Elain opened the door to her dorm with unsettled mind.
Even though Zeru had said it was not her fault, she felt remorseful as she was the reason for their fight and she was guilty of it. With the guilt still weighting on her mind she entered her room.
In her room, Emma was idly lying on her bed.
"What happened?" Emma asked.
She had noticed Elain's expression when she opens the door.
"Emma, what did you say to Adam?" Elain asked, a bit angry at her friend for causing trouble.
She like her for being open minded about things and for saying what she wanted without shying away but her antics of causing trouble had gone too far this time. Because of her causing misunderstand, a fight would have broken out and Adam could have seriously harmed Zeru.
"What happened?" Emma asked confused.
Emma didn't know why Elain was angry.
"I don't know what you said to Adam during the break, but a fight nearly broke out between Adam and Zeru due to misunderstanding. Do you know how much commotion that caused?" Elain asked.
"What?" Emma felt surprised.
"Emma, I hope you keep your shenanigans to a limit," Elain scolded.
"Wait, what did I do? I only shared what I saw with Adam. How can you say that it's my fault when it was Adam who misunderstood!" Emma felt wronged.
"Emma, you knew that I didn't wasn't to talk about it, and that I wasn't asking for help. Then why would you go out of your way to talk about it with Adam?" Elain pointed.
"I was just looking out for you! I though Adam could help," Emma said.
"Did you? I saw you smiling Emma, when you asked us to leave first. Now say to me that you did it to help me and not for you own enjoyment.
You wanted to see what would happen, didn't you? And guess what they nearly fought, and I was the reason. Two totally unrelated people fought and are odds because of it," Elain nearly exploded.
"I admit that I thought it would be fun and wanted to see what would happen. But I never expected a fight to break out! I though it would just be a confrontation," Emma replied.
"But how can you do that knowing that it would end up in a confrontation, Emma. You know well that Adam is upright and stubborn, and that he would flareup at the slighted mistreatment. Knowing that how did you conclude that he would end with a talk?" Elain questioned.
"How would I know? I am no god to know everything!" Emma retorted.
"IF you didn't then you should have kept shut," Elain said.
"Oh, I should have kept my mouth shut?" Emma felt angered as she heard it from Elain, "It's my mouth, I will say what I want!"
"But you should have a bottom-line with the things you say. What would you have done if Zeru got hurt. Do you know how guilty I feel knowing that it was my fault? If you hadn't caused the misunderstanding, it wouldn't have happened in the first place!" Emma voiced.
"How would I know, and nothing happened to him anyway!" Emma replied.
"You should be happy nothing happened! thankfully Zeru's friend intervened in time, otherwise they would have fought in the restaurant," Elain covered her face, relived nothing happened.
"Well, that's disappointing," Emma commented.
"That's all you got to say about it, Emma. Don't you feel guilty about it?" Emma asked.
"Why should I feel guilty? I didn't ask Adam to fight?" Emma replied.
"You should be, Emma. If you hadn't had your fun. He wouldn't have misunderstood and fought. He was worried that I was caught in a situation."
"It's not my fault," Emma retorted.
"Just because you say it, doesn't make you innocent. You have to own your mistakes, Emma. You better apologize to Adam and Zeru tomorrow for your shenanigans," Elain stated.
"Why?" Emma groaned.
"You better do it, Emma. This where your fun ends," Elain was adamant, she was not going to get 'No' for an answer.
"Why are you guys fighting?" Meli walked in while rubbing her sleepy eyes, "I can hear you shouts from the next room."
Elain looked at Meli and decided to answer, "Emma caused a misunderstanding causing Adam and Zeru to fight. Thankfully it was stopped before it could escalate,"
"Oh! Emma, you have done it this time," Meli's eyes widened in shock.
"Come on Meli, how am I at fault? It was Adam who fought," Emma grumbled.
"Own your fault, Emma. If you hadn't said anything, it wouldn't have happened," Emma said.
"I knew it the moment you stayed behind that you were going to cause a problem," Meli shook her head.
"Ugh, just listen to me," Emma groaned.
"YOU better apologize to Adam and Zeru tomorrow," Elain stated and entered the washroom.
"Elain is right, Emma. You should apologize," Meli agreed.
"But before that tell me what happened?" she asked, seeing that Elain had gone in.
"Really? You didn't even know the full story and yet you supported Elain." Emma asked.
"Come on Emma, You know that when Elain say that its your fault then it's really your fault and I know you after all," Meli hugged Emma.
"Okay, Whatever," Emma shrugged.
"Hehe," Meli giggled as hugged Emma.
***
Zeru was sitting in his study.
H e was writing a letter to his mother stating that he had arrived at the academy. He folded the paper after checking it, he placed it in an envelope and wrote "TO MOM".
He pulled another sheet of paper from the pile to write his report to Francis.
