A Vault Of Security by Wakingmisery
1. Your time hasn't come
Ouroboros academy, the biggest reincarnation academy in the whole eastern quadrant of Emilrance prefecture. A prestigious academy boasted about daily by many high up politicians, leaders and common folk alike.
With graduation from the academy being mandatory for well established and bountiful careers most if not all have graduated from this academy. No exam is needed for enrollment nor is a recommendation, although it would help.
No the only requirement for such a legendary figure head of society is but a trivial accomplishment for most. You must be a reincarnation of someone before you no matter who. Whether it be a king, miner, or shepherd.
Those who have reincarnated with the souls and wisdom of their past lives are able to tap into their core being and acquire knowledge that could have been lost for eons. Like a king's final moments or orders.
A miner's information of what monsters inhabited the roads to a certain mine used by scientists to develop the genuses of said monsters further. Or even a lowly shepherd is spared no exclusion.
A simple diet of the sheep he had been herding could have vast and unknown positive effects on the experimentation and production of new and breath taking medicines.
I fulfill the role of being reincarnated, however the other prerequisite of this academy is a past lover from a different life. Yes, this is why the enrollment average for the academy is so low.
And I WAS fortunate enough to have had multiple lovers in the past, however.
“DAMMIT!, even she cheated on me?! How many of my supposed soulmates are going to betray my trust and go behind my back to some other guy?”
Slamming my fist against the wall of the back of the academy the small cute panda charm bobbled back and forth erratically as I squeezed my phone. A young girl about the same age as me was displayed in front of my eyes.
Shoulder length brown hair endowed her head and pale gray eyes stared back at me. Eyeing the charm again my stomach churned and I felt like throwing up as a now distant memory came hauntedly back.
“Hey, are you sure spending this much money on me is such a good idea? Shouldn't you save some?”
in a vast array of old arcade machines sat the brown haired girl with pale gray eyes. Patting her head with a smile I was overcome with happiness.
“Yes as much as you want we were partners in a past life after all”
Surprisingly the girl instead of gratitude only responded with a sad knowing nod of her head.
“Yes, you have told me why before but, is that truly the only reason you are doing this?”
Slamming my fist against the wall to stop the tears that had begun to flow I found myself replaying those words over and over.
“Of course that's the reason! Love doesn't make sense anyway! Why should you need a reason to love someone?” mustering up the courage to peer at the photo on my phone again my heart clenched.
“And all you do with my sincerity is go behind my back and seek the carnal pleasures of another”
Crying to relieve myself of everything that had transpired today. I wiped my tears before plucking up the rubber band around my arm and letting gravity do its job. Feeling the slight prickle of pain down my arm I looked at the wall begrudgingly.
“And one of the reasons for all this, my vocabulary and choice of words, i can't even stop”
Moving away from the wall I turned around before slamming my back against it once more. “Angelica, the princess” A rather noble name and luxurious title for such a boring looking girl. “Yet i found that boring aspect of hers quite charming”
Realizing what I had just done again I gave myself another zap of reality from my rubber band. Standing still for a moment trying to shut off my mind, the cool refreshing, spring breeze made the trees sway and the bushes dance. Peering up towards the orange and red globs of light above i sighed before heading back to my dorm.
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"Yo, Atiske!" Pulling my eyes away from the moonlight's radiance I look up into the silhouette formed where the door and dark room meet.
"Yes? I can't give you my history homework again" a look of lost hope shown on the man's face before the corners of his mouth lit up into a devilish smirk.
"Alex my man, you ain't going to meet some little lady while locked up in this room all day"
Acknowledging his words I looked up towards the sky once more. "I know that, but correct if I'm wrong don't you have like 4 girlfriends right now?"
"HEY!" the man bellowed furiously. "I don't want to hear it from you! Just because your girl went to someone else it's all boohoo, poor me nothing can ever go right for poor little Alex"
Not looking at the comedic expression the man must be making I couldn't help but think. "What is love anyways? Takaeda"
"Man there you go again spouting off useless stuff that doesn't matter. This is exactly why Sudomu, Haruka and even now Angelica left you. You need to cut loose bro."
