-gardenia wood?-

The Grande Wister Academy

After practicing riding horses with the polo team, I got exhausted; I couldn't even move my legs from lifting my legs up and down from the horse's back.

Later, I headed to the gate, and clearly, the guy who made a verbal contract with me last night was waiting for me, but there wasn't a car with him. He walked toward me halfway. I tilted my head at him.

"Car is in the parking lot."

He told me, and he led me to the parking lot beside the building.

He was walking to the black car, which was a different type from the usual car that our chauffeur drove us daily.

"Get in."

He told me while he opened the car door from the driver's side.

"You're driving?"

"Obviously."

"..."

That was odd, but I just got in the car willingly.

"Seatbelt."

"Hmm...ah."

I pulled the seatbelt out and tried to put it in the lock, but I couldn't find it. He was looking at me like I was an idiot. Well, I had never sat in this car before. 

"!!"

He grabbed my hand while I was pulling the belt. He pulled it down for me to the side, and the lock automatically attached the belt. I was shocked that his body was so close, and his breath exhaled all over me.

"Have you ever fastened the seat belt before?"

"I'm always in the back seat."

"It wasn't an excuse. Even if you sit at the back, you need to fasten the seatbelt."

"Ahh..yes, I will, but this seatbelt is so weird."

"..?"

He was looking at me.

"There's no hole in it."

"..."

He smirked at me instead, and then he drove away.

"Can you really drive?"

"What is that supposed to mean?.. Of course, I can."

"I just haven't seen you drive before."

"Because you never interested anybody else."

He was mumbling to himself.

I glanced at him.

"You will see me often now."

He answered.

As time passed, my riding skills improved thanks to Michelle Senior, who always ordered me to repeat more than ten times for each lesson. The Sword Club was more intense because of the nearest competition, not to win the contest and get the trophy back home but to be honoured enough to reach our full potential in the other Sayamura's eyes, specifically the founder of the Sayamura and Senseis. The Sayamura club was all over the lands beside the City. The City only has one club, which is located at the academy. 

As Achlys promised, he took me to my mother every day after school. It was tough doing all that stuff all at once, but seeing her face and her smile made everything so light. 

"Where's Zephyra!!?"

"She's been here.. in the minute."

I heard Kento senior answered our Mentor. 

"Those fuckers changed their contest to be the same time as us… I'mma kill that prick, Anthony!"

The Mentor was so frustrated I could see from far away.

"I'm here, I'm here."

I shouted at them while running toward them.

"Change your clothes now!!"

The Mentor yelled at me.

"The changing room is over there. Hurry hurry...What are you..."

Kento senior was pointing at the back but I decided to grab my tight shirt out.

"Hey Hey!"

The Mentor was shocked. He quickly turned his back to me, including Kento senior.

"Just change it here. We have no time…It's fine."

I answered and quickly removed my shirt and pants from the polo team's uniform. 

"Fuck, Zephyra…"

The Mentor cursed a little bit while blocking my body with Kento senior. 

"Give me yours."

I told Kento.

"What!!"

He screamed.

"Now! Give it to her now!"

And the Mentor screamed even louder.

"Yes, sir!!!"

"Next is the last fight. Let's introduce the one and only Mr. Yamazaki Jodai from Keithland."

"Clap!!!!"

The huge crowd applauded

"And the other side from Grande Wister Academy. Our new rising star, Miss Zephyra Stygian."

 "Clap!!!!"

The huge crowd applauded

Two weeks after the annual competition. The Stygian had been preparing the celebration of 15 years of business. This city never comes to sleep, always on the go. Even though I had time to rest after the busy month from school, it was time for the mansion. The head lady didn't give me any orders to do much. So I was standing there, unbothered. And what exactly bothered me was that I hadn't visited my mother for a week. On Friday evening, I decided to see her, but Achlys stopped me because he needed to do his duties at his workplace and for Stygian's business. I could sneak out and go there by myself, but he insisted if my father knew about this, I wouldn't be allowed to go outside anymore, which Achlys was right.

It was time to get down the stairs and lined up the whole family in the big center hall. For a grand greeting to all the important guests. The business partners, friends, and their families, as well as some enemies and powerful ones,

I wore a black dress, the most elegant dress I had ever worn, with black high heels. The maid braided my hair around the head and added black stars and tiny black flowers around the braids. Like others, they were wearing black and white, the signature colours of the Stygians.

