School was boring. Why did it have to be so boring? Couldn't they teach something interesting for once?

Yes, Touji was part of the majority of the younger generation who found school dull and tedious. It's teaching methodologies in practice were not the issue, but rather the fact that the curriculum was limited to things he felt he didn't need. Every once and a while the teachers would rant about some special scenario that could potentially use whatever theorem or solution, often times so abstract that it made the argument even less believable.

-Besides, why do I even need to know who was the prime minister was twenty years ago?

He peered over Ryuunosuke's shoulder, who, as per the usual, had taken his shift for nocturnal recharging. A cold breeze casually slipped in through the nearby window, lightly turning the thin pages of his friend's notebook with its invisible hands. Touji gazed long fully, pondering the fact that there was so little waiting for him when he graduated. Life would be a continuous mountain range of ups and downs as soon as responsibility was laid on his shoulders. The act of imagining what not being a child made him tired. He wanted to go home. For what? Nothing. He didn't need a reason. It was just the place he felt the most comfortable. He didn't need to explore the world. He had his own. One with all the things he needed to be satisfied and one day he would have to leave that place and survive on his own. He just wanted to cherish the times he had now and nothing else.

-I guess I am a boring person.

He tore the corner piece from one of the pages of his notebook and sharpened his pencil's edge before writing down the word 'want'. It was indeed a word that bothered him. Not that he was greedy but much the opposite. He wanted things to stay the same but why did he feel guilty about it? Every other child has material things they want, so why didn’t he? This was sort of a disability he saw in himself. He didn’t want more and perhaps this would hold him back for life.

-Maybe I am greedy after all. I want what I can’t have, and that’s nothing.

The blaring sound of the bell was a welcomed signal.

-What the hell am I getting all cheesy for? This was such a dumb conversation with myself. Stop trying to find some sort of deeper meaning. Self, your corny.

"Class dismissed." The teacher declared.

"See you tomorrow, Touji." His classmate Ryuunosuke chirped, whipping his sleepy eyes off with his arm’s sleeve.

"Yeah." He replied, his eyes wandering elsewhere. He had track and field today, and he didn't like it. "I got some running to do. Gonna go beat my old record today." He said smiling.

"Awesome. See ya."

"Later."

Touji jumped down the two flights of stairs, landing flat footed before heading to the changing room. After swapping out his school uniform for gym wear, he slipped his shoes off and strapped his runners onto his feet.

-Dammit. The heel tabs are wearing out. I may need to buy a new pair later.

He pulled his hoodie over his track jersey and was off and out the entrance. The grass beside the gym was damp and cool, the dew wetting his soles and partly his socks. The wind passed through his hair, sending a chill up his spine. He approached the track and hurdled himself over on top of the ground. He stretched his quads and calves, loosening the muscles.

"Yo, Touji." His teammate Shunya greeted, whipping the sweat from his brow with a towel.

"Mornin'" Touji replied.

"How's it feel knowing your almost as fast as me?"

Touji laughed. "Don't get ahead of yourself. I've got a lot more training to do before I reach that point."

"You've got this. If you're putting in the effort, you'll get there in no time." The vice president of the track club encouraged.

"Thanks."

-I don’t see why I need to be as fast as you.

"Alright, we've got the 800m first. Touji your up."

Touji paced up to the starting line, his heart beating at a steady pace. The sun was blinding, his eyes squinting and his breathing becoming deeper.

"Ready."

-I hate running.

"Set."

-I don’t want to try today.

"Go!"

The whistle sounded.

The wind pushed passed his face, his lungs sucking in air. His legs ached as he quickly made loop after loop. Finally the finish line neared.

-I hate being expected to improve.

Rain began falling. The ground became soggier and softer. Touji could feel his shoes sticking to the soaking turf.

"You're not gonna beat your last time if ya don't speed up!" the coach shouted from the sidelines.

-I don't care. Remind what I get out of that again.

His body grew heavy. He slowed down.

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-It's not worth it today.

His foot caught on the pavement, his body tumbling forward to the ground, the wet dirt staining his clothes.

"Dammit." He grumbled.

"Are you okay Touji?" Shuuya dashed over to his side and offered his hand, pulling Touji up.

"Sorry, I'm a little off today." He apologized.

"You should take the day off if you're not feeling well. It's raining anyway, so we'll be packing up."

"Sounds good." He rubbed his knees in an attempt to shake the dirt off.

-I faked falling today too, huh? Why are the nice people so easily fooled.

***

Touji dashed forward as the sword blade descended upon him. He kicked his leg out to one side, narrowly dodging the projectile as he swung his right dagger towards Foss' neck. Slashing with all of his force, he tightened his stomach in anticipating of a follow up blow on his side. However, Touji was greeted with an odd sensation. The knife contacted some sort of friction and slowed, a trickle of blood dripping down Foss' throat.

-It hit him?!

"Gah." Touji released his grip, his body stumbling backwards. The boy began choking as his hands clung around his neck as desperate gasps for air were interrupted with low gargles and gulps.

Touji panicked, the blood from Foss' throat dripping down his clothes and onto the floor.

Suddenly his body started glitching and flashing as it morphed and shifted like a bug in a computer game.

