“Why? Why would you do such a thing?”

When Shaden returned after a few hours of relief by washing himself and enjoying the scenery, he’d expected to be celebrated for restoring Patran’s leg. But all that awaited him were serious-faced men who regarded him with silence. Pillen, who should have been awed, was furious.

“I’ve told you over and over again that we work as one group,” Pillen rebuked, his voice lined with anger. “Had you never returned, how could we return? What you’ve done was reckless and dangerous. By acting alone, you’ve halted the squadron’s progress. We are still—”

“I get it!” Shaden exclaimed, turning a few heads towards their direction. He ignored them, keeping the blood from rushing to his face with circulation. “I get it. I’m your responsibility. But you have no idea of what I can do.”

“I don’t know what you can do because you’ve never told me!” Pillen growled.

“You never asked!”

“Of course I didn’t. You are a child, here to learn.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “You are not responsible yet. Being under our—my care, you must do what you are commanded. That is for your good.”

“My good?” Shaden clenched his jaw. “All I’ve learned was being silent when I’m shouted at!”

“How did you come this far if you think that is shouting? Are you going to be hurt whenever you face people that are worse? Did you think that our words are malicious? In an environment like this, there is no room for leniency!”

“Maybe there should be then! You said that you see me as a child, and treat me like one. And you expect me to follow through without any complaints?”

“You are being treated kindly. You expect leniency when we face those that can kill us?”

“No, but you could at least prevent them from berating me for every single little thing!” Shaden spat, feeling sick. “Why do I need to be scolded for the way I organize my belongings?”

“For your convenience! In emergencies—”

“Explain this then. Why do I always get the worst parts of the meat? Everything I get is rough—”

“You’re angry about that?”

“I also have to carry more things. It wasn’t once that I was given other people’s stuff to put in my bag.”

“That’s—”

Pillen shot a look at the other soldiers, who turned their heads to avoid looking at him.

“Everyone should carry their own things,” Pillen said, “and there should be no distinction on who gets which part of the meat.”

“See, I didn’t know that,” Shaden raged. “No one told me that it was wrong, and I had to go along with it because you, who was in charge, didn’t care. You’re telling me that you didn’t know? Is your gift of focus just for show?”

“If it wasn’t for my focus, one of the spears would have gone through your skull,” Pillen snapped. “The men here other than me or Enov have no authority to command you.”

“You could have told me that sooner!”

“I’ve told you over and over again to ask when there is something you don’t understand! You never asked once.”

“You said that I should ask lower-ranking people first!”

“Yes, but I am an exception. I’ve told you to ask me.”

“That’s not what they said,” Shaden gestured at the men. “I got rebuked for that too.”

Again, the men lowered their heads, unable to meet Pillen’s stare. Though Shaden had a feeling that Pillen had known the things that had been going on. He’d been with the squadron for a long time. There was no way he was unfamiliar with their customs.

“There are deeply rooted manners in Fort Avagal that are impossible to change,” Pillen said quietly. “You were exempt from them from the moment you were allowed a room of your own. This is less than a month of training you have to bear. Everyone has to bear it all from the lowest rank.”

“See, so you do know. Did you go through everything? Did the Nieuts go through anything?”

“We all did,” Pillen scowled.

“With your father as the Commander—”

“Do you think he cared?”

Seeing Pillen’s enraged expression, Shaden shut his mouth.

“There is a reason why our family can be at Fort Avagal through the generations,” Pillen continued, “and that is because we are harshest to ourselves. That is why the Kings have given us the responsibility of being at the frontlines. That is why whoever comes here comes with the courage to face hardship in exchange for honor. You have none of that. If you can’t bear the minor frustrations, how could you possibly bear enemies armed to the teeth?”

Shaden wanted to shout to Pillen that he could obliterate the whole fortress if he wanted to, level a mountain with a simple flick of his finger. If he were to grab the man and fling him to space, no one would be able to stop him. But something about his logic prevented him from doing so.