I was standing next to Serena, and beside Serena was Achlys. In the middle was Father and the head lady. Next to her were Eric, Elena, Medora, and Lucas, who were at the end of the row, just like me on the other side.

Guests came in, greeted us, and then walked to the food and beverage area; some were talking on the side and leaving the long hallway for other guests to come to us.

I was zoning out for the whole time. 

"Greeting Charon."

The slender, tall, middle-aged man greeted my father, and his son stepped beside him.

"Good evening, Mr. Stygian, Mrs. Stygian."

It was Kento senior. 

"Good evening. Your kid is growing up. Kento, is it?"

My father said it back.

"Yes, sir."

"Hello, Mr. Achlys."

Kento greeted Achlys as well.

"Hi"

And then he turned to face me and waved at me instead.

"Hi, Kento senior."

I said back with a bit of curtsy.

"You must be Zephyra! I've heard so much about you. Kento speaks about you all the time."

"Dad."

Kento called his father to stop.

"How come?"

My father asked.

"We're the same club, sir."

Kento answered immediately.

"I see."

My father and Kento's father started talking about business. Kento senior came to me and smiled at me.

"You look beautiful, Zephyra."

"Thank you, senior."

"And I didn't talk about you that much. He was just exaggerating, haha."

"Oh really? hehe."

I chuckled at him, and he was a bit embarrassed.

"I haven't turned your clothes yet."

"Oh, it's fine. You keep it."

"Keep it? Why do I have to keep it?"

"I mean, it's okay. I have plenty of them, and I don't have to use them next year anyway."

His cheeks were getting more red.

"Hm? Why is that?"

I tilted my head.

"Next year, I'll graduate, Zephyra."

He smiled.

"Oh, right."

I smiled a little for him.

"Would you like to dance with me?"

"Dance?"

"Yes, for the first dance."

"Well, I'm not good at it."

"It's okay."

He smiled.

"I'll be honoured, Kento senior"

I answered.

"Look at you two having fun."

Then, his father joined us.

"I'll see you in a bit."

His father said to me,

"Yes, Mr. Katahashi."

I said to him, did a little curtsey, and smiled at Kento senior.

Kento senior was going to leave the academy next year, which made me a senior, and I only have one year left to leave this place as well. Our conversation encouraged me somehow to push myself a little stronger so that I could rest in peace.

While zoning out in my head, a big group was walking toward us. But only two of them stood out from the rest. They were wearing red. I ignored them like the rest of the guests because I had no interest in anyone since I didn't know anybody.

They stopped the parade, and there was no sound. I could feel the tension between them and the Stygians: my father, the head lady, and even Achlys and Serena. 

"Good evening Mr. Saya Takaki."

My father greeted me first and then bowed to him, and then I glanced at him.

Hmm? He bowed? 

Then I looked at the man to whom my father bowed. Mr. Saya Takaki was quite old, had grey hair, and used his cane to support his balance, wearing traditional Japanese clothes in red colour. His smile was more intimidating than others composed of his body.

"Haven't seen you in a while, Charon."

He spoke up.

"I was swamped, Mr. Takaki, but it was the same as you. I was very surprised that you could come."

"I was busy, but how could I miss one of your big celebrations?"

"Yes, very thoughtful of you."

He was so well-mannered, or he was scared. I looked at the guy wearing a red suit, and then I realized that he was also looking at me. I didn't care, so I turned my face to somewhere else.

"Achlys, you've grown up, more and more like your father."

"..."

He said nothing and bowed to the old man. And he paid attention to the guy behind the old man. 

"You must be Serena."

"Yes, Mr. Takaki."

"You are beautiful like your mother. All guys are probably all in line to dance with you tonight."

He said while smiling.

"I'm flattered, Mr. Takaki."

Serena said while curtsy to him.

Serena is very beautiful, very well-mannered, and knows herself. She wouldn't let anyone step on her boundaries. Several men had come to the house and asked for her marriage, but she denied all of them. I wondered as well whether she already had someone or just loved herself so much that she couldn't share it with others.

"And the rising star?"

The old man continued.

