Memories of the Dark: "Dead Poppy"

Cedany Shaw,

Lianna and I arrived at the garden, there were plenty of flowers. I walked towards a certain flower as it caught my eye.

"What are you looking at?" Lianna walked toward me as I pointed at the flower that was about to die.

"That's a poppy." I looked at the guy who seemed like he has been there for a while. "Pardon me for interrupting you two, I'm Clovis Devine. I'm one of the representatives of White Empire." He introduced, his face didn't show any sign of happiness.

"You didn't interrupt anything, so no need for apologies. I'm Cedany Shaw, it's a pleasure to meet you."

I extended a hand for him to shake. Clovis hesitated which I wouldn't deny offended me a little, however, he continued to shake it.

"And I'm Lianna!"

Lianna enthusiastically took both Clovis' hands and shook them. Lianna realized what she was doing and immediately apologized to Clovis who looked like he was about to pass out. Clovis went near the dying flower as I observe his every move.

"This flower. Is it dying?"

I went near Clovis, but he made a big space between us. This is very offensive at this point. Is there anything wrong with me that's making him give this big of a gap?

"It is, I am here to help it." Clovis touched the flower and continued to inspect it.

"I don't think you're able to help it. The petals are already falling." Clovis' face doesn't look pleased with what I said.

"You're wrong, it can still be saved. Even in this kind of state." Clovis is very determined to save this dying flower.

Why is it so important for him to save it anyways?

"It would be a waste of time trying to save something, that can't be saved." I blurted out.

I immediately placed a hand on my mouth. I was looking at Clovis with a shocked look on my face. I didn't know what made me say that, but at this moment something was triggering me to say unnecessary things. Lianna was quiet but was looking at me with a worried look.

"I beg to differ. Every living thing is important. Their life is important, no matter if they will die at some point in life." Clovis replied to the words I accidentally blurted out.

Despite us having some kind of rivalry going on, Clovis still had a calm look on his face. Lianna felt uncomfortable as she just watched us look at each other with rivalry tension.

"I don't see the point to that, there is plenty of flowers like this." I was not about to back down at any moment.

"I've never met a person so cruel as you." I was taken aback by Clovis' words.

How am I cruel? From what I remembered every person has this mindset. So tell me, how am I cruel? That was what I wanted to say but all I managed to say was...

"I see. Sorry if I offended you by saying something so unnecessary. I just blurted it out without thinking." I apologized to Clovis who shook his head.

"No, you don't need to apologize. It was an interesting conversation after all. I should apologize for calling you cruel."

I was not offended or angered by him calling me cruel at all. I have been called far worse than cruel. Take the devil as an example. I was only a child, but I was called the devil. I don't feel any strong emotion by it either, if I must say I just found it funny instead.

"No need to apologize for something true." I replied.

I looked at Clovis and he picked up the poppy. I looked at him in confusion.

"Do you know what the poppy represents? Death, consolation, and remembrance. There's sadness in your eyes, I hope this flower can mend your sadness. You are right, this poppy doesn't need saving. It needs to have a purpose, its purpose is to make you happy." Clovis smiled at me and I took the poppy.

Is he seriously flirting with me at a time like this? He doesn't fail to amuse me.

"Did you just make a purpose for the poppy? However, thank you for the dead poppy."

My laugh faded as I heard Lianna muttering stuff.

"How come he gets to flirt with her? A dead poppy for Cedany? What a disgrace!" Lianna muttered.

"I'm glad that you like it—" I hugged Clovis before he can say any more irrelevant stuff.

Lianna gasped loudly. I let go of Clovis and he was blushing a lot.

"Oh! I forgot that you don't like me getting close to you. I'm sorry." I immediately apologized, but he looked speechless.

"Hello~ Earth to Clovis? I think the devil has officially taken over him." Lianna said as she waved her hand at Clovis.

"What should we do? We can't leave him here." Lianna shrugged.

"You can leave him to me."

A beautiful girl appeared and I was awestruck by her beautiful face. Even Lianna was awestruck.

