CHAPTER EIGHT: Open up

Better things finally happened today. They used to stay away from me because they are scared of my clan’s name. But now, they’re staying away from me because they know what I can do, that I am much stronger than the class S. I prefer it.

When I arrived at my classroom, as usual, they become quiet.

I wanted to sleep for a while but I couldn’t sleep because someone is poking me. I looked at the person who is poking me and I saw the person sitting next to me. My oh so loud seatmate.

“You’re cool yesterday. She said with a smile and I just looked at her and went back to my sleep, though I can’t sleep. “Do you know you impressed a lot of people yesterday? We know that you’re strong but we didn’t know that you exceed our expectations. You surprised us. Well, we’re not surprised if you can be promoted to class S in no time.” She added.

“Promote to class S?”

“I will answer all your questions if you make me your friend.” She said with a smile.

I looked at her lazily and went back to sleep. I hate her, I hate her smile, I hate her innocence, I hate everything about her, especially her thought of me being her friend. What the heck is a friend really is? Well, I don’t care about it because she won’t last long. She’ll give up if I continue to ignore her.

“Come on, Avalene. I want to be your friend.” She said and poked me once again. Okay, avabil, you have long patience. Don’t pay attention to this crazy little girl. “Avalene, you really are good at ignoring people who only cared for you.” And her last sentence triggered me.

I stood up and they all looked at me. they look at me in horror that would eat them all and they are also worried for Jenny. They heard it; I know. I looked at Jenny but there was no fear in her eyes and she was still smiling at me. I was annoyed that I almost punched her but before my fist reached her face I stopped, an inch away from her face.

I just walked away and went to the rooftop and slept there. What do people know here? They were just unaware of the world outside this academy. They know nothing but the way they speak and they act seems like they know everything. Especially, in my life. The man in the cafeteria, the low-level Lancaster in class S, thinks that he really knows the family like he was one of them. And that girl, she said the same thing as my mother said. Heck! Why is my life so complicated?

I sighed and then went to sleep.

~**~

“Hello!” a familiar voice shouted and my classmates went crazy. I am shocked at how my classmates went crazy in just a hi from him.

“Oh gosh! Captain Meilin is really handsome! Hello, Captain!” cried the girl in front of me.

What is this man doing here? Tsk, if I didn’t love my sister, I wouldn’t accept this man as my future brother-in-law at the same time I would cut off his head. Ah, so noisy, I wanted to kick their ass out of this room.

“Aw, so cold for the sweet girl like you, Abia.” I was shocked by what he said and I glared at him. I feel like my future nephew or niece as well as my sister will lose their father and husband. I can kill him in one touch, “Feeling cold ah,” and he laughed at me.

“Shut up,” I told him without any emotion.

Is this really what my sister loves? He’s childish for pate’s sake.

“Ow, I’m scared.” He said sarcastically and then I glared at him even more.

“Sweet?” Jenny blurted out of the blue who was sitting next to me.

“Oh, hi there, girl. You always have Abia by your side, don’t you?” he asked and Jenny immediately nod his head as an answer, “Don’t worry. She may look scary but this little girl is sweet-“

“Shut up or I’ll cut your neck. Choose.” I said with my dagger on his neck.

All of them gasped at what I did and Meilin just laughed even more and then turned to me and held my hand. He looked at me, eye to eye. “Want to go for some ride?” he asked while smiling.

“Ride your face!”

“Even if that ride means having a clue where Cacia is?” I stopped and looked at him. I don’t know if I should believe in him or not, because this man is crazier than my sister. “If it’s okay with you, you can join our mission. We’re going to the black world since we have a report that Cacia was there.” He added.

“She’s not even a class S student and yet she can join the mission?”

“To think that Captain Meilin is the one who invited her, what’s with this woman?”

“Oh, em gee! What’s with her? Has he picked up iii-“the woman didn’t continue what she was going to say because I threw my dagger at her.

It’s an insult that she said that I will betray my sister and get the man that she loves for me. I am not like them.

