Through the ages, I have learned that the unexpected is a constant companion, always lurking in the shadows, ready to unveil itself in whatever form it may take, be it the sweet surprise of delight or the bitter despair of disappointment. It is a reminder that this mortal realm is an ephemeral canvas full of endless possibilities.

However, one thing that I never could have prepared for is the scene that awaited me upon entering our classroom.

There, seated at the front of the classroom with a smirk on her face, was a figure that I had thought had already left me alone - the angel of death, Dabria.

My heart raced as I took in the sight of her, as if she had intentionally positioned herself there for me to see. I knew that Dabria and I were destined to face off against each other at some point, but I never could have imagined that it would be in this setting, in my own classroom. What was she planning?

Trying to keep my nerves in check, I made my way to my seat, determined not to let Dabria see me sweat. But then, to my surprise, she turned to me and offered a friendly smile. "Hey Aurora, long time no see," she said.

I was caught off guard by her greeting. I had expected hostility or mockery, not a friendly greeting. But I couldn't let my guard down. I knew that, like other angels, Dabria was cunning and manipulative, and I couldn't trust her.

Forcing a smile, I replied, "Hey. Yeah, it's been a while." I knew that I needed to be prepared for whatever Dabria had in store for me. I couldn't let her gain the upper hand. I would have to be ready to fight, no matter what.

Despite my unease, I tried to keep my demeanor friendly and composed, flashing a sweet smile as I asked, "Can we talk? Just the two of us?"

***

"Your hands are so soft, Aurora."

I was taken aback when Dabria suddenly reached out and grabbed hold of my hand, her fingers tight around my own as I tried to push her away from me. I struggled to break free, but she only tightened her grip further. "I want it to be like this until we get back to the classroom," she said.

"I don't want to," I retorted, attempting to wrench my hand away again. But she merely pulled me closer to her, her hands coming to rest on my waist. I was momentarily caught off guard, struggling to process what was happening.

I was completely bewildered. What could this angel be thinking? It was only the second time we had met, and I never would have imagined that I had left such a lasting impression on her for her to behave so affectionately towards me. I tried to break free from her grasp, but she was too strong, her strength far greater than the bottle I was using as a weapon.

"You're..." She looked straight into my eyes, her gaze intense. "...empty."

"Probably," I replied sarcastically, trying once more to push her away. She released me, but still held onto my hand as we made our way to an empty classroom. I quickly closed the door behind us, turning to face her as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Why are you here?" I finally confronted, but instead of answering, she suddenly appeared behind me, her hands resting on my body as if she was guiding me to dance.

"Don't you find it odd?" she ignored my question, her movements forcing me to follow along as she positioned my head on her shoulder. I couldn't comprehend what this girl was trying to do. If anyone saw us like this, they would surely think that there was something going on between us. Was she trying to seduce me? Did she not realize that gestures of this type were seen by mortals as intimate?

"I can read minds, including memories. Nothing gets past me, whether they be angels, demons, or any other creature. But you, from the first time I met you..." she said, turning to face me once more. She leaned her forehead against mine and closed her eyes. "...I can't sense anything from you. I can't read you at all."

The thoughts from last night came rushing on me. Dabria may not be able to read my memories, but her words perfectly described the turmoil I had inside of me. If only things were different, her ability would be useful to help me find my summoner who had called me here. But it seems like it is impossible, even for her.

I shrugged, trying to deflect the conversation. "Maybe it's the vessel that I'm using. It's already empty."

She smiled, her fingers gently stroking my cheek. "I can feel the remnants of magic left in your mind," she said, turning me in a circle as we danced. "Someone removed your memories from you."

My brow furrowed in confusion. "Nonsense."

How could I be the one manipulating memories, only to become the victim myself?

It was impossible.

However, I suddenly remembered the vision that I had the other day during the orchestra performance. I looked directly in her eyes and held both of her shoulders. "Then, be honest with me, Angel of Death. Have we known each other for a long time?"

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I noticed her body became stiff, her eyes fixating on me for a while. She looked like she had something more on her mind, as if she had something else she wanted to say. Even if the answer that she gave me is silence, it is enough for me to conclude that she really knows something about me.

I was about to ask her one more time, but before I could even utter another word, the door to the classroom was suddenly thrown open with force.

"Looks like someone is here to fetch you." I heard Dabria said, her smile replaced with a smirk.

I followed her gaze and saw Raphael, his expression serious and concerned as he looked at Dabria with a fierce glare. "What did you do to her?" he asked, his voice laced with anger as he stepped forward and gently pulled me away from Dabria. "Leave her alone."

Despite Raphael's accusations, Dabria didn't seem to be fazed. She gave me a sly grin, as if trying to downplay the situation. "Calm down," she said, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "I just wanted to see her again. I'm good company, right?"

