In the days following, his deep miasma gauge remained high. His superficial miasma would rise and fall unexplainably. You would find him drawing first thing in the morning. Same during mid-morning breaks, same during lunch.

He was disregarding lunch. So once, I bought him bread. Both his deep miasma gauge and superficial misama shot up.

But to my surprise, he said thank you with a troubled expression. I expected him to lash out.

He wanted to pay me back for it but I declined. I’m just glad he ate.

I don’t understand. I did something good, so why did Avner become more bitter? I made his miasma gauge rise, so why didn’t he blow up?

If Avner can hold his miasma gauge at such a threshold, why couldn’t my parents? They would’ve exploded into a flurry if their gauge was this high.

When it came Friday, our training session, Avner approached me to remind me of our visit to Cain’s office. Which was relieving.

But it begged the question, what was troubling Avner? He was trying his best to suppress his feelings. I can tell from how quiet he had become the past few days. Ares had also been avoiding him.

Over the past few days of observation, I notice something like his deep miasma gauge being converted into superficial miasma.

Could deep miasma be grudge? And superficial miasma be emotional turmoil? Grudge, as in something that sticks with you for a prolonged period, but emotional turmoil as in something that can be released.

Grudge wasn’t limited to others. It could be a grudge against himself?

The uncomfortable sensation of being pulled out of my body came to me as we entered this black and white world once again.

“Finally, I get a break.”

“What’s wrong, Avner?”

“Just stressing over my work, that’s all.”

“Do you wish to express your concerns?”

“No thank you. I’m good.”

You’re no good Avner. You should tell Cain.

“I haven’t procured any good weapons since the last ones you broke, I apologize for that.”

“It’s no big deal. So with Pu’er here, how will you attempt to train us?”

“I intend to prod the capabilities of hirs strength first.”

“Eh.”

“Pu’er, good luck.”

“What do you..”

A floating light orb with angel wings floated in front of me.

“Do your best to escape.”

“Eh?”

I was hit by the laser before I could react.

{WARNING: EROSION VALUE: CRITICAL}

The world was spinning around me, my head hurt. Like something had been stabbed into my brain. The world was still black and white, my body felt incredibly heavy. I couldn’t think straight.

I was about to pass out falling when a soft warmth enveloped me. It was Avner. He supported me in his arms.

“What did you do?!”

“This.. isn't right, I had thought that..”

“Pu’er, are you alright? Hello?!”

“I’m alright, what happened?”

Avner was concerned for me, what a bubbly sensation.

“What are you thinking?! Mister Cain, Pu’er isn’t like me!”

“M-My apologies.”

Avner’s superficial miasma gauge is dropping, his deep miasma gauge is climbing.

It only makes me confused, seeing how the interaction between the two plays out. I don’t know anymore.

“Will xe be alright if xe leaves this space?”

“Xe’ll suffer from some headaches..”

“Xe won’t lose any memories right?”

“No, xe won’t. I held back.”

Avner said nothing more and laid me on the ground. With the legendary lap pillow. Ah, we meet again.

“Are there no healing items? Will xe recover?”

“Xe will recover naturally if we wait long enough. But I have recovery potions at hand. “

“How long does it take for natural recovery?”

“It varies.”

“Pu’er how are you feeling, do you feel pain anywhere?”

“I feel dizzy, and want to vomit, hehe.”

It’s getting worse. Ugh.

“Pu’er, I’m sorry.”

Cain came over with some sort of bottled liquid. I was forced to drink it. It had no taste.

{WARNING: EROSION VALUE: DANGER}

{WARNING: EROSION VALUE: MODERATE}

I feel way, way better now.

“Can you stand?”

“I’ll try.”

I still stagger when I stand though.

“Can you move?”

“It feels kinda heavy.”

Come to think of it, I was just shot in the head by that light orb, wasn’t I? Was I supposed to dodge that?

Scary! I didn’t even know!

I rubbed my forehead.

“I’ll have no choice but to leave you out for today’s session. I’m sorry, truly. It was a blunder of mine.”

“It’s alright.. did you do the same thing to Avner?”

“Yes.”

“Ah..”

I turned to him, he was glaring at Cain– his superficial miasma gauge dropped a little more.

I don’t get it. What is it that causes it to fall?

For the remainder of the session, I watched Avner and Cain duke it out with each other. I couldn’t help but think I’ve joined some anime world. There’s no way I can move my body like that. Absolutely no way!

Nonetheless, I’m just glad Avner was able to relieve some of his pent up stress by absolutely destroying Cain. Why is he so good?! He’s so cool?! Aren’t we both fledglings?!

===

The weekend passed, I was back to school. Safe haven! I’ll finally get to see Avner again. I can’t wait for this Friday. I want to try again, this time I’ll be more careful.

{EROSION VALUE: 88}

Anything below 10 is CRITICAL.

DANGER is below 30.

MODERATE is below 60.

LIGHT is below 80.

I don’t think there’s a word for above 80.

The headache outside the astral space was the worst. I was glad it recovered before class ended that day.

I got to class with jumpy strides.

Until I saw Avner’s miasma gauge which.. didn’t fall. What’s going on?

“Morning Avner.”

“Morning.”

“Are you.. alright?”

“I’m fine, just don’t disturb me. I’m sorry.”

“Okay..”

The same thing happened on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. He’s trying to isolate himself from the world. Ares didn’t even talk to him that week. He did ask me why, but I had no answer to it either.

“You know, there’s a positive NtBM case in this school.”

“Huh, really?”

“It’s true you know, from class 4I.”

“4I?”

“Lynda Sparks.”

“Don’t tell me it’s the person Avner..”

Brunette nodded.

No way.

You don’t mean.. Avner was right? How?

Wait, what if this has to do with why he’s so bitter?

“What happened to the person?”

“She’s being hospitalized right now, from what I heard. I don’t know if there’s going to be news about our school, can’t wait.”

“It’s not a joke.”

“I know it’s not. Hey, do you think Avner did something? He’s been.. very quiet lately.”

I peeked at Avner again. He was flat on his desk, resting.

“I don’t know.”

I need to ask him. I can’t just sit back and watch.

Did the two really have something going on between them?