until now she was worry free, she wasn't tense and scared but when she saw a familiar face, somehow, Luna felt her like heart sank. That's when she knew, she's homesick, that she misses her true home. Probably, if she has not saw that face she won't be feeling this way, why now?
Once Luna has stop the tears, Rina asked to take her to the clinic but she refused and told her she's fine. It was quite a relieve that only Rina and Remus was able to saw her in that state, still, she was embarrassed.
"Suddenly crying like that... What exactly happened?" Asked Remus, "oh and keep the handkerchief." He added.
"Are you a germaphobe?" Commented Rina with a sneer.
"Wha— I'm not!"
"Don't worry, I'll wash it before returning it." Stated Luna as she put the used handkerchief in her pocket.
After the bickering of Rina and Remus, they three went back to listening to the student Council President.
"...All the rules I've stated is all inside your handbook. To freshman, your handbook has map included so that you won't get lost, there are multiple students last year who got lost that's why we improvised the handbook. There are also new information included, new set of the SMA Handbook will also be given to the sophomores and seniors so that they'll be updated. I wish to explain all of the new information but I only have such little time, I do wish all of you will read it after. Once again, I'm Dion Japitana and I will now pass the mic back to Sir Marvin."
A group of students with a scarlet pin holding a box started to roam around the auditorium, inside the box was the new improvised handbook. The book was in two types of color, for the freshman and sophomore it was a silver cover, whereas the Seniors have a golden color. It was quite fancy in design unlike their old handbook, which was a plain scarlet colored, with no text or design in it's cover.
"Alright, I know you guys like to read it, but put it aside for now, because we're not finished yet." Said Marvin who was now literally sitting at the edge of the stage. The students, followed him and eventually put the books aside as they quite down and looked in front. There was a silence, Marvin just sit there as he observed the students. "The principal can't make it, since they have a conference of the higher ups, that's why you can now go back to your respective Classroom." He said as he stood up, "what? Run along now, I still need to sleep and watch my favorite drama." Waving his hand off of them, he the shove the mic into the person right to the curtain.
No one moved, they were all thunderstruck, especially the freshman. Although the seniors started to get up and walk out with noise followed by the sophomores and eventually followed by freshman.
***
Luna and the others went back to their class. Unlike earlier, the room was now filled with students. Luna, of course sat next to Rina and on their front was Rei and Hikari. The room was more noisy than before and most of the students seem to be acquainted with each other, but some don't.
The door suddenly opened revealing a man who seemed to be at his 30's. He was only holding a box of chalk, placing it onto his table as he sat down, waiting for the students to quite down. Not a minute pass, silence filled the room, he then stood up and took a chalk from the box as he started to write something into the blackboard.
"I am Zelde Roswell, 33 and married. From today onwards I'll be your homeroom teacher, my subjects in this class are History and Gardening. It's the first day and of course you'll be very behave, no need to put a facade in front of me, I don't mind you being friendly, all I need is for you guys to listen and pass my subjects. Now, any questions?"
Alot of students started to raise their hands it was mostly the boys at the back.
"Sir you said you're married but I don't see a ring." Said a guy with buzz cut.
Zelde chuckled, "I really do am married, but I don't wear my ring for it gets in the way of gardening, that's why I put it in a chain— or a necklace rather." He then pull out something from his collared shirt, it was a thin silver necklace with a ring hanging around it, after that, he put it back in.
Another batch of student raised their hand, but, of course only one was called out. This time was a girl with a layered haircut and had a big rounded glasses.
"Um, sir What is your magic?" She asked.
Zelde stayed silent for a minute before answering, "Hmm, I have a Born magic and as a teacher we are required to also learn basic magics. Let's see, my Main magic or my born magic rather— is Green magic." Roots started to come out in his palm until it became a bonsai tree, after a while the tree disappeared together with a green dotted lights appearing.
"And, as for the other, we teachers basically can use telepathy, teleportation, Dispel, healing and binding magic, but there are also spells that we learned privately. Now let's get into introductions, starting from my left." He said as he looked at the person next to the door in his left.
