After that, we were assigned our dorm rooms. They were very similar to the guest rooms Sophy and I had been staying at. After all, we wouldn’t spend that much time inside our rooms. Inside the small closet, there were uniforms for our use supplied by the academy. Looking at the uniforms they consisted of a blue knee-length skirt, long-sleeved white button shirt and blue and white striped tie. As for the footwear its a pair of black boots with thigh-high white socks. There is also a blue coat with the academy’s coat of arms but that one is optional.

I am not much of a skirt person. I don’t have a particular problem with them, I just feel more comfortable with shorts but whatever. Inside our rooms, there were also our student’s cards. With them, we can access different facilities like the cafeteria and the library. Just like the adventurer’s guild card they are attuned to us so no one else can use them. Now I understand why they asked for my measurements and a drop of blood when enrolling for the tests.

Since the rooms are for a single person I won’t get to experience having a roommate. However, the rooms don’t have personal bathrooms, instead, there is a shared large bathroom for the house. There is also a shared kitchen but since there is the cafeteria I think it doesn’t get much use. The house has three floors with the first floor being a shared area and the other two are students’ rooms. From how big the house is and how packed the rooms are I think there should be around fifty students per house, maybe more.

While thinking about this and that I decided to wear one of the uniforms to check out how I look with it. As I thought it doesn’t fit me well, or that may be just my preconceived image of myself. After checking myself out for a while I decided to unpack my stuff which wasn’t much. Most of it are things I had bought here in Shayu while waiting for the entrance tests. Also, Naru and Pyrka which were inside the space-bag all this time.

After I was done the sun had started to set, not because I took too long but because it had already been late when I started. I didn’t feel tired nor sleepy but since I had nothing better to do I decided to lay in bed while analyzing what I had learned today. Actually, today’s class was just an introduction to the method of teaching. In fact, our own curriculums were inside our rooms too. They had different classes we would take alongside their respective classrooms and times.

Looking carefully at the curriculum there were empty spots which I am guessing are for the elective classes. Even though they are empty it doesn’t mean they can stay empty. We have to accomplish a certain amount of credits to pass the semester. So let’s say I don’t add any electives, in that case, I would need a perfect score in all obligatory classes to pass. All of this was explained by miss Margaret on the spot after telling us about our curriculums waiting in our rooms.

All of this reminds me a lot of how university was described to me by my older cousins. To think that I would be assisting uni in another world. With a smile laugh, I closed my eyes enjoying my memory of this first day of uni. Yes, even that guy peeing his pants, that was funny. Now that I think about it that might cause trouble later but whatever, I will deal with it when it comes.

I slowly drifted asleep and I dreamed. I was floating in endless darkness as if the notion of existence itself was gone. I am the only thing inside this empty space, or I was since not long after I saw something else. In the distance, an island with exuberant plant life floated softly in this endless empty space. Looking carefully I could see the plants moving and changing, like watching the process of evolution happening at an amazing speed right in front of my eyes.

There were also some small animals and insects which displayed the same behaviour. Their bodies changed, growing new limbs or losing old ones and all of this looked so natural and majestic. My body slowly drifted towards the island and after a while, I softly landed on it. Touching the plants I could feel them changing right there and then. All of this felt so familiar despite being the first time I am here. It felt cosy for some odd reason.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I began walking through this strange land and as I did, this odd feeling of belonging grew. I felt as if something that I had long lost was finally found and then I saw it. Somewhere on the island, there was a dome made out of the ever-changing plant life. However, looking inside it all I could see was a dead space. The earth inside was a sickly grey as ash slowly rose from it disintegrating mid-air. The Dome is about five meters in radius and inside of it, there was someone.

Her hair is black, like the emptiness of the space that surrounds this island, flowing by itself as if she were submerged in water. Her iris’ are black too with a beautiful golden ring which made them look like black holes that would eat and destroy anything. Her skin a sickly pale white like a perfect piece of marble. Her body figure is thin and looks delicate giving her the experience of a carefully crafted porcelain doll. The beautiful black and red dress that adorned her body only helped to emphasise her beauty.

My heart began beating faster and faster the longer I looked at her. A feeling of longing with a ting of despair mixed in assaulted my whole being. Worst of all was the smile she gave me, Her thin pale lips forming a slight curve that sent an indescribable warmth through my body. My emotions were in disarray and thinking had become difficult as an urge to hold her had taken control over my body.

I extended my hand, passing through the wall of changing flora, entering into the dead zone that surrounded her. My skin soon turned to dust followed after by my muscles, By the time my hand was inside up to my wrist even my bones had started to disappear. It didn’t hurt at all however, no matter how I tried to use my soul ability the wounds would not heal. I retracted my hand and as I did it went back to normal.

I was confused and couldn’t understand a thing. This place this person, everything feels so familiar yet so distant and it hurts. It’s not physical pain but something that I feel inside my soul. As if I had finally reunited with something and someone I was never meant to leave. Maybe she saw my confusion, maybe she found my reaction funny, whatever the case, that person giggled. Her voice sent me a new wave of emotions I don’t dare to describe, however, I will say that above all else, it made me happy.

“You visit again. It’s been quite long since the last one hasn’t it”

As she spoke memories flooded my mind. All those times I had talked with her in the past that had been forgotten came back to me. Remorse and anger came over me for forgetting. I hated myself for not being able to remember her after waking up all those times and soon after a new emotion appeared. Fear, I feared to forget her again, to forget this place. I won’t forget this time! No matter what, even if it kills me I won’t forget again! Never!

“I-I am sorry, I forgot, I am truly so-”

“It’s fine, you are a mortal now after all. It would be too extreme for me to ask for you to keep your soul memories. What matters is that you are here, and your soul is finally strong enough for us to hold a conversation. That makes me happy”

“Erm, I am sorry. I am trying to remember but I can’t so, could you please tell me who are you?”

Her smile was the same as before however I could see it in her eyes. A deep sadness like no other. Looking at her eyes made my chest hurt as if someone had taken a hold of it while squishing it with all their strength.

“I guess it’s fine telling you. I am Thana, one of the four original beings of existence. I am the one that controls death. It’s a pleasure meeting you Amelia”

“Thana? Original being of existence? This is a bit hard to understand. I thought death was just, you know, dying”

“You wouldn’t be wrong in thinking like that either. You could say that all things that die come to me so they can die. I know it might be hard to understand through a mortal’s mind so don’t put much thought into it if you don’t want a migraine”

She laughed softly before offering me that smile again. Her eyes looked at me endearingly as if I am someone super important to her. Similar to how a lover looks at their loved one. I couldn’t help but feel happy as a smile scaped me. If I had I mirror I could be able to see that I had the same expression as her right now.

I remember that I fell asleep, however, this didn’t feel like a dream. I understood all of this is real somehow. I didn’t understand where I was or how I got here but I did know that I don’t want to leave. This person, Thana, I feel attached to her for reasons I don’t understand. However, remembering our previous conversations, if listening to her can be considered that, I couldn’t help but have many questions.

“Thana, before you said that you had been waiting for me for a long time and that you would wait for me if necessary for longer. I don’t understand that I was born about twenty-four years ago. Can you see the future or something? I want to understand”

“In that case, I will need to tell you a long story and it begins with you and me, alongside Cronos and Giebo”