Chapter 4: Revelation To Someone

I am being accompanied by Julien as I take a stroll around the garden. It is still quite early and the moisture of the surroundings gives off a scent. I can smell the dirt as well as the flowers. My nose is filled with fragrances of different types of flowers. It smells earthy, fresh, sweet, and very pleasant to breathe in.

The flowers in the garden are very well taken care of. They are all a blooming and shows their satisfying radiating color with a touch of gentle saturation. With the early morning light that shines upon their leaves and the beads of small droplets from the moisture gives them a sparkle in every angle you look at them. I walk further in the garden and examined each flowers and almost every of them is really beautiful.

If only I could lower myself to smell the flowers I would very much be glad to do so, unfortunately, Julien is with me and I must keep in character. Im afraid to be caught acting strange and be questioned if something matter or why is there a sudden change to my behavior. A total complete 180 degrees turn. I dont want to break the character in front of significant characters in the story in order to stay on the script. I fear with a little difference could make tweak something in the story that I wouldnt want and might regret in the future.

I stalled a bit longer till Julien pulled out his pocket watched and announced the breakfast is ready and we must go back. I dont really feel like going but for now, I must go. Maybe in the next breakfast, I would try and avoid dining together with Carlos' family.

We got back inside, walking down the hallway that leads to the dining room. I expect the others are there so I braced myself as I enter and there they are, sitting on their designated seats. The others are missing though, perhaps the breakfast was just served and the others would follow soon. I wasted no time to take at the very same seat I took yesterday morning and eat my fill, without them talking anything though I do feel their eyes frequently checking on me as if they expect something from me but I continued to ignore them and eat whats in my plate. A piece of bacon, eggs, mashed potatoes and a side of salad and fruits so I focused on getting my stomach filled with foods which I hope could last a little longer at school so I wouldnt have to buy anything in the cafeteria.

I ate my breakfast and moved on to my sides which is the salad and fruits. I ate them all without breaking a sweat and the portion is just right for me to consume it all. After that, I left the dining room and Julien is no longer following me. It was still quiet when I left and Carlos' other siblings and cousins were not at the present when I ate my breakfast. Only then did I get to see them is when we passed through the hallway. We all didnt say anything and they all treated me like a stranger, not even batting me an eye. Thankfully, I do like that, just minding our own business without causing any trouble by saying bad things that could lead into a fight, plus, I would really hate it if I were to worsen my relationship with them. This is fine as it is now.

I stepped out the manor and sees my carriage waiting for me and as again, I see my bag already placed inside. I entered the carriage and the coach stepped onto his place then had the horse move.

After leaving the manor, I kept my eyes looking out the window while we are still in the town, searching if I would see the boy, Hanni's owner again. I have some few golds with me, maybe I could split the amount and give it to him then the same again tomorrow to take care of the bill for his dog's treatment. I also didnt get his name so I will need to ask him that. But alas, I see no sign of his face nor Hanni so after we left the town, I laid my back down to the seat and just quietly contemplate my life. This is too long for it just to be a dream.

In the class, the discussion is pretty boring. The teachers only repeat what was written on their book and read it so flat and bland that I see no excitement nor anything to look forward to. It is a given that some of the students would pay attention but few of them are actually falling asleep. It is like this till the bell rings. The students immediately expressed their excitement of what they would witness next to Sir Symoun's magics and hopes that he would have this section for magic practice once more. They all talked about it loudly as they leave the classroom and I was left on my desk with scribbles and doodles on my paper and a little bit of portrait of the the few students, including a sketch of the inside the classroom.

Upon noticing that almost everyone is gone and I will be left behind in this classroom with Eugene, who now sits next to me regularly, I dread from a possible bad moments with him so I just put my things back inside my bag and left. I plan to go to the cafeteria, get a snack that I could bring anywhere and eat it outside the cafeteria to avoid next interaction with Eugene once he wakes up from his desk and have his lunch.

I walked around the school premises and checked things out. I have only been paying attention to the interior of the school that I forgot to check out the outside as well. This place never fails with the details. From the ground to the walls, all within the school is detailed. There were sculptures of big figures who made history in the school, gods and goddesses, and few small sculptures like birds and other small animals around the small fountains. The bushes are trimmed in a shape of all interesting shapes, from basic shapes to shapes like an imitation of a castle. The trees hold a the color of pink, white, and magenta. It is a bougainvillea tree and it is everywhere around the school except at the road right passed the first gate.

