"Aster."

Being a Hermit is harder than it looks. Indeed, one could even say that it is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. No respect, no pay, and no recognition. You don't get paid for overtime and the workspace is an unorganized sea of unsanitary waste. The living conditions are barely hospitable and the environment could become hostile as quickly as one flips a coin. They don't even get life insurance for all the hard work that they do.

Life can be so unfair.

"Aster."

Yet, to Aster Spinel, being a Hermit is also the only job that he could imagine himself doing.

A researcher of the arcane arts, albeit an unorthodox one. No restrictions. No one watching what he was doing. The life of a Hermit may be arduous but it is a life of freedom!

Sure, most Hermits are generally classified as loners with no friends and for about ninety percent of the time they're usually right, but that is a small price for a life of liberty and eternal happiness!

Aster was a bit different though. He actually does have friends. Well, a friend.

"Aster!"

In fact, said friend seemed to be calling for him right now. Chocolate brown eyes roved around his surroundings, in search of the form of his only contact to outside life. He spotted a familiar tuft of red hair and a royal blue coat.

Ah, there he is.

"Oleander!" Aster smiled as he welcomed his guest. He waved his arms forward, motioning his only companion to come closer. The red haired man snorted in disgust as he eyed Aster's tattered clothing. Deep red and black stains dyed his once white lab coat. Dirt and grime covered the shirt underneath and his pants could be barely even be called pants at all. "Come here, I got to show you something!"

"I think I'll pass," the man denied though he did slightly close the distance between them. His yellow eyes curiously watched the experiment that the Hermit was working on.

Aster's smile only widened at the man's gaze. He scooped up the fragile item in his hands, hiding it in his muddied gloves. His form vibrated in palpable excitement. It was to be expected. One of the flaws of being a Hermit is that usually you don't get to show the fruits of your labor to anyone. "This is my latest experiment, a revolutionary product of mind! What I have in the palm of my hand could have significant effects on my magical research!" He noticed the distance between them before motioning his friend to come closer.

Oleander quirked an eyebrow at him. "Not in those clothes, I'm not."

"Wha-?! But you've always seen me dressed like this!"

"Yes, but you'll ruin my clothes!"

"I've always ruined your clothes!" No truer words have ever been spoken. In the workplace of a Hermit, especially a Hermit that specializes in Aster's particular field, anything and everything inside usually gets dirty. Of course, for the more delicate operations, Aster has a sanitized and clean lab, albeit a really small one.

"I can't afford for you to dirty these ones, however, Aster." Oleander's response prompted him to look more closely at his attire. Now that he thought about it, his friend looked even more formal than usual. Pure white pants and dress shirts colored his vision with a prominent royal blue coat worn over it.

His keen eyes noticed a small insignia attached to the left breast of the coat. A golden book with two pure white feathers crossing over it. Even to a Hermit, that particular symbol was as familiar as the darkness of his own dirtied room.

"Is that...the symbol for the Fernum-Magnum University?" Aster gasped in wonder. The Institution was known throughout the world as one of the leading centers of magical research ever since its founding 300 years ago. Ever since then, the best and brightest students all over the world gather to its magnificent campus for a chance of being taught by the famed professors working within its walls.

Oleander smiled in glee at the obvious awe in his voice. "You are indeed correct!" His friend momentarily basked at his awe before blinking. "Wait a minute, I thought I told you about this already."

"You did?" Aster scratched his chin as he recalled the past few days where his friend visited him. Now that he thought about it, Oleander did talk about moving to a college of some sorts.

"You...you don't even remember?"

Aster coughed in embarrassment at Oleander's dumbfounded face. "I was actually a bit busy these past few days..." All he could remember was excitedly and passionately finishing up his experiment. When focused on his magical endeavors, it was usually common for him to ignore most of the environment around him.

"I noticed."

"Well..." Aster awkwardly steered away from the incoming disaster. "You're too old to be a student there and you're proficiency with several branches of magic is already at expert level so I don't see why you are going there unless..."

"I'm being hired as a professor there..."

"Oh."

"Oh indeed." Oleander's voice was only becoming more deadpanned as the conversation continued. "I recall telling you all about this before, Aster."

"Well, like I said, I was rather-"

"Busy," Oleander rolled his eyes before sighing. "Yeah, you don't have to say it twice. I just wanted to say one last goodbye before leaving but I guess that I won't be missed."

"But I will miss you!" Aster protested, his muddied gloves finally releasing the experiment from the darkness of his palms. The oval shaped item started glowing green with natural energy. "Who else would I recite my wonderfully genius ideas with!"

"You could leave this hole you call a house for a start." Oleander's eyes noticed the magical radiation that's spilling out of the seed in his hands. His form tensed and his motions became wary.

"Nonsense! To a Hermit, what you just spouted off your tainted mouth is heresy!"

"It's not heresy if it's the truth though," Oleander idly responded before staring cautiously at the glowing item on his hand. "Aster, I think you should-" Oleander's response was abruptly cut off as Aster's tirade continued. The glow of the seed grew brighter.

"No! Do not say a single word, heretic! Who knows what else that twisted mouth of yours will say!"

"Aste-"

"No!"

"Seriousl-!"

"Never!"

"The see-!"

"Silence!"

"Aster!"

"What!" He slammed his fists on the wooden table. The silence that occurred after held a sort of tension that the Hermit never intended to receive. He gazed quizzically at Oleander who was pointing at a blindly green glow coming from his hands.

His eyes moved towards the seed. He could sense the powerful magical radiation that is leaking off of its small form. To the researcher, that much magical energy was never supposed to be released at such a steady rate.

That could only mean...

"Oh shi-!"

XXX

To the nearby towns, several residents would report seeing a green pillar of magical energy pierce the sky. Some of the residents would then continue saying that they heard an almost demonic scream of hatred soon afterwards.