Chapter 8: Hanni's owner

A week has passed since the party at the palace and I never heard anything from my parents again. Everyday, now and then, Julien have one of the maids or himself bring my breakfast to my room instead of calling for me to the dining room. My time at the manor has been quiet ever since. During weekends I am able to enjoy my own time peacefully and Julien makes sure to knock and wait for my response for him to enter unlike back then where he would just barge in after knocking without waiting for my response. And lately, he is even more polite when speaking to me and would recommend me things that would benefit me. Overall, he is giving me a very considerate care about things that he thinks I might have some few troubles with.

These few days within the week, I observed Rhyden's progress in the story and surely, he is progressing very great. His connections with the characters that are relevant in the story are going pretty well. His circle of friends are slowly increasing with their trust fully placed on Rhyden. His name in the school is getting more and more attention and recently, he managed to obtain the title of Role Model Student because of how much of an example as a student should be at school he is. Wherever he goes, everyone's eyes follows him with admiration, unlike the eyes that follows Carlos are filled with disdain and disgust that sometimes I wonder that if I could have a penny each of everytime they all look at me that way, I would be richer than the king of this kingdom.

Earlier, this afternoon while having lunch, I spied the protagonist going behind the school building and found him rescuing a cat, maybe around 5-7 months old, stuck on top of a tree. With his long limbs and strong body, he made climbing a tree so easy and reached for the cat which immediately trusts him that made me feel jealous because I wish cats would trust me so easily too. He sets the cat down gently on the floor and meowed to him and Rhyden quickly knew the cat was expressing its gratitude for the help Rhyden gave to it before running through the direction to where I was hiding. Good thing I kept quiet as a mouse and Rhyden did not suspect anything after watching the cat disappear.

When I returned to the manor, mostly, I would go to my room and lock myself inside and never to be seen again. Only Julien would come and deliver my dinner before attending to his other duties. But today, I decided that I would go to town. And since no one is going to look for me, I decided to just disappear.

I took off my uniform and changed into simpler clothes. I ditched the expensive coats and wore loose pants as well as for a white top shirt that the sleeves reaches down to my forearm only. I grabbed the most simple looking shoes but most of them appeared elegant in any way so I just decided to ditch those as well and just steal one of the boots at the garden that seems to fit me then went on my way to the town. It was a long walk and I am someone who prefers to walk.

Most of the time I would walk home to save money instead of using it for public transportation. At least I was able to exercise my body from the prolonged sitting in class.

I reached the town with my own bare legs and sees people busily walks around. Some are just taking their sweet time and some are occupied with their own daily lives to earn some money. Lively as I walk. Each corners of the town are filled with people. Each one of the lives of person here is happing all at once. I could see babies crying, children playing vendors selling, rich women shopping, couples flirting and many more.

I was always cooped up in my own room, from my real world to here. Never got the time to observe my surroundings without my mind filled with future problems I would deal once I graduate. Maybe being in this world isnt so bad after. All the days I spent here, especially when I just woke up as Carlos, I often wonder when will I wake up and go back to my real life with no recollection of the memories I spent here because it all turned out to be just a dream. That is what I always hope for and even still now. For me to go back. For this dream to end. But in the meantime, while I am still here, let me enjoy some few things.

"Arf arf!" Suddenly, a big dog jumps up to me. I panicked and tried to get away from it but the dog's huge and heavy body is weighing me down so greatly I fell down onto the warm ground. I thought of what's gonna happen to me. God! Please I dont want a dog tearing my limbs off of my body!

"Hanni! Stop!"

I used my hand to shield my face but that did not stop the dog.

What the!? Its wet!

The huge dog on top of me is licking my hand. It overpowered me and soon licked my chin next then my whole face. Its big tongue sliding across my face, leaving a very wet trail of saliva on my cheeks.

"Oh no, Im sorry!" The familiar voice came over then grabbed the huge dog off of me. Carrying the dog held by its belly then lifted up like it weighs like a baby. "I will take good care of him and not let him run off again, I promise!"

