"What the fuck is a bearer?" Axel snapped.

She grunted and finally gave up on opening the capsule to rescue the unconscious Melanie. She even threw a kick at its insulation out of frustration then proceeded to divert her heavy steps to the doctor. The Doctor on the other hand, who was still in shock, did not recognize the danger approaching him from the side. Axel grabbed him by the collar and her eyes darkened.

She gritted her teeth. "Get her out of the capsule now!"

The doctor blinked while his body trembled, but Axel was certain that it was not because of her action or presence. She never saw the doctor that scared before despite her countless attempts to harm him in the past.

"Listen..."' the doctor mumbled and casually removed Axel's grip on him, "I want you to keep what happened here as a secret, okay?"

"Why?" Axel demanded, but the doctor shook his head and left her with no answers at all. She watched him face his computer again and place his hands on the keyboard. His fingers moved fast as thousands of characters appeared on the screen like flashes of light. The never-ending remarks of the A.I voice eventually faded and the whirring sound of the system stopped. The red lights were shut off and the room returned to normal like nothing strange had happened.

Axel quickly leaped towards the capsule's direction when she perceived that its door had finally opened. She hurriedly caught Melanie right before the latter's unconscious body hit the ground. Axel stiffened when she noticed that Melanie's skin felt cold to touch. Her forehead creased and she swivelled her gaze towards Crites to ask him regarding the situation, but her tongue did not move when she saw the writing on the computer's screen.

Data erased successfully.

"Crites, tell me what's going on? " she demanded, sounding dangerous.

The doctor sighed and removed his glasses. "I..." he trailed off and looked down. "I can't."

"But why?" repeated Axel. "I don't understand where you're coming from. Just what the hell is a bearer and why would you erase her data just like that?"

"Axel..." trailed off the doctor and tried to find the right words before he continued, "Melanie might be housing something that could affect all of us. If that is proven to be true considering how fragile she is now..."

"She might end up dead, " Axel completed as her eyes widened. She bit her lower lip and stared at Melanie, who was lying in her arms like a delicate present.

Axel returned her gaze to the doctor. "Okay, Crites, I promise to keep this between us, but there's a catch."

"Axel, can you even comprehend the situation?'

Axel tilted her head and smirked. "Yes, and I am taking advantage of it."

The doctor did not even look surprised and negotiated. "Okay, what is it?"

"Make her classes the same as mine. Until you figure out what the heck is going on, I think it's just right for me to keep an eye on her, right?"

The doctor stared at her blankly. "You're just creating excuses to be with her."

"Blah, blah, blah, " responded Axel mockingly. "It's not like I care."

"But you have a point, " the doctor conceded. "Since my system collapsed upon running some tests on her, I was not able to issue an official schedule of her classes. For now, let's stick hers into yours."

"That's what I like about you, Crites."

"Shut up. I'm just doing this for her own sake too, " said the doctor and glanced at Axel. "You know what happens when you break your promise, right?"

Axel rolled her eyeballs. "Yeah, I am completely aware, Mr. Criterion."

The doctor changed the topic. "It might seem unrelated, but how long do you plan to take that form?"

Axel shrugged her shoulders and gestured to Melanie. "Until this girl bends, I suppose."

The doctor scowled, "She's a Sanctified. She will never look at you that way."

Axel smiled smugly. "Let's see about that, Doctor."

"Hmm..."

They both looked down when a moan escaped from Melanie's lips. She opened her eyes, and they were bursting with colors of purple, pink, and red. The two watched in awe because of the bizarre sight. Melanie turned her head slowly to meet Axel's gaze then raised her hand to touch the girl's face. Axel blinked and was stunned due to Melanie's strange behavior.

A soft and melodic voice resonated from Melanie's mouth. "The Keeper."

Right after Melanie spoke those words, strength instantly left her body and she passed out once again. Seconds later, she opened her eyes again and they had returned to her normal purple eyes.

"W-what happened?" asked Melanie, her nose and forehead scrunched up. She then pursed her lips upon seeing their weird reactions. "Did I mess up?"

"N-no," replied the doctor, still mystified, and forced out a chuckle, " Everything w-went fine."

Melanie noticed the odd stutter, but she chose to ignore it. She turned her gaze towards Axel, but the latter was snickering at her. Melanie's eyes widened and she gaped upon realizing their position. She quickly sprung to her feet and created a meter distance between them. Axel immediately stood up and crossed her arms while still wearing the same silly smile.

