Demund instinctively held up his arms as he crashed down on the floor of his bedroom. With a solid *thunk*, he realized that he was laying on the ground facing sideways. There was a dull throb in his right palm and some on his left.
He had forgotten about his leg again. All the training, all the running in his dream world had given him the illusion that he, in fact, still had two legs. He rubbed his hands and supported himself up.
If Demund did not feel the usual refreshment of waking up with a clear mind, his temper would have spiraled out of control. Yet because his mind was clear as a crystal, he could maintain his calm demeanor and carry on through the morning with a light heart.
He hopped to the windows and pulled the curtains open. Another fine morning. He loved mornings even more than before now.
Demund got back to his bed and found his prosthetic leg to the side, propped against his bed-desk. After putting on his clothes with some difficult, he pulled on the smooth cloth for the prosthetic. He was getting used to it now. He didn’t require crutches anymore.
But the dull, numb sensation of leaning on a stump rather than a leg. It felt weird as ever. Perhaps it was worse for Demund as he constantly experienced having two full legs in his dream.
He clicked on the prosthetic and stood up. Suddenly, he was curious. That feeling he had in his dream when his mana was trying to move about—could it happen in real life?
He closed his eyes and concentrated.
…………….
……………
……………
Nah, no way. Of course it wouldn’t.
He headed downstairs, carefully as to not accidentally trip.
〄 〄 〄
Demund patiently waited outside with a metal, foldable cane in his hand. Something his parents had gotten him.
At exactly seven twenty, a small, automated car entered the small street and parked itself in front of Demund while humming quietly. The door swung open and Demund, after retracting his cane, stepped inside the vehicle.
“Good Morning!” greeted Enariss sleepily. She yawned. “You look awake.”
“Hey, Ena,” he replied while waving. “I think I’m a morning person.”
The door automatically closed shut and the car started accelerating to school. After stifling another yawn, Enariss turned her head to Demund, looking slightly confused.
“Did you call me Ena?”
“Yeah? Short for Enariss. I think it fits you.”
“Really?”
She didn’t voice any complaints and leaned her head to the side. Demund made a small cheer of victory within his mind.
“Do what you want, Demy.”
Demy? Hold up.
“Wait, Enariss. Don’t you think that sounds a little…too…?”
“Why, it suits you~”
“Erm—!"
Enariss lightly punched him on his shoulder and let out a small giggle.
“It’s a joke, Dem-Dem. Call me whatever you like.”
Demund laughed with her. Last year, he wouldn’t have even dreamed of traveling together with a girl. But here he was, calling each other cute names. Maybe he was still inside his dream.
She seriously wasn’t going to call him that, was she?
〄 〄 〄
The stares. They always accompanied Demund now. The only disabled person within the prestigious school of Tartis High. The boy who had almost canceled the Annual Festival because he was in a coma.
Students were already glancing in their direction as the car entered the school. There weren’t many people who drove in with their private vehicles. Only the richest of the rich could do so. Their presence was easily recognizable to the community, and Demund’s name had spread within the campus as the boy who not only lacked a leg but shared seats with the Enariss. In conclusion, an awful lot of staring was going on, even after a few days since school had begun.
“You okay?” asked Enariss softly. She had noticed the sudden discomfort Demund was radiating. He had become quieter, and his face had slightly wrinkled up. It was hard to not notice when he was also nervously clenching his right leg.
Demund took in a deep breath. What was he worried about?
“I’m fine. This week’s just been special.”
“...Demund?”
“Yeah?”
Without warning, Enariss held Demund’s face with both of her hands, squeezing his cheeks between them. Naturally:
What? Who? What? Why? How—
“It’s okay. Are you worried about the stares?”
Demund paused his thoughts briefly. And nodded.
“I get them all the time. Everywhere I go, people stare at me. It’s nothing special. So when we’re together, they’re all looking at me and not you. They don’t care about you.”
Enariss looked into Demund’s eyes seriously. All her drowsiness was gone from her face.
“That burden is only for me. So don’t worry. Got it?”