"No, its alright..." hearing the voice so familiar like I just heard it yesterday, I already knew who it was immediately. "Im glad to see your dog is now doing great." I said while slowly standing up from the ground and patted the dust off from my clothes. Hanni's owner lets go of Hanni then went to me and helped me dust off the dirt with a gentle pat around my back.

"Uhm, yes... He's doing alright now." He said. After getting myself clean at least, I turned to look at him but he looked at me as if he does not recognize me but at the same time recognizes me. He is hesitant to say something and I could feel the small awkwardness lingering around him so I spoke.

"I was the one who got Hanni injured. I am still sorry about that." I told him and turned to Hanni. Hanni walked towards us with his tongue out and tail's wagging. He is moving very comfortable around me which is a good sign for a dog with a human. I welcomed his affection when his head nudges on my hand I gave him a pet on his head. "I did say that I want to help you but I wasnt able to get your name when I left. I tried to look for you everytime I pass around the town on my way to school but I never got to see you again, till now." I explained.

"Oh no, its alright! Hanni healed very quickly and started moving as if nothing happened within just one week of healing from his injury." Hanni's owner happily told me the news. He went to Hanni's side and gave him a pet around his back and Hanni turned to him and playfully played circles around him. I smiled at their sight.

"Thats good to hear. But still, I feel guilty to be the one who caused Hanni's misfortune. Is there anything that I can do to repay you?" I asked, feeling a little bit of doubt on myself. "Please, let me repay you or else I would suffer endless days of torture from the guilt I am feeling inside because I wasnt able to make up to you from causing your beloved dog an injury." I plead to him with my hands clasped together and leaned my body a little forward and gave him a pitiful eyes which I could see it did work, unfortunately, not the way I wanted it to be.

"What? No no! Its fine now! Really! He is doing well and all. No need for a doctor so you dont need to pay me with anything." Hanni's owner raised his hands together in the air. Hanni at his side walked to me and placed his nose around my thigh and looked at me with his puppy dog eyes. Round and cute.

"Please! Im rich. I can give you anything you want to repay you. Plus, this is all about Hanni so if you wont want any payments, maybe Hannni would like? No such good boys would deny a treat for an apology would they?" I tried to turn to Hanni this time and make Hanni's owner agree because I truly do feel bad for Hanni getting injured. I am not much of a dog person though that does not mean I hate them. They are good souls living inside a furry four legged animal that is always called as man's bestfriend.

"Y-you? Rich?" Hanni's owner stuttered when he repeated what I called myself. He looked at me from head to toe and see my outfit isnt well so... nobleman's garments. No way that this person had forgotten what I was wearing when we first met.

"You dont believe me? I literally have my own carriage and my carriage, regretfully speaking, hit your dog and I am here to compensate for what I have done!" I said with a pout. Arms crossed on my chest. I tried to sound insulted when it looks like he doesnt believe me or Carlos' status is rich for an effect and quickly took its action as I saw Hanni's owner's face flustered.

"O-oh! Im sorry! Its just that--!" Hanni's owner then raises his head to me again and looked at me from head to toe once more. "What youre wearing isnt... what would a rich person would wear..." He said, hesitantly.

"Oh please! Cut me some slack! I am rich! I'm a noble you know? With just one snap of my finger a maid would answer to my call!" I boasted it though it is not what I do in the manor. It is Julien who voluntarily checks up on me because I rarely call for anyone. Most of the times I would get what I need for myself instead of asking anyone for it.

"Gasp! Really!? Can you do it right now!?" Hanni's owner's expression quickly changed into an excitement. Just like Hanni, he too, is interested in me now. If he were to have a tail as well as Hanni, his tail would wag faster than his own dog, I could tell.

"W-well... I cant right now... it is because I... I--! I snuck out! Yes, I snuck out! So if I were to snap my finger, they would know where I am and I wouldnt want that because they will find me. What would you do if they found me out? I hope you would feel guilty if they did find me and take me back to that big bird cage called as a manor! Because right now, I dont wanna go back..." I tried to find an excuse to cease the interest of Hanni's owner's have in a lie that I made up about snapping my fingers. I did say some few exaggerated lines and few movements around him to give quite an impact in my words even though it wasnt necessary.