I didn't respond, instead choosing to follow Raphael and left the empty classroom. But as we stepped out into the hallway, I couldn't help but glance back at Dabria one last time before we were out of her sight. Her words from earlier echoed in my mind.

"I can feel the remnants of magic left in your mind. Someone removed your memories from you."

I lifted my gaze to Raphael, trying to gauge his reaction to everything that had just happened. His face was still filled with concern, and his body was tense, ready to spring into action at any moment. The way he held my wrist was tight, as if he had no intention of letting me go, and I couldn't help myself but wince, doubts emerging once again and filling my head with more questions.

"Wait," I mumbled, stopping both of us. Raphael looked back at me with his upset crimson red eyes. I pulled my hand from his grasp and turned my back against him. "I want to be alone."

Raphael frowned. "What? But why–"

"Do not follow me," I commanded, not even looking back as I began to move in the opposite direction.

***

As I made my way home, someone suddenly stood before me, stopping me in my tracks. When I lifted my gaze, I saw a woman with long, brown hair that is styled in soft curls and falls past her shoulders, and big, brown eyes. There is no one on this campus who does not know her. It was Tiffany, the belle of the crowd. The first aspect that I noticed about her was her smile. It was warm and inviting, but something about it seemed a little off. It was as if she was hiding something behind it.

My forehead curled up. The last time that we saw each other was when I had reaped her pain, and I do not see any logical reason for us to meet like this again, more importantly, for her to be this friendly with me.

I was about to pass by her when she suddenly grabbed my arm. "Aurora," she called my name, walking closer. Her voice was soft, but there was an undercurrent of something else that I couldn't quite place. "I've been meaning to talk to you about..." She leaned closer, making sure that I'm the only one who could hear words. "..how you comforted me during the worst time of my life with Brent."

I hesitated, uneasy with the sudden turn of events. "It was nothing," I said, trying to extract my hands from her grasp.

But Tiffany didn't seem to notice my discomfort. Her eyes were bright and full of energy, and she was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. "As a token of gratitude," she continued, her voice low and pleading, "would you be interested in having a cup of coffee with me? Just for a little while?"

"Tiffany..." I finally removed her grip on me, perplexed by her actions. "I'm tired. I'd like to rest first."

I'm not even lying. I feel so overwhelmed with all the things that I had experienced recently and I just want to contemplate on my bed and meditate.

Tiffany was persistent and she even looked at me with her puppy eyes. "Please?"

As I was about to decline Tiffany's offer, I became aware of the scrutinizing gazes of those around us. Tiffany's esteemed reputation on campus was well-known, and I knew that my response to her would not go unnoticed. With a heavy sigh, I resigned myself to accepting her offer, trying my best to present a composed demeanor as I returned my attention to her.

"All right, your treat then," I suggested, hopeful that a simple cup of coffee would be enough to appease her and allow us to go our separate ways.

A bright smile spread across her face and she nodded. "Thank you, Aurora. That would be lovely."

***

Tiffany and I had been walking for a while, strolling down the tree-lined street and chatting about nothing in particular. I couldn't help but feel like we had been walking for much longer than the few minutes that had actually passed. Despite the inviting aroma of coffee from the nearby shop, the girl didn't seem to notice that and continued walking, as if her plan wasn't for us to have a cup of coffee. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, and I found myself slowing to a stop, trying to discern the source of my mounting suspicion.

"Tiffany..." I called out to her. "Is this the right way?"

She stopped walking, but she did not bother to look at me. "Of course," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion.

I did the first thing that I thought of and simply retreated. "Sorry, I changed my mind. I don't think I can join you now. I really want to rest. Goodbye," I said, turning to leave, but I noticed a shift in her demeanor. She slowly turned her head to look at me and stared at me sharply with the corners of her eyes. There was a cold, calculating look in her gaze that sent shivers down my spine.

Without warning, she dropped to one knee, her hands pressed against the ground. The earth around us seemed to quiver in response, as if it were alive and attuned to her touch. I took an instinctive step back, my mind racing to make sense of the impossible scene unfolding before me.

I struggled to find my voice as fear washed over me. "W-what..." I managed to whisper, my heart pounding in my chest. Instinctively, I reached for my grimoire, the weight of its ancient pages a reassuring presence in my hands. I stood tall, ready to defend myself and those around me against whatever danger lurked ahead.

She smiled coldly and stood up. "You don't deserve to live, Aurora," she said, disappearing in thin air.

I gasped when she suddenly appeared behind my back. My hands moved instinctively, preparing to cast a defense spell, but my strength instantly left me when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest. I looked down and my eyes widened. A dagger was plunged into my skin, the cold metal biting into my flesh. Pain seared through my body, stealing my breath and blurring my vision. Despite my impaired sight, I could clearly make out the symbols etched into the blade.

Body, life, soul.

"Psyche..."

She brushed her hair behind her ear and smiled sweetly, a cruel glint in her eyes. "The one and only."