A tall tan man wearing black turtle neck and striped shirt stood up, his hand tuck into his pants and started to introduce himself:
"Uhh, well My name is Abel Vuitton, 21 and I guess I like reading even if I don't look like it," he started. "My magic is—"
"Next." Interrupted Zelde.
Everyone was thunderstruck by the sudden Interruption, Zelde eventually noticed this and sighed as he faced the whole class.
"In your freshman and sophomore years, you didn't use your magic, am I right? They only enhanced your knowledge and physical abilities, but never your magical powers, though they did teach you a couple of basic magics. Unlike those two previous years, this year is all centered about your magical abilities.There's one you needed to remember..." His eyes became Serious as he hesitated, "Never tell anyone your magical abilities, not even your friends or classmates especially to strangers. Because we don't know whether they're an ally or a foe, understand?"
Unconsciously, all students nodded their head in response, after that explanation, they continued the introduction.
Minutes pass, it was now Luna's turn. As expected, whispers from her classmates was heard, it was annoying, but she didn't made it obvious. Some whispers was about agapius who she was holding in her arms swaying it's tail.
'You good?' Asked agapius.
'I'm fine, just annoyed by the noise.' Luna responded irritatedly.
'Want me to sew their mouth?'
With that, Luna pinch Agapius's leg which made him to let out an aggressive hiss which made the whispering students to be silent, she then started her introduction.
"Luna Vermillion, 20. I like peace and quiet, reading books and I hope to get along with you all." Half of it was a lie, she actually rather not like people approaching her at all. Not that she doesn't like it in General, but she just does not know how to act if ever they brought up Luna's personality, ask her this and that.
Before she went back to sit down Zelde Brought up a question, which she already heard a couple of time today, but it was kind of different in some way.
"A divine beast resting in a human's arm like a mere pet, did you perhaps tame it? I see you pinch it's leg earlier but it did not attack you, they're known to be prideful and savage, and would kill anyone who does them harm."
That question also made the students to look at Luna with a questioning look. However, all Luna did was stayed silent, agapius on the other hand, looked at Zelde with its sharp eyes.
'We've already heard that question quite a lot this day. And as you can see my master seem to be annoyed already. Let's say, I choose her by my own will, she's a nice kid, not to mention her ability is beyond imagination, who does not want to be her master. I've actually bitten her twice, but she's scary so I tried to avoid biting her by all means.'
Zelde was surprised when a voice suddenly spoke to him, and he knew it was the divine beast for it's been staring at him for quite a while. Luna However, still hadn't said a thing she was only standing there with an emotionless face. He then Scoffed that made the students to look forward.
"I see, I understand. You may now be seated."
Luna followed what has been said, she then heard agapius meow, then patted him telling him he did a great job with a poker face. She actually knew what agapius did for he purposely connected to her and Zelde as he answered.
The class then moved into the next one, some joked around making the class and Zelde laugh. It was mostly the boys at the back who made a humourous way of introducing themselves.
Not an hour lasted, Zelde went out and came back with a box. He then draw a rectangle in the board and break it into squares which refers to be the seats he then numbered them up to 40. There are four rows and in each rows has 10 chairs, he then asked each student starting from Abel to take a paper in the box. The paper has a number written in it, the number represent where their respective seats will be. Once everyone gotten their papers, they started to stand and went to their seat number.
Luna opened her paper and it stated the number 15. She immediately went to the third row of the second section, which was near the door. As soon as she got there, her seat mate also got after her. She was in agape after finding out who she is seated with, it was the guy who she wanted to avoid as much as possible, but seems like prayers didn't work. The Milky White eye patch and sharp shadowy blue eyes and fluffy hair faced her. It was Shiki.
To be seated next to the future obsessive male interest horrified her. Although, she know it was no point avoiding him, All she could do now is to be careful on her actions. It was awkward when she sat down, the information she had read played in her head repeatedly, until someone tap her in the shoulder. She swiftly look back to see Rina casually smiling. The other two was on on the row near the window, Together with Arlo and Daryll as their seat mate. On the other hand, Rina was seated with Remus and they seem to have no problem Together.