Picking up a pillow I hurl it with enough force to shut even him up. *plap* the pillow hits dead Center on my Mark driving straight into the center of Takaeda’s forehead.
"Look man, nothings gonna change if you don't put yourself out there" annoyed I turned back away from him. "Alright thanks dad have fun with your girlfriends"
"Actually Alex, I'm going to a mixer and so are you!" Without being able to respond quick enough. I was hoisted up like a princess.
"Friends are for kicking you in the ass when you need it and right now Atiske, you need it more than anyone else on this dorm block" screaming and kicking down our dorm hall finally made Takaeda put me down. In which i immediately tried to run back home to the comfort of my room.
"Oh no you don't Atiske!" Before I was able to take another step, large arms tightened around my throat. "TaKaEdA yOu iDiOt!" Grasping for breath I was mercilessly dragged by my roommate all the way down to the girls' dorms.
"Here we are room number 455" with swagger in his voice he excitedly went to turn the knob before pausing and instead turning to me. "Alex I'm not saying you need to talk to all of them, just try to get to know at least a new face, ok?"
With a serious look he turned the knob slowly, almost as if getting ready for an encounter with a great enemy. As soon the door cracked and light crept into the dark hallway his expression instantly flipped back to the comical and loveable Takaeda.
"Oh Takaeda you're finally here, come in come in" a girl with bright golden locks and abyss like eyes, gleefully welcomed us in before going back to where she was originally. Another girl, noticing me, seemed to curl up into a ball in front of me. When her bright ruby-like eyes met mine I instantly recognized her.
"Haruka isn't that your ex?" Another girl besides her presumably her friend whispered into her ears not doing a very good job making sure I could hear her. Then finally another patron who had her glass raised finally widened her pale gray eyes.
Shooting a quick glance over in Takaedas direction I catch a glimpse of something that I rarely ever see on him. Genuinely, without cause speechlessness. His mouth hung agape and his pupils were so small and dialed in you could mistake them for black beans.
“Take a seat already Takaeda c’mon” the long haired girl from earlier without a care in world or current tension drunkenly motioned for him to sit next to her. Nobody moved for almost 5 minutes. Just awkwardly staring at others and darting eyes.
“Hey why iz no 1 sayinn anythang” quickly looking at me and the participants the blonde haired girls mouth opened a tiny bit before i quickly made my way next to her in fear of the things her sober heart is capable of.
Takaeda, who had hurriedly taken a seat next to his friend, reached over towards the liquor bottle in the middle of the table.
Peering over into my peripheral vision two large black orbs with unmatched animosity peeled longingly at someone else then me, someone else and then me. “Why did you sit heree? I wanted 2 siit nextttt tu TAKaeda” clinging onto my shoulder. I stared into her jet black eyes.
“Switch with Takaeda NOW! Or i will curse you for generationswwww. (I'm starting to realize why he willingly sat down in the farthest spot away from her.) Boisterous laughter broke out from her as i was trying to get up to leave. As I was trying to leave a slim hand grabbed my wrist at an incredible speed.
“Nuh uh you aint levin until you git Takaeeda to sit her wit me” finishing her sentence she belched causing my stomach to do a flip. Watching this she laughed again in almost a sadistic way. “Wats your name kid i like you”
another guy who seemed to be around are age reached over to her grabbing her wrist before anything else could transpire. Turning towards her new attacker she looked him in the face. “Hey your not Takaeda wut do you think yu doin?”
“Esmerelda your drunk spare the poor guy ok?” looking between me and the guy then back at me again her expression softened and she reached for a can of beer emptying its contents into a pint glass before me.