Pillen sounded disappointed, and Shaden didn’t know who to be frustrated with—Pillen and the soldiers, or himself. He had failed to comply. He had let his guard down. He could push his way through brute strength, but his conscience didn’t let him.

It was Enov who broke the silence.

“Now, now,” he said, coming in between them. “We may still be surrounded by enemies, and your ramblings are sure to have attracted them. A good, long march sounds like an ideal solution. Sir, give us your command. The boy has returned, so we can move swiftly now.”

Shaden wanted to tell them that he would have been able to follow them even if they descended the mountain, but the mood prevented him from saying so. He kept his mouth shut.

“We will head back towards Mentir Hold and descend to Avagal tomorrow,” Pillen said. “Shaden—”

“Right behind you,” he muttered.

Pillen looked at him for a few seconds before turning away to retrieve his bag. Shaden didn’t know what to make of that.

He’d done it. He’d failed as a soldier.

Shaden gritted his teeth together. What more was there to learn?

He felt sick. He wanted to return to his family. Even going back to the desert would be a much better alternative.

Had he lost to these people? Had he lost to their hardships?

He clenched his fist.

There was no way he’d lost.

⤙ ◯ ⤚

The way back was much easier than the first, as Shaden had decided to start using magic for his convenience. Further training would be useless for him; he had no reason to continue in his suffering for the sake of becoming stronger. He was already strong—that’s what he’d come to believe. Their training was to cover for their weakness. He had no need for it.

He was done. He was sick of it. Time he could spend practicing magic was being wastefully used. He didn’t need training, he finished. He’d healed a man, and all he’d gotten in return had been harsh remarks.

The others seemed to sense his annoyance because they didn’t talk to him the whole way. No...they were all generally quiet on the way back. Perhaps they were alert and on the lookout for enemies. A part of Shaden wanted enemies to appear so that he could display his power, but to his small disappointment, none did. The assailants had vanished as quickly as they had come. Who they were, Shaden had little clue.

They spent a night in the stronghold. Pillen was busy reporting the incident, and the others were busy washing and restocking supplies and sanitizing themselves. Shaden thought that the day would end peacefully until Pillen called him to the side, taking him to an empty room away from the other soldiers. He felt his heart climb up to his throat, but he managed to repress his nervousness. Oh, how he hated conflict.

“I’m grateful for what you did for Patran,” Pillen began. “I never knew such a thing was possible. It’s truly terrifying how little I know about you.”

His feet refused to stay in one place while he spoke, and his arms kept switching positions ever so slightly. Shaden simply listened quietly, wishing for the moment to pass.

“It’s the same for you,” Pillen sighed. “You know little about us, about how things work around here. I understand. I don’t know what the Commander was expecting, but there is no way you could adjust in mere weeks.”

He scratched the back of his head, but then straightened his back.

“I will be frank with you. I have no idea how to deal with you. Our family is subservient to the Limens, but I never truly understood what that meant. It’s confusing for me, and it must be confusing for you.”

When Shaden blinked, Pillen made a small wave in the air.

“I’m not scolding you,” he said. “Forget about manners. I never liked them anyway.”

“I don’t get it either,” Shaden said. “What am I supposed to learn? Patience? Stubbornness? I haven’t been taught the gift of focus by anyone, and this all feels like a waste of time.”

“For you. For us, this is what we do. As for the gift of focus, I was planning to teach you after we returned to the fortress. With everything we’ve been doing, I didn’t want to burden you more.”

Shaden looked at the ground. Speaking like this sapped the strength out of him, and he was never a good speaker.

“I’ve already mastered it,” Shaden muttered. “I told your sister, but she didn’t believe me.”

“You’ve mastered the gift of focus,” Pillen repeated, raising a curious eyebrow.

“You don’t believe me?”

“It’s very hard to believe. And yet you’ve healed a missing limb.”

“There’s no reason for me to stay,” Shaden spat. “I’ve obtained the gift, and I know how to use it. The moment I set foot into this place, it’s been nothing but misfortune. My wyvern was killed, my belongings were stolen, and I’m being treated like an idiot.”