She maintained eye contact with him. Those eyes, those beautiful crimson eyes of hers. They felt so calm, so strong, so violent.
“Got it.”
She let go with a sigh. “I need to get to class. See you after school.”
Enariss got out of the car and hurried off into the campus. The car automatically locked itself after Demund closed the door, and he peered at Enariss’s fading figure in the distance. Such a small body, yet such confidence and power.
He touched his cheek. He could still feel the smooth, gentle warmth of her hands.
He smiled. He really had to thank her for everything. He looked around and realized that none of the people nearby him was looking at him. They were too busy with their own lives.
Demund extended his cane and started walking forward.
〄 〄 〄
“Are you sure you don’t want to join everyone else?”
“No problem. I’m here to help you!”
Demund shrugged. “Do what you want.”
Demund was lightly jogging around the track as his classmates, including Riley and Rhyne, played soccer inside of the field. Wane followed behind him.
“Besides, there’s no way to win once those two are on the same team.”
As Wane said, Riley and Rhyne were destroying their opponents and scoring goal after goal. This had happened because the original PE teacher was away, making a substitute who didn’t know the class lead in his stead. The students ran with all their might (as the substitute was known for deducting points if students didn’t try hard enough), but they were no match against the ultimate tag team combo. It was pitiful, really.
Demund had been allowed to be exempt from the sport.
“Won’t the substitute take points away from you?”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“Oh, don’t worry. The Student Life Committee’s power reaches far and deep.”
Of course. Demund was starting to think that maybe that certain committee held too much power. No, they did hold too much power.
“How come your group holds so much influence in the school? And why do you switch between ‘Student Life’ and ‘School Life’?”
“You don’t know?”
“Not really. There’s no way a group that focuses on making students happy can have access to their personal information. It doesn’t make sense. It breaks privacy.”
“Well, the thing is…”
Wane talked with Demund as they jogged around the track. According to his explanation, the School Life Committee included the Disciplinary, Voting, and even parts of the Student Council. The top leaders of the school (President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer) were above the Student Life Committee in terms of influence, but the rest of the Student Council were not. They were included in the Committee as group leaders.
“Class leaders also have to report to the Committee. We basically monitor everything.”
“And your position?”
“Just a helper. Don’t worry, we all had to sign a contract that expels us from the school if we release sensitive information to people who are not involved, even within the Committee.”
“And what do you get in return?”
“Glad you asked. Many things, actually. Freer movement, scholarships, fun outings, pretty seniors—”
Wane cleared his throat. “Yeah, a lot of things.”
That was interesting news to hear. Demund, despite the fact that he had been attending the school for almost a year now, didn’t know much about it. It was fun to discover new things.
The substitute teacher blew on his whistle. It was time to go.
“Do you need help changing?” asked Wane.
Demund unconsciously furrowed his brows but released it in an instant. “No, I’m fine. But join me for lunch, yeah?”
“I’ll be glad to.”
〄 〄 〄
Demund looked at his leg inside the toilet stall. A stump of meat, a round ball instead of his feet and toes. No matter how much he looked at it, it felt…unnatural. Disgusting, even. He slid his hand over the scar and touched the crude, pink bumps and lines of healed skin. It wasn’t his. Some pieces of flesh grown inside a lab that just happened to suit him.
He pulled the prosthetic padding over it. Would his friends be able to tolerate the look?
He stored the thought to the back of his mind. He didn’t have time for that.
〄 〄 〄
The smell of aging paper and candle incense filled Demund’s nostrils as he took a deep breath while opening the large doors of the school library. Not many people came here, and Demund felt at peace again once his eyes met the rows and rows of books neatly arranged within the bookshelves. The sunlight shined through the giant window at the very top of the library and cast a warm glow on the stone ground. They had opened it today.
The old librarian looked up from his books, and Demund bowed slightly like he always did. The librarian returned the gesture and returned to his books. He was always reading quietly, like the air around him. A few students ventured through the maze to pick out books.