“Talk some dirty thoughts of yours and I’m going to ripped your neck.” I have no intention nor desire for this man. For pate’s sake, he’s my future brother-in-law.

“Oh cool,” Meilin exclaimed as he clapped his hands and smiled at me. He really is a crazy one, “Tomorrow, midnight. We will wait for you at the gate. Make sure you are in full gear. Armor is a must in a mission.” He said and then suddenly disappeared.

I left the room because I know that they had nothing to talk about but me. I might not be able to stop myself from killing them when I heard all their useless remarks for me. I don’t want trouble but if they give me trouble, I am really to kill them.

Since I left the classroom, I felt like I was being followed and I knew who that person is- Jenny. I just ignore her because I concluded that she won’t leave me alone.

This woman is so stubborn and will always pester me whenever she had a chance. No matter how many times I drive her away from me she still insisting on not leaving my side. Pathetic person, right?

I went to the training room and tune the hard mode of the training program and draw my sword.

“Is it really okay with you?” She asked and I looked at her, “Is it okay with you that they are saying something bad to your back?” she looked concerned when she asked me that.

Why is she concerned about me? she didn’t even know me.

“I will gain nothing from them, I just have to ignore them,” I answered.

I have already started my training in a hard mode advanced level. This mode is the one I always used in my training which is why I get used to it already. It makes me stronger than before whenever I trained at this level. The reason why I want an advanced level is that I want to feel the pain, the strength, and the hard to passed level because there will be no gain when there is no pain.

I need to get stronger as soon as possible. I no longer know what happened to my sister right now and there is no guarantee that she is living well.

“You overdo yourself again, Valene,” Jenny said worriedly and handed me a bottle of water.

I’m also impressed with her stubbornness. No matter what I do to her, what I say, she doesn’t care at all. She always annoys me and really wants to be my friend. She is always with me and not knowing when and how I feel like we’re closer than before.

Well, I let her get close to me and that is what I am worrying about right now. She might end up in misfortune because of me. She will get hurt because of me.

We left the training room and then we go to our usual place- the rooftop.

This seems to be the most peaceful place for me even though I am with the very ugly, annoying, and stubborn woman.

“Hey, Veline?” I ignored her and sat down and then leaned my back against the wall, “Don’t you feel alone?” I looked at her and she was leaning on the railings while facing me. I can see the sadness in her eyes, “You know, you’re always alone. You don’t want any friends; you always avoid everyone who approaches you. And if I am not stubborn and brave enough to annoys you, I have been one of those who failed to approach you. Why?”

I stared at her with an annoyed face. I saw her concern for me again. I averted my eyes and looked up at the sky.

Why?

“I carry a curse.”

“Huh?” she paused and looked at me with a shocked expression.

“Whoever goes near me will fall into misfortune. That is why I always want you to stay away from me.” I said and looked at her, “You must not try to befriend me, or else you will get yourself be killed in no time.” And then I stood up and ready to leave. She was surprised by what I confessed and it is written all over her face but she just shrugged his shoulders and then said, “You’re the only one who thinks that way.”

“No, I am not the only one who’s thinking this way. Do you know what happened to chief’s village?” I asked while turning my back at her, “The people there are so in love with me. they always took good care of me, they loved me unconditionally. But you know what?” and I looked at her then smiled sadly, “I killed them all.” When I said that I left the rooftop.

I don’t know why I left and why I was feeling afraid of her reaction when it doesn’t matter to me.

Tsk, I told her the story that I buried a long time ago.

I sat on my bed and then I remember what happened in that village before. I killed everyone there but why does it seem like someone is telling me that it is not my fault?

"You really love to blame yourself, aren't you?"

"I can’t help it; it was all because of me after all."

"No Avabil it’s not all because of you. It’s because they used you. The Elder used you."

"Yeah."

"You must blame them not yourself."

"Even though I want to, I can’t"

"Why?"

"Because I obey them and I am really the one who blame for everything."