Achan's P.O.V
"So, this is my faculty building while yours is here- why are they both on the effing opposite side of the campus?!" Ori yelled after looking at the map of the university on his phone.
"Dude, isn't it great? The three of us as freshmen of the great Azuden University? Finally, we're all college students!" Sorene squeaked in excitement.
Didn't she just graduate here a year ago?!
"Yeah, but it's a shame that I already enrolled in Fine Arts- I could have become a Nurse like you!" Ori sighed, staring at me.
"Well, can you finally handle needles?!" I leaned towards him and smiled.
"Oooh, burned!" Sorene teased him after his face turned red.
"We- Well, it's still a good i- idea that you're far from me... I'm still moving on, right?!" He stepped back and looked away.
Sorene giggled on the side.
"It's your fault for being a little kid, you just turned 19 while he's already 24- I know it's not a huge age gap, but for him, it is, bahaha!" Sorene couldn't stop laughing.
It's Ori's fault for telling her our thing!
"Sorene, don't be harsh on the person you're supposed to be protecting!" I glared at her.
"Sorry father- I mean big brother!" She giggled before running behind Ori to hide from me.
"Well, I did propose this, I guess I should have prepared myself to be hurt!" Ori pouted and started walking onto the campus.
"Ori?" I sighed.
Was it too soon? He's the one acting all normal, but when I do it, he crumbles...
"Don't worry about that guy, focus on finding your faculty before the class starts, I'll deal with this brokenhearted boy!" She laughed before starting to walk inside the gate.
"Wait, at least tell me where we would meet up for lunch, I need to treat him on a meal or two as a-" I stopped in my tracks when she turned to face me.
"Dude, don't give him false hope, if you're not sure about what you feel for him, distance yourself for a moment. Meet new people, have fun, that's his plan for you. Besides, you're both brokenhearted, I don't wanna see y'all break each other even more!" Sorene waved goodbye before continuing her walk.
I guess she's right, Ori did suggest enrolling me in the same university, that way, we three could protect each other while Grama still deals with the Old Man.
But he's still trying his best to get me out of his life. It would be hard, but it's the best for both of us!
"Why do they have to complicate their lives? They could have been together and lived happily, but no! The other one must have a different kind of affection, while the other one has to just deal with it... *Sigh* What a sad but not sad sad life!" I heard Sorene's whining before she completely left my sight.
"It's not that I have a different kind of affection... It's just, someone's already in here!" I whispered to myself as I walked on the other side of the campus.
"Let me lend you a hand, the Maiden's Remains is quite a handy Curse. Merging our Cores would be easier!"
"You didn't wait for me?"
I recalled Ori's words from that day.
We weren't fortunate enough to meet at the right time, we were both always on the brink of death, one foot stepped into the grave. And we cannot do anything about it, our family's background was too complicated to begin with, and when the right time came, we were too far apart!
*Sigh*
"It's a great idea, right? I guess you could move outside my office, there are only the two of you left in your department, right? That way I could easily order you around!"
"Well, if you insist... Just so you know, you only have this afternoon to move all your stuff or I'll let the Maintenance Department keep everything to themselves!"
Uther's words kept resurfacing in my head, his annoying smirk appearing as crystal clear in my mind!
"She told me a couple of things, like how hard the work would be now that there's a new temporary CEO. And you being punished by the Boss because of something a Manager did?"
"Why is he punishing you, though? Didn't that Manager attack you? Why is it you instead of that jerk?" Elle turned to me.
"Maybe because he's scared of what you could do, that's why he's trying to keep you on your toes!" She said.
Elle's words kept repeating in my head, making it harder for me to forget the Young Master's.
"Let's just hope that this choice is the best one!" I told myself as I sat down in the library to sleep the rest of the lunch break.
Flashback:
"Grama's still not coming back?!" I asked after dropping all my bags on their front doorstep.
"NOPE!" Sorene answered anxiously.
"Okay, Grama, take care!" I heard Ori's voice inside their house.
"How's your trip? Did you settle everything back in your hometown?" Sorene waved her hand, and a bunch of Fairies appeared and helped us carry my luggage inside Grama's house.
"Achan? You're back!" Ori ran to hug me after popping the Magic Circle on his forehead.
Telepathy, he must have just been talking to Grama.