I sat down at the nearby bougainvillea tree and eat the snack I have with me. Watching the surroundings as everything goes by. Every moments happen all at once with everyone having their own life sharing with their friends and things involves them. With me just taking my time, I saw the president of the student council. Is that Philipps!?

My eyes widen as I see him passes by accompanied by the vice president and the escort. Philipps, Jericho Philipps, the president of the student council. He is one of the most memorable figure in the game and by far my second best favorite character. His whole personality is a kind hearted man. He is fair and equal with everyone and often does he forget his own position and hang out with students like a normal student with them as if he does not have a prestigious background at all. He is one of the kindest character and as much how he is kind is the same amount of how merciless can he be towards to people who disturbs the peace. He is bare with them and would not let all the bad deeds unpunished. He is also responsible of Carlos' downfall after investigating and found all the evidences led to Carlos. Though Carlos is framed of being the perpetrator of the biggest incident that has yet to happen in the school, it wouldnt excuse his past behavior where he did lots of bad things. The only reason why Carlos is yet been in trouble with Jericho, it is because Jericho, at the moment, involved with other case that is too important to let a pest hinder him.

The case he is working on right now is finding the missing students who disappeared in one afternoon during lunchtime when everyone is too relaxed to pay too much attention about what crime is happening. The school is very known for having high securities so students are laid back to the dangers. It is a group of students who went missing, about 4 students. 1 male and 3 female. All in the same section, age, and time of disappearance. In the story of the game, the protagonist helped Jericho to find those missing students. He is already transferred in the same section as me when he and Jericho searched for those students. But the protagonist hasnt arrived yet and it makes me wonder how bad is the situation are. So, I decided to follow Jericho along with the other two secretly. I quickly swallowed the last bite of my food then straightly head on to tail the three.

"We still have a lot of time. Why dont we go somewhere?" The escort said as he walks in front of the two with both of his arms placed behind his head.

"That might not be a bad idea." Jericho agreed. He fixes his hair with one comb using his hand then let the hair fall down his hair, creating a perfect curtain bangs that compliments his face shape.

The vice president didnt say anything to the two and just follows them. She fixes her glasses and nodded to the two when they asked what about her. They all walked in one direction with the escort leading the way and the two just follows. Time by time, the three would converse about different things. Small talks about a thing then changes to another based on whatever they see or peaks their interest at the moment. With them talking, it is easy to go unnoticed as long as they occupy each others' attention. I kept my distance from a considerate distance. Not too far so I could hear what they are talking about. Not too close for them to notice my presence. For someone with a reputation, it would be easy for me to be spotted so I need to be careful on tailing those three.

Eventually, they got behind one of the school building, isolated from the other students. I need to be careful because in any second they might see me. I cannot let them go easily, I need them to start talking about the case of the missing students so I would know the situation at least but I hope they dont start talking about that while I try to find a way to stalk them further so I could hear some information. I decided to climb up. Yes, climb up. I decided to put on what I have learned in Assassin's Creed.

I climbed up a tree which led me to an outside platform that its purpose for emergency exit if there were to be fire. I went upstairs of the emergency exit and reaches a certain height that would make me continue listening to what they are talking about. The school building they are hiding behind isnt relatively big as the main one so even at the top, I could hear them and they are not lowering their voices in thinking of the place is secured. I stayed there a little bit longer, waiting if theyre gonna start talking about the case, however, all they talked about is gossip inside their own council and even the teachers and what is going on inside the teachers' building. Their gossip goes like this:

"Wait so Jessica is doing it with Mr. Wilson?" The vice president, who I now recalls her name is Stella, asks for confirmation if she did get the rumor right.

"Yes. It is because she was failing alchemy." Jericho calmly confirms her.

"Haha! I knew she was a slut. Judging by how she wears her uniform and the way she acts around boys." The escort which I now name James, laughs at Jessica's tragedy of being caught.

"Hey, calling her that isnt nice." Jericho replies almost immediately after James insulted Jessica.

"What? Its true!" James insisted without hiding the humor in his tone.

I could see from above how Jericho hits James and James tried to dodge it but with his bad reflex, the hit landed him, earning a hard groan after the pain was inflicted.

"Hey, Im still a little bit worried to the missing students..." Stella stated.

I now perked my ears into the conversation after waiting for a while for that exact topic to come around in their conversation.

"Yeah... they've been missing for two weeks now." James replied with a sigh by the end of his words. "Whats the status now?" James turned his head to Jericho to ask. With that question, I leaned even closer to the edge just to hear a little better and not let one information go amiss.

