Blue skies, white clouds. The wind breezes through calmed as the sunshine upon the lands.

It's been three days that Alice and the group left the maze and its island. Eric breakthrough all his efforts and energies just to contact the headquarters. Picking them up as the skies were cleared and the giant was crushed.

Stephanie, King, and Kiva returned to the headquarters to report their missions since they are sector leaders. Hana, Eric, the girl with glasses and the middle-aged man are gathered together for treatment since they were injured the most asides from Sarah, who is still in deep treatment. While the priest returned to her church and everyone else was not to be found.

Only Alice still sleeps due to over-using her powers.

- Meeting Room of Headquarters -

A cubical room with soundproof walls surrounding them appears to Kiva's vision. A window that shows the map of the world. Eleven members sit around the roundtable on their movable chairs. Stephanie looking into her small mirror applying makeup, as King falls asleep with his head down on the table. Only Kiva pretends to listen to the small girl lecturing them. With a height and age around Sarah and Hana, she stood there pointing her laser pen on the world map.

"Attention! King, Kiva, and Stephanie!" She redirects her pen towards them.

"This is important!" She continued.

Kiva shakes King's shoulders waking him up, smiling at the blond haired girl.

"The atmosphere is becoming dangerous, we have reports showing many monsters going on a rampage. Especially those lower ranking ones. We need to find the source of this as soon as possible before it spreads towards the higher rankings." Her cold voice spreads a chill to the members.

"This is a serious matter, I want all sectors to send members to protect citizens in your own assigned cities and travel around to gather more information from different cities." She continued with her plan.

"If there aren't any questions, return to your sectors and Kiva stays. " She finishes her speech.

Stephanie closes her pocket mirror, with a gaze on to Kiva. "Be careful, who knows what this demon will do to you." She whispers to his ear.

Stephanie drags King away, leaving only Kiva and the short girl alone.

Exiting the door, these two decided to stay, placing their ears on the door.

Kiva stares into her eyes, as she stares back. With awkward silence going on for a minute, Kiva finally speaks. "Elizabeth... Did you need something?"

The girl approaches kiva slowly with small walks. Closing her hands together, making a small pouch on her face, turning her head away as if she was embarrassed.

"Umm... Are you free this Friday..." She speaks in a small voice.

Kiva expression turns blank, "Uhh?" He replies as he tilts his head.

She bites her lips as she tries to speak a little louder. "This Friday... Are you free...?"

Kiva smiled, laughing gently with his eyes upwards as if he was thinking. "Are you asking me out?" His voice reaches Stephanie and King's ears.

"No! Of course not! You idiot! I am.. I am going on a trip... for work! Just... wondering if you were available to come!" Her face turns red as her pitch rises.

Kiva smiles gently, his cold voice filled with warmth. "Sure, why not."

The door pushes open, Stephanie charged in as King fell to the ground with the sudden movement.

Stephanie smiled with an annoyed face, "Elizabeth, don't you think it's not fair that you are only bringing Kiva?."

Elizabeth replied back with the same expression. "I only need him." Her cold voice reaches Stephanie.

"I am coming too." Stephanie points to herself.

"Me too" King smiles as he lays on the ground.

Elizabeth lets out a deep sigh of frustration.

- Sector Seven -

Alice wakes up with a small pain all over her body. She realizes that she has returned to the platform of sector seven. Lifting herself up, she views herself in the mirror. Her expression surprised with the voice of Athena echoing into her mind,

"It's pretty sexy, fits you a lot," Athena commented.

"A purple mini-sleepshirt?... It's probably Katherine's..." Alice responds to Athena.

The sound of door knocking reaches her ears.

"Alice are you awake? It's Hana." Her voice vibrates through the door.

Noticing the doors are not locked, Alice replies her to come in.

The door pushes in, Hana and the rest of the group barges in. Speechless to see Alice showing her skin with her nightgown.

Alice stares at them as they stare back. "Hello?" She approaches them waving her hands in front of their eyes.