"You must be his girlfriend. Hey! You should teach your boyfriend not to flirt with other women while he has you. I can't believe he's cheating on a beautiful girl like you. He doesn't deserve you!" Lianna ranted to the girl..

"First of all, I'm not his girlfriend. I'm his cousin. Second of all, I'm not a girl. And third of all, who are you?" I looked at the name brooch and it's written 'Simon Hendman'.

"I'm Cedany Shaw and this is Lianna Morris." I introduced ourselves to Simon.

"Oh, aren't you the girl who nominated herself?" Simon asked Lianna.

Lianna suddenly looked pissed.

"Please stop bringing it up." Lianna rolled her eyes.

"I admire your bravery. You were the only one who did that." Simon nodded in approval.

"Thank you, I guess? We'll leave Mr. Clover to your beautiful hands, beautiful man." Lianna hurriedly grabbed my hand.

"Thank you for your sacrifice, Mr. Hendman." I waved goodbye as the both of us left the two beautiful men.

Peronell Keen,

"Oh, you must be Peronell Keen! It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Godiva Stewart." Godiva excitedly shook my hand. I was just waiting for Tristan, however, he somehow hasn't left the room yet. "I decided that I want you to be my first friend here in ACA. Let's get to know each other!" She gave me a friendly smile.

"Is that so? The pleasure is all mine."

It was all of a sudden, even so, she's part of the student council. I'm winning if we became best of friends.

"Hmm... what kind of genre of books do you like?" Godiva asked out of the blue.

"I don't have a preference, I just read what I feel like reading." I answered.

"Do you wanna go to the library in the meantime? We have a one-hour break after all and I don't see your friends with you. Maybe we'll find some good books there and we can share what we've read together." Godiva excitedly brought out a notebook, ink, and quill.

"What is that for?"

"For taking notes, of course. I write what I learn about books I've read in this notebook." Godiva explained as she flexed her notebook.

"Let me help you with that ink."

I took the ink from her so it won't stain her clothes.

"Thanks! Off we go then!" Godiva pulled me with her.

I was going around the library trying to find a book that I'd share with Godiva. As I search through an aisle, I stepped on something. I stepped on a pendant. I panicked, it looked very expensive. I looked around to see if there was an owner. I immediately put it in my pocket and pretended nothing happened.

"Ah! There you are, Nell! I was looking all over for you. I found a book we'd both enjoy!"

It surprised me that Godiva came out of nowhere. Hopefully, she didn't see the crime that I committed a second ago.

"Nell? Why are you calling me that?"

I was surprised she called me Nell since my friends were the only ones who called me that. Or are we on a deeper level of friendship now and I just didn't notice?

"Oh! I just thought it'd be a very adorable nickname for an adorable girl like you."

Godiva flashed me a very delighted smile. I just realized that she's really beautiful.

"I think I'm more of a beauty than adorable." I flaunted.

"Yes! Yes! I agree."

I can't believe a girl like her exists. She can't be this nice, can she?

"What is the book about?" She handed out the book to me.

"So... do you want to read it with me?" She asked, tilting her head to see my reaction.

"Let me see, '100 ways to make a guy fall for you'? You want to read this?"

I tried to hold back my tears. She's too pure! She wants to learn from a shitty book like this. I just can't. I can't even. I'm speechless.

"I thought that maybe we can both learn from this. You see... I have this boy I like back at home and he doesn't even spare me a glance." Godiva said with an embarrassed look on her face.

"How come he doesn't spare you a glance? With that kind of beauty, I think everyone inside a room will look at you. You don't need to read a shitty book like this, it's full of lies! Lies, I tell you!" I shook the book as if I could kill a book.

"You're hilarious! Yeah, I think you're right. Why don't we just read it in the meantime, I think it'll be a very fun read if I'm reading it with you." She linked her arm with mine and I let her take me to the nearest seat.

We read the book together and each time I got angry with a certain statement she would laugh. There's this certain statement that made my blood boil. It was step 46 'Don't ever make a man feel inferior by showing him independence. A woman should always depend on a man after all.' and yes that was the title of step 46.