"Fransic,
I have arrived at the academy and settled in the mansion. I will not be asking your well-being as I don't want to bother writing it again.
For my report on the academy: I have been spending the last two days relatively peacefully. I have checked the infrastructure of the academy. It has built high-end facilities to train students and hired knowledgeable professors to teach.
It is well built but not invulnerable,
I haven't found major flaws with it yet, but I will keep looking.
I have caused a commotion here in the academy. I beat an annoying guy with a plate, so I have been punished. From what I heard he is from a noble family and don't worry, he is not dead.
He got a pretty strong skull I say.
I have been punished with cleaning the training grounds and garden for now. They said I will be kept under watch by the disciplinary committee. They have informed the student's parents and will decide of my further punishment after discussing.
From what I can see, the punishment is light compared to what I did. If it were a bastard doing this for fun, he would be not getting what he deserved.
And I can't say that my punishment would be light after the discussion with his parents. But I think it is unfair to involve parents into children's fight. A noble or powerful family could threaten the weaker ones to get scot-free.
In my case, I have yet to know.
I have to see if the Academy will take a neutral stance or support the strong. if it takes the side of the strong, I don't think we should send the young elves to study here. But at the same time, I am not asking it to side with the weak.
The academy should judge without bias and the punishment should be given accordingly. The academy was built to give fair opportunity to people of all status but not all people are equal. But that doesn't mean we should judge biasedly.
For now I have yet to conclude academies stance.
For other matters, I have gained a friend. Her name is Luranta. She is a bit peculiar to say the least. If you imagine a walking talking meatball with pink-red sauce on its head, you have already seen the most of her. I can see that she is a kind person.
And importantly, I think I found the one.
I found her interesting because her soul is similar to Mother's. I am starting to like her and I think mom would love to meet her. but don't say anything about it yet as it is still in progress.
I met Adam McCane, he is the grandson of the golden saint. Ze killed his grandfather and I feel that we are destined for an ill-fated relationship. Man, he is stubborn as an Orc.
That's all for the report on the academy, I will write if anything noteworthy pops up.
, by Zeru. "
Zeru reread the letter again and placed it inside the envelope. He wrote "TO FRAN" on it. He took the letter with "TO MOM" and opened the bottom last drawer. He placed both the letters in and close the drawer.
His eyes then caught the pitch-black book in the corner.
He brought it near and opened it. Golden letters shone in its pure white page.
[Integration --- 67%]
Those word reflected in his eyes and mind.
This was a reminder declaring that he was being devoured slowly as time goes on and someone else is taking over his body.
For the last five years, it has been slowly increasing.
"I don't have much time, do I?" I couldn't help but feel conflicted.
{ You have near four years }
Grim replied to my question.
"Don't you pity me, Grim?" I asked, knowing the answer as I had asked it many times.
{ NO. }
This was the answer I always got.
{ But I can say that you don't need to feel conflicted about it. Think of it as like gaining a new memory. }
Even though Grim is sentient and shows emotion, its still a book as it doesn't process the same way as humans. After all, in the end it's just a book with consciousness. It doesn't feel the conflicts of emotions and feelings like humans.
"But those memories are not mine. After integration it will not be me but someone else," I said.
{ I don't think so, you will be you but with different memories. You won't change as you both are of essentially the same. }
"You don't understand, Grim. Human as being who strive to be unique from each other, we strive to stand above and different from each other,"
{ I think it's a waste of time as humans are different from each other, genetically. They don't need to separate them self from each other as all are unique. }
"But if everyone is unique than no one is,"
( I don't know. I still don't get why you low level being strive to be unique to each other. }
Seeing that we still don't agree with each other, I closed the book and kept it to the side.
I opened my diary, its one of the habits that I pick up to keep myself together.
It was one of the ways to keep myself from forgetting who I am.
I read the last page,
'– 27/02/594 –
I am getting scared,
I am losing myself slowly as the time progress. I feel like I am wearing someone's skin even though I am in my own.
I feel that I am changing slowly, and it has become more and more apparent as the time goes on. The changes are happening in a minute level in a slow process but when the all up, I can notice the elephant in the room.
I am scared that one day I would look back and see someone totally different who I am at the time. That tough frightened me.
I have been searching for the solutions to solve this but no magic can do anything to it.
My only options is gods but I am not afflicted with any. If I were to say about the integration, they will say I am evil and burn me in the gallows.'
I sighed as I read the last page which I had written after I saw a nightmare that didn't belong to me.
I tuned the page and started to write,
' – 14/04/594 –
I have caused some commotions.
Elain agreed to spend time with me. I don't mind if she reject me as I don't know what I will be in the future.
I haven't noticed any changes in my behavior except for the extremely flaring emotions. My emotions keep oscillating. I get super excited or super angry or I am extremely calm and calculative.
This has been happening for year now since the integration turned 50%.
I am sacred…
..
*****