Since there was still no announcement for the class to resume since yesterday. Every student just scattered all around the academy, they weren't allowed to go out for the path which leads outside of the forest hadn't appeared. They were basically stuck within the academy' premises until an announcement has been made.
The students were clearly curious and confused about the whole situation. Especially the freshman year, the other senior seems to be unaffected. The younger students thought that this might've happened often when they were still a year below.
Student councils was also seen roaming around, patrolling the premises and students.
"Haaaa..." Rei let out deep sigh.
"What's up with you?" Said her companion, Remus, annoyingly.
Rei only rolled her eyes at him and just watched people pass them by. The two were sitting in a wooden bench near a lamp pose across the cobblestone path.
The book that Remus was holding closed shut as he glanced at Rei with furrowed brow "What's with you, you're being gloomy, it's annoying."
"Then leave me be. Go with those three idiots you hang around, and why are you even here? Ugh." She groaned.
"For your information, I was here first. You're the one who just suddenly sat beside me a moment ago and now you're the one complaining? And why would I be the one to leave, if there's anyone, that would be you."
Rei shot a glare at Remus, she was not having it. She didn't budged from her position, but rather ignored Remus as she rolled her eyes at him.
On the other hand, Remus just shook his head. He couldn't understand her, why was she so moody? And to all people out there, she decided to be moody with him. It was really annoying. Can't he just read his book in peace?
But, he may have an idea onto why this girl beside him was such in a grumpy mood.
Usually, Rei was with Rinalyn, but oddly enough she was alone today. Remus had the urge to ask her about it, but he hold back. For sure, he'll only get yelled at.
"I don't understand them, ugh! Seriously, what is up them two!" She exclaimed furiously. "You know something do you?"
Remus only gave Rei a baffled look, "Listen here, woman, I don't even have the slightest idea on what you're talking about, so how in the world would I know!" He grumbled as he went on. "If you keep talking in riddles, I wouldn't understand you, just spit it out."
His eyes meet with hers, waiting for Rei to give her a clear explanation about the things she had kept mumbling about since she arrived. However, instead of getting an explanation, she averted her gaze.
"N.. nevermind!"
"!!!"
"B-bye!"
Remus was startled when Rei all of a sudden stood up and bid farewell, as she run-walk away from him. Her action just made Remus even more bewildered and annoyed.
How rude of her to bid farewell, without looking at the person she's talking too. Remus couldn't help but shrug it off and just went back to reading the book that was resting on his lap.
But before continuing where he left off, he couldn't help but thought about what was bothering Rei. Once again, he shrug it off, it's none of his business, why would he care anyway.
Haaaa...
Remus sighed and got back into reading, but then again, just when he was about take the bookmark and continue, his eyes widen as to when he glimpse a familiar faces. Disbelief was written all over his face.
Is he hallucinating? Remus then began to rub his eyes, confirming whether his eyes were playing with him or not.
But the scene that is being unfolded across him was indeed real. He couldn't believe it, no, he refuse to believe it!
Across him was the familiar tall chestnut haired girl and a blue haired one eyed boy. There was no mistaking it;
"Is that... Shiki and Rinalyn?"
****
"How long do you plan to act meekly in the bed, go outside." Aella scolded to Luna who was still in bed and refuses to get out.
All Luna did was answered Aella with a groan, burying her face within the pillow she's hugging. There was no class anyway, what was the point of her getting out of her room. She'd rather stay in bed than exhaust herself.
Aella on the other hand kept on shaking her, trying to get her off her bed.
"Aaagh! Fine, I'm up! I'm up!" Luna bolted up, irritated with Aella who was acting like how her mother does when she was a kid still.
When she finally looked around the lighten room, Luna realized that there was only Aella, Agapius was nowhere to be found.
"Where's Agapius?" She asked.
"He went to roam around, ha!" Aella suddenly scoffed before continuing "But I bet, he went and investigate that cave, he's such a worry-wrat when it comes to...." She suddenly trailed off.
Luna looked at Aella with bewilderment. Apparently wanting to hear what she was about to say before trailing off, but it seems like she wouldn't continue anymore.
Aella averted gaze, as she awkwardly changed the topic. "Why do you even decided to stay in this room? Aren't you bored?"
She looked at Aella for a few seconds before she answered with a shrug "I'm used to it, besides, this is what I practically do in the past."
"I don't get how you still want to do this stupid game. Pretty sure, by now you must've known that Agapius has been lying to you."
"That's obvious, and there's always a reason for things, other than that, this whole experience is pretty interesting."
"Basically, you still decided to stay?"
Luna nodded.
"Even if he started manipulating you?"