How long was I sleeping on her lap? thought Melanie.

She cleared her throat. "May I receive my schedule now?" she asked the doctor. The doctor nodded in response and reached out his hand. "Can you give me an item that you always bring with you?"

She looked down and checked herself. White tank top, black shorts, and a pair of combat boots were her outfit for the day. The President provided her some accessories along with the items they gave her but she was too anxious to think about decorating herself with jewelry.

It did not feel right.

"Here. Use this instead."

Melanie turned her head to Axel when she suddenly spoke and showed her fingers holding a ring. Its color was black that made the beauty of the emerald gem on the center stand out.

Melanie blinked as the doctor grabbed the item and summoned another fairy on his palm. The doctor closed his eyes and muttered gibberish words that commanded the fairy to somersault in the air and turn into a halo of light. The speckle of dust flew into the gem of the ring and illuminated it for a couple of seconds.

After the glow faded, Axel fetched the ring from the doctor's hands and spun towards Melanie. Without a word, she lowered down herself and got on one knee as she reached for Melanie's hands.

Melanie was glued on the spot when Axel gently placed the ring on Melanie's slender finger and gave her a huge smile. "Looks good on you."

Melanie quickly snatched her hands from Axel and glanced at Crites. "I-I'm done here, right?" she said in one breath.

The doctor did not show any reaction and just nodded his head. "Yes. All the data is in your ring now."

"That's good. We're gonna go now. Thanks, Criterion."

Melanie did not even wait for the doctor to respond because she already made her way for the exit. She hissed and looked at the ring on her finger. Before her mind could even ponder about what just happened, she felt Axel's presence right behind her. Melanie immediately took a step forward to create a comfortable distance between them.

She bit her lower lip, sighed, and faced the girl beside her. "Axel..." she called.

Axel just looked at her and waited for her to continue.

"I'm really uncomfortable with what you're doing, " confronted Melanie. "Please, refrain from acting like what you did earlier."

Her heart was thumping hard inside her chest due to her decision to confront Axel. She did not know what Axel would do to her considering that the latter has a very twisted mindset and only brought destruction upon her, but she couldn't stand the other girl not even respecting her boundaries as a person.

Melanie hates that.

Melanie instantly closed her eyes when she noticed Axel raise her hand. She waited for something to happen, but not even a strand of her hair was disturbed. She slowly opened her eyes and met Axel's dark eyes.

Axel pursed her lips while frowning and then she nodded. "Okay. If that's what you want, " she said and gestured to the ring, "I'll drop you off to your classes first before I proceed with mine."

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Bewildered, Melanie chose to shut her mouth and did not dare to reply. Instead, she just complied with what Axel suggested and focused on her ring. She brushed her fingers on the gem and it glowed. Letters flew out of it and settled across Melanie's vision where they formed the schedule into the air.

Letters flew out of it and settled across Melanie's vision where they formed the schedule into the air [https://img.wattpad.com/4c668b83474f7bd0575633326b1c054ec19f88ee/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f735a2d4149644d2d50664e6a55673d3d2d313034363638303732332e3136373534663963616366316438316138313334363133383332332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Axel smirked. "News flash, I think you have no choice. You're stuck with me."

Melanie silently waved her hand over the ring to stop the projection and followed Axel when she started to walk through the corridor. Melanie was certain that she felt like there was a pit in her stomach when she came to know that Axel was going to be with her the entire day, but she knew that deep down, she felt relief inside because she would not be alone in this deranged place.

Melanie bumped into Axel's back when the latter suddenly stopped while her thoughts were still wandering. Melanie lifted her gaze and raised her eyebrows as she waited for Axel to react. However, Axel did not even mind that and just gestured to the high ceiling. Melanie looked up and her eyes widened with wonder.

The roof of the entire hall resembled a convertible vehicle where it could move to the sides and display the horizons above them. Aside from that, there was a room floating midair with a bunch of bookshelves and a set of snuggly and cozy furniture.

Axel glanced at Melanie and smiled at her t. She raised her hand and was about to reach for Melanie's hand, but she clenched her fists midway and retreated. She then cleared her throat to call for Melanie's attention.

"This way," she muttered and walked to the side of the hall. She stepped on the marble floor with a circular design and tapped it three times using her foot. The floor levitated and flew towards the room in the air.