"I won't be staying long. I just have to decide which school to enroll in. Once that's settled, I'll find the right condo, move in, and start fresh immediately!"
"Huh? Wouldn't that be the dumbest idea that you've ever thought of?" Sorene's face crumpled in disgust.
"What?!" I was offended.
"I don't wanna say it, but she has a slightly good point!"
"What?" I turned to Ori.
"I knew I said that we'll bid farewell to each other after all these... But after what Grama said, I don't think I'll be at peace to think that you'll be living alone, again!" Ori looked at me with those worried eyes of his.
"Then, what are you guys suggesting? I can't live with you!" I patted his head and stared at Sorene with disgust.
Hoping that Ori would think that I meant my words for her, not him.
I can't possibly let myself hurt him more!
"Don't worry, we're not gonna live here, school starts next week... We should go now, Grama already prepared three apartments for us to live in, next to the university, we're going!" Ori smiled as he revealed one of his newer schemes.
"Ori?!" I gasped in disbelief.
He promised me that he would no longer help me like he used to!
"What? It's not like you'll be living with me, we're a few blocks apart, that way, our presence is concealed among the other People with Gifts in the area!" Ori explained.
"And also, we'll be collecting a monthly rent payment. You're rich rich, righ- OUCH!" Sorene flung herself on the floor, rolling from the pain of Ori's jab on her forehead.
"Don't listen to that one, I'm only doing this because Grama told me. We won't be seeing each other that much anyway!" He shrugged and helped me carry the bag on my shoulder.
*Sigh*
"Mister Allare?" A familiar voice woke me up.
I immediately removed my face from the library desk and sought the woman's voice.
"What are you doing here?" A woman dressed like the school's professor greeted me.
I stared at her for a moment as I tried to recall her voice, it's too familiar, but her looks didn't give it away!
"Clear!" I heard another familiar voice.
A man who looked like the librarian walked into my table and smiled at me, his face covered with a beard and thick eyebrows.
"Who are you people?!" I immediately stood up and alerted myself when suspicion came to my senses.
There's no way I couldn't recognize the faces of this school's staff, Ori and I browsed through every member of this University to make sure there's no one from the Society. And with those obvious fake lashes and beard, they gave it away!
"Oh no, I knew it, he's brainwashed!" Another woman stepped in our direction with a furious face.
With her rush on the scene, I quickly grabbed my bag and looked for Ori's Sigils.
"What are you people on about?!" I screamed when they tried to grab me.
With haste, I waved the piece of paper in the air.
"Stop him!" The older woman yelled.
"With the Sigil on my hand, I call for clarity in the unse-" I was caught off guard when a hand grabbed the Sigil and pulled me away.
I just watched them smile as the mysterious owner of the hands pulled me by my waist.
"What have they done to you? Tell me, how can I remove this Spell!" He whispered as his hand slowly caressed my cheek, while the other, locked on my waist, keeping me from getting away.
My eyes widened, shocked to see the owner's face.
"Yo- Young Master?!" I murmured.
He's the last person I would want to meet on this planet, yet here he is!
"So, you still remember me?" He smiled, eyes full of longing, despair.
"Yo- You can't be here? Sorene's Cloaking Spell should be working!" I whispered as I stared at the invisible Fairy, hovering on my shoulder.
"The owner's daughter of Santi Cosmetic? Are they Witches?!" He mumbled.
He seemed to be doing just fine, I'm glad...
*Sigh*
I tried to push him away, but he just tightened his grip on my waist, pulling our bodies closer. I can feel the warmth on his chest as his breath greets my senses.
"Let me go-"
"Why are they keeping you in here? The place where that man lived? And who's the other woman you're with? Why is her background well hidden?" He bombarded me with questions while his face leaned closer to mine.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" I whispered between my breaths.
He's too close, I can't focus, my thoughts are too cluttered with his presence!
"The Azudeno guy, the one who visited you on the island!"
"You know about him too?!"
Upon hearing that from him, I slowly placed my head on his chest, seeing if his heart was still beating normally.
"You're... Fine?" He whispered before placing his arms around me.
"Wha- What's wrong with you?!" I pushed him away.
He seemed okay, the First Mage might have permitted him to learn about him, after all, he's a victim of one of his Forbidden Curses!
