It has been a while since he came back from the Forest of Miracles.
His family welcomed him home at the training ground; even Helenis was with them. All of them ended up spending time together that day and having a meal together after so long. It was nice.
Rezal's punishment also ended the day he came back. The older kid cried after they saw each other, complaining that his father was cruel for giving him such punishment and that he needed to train harder each day.
Michaelis could see the callouses on that pink-haired boy's hands. He is sure that the boy was doing heavy training too.
He thinks Rezal might surpass him in swordsmanship now. It has been a month since he held a sword, after all. He needed to train twice to be on par.
The first thing he did after he and Rezal met again was do as he promised himself. He apologized to his friend for his unseriousness regarding their friendship.
Rezal was flabbergasted, of course. Rezal also looked at him like he had lost his mind, and he was not amused by that. In the end, Rezal just laughed it off as nothing to worry about, and he got teased for being a soft boy now.
"Say, what else did you do?"
"Oh, I made a friend there."
He also told Rezal about Maya. Rezal knew everything about him at this point. He didn't think that secrecy should exist between them except if it was too personal. He thought it would be wise for him to tell Rezal honestly rather than brush that kid off every time or lie to him.
Michaelis would feel bad about it.
Rezal also looked excited every time he told the kid about his journey and experiences. Rezal also had the thought of practising magic in secret, but he always got caught by his father. Rezal would get a scolding for hours if he ever repeated his action, but Rezal would always be Rezal. He practised magic on his own anyway.
Sir Raihan knew about it after a while, and he couldn't do anything anymore to stop his stubborn firstborn. When Rezal knew Michaelis also practised magic, he suggested they practice together when they had time.
Of course, at first, Sir Raihan rejected the idea. But, when Sir Raihan thought more about it, he said it was better to have both of them supervised rather than practice on their own. So Celix and Riri are the ones who have been chosen as supervisors.
"Why me?"
"You are the only person the emperor and I could think about."
"Why are you brats so stubborn? Now look, you drag me into your mess."
Celix squinted his eyes at the two boys.
"Just say you are lazy, old man. It's better to move your body than just stay in your office. Your body will rot faster if you continue to be lazy like that."
Rezal huffed. Celix's eyes twitched at the insult thrown at him.
"What are you teaching your kid? He is rude!"
"Hey! I am just stating the truth. Why? Can't bear the truth?"
Rezal smirked.
"You brat. I would not mind experimenting on a kid."
"Hah! Evil old man! I'll report you to the higher-up!"
Rezal and Celix continued to bicker. Sir Raihan shook his head at his friend and son's attitude. He thought he just needed to handle two kids, but now there is one more.
"Stop it, you guys, or you won't like what I'll do."
Rezal stopped and looked at his father with horror. He stepped behind Michaelis' back for protection.
Celix just stared blankly at Sir Raihan.
"You think your threat would work on me like a child?"
"Oh, sure, if you want to keep the candy stashes in your office."
Celix froze. He narrowed his eyes at Sir Raihan.
"You don't dare."
"Try me."
Celix finally gave up. He made a promise to watch over them two times a week. It was easy when he was threatened by using his candy stashes.
From then on, Michaelis and Rezal have been practising swords and magic together.
Michaelis has also been exchanging letters with Maya every few weeks to get to know each other's well-being. He was just glad that they were still in contact. It would be much easier if there was a phone.
Maybe he could think of something to solve that problem later.
"I heard your sister would graduate early for a year."
Michaelis looked up at Rezal from the book.
"Yeah, when she was 16, she managed to skip a year."
Rezal hummed.
Today, they just sat and did nothing. Like a free day from practising anything. Michaelis also did not have any classes today. Rezal and he had been spending time together since the morning.
"That must be great. I want an early graduation too."
Michaelis glanced at Rezal.
"You can if you study hard, but you even skipped your classes right now."
"The class is dull, Micha. You wouldn't understand because you like to study."
Rezal pouted. He is more into physical activity than using his brain. He can't fathom everything that has been taught to him. Rezal also couldn't help but feel weird when he looked at Michaelis. This white-haired friend of his always has books by his side.
"You just need to understand the basics for now if you want to skip grades later."
"You don't want to get into the academy early for a year? Let's get to the academy together. Maybe I won't be that bored studying."
Rezal blinked his eyes at him repeatedly. Trying to charm him with his not-so-big eyes
"No."
"Whyyyy?"
'I like to read, not study or go to school.'
"Because my home is the best."
"That's not convincing."
"I am not trying to convince you here, you know?"
Rezal huffed. He knew that he couldn't persuade Michaelis to make this big decision. Well, it looks like he needs to wait a year before he can study with Michaelis at the academy.
"You'll skip a year too, right?"
Michaelis shrugged his shoulders.
"Depends."
"Hey!"
"Yes yes. It is better to graduate early. Maybe when I'm in my second year, I'll take a test to skip a grade."
