Chapter 5: Here it comes!

A few weeks have passed since the first day of training of Philomina with her mentor, Paimon, he is the leader of the idol group Seven Deadly Sins. And together with her other classmates, they met some of the group members as well; namely Zagan, Baalberith and Lugh. Although, Vian's mentor came from another idol group called the Seven Virtues and her mentor is Amon. Everyone became busy every since the principal dropped the announcement of their wizard examination. Right now, the mentors are having a meeting with the principal about their progress; so they left them with some assignments, to do research and training on their own.

Philomina, who is part of the gifted mortals class, is doing her research about the different elements. She discovered that her persona's ability can grow even more, by learning and practicing the different elements. According to her mentor, her persona could evolve into a different one, if she picks a different path onto her training; and Philomina learning this evolution about her persona, decided to take the other path. Which lead her right now to the central library of UMDA, doing research about the other elements about its history, background, uses and many more.

While looking through the bookshelves to look for more reference materials on her research, Philomina is lost in her thoughts about her mentor. She noticed that her mentor is close or rather 'too close' for her comfort. She remembered some stuff that happened between the two of them during her training; like caressing the back of her hand so gently like she was fragile porcelain doll, meeting up or stumbling each other around the campus that doesn't look or feels like a coincidence, and the way he stares at her during training.

'I get the staring part is alright cause he is observing me. But the way he treats me, somehow, it doesn't feel like he is my mentor. He's releasing this vibe that's like beyond or overboard.' She thought to herself trying to keep a stoic façade while having these mental thoughts. Maybe I'm not used to this kind of treatment is what Philomina came to conclusion to her dilemma right now, coming from a bad school environment during high school and now entering a university that goes even beyond from a 'normal' human comprehension.

"Well, I could just be thinking about this too much. I'll just focus on the task he gave me." She said to herself shrugging off the weird feeling that she is getting from her mentor. She placed down the books she got on a desk then looked around her and couldn't shake her amazement to the UMDA central library; a very spacious and an overwhelming sight to see, countless books placed on very tall bookshelves, a grand staircase at the center of the library and spiral staircases at the side to go up another level of the library, there are desks at the middle of the library for group study and there are also at the sides for those students who need more focus on their own research.

Philomina picked the desk, where there are only a few students are studying and its near a bookshelf, She sat down slowly on the chair, trying not to make a noise and then grabbing one book from the pile of books that she has. Suddenly, a big yet heavy sigh echoed near where she is seated. Confused, knowing to herself that she is the only one in the area and yet the heavy sigh echoed once again but this time with a loud bang on a table; it sounded like a pile of books dropped on the desk.

'Someone sure has a hard day.' She thought to herself while shaking her head and trying to focus on her own task but then another noise came again from the same direction but this time words came out from it; the person sounded so exasperated. Philomina noticed that the voice somehow is familiar, well its not her business, so she shrugged it off again and focused on the book that she is reading. Ten minutes later and the voice came back again,

"That mentor sure knows how to push buttons, huh?! And what did he meant by 'butterfly'?! The nerve! The audacity!" The voice hissed with frustration and this really caught Philomina's attention.

'Mentor? So, this means that this voice could be one of my classmate. But I couldn't pin point whose voice is it.' Philomina slowly turn around and got up from her seat and started to walk to the source of the voice and there she saw a girl with her head down on the desk with book surrounding her.

'White, long hair. This would mean...' Her thoughts trailed off when the girl looked up from the desk, thinking that she is being watched and there Yen is staring at Philomina and both girls staring at each other quietly, what a coincidence of being at the same place at the same time. No one tried to break the awkward silence between the two but then,

"Oh hey, I kind of heard a noise from my place and I heard 'mentor' and I thought that I should check who it was. I didn't expect it would be you Yen." Philomina explained herself while chuckling lightly and scratching her nape, it kind of became a habit of hers when she is explaining. Yen, still looking at Philomina then suddenly tears are slowly swelling up on her eyes and Philomina noticed this quickly and she said to her,

"H - Hey. Are you alright? Do you need any help?" She bent down near her classmate and then Yen took a deep breath and sharply exhaled, then she wiped her tears on her eyes. She looked at Philomina and smiled, somehow it looked like its forced and Philomina is not liking it one bit.

"Hey there Philomina. How about we do our tasks first then we can talk about it after?" She said to Philomina trying to keep the smile on her face. On the other hand, Philomina looking at her classmate; forcing and struggling to keep her smiling face in front of her. She sighed and stood up straight in front of Yen and she said,

"Alright. Let's finish our task first before talking about your problem. But before that, can you removing that fake smile of yours? Its hard to force a smile and you know that." Yen looked at Philomina with wide eyes and a shock expression, she chuckled lightly; being found out by her classmate is somewhat embarrassing.

"You got me Philomina. I will and thank you for checking up on me." She replied and Philomina nod her head and then went to her desk and both of them started doing their task. One by one, the books of each girls are slowly going down in numbers and the notes on their notebook are filling up fast with important information needed for their assignment.

After a few more hours, endless sighing and stretching came to an end and the two girls finally finished their assignments given to them. Philomina started to return the books to the bookshelves, she noticed that some supernatural beings fly up to the bookshelves to get and return books. Eyeing them with jealousy for not climbing up the stairs to return and get books. Philomina continued to return the books she used and then went back to her desk and noticed that Yen returned at the same time as well.