"About that, ever since they disappeared, there's barely any traces left behind. The only evidence we got is some of a puzzle with a note. That puzzle is a box that needs to be solved before opening, but none of us know how to solve it. It is some kind of a crypted puzzle and we even doubt if it is meant to be solved." Jericho explained with a remorse in his words. When he mentioned the puzzle box, I knew what it was. I had already solved it multiple times when I played that part of the game to the point it is already imprinted to my mind.

"Ever tried to break the box and see whats on the inside?" James asked, being clueless about what could be on the inside.

"We had thought about it but we fear what it might contain. It might be a magic trap that would blow up once open or it is genuine a clue so we had some professionals trying to study and solve it." Jericho explained, expressing everyone's doubts with his sentence.

"Then it is fifty fifty that it is a trap or an actual clue. Hm... that makes it tricky." Stella placed her hand under her chin.

The bell finally rings and the discussion ends there. I wish I could have heard more because I needed more about the status but that would be end of it. I sighed that I could not gather sufficient information I needed because everything Jericho had said is what I already know. I needed to get down but I need the three to leave first before me so they wouldnt see me and suspect me of eavesdropping which I actually did. However, it is the vice president who left first while the two said that theyre gonna stay a little bit longer and insisted her to go first since the two have nothing to do in their classes anyway. I saw Stella run passed the tree I climbed on and I returned to where the two is. They are awfully quiet and it got me worried because I thought theyre gonna talk about the case further that gave me a little reason to stay behind as well but what I see is not what I expected. I saw the two kissing each other.

Jericho, is kissing James. Pinning him against the wall. As I look from above. Jericho's hand explored underneath James' body while James' hands wondered on Jericho's neck and shoulders and slowly slithering them up to Jericho's head and pulling his head closer to him to deepen their kiss.

This is a huge revelation. I didnt know my second favorite character is gay!!?? I felt my heart skips a beat then continues with a fast beating. I felt a little dizzy and baffled upon what I am seeing below me. It felt, weird? While flabbergasted, I was frozen on the spot when Jericho lifted his head and saw me on top. Our eyes locked together as I looked at him with shocked widen eyes though Id fear it appeared more of a frightened look from me. After seeing me, he looked at me as if his gaze could pierce me and went back on kissing James. I quickly rushed to get down after witnessing that. I almost fell from the tree as I tried to get back down and return to my classroom. The whole time, my heart is pounding inside my head and I could hear nothing but my heartbeat only. After what happened, I was dazed the whole time, unable to brush off of that moment, especially Jericho's eyes when we locked our eyes. It was just few seconds but it felt like an eternity. I now see him in a different light or maybe the light has gotten dimmer? It got to me so badly that I had a dream about it when I slept the night in hopes of forgeting it. Im going to spare the details of my dream because I do not want to see it again.

A week has passed by and the protagonist has yet to be transferred to our section and I havent heard from the president of the student council ever since. Ive been hearing of the protagonist's incredible acts in every corner of the school and yet he's still not here yet. What's taking him so long? I am so stuck with Eugene with his unending torture of berating comments about my entire being. Calling me talentless person with no ambition in life. I have no skills whatsoever that no one would take me in if I were to be a commoner and should be grateful I was born in a noble family or else I would have been thrown away in the gutter because I am obsolete with everything. So much he said to me to the point that not only he's hitting Carlos' character, it is starting to hit me too despite knowing to myself I am not what everything he had described Carlos as.

Within that week before today, I got into a fight with him again. He purposely spilled milk on my uniform and call it by accident then laugh with the girls who stand by his side. I did not hesitate to spill my milk to him too and giving him the same reason he gave me. The next thing I knew, he slapped me so I get back to him with a punch by his stomach. Due to him being better at combat skills, I knew to myself I messed up but all for the sake of the story relevancy. Good thing the people who works there stopped us immediately. If they hadnt, I would have been beaten to a pulp right on the spot. And so on is his streak of degrading words to me as I wait for the protagonist's arrival.

At the present time, I avoid going to the cafeteria again after the incident and chose to pack a lunch instead. Sometimes I would request Julien to pack me a lunch instead of having breakfast in the dining room together with my family but I refuse, not giving him a full answer and I dont explain anything why to him. He lets it go by the third day and prepares my lunch in advance for me to take to school and skips breakfast to avoid spending time, a mere second with anyone relating to Carlos.