“You learn quickly.”

“That’s not how your men treat me.”

Pillen exhaled sharply, letting it out in a large puff. “I don’t know what to do with you anymore. When we get back, I’ll ask the Commander, and we can sort things out then. Is that agreeable?”

Shaden nodded. “Yes.”

“Good.”

Contrary to his expectations, Shaden only felt his nervousness grow. He’d be going back on his agreement to train at Fort Avagal. There would be disappointment from the Nieuts, no doubt. He’d expected freedom, but all he felt was uneasiness build up in his stomach.

So what? It was time for him to do what he wanted to do.

Descending the mountain was simple enough. While the others carefully gripped each jutting stone on the cliff, Shaden simply stuck himself on the surface with magic. He could glide down if he wanted to, but doing so didn’t seem right, so he remained with the group. He’d sweated before, but when they reached the bottom, he was the only one who was free from it.

It was a very long way back to Fort Avagal, and he entertained himself by playing with magic in his hands. Creating shapes with fire or water, of carving a rock before he crumbled it in his hands. He received weird glances from the others, but no one spoke a word to him unlike before. Shaden liked that very much.

“Go rest in your room while I talk with the Commander,” Pillen told him after he sent away the others upon arriving at the fortress. So he headed to his room, dusted off his bag, and entered—being surprised by the squeaking he heard underneath the bed.

The rats. He’d forgotten about them. He laughed weakly, setting down his bag and taking off his cloak.

“How was it?” he asked after bonding with them. “Did anyone enter?”

The answer was a clear yes—more than one person had opened the door. So Shaden was surprised when he found all of his belongings in their places, including the Library pass under the bed. Not a single item was missing.

Despite being away from the room for half a month, there was no dust on the floor on the windowsill. Someone had cleaned it.

He didn’t know what to feel about it. His efforts had been useless.

The rats squeaked, and Shaden chuckled.

“Okay,” he agreed. “Am I part of your household now? I’m surprised you didn’t forget about me.”

Having nothing better to do, he decided to hide himself and eavesdrop on the Commander and Pillen. If he knew what was coming, it would ease his heart a little. He quietly passed the guards and entered the Commander’s Abode, making his way to where two individuals were talking to each other.

Just in time, he thought. Even when he opened the door and closed it, the two men didn’t notice. Covering anything with his family’s magic made it undetectable, and he was grateful for it.

“......a clever boy. He learns very quickly,” Pillen said, leaning back on his chair. “But Father, I don’t know why you made him into a soldier.”

Shaden took a seat a little ways apart from them. The Commander was behind a heavy desk stacked with papers while Pillen was before him, seated on a chair.

“Not a soldier,” the Commander muttered, his eyes on the papers. “A trainee.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Pillen remained quiet for a while as if organizing his thoughts. After ruffling his hair, he turned to his father again.

“He doesn’t like it. He told me that he’s finished.”

“Ah.”

“He told me that he has mastered the gift of focus. And I believe him. I know you’ve read the report, Father. We had a casualty, but the boy cleared it within seconds. The amount of mana he exerted was inhuman.”

“So I have heard.”

“He is an avalanche waiting to happen. Father, He wishes to be out.”

The Commander set down his pen, and his eyes looked around the room, momentarily meeting Shaden’s. Shaden tensed, but relaxed when the man’s stare passed him.

“You should be careful with your words,” the Commander said. “You never know if he might be listening. I would not call a guest an avalanche.”

“Listening?” Pillen glanced around the room. “There’s no one here but us. I can sense—”

Pillen froze, his eyes growing wider.

“He’s not in his room.”

“He’s not in the fortress,” the Commander corrected. “Or rather, we cannot sense him.”

“Impossible.”

“Their stealth is absolute,” the Commander stated. “There is a reason why they are unknown to the world. I would find it unsurprising if he was in this room, standing right next to you, and we wouldn’t be able to know.”

Shaden swallowed. They could tell if he was missing with their markers.

