As the ceremony wrapped up, the applause filled the air, and people began to clap their hands in unison. Serian stood among the crowd, his expression calm as he quietly observed the others.
Edward, coming down from the stage, caught a subtle smirk from Vincent, who was trying to hide a laugh with a quiet cough. The way Vincent looked at Serian made him wonder—what was so amusing?
"You're still clapping," Vincent noted casually, his voice laced with amusement. "It means you're showing appreciation, Serian. You don't have to keep doing it."
Serian nodded obediently, his face still a blank canvas, processing the information like a good student.
When the ceremony finally came to an end, Serian scanned the crowd again, looking around for familiar faces. As expected, Adrian and his family didn't show up. It didn't matter to him, though. He wasn't particularly concerned about being ignored by them.
What caught his attention was Edward, who was talking calmly with Vincent, though his arms were trembling slightly. Serian frowned, confused. Why was Edward so uneasy?
He watched the scene closely, trying to understand. Everyone seemed so scared of Vincent. He didn't get it. He'd never been afraid of him, but he could see the nervous energy around Vincent—like everyone was trying to keep a distance.
Meanwhile, across the room, Sienna was having her own little struggle with her grandfather. She tried to stop him from hugging her, clearly embarrassed by the doting attention.
Serian couldn't help but glance at her, amused by the sight.
But his attention quickly shifted to a different group. On one side of the hall, several nobles, heirs to powerful families, gathered together, whispering and laughing among themselves. Serian remained on the other side of the room, standing among the orphans and commoners, as always, observing the difference in how the elites were treated.
Suddenly, he felt a hand ruffle his hair. He looked up to see Vincent standing next to him, a small grin on his face.
"Good conversation earlier, Serian," Vincent remarked, his voice warm for the first time today. "Isn't it nice to have someone like me as your brother?"
Serian blinked, processing the words. He didn't know how to respond, so he simply nodded, his expression unreadable.
As Vincent walked away, the crowd parted in front of him like the Red Sea, making way for the executioner as he exited with the other Holy Order hunters.
Edward approached him just then, looking frustrated but also slightly amused.
"Being the little brother is no fun," Edward said, crossing his arms with a sigh. "You actually get along with Vincent, huh?"
Serian turned to him, puzzled. "I don't mind."
Edward groaned. "Well, I mind. I can barely stand to be in the same room with him!"
Serian tilted his head, watching Edward's face twitch with the stress of his situation. Vincent had a strange way of throwing people off balance, even the strongest of them. Edward was clearly no exception.
"He's not that bad," Serian said, the confusion in his voice clear.
Edward stared at him, wide-eyed. "You're serious?!"
Serian simply shrugged. "I think he's interesting."
Vincent, after all, had the most unique way of speaking. It was… fascinating, in its own way.
Edward couldn't contain his exasperation. "You're impossible."
As they both watched the crowd scatter and the event come to an end, the air seemed a bit lighter, despite the tension still lingering. Serian didn't mind. He was used to it.
The day had been strange, and yet, he felt… at ease. It was the first time in a long while he didn't feel completely out of place. Even though the world around him still felt so disconnected, he didn't feel as distant as he used to.
*****
Serian walked into the dormitory room, his footsteps light as he took in his new surroundings. It was a simple space—small bed, a wooden table, and a cupboard. Nothing extravagant, but it was enough. There was even an indoor toilet and a bath. A luxury, really. He set his things down, feeling a sense of calm as he began to arrange his belongings.
The room was meant for two people, and Serian was waiting for his roommate to arrive. He had no expectations, just a quiet curiosity about the person he would be sharing his space with.
It wasn't long before the door opened, and in came Edward. His cheerful demeanor immediately filled the room with energy.
"Hey, Serian!" Edward greeted, a big grin on his face as he placed his bags on the bed. "Looks like we're roommates! How's the room? Pretty nice, right?"
Serian nodded, glancing around as he unpacked his things. "It's fine. Good enough," he replied calmly, his voice soft and even.
Edward continued to chat, his words flowing without hesitation as he tidied up his side of the room. His bedsheet, towels, and other belongings were all in shades of royal yellow, bright and eye-catching. Serian, on the other hand, set up his own space with darker, more muted colors—black and deep blue, like the vastness of the starry sky.
As Edward organized his things, he couldn't help but glance over at Serian. There was something about him that felt familiar—something he couldn't quite place. He saw the way Serian moved, the calmness in his expression, the way he didn't seem to mind the silence between them. It reminded him of someone.
Vincent.
Edward sighed quietly, the memory of his older brother flashing in his mind. He had idolized Vincent when he was younger and admired the cold, indifferent executioner who carried himself with such authority. But that admiration had always been met with rejection. Vincent had never given him the attention he craved, always keeping a distance, as if human connections were a burden to him.
He shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away.
But there was something about Serian, something that reminded him of Vincent. The way he carried himself, the way his eyes seemed to hold something deeper, something older. Edward wasn't sure if Serian even noticed it, but it was undeniable.
As he glanced at Serian again, he remembered Vincent's soft eyes when he had looked at him earlier. For a brief moment, there was something unspoken between them—something soft, something almost... protective.
Edward sighed again, his expression conflicted. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe different people had different ways of reflecting the same traits.
Still, the thought of Serian and Vincent having some kind of connection bothered him more than he cared to admit.
"Hey," Edward said, breaking the silence as he threw a glance at Serian, trying to shake off the unease. "You, uh, you need help with anything? I'm pretty good at organizing stuff."
Serian looked up from where he was placing his things on the shelf, his expression calm and unbothered. "I'm fine," he said simply. "I can manage."
Edward smiled softly, trying to ignore the strange feeling that had settled in his chest. "Well, if you change your mind, I'm here."
Serian nodded, his attention returning to the task at hand. Edward watched him for a moment, his eyes lingering on Serian's calm demeanor.
The two of them continued to clean and organize their space in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. For Edward, it was hard not to see the similarities between Serian and Vincent, even if he wasn't fully ready to admit it.
*****
Serian woke up early as usual, the clock showing 5:00 AM. He moved silently around the room, not wanting to disturb Edward, who was still fast asleep. After quickly getting dressed in his uniform, he slipped out of the room. The guards gave him curious looks as he walked past them, but they said nothing. It wasn't unusual for Serian to be out this early, so they just let him go.
His destination was the huge garden, the jogging path that ran around the tranquil lake. The morning air was fresh and crisp, and the calmness of the surroundings gave him a sense of peace. He jogged for a while, then eventually sat down by the lake, staring up at the sky. Despite everything, the sky in this world still felt clear, serene. It reminded him of home, of his past life.
He felt a strange tug in his chest—a longing for his old world, for the Astral world, for Ygdrassil. He didn't fully understand the feeling. Why would he miss something from another world? The thought was foreign to him. Yet, the yearning was real, and it left him with a heavy feeling that he couldn't shake off.
After some time, Serian stood up and made his way back to the dormitory. It was still early, and the world outside was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves. When he returned to his room, he washed up, changed into his school uniform, and prepared for the day. He sat at the small desk, sipping his tea and reading a book in the stillness of the morning.
Just as he was becoming absorbed in the text, a loud alarm rang from Edward's smartphone. Serian glanced over at his roommate, who was still sprawled out on the bed, completely oblivious to the noise. The alarm blared again, but Edward didn't stir. Serian simply watched for a moment, unsure of what to do. He wasn't about to wake him up. Instead, he quietly sipped his tea and continued reading, letting Edward sleep.
By the time the clock read 7:30 AM, Serian had finished his tea and was almost ready to leave. He adjusted his uniform and gathered his things, heading for the door.
Finally, Edward groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes and glancing around. He noticed Serian already dressed and looking composed, sitting calmly with his book.
"Good morning, Serian!" Edward mumbled, clearly still half-asleep.
Serian looked up and nodded, "Good morning." His tone was calm as always, though there was a faint hint of amusement in his eyes as he saw Edward scrambling to get ready.
Edward sighed as he glanced at the time. "You should've woken me up earlier," he grumbled, rushing to get dressed. "I'm going to be late!" He fumbled with his uniform, trying to get everything in order while glancing at Serian's neatly arranged space.
Serian simply observed without offering any advice. It wasn't his responsibility to manage Edward's morning routine. Instead, he returned to his book, waiting patiently.
It wasn't long before Edward finally finished, and they both left the room. They made their way to the large field where their first class would be held. As they walked, Edward muttered under his breath about being late, though he was still moving at a decent pace.
"We're early," Serian said simply, looking around as they entered the open area, noticing that there were only a handful of students around.
Edward stopped and looked at him, surprised. "Huh. I thought we were rushing. Guess I still need to get used to being on time," he admitted, a little embarrassed.
Serian nodded. "It's not a race," he said. "We have time."
They arrived at the field a bit ahead of most of the other students, which gave them a little extra time to settle in. The sun was just beginning to rise higher in the sky, casting a golden glow across the campus.
As they found a spot to stand, Edward let out a breath and gave Serian a sheepish grin. "I should've asked you to wake me up earlier," he said, running a hand through his messy hair.
Serian gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "It's fine," he replied, his voice calm. "You'll manage."
Edward chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe. But thanks for not getting annoyed with me."
"Not necessary," Serian answered, his focus shifting as more students began to gather around them. He didn't mind either way.
With the first class soon to begin, they stood quietly together, both preparing for what lay ahead.