"Oh, I see... so you snuck out?" He repeated and his tail wags slowly before wagging excitedly once more. "Ohhh! So youre like one of those young masters that go and sneak out and have some fun in the town?" He expectantly said with his eyes drawn all over me.

"Y-yeah... thats about it." Sighing internally, I accepted his own conclusion.

"Hehe! Now I know what's youre payment gonna be!"

"Huh?"

"Your payment is that youre gonna be with me and Hanni till midnight!" He raises both of his hands in the air with an excitement and looked at Hanni. Hanni too stood up and raises both of his front leg in the air to copy his owner. His jaw wide open with happiness.

Oh boy...

"Oh, uhm, sure!" I forced a smile out of me and agreed to him. I raised my hands midway in the air, feeling a little bit shy to follow the two but whatever I could do just to repay him, I would do it.

"Then its settled! Lets go!" He didnt shy away and grabbed my wrist and run to wherever the direction would take us all. Once again, I am led into somewhere I dont know and I hope this time I wont regret my time with someone.

We ran through the crowds of people in the town and almost causing a few troubles because of our accelerating speed as we pass through them but we only laughed and were carefree of the oblivion to everything around us because right now, what matters at this moment is just me, him and Hanni.

"Oh yeah... I didnt get your name still." I mentioned and stopped on our track. He stopped too and turned back to me and smiled, the most genuine smile I have seen in this world yet. Then he said his name. "I'm Mathias! Whats yours?" He returned the question to me.

"Im Carl--" I quickly cut my introduction to Mathias. Afraid that if he were to know my name, he might avoid me in the future, after all, Carlos Advincula is very well known and most of the time the talk in every corner of this kingdom. If I were to be honest with him and tell my name, this enjoyment I am having together with him might cut short and I dont want that. "...Carl! Just Carl..." I had already spoke out the word Carl so I didnt add anything else. I gave him a small laugh to keep the bright mood between us.

"Ohhh okkaaayy! Just Carl!" He laughed and joked a little before we returned to our fun. He introduced me to some of the stalls which he liked and stores that piques his interest as well as other stores that he wouldnt enter. With me, I gave him a chance to enter the store without worrying of being an outcast in the world of wealth. I also bought him a small trinket which is pricey for him and I only laughed at his naivete which I found this trait of him cute. Then after that, he brought me to the public library where he told me about the books he have read and books he wishes to read as soon as he finishes the ones he is currently reading. I too told him about the books I have read and was a little embarrassed that most of them are fairytales, fictions, and fantasies but Mathias did not discouraged me and in fact, encouraged me more on reading about what I love, the same as other things that I love doing.

Speaking of doing what I love to do, I am very excited to show what I do love to do. And since the moon is now rising the the stars are coming out and dazzle in the sky, I offered Mathias a portrait and he immediately agreed to it. Since magics exists, I used the same method of turning small things into what I needed to paint and had Mathias pose for the painting. He jokingly posed into different silly looks before finally getting into it.

"Okay, hold that pose for me for a..... well, as long as it takes for me to finish the whole painting." I said to Mathias. Sketching his face on the canvas with a pencil first.

"Dont worry, I will hold this pose like a statue! Come on Hanni! Sit!" He replied then sat on the chair.

We are currently on top of a hill where we could see the town below. The lights from each of the places we visited and the other buildings stands out and glows as the darkness of the night embraces the sky. We had two lamps for the two of us each and the lamp next to Mathias that is placed on top of a table which I used magic to turn it into, shines on Mathias in such great light and gives Mathias' complexion a good touch. His square face would totally look very handsome in the future once he grows up around his 20s. His mid length brown hair sits on the side of his cheeks and the end of his hair curls delicately. Though his eyes may be brown, with the light from the lamp, his eyes appeared like treasure unearthed from the ground. I made sure to paint every details he have and included the background which is the town and the night sky. Good thing the painting didnt last for any longer and Mathias was very patient with me.

