A Predictable Surprise

Mana is the supplemental energy given by the gods that humans and monsters can harness. 

Humans are the sole creature created by the goddess, Benevolence.

Monsters are creatures created by each god, they are made up of only mana. 

These are fundamental constructs upon which this world is built. And my stats, don't apply to those fundamentals.

I am a glitch in the system, but the world isn't rejecting me like it's supposed to, it's accepting me.

And I guess another new fundamental construct in my life is Kenos.

I guess my skill isn't allowing me to stop talking to Kenos for some weird magic reason.

I don't care too much, he's not as obnoxious at first. I think this change will help, help me survive.

(and maybe go home)

But today is a normal day, with no plans before or after school. I'm personally preparing for my classes to get switched. I already took the selection test but now they gotta talk a fuck ton of time assessing me.

I'm fine with that, that just means more time to screw around with Rudy, Jade, and Kenos I guess.

Entering the Cafe there's a more tense atmosphere. I can practically predict which magic spells will start flying.

I shrug, not my problem, I'm just trying to sit back and watch what happens.

I had to pick up my breakfast and then sit at my usual table with Jade and her friends. But after I pick up my breakfast, Jade's table looks tense. 

Is that where this aura is coming from? 

Still not my business.

I head over to my usual seat and am met with a bag in my seat. I look up to see Jade with a glare on her face.

Oh. so it is my business.

I sigh, this isn't what I wanted to deal with this early in the morning. 

"What happened now?" 

Jade stands abruptly, her chair toppling over.

"You happened! You and your Hero status happened!" 

Uh, what? I haven't done much of anything lately, I've only been hanging out with Kenos because he's been helping me.

"Do you even know what you're talking about?"

That doesn't seem to be the right answer, Jade starts to walk towards me. "Of course, I know! Somehow you hypnotized me into being your friend and making you popular!"

She halts right in front of me, close enough to touch. I put my breakfast down on the table. Dont want it anywhere in the crossfire.

I straighten my posture, "Okay, Jade, I have no idea what you're talking about." I put my hands up in surrender.

"And that's also your fault! You're a Hero, how come you can't control your mana?"

Um, okay, woah. What is she talking about? Does she know about my problem? Did Kenos tell her?

"What are you talking about?!"

"Don't think we haven't seen your mana circles! Is that how you tricked me?"

Where in the world would I have left any magic circles where she could see?

"No! I don't know what you're talking about! I don't use mana circles!"

"Look at you! Lying even when being faced with the truth!" she pushes my shoulders, and I stumble back a bit, "I knew I couldn't trust you! Your brother is a way better person than you could ever be."

I- huh?!

"I never want to see you again."

I turned and walked out of the cafe, knowing I had no more room to speak.

I have no clue where I'm walking to. Just anywhere my legs will take me I guess.

I have to go to class today but I've already skipped once, why not again? 

Thinking about seeing Jade or Rudy fill the back of my throat with bile. I swallow it back.

Whatever, I clutch my bag strap, I'm fine.

When I look back up, I'm met face-to-face with a ladder. It's in one of the storage closets next to one of the many fireplaces. It's used by cleaning 'workers' to get to the roof to clean the tops of the fireplaces.

A perfect place to wallow in s̶a̶d̶n̶e̶s̶s̶ silence.

The climb up is just as forgettable as the walk here. However, the first thing that shocks me out of my numbness is the bitter cold that floods my senses as I open the hatch.

I settle on the roof, the second realization comes to me like a brick that was thrown through a window.

I fucked up.

A sense of Deja Vu floods my senses and a huge headache takes over most of my thoughts.

I lay down on the roof clutching my head.

It could have been years or a minute as the pain took over my brain, falling in and out of sleep.

When the pain recedes I'm finally able to open my eyes again.

Kenos. That one fundamental construct in my life that this world decided to trust me with.

He sits next to my body, looking toward the horizon, an early sunset.

"What are you doing here?" 

The sentence comes out more shaky and desperate than I wanted. I don't think I'll ever speak again.

"You could have frozen," he states, not looking at me, eyes still on the sunset.

That when the warm weight on my shoulders makes its presence known, It's his coat.

I didn't even know that demons could get cold. They are furnaces. The coat itself seems to be radiating heat.

I sit up so we are side to side, I wrap the coat closer around my body.

"Why are you here?" I ask again after clearing my throat.

"Why wouldn't I be?" he eyes me from the corner of his eyes but I can't stand to look at him any longer so instead I focus my attention on the the sky above. 

Blue hour.

"I'm making you"

"You couldn't make me do anything I didn't want to do." He chuckles, not an evil one but one out of pure confusion.

I try to reason with him. "It makes sense though, Jade said something about my skill making her be friends with me, and you don't like me."

It takes a minute for him to respond, so I look back at him to find his body turned to me with those piercing eyes to match.

"I know about your skill but it can't affect me. I've never hated you, did the cold mess with your memory?"

I grab his shirt and shake him a bit."Shut up asshole! No, it didn't, you're ridiculous!" He laughs, it's infectious and I chuckle a bit.

Our laughter dies out and I'm still holding on to his sleeve. Both of us stared at the sunset.

I look down, the sun feeling as piercing as his eyes, "I- just- Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why don't you hate me? I was horrible to you, to everyone." I grip his sleeve like an anchor.

"You're interesting, know that? You may have been the worst to me but you cared. And you cared about your friends, doesn't matter what you tell yourself, you cared about Marissa."

My body tenses, fuck, he does know everything huh? But I can trust him, if he reads those notes in my book then he won't leave.

My throat croaks a bit, "Thanks, you are too, y'know, interesting"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Kenos sighs laughs and goes to stand. My hand falls away quickly. He offers me his hand, which, I take. He helps me up and he walks us back to the hatch.

Turns back to me before he can undo the hatch.

"I almost forgot, we're going to the war front tomorrow."

I let go of his hand and scrambled back a bit.

"We're what?!"