That night, I slept soundly.
In my sleep, I dreamed about my past life as Adeline Mira Kross.
It was during the summer of my seventeenth year. I had just graduated from school and was super excited about my future life as a college student.
I would finally be able to get out of the family cocoon.
« I am an adult now. »
Or at least I would be soon.
For me, the future was a box full of surprises to arise. I only needed to reach my hand, and everything I wanted would be mine. I was full of energy and anticipation. I was young!
That day, on the Fourth of July, I went out to meet some friends in the city. As for my always-present best friend, she was somewhere in the middle of an island called Hawaii, probably swimming in the waves or tanning at the beach. She had it good!
Trying to look pretty, I went all out: I had done the makeup, wore THE dress (the kind of dress that made people take a second look-or three) and perfumed myself from head to toe. I was on point. I had met the criteria.
I thought that the day would be a good one. And it did. It was awesome.
We first went sightseeing at the museum, then we went walking around the city park. We had our girl's day!
Everything went exactly as we planned until one of my friends had to go back rapidly home because of a problem, and my two other friends were accompanying her to the metro. My curfew: because I had one hour arriving soon, I couldn't go with them.
Finally, I walked home, in the late afternoon, while using the main road.
Before long, I was watching my phone while replaying the recordings I took during the day when I felt someone pushing me from behind before going unconscious.
When I woke up, I was in my room, with no memories about how or when I got there. I only had the strange sensation of being there, but at the same time, not there? It was weird but not really bothersome, so I never really minded.
And as time passed, I slowly got used to it, forgetting about it. And it lasted until the moment of my death, at the hands of a crazy stalker.
....
That dream was a glimpse of my life during one of my most rare moments of happiness and fulfillment. After all, I had just obtained my diploma and was at one step away from my college dream life.
The only strange thing about this dream is how the events unfolded afterward on that road. After all, I used to take that way every day back and forth from home to school, and nothing ever happened. Moreover, it wasn't even an altercation, aggression, or something. It was just a simple push!
The most weird thing was about getting back home—who knows how, without any memory of anything. Total black out.
Now that I think back about it, nothing that happened was normal. And that bizarre feeling that I got following that wasn't any different.
— How could I have forgotten? I questioned myself, sighing deeply.
Not knowing what to do, I first put some order in my head before getting out of bed. One hour later, I was ready to start my first official day of school.
Checking my schedule for my first class, I walked to the cafeteria.
It was precisely seven a.m when I arrived, and Aaron was already seated at our previous table.
Today I chose some bread and butter with a cup of hot milk and also cereals with dried grapes to gain more energy.
" Hmmm, this is absolutely delicious!" I mumbled it out after tasting my food.
"You really love eating, don't ya! A real foodie!"
"Don't start me with that; it's impossible to not love eating! But did you taste that? THAT'S heaven!"
" Ha hahaha! I believe it is!"
"Don't make fun of me, Aaron. I'm not joking! You should take some!"
"Well…yeah! Can't hurt to try!" He said before taking a spoonful of cereal and sipping some juice. " Wow! This is really good!"
"Would you like me to ask for more?"
"No, thank you. I already had a well nourishing breakfast, and now I'm full!"
" you-
"Hey you!" Interrupted someone.
It was a tall, gorgeous young man with black hair and black eyes. The most beautiful black eyes I had ever seen in my life. "Are you Gorgia?" He inquired.
— smells trouble…
"Yes, who's asking?"
Looking me up and down, he analyzed me from top to bottom. His deep, dark gaze made me feel electric current all over my skin…he was lowky intimidating.
As he moved more closely, I could gradually see his features more clearly. The teenager had fair skin with a deep contrast to his contours: accentuating his strong facial attributes. He had a sharp jaw, a fine and elegant nose and a pair of hypnotic eyes, surrounded by long and thin eyelashes and bushy eyebrows.
"Meet me up at the library after class. Don't forget!" The man said without looking at me, his face titled to the back of the cafeteria.
He then walked away calmly without a care, hands in his pockets.