"I don't care anymore!" He mumbled before pinning me to the wall.
What the?
"Uther Moralez, you might be forgetting that I have the power to-" My mouth was forced shut.
His lips locked into mine, filled with passion, longing, and heat... Wait a minute? What are we doing?!
"Get off of me!" I screamed and tried to push him after realizing what he had done.
"Don't act like you didn't kiss me back, I know you're there, Achan, let me through!" He held both my hands and pushed me back to the wall.
His face resting on my neck, exhaling a hot, exhilarating air that sent a shiver down my spine. Rocking my senses, making my chest pound faster, stomach flutter!
"I missed you!" He whispered in my ear before kissing my neck.
"Fuck!" I uttered after my body couldn't resist him anymore.
What is going on? This is not the fresh start that I imagined...
***
Uther's P.O.V
"Boss, they disappeared!" Miss Irene ran into my office, panicking.
"How did that happen? We placed a dozen watchmen in their place. How did you lose them?!" I slammed my table in anger.
"It's a high chance they teleported, it's rumoured that powerful Witches could do that!" Elle gave me her tablet filled with her research on Witchcraft.
"Then we must hire Witches too, see if Beucraf could lend a hand!"
"But Boss?" Miss Irene tried to disagree with my decision, but I've already decided.
"We won't say he's a Craftsman, that's not the information that I'll sell... It's mine!" I stared at her, touching my chest.
"You-You're not gonna sacrifice yourself for him, aren't you?!" Miss Irene gasped.
"For him, I'm willing to sacrifice everything!" I mumbled.
A few days had passed, and my silence was abruptly interrupted when a familiar, reliable woman stormed into my office, for the hundredth time.
"Everything's set, Miss Maine already found their location, and they already secured Achan's whereabouts, he's alone right now, we only have a few hours- Boss? Aren't you gonna let me finish?" Elle yelled as she ran after me.
"The team's set, Miss Maine told us that the Beucraf would not interfere, as long as you'd keep your end of your deal!" Miss Irene explained after greeting us on the rooftop of our building.
"Baby, go faster!" Chief Clarence, dressed in a janitor's outfit, wearing a fake beard and a mustache, whispered to our Winged One.
We all boarded the Enchanted helicopter, and after a few seconds, we arrived at the city where Achan is.
"Palseng City, where the God named Azuden lived, a few hundred thousand years ago. If he's indeed here, then you're in luck, for that God has no longer authority in this world. But if you say he's with a man named Azudeno, you should hurry before he finds another Darkness to use as his gateway!" Miss Maine, the head of Beucraf, uttered, welcoming our arrival.
Beucraf, an organization of People with Gifts, or what they call Craftsmen. A well-known organization that acts as a security agency for normal humans and a place for people like them.
"Don't forget our deal!" She smiled before pointing at a gigantic gate.
An entrance to a prestigious university named after the God she talked about, the God who has the same name as the mysterious Mage named Azudeno, if he's indeed here, this is no longer a coincidence. He's the person I've been looking for, the man who saved me from certain death.
Her Kin, a member of her lineage. Maiden's Remains's last living relative!
"Fuck!" His voice rings like a sweet melody to my ears.
I couldn't contain myself, my hands just started to explore him as my lips went for his neck.
"I'm sorry, but can I kiss you?" I moved away after hearing his moan.
"Fuck you! You already did the first time without asking, why ask now?!" He muttered with a heavy breath.
His furrowed eyebrows, his sorrowful eyes, his panting breath. They all call for me, I can't possibly keep this feeling all to myself!
"Because I, I like you!" I whispered beneath our breath.
His eyes widened, and he pushed me off.
"I hate you!" He said while wiping his neck.
Did I say something wrong?
"You don't have to feel the same way, I just have to tell you while I still can-" He didn't let me finish.
He grabbed my collar and pulled me in for a kiss.
"Before you tell me you like me again, I need you to listen to me!"
His eyes locked into mine, how can I not fall for those deep brown eyes, the ones that give me comfort whenever he stares at me.
"You don't have to say anything, I've already chosen to love you since the night we first met, and nothing you say would ever make me love you less!" I smiled while recollecting that mystical moment in my life.
The moment when he knocked on my balcony door that night, the simple care and familiarity that he gave me without any second thought, that's the moment that I chose to let him into my heart!