“Here ya go drink up new fwiend” slurring her words she offered the glass in front of me. Not taking it immediately made her even more aggressive. “Hey just taek this hwand and grab the gwalss liked dis”
Stolen novel; please report.
grabbing my right arm without even realizing it was set on the base of the glass. The girl who was now peering heavily at my arm got closer at it as if to make sure of something.
“Wut is these marksss? And around them its allllll bruised up” realizing what was playing out i quickly went to pull my arm away but was to late her iron grip had it pinned down onto the table for all to see.
“Oh Alex im so sorry, i did this didn't i?” the girl from across the table looked on in sadness. “Oh no, Haruka you didn't really do any of this…” even saying that Haruka continued to stare at me like some abandoned puppy left to die.
“No really i'm fine, so please stop staring” my stomach did more flips than an olympic acrobat. “Look Angelica, do you think he did that for you?” Feeling more and more sick to my stomach by the second i get up to go again when the same arms from before held me down. “Oh no yu dont we wantttt the whoole scoooop”
Struggling to escape my captor, the barrage of comments from the girls in front me continued. “ Ewww that is just like so creepy, I mean like who does that? Hey didn't you tell me when he found you and ryo all he did was cry and say how sorry he was that he wasn't good enough for you?” Angelica said nothing but slowly finished her drink.
“And i mean like the same happened with Haruka right? Chenrei?” the girl who i am guessing is the supposed Chenrei took a sip of her beer before bellowing out a disgusting belch.
“Yeah Haruka told me the whole story, so apparently little miss virgin here asked if he could kiss her with those weirdly shaped lips of his hahahha”
demeaning laughter rung out from the girl still holding me captive. “Man that's just so mean Chenrei, but he looks so cuddable!” mockingly making light of the situation Esmerelda started to press her face into my arm jokingly before pulling away
“Man you stink, eever think avbout takin a showeer?” the whole table bursted into laughter expect for one. A silent overloomoing Takaeda sat with an half full glass, sending a death glare my way. (Takeada always the first to finish his glass don't tell me he plans on?)
“And just when the two of them broke up Haruka told me he even peed his pants when he seen her wit-”
“THATS ENOUGH!” a powerful voice rang out from Takeda piercing through the conversation ending all laughter in an instant. Standing still for a moment, one of the girls tried to calm the situation down.
“Hold on Takeda we were just having some fun, no harms beend done” the vein on Takaeda's forehead seems to want to pop out. “Fun? You call that having fun?”
the girl who was not afraid to share her opinion on everything seemed to shrink down the lowest possible size freeing from her grip sometime ago. Changing his gaze to my direction again i felt the girl beside me try to hide.
“Esmerelda i told you explicitly not to invite them because Alex was coming and you went behind my back and did it anyways”
Esmerleda lowered her head even lower in shame. “And yet even when i told you about his situation you mess with him and fan the flames of the others like it's all one big joke” clenching his fist, Takaeda punched the table with enough force to knock over some of the smaller glasses.
“If that's what you are and who you truly want to be then i don't think we should be together anymore” at the pronunciation of the last words Takeda spoke the blonde haired girls head shot up almost tripping over me to beg Takeda for forgiveness.
Giving one look at me and then Esmerelda he pushed her off before finishing his glass. “Lets go Alex” At the call of his words i instantly jumped at the chance to leave. Opening the door to the small dorm room I noticed Takeda pause and hesitate.
“Angelica, Haruka, have you two ever taken a second to think maybe that you yourselves could have been the problem?”
Leaving with the final words still hanging in the air we finally make our way back to our shared dorm room. Takeda closed the door slowly leaving the room in the comforting hands of cold darkness.
“Takeda im so-” before i could say anything i was enveloped in an overbearing hug. “Alex im so so sorry, i told her not to bring them and she ignored me and did it anyways please forgive me im so sorry”
not knowing what to say we sat like this for a few minutes. “No really dont worry about i'm sorry i ruined your mixer” He simply looked at me with a pained expression before slowly crawling into his bed.