"Im done! Come and take a look!" I invited Mathias to come over and see how well I did to his portrait. His eyes widen from awe and put his hands on his cheeks and gasps.

"Woooaaahh!! That looks totally me! Its like looking in a mirror! Wow, this is so cool!" A train of compliments came out of his mouth and I am very much touched by his reaction and glad he liked it. Hanni came over to my thigh and placed his paw on me. I took his paw and shook it and said thank you to him and to Mathias. I told him to keep the portrait as an additional to the compensation for him and to Hanni and he happily took the painting with him.

For the last trip, it is already 8:30 pm, he planned for our last trip to go to a spot where he mostly eat. I didnt decline his offer because I am hungry too. We all three are. As we get down from the hill we climbed up to, I had a little bit of accident where I fell down and rolled all the way to the ground. My white dress shirt is all dirtied up and my loose pants had some few tears but good thing my boots are still intact. Mathias quickly came to me and see if I am alright. I was able to laugh it off and consider it as a part of journey with him and learning new things since I rarely go out. He worriedly laughed my accident off before we get back on our track to get to the spot he was talking about.

"Here it is!" He proudly showed a small restaurant, perhaps too small to be called as one but I could tell each of their menus are homecooked and the aroma of their food invited me further to them and I could not turn down the invite Mathias gave to me. I reassured him that the place is just fine when he remembered that I am a noble and have never ate somewhere like this rundown place. As long as the taste is good and the food is cooked clean and well, that is all what matters to me is what I told him.

I decided to go for a light food for today because I knew that I would have another long walk from the town to the manor and if I were to eat a lot, I might experience a pain on my side. I had some tomato soup and a piece of bread while Mathias got some breakfast food despite it being evening. I could not blame him when he told me that the food of the breakfast menu is what Hanni likes the most since him and Hanni shares food together.

I bid farewell to him after our dinner together and promised that we would meet again. I promised him that fate would have us meet again. Let my fate be on my side for this one for the sake of Mathis, please!

I walked another hour to get back to the manor. My feet is already sore from my trip but at least my wish of not regretting it is fulfilled and I am very happy and much likely to be in a good mood unless something ruins it.

I snuck back in again and retrace the steps I took how I left the manor. I returned the boots I borrowed from the garden then straightly went ahead to my room. I climbed up from the outside the same way the characters in Assassin's Creed do and I am quite thankful for Carlos' body being fit and strong enough to hold his own body weight as I climb up. If this were to be my original body, I doubt I will be able to do this at all.

I entered from the window and since my legs are already tired and used my last ounce of strength from climbing, I flopped down onto the floor as soon as I got back in. My clothes felt so sticky around my skin and feeling disgusted realizing how much sweat dried up in my clothes but I am so tired, however, I could still stay awake and cool my sore legs down first before hopping into a bath since it is bad for tired legs to be soaked in water immediately.

I sloppily crawled around my room and lit up some few candles to light up my room and had my curtains drawn to the side to let the moonlight illuminate its shine in my room. Then, I sat on my couch and sprawled my arms and legs then relax for a bit. The clock on the wall says it is already ten o' clock. Good thing Mathias wasn't serious about having me till midnight.

"And where have you been?" A voice from behind echoed.

I turned my head around and saw Julien standing right behind me. His tall figure looming over me and a feel of fear washes over me.

"Julien!?" I spoke out his name out of shock. A small amount of adrenaline quickly surges in body that forces me to stand up to see him properly. He quickly grabbed me by shirt and yanked me towards him. I am forced to kneel on to my couch as he is just right behind my couch. He looked at me then moved to my clothing and sees that I am very underdressed and noted that I am dirty, then, he moved his hand and see the inside of my shirt, especially my neck. He inspects me around that area for a good five seconds before spotting a bruise just on my right shoulder. When he sees this, he freaks out.