"Now that we are done. Can we talk about what you said a few hours ago?" Philomina asked her classmate and Yen nod her head and she replied to her,

"How about we go to the café? We can talk there more loudly than here." Philomina agreed with her suggestion and both girls started packing their things and fixing the desk that they used and both of them went out of the central library together. From there, they are chatting while making their way to their university café, this café is a two story building where a lot of students of UMDA chat and relax after their academics. The ambiance and atmosphere of the café is so satisfying that there are so many students hanging out at this place.

The two girls found a perfect spot at the café for their conversation, Yen decided to buy something first to eat leaving Philomina to watch over their seats and things. After five minutes, Yen came back with a chocolate cake dosed with cocoa powder on top with a cup of café latte and there is also a medium size caramel Frappuccino, she grab the drink and hand it over to Philomina.

"Here, for you Philomina. Its on me." She said while giving the drink to Philomina who is very hesitant of taking the drink; she's really modest and shy when it comes to others giving her free stuff.

"Are you sure?" She asked Yen if its alright for her to have the drink. Yen chuckled and placed the drink in front of her and replied,

"No take backs! Just accept the drink Philomina. Think of it as my appreciation in advance for helping with my dilemma." Philomina nod her head and took a sip of the Frappuccino. Letting the taste and drink the Frappuccino, her shocked expression made Yen chuckled a little.

"Thank you Yen for this drink. Its so good." Philomina remarked and took another sip of her drink.

"You're welcome Philomina. Me and Vian always go to this café before our training started." When the word 'training' went out of Yen's mouth, her expression took a one hundred eighty degree turn. Philomina gulped down the drink inside her mouth and then she look at Yen, waiting for her to continue.

"You see Philomina. I'm actually having a bit of dilemma with my mentor." She slowly started to open up her bottled feelings and Philomina continue to be quiet and showing to Yen that she can continue to express all her thoughts and her dilemma.

"Go on Yen."

"He really gets on my nerves! I'm trying to hold everything in but he sure knows how to push my buttons!" She suddenly exclaimed making Philomina jumped a little from her seat and then Yen exhaled again and then crossed her arms together then she face is scrunched, showing that she is really pissed off at Zagan.

"I was just going to ask a question and then he's like 'figure it out yourself, human.' Like excuse me, I am your trainee and you are suppose to help me!" Yen imitating her mentors' voice as she continue to rant to her classmate. Philomina is just sitting in front of friend, wide eyes looking at her while she continue to release all that things about her mentor.

After a few minutes of chatting, drinking and eating, the two girls sighed as both of them finished trying to figure out Zagan's mentoring skills. Philomina took another sip of her drink while Yen is just staring at her intently, like she wants to say something to her; and Philomina noticed this and she said,

"What is it Yen?"

"Oh, its just that, I think I'm the only one with this kind of dilemma but I am wondering how the other mentors are doing. Like I just thought, 'Maybe Philomina or Vian got it worse than me.' something like that." Yen replied bluntly to Philomina, making her lightly choke on her drink. Surprised to her reaction, Yen couldn't help but her eyes were wide like saucers while looking at her classmate.

"No way... You too?!" She exclaimed while Philomina is trying to compose herself but its already too late since her reaction is kind of obvious.

"Fine you got me. But I'm trying to think about it too much." She sighed lowly and Yen just shook her head and slammed both of her hands on the arms of her seat.

"Tell me! Come on Philomina. I'll try to help you as well." She pleaded to Philomina to tell her about it and Philomina just exhaled heavily, knowing that Yen is really persistent when it comes to helping a friend and she couldn't escape from it.

"Fine, I will." She replied back to her friend and then she starts to tell Yen about what's bothering her with mentor. And Yen is just there listening to her and at the same time her emotions are clearly shown to her facial expressions that is so comical and amusing.

"Philomina..." Yen just muttered after hearing Philomina's story about her mentors movements. And Philomina just hang her head low, looking at her lap and feet is the only thing she wants to see right now. She doesn't know how to look at her friend right now.

"That's why I said that I don't want to think about it. I don't want to overthink too much." She said and slowly look at Yen, whose eyes are close and doing a thinking pose. She looked at her classmate with one eyebrow raised up.

"Hmmm... He sure is sly." Yen said bluntly while looking at the confused Philomina. Yen is staring at her classmate with an 'oh no' expression.

"Are you serious, Philomina?"

"What do you mean 'are you serious?'?"

"You don't get it, don't you?" Yen is looking at Philomina bewildered from how her friend couldn't notice her mentor's movements and she couldn't help as well to notice how dense she is. Philomina doesn't have anything to reply back to her classmate but just stare at her.

'That's what I thought.' Yen thought to herself while looking at Philomina who is staring back at her as well.

"I just thought that your mentor is sly cause he is making moves on you."

"Why would he do that though?" Philomina asked while tilting her head a bit and Yen sighed at her classmate's reaction and trying to prolong her patience with her denseness.

"I don't know Philomina. I mean I am not sir Paimon, so I wouldn't know why is he doing those things to you."

"But you have an idea, right?" Philomina asked once again and the two girls just stare at each other in silence.

"What are you two doing here?" A voice behind Philomina startled the two girls and breaking their stares at each other. Making the two girls look at the source of the voice and then they saw,

"Oh its you Vian!" Yen happily look at her friend and she offered a seat to her friend.

"The both of you seem to have a very interesting conversation and I thought I would drop by and greet you guys." Vian smiled at the two girls.

"Oh yes Vian. Listen to this..." Yen started to tell Vian her conversation with Philomina. Meanwhile, Philomina just sighed while watching two of her classmates in front of her.

'Oh boy this is going to be a while.' She thought to herself and look at the window from her seat, watching as the light is about to disappear and dusk will soon come in.