It was as if they were making me a clown. Do we, women look that dumb for us to depend on a worthless man? Is this what we are?!

"I'll go find another book, I think this book will kill you if we read further more."

Godiva is very angel-sent. She went to find another book so I don't have to read that shitty book.

"Excuse me, girl." I heard a voice behind me.

"Yeah?" I casually asked back the unknown owner of the voice.

I looked at the owner of the voice, it was Harold Aimar. How did I know? Because he was competing with William Hawk in History class. They were competing on who was gonna have the correct answers. It was natural to see them fight since they are both princes from opposing empires. Harold Aimar is the only son of the King of Lugus Kingdom from the White Empire. The Black Empire and the White Empire have always been against each other since they both have different morals.

"You look pale. Did you see a ghost or something?" Harold asked.

This guy looks irritated. Don't tell me I did something to him?

"No, your highness." I answered and he went to the other side of the desk.

"Have you seen a pendant somewhere over there?" Harold pointed at the aisle I was in earlier.

Don't tell me he owns that pendant?! Should I just tell the truth? I think he won't kill me if I just come clean.

"I didn't see anything there..."

At the end of the day, I couldn't tell him. I'm scared to get in trouble.

"That's a shame. I guess I won't be able to give it to her anymore." Harold muttered.

I tried my hardest not to do anything suspicious while he was still there.

"Are you with Godiva?" I immediately nodded at his question. "Can you tell her to meet me at the dorm lounge?" I just nodded again.

What else am I supposed to do?

"Oh, Harold! Perfect timing, we're about to read a book. Care to join us?" Godiva appeared and Harold froze in his position.

I guess his plan failed since she's here now.

"I don't want to be in the way of your reading session and it seems that you have made a new friend."

Is this the best that he got? He clearly likes Godiva, I can see right through him. His flirting game is weak.

"I don't think you'll be in our way. Right, Peronell?" Godiva looked at me and I nodded once again. "Peronell here is very hilarious you see! I think your stay here will be worth it!" She pushed Harold to a seat in front of mine.

Why did it have to be in front of mine though? So I can entertain them like a clown?

"If you say so." Harold looked at me suspiciously and I immediately looked away.

"The book I have here is about superstitions! I want your opinion about these superstitions, Peronell." Godiva moved close to me as we read the first page.

"They say if your body is sacrificed to the Goddess, you will be revived later on, and you can have everything you want." I read out loud.

How come this is a superstition? This is basically promoting suicide.

"What do you think? Do you believe it?" Godiva tilted her head and I stole a glance at Harold who was staring at her intently.

"I think I'll try it out first to know?" I answered, but it sounded as if I was asking if it was the right answer to her question. Is there even a right answer to that?

I heard a snort and I looked at Harold who had his hand on his mouth. What is he on? Drugs?

"I told you she's hilarious!" Godiva boasted to Harold who looked away.

I can hear you laughing, you dip shit! What's so funny? Huh?!

"What if it wasn't true? Wouldn't you be dead?" Harold asked.

"Duh." I replied and he didn't even try to hide his laugh anymore.

Godiva just giggled with him as I looked at them with a weirded-out face.

"I like your answer to that. You're effortlessly hilarious, I acknowledge your greatness at this. I should hire you to be an entertainer at our parties in the palace." Harold continued to laugh as Godiva smiled at me.

"I think she'll do well if you hired her. I can do the laughing effects for her, with the use of magic of course." Godiva winked at me.

"I don't think I'm fit for an entertainer." I replied.

"I don't believe you. Once I get back to the palace I'll tell the king that I want you for my birthday." Harold said and I gasped out loud.

"What?" I asked trying to clarify his statement.

"Yeah, my birthday is nowhere near. So don't worry."

Godiva had a teasing look on her face. Is she trying to tease me? Not with Harold, my dear! He likes you, not me! That'll just be fucked up in every way you try to see it!

"Yes, your highness! Your gift will be granted. I shall make it come true." Godiva had the last say and Harold nodded in approval.

I'm currently confused.