Slowly blinking open my teary eyes in a haze I party peel away from the small elven woman. The moment turning slightly awkward at my embarrassing display.
"So, uh . . ."
"Get yourself a uniform, you stick out like a sore thumb, this is a university not a daycare, you're here to learn not be dumb," she sighs out.
My cheeks lightly flush in embarrassment as I realize I never got my uniform from the student center and my mind flows back to the guy I cursed out.
I should probably apologize to that guy, but how can I even find him again?
But first I have a couple of questions I need answered . . .
"Ms. Sabio," her ears twitch slightly and a small smirk dances onto her lips. "Could you teach me magic?" Or whatever power system there is?
I want to live, alright!
She pauses, then lightly frowns causing my heart to accelerate.
"What affinity do you possess? Though . . . I may try nonetheless."
"I'm not sure."
" . . . "
" . . . "
With tired eyes she grabs my wrist and floods me with something.
Suddenly I feel like I've eaten a full course meal and my mind clears up slightly and eyes open wide.
Frowning she mutters to herself, "Non- elemental, non informational type, I am not certain."
What?
"What?"
"You lack affinity, or its type is beyond me, what spells do you know, perhaps I should see . . ."
"I-uh don't know any spells."
Her large pink eyes stare up at me like I'm an idiot.
"I wouldn't recommend this to anybody, but for you? Take General Studies."
"What's that?"
"Class that should help get you up to speed, though far to simple for the elite."
"Alright, thanks Ms. Sabio."
With a hum she sits in her chair and picks up a book labeled "Cultural differences of Draconic beasts from the Sun and Moons"
Blinking dumbly I am vaguely reminded of why I came here in the first place.
"Say, let's say I needed to beat some wolves . . . Are there any books on that?"
Peeking over the books brim, her eyes slowly wash over me.
"You'd have better luck with a house goat , you're trying to cross the Jade Sea without a boat."
"So I should learn magic first?"
She largely nods, then pauses.
"Do you use Psych, or Ki? Perhaps a different form of strategy?"
I have no idea what either of those are.
In response to my silence she looks bewildered beyond belief.
Setting her book down she mutters, "Come with me."
Following closely she takes me into a side room that appears to be her office.
A simple desk, with a picture stand I can only see the back of, 2 comfy chairs on either side, and a neat stack of countless books.
Sitting softly in her chair she gestures to the other, of which I rest in.
It's slightly warm.
"Mercury, why have you come to Gravitas? Or . . . Perhaps are you a little lost?"
My eyes peel open at her words.
Not just at the question, but at the brutal reminder that name is.
I'm here to live up to Mercury's dreams, whatever those were.
I'm here to do something, be something . . . And as much as I hate that bastard he put me here for a reason, right?
Is this me coping with my (former) favorite character calling me a dumbass?
Lightly shaking my head I speak with a little bit of fervor combined with desperation.
"I belong at Gravitas."
She stares at me, her expression unreadable.
"Then you best get your uniform and sign up for classes, try to make a friend or two among the masses."
But, how will I know who's a friend and who isn't?
I wish I wasn't so anti social in my past life . . .
Clenching my fist on those terrible memories I shake my thoughts away.
The thoughts of a boy who, ugh, don't get caught up on those thoughts.
Just look forward. You're Mercury now.
"Alright, thank you."
"Return here tomorrow at 9 in the morning, I won't wait any longer so you best come running."
Nodding my head I bring myself out of the chair and towards the door.
How the hell am I going to make friends in this weird place?!
Just get your uniform first, figure it out from there.
Ah, I should probably apologize to that guy I screamed at.
Sigh, lots to do.
Walking into the Library and out of the building I start towards the building where my insanity began.
My lip twitches as I have a foreboding feeling that lots of hardship awaits me in the future.
My tense body still moves forward though.
My hurried steps cause my knee pain to return to me, the stress of this entire situation welling up in me.
Luckily the occasional passerby seems to not even notice me, until I make my way back to those damnable double doors.
Until, of course, I notice the elven lady cleaning up her fruit stand. Now bearing a uniform. Her line shaped silver pin softy gleaming under the green moonlight. Her eyes lock with mine and a grin forms on her face.
"Can we not do this right now?" Her grin falls, she shrugs and walks away.
Pushing into the hall it's empty except for that same red haired man behind the counter. Who seems to be grabbing a shutter from above him and pulling it downwards as he glances to me.
"Uh, hi."
"You're late," he mutters, I squeak out an apology in response.
"Dormitory?"
"Circle." His expression morphs from exhaustion to sheer annoyance immediately. Reaching behind himself he snags a small object and tosses it to me as I barely catch it. He plops a uniform on the counter and closes the shutter.
Grimacing I look at the silver pin. Being in Circle Dormitory really is not going to be easy is it?
OH.
OH NO.
I still have to make way back! Through the forest! With the . . . with the wolves.