"Where did you get this?" He asks. Though his tone remained the same as the usual, the way he said it is fast and by the end of his sentence, I heard his voice pitched differently. "How did you get this, especially?" he added. He lifted me furthermore.

"Wha-- This is none of your business! I can do whatever I want!." I yelled at him. I tried to get his hand off of me. Though his glory days might have passed, I can feel how strong his grip was when I held his arm to get him off of me.

"Wrong answer, Master Carlos" he yanks my body again. He took a step backwards before pulling me again. My body now hangs with my legs trying to find a footing on the couch. "Where have you been exactly?" He asked another question that I have no reason to answer. What he is doing to me is just an appeal to force.

"Ugh, why do you care!? Its not like you all actually do give a damn of what I do at some point!" I bit back. If anything, I wouldnt want to tell them about Mathias. Mathias isnt part of the story and just a background character in this world so to not involve him, I need to keep my time with him a secret.

After saying what I said to Julien, he stops for a moment with his eyes now looking at me and no longer at my bruised shoulder. This bruise might have been the cause of my fall. No wonder it has been aching at that part.

"I am going to ask again." Julien took a deep breath and looks at me. He decided to calm himself down and made his face look at least... not so strict. "Where did you go?" He said.

Seeing a change of his expression, I thought it might be a way to get an answer from me. As I am already tired, if I prolong my stubborness to Julien with this topic, I might not get my rest soon as possible, so I told him. "I was in the town. Nothing happened... I just thought, maybe I could rewind a bit." I said. Saying only a brief of explanation of what I did and left the informations he doesnt need to know. I said it looking away because I still fear of Julien being rough. I hate it when its the old people being angry.

Julien didnt say a thing and he did not move so I slowly lifted my head up to see his reaction and there I saw him strange. He did not look any angry, strict, nor stiff. He just looks at me with an expression I have never seen before. Although his face is already old and saggy, with the expression he have right now appeared very... sympathetic? Or I worded that out wrong?

"And where did you get this bruise?" He asks another.

"I fell down from a hill." Another answer I gave him.

"A fall? Are there other bruises on different parts of your body?"

"No... I dont know."

"Any part that still hurts?"

Yes..? My right side and the back of my left thigh."

Questions with suffices answers, Julien ended his questioning session with me but rushed another question whether I already ate or not and what did I eat if I ate something. I told him I had some tomato soup and a slice of bread from a small restaurant. I didnt tell him that the place appeared rundown but the workers there are careful with their food. After that, he asks me what I will do next now that I am back so I told him I wish to go and take a bath. He left the room to prepare myself and I remained in my room to relax my body for a bit.

After taking a bath, Julien insisted he put some remedies on my bruises. I was skeptical at first and he said that it works. Knowing that these remedies that he speak of might not work at all since I am from the modern world and was told by the doctors that some remedies doesnt actually work which is why medicines are best to get instead of remedies. However, since only I know that, I gave in and let Julien apply some on my bruises that are now located after taking a bath and with that, I retire to my bed to rest.

The next day, I have no other interaction to Rhyden still because Catherine has yet to reappear where she and Rhyden are going to meet each other by the fountain at the back of the school and she hasnt showed up yet because Rhyden havent finish the first mission where he needs to help finding the missing students. That is what I know as far as I remember when I played the game. I dont know when Catherine will be enrolling but I'll know about it once the students starts talking about princess from a different kingdom transferring in the school.

For the meantime, I have been spying Rhyden every free moments I have in my hands. I basically have stalking Rhyden as a past time. Well, that doesnt sound so good but I am only observing his progress his relationship with the other characters and nothing else. Though there are times when I'd get to see more than I expected to see from the main protagonist because, he does some weird stuffs like, if he sees some random things like sticks on the ground, he would arrange it from the biggest to the smallest then look at it for a few seconds before nodding his head then walking away. What was the point of that? There are other things that he'd arrange too and when I start to think he might have an OCD, the next thing I see from him is messing things up purposely. Something about him that he does and do the opposite after.

