I woke up to see countless trees surrounding me. I saw the path that I originally came down upon.

It was a nightmare, a terrible, terrible nightmare… I thought as my mind traveled back to Nyx and Amon. Gods couldn’t possibly exist… right?

Thinking about the “dream” I had, I remembered the God’s Curse or whatever Nyx said before she left. The pain had felt so real. It felt as if trace amounts of that pain was still with me.

While continuing to wonder about the dream, I realized that I needed to get back to the academy. Who knows how long I was asleep for?

Knowing that I needed to return to the academy and proceeded to run down the path leading and then realised I would need to have a story to cover up the fact that I was gone for quite a while.

Well, I can always say I fell and hit my head and I only recently woke up.

Within several minutes the academy was in sight. I figured that I would just act like I had a headache until I was questioned. I could get to my room from the main hall or the entrance to the hall my room was in. I figured the main hall would be easiest so I headed in that direction, which unbeknownst to me, I should have avoided it.

The minute I walked through the main hall’s doors I saw the Headmaster talking to a person behind one of the desks. He immediately halted talking and turned in my direction. He then proceeded to walk in my direction, looking quite angry.

“Luc, where have you been?” He said with his voice full of seriousness.

“Well, sir, I was running in the forest and I accidently fell and hit my head. I must’ve been out for quite a while before I woke up, my head throbbing with pain.” I said while grabbing on to my head and acting like it hurt me. I really could care less about lying if it kept me out of trouble.

The Headmaster stood there quietly for a few seconds, as if suspicious of my story.

“Well, don’t let it happen again.” He said with a small, resigned sigh. “But I can’t let you get off scot-free, instead of giving you the option of choosing your 7th class, I shall do it myself.”

“I understand sir.” I said. I really didn’t care about that, and I doubt, knowing the headmaster, he would give a useless class.

“Okay, well off you go.” He said while turning his back to me and heading back towards the desk.

Unknown to me at the time, the Headmaster knew full well what happened. He knew about Nyx and Amon. He knows who I am. And most importantly he knew who the ringleader was.

He knew the one who pulled all of them strings. He knew the one who believed that they had my life in their hands.

So off I went to my room, unsuspecting of what was happening behind the scenes.

It only took a few minutes to get to my room and realize that Michael was most likely still training.

I figured I would change into another set of clothing, not wanting to spend the rest of the day in the filthy cloths that were currently soaked in sweat.

The minute I removed my shirt I realised that something was wrong, devastatingly wrong.

I realised that my arms and parts of my torso were covered in long, twisting marks similar to burn scars. They wrapped around my arms and extended to the center of chest. They were a pale pink color and looked like they were engraved into my skin.

I was confused about how I had gotten them, until I realized that some of the pain in my so-called dream was the feeling of worms crawling throughout my body. Even though my eyes had never seen the worms, I feel quite certain that the marks were caused by that.

At any rate, I would have to make sure I always wore long sleeves or else people may be wondering where the marks came from.

After several moments of stunned silence after I realized those terrible events did take place with Nyx and Amon, I found I was confronted with the question of my escape from the pain and the cavern I had fallen into.

I recalled my final memories of being in the cavern but I can only remember the moment when I fell asleep, nothing else. I don’t remember all of my wounds suddenly healing.

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I continued to be befuddled by the questions until I reached into my pant’s pocket and retrieved the stone from which the scythe came and saw black streaks with a hint of purple running throughout the stone.

The stone must’ve prevented the curse from killing me by taking the curse into it.

Grrrrrrrrr….

I could only groan when my stomach began to grumble. I suppose I hadn’t eaten in quite a long time, so I finished getting dressed and headed to the dining hall.

After getting my meal I went to find a place to sit and saw Michael sitting at a table, so I figured I would go and sit by him.

“Hey Michael.” I greeted him s I sat down.

“Luc, you finally came back.” Michael said with his usual friendly smile. “I was beginning to get worried that something happened to you in the forest since you were missing for quite a while.”

“I just hurt my head a little. I suppose I was out a little while.” I said quietly.

“Did you manage to run at all before you were injured?” Michael asked inquisitively. I was happy he didn’t ask about my “injury.”

“Yes, I did.”

“You didn’t use your wings at all?” He asked raising an eyebrow.

“I may have for a little while….” I said quietly.

“I knew it. You just can’t follow directions, can you?” He said, teasing me. He had done things like this before, so I did not take offense to it.

“No, I suppose I can’t.” I replied.

“Michael, do you know when the classes start?” I was curious about this because it was getting quite boring in the academy, even with the countless books to read.

“Classes don’t start for another two weeks, but that means a lot more student will be coming to the academy soon. They tend to come a few weeks in advance.” Michael replied quite happily.

“Why are you so happy? Do you know someone who is going to be coming to the academy?” He always acted happy, but concerning the kids coming in, he seemed especially excited.

“No reason.” he replied with a mischievous smile.

Obviously something was up, but I inquired no further and spent the rest of dinner discussing what happened while I was gone. Nothing of importance.

----------------------------------------

The next several weeks were spent reading books meant to prepare me for my classes and watching the countless students stream in through the gates. I also continued to run through the woods, increasing my stamina. I made sure to avoid the part of the forest I fell into the cavern

Nothing interesting happened inside the academy, aside from a few fights between incoming students.

The first day of classes finally came about and I viewed my schedule with a bit of apprehension and curiosity.

1. Basic Principles of Purifying Magic

2. Basic Principles of Materializing and Using Magic

3. Magic in Combat

4. Magic in Support

(Lunch)

1. Weapon Class (Scythe)

2. Runes: How to Read and Use Them

3. Study of Religious Texts and Other Writings