I ate breakfast.

It was good and yet, I didn't taste anything. The food wasn't bad and it was mostly just my favorites: Maybe it was just me.

After breakfast, I got ready to head out by nine.

Class was going to start at ten, so technically I still had plenty of time.

"By the way, what happened to your sword?"

But before I could get out of here, mom caught me. I guess I couldn't really get out of her sight unnoticed.

"I kind of gave it to someone to refine it." Of course, I could have made up excuses like how I forgot it in my room and stuff. But I didn't want to fall down that rabbit hole.

"Really?" Mom wasn't buying it. She looked at me with loads of suspicions. "You don't happen to be thinking of selling it, are you?"

"No, not at all. I wouldn't even dream of selling it." I already had that dream for two nights straight though. "Besides, I plan to get a good core for my new saber and-"

In the heat of the moment, I might have spilled the beans. For a second I forgot that mom was actually against me fighting.

"You have a new saber and now you're going to fight Mutors?" Mom had a very disapproving glare and I didn't have an excuse.

Marg was literally standing just right next to me. While Elsa was groveling plain cereals. I still didn't know why she had so much animosity towards milk.

"Let's get out of here," I whispered.

"I can hear you, you know." Mom sighed and came closer. "I think we actually have a core in the house too: Your grandfather had brought it, the day before all that happened. I never got around to selling it."

"Keep it. If I can't even get a core on my own, then how am I going to become an explorer?"

Mom sighed again. "Why did you have to be like him. Alright, off you go." Though she gave me permission, she sure didn't stop glaring.

"I-I'll try to be careful."

Marg grabbed my arm for the first time ever with both her hands. I thought she didn't need physical touch to teleport.

Her chest was barely touching my arm.

"Oh my." Mom smirked.

I didn't like where this was going.

"Hey, get your paws off him!" Water came flying towards us from Elsa's direction.

But we teleported before anything could happen.

I'd actually closed my eyes at the last moment and when I opened my eyes, I was back in my room. Marg quickly moved away.

Elsa always did have weird reservations when it came to me. But I never thought she'd actually straight up, try to drown us of all things.

With a sigh of relief, I sat down on my bed. "Thanks, Marg." I didn't know why she ended up grabbing me like that but I still owed her. I looked at Merin and he was pale. "What?"

I looked back at Marg and she was also pale.

Reluctantly, I turned to my left. I had a very bad feeling that I wasn't alone on my bed.

"Welcome," the answer came with a smile.

There was a girl right next to me, also seated. Her blonde hair was overflowing, and the two wings on her back were sticking out like she was ready to gut me.

"H-HI. What do I owe this pleasure?"

"Well, when two of our students disappear and they both just happen to be from influential families, it's obvious we'd look into it, right?" She fired back the question at me with a smile. But there was nothing joyful about that appearance.

I didn't actually have an excuse. But I wasn't in the best of moods either. "Sorry about that. Next time, I'll give the prefects a notice before going back home. Would that be okay?" My voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Oh? I thought you wouldn't admit it and just make excuses. But would you mind explaining how you two ended up in your home and spent the night together? As you might be already aware of, such activities are forbidden in this academy."

"I'm pretty sure, anything is fine as long as no one is caught. And I don't think you have any authority over what I do or who I sleep with. And for the record, she was with my sister, not me. Moving on, if you plan on giving me detention, be my guest."

It didn't take a genius to know what she was referring to. But I wasn't some animal either. I had respect for Marg and she was my trusted friend.

The girl looked at me with no emotion in particular. "I was going to do just that. But since both of you are this academy's top contenders for the newcomer's tournament, the headmaster would eat me alive if I were to ground you." I could see the horror in her face already. The headmaster probably did something to her in the past. "I'd advise you to not get caught then. After all, who knows, you might even get expelled."

I guess she had her fair share of trouble too. But I sure didn't like her way of talking. After all, a lot of stuff happened in this academy and with consent too. So who was she to say otherwise?

But I couldn't deny that she had a point. "Alright, I understand. I'll keep that in mind. Would that be all?"

"For you, yes. But-" The girl- Rose, went close to Marg. "I have a letter in your name. It was an urgent letter and because of it, I had to personally see to that it was handed to you." She sighed. No wonder she was here. "Here."

Marg looked at the letter and then at the sender. She looked a bit troubled but she then looked at me. "Alright, I'll see you later."

"Yeah, and thanks again."

"You're welcome." Marg smiled and left.

Lately, she was a little more expressive. I guess she just found it a bit hard to adjust till now. But as her friend, I was glad to see this development.

"My work here is done too. And though I know from history that you lot won't change, do try to not get into more trouble. I'm tired of cleaning after your messes."

Again, I didn't like the attitude. And I certainly wasn't in the mood to listen to all that. And yet, "Yeah, sorry about that. And good job."

"Wah-" She was so mad that her cheeks were flushed, and before I could say a word, she stomped out of here.

"Heh! Smooth." Merin finally let out a chuckle. Was this guy just pretending all this time or something? "First the hand in hand action and now you hit on the leader of the prefects, not bad." He gave me the best smug smirk he could make. "But I must say, never thought her to be a liker of carrots and sticks. I bet she's a bottom."

'Yeah, no one asked for your commentary.'

I wanted to punch his lights out, but I contained myself.

***

After sorting everything I went out for the classes. I didn't have any practical classes for this week either. The teacher didn't really give any assignments for this week either. I guess he knew we'd be busy with the tournament and all. This stuff still felt a bit random though.

There weren't many stares today either. Frankly, I didn't care.

I felt strangely empty today. I was sad but I wasn't overwhelmed. After carefully thinking about everything, I could relate that I was sad. But since I didn't have any memories of gramps, and I didn't know him either, I didn't feel that sad. And this very reason was eating me alive. My only memories of him were vague and I couldn't remember anything due to this seal.

I wanted to remember.

I wanted to be sad.

I was frustrated.

But I did have something else on my mind.

'Should I really do this alone?'

I was debating on whether I should have gone to the volcano alone or not. I did know people, but if I always relied on other people then how was I supposed to grow?

I didn't know. Everything just felt cumbersome. And my heart was restless.

Walking around was cumbersome too.

Before I knew it, I reached the classroom and took my seat. I didn't look at anyone in particular. I didn't say a word and just stared at the whiteboard.

'But if I was infected then how am I still alive? They sealed my powers, but the virus was still supposed to be in me. So how come, the tests never showed off any results?'

I didn't know why I hadn't thought of that before, but now that I thought carefully, some things didn't add up. I'd never known about a rare variant. But I was willing to believe that. But if it was rare and didn't have a cure, so how was I cured? Why didn't I have the virus in my system?

I understood the stuff about sealing my powers and making sure my body didn't burst and stuff, but what about the main reason. What happened to the cause of all this?

But honestly, at this point, I didn't even want to care anymore. I didn't want to dig more into the past. I didn't want more depression.

I already had enough.

'Guess, I'll just head there alone and get the core.'

And my decision was also made.