“Yeah just get some sleep tonight ok Atiske?” with being said soon after the room went deathly quiet. Looking out towards the bright moonlight flooding onto the campus below made me feel energetic.
“Hey Takaeda i'm taking a walk don't lock the door” no response. Trekking down the dorm's long elongated halls I couldn't help but feel bad about the whole situation. (it's been a while since i've seen Takaeda like that. He's usually so outgoing and never shares his feelings with anyone or even gets mad or annoyed.)
making my to the courtyard and pass the dorms i arrive at my destination. A large building with a highly decorated door loomed over the academy's simple buildings. Struggling to open the large staunch door i finally manage to get in. “hug gu these damn door never get easier”
walking past the various classrooms stuff i meet my goal. A large, almost portal like looking machine, its structure almost like a dream catcher but with many different types of alloys clearly visible and 4 gems socketed to each corner of the machine.
Moving over to the large science fiction like terminal i input my school id number and biometrics. Making a ringing sound the terminal flashes green before displaying a CONNECTING message.
“Alright lets give this another try” entering my arm into the circular adorned machine a large hologram like ray began scanning the pattern on my right arm. What seemed like forever the machine finally stopped and moved onto the next part.
Pressing my hand against the cool gemstone on the side I watched as my hand print was being identified. (i'm surprised it was able to read my arm due to the welts)
as soon as that was done the terminal started to blink green. Student identified, Alexander Atiske check origin number? The robotic voice echoed.
“Yes” taking a few moments to load the vacant empty circle started to spin violently. Moving back some, the voice continued. Displaying number of candidates for ALEXANDER ATISKE. 3 Past lover candidates, 0 artificial candidates. 0 arbiter candidates. Would you like to redo the candidate analysis?
“I see so it's the same thing as it was before. Why did I even bother” pressing no and shutting down the terminal? I leaned against the machine.
“So that's how it is there truly is no hope for me is there” going to reach for my rubber band i grab skin instead. (that's right i took it off for the night) making sure i left everything the way it was i exited the large ornate building.
“I should head to bed but i really don't want to” again making my eyes turn towards the moon i grin a defeated smile. “Destiny is all just a big lie isn't it?”
Pinching my skin for good practice, I take a seat in the cold grass before slowly nodding off. “Maybe one day I will be able to wake up wanting to live….”
“YO Akatsuka, you look half dead” turning towards the man speaking my name. I find myself in a joking nature.
“Yeah, did you make any progress with Esra? I bet you didn't did you” the man made a sour face before picking up the pace to our class. Looking behind me I realize the object of his affections is right behind us.
Another girl next to Esra notices i'm staring right at the Blue and white short haired girl. Leaning over the girl kisses Esra right on the lips causing me to hurriedly get to my next class. Sitting down right next to my friend. Another friend of Esras comes in and sits down staring directly at me.
“Hey Hiro, how's it going with Esra?” ignoring the girl at first due to annoyance i don't respond. “Oh come on still playing the wingman game you know Esra has a big crush on you” not giving the girl the effort of a head turn i speak my peace.
“Just shut up Esra likes Reito” pointing to my friend next to me.
“Is that what you think? She really does like you big time” For some reason with this information i jumped out of my seat desperate in wanting to find the Blue and white short haired girl. Running through the hallways countless students filled every corner of the halls.
Searching every possible space she could be in. i sit in the vast sea of people and wait. “With the information that i know she likes me she is just gone”
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“That damn weird dream again, i wish it would stop at least once just one night without it” a cold draft flowed past my back causing me to shiver and shrivel up. “Why is it so cold? Is the window open?” rubbing my eyes i'm met with the direct harsh sunlight of the morning twin suns. “I see i did it again”
meeting the eyes of curious students on their way to their classes I huff out another sigh of discontent making my way to the dorm. packing up my things I noticed Takaeda being absent from his bed.
"Normally he sleeps in when drinking, weird Not having any time to spare I hurriedly threw on my gold embezzled uniform before scarfing down a quick breakfast of a single piece of toast.