Unlike the two at the back and the rest, Luna and Shiki was completely silent and they don't seen to care about it at all. Suddenly, Remus started to included the two into their conversation asking to join them for lunch, Luna didn't mind but shiki kept quiet.
"Hey shiki, wanna grab lunch with us later?" He optimistically asked as he tap his shoulder.
Luna still couldn't get used to a bright Remus, he went to being the darkness to light. It somehow Horrifies her. Going back, shiki looked at Remus then to Rina who was being obvious of avoiding his gaze. He then silently face the front without giving out a response.
Remus frowned then sighed as he shrug off and continued the conversation with Rina. But then suddenly, shiki responded.
"I'm fine with it, but I don't think someone mind me being there." He said purposely glancing towards Rina who was thunderstruck yet once again avoided his gaze.
The action made by the two only made Luna more curious about their situation. Just what happened between them?
Rina sighed as she said, "I don't mind, you can eat with us. It's childish for me to refuse when Remus was basically the one who invited us." She was frowning as she looked at shiki who was facing in front.
Just like Luna, Remus also was have no clue on what's happening. But even after all the questions in his head he unconsciously squeezed rina's trembling hands which he eventually let go after realizing it.
"Sorry." He said, Remus then saw Luna looking at him with a teasing look, it made him more flustered when the divine beats was also looking at him mimicking luna's expression.
Somehow, Luna find it funny that Remus too have a caring side to him. And she was having fun looking at him teasingly after he unconsciously squeezed rina's hand. With that, it gave her an idea.
'You're not thinking of pairing Remus to Rina are you?' Suddenly asked Agapius inside her head.
'Well... They seem to work. But I'll just see how their relationship progress.'
'Really?'
'I'm not gonna push them, though maybe I'll try some tricks I saw in shoujo manga.'
'...'
***
The day was over in a blink. All they did was introduced themselves, nothing happened much. During lunch? Well, Rina and shiki stayed quiet and didn't bother each other. Arlo, Daryll, hikari and rei joined them too.
Luna enjoyed her first day. She also bumped into the twins during lunch, she somehow felt awkward at first but everything went smoothly when Arlo began to interrupt.
As of the moment, eight of them was heading to the dorm and finally parted ways.
After logging into a log book, Luna and the other instantly went upstairs to their room. On their way into room 077, to their surprise the 5th member was outside standing holding the doorknob. The person has lime colored hair that was in a mullet cut.
"Oh isn't that Elmira? She's on our class, her seatmate was the boy with a buzz cut—Enoch Ferrer." Commented Rei.
The four then started to approach the the girl who opened the dorm door. She jump when someone touched her on the shoulder.
"U-uh... Sorry 'bout that." Hikari said, hands up in the air as she apologize.
"Oh, it's fine. I see, you four are my roommates? I did expect that were all in the same class." Elmira responded.
They then went inside as they casually go with the flow of the conversation. Just like the three, Elmira too was agape when she realized she's rooming with Luna. But Luna stopped her before she could even say embarrassing praises.
"I actually forgot my baggage, so I couldn't go in here earlier." Said Elmira explaining onto why she didn't head straight to the dorm.
"Hey," suddenly called out rei in whisper. "Wanna know my magic?"
Everyone including Luna raised a brow. As much as she's curious, they shouldn't be saying it that casually. Now that she think about it, what was Luna's magical power? To think she'll missed something very important.
"Don't you dare say it. We'll eventually find out in the third day, tomorrow will only be a physical screening test and the uniform handouts." Rina stated, as she tousled rei's hair.
'Agapius, don't they go to elementary school? It's weird how they don't know each other's magical power, they've mentioned that Luna Excel on learning magic. Does that mean they too don't know what her power is, and it's just the basic magic? And just made her the goddess because of her learning capabilities?'
Agapius who was in luna's arm the whole time twitch at the numerous questions.
'No, people in this world is home schooled, and at the age of 16 or 17, they'll start to go into a magic academy. Freshman, learns the regular subjects and a light spar with each other. Sophomore, will learn the basic magics and cast spells as well as a much harder physical activity, 3rd years is all about their magical capabilities and a magical tournament in Fall. Lastly, the 4th years. They're the the one who have it harder, they eventually have spar 2 times a week and a battle of magics in Saturdays.'