“And if he is here?”

“Then he is,” the Commander concluded.

“I find it hard to believe. The entrances are closed, and I haven’t heard them opening.”

“Why not ask, then? Are you here, Shaden?”

Shaden decided not to reveal himself.

“I suspect he isn’t, then,” the Commander concluded. Pillen let out a sigh.

“Perhaps he will kill me in my sleep if I cross him too much,” he smiled.

“It is possible,” the Commander agreed. “So—he is finished.”

“Yes.”

The Commander put his hands together into a clasp. “His aunt once lived here. She beat those who irritated her. She was never a quitter. Stubborn and violent and cunning—much like Granor. I suppose she was taught that. Shaden takes after his father.”

“And that means?”

“Running away.”

Shaden felt the heat rise to his cheeks.

“But any good assassin is quick to run away,” the Commander continued. “An enemy not worth facing is better avoided, and if one is not prepared, it is better to come back another day. Is it better to endure or escape? Such things can only be learned through experience. Too much enduring will cause harm, but too much running away will make one meek and frail.”

Pillen frowned. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Perhaps you can tell it to the boy. I know you have no interest in being a soldier, and as one who shares the boy’s sentiments, perhaps you can lead him to a better path.”

Pillen’s frown deepened. “Me? I’m the most inexperienced in our family. Why can’t you teach him, Father?”

“Squadron Leader Pillen.”

“Sir.”

“It applies to you as well.”

“Yes.”

“Tell the boy—when you find him, and I’m sure he will find you—to learn more about the gift of focus from you. He does not have to participate in anything else. But if he wishes to join, let him.”

Pillen nodded, getting up from his seat.

“I will tell him that,” he said. After a small bow, he left the room, and the door shut behind him.

Shaden got up from his seat. He was about to follow Pillen out of the room—

“I suspect that you have been listening to our conversation,” the Commander spoke, looking forward. “I am fairly certain that you are here, Shaden. Though I cannot see the wind, I can feel its breeze when it flows by. This room is thoroughly marked by me, and the smallest disturbance I can sense.”

Shaden hesitated, but finally undid his stealth, stepping forward. The Commander’s eyes locked onto him, though a hint of surprise was visible in his expression.

“So you were here,” he said, motioning to the chair. “Take a seat.”

“How did you sense me?” Shaden asked. “I made sure to cover the door with magic.”

“Your grandfather taught me many things long ago,” the Commander said. “You are the first one I wasn’t certain of since your aunt.”

“Right. She was here too.”

“And she hated it.”

The Commander smiled—the first genuine smile that didn’t feel like it was deliberately crafted. “Tiring, isn’t it? You were never subservient to anyone before, I take it.”

“I was under my aunt for a while,” Shaden replied.

“You dislike being under those you think are below yourself.”

“No,” Shaden shook his head. “I don’t think that.”

“I would like to hear your thoughts.”

Shaden took a seat, leaning against the chair. After clearing his throat, he breathed in.

“I don’t like the culture. The rules, as you’d call it. The training itself isn’t that hard—just annoying at times. It’s nothing unbearable. But that makes it boring. I don’t feel like I’m progressing. It feels like wasting my time, and I’m getting rebuked for the smallest things.”

“What small things?”

“Eating before everyone else, being out of position. I get it, but I don’t like it.”

“Ah.”

“They call it respect, but I’ve been respectful. I don’t understand why I have to be scolded for something I don’t know. And sometimes, they don’t do the things they tell me to do.”

“Things like that happen.”

“That’s why I don’t want to continue,” Shaden decided. “Give me a reason why I should stay here.”

“A reason,” the Commander said softly. “There are many reasons. You can learn about people, how to bear unlikeable circumstances, and you can discover the limit of your patience.”

Shaden pursed his lips.

“Mana is never infinite for anyone, and there will come a time when you will run out of it,” the Commander continued. “Your grandfather has had times when he had to bear torturous circumstances. Do you know of the Great Library of Saiton?”