"Hm?"

My father and the head lady made a noise.

Now, everybody in my family turned their heads in the same direction. I could feel their tension behind me, so I turned my face back and saw the old guy stepping toward my position and the dark red-haired person wearing the red suit looking at me nonstop.

"Yes?"

I curtsied to him.

"You are the rising star in the Sayamura club, aren't you? What is your name again? Zephyra, is that right?"

"How do you know, sir?"

I asked.

"!!"

I could sense the head lady's goosebump.

"Your technique is very outstanding. And of course, I don't want to deny, but your looks are quite memorable. You were great in that contest. You must be proud, Charon?"

"..."

He said nothing but smiled at the old man instead.

"How old are you, young lady?"

"16 years old, sir."

"That's a wonderful age for having the most fun."

His smile and one eyelid eyes seemed to look right through me and everyone, honestly.

"..."

I looked at him instead of answering.

"Hmph."

He made a sound.

"You're different. She's nothing like you, Stygians."

He was mumbling and spoke to my father.

"...I like it."

He continued.

"Maybe you fit us better than Stygians, young lady, hehe."

He said, patting my head while chuckling. And he walked back to my father.

"!!"

The awkwardness and surprised situation made everyone stand still, and no words came out.

All of a sudden, the man in the dark red suit stepped closer to me and raised his right hand, showing his palm to me.

What? What was I supposed to do with that?

"..."

Then I put my left hand, which was covered with a thin black glove, softly in his palm.

And then he bent down his fit muscular body and put both his lips on the back of my left hand.

"!!'

He looked up, and we made eye contact. His eyes are red like his hair, like my eyes.

"I hope we can have the dance."

He said with a low-toned voice. It suited his look very well.

"Forgive me, but I promised my friend to dance with him first."

"...I can wait."

He said with the same tone.

And all eyes were on us.

"Kai, I have to talk some business."

The old man turned his face to the red-haired person.

He bowed a little.

"Try to have fun."

The old man looked at us and said the phrase with a smile, wondering whether he was talking to me or a big guy here.

"Then excuse me."

I said to all after the main characters, my father and the old man, were walking away. Then I pulled my left hand back. 

Why bother being here? If I were an extra at this party, I would rather be with my mother at this moment.

The music was played live by the rarest band I had never heard before, but they played finely and beautifully. I was headed to the side, but someone stopped me.

"Lady."

I turned around to see him.

"Let's dance, Zephyra."

Kento senior asked me.

"If you insist, but I warn you."

I said it back and grabbed his hand.

"It's just like a sword fight."

He explained, and we walked to the dance floor.

"That's so different."

"Imagine without a sword."

"Then it looks ridiculous."

"Hahaha, I'll lead. You'll know what it's like."

He said with a smile.

After two minutes of dancing on the floor, I couldn't imagine how ridiculous I looked. His face looked extremely happy, but his feet did not. I stepped on him a couple of times, and it was long for two minutes; his feet were probably broken.

We were on the balcony, inhaling the fresh, cold breeze from outside. My mother totally loved this kind of event: music, dancing, and food. We definitely would dance together.

"Are you really alright?"

I asked Kento senior.

"Yes, don't worry. You hit me with a wooden sword so many times."

"Hehehe."

I laughed"

"It was going to be different. You're not gonna be there anymore."

I continued.

"..."

He glanced at me, and I looked at him with a genuine smile.

"I would be mad if you're still in that polo team."

"I quit."

"What?"

"I quit after that contest. I don't belong there."

"Hm, I don't think so. You're good based on what I have seen you so far. You're good at everything you do."

"Thanks, Kento senior, but what I meant was I love how the Sword Club makes me feel: warm welcome, genuine but tough, intense but fun. And their eyes aren't aiming for a material prize."

"..."

"The mentor's eyes, sensei's eyes...your eyes, for me, you guys seek something else. I really don't know what, but..."

I was explaining and looked down on the big garden where the moonlight was shining on it. And I saw slightly smoke from outside down on the ground floor. Probably someone was smoking.

Gardenia wood?

"My dream is to travel around the world."

Kento senior.

"..."

"Funny, right?"

"No, I thought every kid in this city wanted to take care of the family's business."

