"Are you an emotional or rational person?"
"I think I'm more of an emotional person, but I try to be more rational. Since a lot of mistakes I make are because of being too emotional."
"Is there a person you would die for?"
"No, there is nobody like that. I'm someone who values my own life highly."
"Do you think all people are equal?"
"Absolutely not."
"Why do you keep hiding your true self behind a mask?"
"Something about me has changed, but everyone around me is still acting the same. I just act like how I used to."
"Is there something you are worried about?"
"Yes…"
"What is it?"
"I can feel something about me is very wrong. And I am not just talking about my mental state, but something inside of me… Something very important. It feels like parts of me are slowly being taken away from me. I can feel that I am running out of time. I am going insane... I want someone to help me, but that would be too foolish and naïve."
"If I gave you a chance to solve the issue, would you take it?"
"Yes."
"No matter how painful it would be?"
"Yes."
"No matter how many cruel things you would have to do?"
"...Yes."
It smiled.
"Very well."
…
A group of boys approached a black-haired boy who was sleeping.
"Adrian, wake up. The lesson's over."
Adrian lifted his head up and stared at them with his unfocused black eyes in silence.
"…"
"Adrian?"
"Oh, thanks for waking me up. I spent the entire night studying."
"No problem."
Adrian noticed an exam paper on his desk. 93 out of 100 points. He frowned slightly.
'Not good enough. She probably has around 100...'
"As expected of you Adrian, so many points again. I only got 67." said a boy from the group.
"...I got 43 points." said another boy.
"Adrian, do you want to come with us to the mall?"
"I think I'll pass today. I have some personal matters to take care of."
"That sounds serious."
"Maybe. Well, I'll see you after the weekend. Bye."
"See ya."
"Bye."
Adrian packed up his things, picked up his backpack, and left the classroom. An intimidating boy with silver hair was standing in front of the board with the exam results. Noticing Adrian, he greeted him.
"Hey Adrian, third place? Not bad."
"Hi Zayn, congrats on the second place."
"It's nothing worth congratulating. Who cares about the second or third place? We should aim for the first place. You feel the same way, right?"
"...Yes, I do."
"Anyway, how's your day?"
"It's alright. And yours?"
"Same as ever. Nothing interesting is happening. Right now, my highest chances of dying are by boredom." Zayn laughed.
"But she certainly is a formidable opponent. I doubt we can beat her unless the both of us work together. What do you think?" Zayn said while scratching his head.
"I agree."
"Perfect! Adrian, you're truly the most reliable person in this school."
"So, what's the plan?"
"It's not much of a plan, but I believe in our situation it's the best idea we study together. Since both of us want to achieve the first place with our own skill, stealing the answer sheet is out of the way, although it wouldn't be hard for me."
"Sounds good."
"We should go for a beer sometime soon."
"Yeah."
"I'll contact you later. See ya."
"Bye."
"Oh also, good luck with your personal matters." Zayn grinned.
On his way out of the school, many students and teachers greeted Adrian.
After reaching the front gate, he saw a a charming girl standing against a wall with her arms crossed.
"Hey Jane. What did you need me for?"
"Adrian, we need to have a talk."
"Sure, let's talk."
"I feel like recently you just don't care about me at all. You barely talk to me, you don't go out on dates with me. You don't buy me as many things as you used to."
'Oh, so that's what the problem was. Now I feel stupid for not realising it until now. I guess my change was not entirely a bad thing. But still to be used by someone so easily...' Adrian frowned.
"Let's break up."
"Huh?!" Jane's eyes opened wide in surprise.
"You are not satisfied with the relationship and I lost the interest in it. Let's end it."
"W-Wait…"
"Bye." Adrian said as he turned around and walked away.
Small snowflakes started falling from the sky. Ice made the sidewalk slippery. Icy wind was blowing in Adrian's face, his body shuddered.
'It's so cold today.'
Adrian stopped in front of a crosswalk, waiting for a green light.
A boy and a girl stopped next to him. Both of them had the same matching brown hair.
"Big bro, let's go eat some food at the mall."
"Sure sis, I'm quite hungry."
"Haha, thanks, big bro. Also, tell me about that new anime you've started watching."
"Oh, that? It's fantasy about a guy that dies and then reincarnates to another world and gains this interesting power that..."
'Seems like even a random pair of siblings has a better relationship than me and that arrogant bi...'
Ding.
Knowing he will have to wait for a while, he took out his phone to look at a message he just received.
A message from mom.
'I sent you some money.'
Five seconds later, he received another notification.
'$200 from Mom.'
Noticing the annoying rambling of the siblings was growing distant, he looked up to see the light was now green. He started walking faster to make it across in time.
Skkrt!
He looked in the sound's direction only to see a truck driving in his direction at a fast speed.
He froze, not knowing what to do.
The truck steered left and right while trying to stop.
...But it was already too late.
Boom!
"..."
Complete silence.
After what felt like eternity, he reopened his eyes only to see two bloodied sacks of flesh...or bodies.
'I...I'm alive.'
He breathed in and out to calm down.
