She was offered a place as a student.

And she rejected that offer?!

Plus, from a lot of other schools and universities all over Iduryce!?

Both Eden and Arthur looked at Aediva who chewed at the cake without a single care in the world. Her brow furrowed all the time as she was in the presence of the academy’s principal. Cath looked at Aediva, blinking in disbelief at what he was hearing. Aediva scoffed, still pretty much uninterested.

It does not bode well for the already troubled headmaster.

In the end, he turned to the two boys actively questioning her decision. It was then when an idea struck him and he pulled the two boys away and started whispering - unaware that Aediva’s giving him the stink-eye look.

“W-wait, why are you pulling us away from her!”

“Now, now, I need your little help,” Krow said, dragging the two away.

“Help me out to persuade your friend to enroll in the academy,” Krow said without wasting time. Eden and Arthur frowned, confused.

“But she already rejected the offer?” Arthur replied when Krow let out a long sigh.

She took off from the dorm when Krow was busy persuading both her friends, Cath in tow. Oddly enough, that little monster didn’t seem to explode after hearing that she rejected the seat among the students of the academy. She looked at Cath following her trail - his silver eyes looking at her with curiosity if anything.

“Aediva… It is because of me right?” hearing what Cath said, she stopped in her tracks.

“Stop speaking nonsense” she replied, turning to face the monster standing on his hind leg and looking at Aediva with a look that Aediva really hated seeing. That same look from that day when he failed to bring help from Eden and Arthur.

“... Who would want to be in a school like this?” she said.

What’s the point if I’m there on my own?

“You’re lying. How dare you say an obvious lie to me? The great Cath!” Cath instantly called out on her dishonesty. Aediva looked away.

“Tch. You’re the same. Pretending to be all nice boy to me” she growled.

What about you? Why do I have this congested feeling when I remember what that man said?

“Yours Truly is not dumb! There’s no way I could be a student! So just accept that weird bird man’s offer!” Cath said.

“Hah! So you do know how to use your head. But no, I’m leaving today” Aediva said, turning to her back and starting walking away. Cath charged at her and it didn’t take long for him to climb her back to her back.

“And what are you going to do when you’re outside?! Are we going to sleep outside?” Cath asked, shaking the girl’s head as he started to panic.

“WE?!” Aediva retorted.

“WHAT?! ARE YOU PLANNING TO DITCH ME?! YOU MONSTER!”

“Agh!!! FINE! Fine! It is because of you! Because I know you wouldn’t accept me going to school alone, you dumbass monster!”

Hearing Aediva’s confession, Cath’s ears flattened as he pouted.

“Hah!” he scoffed, crossing his two front legs.

“You’re being so soft it’s starting to gross me out” he said. Aediva furrowed her eyebrow, puffing her cheeks as she grabbed Cath - starting a scuffle between them as they bicker. Until they heard something groaning under them.

“... Ouch” the familiar groggy voice complained. Aediva and Cath looked to the ground and both immediately screeched when seeing icy blue eyes looking at them - holding in the pain of having his stomach stepped on by Aediva.

“Ah!!! Sleepy Boy!!!” the two human-monster pair screamed in panic, stepping aside and kneeling beside the young man with silver hair.

“It’s Aerelle…” he has lost count of the time he repeated his own name for the two to remember.

“Don’t die!” Cath shouted at him. Aerelle let out a sigh and slowly sat up, rubbing at his abdomen before looking at Aediva and Cath panicking at the side.

“I’m fine,” he said. He let out a sigh right after when seeing it did absolutely nothing to ease the panic setting in their system. Aerelle blinked and took out his wand - instantly silencing the two as they looked at him like startled owls with their round silver eyes looking straight at him.

Having to stumble and be stumbled by them all the time for the past two weeks since the school starts, Aerelle learned two things when it comes to the two. They are easily silenced when they see him take out his wand (probably because of the enchanting effect of his wand) and they are silent when there’s food. Thank goodness, he has both things with him. Well, the wand is a must. But the lunchbox made by Marith is definitely a plus to keep them calm and silent - like any other kid, he guessed.

“Sit down here and calm down a bit” he said, his face barely expressionless as ever. Aediva and Cath silently do as he told and immediately their eyes lit up when seeing the lunchbox that silver-haired youth opened and laid in front of them.

“Father made quite a bit for dinner last night. He said to give it to anyone if I can’t finish it on my own” Aerelle said. Aediva and Cath looked at the lunchbox that looked like a sparkling box of jewels. Croquettes, fries, a bunch of salads. Wait, did Sleepy Boy say it was leftovers?

Aediva and Cath thought as they turned their heads to look at Aerelle already stuffing himself with the second lunchbox containing the same thing. Noticing their gazes, he looked at them back.

“What?”

“Sleepy Boy… You’re so generous with your lunchboxes…” Aediva and Cath said with smiles on their faces. Aerelle sighed.