Hana regained her posture, "Alice you should wear something..." She turns her head away becoming red.

Alice scratched her head, replying with a smile as if she was apathetic towards showing her skin. "My uniform got ripped in the battle."

She scanned the room and located Katherine's spare uniform. A white blouse and blue blazers with mini-skirt like always. She looks towards the group with a small smile as she starts to pull down her mini-sleepshirt. She speaks with her charming voice. "Do you guys mind."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Hana's face turns red, forcing all of them to exit the room. Shutting it tight as she retreats outside.

"We will see you at the lobby room," Hana said.

"Alice... seems different..." Eric notices.

"She wasn't this laid-back... Did something happened to her?" He continues.

Hana sighs as she recalls her memories of Alice turning into that black demon. Thinking that might have affected her, she decided to keep it a secret. Sometimes, not knowing is better than telling them the truth, Hana thought in her mind.

"A lot has happened, let's just give her some time." Hana leads them to the lobby room.

As Alice gathers at the lobby room, they all sat down as if they are going to into a discussion.

"My name is Robert Scott and this girl is Oliva Taylor" The middle-aged man speaks. "We came from the University of Saria Kingdom" He continues.

He takes a deep look into Alice's eyes, "Would you like to study at this university? I have seen your abilities in the maze. I think it would be a great opportunity for you to learn to control your powers." Robert encourages with his large smile.

University was Alice's original plan when coming to this place. She wanted to learn more about the world and more knowledge about Athena as well. But as a member of Guardians, does she even have this obligation? She thinks to herself.

"Alice, I think its best for you to go. Meet some new friends and enjoy school life." Hana interrupts her thinking.

"I will think about it." Alice smiled.

Robert took out a card from his small canvas bag, handing it over to Alice as he speaks. "This is my business card, contact me whenever you consider joining."

Alice bows as thanks, taking the card with her as she reaches into the shower room.

"Sorry about that, she has been through a lot..." Hana apologizes to Robert and Olivia.

Robert laughs gently, "Don't worry about it. Kids will always be kids." He leaves as Olivia follows them towards the dock.

Hot water pouring down from the shower head. The sound of water dripping covers the pathing of her breathing.

"Consider of going?" Athena's voice echoes into her mind.

"I don't know, after what I did to Hana. I really don't know. If leaving like this would be fine." Alice sighs.

"Your demon blood and the berserker stone. It wasn't your fault." She tries to convince Alice.

"Powerful tools that will allow you to become stronger, once you master them." She continues.

Alice lifts her head upwards, feeling the hot warm immersing her body. Feeling rested and relaxed as she leaves the shower. Stepping out to the shower room, she finds Hana sitting there as if she was waiting for quite some time.

Alice stares into Hana's eyes, knowing that she couldn't escape the guilt. She reaches for the towel, covering her body as she sits beside her.

"Hana... I am sorry." Alice speaks.

Hana made a small smile with her gentle voice, she lets out a small laugh.

"It's alright Alice, I know it wasn't your fault. You didn't actually attack me." She scratches her head.

"Alice, go to the university. Learn how to control your strengths and come back and help our sector. I never have seen a person with your talent and potential, come back when you are stronger. We need you by our side." Hana gently speaks to Alice.

Alice's eyes wavered, she embraces Hana to her chest. "I'm sorry, I will come back stronger, I promised."

- 3 days later -

Alice stands in front of the gates, with her blue student blazer with a white blouse and mini-pants. Apparently, University of Saria's uniform was similar to Guardian's uniform, there isn't much of a change except for its logos.

This school is separated into main campuses and sub-campuses. Alice is enrolled in the largest one, Campus of Saria, named after the Kingdom itself. This school is known for its technology, battle competitions, and knowledge throughout the whole Kingdom.

Since Alice is only at the age of adulthood, she is enrolled as a first-year student.