“Yes.”

“He had to spend a week hiding under a dragon’s prying eyes. He escaped, just barely when the doors opened, but he has told me how his time here had assisted him in those moments.

The cold scarcely bothered him after he had spent a winter here. But he was strong before he arrived. I wouldn’t tell you to do the same, but I remember that he took the tips of the little finger of those who had treated him unjustly when he left. That was how he dealt with his irritations.

Sooner or later, you will find yourself in a position when you feel overpowered and weak. Your time here may help you discover yourself and how you will deal with such things. Running away is good, but you cannot always run away.

It is for your growth. For the things that will come, I can only hope for you to be prepared.”

“I am prepared,” Shaden said.

“It is too soon for you to decide.”

The only reason I began this was because of the other world, Shaden thought. Had it not been his aspirations as Demund, he would have taken the family tome and left for the capital.

Shaden released his mana into the room, filling it, swirling it into a torrent of raw power. The Commander’s stone eyes widened slowly as the mana began to thicken into translucent streams, shifting from blue to white to purple as it began to change into a liquid form. Within tens of seconds, the whole room was a river of visible mana, sloshing through the table, the chairs, the furniture, but never leaving it. The Commander had risen from his seat, looking around him in wonder.

“A spark of fire magic, and this would kill us all,” he observed. “I can only pray that you know what you are doing.”

With a simple hand motion, Shaden quickly absorbed everything back into himself, and the room returned to its original, dull state. The Commander fell on his seat, and to Shaden, it looked like he was trying to repress a smile.

“So that’s why,” he muttered. “That’s why! I understand now. I understand completely. Oh, my old friend, how I can imagine the look on your face.”

“Did my grandfather say anything?”

“Something along the lines of, ‘you won’t be disappointed.’ You were not raised in Skotos, and I feared that your reason for leaving was because you were inexperienced, but no, not at all. Not at all.”

The Commander had momentarily lost his composure and had burst into excitement, but his face had hardened once more within that short period. Though his eyes no longer looked at him the same way. Shaden didn’t know what to make of it.

“Has the goddess returned in human form?” the Commander spoke, staring straight at him. “What changes will you bring, Shaden?”

“What? I don’t know,” Shaden replied, feeling uncomfortable. “I’m simply living my life.”

“So you are.”

The Commander got up, fetching a piece of paper from the table. “I will immediately make preparations for you so that you will not be bored, as there are many—”

“Commander.”

Their eyes met in the air.

“I liked your previous suggestion,” Shaden said. “The one you told Pillen. I would like to take it easy for now.”

“You will waste away your potential. The honor and glory you can receive are limitless.”

“I don’t need that. I just want to be free. I don’t like stress.”

Shaden wondered if he had said too much because when the last word left his mouth, the vigor in the Commander’s eyes faded again, and his expression darkened, the creases on his face deepening. Disappointment? Pity? Whatever it was, the man now thought of him less because of what he had said. He knew a disdainful look when he saw one because he’d learned—learned from his time with his squadron. Shaden wanted to laugh. What exactly did they expect from him? Why couldn’t they be like the Jakhar Kishaks who treated him as their own?

“If that is what you wish for, it will be done,” the Commander agreed. “You may leave now.”

“Thank you,” Shaden replied. Turning around, he left the room.

He sighed deeply once he was outside. The sounds of soldiers training echoed throughout—everyone was busy like always. Was it bad for him to be freer than the rest of them? He was a guest, right?

He kicked a stone on the ground when he heard squeaks nearby. Turning his head, he found a rat in the shadow of a building, raising its upper body and waving its paws for attention. He walked up to it and knelt, bonding with it.

“What’s up?” he asked, letting it jump into his hands. He immediately regretted the decision after seeing a flea jump out from the rat, but there was nothing sanitization magic couldn’t fix.

The rat squeaked, pointing with its head. It had spotted one of the people who had entered his room.