As I sit behind the school, at the very same vegetated place, there I sit and eat my lunch peacefully. While eating it, my mind wonders what could be beyond the tall grass and what could it be hiding. Wondering led to me to even more curiosity which I had the temptation to go through the blades of grass and see for myself. And that is what I plan to do. I finished eating my lunch, wrapped it up carefully and bring it with me for the sake of not losing it then to go through the tall grasses.

The grasses are thick and hard to go through in but surely I am getting further inside and as I go forward, the grasses slowly became small and thin and made it easier for me to move as I walk. With the tall grass no longer blocking my view, I now get to see whats on the other side. It is just a small cottage. An abandoned cottage within the school's premises blocked by the tall grasses and because of the color of the cottage, it managed to camouflage itself even better.

I walked towards it with little caution and did not mind the broken and weathered woods that is scattered all around. All my concern was getting closer to that cottage and explore it myself. When I reached the cottage close enough, it looked less haunted compared from afar. It looks like it has been abandoned for a very long time but the walls of the house and roofs are still fine. It is dirty and tainted with unpleasant colors. I ignored all that to see whats on the inside. The cottage doesnt have a door so I stepped in and examined the inside.

The interior of the cottage is a ruin. Its old furniture are all broken and dusty. The wall's paint is peeling and the floor is battered and few tiles are broken off the floor. There is no second floor so it is easy for me to take a look inside before fully welcoming myself inside. It is fairly covered on the inside and the windows are miraculously still intact and not broken by some whatever could be the cause of broken windows. There is a kitchen in the other room as well as a bathroom though those rooms are not functional. I remained on the living room and it is fairly large. Lastly that I noticed is an empty canvas and the paints all around. It seems like this place was owned by someone who loves to paint or their talent is about painting which could be both. However, those paints have been long dried and the brushes are all hard as a rock and the canvas might be blank, it isnt blank from the dust and the fragility as it tears once a small pressure is applied.

"What a pretty place this is" I thought to myself.

These bucket of paints and the empty canvas made me remember what I used to love to do. I am very passionate with art. I would sketch of things. I would portrait of someone. I would doodle on my paper then slowly turn it into a serious drawing. I learned how to paint when I was 14 and used watercolor before I changed to gouache and acrylics. What I sketch at school, I would transfer that sketch to a canvas then paint it. When I got to senior highschool, painting became less frequent because I slowly became busier and busier each day and I felt less motivated to paint by then, so I decided to buy myself a drawing pad that is connected to the computer. At some point, at least I am still doing what I love while Im on my laptop trying to take a break. At least in digital, it is easy access though I must admit, I missed painting and seeing these buckets of dried paint and the canvas made a significant effect on me. I wish to go back to my passion and pick up a brush again.

I returned to the classroom before the bell rang to let all the students know that lunchtime has ended and must return to their own classroom at once and wait for their designated teacher's arrival. I sat on my seat and wait for Sir Symoun because he is our next teacher. I could hear once again the student's excitement. Sir Symoun has won everyone here with his magic. I only need to be in every class to wait for the protagonist's arrival and commence our first interaction for the story but still, he has not arrived yet and it is only Sir Symoun who arrived, giving me false hope when he brought a student along with him that turns out only a student that he asked to help him carry the books.

"Today class, I will be distributing books to each of you." Sir Symoun said and used the magic to have all the books be placed right in front of our desk. If he could use magic to levitate the books? Why have a student carry it for himself instead? I was a little bit pissed because I am getting a bit impatient on waiting for the protagonist's arrival.

I lifted the book that was placed on my desk and opened it. I looked around its contents and knew it is about magics. Good thing that he provided us this book to save my time from writing notes and this might be efficient as he only need for us to open our book and read a page before having us be questioned with the following lesson.

As he talks at the front of the class. I read a few of the book's content and surprisingly, they are very similar to the tutorials in the game to teach us players how to use a magic, except, we dont have buttons to press by rather a hand movement, hand signs, magic spells and incantation. Magics may vary that some of the magics needs hands only or incantation only and at some point, you will need both of the hand movements and the incantation to cast the spell unless youre someone who has mastered the spell, those things would no longer be needed and only needs your comprehension of the magic in order to cast it.