"Well, that's true, but traveling is my ultimate dream...How about you?"

"...My ultimate dream is to live peacefully and happily with my mother...outside this place...if we have our own land, it must be very nice. 2 horses, 2 sheep, and tons of cats living near the river or lake. I don't mind. Far away from the chaos."

"..."

"Funny, right?"

"Not at all."

"... What's your plan after graduation?"

I kept asking.

"I'll go to the North Mountain."

"What?" 

"Yeah, I want to start somewhere, and my dad suggested this place. There are many valuable stones from The North Mountain. I know he wants me there for his business, but I take that chance to have fun. Hehe." 

The North Mountain where I was born.

"You?"

He asked.

"Leave this place. I have been working hard for that..."

"...But don't you forget to have fun, Zephyra. I know your situation, but your life needs you too."

"To be honest, Kento senior, without my mother, I really don't know what to do. What I have been working hard for is to help my mother. And I feel like she doesn't have much time left. I need to end business here fast so I can totally have fun..."

"..."

And all of a sudden, the guard ran past our balcony. I turned to see and stepped out immediately.

"Where's Mr. Charon, sir."

He asked Achlys, who was walking toward him.

"He's in the meeting."

"I need to talk to him."

"What is it? tell me."

"Lady Catalina,.. She's gone."

"!!!"

"What!?"

I shouted. 

"Zephyra!"

Achlys called me.

"I gotta go..."

I hurriedly ran out immediately, but Achlys grabbed my wrist first.

"You stay here! I'll tell Father and.."

"!!"

I snapped at him aggressively. I looked into his eyes, and this time, I would not hesitate to listen to myself. I ran out without looking back.

Mother!... Pleasee...

I ran to the door and rushed to the gate, but there was someone's car beside me. I didn't care and tried to run faster. Then, the driver turned down the window. It was a guy with dark red hair.

"I'll drive you. It's faster."

He explained it to me without asking. I quickly got in his car and he drove off right away.

The Flower house

The car wasn't appropriately stopped, but I had already gotten out of the car. I rushed to the room, which had blurring light and soft light through the window.

I saw a few maids and the butler standing outside, and I pushed through them.

"Miss Zephyra!"

They called my name.

"Mother..."

I saw her. 

I saw her body lying down on the bed with her favourite candle on the table beside her bed. I ran to her and didn't realize the Doctor was standing beside me.

Her eyes were closed. 

I bent down my body, raised my hand to her face, moved to her nose, and tried to feel her breath.

"She's gone, Miss."

The Doctor said.

"When?"

"Ah... about 15-20 minutes ago."

"And you're just standing there!?"

I shouted at him.

"!!"

"CPR her."

I yelled at him.

"She stopped breathing, Miss. There's nothing I can do."

"!!"

Then, I immediately got into her bed, kneeled on the soft mattress, straightened my arms, and joined my hands. And pushed up and down her middle chest area.

"Miss!"

And there was another body standing there watching at the door, a red-haired guy waiting outside the room, and his shadow stood out from the rest.

"Miss."

The Doctor still called my name.

"Mother, wake up!!"

"..."

"Please."

"*Panting."

In the middle of the silence, people could hear me panting clearly. 

"Zephyra."

And there was a voice. Achlys said my name at the door.

"Wake up, please!"

I still pushed my hands up and down, my sweat falling down mixed with my tears running down on top of her body, and then I realized that she would never wake up. But my hands were still going crazy.

"Get off me!"

And then Achlys yelled at the red-haired guy who stopped him from coming inside.

"Zephyra, stop."

Achlys told me.

"Please help me...help my mother...please."

I told him while looking at him, but my sight was unclear because it was full of tears.

"Zephyra, please."

He stepped closer and grabbed my hands to stop.

"Help her, please."

I begged him.

"..."

Then he held my body and pulled me out of her body.

"No...No...No! Let me go!!"

I yelled at him.

"Zephyra, she's gone."

"No, I can help!. Hic...hic...This fucking Doctor is useless! I can help."

"You're hurting yourself. You're hurting her, Zephyra."

"...hic...hic."

"She's gone. I'm sorry."

"Achlys...please...hic...hic…help her."

I begged him one last time.

"..."

He said nothing and hugged me so tight that I could hear my cry echoing.