“Lead me,” Shaden commanded, placing the rat on the floor. It immediately began to scurry away, heading towards the barracks—no, the training grounds. The rat stopped once, looking around and smelling the air, then continued on its way. There were soldiers doing hand-to-hand combat in the training grounds, and the rat kept going, heading towards a certain person.

Shaden couldn’t believe it when the rat stopped in front of Nicar, and he immediately had to pull the rat back before it was sent flying through the air from her kick. He quickly commanded it to escape into the shadows while he went to confront the woman.

When Nicar saw him, her eyebrows scrunched into a slight frown, and she wiped her forehead with her hand before flicking the water off. She stared at him but didn’t say anything.

Shaden was the one who spoke first. “Uh, how are you doing?” he asked, and her expression loosened, though she looked at him as if he was saying nonsense.

“Good. Have you forgotten your manners already?”

“I’m not a soldier anymore,” Shaden replied, and she snorted in response.

“Too difficult?”

“No, too easy. Can I ask you something?”

She nodded.

“Were you the one who cleaned my room?”

“I was,” she said bluntly.

“Why?”

“You were complaining about robbers,” she replied. “I took the liberty to make sure nothing was stolen.”

Shaden couldn’t understand. “Why would you care?”

“I am your captain. Though I suppose not anymore.”

She sighed and made a dismissing gesture towards him. “Don’t hate me too much. I’m fulfilling my responsibilities. You can’t always do what you like.”

She turned around and left, joining the other soldiers who were sparring.

“Responsibilities…” Shaden muttered.

He’d begun his training with the determination to grow and mature, but in this world, with all of the power he possessed, he’d lost it. It had felt like crawling when he could walk, chewing water when he could swallow. Growth? Was experiencing frustrations as unsensible as this needed in the other world? Did his waking self need to know how to be a soldier?

The answer was no. He’d dived into it with positivity, only to find it to be meaningless. He had made a fool of himself. So what? He was eleven as Shaden. They would understand.

Inside, he knew he was twice as old. Over twenty when both worlds were combined, but he didn’t feel like a twenty-something year old. He was just...him. Not yet an adult, feeling the same as he’d felt when he’d first stepped into the world as Shaden. Except now, everything was less fun, and his outlook for the future grew more uncertain every day.

He couldn’t do his best because his minimum was enough. Doing his best could remain in the other world. Here, he was free, lax, and full of fun…

Shaden looked down at his toes.

What exactly did he want to do?

⤙ ◯ ⤚

Cold. So, very cold.

It was nothing compared to what he’d felt up in the mountains, but Demund couldn’t help but shiver underneath his padded jacket. His gloved hands felt numb, and the cold was seeping into his legs and feet. Circulating did little, and he knew he had to use it wisely if he were to be in top condition for his presentation.

Everything was so restricted as Demund. His powers were weak, his abilities were lacking. His head would spin and he could throw up if he used too much mana. But he felt happy. His life felt meaningful, waiting at the school like this in front of the library building. Maybe he’d come too early, but his mind was as clear as a crystal, ready to burst into action.

Headlights in the distance signaled Enariss’s arrival, and she raised her eyebrows upon seeing him. It quickly turned into a smile.

“I didn’t expect you to come so early,” she said, skipping in her steps, stopping before him. “I told you I could give you a ride.”

“If you or I win, who would take me back home?” Demund reasoned. “I wouldn’t want to walk home.”

“Why? It would be a good exercise.”

“Anyway, go pack your things,” Demund said. “The entrance is open.”

“I already did yesterday,” Enariss smiled.

“Really? Were the cars ready then?”

“No, but they gave me permission.”

“Huh. Must be one of the perks of being the MMA Club Leader,” Demund guessed. “Or is it because of your grades? Maybe it’s because of your matchless charm.”

“Do you think I’m attractive?”

“Who wouldn’t think that?” Demund snorted.

“You, maybe,” Enariss joked, twirling her hair. “You were silent these past two days.”

“Busy, like always. And…a little stressed. It’s over now.”

“Because of the project?”

“You can say it’s loosely related.”