"Dammit! Why did I fall asleep outside again now I'm late and my backs killing me" running down the halls and out the building I pick up my pace where I see the lecture hall in the distance. "Almost there, just a little more!"
Crossing the threshold of the lecture hall I heave in relief. "Good *Hugh* I didn't think I would make it this time" the students passing by only giggled and snorted. Which was fine. I was the victor in this situation.
Taking my seat I started to already stare out the window as the lecture began.
“As you all may know Ouroboros academy is to be able to reunite with your past lovers and regain your past knowledge from your life before. Although the reasoning and examples we have are laughable and almost nonexistent. Its been a tradition for centuries now. But”
The professor paused before going over to the chalkboard
"I'm curious about your answers to why someone would go through all this effort to build such an Academy '' a lithe like figure danced across the chalkboard making and taking in various points of interest from the current conversation.
(I know this one but I don't want to give away my flag of silence) another man in my place stood up along with a girl beside him. "It's because the creator herself Ouroboros, failed to reunite with her eternal lover Larsen"
as the two looked at each other they smiled before the girl spoke next. "Yes then Ouroboros herself with all her infinite power could not find the reincarnation of Larsen 3068 years later.
They had become only a faint memory by then"
(yeah yeah we all know about the sappy love story of this academy although I highly doubt wealth didn't play a role also)
"Yes very good Arsein, as expected from a reincarnated scholar" Turning her deep dark brown hair and luscious figure the lecturer continued on with no praise to the girl. Which caused her to silently pout.
"So then can anybody tell me why this academy is still operational even after such an extended amount of time?"
Nobody raised a single hand, not even the two from before. The young teacher only put her hand in her face to briefly complain.
"Good grief, you are enrolled at such a prestigious academy and don't even know its purpose. Yet you very quickly pointed out the legend as I guess to be expected from children these days"
No one raised their hands not because they didn't know but for a much deeper embarrassing reason. Your true love. Yes, that's right, instead of some noble goal or mission for world peace all those who have enrolled and graduated has done it on the premise of love.
(Its such and easy thing to fake after all practically anybody can do it and pass with flying colors given there charade is kept up well enough)
but I thought I was different, something special I wanted to enroll and graduate to be able to find my love with the Ouroboros machine located in the old part of the school that's since been repurposed for the machines exact purpose.
(And yet I have been damned by the love gods. All three of my supposed past lovers have left me for someone else! I was so excited too when I was first diagnosed with the machine. Not even my reincarnation was anything special damn peasant!)
Whilst fighting the inner turmoil of my mind. A loud screeching sound could be heard coming from the hallway zapping me out of my monologue.
The door to the lecture violently slammed open with enough force to kill. Walking in briskly was a girl with long flowing purple hair and a well decorated hair adornment. "Um, can we help you young lady?"
The teacher said before trying to prevent the class from getting too rowdy with intrigue. The woman towered above at least 6 feet tall, along with a toned fit body. Scanning the room, are eyes met for a second before she slowly made her way towards me.
Standing above me with a confident expression her finger descended towards me. (What? Is this really happening? Am I finally going to meet someone I was meant to be with?) Hope turned to despair as her finger curved away from me and onto a familiar face.
"Takaeda Oyoimada my name is Arkasali Trinidad, i was an arbiter in the great War 3000 some years ago as well as your lover I demand you drop all others and give yourself to me!" Finishing her grand display.
Takaeda showed another expression I wasn't aware he had, Fear. "Um excuse me, I'm sorry but I really don't know you and I don't really think I should just drop everything and everyone else for your own selfish desires" scratching his head he looked away and at me before continuing.
"So let's just be friends okay?" This response only seemed to make the girl angry as she pulled up Takaeda by the collar staring him down deep in the eyes before throwing him back down.
"your nothing of who you once were"
Slowly she made her way down the rows of seats and back out of the classroom like nothing had ever happened.