“This is not the first time I shared my lunchbox though…” he murmured. Aediva looked at Cath as he started to dig into the free lunchbox.

“Cath didn’t you just ate a whole cake earlier?” Aediva asked to the monster sitting on her lap. Cath munched at the leafy salad - something Aediva only see if it’s from Aerelle’s lunchbox.

“Room for desserts are different” Cath said, munching away at the croquette. Aediva let out a sigh, suddenly her eyes darkened as the smile on her face fades. Aerelle didn’t say anything until she let out another sigh.

“... So you got the offer from the headmaster?” Aerelle asked. Aediva pouted.

“Yeah, that’s right! She got the offer to become a student and she rejected it! Can you believe that, Sleepy Boy?” Cath complained to Aerelle who didn’t react. He poked at the salad in his lunchbox and tilted his head.

“I see. That’s quite a quick decision. Didn’t think of what you’re going to do once you’re out of the academy grounds?” Aerelle asked. Aediva frowned, enough to answer the young man’s question. She let out yet another sigh.

“... I mean, what if I don’t fit in? What if I…” she muttered under her breath.

“Hmm… So you’re just nervous? You do want to be a student then” Aerelle said. Aediva sighed, her shoulders slumped - didn’t say anything as she stared at the blossoming flowers on the bushes.

“Isn’t it just normal for people to be nervous when they are about to do something new? You… You lost your memories after all, you must be pretty scared too, huh?” the silver-haired youth said.

“And after that sort of treatment you received… And that magical outburst, I guess you would be worried of what people will say as well” Aerelle said again, completely capturing what Aediva was feeling at that moment. Aediva hugged her knees and practically tried to bury her face against her knees.

“... I… Seeing back what I’ve done at the courtyard. I just don’t want to face it anymore… Cath can be angry at me for all I care. He’s just gonna shut up if he’s full anyway” Aediva let out a long sigh as she complained.

“I’ll terrorize your sleep!” Cath said, munching at the last remaining croquette from their free lunch. Aerelle let out a chuckle, making the girl peek at him. Aerelle set the now empty lunch boxes away and laid against the tree, relaxed and a little drowsy - as he usually is.

“You can leave. That’s up to you. Although…” Aerelle paused, his mellow voice sounding clear in Aediva’s ears.

“I caught you looking at us students with what looked like you really wanted to be part of our world. You went to the library after work and read our textbooks. I even caught you listening in to lectures outside of my class once. If you want to be a student, just do it. It’s not all the time that the principal went around chasing a teenager trying to make them one of his students” Aerelle said with a chuckle.

“... You don’t have to feel guilty for what had happened” his next sentence made Aediva flinched. His icy blue eyes trailed to the girl who only stared at him.

“Adults can be scary. But there are those who will help you. Not just adults of course. You got those two friends of yours, right?” he said. Aediva didn’t answer, only contemplating his words as her mind flew to think about both Eden and Arthur.

“And you can force that headmaster to accept that monster as a student. It’s just a little tip though, he’s desperate to keep his neck intact after all sorts of things this past week. It’s impossible for him to say no to you even if you something like, ‘I will be a student of this academy only after you accept Cath as a student as well!’. Why don’t you give that a try?” Aerelle suggested with a subtle tug at his lips.

Aediva looked away at the passing clouds - still contemplating but now with somewhat of a relief in her mind.

“... Mr. Aerelle, you’re really kinda evil are you?” she suddenly chuckled. Aerelle shrugged.

“I think he deserves to have a bit of punishment for being a neglectful figure. I can’t begin to imagine losing my memories when I’m somewhere I barely know without that much help. I admire your bravery and mental fortitude” he said. Relenting, Aediva finally smiles, couldn’t help but enjoy when Aerelle pat the crown of her head.

“... Thank you, Sleepy Boy” she thanked Aerelle, looking at the side all over the sudden as she stood up with Cath ready on her shoulders. The time she looked back, the young man with silver hair was already fast asleep in the shades of the tree. Not wanting to disturb his rest, Aediva walked away towards the familiar voices.

“AEDIVA!!!”

“YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THE HEADMASTER’S OFFER!”

“I agree with what these two are saying!”

A direct persuasion and one with no finesse at all. Aediva let out a sigh with a frown and a smile.

“Fine. Only if Cath becomes a student with me as well. And I still have the free lodging benefits and a full-scholarship. I also want a re-evaluation on the broken chandelier. Make sure these conditions are fulfilled first and I will consider” Aediva said, out loud.

“EH?!! THAT WAS FAST!”

Aediva scoffed.

“I’m being nice. Don’t make me want to go pack my stuff right now and leave” she said with an impassive expression, enjoying the panicked reaction of the three males in front of her. It really does make her wonder just what sort of deal Krow promised the two morons that’s her friends.