Third Person's POV
Astra went out and walked a little way to the bus stop. Today was her first day returning to school after what happened.
When the bus arrived, she got in and sat at the back. Since the journey was going to be long, she disconnected from the real world for a while. She stared blankly ahead, thinking about pleasant things.
She thinks that someone she knew got on the bus, causing the other passengers to look at her. He will save her and run away.
Astra continued to daydream until the bus stopped near her school. Even while daydreaming, she was aware of her surroundings, so she didn't miss her stop and got off at the right place.
Once she entered the school, she immediately went to the admin office where her three professors for the day were located.
Astra reported to the admin office, submitted her activity, and then proceeded to the classroom for her first subject.
Because she had to go through the admin office, she was a bit late, and most of her classmates were already seated. As usual, Astra chose a seat at the back where she could sit alone.
From her seat, she noticed her classmates whispering to each other as soon as she arrived.
Their glances were curious and then they turned back to their conversations. Astra had no idea what was going on. This awkward atmosphere continued until their professor arrived.
During the lecture, Astra found it hard to understand anything and yawned several times. To avoid falling asleep, she started daydreaming again, staring at the professor as if she were listening, but in reality, she wasn't paying attention at all.
Her mind drifted to different places, thinking of better times and daydreams that kept her entertained. She imagined herself in a more exciting place, where she didn't have to worry about awkward glances or difficult lectures. She thought of adventures and stories, all while pretending to be engrossed in the class.
Despite her best efforts to stay alert, the professor's voice seemed to fade into the background. The whispers of her classmates, the rustling of papers, and the occasional sound of someone shifting in their seat created a dull, constant noise that made it even harder to focus.
Astra's eyes wandered around the room, taking in the familiar faces and the classroom's details. The sunlight filtering through the windows and the scribbles on the whiteboard—all these details merged with her daydreams, creating a surreal blend of reality and imagination.
The class felt like it dragged on forever. Astra wished for a way to make time go faster or for something exciting to break the monotony. She glanced at the clock and sighed quietly, realizing that only a few minutes had passed since she last checked.
Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the class. Astra snapped out of her daydream, gathered her things, and prepared to leave. As she walked out of the classroom, she couldn't shake off the feeling that today was going to be just another long, boring day.
They had an hour break before the next class, so Astra decided to spend her time in the library.
She picked out a book and sat in her usual spot in the corner. While reading, she started to feel sleepy and soon dozed off. As she slept with her head resting on her arms, a few of her classmates entered the library. However, they didn't notice her since her face was hidden.
Astra hadn't been asleep for long when she entered the dream world. In her dream, she found herself inside an ancient castle, dressed in a medieval brown gown. The castle was eerily quiet, except for the faint sound of musicians playing in the background.
Astra walked inside and wandered through the castle, she marveled at the intricate tapestries hanging on the walls, depicting scenes of battles and royal feasts. The floor was made of polished stone, cool and smooth beneath her bare feet. She felt a sense of wonder and curiosity, as if she were exploring a forgotten piece of history.
The air was filled with a faint scent of old books and candle wax, adding to the castle's ancient ambiance. Despite the castle's grandeur, there was a feeling of emptiness, as if it had been abandoned for centuries. The only movement came from the flickering candle flames and the shadows they cast on the stone walls.
Astra continued to explore, walking through grand hallways and peeking into empty rooms. She found herself in a large ballroom with high windows made in mosaic that let in streams of sunlight. The room's interior was grand, with twelve towering pillars supporting the structure. The ceiling rose high above, coming to a pointed arch, adorned with bright chandeliers that hung suspended in mid-air, casting a warm glow over the entire room.
As she walked further near the middle, she jolted when the musicians in the corner began to play a romantic melody, the kind often heard in grand ballrooms. As the music filled the air, a man appeared before Astra, dressed in a white medieval outfit with the buttons undone, revealing his well-built chest.
"May I?" the man asked, extending his hand towards Astra.
Before she could respond, the man gently took her hand and led her to the center of the room. They began to dance, moving gracefully to the rhythm of the music. The atmosphere was incredibly romantic, and Astra couldn't believe she was experiencing such a perfect moment. Everything seemed to align with her deepest desires.
As they danced, Astra couldn't take her eyes off the man. She tried to focus on his face, but it remained elusive, as if shrouded in a dream-like haze. She could sense his presence and feel the warmth of his touch, but his features were indistinct, slipping away like a forgotten memory every time she blinked.
Astra could feel the atmosphere around her, so real and tangible that she could almost believe she was truly there. Every note of the piano, every gentle whisper of the flutes resonated within her, creating a symphony that seemed to envelop her very soul.
Everything was perfect until the sudden sound of bells disrupted the harmony. One bell rang with a sharp, continuous tone, while another produced a deep, resonant chime, ringing three times in succession before pausing and repeating the pattern. The contrasting sounds filled the grand hall, creating an eerie yet mesmerizing ambiance.