She enters the doors of the campus along with other first-year students. The ancient building made of the prettiest materials and the beautiful lights shine down with harmony making the place peaceful and relaxing.

Stairways leading to doors after doors as if it was an endless aisle, Alice gazed her eyes on the group leader. An upper-class female who was responsible for taking the freshmen on a tour. She raises her hands pointing to all the different objects and clarifying what they were as they continued walking through the campus.

Alice noticed small creatures flying above them, she activities her wisdom eye as white lines of data appears showing her information on these creatures.

The tour guide notices Alice staring at above, she points to them and describes those creatures with her cute voice. "Those are messengers, they send letters inside and outside the school. You see, inside the campus, all signals are blocked. Therefore, you won't be able to communicate through your devices. This is to enforce students to cut out outside relationships, only this way, students can focus on their studies and training."

"You should all get one, as they can do more than just sending messages. For example, assisting you in alchemy, forging, crafting, and even battling. Of course, they will cost you a lot." She smiles as she finishes.

"How do we get one?" One of the students speaks.

"Idiot, you need to buy it! The higher the level of these, the more they cost." Another replied.

"I read that you can purchase them in the school marketplace!" A female student speaks out.

"All right, all right! Attention!" The tour guide shouted as the bell rings.

The group rushes to their classes, bumping into one and another. While Alice still staying there, not understanding what is going on. As a homeschool student, she has no actual classroom experience. All she could do is search for her classroom number.

She walks towards the upper classmate, "I am looking for room number 2045, can you take me there?" Alice questions.

She smiles, walking toward one of the staircases as Alice follows. Turning around corners another, they finally reach a green old steel door.

"I am afraid I can only take you this far." She immediately runs backs and leaves Alice alone as if she was feared of this door.

Alice ignoring her, turning the knobs and pushing the door open. A huge blast of wind breeze through her face. She steps forward on to the small cliff as if she was on the mountains. She scans her eyes towards the view, a bridge connecting two clifts together and another door with the markings of 'Room 2045' on it.

She stared at the bridge with a surprised but unbelievable expression.

The bridge was a single-plank bridge made of broken old lumber. It is approximately 10 meters long as it waves against the wind. She couldn't see anything underneath, but she could hear a small noise of water crashing from below.

Alice decided it would be stupid to walk the bridge. With Athena's powers, taking her inside that room was not a problem.

As Alice started to chant, - Transfer - her body dissolving into silver particles of matter, unlike Kiva's purple colour. But before her body dissolves completely, a blast of wind excels behind her. She felt a strong hand grabbing left arm carrying her into the air.

She turns her vision around, a man wearing the same school uniform appears to her sight. Black feathers spread as his wings, carrying him into the skies. He passes through the bridge landing in front of the door, releasing Alice from his hands.

He turned towards her, "Hey beautiful, haven't seen you around, new student?" He smiles with his gentle voice.

Alice regains her balance and agitated her mind, looking at this black-hair young man. Before she could speak, a female's voice was heard behind their backs.

Alice turns her head, a pink long hair girl showed up, she kicks the young man behind his back, crushing him into the doors. "Stop flirting and get inside." She made an annoyed face.

The door forced opened by the impact, slamming into the ground. Alice breathes heavily as she enters the room.

The classroom was small with thirty wooden desks and plastic chairs. White walls covering the cubical room with windows showing the outside view. A blackboard full of scratches and drawings with twelve students messing around. Everyone turns there attention to Alice, being the newest member of the class, she easily became their target.

A crimson scarlet hair girl stopped drawing with her chalk. She turns her body toward Alice. She had a similar body type as Alice, but instead of a uniform, she had latex bodysuit from her chest to her legs. Only revealing her white upper arms as skin. She grins at Alice as soon as their eyes matched each other.

She flips her chalk into the air, she then twists her body catching the chalk and throwing it towards Alice.

Alice instinctively catches the incoming chalk as it approaches her cheeks.

"Welcome to Classroom 2045." She speaks with her majestic voice as she grins at Alice.