{Author's Note: The lines in "Double Quotation Marks" are dialogues that are spoken out loud. The lines in 'Single Quotation Marks' are dialogues that are in the character's mind.}
I am currently sitting in a Skyrail, waiting for it to depart from the school. Next to me is Evangeline.
The Mystic Islands are new islands, meaning they were formed when the great catastrophe of the dungeons and the arrival of the other races hit. It was originally a part of Britain, but somehow it ended up in the middle of a sea.
They are famous for being the birthplace of Xavier Harris, an Archmage who saved countless lives back when the dungeons first started appearing. In the novel, he was described as 'The Main Character of the Prequel'. That's how famous he is.
It's approximately 12000 km away from the Nexus Academy, but with the Skyrail, it shouldn't take that long to reach.
"*Sigh... why are people staring at us so much?!", Evangeline complained to me.
'Well, it's probably because you look so sexy right now...'
"I don't know, really. Maybe they didn't expect you to actually have a partner?"
"That's probably it..."
As we were chatting about things, the Skyrail announced its departure.
The entire train was filled to the brim with students, and yet, I couldn't spot any of the main cast.
This was intentional, as I know which compartment they got onto and purposefully chose the farthest away compartment from them so as to not get interrupted while I'm with Evangeline.
It's gonna take 8 hours of journey to reach the Islands.
"Evangeline."
"Hmm?"
"This might sound odd, but on this trip, DO NOT let your guard down for even a second, okay? if needed, always keep in contact with me."
She looked at me with scepticism for a second, but soon sighed and smiled.
"Are you worrying about me?"
"Yes."
She asked that question in a sarcastic tone, but hearing my quick and sincere response made her face red with embarrassment, which I thought was pretty cute.
"...B-but why?
"Why what?"
"Why... are you worried about me?"
"... You're the only one in this whole academy I can call my friend. It's obvious that I'd worry about you. Also, I've started looking forward to our little practice sessions. It'd be a shame if you got hurt and couldn't hang out with me anymore.", I responded bluntly. I was always the kind of guy to just outright tell the other person what I was thinking. I find it better than keeping my mouth shut and accepting what happens, even if I had the power to change the outcome.
Evangeline stared at me for a few seconds and lowered her head.
"Actually... it's the same with me... You're the only person who I can call my friend too...", she fumbled out.
I don't know why, but hearing that made my heart skip a beat. It felt so cringe to actually go through that 'OMG! My heart skipped a beat for her!!' thing, but still, it didn't feel that bad. I guess that's because of the sudden dopamine rush that flooded my brain for a millisecond.
"Oh, really? I thought that Sophia, Julian and that... what's that guy's name again? Curtis! Yeah!... I thought that those guys were your friends?"
"They're not.", her mood suddenly changed from flustered and embarrassed to cold and cruel.
'There it is... the villain side of Evangeline... seems like she still has it in her...'
"*Sigh... it doesn't matter... But, why did you ask me to keep my guard up all the time?"
"Ah, yeah. It's because I've got a hunch that something bad will happen."
"... Really? A hunch? Not anything concrete?", her face reflected disappointment.
'Well, I can't just tell you that I know the future and that there will be villains plotting malicious stuff and an S+ Dungeon will open in the future!!!!'
"Just trust me, okay? you don't have to do much, just keep your phone close to you and be ready to cast magic whenever necessary."
"Hmm... okay, since it's you who's telling me this, I'll believe you..."
'Thank you!'
"Right."
We stopped talking to each other because it seemed like Evangeline couldn't get much sleep last night.
Once again, she leaned her head on my shoulder and slept like a log.
---- Evangeline's POV ----
'Let's hope he doesn't notice I'm actually awake!', she thought as she leaned on Samuel's shoulder. He didn't seem to mind it and continued playing his mobile game.
'Argh! That stupid game! Why isn't your attention on me?!', she grumbled before accepting defeat to the mobile game.
'But that was strange... he seemed so serious when he told me to keep my guard up... does he know something?'
'*Sigh... he's so mysterious! It's kinda annoying sometimes! Like, he seems to be always planning his next moves and never deviating from them! Also, that uncanny calmness he shows from time to time while practising and studying... he really is super weird, just like the rumours about him...'
Evangeline smiled internally.
'He doesn't seem like a bad person, though... Also... he said that I was his only friend... It makes me happy he thinks that way, even though I don't really understand why...'
'Maybe it's because he actually recognises me? Unlike my family and other 'acquaintances', he genuinely complements me and helps me move forward without much regret... Maybe it's because he's giving me the affection and compassion that I had longed for for so long?'
'Mmmmm! Whatever this feeling is, I don't want it to ever go away!!!!'
---- Samuel's POV ----
'Why's she moving so much?', I thought as I kept playing Subway Surfers.
I wasn't putting my attention towards it though... I was actually thinking very deeply.
'It's been almost 2 months since I came to this world... the original storyline is already in shambles... and I still haven't gotten any clues as to why I'm even here in the first place!'
'If I was given a choice of returning back to my world, I would take it in a heartbeat, although I'd feel bad for Evangeline, it doesn't compare to what I have left back in my world...'
'I didn't have a girlfriend, but I wasn't a loner... I have friends back there that I genuinely care about... I had the material possessions that I am still quite attached to. And most importantly, my parents... In this world, I don't have any parents, but back there, I had a loving mother and a caring father... I had started living away from them because of higher studies, but now that I've been in this world, without any clue as to why I'm here, or if can I even go back home, I can't help but miss them more acutely...'
'If... If it turns out that I can't actually go back home...'
My body suddenly shivered at that thought.
'Shit... I should focus on the present and stop overthinking so much...'