-What's going on?

Without warning the shifting stopped. Long pink hair drifted down past the Foss’ shoulders and the crackling voice of the boy become higher and softer in pitch.

"Are-are you okay?"

A feminine face peered up at him, tears streaming down a face as it pleaded for it’s life.

"H-elp?" The girl cried.

"Claria?" Touji's body shivered.

Before she could respond the ground beneath them began to boil and melt into a black goop, Touji's shoes sinking into the sticky tar.

"What's going on? Why is this happening?" He fell to his knees, the substance burning into his skin and clothing. The ghost began shrieking, the black slime molding into a dozen arms, engulfing her legs from head to toe and pulling her in.

"Claria!" Touji extended his hand, his feet digging into the floor as his shoes and pants were eaten away.

The girl disappeared into the black mass, bubbles surfacing as the air in her lungs was slowly replaced by the tar.

"Help!" Touji screamed. "Foss!"

"..."

"Fairial!"

"..."

"Hello?!"

"..."

"Somebody!"

"..."

Suddenly a stone chair began to rise out of the ooze, the liquid trickling off to reveal a figure so dark and devoid of color that not even the light in the room could illuminate its face. The figure was robed in shadows, with a crown made completely of tall black spikes, resembling that of the jaws of a beast. It’s poster cold and full of judgement while its head rested on its fist. Its eyes opened abruptly revealing two glowing red orbs.

Touji gasped, his mouth filling with the burning liquid upon every breath. He suddenly froze with fear. The figure had moved. A line appeared a few inches below the nose. The monster smiled. Its teeth were sharp and serrated. It's jaw large and full of jagged edges, the corners of his mouth reaching so far that it almost past its eyes.

The terror overtook him. His fighting ceased for there was nothing he could even dream of doing to defend himself. He life was at this demon’s mercy. Maybe he was screaming, or maybe gasping for air. It didn't matter. He was alone. Just him and his fear.

***

Cold sweat acclimated over his nose and chin.

"Ahhhhhh!"

"What is going on?"

Touji lifted his trembling hand, his muscles aching and his skin sore. He was in the infirmary, definitely not the most welcoming ceiling to have awoken too with its white-washed walls and terribly hard beds but at least it was somewhat of a familiar scene. He turned his head, Selkia lying on the bed beside him.

"Are you good?!" Her voice was frantic.

He nodded. “Now I am.”

"No, you're not." She retorted.

He felt a tear drop down his cheek. His body shivering. "Ah, I think you might be right. I’m not okay.” He quivered, his voice cracking and broken. “I've never been so scared in my life." He buried his hands into his knees.

Selkia opened her mouth to say something, but it seemed whatever she was about to say, she suddenly had second thoughts about. Instead Touji felt the boards beside him bend and she sat beside him and touching her hand softly over his back.

"..." He stayed there, his heart beating rapidly, his body exhausted and his mind confused.

"I put your life in jeopardy awhile back. I should have brought you to the undergrounds but I foolishly thought we could make it there faster by rooftop. I'm sorry."

"Nobody uses the word foolish anymore." Touji remarked, still refusing to move his head.

Selkia paused, staring at him bewilderedly.

"Is-is that so... are you really focusing on that right now?"

"I don't know." He replied, his voice quite hoarse. "It made me feel better, though. Thank you."

She smiled to herself, "I heard Fairial chewed you out the other day?"

“Yeah. Did she do you too? Because it doesn’t seem like you're the type to apologize.”

"That was awfully rude to the Onee-san that is trying to cheer you up." Selkia giggled, as she leaned back, staring thoughtfully at the roof.

Touji suddenly stood up, clutching his fists as a new look of determination had taken hold of his face.

"I can't let something like this happen again."

"That's the spirit." Selkia smiled.

"I need to talk to Fairial."

Selkia replied with a concerning look, "I'm sorry, she's out on business." Selkia interjected, "But don't worry. She'll be back by the new moon."

"I don’t know when that will be but fine. I'm not waiting that long." He said bluntly, turning and throwing his cloak over his shoulders. "I'm going to find Foss." He proceeded to slip into his shoes and marched out the door.

"Wait-" Selkia called out.

He stopped.

"Who... Who are Odja and Claria?"

Touji's expression darkened. He pondered over her question. There was a feeling of wanting to return to that time. The days that were light and cheery. The days he shared hardships with those he cared about. A place he felt comfortable.

-That's why I have this aching feeling in my chest. Why didn’t I realize it sooner?

At last, he made up mind and without turning answered in a light manner.

"Family. There my family." With that he left the room, his cloak trailing behind him.

-I will get your daughter back Odja. It’s the least I could do.

He peered through the hallway, the flickering torches casting shadows down the hall.

"Foss!" He called out, his voice echoing off the walls.

"You called?" A familiar voice sounded from behind.

"Help me train." Touji declared, his eyes locked forward.

Foss' expression never changed. The overbearing grin that stretched from ear to ear had at this point almost become a permanent character trait.

"Thought ya'd never ask."

The two descended the staircase, Touji's knuckles white, his fingers gripping the banister tightly.

"We're going ta try something new."