Demund had thought he lacked a reason to come here anymore. Now that he had switched to swordsmanship, leaning the natural laws seemed unnecessary. But he couldn’t stay put. Having a book within his hand now served as his comfort.
After returning a book he had borrowed, he navigated to the non-fiction section. The librarian had previously recommended reading about the lives of the greats to learn from their footsteps. It had been implied that Demund’s injury had something to do with it.
“It will help you think,” the old librarian had said. “Try Journey of Ice. Milikue.”
Demund always found it weird that the library was manned by someone so old-looking. And in this day and age, a normal high school possessing a library so large was slightly unnatural. Not even many people came to use it, and yet the books were increasing.
Not that it bothered him. He loved the place and its ancient atmosphere. Like something out of the world of wizardry.
He found M.
“Mansch, Mason, Melany…Miles, Milestone…Milikue. Found it.”
He placed his finger on the agreeably thick book and pulled it out. No picture. No decorations except the words, Journey of Ice: An Autobiography at the front, printed in silver. Author’s name was Setsuan Milikue.
No synopsis. He flipped over to the first pages of the book. Printing date…over 40 years ago? This book was old. No Table of Contents—just a simple ‘For Julie, my friend and companion who stuck through the hot and cold.’ Then a bold One at the top of the first chapter.
The librarian had recommended it. He could finish it in two days or three. He took the book and returned to the library counter. The librarian put his book down and adjusted his glasses. His thick, grey beard hung like a cloud on his chin.
“Ah…so you have picked it,” he commented in a slow, gentle voice. A grandfatherly voice.
“Yes.”
The Librarian took the book from Demund and slid it under a scanner. Demund sliced his student card on the check-out machine, and with a beep-beep, the book was ready to go.
Demund thanked the Librarian and headed upstairs. There was a small elevator at the corner which Demund used to reach the third floor. The fourth and fifth floors were often noisy with students having frequent dates there. The first and second floors were too close to the ground. The third floor was the quietest and the best place for him to enjoy his time.
He took a seat at his usual sofa. After flipping the book open, he started to read.
〄 〄 〄
A slightly awkward air hovered between Enariss and Demund in the car. For some reason, she wasn’t looking at him. And Demund lacked the courage to initiate. After what had happened that morning—he was too nervous. He couldn’t control his expression.
He pinched himself on the leg. But then he realized they were almost at his house.
“Hey, Ena…riss. See you at the usual time.”
She turned her head slightly towards him and nodded but remained silent. With the help of his cane, Demund stepped off the car, closing the door behind him. Then the car drove off.
Had he done something wrong? He explored his mind for a possible explanation. Something he had done? What had he done? Up to this morning, they had been fine! Enariss wasn’t usually like this. Was she embarrassed about what she did that morning? No, that couldn’t be it. She wasn’t someone who would cower from that little act.
He shrugged. He’d ask her in the evening.
〄 〄 〄
“Hey, welcome,” greeted Demund while stretching his left leg. Enariss jumped off her bike from the side and landed on the ground with a soft pat. He thought this every time, but she looked great in her sportswear.
Without saying a word, Enariss stretched her body and did some hops. Was she still angry? Demund swore in his heart that he would find the root of this behavior.
“Are you ready?” asked Enariss. Her voice sounded normal. Hmm.
“Any time,” Demund replied. “Sorry if I’m too slow.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
“Then—thanks for coming.”
The corners of Enariss’s lips went up. She motioned with her hand. “Come on, let’s go. You should begin.”
So, with a nervous huff, Demund began to run. Or rather, jog. He didn’t have his cane with him today; he had Enariss. She would catch him if he fell. He trusted her.
Enariss instantly joined Demund’s side, so he picked up the pace. It was still jogging, but a great improvement from what he was doing just a week ago.
They ran through the night as they had always done. Side by side, footsteps in sync, breathing together in the cool air. He was so glad that this moment could continue longer. But currently, all his focus was on his legs. The movement of his right feet, the distribution of his weight—he kept them all in check as he ran.
He was getting used to it. Perhaps he could talk a little.
“Hey, Enariss…Did I do anything that you didn’t like?”