—I think I have a talent for attracting weird, handsome people… or maybe I should call it a curse…
"Hit me… What the hell just happened !!!?" Swore Aaron extremely taken aback, his jaw practically on the floor. "Did one of the Aces just talk to you?"
—Oh so that's what you were shocked about…
I did not see you that way, Aaron…
"Them again? Is he one of them?"
— So it's one of the boys I saw with Mainu at the entrance ceremony. No wonder he is so handsome then…only good-looking people could be a part of Mainu's "troops"…
" YES! He is the living legend of the knight faction: Sylvester Ocnor Duvalion, the future grand duke. At his young age, he had already won countless battles and had created a reputation of his own. People say that he had gone to war for the first time at twelve years old!" Began Aaron quoting the man's story. "However, even though he is considered the most promising knight of our generation, the darkness he is shrouded in makes it impossible to approach him. It's like a miracle that he came to talk to you!"
"So you are basically saying that a never-before-seen before god had just given me the honor of his presence?" I said half sarcastically half genuinely.
"Hey, don't take it lightly. He is quite a phenomenon here, ya know!"
— That's the problem. I don't even a bit—take it lightly.
For me, those boys are like bombs prepared to explode at any moment. THEY. ARE. DANGEROUS!
"And why do you think he asked you to wait for him?"
"That's something I want to know as well?" I sighed frustrated.
Looks like my future life at the Royal Academy will be a merry-go-round of emotions…
At this moment I kind of resent my stupid twin brother because whilst he meant good, he only brought me disasters.
"Do not worry too much, though. I'm sure it's not something serious." The big, muscular man tried to comfort me, his hand gently tapping on my head.
— sigh… I hope that's true.
"Thank you, Aaron! Shall we go now?"
While leaving to go to the megatop building, I heard whispers I hadn't notice before, directed towards me—or more precisely, towards the interaction between the black-haired man and me. I heard things like, "Who is she? I never saw her before"; "What an attention-seeking ugly shrimp"; "That kind of debauched person shouldn't belong here"; "She's kind of cute, don't you think?" Or sneaky remarks like "I'm sure she had done something to provoke Sir Ocnor Duvalion, making him furious! I am sure he will teach her a good lesson."
One thing was certain: the only thing I ought to get by being affiliated to those men (Sylvester and Mainu) was scorn and distrust!
We leisurely walked through the intricate roads before separating to go to our designated faction.
I first checked where I should head before going ahead.
Today I had history of magic with Miss Claudette, my present history teacher, in the amphitheater. The class begins at nine o'clock in the morning, and it was eight past forty now. I had around fifteen minutes to check out my class!
As soon as I got there, I already saw the professor preparing for her first class. The professor was a chubby, petite middle-aged woman with a kind-looking face.
She wore a long black gown with a red cape draped over it and a pointed hat of the same color. She was very meticulous, arranging her desk neatly.
Seeing me, she smiled warmly. "Hello there! Come here, young woman!"
"Hello teacher! I am sorry, I am a little bit too early!
"Oh no, don't apologize. If anything, it makes me happy to have a little bit of company." She said, laughing softly. "You must be the new student, aren't you? So how was your experience with the academy until now?"
"Do you find it pleasing here?"
"Well, I am still learning and finding out about the academy for now. I can't really tell…but I am sure I will adapt perfectly."
"It is great to get used to the rhythm, but you also have to enjoy yourself! Don't forget, you live only once!" She advised me kindly. "Don't hesitate to come to me if you have any difficulty; I am here to help you!" She then added:.
—She really embodies her kindness. What a formidable woman!
Feeling reinvigorating, I found myself talking about various things with the teacher. She told me about the academy's system and how the factions worked, the story of the founding queen, and the numerous activities possible for the seniors' students.
I also found out that, differently from the common thinking, magic powers were not born from lineage—like a recessing gene going down from generation to generation—but were attributed to the soul. This way, anyone, regardless of their origins or social class, had a chance of becoming a mage. On the condition that they awakened, that is.
That answered my questions about how I had magical powers and not the original Gorgia or anyone from my family.