'I see, so they have a learning system here.' Luna Excused herself from the four and went straight to her room. 'Right, give me Elmira's status.'
'Geez, I can't even rest. Alright here.'
[ Elmira Hugh
Age: 21
Date of birth: September 25 x565
Race: Human
Magic: UNKNOWN
Background: UNKNOWN
• Other information [LOCKED] ]
Suddenly, a knock was heard from the outside almost making Luna jump. She then stood up and opened the door slightly. There stood Rina.
"Rina? What are you doing here? What about the others?" Asked Luna.
"Oh, they went out with Elmira. I think they went to the oval. And... Can I come in, there's actually something I want to talk about." Rina scratch the back of her head, Luna then let her in.
They sat on the floor completely silent, whereas agapius was in the bed sleeping.
Luna didn't really expect this kind of situation. And somehow the silence was unnerving, Rina had been fiddling with her hands and casually rubbed her nose from time to time, seems like a habit she does whenever she feel somewhat nervous.
"So... What do you want to talk about?" Luna said getting straight to the point breaking the silent.
"Oh, that's... it's kind of embarrassing," Rina pursed her lip as she suddenly Brought out a box that was fancily decorated. The box was in a silver color the ribbon on the other hand was a shadowy blue with milky white stripes at the edges. With the color, Luna concluded that it was probably for Shiki.
"This...is for Shiki, am I right?" She asked confirming her assumption. Rina did then nod.
"Ah! It's not from me though. During lunch, I bump into his brother on the way to the library. And well, he saw me then asked me to give the two boxes; one for Rei and Shiki. I already gave the other one earlier, I was about to give her the other but she said I should give it to him personally but—"
"...You can't?"
"Exactly."
"I don't really know what's your dispute all about but, I'll wait till you can open it to me. As for your favor, even if you don't say it, I'll give it to him." Said Luna as she took the box from Rina.
She said that but she's honestly nervous, but she also somewhat felt like she wanted to help Rina at some point.
Luna let Rina stayed in her room for a while. They mostly talk about random stuff, to their likes and dislikes. And Luna was rather shocked to find out that she and Rina had a lot in common, but they're mostly opposite in personality.
"Ah, that's right. About earlier, when we met Zamira. I've been wondering, just what kind of potion did she pour into you?"
"Oh that? Well, I don't really know either, like I stated, it was an unidentified potion. But, after she poured the potion in my head, my hair changed color."
"So wait, that isn't your original hair color?"
Rina took a bundle of her hair as she stare at its chestnut color, "No, I have a muddy Dark colored hair before. But after that incident with Zamira, it slowly changed into this color, I've tried growing it hoping it'll go back to it's original color but... When the Roots started to grow it was still chestnut. That's why I just let it be." She then smiled bitterly as she lets go the bundle of hair.
"Also," she continued, "it wasn't only that, my skin started to have rashes all over, that I had to take a leave for almost a month to recover. And at the same time, I was bedridden with a high fever, I actually even thought I might die anytime."
"Did anyone visited you? A healer? Or a doctor rather?"
A unidentified potion. There was no way, it was Zamira who made it, this case rather piqued Luna's interest. And how can she even bring a potion when according to the handbook; Under the Spell and casting Section— Any unidentified potions is prohibited, and needed to be handed to administration to be examine if it's a dangerous kind of potion before returning it for a week. And if the potion was identified to be dangerous, the person who brought it will be punished.
Luna read the handbook during lunch and afternoon break. Some rules was rather odd but some was alright. But it was a new set of handbook, and she didn't know if that's an old rule of new.
"Yeah, two teachers with the best healing Abilities tend me." Rina answered.
"Was she... Punished?" Luna asked out of curiosity.
"No actually, she just got suspended for a month. The new handbook included a punishment for whoever brings an identifed potion, especially if it's the dangerous kind. They must've added it after that incident last year."
