I prepared myself mentally for the coming battle.

Which didn’t happen.

“Morning Avner.”

Because this mine was set by none other than the white-haired angel, Pu’er Greenwood.

“Morning Pu’er. Anything?”

“I was just testing my mines. Um.. why are you late today?”

“My aether woke up late, we had late breakfast, and I came late. That’s why.”

“Oh, okay. I thought something bad happened.. did it?”

Xe kept looking above me.

“Is there anything on my head?”

“A reddish-black crown. And your miasma gauge.”

A red crown? I tried waving my hand above me. I received a response of laughter. There’s nothing. Maybe it’s to do with an angel’s ability to detect certain things?

Then why don’t I see anything like a halo on Pu’er’s head? Wait, xe’s a submarine, that’s why.

“Are we done here?”

“Do you have any plans for today.. you’re going to meet Mister Cain later?”

I nodded.

“For training again? Actually, I do have a question. How do you fight so well?”

“I don’t know how either. I just can. I think it’s to do with Avner’s memories, his past life.”

“Ah, that means I have a past life too.. do you think we ever met?”

You were my advisor.

I shrugged without saying anything.

“I wonder what happened back then..”

I wonder too. Where exactly did Pu’er Julis disappear to? Will she appear again?

I’ve given some thought about this weird phenomenon. In the end, I decided it was best to leave hir under the dark. It would only make hir worry if I told hir that there’s another hir inside hir.

“Can we train together? Mister Cain is your mentor right? Since I’m an angel, I’ll also have to learn to fight.”

“I think Mister Cain will tell me to drag you into the training even if you don’t ask him for it.”

“Okay, then let’s go!”

The sounds of thundering waves, my stomach spun into a pretzel. I tripped and knocked into Ares.

“Oi?! What the hell man? You okay?!”

“I’m fine, thanks,” I glared at Pu’er who had hirs forehead pressed on the table.

This is a sensation we wouldn’t get used to anytime soon.

“Was there anything to trip on?”

“I tripped on a mine.”

“What? Mine?”

“I don’t know.”

I placed my bag down on my seat and walked out of class. Ares followed me a few meters.

“Where’chya going this fine morning? You hadn’t even talked to me properly.”

“I need to go meet a teacher.”

“Oh, who?”

“Mister Cain.”

“Who’s that?”

“Someone from the baking club.”

“So you’re serious about joining the club?”

“Yes.”

“Good luck then, I’ll go back to class,” he patted me twice on the shoulders and went the other way.

I’m glad he left now because before heading over to the teacher’s office, I need to find Lynda first.

[“Wait for me in front of the teacher’s office”]

“I’m here already.”

Lynda intercepted me at the stairs. Her orange hair didn’t match the pale complexion of her face.

“You don’t look good.”

“If I try anything weird, just run away.”

[“There are cameras around, be careful of what you say.”]

[“Good point.”]

We passed the checkpoint without a hitch and made our way to Mister Cain’s office quarters.

“Good morning.”

“Morning Mister Cain.”

“Morning teacher.”

Cain is a senior teacher. Though he looks to be about 70, the vitality within him still roars strong. He’s from the angel faction. And he almost killed me.

“I’ve already contacted a friend from a friend I know. Xe is free after 2, so I can only arrange time from 2 to 4 pm. You’ll have to skip your afternoon electives.”

Lynda’s expression turned grave.

“Avner, what exactly are you going to do?”

“I plan to get you to the hospital in the afternoon. Mister Cain will help us with that.”

“What?!”

“I have heard a gist of your situation. It’s confidential, so I won’t let anyone else know about this. Since Avner has requested it, I’ll do what I can to help you.”

“Okay. Fine.”

My class for today ends at 2:30 pm, I’ll have to come up with some excuse.

This is troublesome. I forgot to consider the time it would take to travel to the hospital and back, an hour isn’t enough.

“Mister Cain, could I ask you to call my parents to tell them I have a project to work on and will only be able to return at 4? Here’s their contact.”

“You have a project. What project?”

“Short self-study session on geography.”

“What kind of excuse..”

“Okay.”

Lynda found the situation ridiculous as I clutched onto whatever straws were present. I’m doing this to prevent a future which would have otherwise been fine to have.

I’ll need to tell Lia that I’m going to stay back later.

The call succeeded. Looks like Mister Cain’s seniority gave it extra persuasive power.

“Thank you.”

“Anything else? You should return to your class if not.”

“Anything?” I asked Lynda.

“No. So I just have to bear it till later in the afternoon.”

“That’s the only option we have.”

And so the plan was decided.

Lynda and I made it out of the teacher’s office. The hallway was now quiet as class was already underway.

“How did you know?”

“About your disease? Because this is a story world. I know a little about the future.”

“What? You’re joking.”

“Do I sound like I’m joking? Anyways, I’ll be off now. See you later.”

“Right.. see you.”

===

dotturndot: I wonder if the teacher’s call would’ve been persuasive enough to give the AOK in reality. But owh well, this is a story. Have you ever lied to your parents that you need to stay back at school just to hang out with your friends? I don’t think I’ve ever (overly obedient).