Melanie quickly followed after observing what Axel just did and tried to do the same thing. She tapped her foot three times on the same platform and shrieked when she started floating. Axel just watched from afar without saying a word.

"Gosh," mumbled Melanie who just managed to balance herself on the floating disc. However, she could not understand how to control that thing. She kept moving back and forth in the hall with no signs of halting.

"U-um, Axel?" she stuttered while trying to balance her body despite the speed of the swaying disc. "H-how do you control this thing?!" she blurted out.

Axel landed perfectly on the mini room and sat on the nearby stool. She rested her elbows on her thighs as she observed Melanie, who was still roaming around the hall aimlessly.

She chuckled, her eyes were filled with amusement, then said, "Just imagine that you're flying towards me and you'll be able to absolutely control that thing."

"W-what?!"

Melanie did not even have the time to process everything due to the group of people who just arrived in the hall. Melanie quickly averted her eyes when she felt their stares all over her. Her face turned red, and her body trembled because of embarrassment. She was still moving across the room as if on a roller blade spinning and turning every second and she could not even help herself get out of that situation.

Melanie flinched when she suddenly froze in the air and time seemed to stop around her. She tried to move her body but to no avail. Her eyes became dull, and her mind became clouded with endless thoughts that were not even hers to begin with.

The disc where Melanie was standing started to hover again and it flew effortlessly towards the mini room. Melanie, who was still acting like a puppet, stepped down from the disc and she quickly collapsed on the floor.

Adi put down her hands and gracefully stepped on the disc nearby. When she landed on the mini room, she met Melanie's gaze who just woke up from the trance.

"I apologize for invading your mind like that. I just cannot afford to watch you embarrass yourself in front of others, " said Adi and reached out her hand to help Melanie to stand up. "I understand all of these are new to you, but there are things you may have to learn on your own."

"Go away." hissed Axel and shoved Adi's hand away. She positioned herself right in front of her, replacing her role, and reached out her hand towards Melanie. "Are you okay?"

Melanie glared at Axel and did not grab her hand for help. She stood up on her own and sat on the nearest sofa. Adi smiled because of her reaction and proceeded to settle beside her. Axel frowned and grunted as she sat on the couch across them.

Minutes later a couple of students landed on the platform. They showed no interest in other people's businesses as they went to their own places. Melanie looked around and noticed that almost all her classmates didn't seem to know each other yet. Some were reading books and playing games, some were staring above and just watching the birds fly, and some were just sleeping.

Melanie smiled.

She reminisced that she used to go to school every weekday back in the City. Her best friend, Luce, was one year ahead of her, but that did not even serve as a hindrance for them to see each other whenever they had the chance to. She remembered that after their classes, they would go straight to the garden and talk about how their days went and talk about everything and nothing.

Aside from that, she also had friends that she cherished. Although she was not as attached to them as she was to Luce, they had their good times and bad times together. Things were not as magical compared to University of the Damned, but she enjoyed every moment she was there. Melanie decided that even if they must have forgotten all things about her existence, her memories about them were still intact and clear as a crystal and she had no intention to erase them despite everything that happened.

"I wonder if I can still make friends here..." thought Melanie and looked around. Her chest swelled. "They all looked normal to me."

"Good morning, NCS."

Melanie turned her head to the direction of the voice. A man in his late 20s landed in the room. His hair was disheveled and green in color that matched his striking, almost glowing, golden eyes. He was wearing a simple pair of pants and shirt underneath his long black coat and his shoes were made of brown leather. He lifted his glasses and his cold gaze roamed around.

"The class is almost complete, " he said and stopped his gaze in Melanie's direction, "and I also see some people who did not attend the ceremony and the orientation."

What ceremony was that? Axel did not tell me anything about that. Melanie thought when she realized that the professor was talking about them.

"Nevertheless, it's your loss for not attending that event. We will be proceeding with our class, " the professor added and walked towards the center of the room. He snapped his fingers, and an invisible wave came out from his body and reached the students' magical items that held their data. In Melanie's case, it was her ring that received the information.

"I am Professor. Baroque Esperanza and I will be teaching you Familiar Relationships and Beyond 1101 or FRB 1101."

The professor began to saunter across the room. "Familiar are companions that possess undying loyalty to their owners. Their powers reflect the owner's true capabilities whether in brawns or brains or both. For starters, having a familiar beside you gives you an edge to survive here."

He faced the class. "For those who have failed the subject before or those who are new to this program, please step forward."

