Prince of The Abyss

Aether walked through the halls of the Academy, but there was something weird... the students, they didn’t seem that... avoidant anymore. He didn’t know why, but since yesterday, when he had met some, they seemed... nicer?

They smiled at him, and some even waved as they passed. It was strange, but at the same time he didn’t mind it at all. It was nice not to be hated by everyone. But why? Had they realized that maybe he wasn’t that bad... though... why was it mostly girls that were like this?

There were still some that kept their distance and didn’t want to come to him, but he knew that one day couldn’t make them like him.

’It is weird, since most that ignore me are all guys...’

Aether shrugged; he didn’t understand what was happening, but neither was he going to question it really; he didn’t have a reason to do so.

Aether looked at his list of classes.

’Team Coordination?’

Aether stared at the words... so this was going to be something in teams; it was a good thing that he had made some... well, not friends but acquaintances yesterday, so at least he wasn’t going to be the last remaining, well, hopefully.

Aether walked through the Academy, trying to find his class. He had gotten a bit used to the layout, but at the same time, he didn’t fully know it like the back of his hand... and this class really was pretty hard to find.

Though... he could just ask a shadow-

”Um, excuse me, are you lost?” Aether’s eyes widened as a girl approached him. She smirked at him. She seemed like a bold one, definitely not shy. And one hundred percent an extrovert. She wore the Blue Rose with honor.

Aether nodded. ”I’m trying to find the Team Coordination classroom.”

The girl’s eyes lit up. ”Oh really? That’s my class also; come, I’ll show it to you.”

As the student started walking, Aether folowing, he had to say there had to be something going on; after all, how did he go from being criticized to the ground and hated to this? I mean, yesterday someone had spent their money to buy dessert... even if it was probably nothing for them, still. And now she had someone approach him to help him around.

...

And yet, he could still feel a lot of gazes on him... yet they felt different. And more importantly, they looked away when he turned to face them, but not in disgust; it was almost as if they were nervous...

”Do you have a team?”

The girl asked, making Aether come back to reality and glance at her. ”I don’t know.”

The student smiled. ”Then maybe we can team up.”

Aether blinked twice. ”...yeah.”

...

...

...

Entering the classroom, Aether saw all the students in one line, so he just randomly entered the line... what he didn’t expect was to sit right next to fate itself.

Looking to his left, Aether saw Sena... he saw quite a surprise; she was attending the class? Why? He would have definitely expected this to be a definite skip for her. But maybe he was wrong.

”Didn’t expect you here?” Aether said calmly. Nova turned her head at him, tilting her head, as she took out the lollipop from her mouth. ”Why not? I mean, you were attending, and this class is perfect since it’s in Teams.”

’And what is she trying to say exactly?’

”What do I have to do with you coming to class, and where do you even get so many of those? I couldn’t find any when I searched for them.”

Sena laughed. ”These? She said, pointing at her lollipop. They are relics; they help with my mind, since I have to keep control over not only mine but also those under me? And I wanted to see what abilities the Aby-”

Aether quickly covered her mouth so she wouldn’t tell everyone who he really was. ”Eden, just say Eden when you want to call me that.”

Sena just shrugged her shoulders before nodding.

Aether sighed, relieved, as he let his hands fall beside him.

”You wanted to see my abilities? Well, I don’t really have that many, just one, so it’s not like there’s a lot to see. And what the heck do you mean by having to keep control over the mind of others?”

Sena winked before looking away and ignoring him.

Aether shook his head in defeat; he knew he wouldn’t get any more information from this girl...

Looking around in the line, Aether also noticed Iris in the crowd; she looked quite happy, like really happy. There was also... Lilith... this guy had also come to class.... why? Didn’t he have anything better to do?

But before he could curse the guy even more in his mind, the teacher finally spoke up. She seemed to be a woman, in her late thirties... though, if he had to say, who knew how old she really was. Since Awakened lived a lot longer, she wore glasses, which made him wonder if they were relics or if she really had problems.

She stepped in front of a door. ”Alright, class, as everyone knows, we will be picking teams of two to enter today’s challenge and see who has the fastest time. Of course, if you fail to get a specific time, I will keep it in mind, and together with the rest of the times through the week, it will make your grade. So be sure to do it as fast as possible.

She stepped away from the door.

”Like always, I will call up the three Vessels first to choose, but I’m sure there will only be two, since we know who Lilith is going to choose, right?” She winked at Iris.

’So then... does that mean that Sena will also have priority... eh, I mean, it really doesn’t matter to me who I pair up with; I just don’t want to be the last to find a pair, and if she picks me, at least I have someone who knows who I am, and I don’t have to hold back.’

But he did feel a bit bad for the girl he had met before class, and had walked him over here.

Aether watched as Lilith walked to the front of the class, looking around.

Turning his head to Sena, Aether asked. ”Who do you think he’s going to choose?” And Fate responded quickly and calmly. ”Iris, they always go together; they even have the record in this specific challenge.

That should be expected; I mean, Lilith wasn’t far from being a monster; of course, he would have records.

The teacher glanced at Lilith. ”Have you made your decision?” She seemed to be sure she already knew who he was going to pick. She hardly even gave him any time to think about it, but at the same time, if he and Iris really always went together, he was surprised she even had him choose. If he were the student, he would have just made them a team already and let Sena be the first one to choose.

But I guess who knows; maybe Lilith will want to try something else.

Lilith nodded. Before speaking up. ”I choose-”

Before he could even finish, the teacher spoke up. ”Already, Iris, come here-”

...

”Aether.”

...

...

”Huh?” The teacher said, confused, not believing she had heard what he had said right.

Lilith laughed. ”I said I chose Aether, you know, the new kid from the Withered? I mean, it’s hard to mishear Iris when I said Aether, is it?” He then turned to glance at him.

Looking around, the whole class had gone quiet; even Sena looked surprised, but at the same time, she was more annoyed than anything. Iris looked the most confused out of all, but I guess you could understand her. After all, this must really be a shock; heck, she probably felt betrayed.

Turning to look back at Lilith, he frowned.

Getting out of her trance, the teacher finally spoke out. ”Um... of course. Aether, come here.”

’Do I really not have any choice in this?’ He sighed as he walked to the front of the class, making eye contact with Freedom before standing by his side.

He could feel him staring at him with the side of his eyes; it was annoyed, really annoying. What was he trying to prove here? What was his plan? He had to have had a reason to choose him, so what was it? He needed to figure it out.

Was he trying to humiliate him, or... was he trying to see how strong he was? He was so unpredictable that he really had no idea what was going on inside that mind of his.

Suddenly the door behind him opened, catching of guard. Beyond it was only a white glow. But who knows what will happen when he stepped through it... after all, this had to be some sort of Affinity.

The teacher cleared her throat. ”Be ready; when you enter you time starts...

now go.”