Lately I have been doing well in my studies. A full two months in now and I am getting a feel for magic. Besides Erica being annoying, life has been good. She follows me around and gives me gifts. I think it's her attempt to win me over. The gifts are normal enough so I accept them. I mean it would look bad if I didn't.

As for Jerald, I think he and I are great friends now! When studying we sometimes chat about our lives. There are several moments where I almost tell him about my other life. Obviously I catch myself before I do. Covering up the blunder by patting him on the shoulder and deflecting with a joke. So far that's worked to make him not question when I randomly cut myself off.

In the potions class we have learned a lot as well. Love potion cures, invisibility, and many other tonics. When the topic of love potions came up it was like the drug talk. But as the teacher explained how it would change the other person… It sounded like straight up mind manipulation. Like the kind where the other person isn't even the same person any more. He told us how to pick up the signs and what to look out for. How the person affected won't be able to tell themselves. Honestly, why is this in the game? It sounds very scary.

Besides those classes, Enchanting has been a blast as well. From armor to weapons we have learned different enhancing spells. Then for summoning it's just us getting to know our new summons. Training with them to understand their power. All three classes have been making me more knowledgeable of this world. I make the correct choices.

Walking to lunch I notice Jerald isn’t in the cafeteria. Frowning to myself I go around the school looking for him. I check our usual spots but no sign of him. Is he sick? Finally I go to the back of the school and pause as I hear sounds of a fight. Rounding the corner I stop in my tracks at the sight before me. Jerald is being cornered by four other older boys. He has a black eye. I feel anger rise in my chest. They hurt our friend. They must pay. Yeah… Yeah they should pay. How dare they?

Just like that a dark energy swirls around me. They dare harm our friend. They will pay with their blood. I am no longer able to control my body. Dark magic flicks around me as I approach the four bullies. My mouth opens and Shade speaks “You dare harm my friend. You will receive no mercy.” a flick of my hand and dark magic shoots out knocking away one of the bullies. Jerald watches with wide eyes as I step next to him. Shade says “Rest easy friend. You will have their heads shortly.” Jerald gapes “Their heads? Andreas what does that mean?” Shade turns my body to the three remaining bullies.

Dark magic swirls around me as Gale flies from above. Wind picking up as clouds gather in the sky. Leonidas emerges from my hand as I raise it. Dark magic surrounding his metal form encasing him in shadows. Leonidas roars loudly “The commander beckons your death!” and rushes for one of the three bullies. The bully cries out in pain as his throat is torn out. Jerald grabs my shoulder “Andras you're killing them!” Shade turns my head to Jerald “Yes. They hurt you. They do not deserve mercy.” Jerald shakes his head “I was just roughed up. You don’t have to kill them.” Shade responds coldly “If I leave them alive, they would simply hurt someone else. These kinds of people never change.” Ah Shade is delving into the more cynical part of my mind. Combined with my rage I can’t help but agree. These people deserve to die.

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Jerald shifts stepping back “Andras… You can’t actually believe that.” Shade moves my body to step closer to the bullies “It is not about belief, friend. It is about understanding humans.” Shade moves to wave his hand conjuring forth Lake from my chest. Raising her up Gale whisks her into the sky. Rain begins to pour as the area darkens. Shade extends his shadow under one of the two remaining bullies and sucks him into the floor. He screams as he disappears into the inky abyss. The last bully is trying to run but Leonidas catches him. Shade raises my hand as a ball of shadow magic begins to form from my fingertips.

Just then a cold air begins to surround the area. The rain turned into snow. Shade turns me to face Jerald who has his wolf out. Jerald points “Shadow! Release Andras this instant!” Shade shifts my body to face him fully “I am not forcing Andras to do this. My master can take back control. His anger fuels our powers. We are stronger now.” Jerald scowls “You may be stronger but that doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. Don’t make Andras do something evil just for the sake of it!” Evil? How is saving my friend evil? How is using my strength to defeat my enemies evil? Sure I killed some kid but that doesn't matter. This is all just a game. So why don’t I just do what I want? I can give myself broken skills and become a god. Why shouldn’t I do that?

Jerald yells against the storm “Andras! I know you are still in there! Don’t give into the temptations of evil! Break free of it my friend!” Why does he care so much about me? He isn’t even a real person. Andras isn’t a real person. He’s a game character I am playing as. Carter is who I am… Carter? What… What would Carter do? He would be panicking because his body isn’t in his control. He would want to listen to Jerald… Because Carter isn’t a villain. He doesn’t want to do evil. I… I don’t want to do evil. Shade! Stop! Master? Let me go. He’s right. Killing these boys ain't worth it. If we finish what we started… There would be no hope of redemption.

My magic coils back into me, my contracted elementals vanishing. I feel exhausted and fall to my knees. Jerald rushes to my side and eyes me with worry “Andras! Are you all right?” I shake my head and take a deep breath “No… But I will be. Thank you for calling out to me… I don’t want to imagine what would have happened.” Jerald holds a hand to me and I take the offering. Once on my feet I sigh “Guess getting mad fuels my dark elemental.” Jerald huffs “Then you can learn to control the power output.” I nod at that. If I want to not be a villain I will have to learn restraint.

I shift and eye Jerald before hugging him. I don't know if nobles feel comfortable with hugs but… Even if this is a game, this man saved me. Saved me from possibly getting stuck in the bad end route. Jerald slowly returns the hug "Um. There, there?" I snort and pull back "Really? That is not how you comfort someone. But the hug itself has made me feel much better." Jerald shakes his head "Fair enough. Sorry but I don't usually hug people." I pat his shoulder and begin to walk back to the school "No worries friend. Now come on, we have another class." Jerald follows me to the school.

Man that was close! I almost became a villain. Hell forgot that I wasn't actually Andras. I am Carter Mackenley. Normal programmer college graduate. Stuck in this game for who for how long. I sigh as we return to our classes. I try to pay attention but a lot is on my mind today. I coast through the rest of my classes for the remainder of my day. When I get to my sleeping quarters I toss and turn. I sigh as I realize I won’t get much sleep tonight. So I just study until I finally fall asleep.