While they were speaking, another car entered the school, stopping in front of them. A guy their age stepped out, dressed in an exquisite jacket. Demund recognized the brand; one of those could feed him for a month or two. Or three.

“He’s Edan, right? A junior, I think,” Demund whispered to Enariss, who nodded.

Demund thought he’d seen the guy from somewhere, but his memory failed him. They were all dressed in normal clothes and not their uniforms, which made it harder for him. He guessed that it wouldn’t matter.

“Heya, there!” the guy said cheerfully, raising a hand that carried drinks. “Hey, Enariss. It’s been a while.”

“Not really,” Enariss smiled.

“You must be Demund,” Edan said, putting the drinks towards him. “Smartest guy in school, eh? Here, I got drinks for us. You guys haven’t eaten yet, right?”

“Food is provided,” Enariss replied.

“You’re going to eat that? Anyway, this is something you like.”

Demund and Enariss each accepted a cup each, and Demund took a sip from the straw. The cool, sweet flavor rushed through his tongue, and he stared at the cup, taken aback at the extraordinary flavor.

“Mint chocolate latte. My favorite,” Enariss muttered.

“Right? It’s good,” Edan smiled, taking a sip.

Demund wasn’t going to throw it away, but he couldn’t understand why anyone would buy such abominations in the first place. The mixture of sweetness and faint bitterness with a fragrance of mint was something he couldn’t enjoy wholeheartedly. It was as if the drink couldn’t decide on what it wanted to be, existing solely to troll the consumer.

But he was the weird one here. The two rich kids were drinking it like it was the tastiest thing in the world.

“Are you ready for this?” Edan said, crossing his arms. “I won’t go easy on you guys because you are my juniors.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” Enariss replied. “Thanks for the drink, but I’m sorry to say that I’ll be taking the grand prize.”

“You’re pretty confident.”

“Duh.”

It was strange listening to them, and while Demund knew that Enariss was well-acquainted with people in the school, he’d rarely seen her socialize with people besides during class. How she knew a junior, he didn’t know. Was there a rich people’s gathering he didn’t know about?

“And you, Demund? I’m Edan by the way,” Edan said, turning to him. “Are you ready to rock this competition?”

“As ready as I could be,” Demund answered. “I’m pretty sure my project won’t lose to Enariss’s.”

She snorted. “Enjoy the moments before your demise.”

Edan smiled, looking between the two of them. “You guys seem close. Are you guys dating?” he asked out of nowhere.

“What? No,” they both said at the same time. Enariss smirked and punched him on the shoulder, and to that, Demund could only feel a little sad. Just a little, though. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to progress—he wanted things to stay like this.

“That’s cool,” Edan nodded. “Then Demund, would you mind if I sit next to Enariss during the trip? I have a few things to ask her.”

“You should ask Enariss, not me,” Demund told him. “I don’t mind.”

“Now I’m curious,” Enariss said. “It better not be boring.”

“Of course not.”

While they waited for their ride to arrive, Demund examined Edan. He was a tall guy, fairly handsome too. His soft, brown curls were sure to make some girls swoon. That was not mentioning the wealth the guy had on his body. A silver watch, the best kind of designer shoes. He was likely on Riley and Rhyne’s level of wealth, if not on Enariss’s.

And quite likable as well. His sentences flowed naturally, and he reminded Demund of a celebrity. Perhaps that was why he’d been so familiar.

Eventually, the bus arrived, and they loaded all of their belongings inside before entering. It was something Demund had never ridden in his life. There were screens for each seat that was as big as a couch. Not to mention how roomy the vehicle was. They were the only students, and only two adults accompanied them, excluding the bus driver. For Demund, this was a luxury he’d never experienced before.

He wanted to share his excitement with Enariss, but she’d already fallen into a conversation with Edan. So he simply leaned against his seat, reviewing his presentation on his phone.

Oh, how excited he was. He couldn’t wait until they arrived.

The bus rode towards Zone 1, and Demund knew that his life was about to change drastically.