When he began to look deeper into the words which have been said to him, fear began engulfing his mind
"If this me is killed will I remain as weak as this forever? He asked rhetorically.
"Raf!" He heard faintly and as though it came from a distant hollow. Slowly his vision began to fade till he awoke in another body which felt sore and much more uncomfortable than his previous one.
On waking up, he glared at Jerry who awoke him as though he was uncertain why he decided to do so.
"It's time to prepare for today's classes." Jerry sang smiling but this did not avert Rafael's gaze.
"That's what buddies do." He said this time erasing his smile, raising his brows and spreading his arms.
Groaning lightly Rafael pulled himself off his bed and lazily got ready just like his other roommates and sat down waiting for breakfast time to draw nearer.
"6:54." Jerry anounced gleefully, stood up, snatched Rafael's bag then went to lift Levi's which was normally the heaviest.
"What the heck are you doing?" Levi roared.
"Carrying your bags. Isn't this what I am supposed to do as the weak link in our newly formed squad?" he replied lightly.
"Then be careful with my wares" Levi replied with a voice that showed more warmth than earlier
Just like Levi, Rafael would have opposed the ideas of letting Jerry carry their bags but he was bothered about his dream the previous night.
On their way to the refectory many people threw ugly comments at them but those seemed to be their least concern. Levi who led the way had virtual reality glasses on him and was deeply engrossed in the haven he made his school to look like though having the same dimensions as in reality, Rafael was still bothered about the effect the execution of his dream self will take on him while Jerry was elated and optimistic about his association with his roommates.
"It is time to enter the refectory ready your minds to be stared at by countless people." Jerry anounced oblivious of the fact that his friends were almost unaware of that fact."
"Here comes team zero." Someone yelled on their arrival and the hall began to boo at them.
Their table was the last from the door and thus on arrival it was impossible that no would notice them them following this was usually heartbreaking comments even from the lips of those who were not much more stronger than they were.
"What's the matter with you Raf." Jerry inquired jolting Rafael back from his thoughts. The weakest students had awful meals as directed by the school authorities and as such some students were unable to eat certain dishes they were served. The food served at Rafael's orphanage wasn't much better this he normally went around shamelessly collecting that of people who fails to exhausts theirs when he has not eaten to his fill but today he sat quietly finding it difficult to even exhaust his own.
"Nevermind." Rafael replied trying to be as nice as he could.
"If it is about the daily sum which you have to submit to Bonny, I can help you with that." Jerry said assuringly.
In reply to this, Rafael only smiled dryly. Though this bothered him, it wasn't the most disturbing of his problems. Infact, he could suffer even a thousand blows from Bonny while thinking of his dreams the previous night.
***
Gregor sat before the table in his office rocking his chair casually but he had a disturbed look on his face. His face always had this look anytime he is unable to resolve an issue despite devoting his all towards it's solution.
About three weeks ago a student who had a high rank of twenty two in his first year but in this session being his second year, cannot feel any soul in him much less feeling empowered by the soul energy thus making his ranking fall to the three hundred and twelfth officially the second from the bottom came to him to meet him for guidance as a teacher who was well known for his flawless and formidable techniques but up till now no solution for his problems has occurred to him.
{First years lessons only circled around the use of equipments and physical strength}
Scattered all over his table were manuals which relates to communication with ones inner self and unlocking ones potential including those written before the earth's invasion but after browsing his questions still remains unresolved.
In the midst of his search someone knocked on his door which made him almost yell out to the person in frustration but he quelled the urge but kept hoping the knock would not resound but few seconds later he heard it another time.
He swiftly arranged his desk, put the best professional smile he could on and then beckoned on the visitor to come in and coincidentally emerging from the other side of the door with a more disturbing look than the one Gregor had earlier was the only person who he did not wish to meet till he has discovered a credible and logical solution to his problems, Rafael.
"Hi Raf" he greeted
"Hi Greg" he replied.
"Make yourself comfortable." He invited him and without changing the expression on his face, he sat on the chair opposite him.
"I hope you have the right place to channel the fearsome soul energy you can gather." He asked feigning optimism.
"Not only have I failed, but I feel like sooner than later that opportunity will elude me forever.
"How do you mean?" He inquired.
"I had that dream again but..."
"You mean you still have dreams of being chained?" He asked shocked by the revelation.
"Yes and not a day has it failed to occur."
"Tell me more."
"This time, someone entered that scary dungeon, called me a prince and assured me that I will be executed fortnight."
Gregor was a man who never believed in myths it superstitions but when he first heard of Rafael's issue he began to think back. He could recall that before the earth's invasion, the existence of a soul was termed superstitious it only became a generally acceptable beliefs when it was proven by the celestials. Locked potentials or soul was the only logical explanation he could give to his inability to feed his soul and use his soul energy for his benefits when he first met him with this issue now, it will be foolish if now he tried to blame it on another factor.
"Give me some more minutes and I will help you break out." Was his reply