Astra turned her gaze back to the man she was dancing with, and to her astonishment, his appearance had changed.
He was now dressed in a black overcoat and a matching hat, far from the figure he had been moments before. The man now looked exactly like Armann, the same Armann who was her protector and guide. He stood composed and enigmatic before her.
Startled by this sudden transformation, Astra flinched in the real world, the sensation of falling pulling her abruptly from the dream. Her eyes shot open, and she lifted her head, disoriented. The vivid dream world faded away, replaced by the familiar surroundings of the library.
Blinking rapidly to clear her vision, Astra was met with the sight of Armann standing right in front of her. His presence in reality was just as striking as it had been in her dream. He looked down at her with a calm, steady gaze, his expression unreadable.
It felt like time had stopped. The feeling Astra had experienced in her dream was still with her as she looked at Armann. It was like the Queen of the Night flower that blooms only once a year. She stared at him, not wanting to blink even for a second, afraid she might miss any detail. It felt like she was still dreaming.
While Astra was lost in her thoughts, Armann noticed her strange behavior. He snapped his fingers to get her attention.
"Hey! What's going on with you?" Armann tilted his head slightly, his eyes never leaving hers.
Because of that, Astra snapped back to reality, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Oh, sorry. What?" Astra asked, not fully aware of what was happening.
"Nothing," Armann replied.
Some people in the library, including a few of her classmates, turned to look at Astra because she had spoken loudly.
"Sorry," Astra whispered to others, feeling embarrassed for disturbing them.
Armann secretly laughed, but Astra noticed and gave him a sharp look.
"Why are you here? Don't you have work?" Astra whispered grumpily, pretending to read so others wouldn't notice she was talking to someone.
"Nope. It's my day off from my human job," Armann lied, although the truth was he had taken leave from work. He had nothing to do at home but pace back and forth in the living room.
He got bored waiting for someone to open the door, so he decided to walk around the area, but in reality, he just wanted to see Astra.
"So that's why you're in astral projection now?" Astra casually remarked.
"Yes, why? Is there a problem? I like it this way," Armann replied defensively.
"Why so defensive? I'm just asking," Astra said again, covering her mouth with the book.
"Whatever. I'll pick you up later. Let's eat outside," Armann said, feeling embarrassed, and quickly vanished from the place.
'Did he just ask me out?' Astra questions herself, feeling confused but secretly laughs.
She looked at the time and saw that their break was almost over, so she packed up her things and went to her next class.
After Astra left the library, not knowing her classmates, Lucy and a few others were hiding behind the bookshelves for a while now. They watched her talk to herself and came out after Astra left.
"She really is weird," one of them said.
"See? I told you. She's still doing it," Lucy said.
"Yeah! Good thing you warned us early so we could avoid her. Otherwise, we might be weirdos too," another classmate added.
"Let's go," Lucy urged, and they headed to their designated classroom for the next subject.
Inside the room, it was time for their professor to arrive, but twenty minutes had passed, and there was still no sign of her. Just like earlier, many classmates cast strange looks at Astra while whispering to each other.
Feeling the tension in the room, Astra tried not to overthink and busied herself, ignoring the people around her.
While the classroom was noisy, Max came in late through the back door.
As he entered, he immediately noticed Astra sitting alone, her head down as she wrote. He quickly approached her.
"Is anyone sitting here?" Max asked, pointing at the empty chair beside Astra.
Astra looked up. She couldn't remember his name, but his face seemed familiar.
She didn't answer his question and continued with what she was doing. Max, seeing this, decided to help himself and took the seat to her right.
As Max observed Astra, he noticed the other students whispering and glancing at her. Their actions made it clear who's the topic of their conversation.
"Aren't you going to tell them to stop?" Max asked, wondering how she could seem so unfazed despite being the obvious subject of their gossip.
"And then what? Just let them do what they want. They'll stop eventually," Astra replied indifferently and went back to her writing.
"What if they don't? Do you have any idea what they're talking about you?" Max asked seriously, looking concerned for Astra.
"I don't care—" Astra started, but Max cut her off.
"Do you know that there's a rumor spreading about you being some kind of monster? They all think you're crazy because you talk to yourself and often seem lost in thought. Not only that, there's also a rumor going around that you cursed someone that caused him to die," Max broke the news, irritated by Astra's apparent obliviousness.
Astra couldn't believe what she was hearing. She didn't know how to respond to Max because she herself had been on that side before she met Armann.
"Tell me, is it true? Are you really a monster witch? Did you have something to do with the death of a man eleven years ago?" he asked continuously, his tone serious and irritated how kind she is.
Astra felt a wave of sadness and disappointment wash over her upon hearing this question. The same feeling that Astra buried in a long time ago and left in the past suddenly came back like a ghost.
'Monster!' she thought to herself, feeling heartbroken.
~ To be Continued~