My face pales as I tuck the uniform under my arm and bolt out of the door.
What do I do?
Think Mercury!
Jiang! He got beat up pretty bad, and its probably worse without my presence. He's probably resting up over by the arena!
My heartbeat quickens as I rush despite my shoddy leg. The door clicks behind me but I barely register the sound as I tumble outside.
Looking away from the ground I try to distract myself from the pain.
Running as fast as I look up to the night sky. A full moon of green reflects down, softly bathing the park. The rest of the moons in phases I do not remember the names of as I hurry (though I probably wouldn't remember the phase names anyways)
As my legs slam on the ground I move, heart pounding in my chest.
Until I hear a soft whimpering.
I'd recognize such a sound no matter what.
For a moment I reject slowing down but decide to at least check out the noise. The recoil of stopping my movement so suddenly as I bring myself to a halt releases an expletive from my mouth.
"Why are you here?" A sharp voice strikes through my side as I gulp. Turning to the left as I round a tree I see someone sitting on a bench by herself.
It's that Vivian girl.
Of all people, her?
Her face obscured by the tree resting to her side, I only see her glowing orange-green eyes in the dark.
"I'm looking for someone." I mutter, she's kind of creepy, yet at my words her entire body leans forward. Her face getting cast in the light I see her bloodshot eyes staring intently.
"W-well, looks like you've found her," A shaky, yet hopeful smile on her face tells me what I need to know.
Do I really have the heart to say 'no, actually I just randomly found you crying! Ok bye!'
Well, she can probably help me get back to the dorm anyways.
". . . Yeah, looks like I have." Her smile softens from a more crazy look to something more genuine.
"So you've decided to become my follower, yes?"
I am already regretting my decision. What do I even say to that?
". . ." My mind whirls as I think of something to say.
". . ." Her expression falling rapidly into one of despair I come to what is most likely a stupid decision.
Ms. Sabio did say it would be good to make some friends anyways . . . yet at that word, and faced with the opportunity to ask I nearly freeze up. My heart slams behind my eyes, this miserable feeling encroaching.
I hate being reminded of those awful times.
Then suddenly, I remember something unfathomably stupid as I see a tower in the corner of my eye.
I remember my boss posing like an idiot in front of it, allowing me to sputter out my words before I clam up entirely.
"Wanna be friends?" For a moment its complete silence.
Her expression morphs rapidly, confusion, doubt, hope, anger, sadness, and finally . . .
"A-ah. Yes! That would be acceptable, but . . ." suddenly a flicker of realization passes through her eyes. A morsel of fear and hope in her orange-green gaze.
Shaking her head lightly she stands up.
"You may refer to me as Vivian, shall we walk back to our residence?" her hopeful smile radiant.
Hey, wait a second isn't she Xenophobic as hell?
". . ."
Am I one of those 'I can fix her' people?? I expel some air from my nose and her expression darkens faster than I can blink.
"Sorry, I just thought of something stupid. I'm Mercury." Holding out my hand for her to shake she looks at me like I'm crazy, then freezes, and smiles widely.
Holding my hand she shakes it with great fervor, before pausing and looking down to my leg.
As she holds my hand I feel my heart slow down once again, and breathing slow.
Isn't this the second time this has happened? Weird, something to ask about later in a class.
"Perhaps I could assist you?" Looking at my leg which I now notice is leaking blood near my knee I surprisingly don't immediately freak out.
Vivian still firmly holding my hand.
Maybe she's got healing magic? I still remember what I can only assume to be healing magic being used on me after I got my ass kicked.
"You know healing magic?" I see her squirm for a moment and shake her head.
"N-no! No. I can help you carry your weight though!" Her eager eyes stare at me. I wonder if would she be so willing if I wasn't a Celladian.
. . .
Oh. Oh, I completely forgot she was a princess huh. Eh, whatever. It's not like I care too much about royalty as a concept anyways. Back home we did away with 'nobility' a long time ago. Grimacing slightly at the reminder of home I nod to her.
"I'd appreciate it." Nearly scooping half of me off the ground I realize just how tall she is. She's got a solid half a meter(about a foot and a half) on me, at least.
Suddenly the pressure is gone off of my weak leg and much of it is removed from the other one.
Suddenly I am very close to her, and feel a bit uncomfortable. Not really used to touching other people outside of my family like this.
Yet, strangely, for the third time I feel the stress seem to fall away.
Whatever, I'm to tired to care. I'll just whatever magic is going on here, because this definitely isn't normal.
And thus the two of us make our way back to the dorm, her smiling all the while as I nearly drift to sleep.
I really have had a long day . . . Then I hear a growl and I try to bring strength to my body to do something, anything to fight. My heart tries to speed up, but the exhaustion from the day seems to take hold and night takes me. The last thing I see through blurry vision is the glowing orange-green eyes, with a full green moon hanging high in the sky.