Arnos and Erik both turned their heads to look at the source of the sound. Standing at the gate was Marcus, who had been wearing the same outfit as the previous day—a white shirt, black pants, and formal shoes. His brown hair wasn't combed and looked messy.
He walked towards Arnos and Erik. "Seras had called for you in the library," Marcus said as he looked at Arnos. He then turned his head towards Erik, stretching his hand for a handshake.
"I am Marcus Levile, Mr Erik," Marcus said with a small smile.
"It's nice to meet you, Marcus," Erik replied with a smile. He withdrew his hand after a brief shake.
Glancing at Arnos, Erik added, "We should get going, or Seras would be pissed at us."
Arnos nodded at this. "Yes, and if possible please lead the way," Arnos said in a suggestive tone with a small hesitant smile.
Erik led the way inside the dorm, entering through the western gate. Arnos and Marcus carefully followed him a step behind.
"Is Princess Emily awake?" Arnos questioned Marcus as they walked inside the dorm.
"Ah, she is still asleep," Marcus replied. "She is, or at least was kind of the more sleeping type from what I remember."
Was? Why does he have doubts about it? Aren't they like super close? Arnos questioned himself as he heard Marcus's words.
Arnos didn't think much about it and looked around the main hall as they reached there. Erik walked towards the right side of the main hall and stopped in front of a black door.
This door resembles the other doors in the dorm, Arnos said in his mind as he looked at the black door with a golden knob.
Erik turned the door's knob, opening it, and walked inside. Marcus and Arnos followed him into the library.
Alisa and Seras were standing in front of the table. Alisa was holding a book, while Seras was holding a small black box in her hand.
Arnos looked at the library. It was rather basic in design—one large black table with wooden legs in the centre with four brown wooden chairs and two long shelves filled with books kept in two rows along the longer sides of the room.
"Arnos, come here," Seras said, gesturing for Arnos to come near her with her right hand.
Arnos walked towards Seras and Alisa, while Erik and Marcus stood next to the door.
Arnos glanced at the book, noticing its design. The title wasn't visible to him, but the cover was pitch black with a golden border.
Arnos turned his head to look at Seras. "So what exactly are you planning to do to me?" Arnos questioned.
"See, the part about cursing you was actually true," Seras said with a serious look. "But it's to help you. Alisa will be the one making a cursed article for you to wear," Seras said as she opened the black box, revealing a black, metallic bracelet with a small transparent crystal in the centre.
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"If you would wear this, it would get rid of your sense of pain," Seras added in a serious tone before glancing at Alisa and asking, "Isn't that right?"
"It should work like that, but it would take a lot of time for me," Alisa said, turning the page of the book she was holding.
"Oh please, Alisa, look at the boy; he's practically crying with happiness after finding out he could be cured," Seras said as she glanced at Arnos, narrowing her eyes while looking at his left hand.
Wait, do I need to cry? Arnos wondered. As he sneakingly put his left hand behind himself as he mumbled "envelope" in a whisper, letting his index finger burn for a brief moment.
A tear rolled down from each of his eyes due to the pain, giving Arnos a teary look. Marcus and Erik watched the scene unfolding with astonished expressions on their faces.
I've got to act, Arnos thought to himself. "Thanks, Alisa, for letting me know there's a chance I could rid myself of the pain my ability causes," he said with literal tears in his eyes and an emotional tone.
Alisa looked at Arnos and let out a tired sigh. "Fine, whatever. I'll do it for you, but you'll have to do me… five favours."
"Deal," Arnos replied without even thinking for a second.
Seras glanced at Arnos. "That was good quick thinking," she said with a small smile.
"What was quick thinking?" Alisa asked Seras, giving her a sideways glance.
"Oh, him accepting the five-favour deal. That... was quick thinking, wasn't it?" Seras said, looking at Alisa with a hesitant smile.
Before Alisa could say anything, Erik chimed in, "Yeah, it sure was. I mean, if it were Seras, she'd have given it an hour of thought or something before agreeing," he added in a sarcastic tone.
"Yeah, exactly," Seras said with a fake smile, nodding at Erik's comment.
"That I can agree with," Alisa nodded, looking at Erik. She set her book aside on the table and took the black box with the thin bracelet from Seras's hand. "Leave this to me for the day. I'll see what I can do," Alisa said. She then looked in the direction where Arnos and Marcus were standing. "I'd suggest you two head to Celera's building," she said with an instructive look.
"Do we have classes today?" Marcus asked in a surprised tone. "I thought our classes would start tomorrow," he added.
"You don't have classes today, but if I'm not wrong, your uniforms, fittings, as well as your wand and staff, will be provided to you."
"Can we get them customized?" Arnos asked, looking at Alisa. "I noticed Seras's staff is like a pseudo sword, and Erik's staff, well… it's just a staff."
"Just a staff," Erik mumbled in a disappointed low voice.