The bell rings that announces our lunchbreak is over. I wasnt too far from our classroom so I walked back inside and seems like I walked too fast and did not notice the person who's going to enter through the door at the same time with me. I bumped onto someone taller than me and felt a very cold liquid splashes on me. I almost shivered when I felt the cold liquid trickles down my neck,

"What the fuck!"

Turns out, the person I bumped to was Eugene. He was holding a cold juice in a tin cup and it seems like the juice didnt just splattered on me alone because most of the juices went to Eugene's chest. The deep color of cranberry juice painted his whole uniform with it.

I looked up to Eugene and sees that his eyes are already burning with rage.

Shit. I didnt know this would happen.

"Watch where you going, bastard! Now look what you have done!?" He yelled at me.

"Youre not the only one that has been poured with juice! Look at what happened because you were carrying that drink!" I yelled back.

"So its my fault!? Youre the one who bumped into me!"

"Excuse me, I was the first one to reach the door and you claiming that Im the one who bumped into you? Better analyze what happened!"

"Analyze? You? Thats the last thing I imagine you doing because youre stupid that I doubt you even have a brain to begin with!"

"Very childish of you! That will not prove that youre not the one who bumped into me!"

We yelled at each other back to back and immediately caught the attention of many students. Our shouting were loud that I swear even the students from miles away could hear us yell at each other. All the people that are passing by turn their head to see what is going on and some stops to see what is going to happen next.

The last straw is when he threw the tin cup to me and I knew I have to get back at him.

I launches myself at him and threw him a punch that he could not avoid. I know that he could overpower me in any time so I had to hit him with all I got and not give him a time to hit me back. I hit him at the part of his body where pain could easily be inflicted like his sides, his stomach, ribs and I attempted to hit the side of his face but he managed to block that one part of hit of mine because he guarded his face when I threw my hands at him. I should have went to his groin, unfortunately, I didnt get the chance to hit again because he came back at me with full force.

Eugene lowered his body to the same level of my stomach then spreads his arms open then launches onto me. Pushing me to the ground with his arms latched onto my waist which resulted me hitting the cold floor painfully. My spine and lower back felt the pain quickly and made me gasp for air and when I saw Eugene got on top of me, I knew I have no time to get up so I blocked my head using my forearms as a shield to prevent his fists. He punches me on the side of my head and because of my shoulders are hunched, his hits were weakened a little bit, though I could still feel a pain.

He tried to pry off my arms with few punches and thought that hitting me to other parts of my body that arent defended. He hits me on my stomach, ribs and sides, the same places where I hit him and I kid you not it fucking hurts.

If only Carlos' character isnt like this I wouldnt be picking a fight to anyone, Eugene especially. The only reason why I need to act according to his character is because I fear that if I were to act differently, it would affect the story overall and might attract the attention of the three goddesses whom I dont wanna mess with. Those goddesses are the second most important figures in this story and I have seen what they are capable of, the game made sure of that to all of the players of Talent Thrones.

The punches he rain down on me felt endless and the pain is becoming unbearable. Suddenly, he stops his punching and before I thought he is finally done, he used one hand to grab my wrists and yank then away from my face and his right hand wasted no time to land a hit onto my left cheek and my whole skull shaken from the impact. With that hit, I got stunned. My vision got blurry and for a moment, time stopped for me. There was an eerie noise that rang inside my eardrum. And when I regained my vision, the next thing I saw is another punch that is aimed towards my face again and I don't have enough time to react.

Just as when I fully braced myself for the next impact, expecting it, but it didn't came. No hit landed on me. I opened my eyes to see and Rhyden now appeared right behind Eugene. His hand holding Eugene's fist.

"That's enough!" He said.

Eugene did not like that so he jerked his whole arm away then swings his arm backwards to hit Rhyden but Rhyden dodged it effortlessly.

"Fuck are you going to do?" Eugene angrily said then quickly changed his target from me to Rhyden. He stood up and faced Rhyden then did not think twice to land hits on Rhyden which Rhyden blocked with swift motions of his hands.

