Memories of the Dark: "Fate Or Coincidence"

Peronell Keen,

The long wait has come to an end when we finally arrived at Acantha. It took a day to get here. I gazed up at the clear blue sky and watched the birds fly up in the air, I was lost in my world until someone tapped my shoulder.

"Peronell Keen looks especially radiant today." Lief went beside me while Tristan on my other side rolled his eyes.

"We're going to the most prestigious academy there is in Everlast, I'm excited to know what's in store for me." I replied to his compliment.

We walked together, just smiling like fools.

"You must be eager to have an adventure of a lifetime." Lief chuckled.

"Oh, dear Goddess! Can't these two just stop chattering about irrelevant stuff? And talk about something more interesting. A topic that involves me."

Tristan flaunted himself in a shop's glass window.

"What in the world— I can't believe this dude." Gavin looked annoyed as he murmured the last part, hopefully avoiding Tristan's ears.

"Just ignore him, the more you give him attention the more his narcissistic self will grow." Cedany said as Tristan was unbothered by our comments about his narcissistic self.

I've noticed something between Gavin and Cedany. The aura between them changed suddenly. Back at the ship, I noticed that Gavin kept looking at Cedany like there was no tomorrow and Cedany would just smile back at him. It was out of the ordinary, I just let it go and didn't ask Cedany or Lianna about it.

Lianna is right in between the two as they walk behind the back. Lianna looked like her soul was sucked out of her. I wonder what happened. I elbowed Lief to get his attention, however, it seems that I didn't need to do that as his attention was on me.

"Is there something I need to know?" I asked pointing to the people at the back. Lief chuckled as if he remembered something memorable.

"It was nothing serious. However, for one certain person, it is a serious situation." Lief explains.

"And who is this certain person that takes the situation seriously?" I was confused.

"Lianna." Lief gestured for me to come closer to him.

I went near him and he went near my ear to whisper the whole summary of the things I missed out on. I was in utter shock. I looked at them subtly.

"What are you guys looking at?" Lianna asked, her tone was like one of the thugs from the streets.

Lief and I looked away as I felt a chill from behind my back.

"You are in an awful mood today, Lianna. Is something the matter?" Cedany asked Lianna.

"I saw a lowly insect clinging around my belonging, tsk!"

Lianna walked away from us dramatically.

"What's up with her?"

Gavin felt that the statement Lianna said was about him.

"Lianna, wait for us!" I called out for her and I tried to catch up.

When I saw her, she was already at our destination. I was surprised to see so many people, they were all students from Acantha Academy. I could tell from the uniforms that they were wearing. Some people were not wearing uniforms like us, I believe that they are representatives from the other empires.

The crowd noticed our presence as if we were the last people they were waiting for. Some people glared and rolled their eyes at us. I felt intimidated by their competitive stares and I could feel that the other representatives of the Gold Empire could feel the aura was uninviting. All I could do was look away and sigh. This is gonna be a long day.

Lianna Morris,

When I hurriedly walked away from the other representatives and reached our destination, all I could say was, "Fuck." I muttered and stopped walking as I saw how many people there were.

"Umm... maybe we should just head home?" Peronell suggested, she looked at me nervously.

I was about to go back, however, Lief stopped me from going anywhere. "Wahhh! I don't wanna do this!" I cried out loud, Lief was still trying to stop me from going anywhere.

"You were the one who stormed off towards here." Lief shook his head in disapproval.

"Uhh, so what are we gonna do now? We're just gonna stand here?" Gavin asked.

"Of course not! I'm gonna show off my natural beauty to all the people here."

Tristan went away from us towards the crowd as he started to fade away and blend in with the crowd.

"You got to give it to him though, he can still act like that with such a big crowd." Peronell complimented.

"This is making me nauseous." Cedany tried to keep her composure as she placed her hand on her mouth.

I hurriedly went over to her as Gavin did the same. I stared at Gavin and Gavin did the same. "Why are you copying me? Are you trying to take my place? Shouldn't you be with Lief instead?" As if I was challenging him to a duel.

"I'm just worried. Why are you so jealous anyways? It's not like you're someone special to her." Gavin smirked trying to hit my nerves and it did.

However, before I could do anything to Gavin, two figures started to walk toward us. I looked up at the tall figures and just gawked at them. Once they reached us, I came back to my senses.

"Is everything alright? Is there anything we could do to help?" A very tall guy whose hair's colour is as dark as obsidian asked.

Right beside him was a guy with honey blonde hair who was almost as tall as him. "If you don't mind our help that is." The guy said with a smile.

"Please, do. Dan is getting nauseous from the crowd." I stepped back slightly. The honey blonde made Cedany drink a sparkling liquid to make her feel better while the obsidian-haired guy inspected. Are they using Cedany as a guinea pig or something? Because it's looking like it. I mean, what else is the reason for their help?

I was lost in my train of thoughts when I heard their voices, it was very hypnotizing in a good way of course. Obsidian's voice came off as very strong and stoic, was a bit deep as well. Honey blonde has a more calm and soothing voice, if honey was a sound it would be him.

After they were done, Gavin just looked at them while his arms crossed. Heh, I see someone getting a little Je-jealous here~

"Pardon me, I didn't introduce myself. I am William Hawk, a prince from the Andraste Kingdom." William, the obsidian guy introduced to us.

William's face doesn't give a welcoming look, however, I shouldn't judge him because it's probably just how his face usually is. I looked at his friend since it was probably his turn to introduce himself.