"Haa haa."
'That was close, so damn close.'
He looked toward the bodies again. They were still alive, but most likely dying.
"Sis...are you alright?"
"...Big bro, I don't want to die." the girl said with teary eyes.
"It will be alright." the boy said with a gentle smile while holding her hand.
Not baring to watch the tragic scene in front of his eyes any longer, he looked away.
There was already a crowd of people surrounding them. Some people were trying to help by calling an ambulance or by checking the condition of the siblings, while some of them were recording or taking pictures of the gory scene.
'I guess it's not my time yet.' Adrian smiled.
"Young man, are you alright?"
"Yes, yes." Adrian walked past the people, ignoring them, and continued on his way to buy some things.
'Maybe the goddess of luck doesn't hate me after all.'
Adrian entered a convenience store and picked up milk, vegetables, drinks, and other food.
He approached the store clerk.
"Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon."
"I'll pay with a card."
"Alright."
After paying, Adrian left the store and finally headed home.
Walking past an alley, he heard a group of people laughing. The small group was comprised of a few girls and boys, who were laughing. In the middle of the group was a small boy who was lying on the ground covering in pain. He was most likely punched by the tall boy in front of him.
"This could've been easily prevented if you just gave me the money." the tall boy said.
"H-Help." the small boy said.
"Hmm?" the group turned around noticing Adrian was watching them.
"Do you know this guy?" the tall boy asked.
After hesitating for a while, the small boy nodded his head with a sliver of hope visible in his eyes.
'What a pain.' Adrian frowned.
"We know each other? If you know me, then what's my name?"
"..." the small boy was silent.
'I guess he expected me to help him, which I was kind of planning on, but now after he pulled me into this by lying, why should I do that? I hate being used by others and today I am in a terrible mood.'
"Is that so...?" the tall boy said with a smile before turning around and kicking the small boy in stomach.
"Urgh!"
"You shouldn't pull unrelated people into trouble because of your selfishness." the tall boy said.
Adrian turned around and walked away while hearing the small boy cry out in pain.
He arrived in front of a tall, luxurious apartment. Above the entrance was an expensive security camera. After using a keycard to enter, he saw a security guard sitting behind a computer screen in the lobby.
"Good afternoon Adrian."
"Good afternoon, sir."
He entered an elevator and rode it to the 12th floor. Calming music played while he waited for the elevator to arrive at his floor.
Beep.
The elevator's doors opened, and he went into his apartment.
Closing the door behind him, he noticed a pair of shoes. A girl's pair of shoes. His usually neutral expression turned grim.
"Hey brother." a girl with long black hair and cold blue eyes said.
"...Hey"
"I've heard you got 93 points from the exam. Congratulations. That's extremely good."
"Tha-"
"For someone of your level." she said with a smirk.
"..." Adrian was silent.
"...What did you come here for? This is not your house."
"Can't I visit my little brother's home for no reason?"
Adrian clenched his fists, fingernails dug deep into the skin, blood started dripping.
"You are not welcomed here."
"You're being quite rude."
"YOU have no right to say that."
"Oh, you're still mad over that?" she took a step closer to Adrian, his body reflexively took a step back.
"Pfft... Hahahaha."
"..."
"Well, I'm going to be living here with you from now on. If you have a problem with that, talk to our parents. They have already agreed to it. After all, it's not like you are paying for the rent with your own money."
"..." knowing very well it would be impossible to win against this person, he gave up.
"Walking away huh, like from all of your problems."
Adrian tried to ignore her and went to the kitchen, placed the food from the store in the fridge, and left to his room.
The room had a 4k tv, a desk on top of which was a powerful PC, a closet which could fit a lot of clothes, a few trophies and a big comfortable bed. His family certainly wasn't doing bad financially.
After closing the door behind him, he fell face down on the bed.
"Haa..."
'Just why is she here? Is it to torment me again? Does she enjoy causing me pain? Looks like my peaceful days are over...'
He lay on the bed for some time to help him relieve all the stress he received today. It would've been a tough day for anyone.
His eyes closed slowly.
...
Adrian stood in an empty black space, which could be called void. He looked down at his hands and tried moving them. He succeeded. Knowing he could move his body, he started walking around.
'This place feels a little familiar...'
'I feel like I've been here. But it feels like something here is missing.' he thought while looking around.
"Did I subconsciously learn how to lucid dream?" he said out loud.
"No, you didn't."
Adrian's body jumped. Startled, he started looking around for the person who just spoke to him. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't find the person.
'Is it even possible to hallucinate in a lucid dream?'
'Is this even real?'
"Yes, I can assure you this is very real."
Two ferocious white eyes appeared in the void. Despite containing no hostility, Adrian's body uncontrollably shook, and he could not breathe. Under the tremendous pressure, his knees gave out, and he fell on the ground, despite that he didn't look away from that thing. Black smoke gathered around the eyes, forming a black body. The black figure waved its hand and the unbearable pressure instantly disappeared.
"Welcome back, Adrian."
"..."
"My name? It's Vigil." it said with a smile.