"Stop this! This is pointless!" Rhyden yelled but Eugene kept going at him.

"Look man, that bastard started it!" Eugene said. I felt very offended because clearly he's the one who started it but I can say for sure that we are both at fault here.

I wobbly picked my upper body up. I tried to stand up but the hit took a toll on me that I felt so unstable to stand. I feel like my head is so heavy that could fall in any moment and my legs are pliant as a boiled vegetable and could not support my whole weight right now. I remained on the floor sitting up and watch the two fight.

"I saw what happened. Clearly you were at fault too. Foods and drinks are not allowed inside the classroom after lunchbreak." Rhyden reasoned. Still being passive and remain on defense as Eugene is attacking like a brainless tiger.

"Oh please! But this fight started all because of him! Whether I have that drink or not!" Eugene bit back.

Rhyden could no longer stand Eugene and gave up on defending and straight up attack Eugene front to front. He balled his fist and waited for Eugene to make an open area for him to hit and immediately landed an uppercut directly to Eugene's jaw. Giving him a generous amount of pain with that hit. Eugene quickly fell on the ground. He immediately gets up to try and get back at Rhyden but the adrenaline has run out and made him faint and fall back onto the floor. His eyes closed and his body unresponsive. The students were worried at first when they saw Eugene fell but those worried muttering changed into cheering to Rhyden in no time.

Rhyden gained around of applause from everyone as well as his name chanted by them. Rhyden felt a little happy but I could see a small amount of shame inside him because he got himself involved into a fight. He savored very little of the victory he won and more on contemplating on why he couldn't hold himself back from attacking Eugene when he only wanted to stop the fight.

Oh Rhyden, the goodness in your heart might just become a flaw at some point.

Rhyden looked at unconscious Eugene on the ground and knew he could not just leave him there so he picked up Eugene and carried him on his back then told to his classmates that he will be bringing Eugene to the clinic. The girls gave him a relieved sigh of how thoughtful he is even to someone like Eugene and praises his good act to anyone.

I slowly picked myself up when Rhyden left and the pounding in my head felt like it's not going away soon. I wobbly walked inside the classroom and slowly sat myself down on my seat and thought that I should rest myself there. I laid my head on my desk in hopes of getting my head comfortable.

I wasn't planning to sleep but I fell asleep anyways. I could still feel the throbbing headache however, as long as I rest, it will go away. For sure. I am already comfortable here like I'm floating and resting on a cloud because of how much comfortable I am feeling. Floating felt so real that I could feel my whole body rocking like a baby being lulled to sleep and I embraced it. I laid my head into his clothed chest and have my cheek pressed on it heavily to feel the softness. Though it felt more like hard pillow but still, a pillow is a pillow. It smells nice too. Men's perfume with a manly yet smooth scent when inhaled. And his arm behind my back, I felt so cozy and safe in it that I don't want to leave it and keep myself in it forever.

Wait what? What am I talking about? Huh? Why am I floating? Wasn't I supposed to be in my seat? Why am I...? WHAT!?

When I open my eyes, I am being carried by someone. He is carrying me in a bridal style and fuck this is so embarrassing!

"Hey, let me go!" I yelled and struggled in his arms. I wriggled my body out of his grasp and seems like I did it too fast that the headache I have been feeling but was ignored for a moment, resurfaced to my senses. The pain hit me the same how Eugene hit me and I felt so dizzy I was going to fall if it weren't for the person who was carrying me.

Though he did managed to catch me and prevented my fall, his grip on my arm were tight and rough that I made out a moaned out of pain. When I looked up, the same face who saved me earlier, Rhyden, is the one who was carrying me and caught me from my fall. How many times have he saved me already? 2? 3? Not a lot but the fact that it happened more than once is already weird.

"You..." I said to me, trying to formulate a sentence but my brain is lagging. "Why... Why were you carrying me? Where are you planning to take me?" I finished my sentence. I placed my hand to my head even though it would not ease the pain.