"I am Arthur Mowbray, the son of Grand Duke Randall Mowbray of Blancathey." Arthur introduced himself.

Was that all necessary to say? Well, I guess it has to be said at some point so we will remember not to disrespect them.

"It's a pleasure to meet both of you. My name is Cedany Shaw. How can I repay you for your help?" Cedany turned to both of them, waiting for them to reply.

"Just a simple thank you is enough." William replied.

William looked at me as if waiting for me to introduce myself and I did, "I'm Lianna Morris." and William nodded.

"I'll keep that in mind. I shall go now."

William walked towards the people that are probably from Black Empire. Arthur said goodbye and he followed William.

"Yeah, sure, just ignore the guy. I'm also here! I haven't even introduced myself yet. I swear to the Goddess that these men just want attention from the ladies." Gavin rolled his eyes.

"You're just jealous that you can't get any lady to look at you. At least they have some manners unlike you"

I, of course, teased him. It does seem more like an insult though.

"Well, I don't have any because there isn't even one decent woman I have met." Gavin didn't back down from me.

"That's enough." Peronell walked up towards us.

"I didn't even notice that the two of you were gone, where did you two go?" Cedany asked the two who left us.

"We talked to the other representatives, specifically the Red Empire representatives some of them were friendly." Lief replied.

"Can I have all of your attention students and representatives of Acantha Academy?" A certain staff asked using magic for us all to hear him, "You will now go to the Academy by riding to your assigned carriage. Each of the carriages has a number on its back, you will know which carriage is assigned to you inside the letter given to you and this only applies to the representatives. The students of Acantha will go in a shortcut route by using magic as the Headmaster required." as the staff finished talking, a lot of complaints can be heard from the students of Acantha.

"What is assigned to you?"

I hurried to Cedany, I was hopeful that we would get the same number.

"I got a number one." Cedany read the letter in her hand.

"What?! Are you for real? That's the same as mine!" I hugged her.

"You're awfully happy." Cedany chuckled lightly.

"Of course I am!" I joyfully jumped.

"I have the same number as Lief and Gavin." Peronell said.

She seemed delighted, Lief looked pleased as well.

"Haha! Take that!" I stick my tongue out at Gavin to see.

"Huh!? It's not like I wanted to be in the same carriage as Cedany."

Gavin's face was red in anger and probably embarrassment as well.

"You want to be in the same carriage as Cedany? And not me? That is very unusual of you." Lief looked at Gavin with a disbelieving look.

"As I said, It's not like that I wanted to! Are you even listening!?"

Gavin walked away to his assigned carriage with an annoyed look on his face.

"Well then! See you two on the other side." Peronell smirked.

"Don't speak such as that way. We aren't gonna die yet." Cedany gave an uneasy smile as she lightly smacked Peronell's arm.

"How are you certain that you aren't gonna die? Perhaps your carriage might crash into a large rock. We'll never know what might happen soon."

Peronell was trying to make us frightened. She walked away once she was done with her speech.

"Make sure you guys don't die." Lief said with concern in his voice.

He then followed Peronell to their carriage.

"Those two weirdos unbelievably match well with each other." Cedany had an exhausted look in her eyes.

"Don't worry we aren't gonna die yet." I wasn't so sure about what I'd just said.

"Yet. Anyways, I'm not worried about that." Cedany sighed and went towards the carriage assigned to us.

Once we got there, we went inside immediately and settled down in the seats. I sat beside her, of course, as we waited for the people who we were going to share the carriage with.

Cedany Shaw,

The carriage door opened and it revealed the two men from earlier. Lianna and I were shocked, they also had the same reaction as they stopped and stood there for a moment.

"Hello there. We meet again, ladies." William said as he climbed inside the carriage and Arthur followed behind.

"Such a weird coincidence. No, it must be fate." Arthur nodded to himself with a smile.

"Fate has its weird ways of bringing people together." William's emotionless face never showed any sign of difference from his face earlier.

"Hehehaha..." Lianna laughed in a very awkward way and I can't help but crack a smile at her silliness.

"It must mean something that we have encountered each other again. Since we encountered each other again, why don't we try to get to know each other?" William suggested.

"Then allow me to introduce myself once again, I am Arthur Mowbray. I'm 18 years old and I like studying, unlike most people." Arthur had a proud look plastered on his face.

"Oh, wow! Really? That's so great!" Lianna clapped her hands and I joined her to save her from embarrassment. I knew that she was having a hard time focusing on Arthur's words, and so was I. All I could say is I, at least attempted to focus.

"What about you Lady Lianna?" Arthur put the poor girl on the spot.

"I am 17 years old and I like— chocolates!" Lianna's face lit up when she mentioned chocolates and the guys were looking at her as if inspecting her like some kind of creature.

"Chocolates are quite expensive for commoners. Are you guys perhaps a noble or a child of a merchant?" Maybe William is curious about our social standing which made him ask this.

"Ahh, no! I'm just a daughter of a mage and Cedany is..." Lianna looked at me.

"If it's something personal you don't need to tell us." William quickly understood the situation.

"Thank you." I said and William shook his head.

"This is barely a decent thing a human being should do. I shouldn't have asked something like that in the first place, I apologize for my rudeness." William apologized and soon the air just became more uncomfortable because why should a member of the royalty ever apologize for a question that can be easily answered?