Enariss turned her head and looked at Demund with wide, sparkling eyes. “Why do you say that?”
“You seemed kind of different today after school.”
“Oh.”
A moment of silence hung between them. Demund was trying his best not to fall over, but he had to continue.
“You can tell me. Did people stare at you too much?”
Enariss playfully shoved Demund on his shoulder, which almost made him trip and bash his face against the floor. His heart skipped a beat as he gulped his spit. Holy. That was too close. Way too close.
“No! It’s just…”
She became silent again.
“Just what? You can tell me.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Ena…are you sure? I’m all for you.”
Enariss refused to look at him while they ran.
“Fine,” she eventually said. “It’s stupid, but I’ll tell you. Are you flirting?”
What? Where had that come from? With whom? Enariss? Other girls?
“You think anyone would flirt with someone like me? Especially since I have…or not have, you know.”
Enariss snorted, which was really cute. It was the first time Demund had seen her do that.
“I heard that you have two girls that are interested in you. They always stick by your side during classes and carry your bags”
Oh. Was that what she was worried about?
“Oh, that! No, you’re clearly mistaken.”
She turned her head to look at Demund in the eye. Her face was…blank? It was unreadable.
“They’re from the Student Life Committee if you’ve heard of them. It’s not only them; there’s also a guy helping me out. Since one person can’t stay with me all the time, they take turns. You know, simple stuff. Carrying bags, fetching me tissues.”
She didn’t look satisfied.
“There’s nothing going on between us. They’re just nice people. Like you and the MMA Club Captain! Like, you assist him?”
Enariss’s face turned a shade darker. Demund panicked.
“I promise that—”
Then Demund’s world was thrown sideways as he felt his prosthetic leg take a faulty step on the ground. At the last moment, Enariss caught Demund by the arms and prevented him from sliding his skin on the concrete floor.
“Mother of—thanks, Ena.”
Enariss helped Demund up. They had come to a halt due to Demund’s sudden accident.
“Pfff—Dem-dem, what are you doing!”
Enariss burst out laughing, leaving Demund to sheepishly scratch his hair. Had things worked out?
“Was I acting weird? Sorry about that,” breathed Enariss through her laughter. “Your expression, just—too, funny!”
She held her knees and laughed her heart out. What had been so funny? Demund touched his face. Had his expression looked that bad? He didn’t understand any of this.
He sighed and smiled. “Glad you like it?”
Cautiously, Demund placed his hand on Enariss’s back and pat it gently. She felt very delicate and—it was probably good not to think about it. Bad thoughts, go away.
After what seemed like a few minutes, Enariss’s hysterical laughter finally died down. She wiped her tears and straightened her back.
“You’re a funny guy. I mean it,” she stated.
“Thank you?”
Then out of nowhere, Enariss sent Demund a sweet smile, and Demund literally felt his heart freeze. The streetlights perfectly illuminated her face, making her calm, gentle, but ferocious expression glow in the darkness. The smile was something out of heaven. Something genuine and pure. Something he wanted to protect.
Who was he kidding?
“Come on. Let’s continue,” said Enariss. “You want to recover quickly right?”
Demund recovered from his short daze and jumped on his legs. “Definitely. Let’s go.”
The pair’s footsteps warmly decorated the silent night.
〄 〄 〄
Enariss brushed her hair in front of the mirror. Today she had done something unbecoming of her character.
“It’s because there was a threat of him being stolen. My hard work being snatched away. Yep.”
She reassured herself. There was no one in the school that could match her beauty. She probably didn’t have to worry that much. But why had she felt so nervous? Why had she felt anxious?
She put down her brush and inspected her hair. Smooth, red, and long. After twirling it around her finger she placed it in front of her lips and looked at the mirror.
“Why?”
With a simple touch on the mirror screen, she jumped into bed and grabbed her giant, stuffed pillow as the lights to her room slowly faded out and the curtains automatically slid shut. She buried her face into the fabric and pulled her blankets over her.
Too much thinking made her head spin. It was good to keep things nice and simple.