She shrugged, unbothered, as if she had also seen it coming. "I don't really care, if the only way to get out of this world is to finish whatever this whole thing is, then sure."
Aella looked at Luna with furrowed brow as she sighed in displeasure.
"What if I tell you there's a way for you to get out of this world without finishing the this whole thing?"
—!!!
Luna flinch by what Aella stated, she looked at her puzzled and incredulity. As if what Aella spoutes didn't made any sense.
Was there really another way?
It was a tempting suggestion. Luna began to ponder whether he could really leave and get back to his original world. To go back to his original body and life.
But does he really have to go back?
Hmm? Wait.
No, of course he wanted too, why would he even have such thoughts. This whole thing that happened to him will just going to be forgotten eventually. Why is he even contemplating about it.
"I guess to do want to know," says Aella after seeing Luna' expression "but it comes with a price."
A price?
"What kind of price?"
"Huh, you really want to go back. Here I thought you wouldn't budge after all we've gone through. It's been one month and a half now was it; just thinking back about how you kept rejecting the idea makes me—"
"Spit it." Luna cutted off.
"Geez, alright. All you have to do is tell Agapius you want to quit and go back,"
"What? That's it?"
"Let me finish, you impatient brat."
"...."
"As I was saying..." Aella trailed off "this however, comes with a price. As you go back, you must offer a replacement for your place, it wouldn't work with anybody, it must be someone close to you."
"What?"
"That's the price you have to pay for wanting to go back, you may get back home, but you'll have to drag another to be in your stead."
****
There was something making Daryll, Xavier and Remus Bewildered. The three men was looking at Rinalyn and Shiki who was talking so casually to each other. As if there wasn't any beef between them.
"Is the end nearing?" Daryll jested.
"That's more creepy that anything I witnessed." Remus said with a sour face. "Do you know anything?" He asked and turned to Xavier, but just like he was, Xavier also had a baffled look.
"No... Even I didn't know about this..." Xavier replied.
All the three did was looked at each other with bewilderment, trying to figure out what happened between the two for them to be acting up so casually towards each other. It just didn't make any sense of any of them.
Meanwhile, Shiki and Rinalyn was in the middle of a discussion.
"I know this is hard, but you need to be more cautious, even to me." Shiki said, his tone was gentle and delicate, as if he was talking to something fragile.
"Still... Doubting my brother and the others are a bit..." Rinalyn hesitantly replied.
When Shiki dragged her yesterday, he revealed that Eloise had crawled into the Academy' premises, and told her that he plans to track her down, he had also suggested for her to lay low. But she rejected the idea, rather, she insisted that they'll both help each other. Despite it being a ridiculous idea, whether she liked it or not, Rinalyn couldn't just stay still while Eloise is out there on who knows where and is probably already manipulating people.
Rinalyn closed her eyes shut and said; "Maybe we shouldn't do this after all, it may not the same to you, as expected being in your presence still makes me suffocate...somehow."
"..."
Rinalyn could feel his gaze at her. Her eyes kept on wandering around, clearly refusing to face the man in front of her.
It may have seem as though they were casually talking, but the truth was that, it was still hard for her to face him. It was suffocating that she couldn't understand. Perhaps it was because it had been almost seven years since they had this closure ever since that incident.
She heard him sigh, "I understand, I'm sorry."
One word, that one world made Rinalyn's body shudder. She felt like crying. No matter how many times she pushed him away, she couldn't understand why he still makes effort to patch these large gap between their relationship.
"There's no need for you to say that, I just..." She hesitantly trailed off, biting her lips not wanting to say what she was thinking.
Shiki hummed softly as he answered. Rinalyn' eye strayed down to her feet, would it be okay for her to run off now? She just couldn't handle this suffocating atmosphere.
—!
Suddenly, Rinalyn felt his cold hand holding hers. She could feel him squeezing it, her gaze wandered to his hand, she just realized how big of a difference their hand sizes were. Time really did flew fast. He really did grew up, they grew up and so was the gap within their relationship.
Her gaze stayed downwards, the same goes to Shiki. The two were focused into their interwined hands.
None of them dared to utter a word. It was only a minute, but Rinalyn felt like it had been an hour. Her breathing was becoming unstable, just as she thought, she still feel uncomfortable around this man.
"Listen..."
When Shiki soon broke the unnerving silence, Rinalyn eyes widen when he tighten his grip to her hand, squeezing them; because of this, Rinalyn raise his chin slowly, building up the courage to look at him straight in the eye.
—!!!
For once, his usually cold dead eye was talking to her. It was filled with pain and worry, making her feel like drowning in guilt and regret.
"...Everything's my fault, you can resent me till you die, just let me at least care for you."