"But I need to wait for you to finish your first year first. That will take a year more."
"Then, what do you want me to do?"
Rezal sure is a stubborn kid.
"Take a test when you start the first year. Then, you'll be studying second year with me! I am brilliant!"
Michaelis clicked his tongue.
"It's better if I skip through until the senior year. So I'll just stay at the academy for a year."
"Not fair!"
He smirked. Well, he can't do that. He needed at least three years in the academy to get his graduation certificate. He didn't know why that requirement was mandatory. However, he guesses it's about the assignments and tasks given each year. That is why you can just skip grades when you are in your first and second years.
He could skip grades and go to the academy for just three years, at the minimum. However, for Rezal, he would sacrifice one more year to be in the academy. He hopes he can make it through four years of schooling.
×××××
The hot night came again.
Michaelis didn't know why it had become more frequent since he came back from the Forest of Miracles.
He thought that after he finally conquered aura control, he would not get these kinds of symptoms anymore.
His body is hot. He is sweating. His body is also shaking slightly. The difference is that his aura was not even activated at this moment.
"What is wrong with me?"
Michaelis pursed his lips. He can't sleep. Maybe it is better like this. If not, the dream will come again, and he didn't like it a bit.
Michaelis made sure not to open any balcony doors tonight and sat on his couch instead of his bed. Maybe all of these symptoms will stop if he doesn't think too much.
Michaelis took a deep breath and opened his pyjama buttons when the heat came on.
"I don't like it."
He ended up activating his aura to cool down his body using his ice affinity, which is not in full control yet. He places his hand on top of his stomach. He could feel the coldness and closed his eyes. He smiled a bit after his body was no longer hot, even though his hands were shaking.
Click!
He abruptly opened his eyes at the sudden sound. He looked around in the darkness.
Nothing strange happened, but his eyes landed on the balcony door.
It was opened slightly.
Michaelis couldn't help but stop breathing.
'It is here. Since when has my life's genre turned into horror and mystery?'
His heart was beating heretically against his rib cage.
Hiss.
The sound managed to send goosebumps all over his body.
Did he fall asleep? Was this really a dream? Since when did the dream start?
Michaelis had so many questions in his mind until, at one point, he arrived at one conclusion.
'This is not a dream. Never a dream.'
His room is not full of darkness. There is a night lamp situated beside his bed, but he still cannot see properly from the light.
Michaelis stood up and walked backwards. His eyes roamed around his room. No movement. No other sound.
"A—!"
His body was being jumped by something. His back touched the carpet. From this side, the light was blocked by the couch from reaching the ground he fell onto, and the darkness did not help him identify the intruder.
His mouth was instantly covered. Rather than the reptilian skin of a snake, he could feel the skin of a human.
His eyes widened to see a silhouette of someone on top of him, restricting his movement completely. His hands were tightly pressed against his stomach, and his legs were pressed against the ground.
He didn't know if a snake or a human intruder was better. He tried to use his aura and strength, but somehow it did not work. No, his aura did not work on this intruder; it was nullified the instant he touched the intruder.
When his vision finally got used to the darkness, he could see a bit of the intruder's facial expression. It is a man, and the man is smiling at him. The golden eyes looked straight into his eyes.
'He is the snake!'
"Time for a meal."
A hoarse voice was heard before his head was turned harshly to the side by the same hand covering his mouth, and a sharp pain struck his neck. Michaelis gritted his teeth with the same pain he felt every time this happened. He is stupid to think all of this is just a dream when it has happened three times now.
When the second time happened, a week after he came back from the Forest of Miracles, he should have known and reported it to someone. A stupid decision he had ever made in this world.
If this was never a dream, he didn't know how he was still alive after being sucked out of blood many times. If this was never a dream, why did this snakeman drink his blood like a crazy man?
Michaelis struggled to move to prevent his body from being violated further.
His vision was becoming blurry by the second. The blood coming out of his body was too much.
No, he can't let this happen every time. He needs to fight back. He can't let this happen again.
Michaelis activated his aura more and more, but the snakeman never let go of his neck. The snakeman sunk his fangs into his neck more deeply, making his breath hitch.
Michaelis' eyes suddenly shone brightly.
"Hm?"
The snakeman made a sound before his eyes opened wide at the sudden push.
Prakk!
Bang!
The fangs were forcefully pulled out of Michaelis' neck, and blood oozed out of his wound. The snakeman was thrown into the wall, collapsing the table near the wall.
Michaelis groaned with a hazy gaze before he stood up wobbly and looked at the injured snake-man. The snakeman groaned from the hard impact. Before he could make a move, Michaelis fell back on the carpet. Blood coming out of his neck.
"Urgh, you should just let me drink your blood and heal you. Now, my body is hurting."
He wanted to scoff at what the snakeman said. This bloodsucker dared say that after coming to drink his blood without permission.
"Your Highness!!"
"Oh shit!"
That was the last thing he heard before passing out.