"I see. That's a relief, we don't know if there'll be another case like that. Also, did the school investigated the potion?"
Luna is starting to be invested to this incident. Her guts says there is someone behind it, there's no way that it was a student's doing. There must've been more to the incident.
"Oh, yeah. They did Actually, but the weird thing was that, they never really said anything about it after. I feel like they hid the investigation, I don't know why and the students just shrug it off and completely forgot about it after a few months."
A closed investigation, and they didn't inform the students about their findings.
'There's more to the incident.' She frowned as her heart race, Luna started to be worry for some reason.
'Take it easy, this is not a mystery centered game, after all.' Said suddenly agapius, Luna then turned into her bed to see him stretching, most likely he just had woken up. 'Though, that incident really was weird, but for now, focus on your goal before digging too deep. That will just make it hard for you to finish this game.'
'Right, Fine. I don't care, geez.' Luna irritatedly tousled her hair.
"Are you alright?" Suddenly asked Rina.
"Oh, yeah I'm fine just remembered something. Anyway, it's almost time for dinner we should head out." Luna then stood up followed by Rina as they head out of the room, turning off all lights before going to the first floor.
***
The Metalic door beep as it opened. A guy with Raven hair put on a lab coat, advancing inside. And inside was people with the same get up, instead they were fully clothed.
"Vice principal!" Yelled a guy with a chart on his hands.
"How's the tracking and Analysis?" Asked Marvin as he was handed a paper, showing some diagrams and analytical papers.
"We've gotten half of it, the potion was embodied with possession magic and a bit of poison aroma." Said the other, which was a girl with a long hazel hair tied in a loose ponytail. "It was the same as the potion used on Rinalyn Valencia. But unlike this one, the previous potion has a curse magic instead of possession, but both have poison aroma. But since Rinalyn's body was somehow immune to any type of poison due to her Ability, the poison that transmitted into her skin only gave her a rash and dangerously high fever." She added.
"Marilyn, Who did you get this potion again, last year was From Zamira and this?" Marvin asked as he faced the woman who he called Marilyn.
"That... We still haven't figured it out. Zelde, found it lying into the hallway. It seems like someone dropped it without them noticing. Not only that, but there was no fingerprint or anything we could use to track the owner." Marilyn responded.
"It was a good thing Zelde found it before a student did. If they found it before he did, they'll be controlled and die after the owner is done with their intention." Commented The previous guy.
"Ian, shut up." Said Marilyn.
"What? It's true. Possession magic can controll whoever it casted to, and with a poison aroma to mix with it; The controller will manipulate the one who drank or got poured by the potion and just let that person die after. Depends on how the owner would use this potion, something like the command." Ian Stated, as he went back to the microscope, shaking his head in irritation. "That same goes with the potion used on Rinalyn." He continued, "If she had a different ability there's no way she could've survived."
Marvin looked at Ian, "What was her ability again?" He asked as he placed the papers into the empty table space.
"Man, you're the VP and yet—alright, alright no need to show your fangs." Ian tremble when Marvin's eyes started to glow red in color. "Marilyn you should tell him, I'm busy. He's your twin after all." He said as he went back to the microscope.
Marilyn sighed as she put her hand into her head then tap Marvin's back. "First, calm down," She said, Marvin's eyes then faded into it's original color "Alright, her ability is quite dangerous if it was not controlled completely, Fortunately, she seem to have no problem controlling them."
"Them?" Marvin repeated, curiously.
"Yes, them. The soul of the demons lingering inside of her and I think you know what kind of ability she had with that. To think a Human will get this kind of Ability."
Marvin was silent processing what his twin have said and there came a realization as he looked at Marilyn, frowning. "Make sure her information won't get leaked or hacked. We absolutely can not let them know about her, or else they would use her to cause havoc." He said in a serious manner.
"I know. Her ability— Take Over, an ability that 'they' have been itching to have."
—
[ Rinalyn Xievina Hyzen Valencia
Age: 20
Date of birth: October 24 x566
Race: Human
Magic: TAKE OVER
•More SKILLS [UNKNOWN]
Background: UNKNOWN
• Other information [LOCKED] ]