"I was carrying you so I could get you to the clinic." He answered. His hand still holding my arm to support me. "You were out for too long and wouldn't respond no matter how loud we call out your name. Sir Symoun already given you permission to be taken to the clinic. Don't worry, he doesn't know you and Eugene fought. None of the teachers do and made sure the witnesses wouldn't say a word to them." Rhyden told me all of that as if I would care about the teachers knowing I got into a fight.

I did not notice when he pulled my body gently closer to him, and only did I see how close we are when I smelled his perfume again. I looked up to him and sees his eyes looking into mine as well though I have nothing to say really. I don't really care about anything right at this moment. I feel too ill to act in character but I'm still trying to compose myself as Carlos.

He did not say anything to me anymore and just held me close to him till we got into the clinic where he had me to rest on one of the beds. I was curious about Eugene if he is still here, unfortunately, my mouth disobeyed me and remained shut when I looked at Rhyden to say something but couldn't. Hopeless, I just scanned the area.

"He's not here anymore. He woke up right before I could get him to the clinic and I knew he is fine already." He spoke even though I did not ask anything. I paid no attention to him but I acknowledged his answer to my unspoken question.

"I'll get going now. Try to be more... Well... Not to become a magnet for trouble." He said. Before he could take a step to turn away. I spoke.

"Why do you care? Whatever. Thanks." I lost interest to tell him what I intentionally try to tell him and just brushed it off. I laid my body on the bed and rest there. And Rhyden's steps disappeared right after he closed the door of the clinic.

Fuck this headache is so insufferable. I don't personally hate Carlos but the fact that I am in his position, I don't think I have enough perseverance for things like this.

Rhyden Blight, I've known his kindness for a very long time and in the quests, it showed how caring he is and it is ridiculous to me that Rhyden's kindness stretches to the villains as well. Trying to find good in them even though it is already too late for any rehabilitation. But then again, his kindness is the one that helped me.

When I returned to the den of Advincula, Julien is the first one to react from the bruise that formed in my face. Julien was about to go rough on me when his hands landed on my shoulders but quickly retracted himself and asks me calmly the same way he did last night.

"Master Carlos..." He took a second to pause and took a deep breath. "May I ask why is there a another bruise on you? On your face especially." He said.

I explained him what happened and tried to play it as if it's normal and he was not impress to hear it. Not that I was trying to anyways. I told him in detail what actually happened and he gave me a few advice on how to not get into a fight and said that we were both at fault, I already knew that. And it is already Friday tomorrow. Julien insisted I take a day off from school to give myself a day to heal my body from the bruises I attained from unfortunate events. I did not protest from that idea.

"Master Carlos, you have changed." Julien suddenly told me when I was preparing to go to bed. It isn't night yet though in a few hours it will be. "Something has changed inside you. You still act the way you do but, what's inside did changed. Did something happened?" He observed. I wasn't surprise to hear that question at all because it is true. I act the same way as Carlos but never had the same intention as him.

"No, nothing has changed Julien." I told him while I cover myself with a blanket. "It is still the same. You all still hate me so there are no any other way something could have changed, Julien." I said to him with no leads of where this conversation is going. It seems like the headache is preventing me from thinking clearly. Fortunately, Julien isn't a major character, he has no relevancy with anyone to the major characters so I am not so worried when he asked that. I just hope I am not too much of an uncaring to this thing.

"If you still have something to do here, then please do it and if it's about time for you to leave, just put out the candle and leave the curtain open." I said to him and turned away. Rolled to my side to not see him and let my vision be consumed with darkness as my eye lids closed.

"Yes Master Carlos. Do take care." Julien said then heard his footsteps go over around the room and I could hear a small fire being put out.

"You know, if you keep acting like that towards me, I might actually believe you do care about me." I get to say the last word and blurted out what I thought of his actions to me these past few weeks. I didn't intend to say it though I felt like I will never get the chance to say that to him if I were to let him get the last word to say.

I didn't wait for his response and just sleep entirely. Let this day end and let tomorrow come.