"Go ahead," said Adi and gently patted Melanie's back. Melanie nodded upon the encouragement and stood up. A number of students also came forward and formed a line across the professor.

"Now, I want you to place your agimat here on the table."

Melanie frowned upon hearing the unfamiliar word.

"It's your ring."

Melanie blinked when she heard Adi's voice inside her head. She raised her hand wearing the ring and showed it to the professor. Other students also did the same thing.

Professor Baroque placed his hands across the magical items and muttered words in a low voice. Melanie watched as the items glowed in their respective colors and instantly wondered why hers emitted dark light.

"For those who do not know..." the professor said and retreated his hand, "My power is Knowledge Replication and what I did right now was the integration of information to your items so it could guide you regarding the process of summoning your familiar. You can call that information as an embryo that would only hatch when you successfully summon your companion."

"Now," the professor gestured to the bookshelves, "choose a book that will catch your interest and bring it here."

This is going pretty well. Melanie thought and obeyed the professor's instructions. She went to every bookshelf and scanned the books. She playfully brushed her fingers on their spines and enjoyed the vintage smell oozing around her.

Luce loved books. This would have been a paradise for him. She thought wistfully.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a book suddenly fell down from above like it intended to crush her skull. The thud echoed loudly that caused Melanie to shudder and look around to see if anyone noticed the fall.

Strangely, students who were only meters away from her were unbothered and displayed no signs of astonishment. Melanie pursed her lips then shrugged and bent down to pick the book up.

It was a thick black book with peculiar characters on the cover. She placed her fingers to the side then opened the book to have a glimpse of its content. Her forehead curled up when she only saw blank pages.

"What kind of book is this?" she mumbled and looked some more but the book only consisted of blank pages.

Melanie closed the book and tried to return it to the bookshelf but there were no spaces available for it to fit in. She frowned and looked above but there were no signs that the book came from that shelf at all.

"This is really...weird, " she mumbled under her breath, then placed the book on top of the books lined up on the shelf. She left the book there and was about to continue her stroll when it flew back into her hand in a matter of seconds. She tried to return it to its previous position, but it only repeated the same deed.

"W-what... the hell?" huffed Melanie.

"I see, everyone got their books now. Please come back here immediately."

Even though Melanie was hesitant to bring the book with her, she knew that she had no choice for the book did not want to leave her hand. She sighed and walked her way back.

When she finally returned, she was the last one on the line. The room was a bit noisy because the students ahead of her had already summoned their familiars. They were in the form of animals but with mystical features: Magical wings, glowing eyes or skin, sharp fangs, and anything upon the list.

Melanie eventually met Adi's stares who had a white and orange fox sleeping on her shoulders. The noble-looking girl smiled at her and nodded like everything was going to be smooth and fine. Melanie smiled back and sighed again.

I hope mine will look adorable and fluffy. Melanie wished.

"Melanie Faye Harlow..." the professor muttered her name when he received the book that she brought with her. The professor looked down and his golden eyes widened. He lifted his glasses to have a better view of the book he was holding.

Melanie watched as the professor hastily opened the book. She grabbed him by the arm and was about to tell him that the book only had blank pages inside.

But she was cut off when her arms were instantly filled with peculiar characters that were flowing out of the book. The professor scowled and pushed the book out of their hands. He muttered some words, and the characters flew back to the pages. They engraved the papers with Melanie's blood as ink.

The book glowed once more, and a burst of light flew out of it. It expounded to the skies, and it blocked every light that was coming through.

The hall was instantly covered with darkness and shadows.

The hall suddenly became ghost-quiet and even the familiars cowered in fear and hid behind their owners.

"What is happening?" one student blurted out.

The professor's eyes looked sharp. "I also don't know, " he said and looked at Melanie whose chest was heaving up and down as she watched the characters' bruises on her fair skin disappear one by one.

"Master,"

A voice resonated above them, and the dark light shrunk into a ball. It fell down at an intense speed and sputtered on the room's floor like a liquid. The substances wiggled and concentrated on the center on which they rose and formed a figure of a little human being.

The dark substances subsided and revealed a little girl who had a silky raven hair flowing up until her knees that barely covered her naked body and crimson red eyes lacking their shine. She slowly rose up and walked towards Melanie who was marveled by her appearance.

The little girl lowered herself and bent down in front of her summoner and said in a soft voice, "I'm Alice and I'll be glad to be of your service once again, Master."