Although everyone else and even the teacher had gone back to what they were dong, Lazing around sleeping without warrant and not caring who's listening to her. Takaeda was sitting in the same position he was thrown down into.
“What just happened? A freaking ARBITER?! How many girls did i get with in my past lives!” taking advantage of the situation i instantly raised my hand. “Miss, Takaeda doesn't seem to be feeling well i'm going to take him back to our dorms”
Visibly angry I had found a loophole out of her lecture she begrudgingly agreed. “Fine but please Mr Atiske at least try and study with this time” quickly rushing over to my disheartened friend i gave him a firm punch to the shoulder which produced a very high pitched shriek.
“Damn you Atiske! i swear your life is past its recommended allowance for living” pulling him up i managed to slip out of class without another word from the professor.
While making our way back to the simple dorms. I couldn't resist but to poke fun at his unfortunate situation. That is unfortunate to no one but him.
“So another one huh, how many does that make it?” the only response i was given was a immediate death glare. “Rich coming from someone who doesn't have one to begin with” stopping for a moment i couldn't help but agree. Our meager conversation continued well until we got back to our dorm.
“Seriously though, what will you do Takaeda?” Takaeda only scratched his head as if answers would fall out. “I don't know what you would do?” laying down on my bed I gaze up at the twin suns above hidden behind a cloud.
“I guess its like this. Love or what we call love should be something unique, the giving of another for the sake of another. To be able to share and to cry, to be able to confide in that person no matter what” reaching for my rubber band, I snap it 5-6 times before continuing.
“But today it seems love is muddled and filthy. Everyone is using and abusing others for their own pleasure. No one is ever thinking of the future and when you think you find someone they go off and pursue their own selfish desires.”
Pausing again i execute my killing blow. “And that is why Takaeda i believe love is a sham” pricking myself a few more times i look back towards him.
“Oh god what am i going to do with you Alex, As jaded and bitter as ever. Look, I'm sorry I asked. I'm going to head to the store by the way so I won't be back for a while. I don't care what you do, just don't get anything on my pillow ok?”
Shortly after saying that Takaeda left, leaving me with myself. Sitting in my bed again I drifted off while looking up towards the sky.
After waking up I warmed up some water to drink. Glancing at the clock in our room I was not surprised to find it had gotten pretty late, settling down and downing the last of my lukewarm water I looked over towards Takeda’s bed realizing he was still not back.
“I bet he's out fooling around with his new girl and the store was just an excuse, slick little player” deciding that there is no real reason to stay up. I close my eyes to prepare for the same redundant soul draining dream every night.
“It's not even anything special, it's so generic literally anyone could have it” I say thinking out loud.
Closing my eyes I start to drift off as the same familiar scene begins to play out like a swirling vortex of prerequisite attrition. *KNOCK* *KNOCK* two large subtle knocks came out of nowhere taking me out of my dream-like state.
“Damnit Takaeda i was just about to go to sleep!” swinging the door open with a hardened expression i prepared for a drunk Takaeda. What was waiting though was the thing i never imagined to be real
“Um im sorry can i help you?” with these words a smile stretched from the corners of her mouth and up to the contours of her cheeks. “It's been so long hasn't it Alex?” confused, I closed the door halfway.
“I'm sorry but I don't have anything of value so if you could move onto the next person. To my surprise though instead I was met with a full force tackle from the small girl.
“That is your name in this reincarnation right? I know things have been hectic in the past but I swear things will be different now since I'm here with you.”
noting my blank expression she let up her hold of me in which i couldn't help but push her off me. “I'm sorry you have the wrong guy besides i don't even know who you are”
listening to the end the girl buried her head into my stomach for a minute before returning to the service for air.
“Who am i? I'm your one and true only lover silly! From the past do you not recognize me?”
These words sent a chill down my spine as the moonlight peeked its head over the girl's hair revealing the same blue and white haired girl with the same stark purple eyes I had seen in my dreams since I was a child. “I'm never going to leave you again anymore Alex, i PROMISE”