"Everyone! Turn your book on page 210 and I want you all to read that and once you finished reading, I hope you will understand what is written on the book so we can continue with our another magic show." Sir Symoun announced before sitting on his high chair. We did as what he had told us to do. I opened the book at the same page he had told us to read and I see the content of it. It talks about a magic of creation. Magics that could turn an item into another, just like the same magic Sir Symoun had us do at my first day at school as Carlos. I read more into it and in the description, it says;

"Magics of creation may vary depending on how the the person would cast it. Whether through incantation or hand movements or by a mere sheer of imagination that could channel the magic flow from one's mind to the item that is desired to be change into an item one wishes. However, in any way to cast the magic, it doesnt matter in what way you would cast the magic but how strong your magic flow and your creativity is."

This creation magic have a lot of forms and some of the magics regarding about creation is specified. The one Sir Symoun had us do is the freeform of the creation magic which let the students turn the ribbon into another item. It isnt a surprise to me at all when it is called creation magic but what surprises me is how vast the transformation of an item into another is. You could turn a piece of leaf into a book or into a bottle, nothing would stop the caster but only themselves if their creativity is on short.

"Stop reading." Sir Symoun said then had his fingers move in a motion and made our book closed in an instant. Everyone were shock by this. "You see, magics of creation have almost no limitation. As long as you have a flow of imagination inside your mind the same with your magic flow, you can basically turn a strand of hair into a food and actually feed you, unlike illusion where you can change an object but only it's appearance, not it's whole being." He explained. He then took two of the girls' hair, voluntarily given and had the two strands of hair floated for the representation. He used the magic of illusion and change the strand of hair into an orb then he did the same with the other hair but this time it is magic of creation.

The orb he had turned the two hairs into is a magical item, created by A concentrated mana stored in a sphere shape glass that formed naturally when making an orb. Those two orb floating at the front, Sir Symoun took the left orb that was casted with creation magic and used this orb. It worked the same as how an orb would work. Then he turned to the orb that was casted with an illusion magic and attempted to use the orb, however, the orb turns back into the same hair the girl had given to Sir Symoun.

"The illusion magic is a lot easier to cast. It is only tricky because at some point, the illusion might appear distorted or the effect might go away sooner than expected." He explain the illusion of magic which great simplicity.

"Everyone! For those who failed our activity last week, I am going to give you guys a chance to perform the magic of creation." When Sir Symoun said that, the students who did not succeed that day were ecstatic to hear it.

Sir Symoun had the students who failed raise their hand, though I did not raise my hand together with them, he made another ribbon appear in front of them once more, including me. It is another white ribbon. Eugene, next to me, received a ribbon too but his ribbon is red. Sir Symoun looked at us at the back of the class and seeing my ribbon in my hand, he insisted to have everyone try again. He also encourages the other students who succeeded to cheer their fellow classmates.

I looked at everyone to see how they are doing with the white ribbon in my hands then I turned to Eugene to doesn't seem to take this seriously. When he saw me not doing it as well, he taunted me by saying I'm a magicless bastard. Irritated, I tried to flow some magic but I did not have much expectations I still do it anyways.

I closed my eyes with the ribbon in my hand. I didn shut my eyes tight, I didn't grip on the ribbons too hard. I just imagined an item. Any item would do. Hmm, what would be a great item? Heh, why not a pencil? After choosing an item that I want to turn the ribbon into, I let my mind be filled with silence and tried to draw the image of a pencil inside my mind and soon after, the ribbon turned into a thin sturdy piece of wood in my hand. When I opened my eyes, woah! It is a pencil! I didn't know I would be able to use magic! I thought Carlos can't? So how is this possible?

I was amaze and struck with confusion at the same time. Filled with questions of how could Carlos use a magic when in the story he never managed to use it. Is there something he is lacking thats why he didn't get to use any magic?

As I was a little too deep in my thoughts I turned around if anybody saw this and Eugene did. His eyes widen with surprise as he sees the ribbon-now-a-pencil in my hand. Heh, nice reaction you got there.

When I noticed his reaction after seeing me perform a magic, thinking I could not, I taunted him. I looked at him with the pencil in my hand and gave him a tongue and look at him mockingly. His face changed very quickly into an angry expression and tried to do the magic as well. He might do it to prove something to me but to be honest, there is nothing for him to prove anything to me at all. He is only making a fool out of himself.

I took the first ribbon that was given to me last week and tied it around my magic created pencil. It is neat and not very practical to use with the ribbon tied around it. The reason I did so is to remind me where I started.

Sir Symoun walked around the classroom to check on every students attempting to do the creation magic. He inspects on how the student did not what item they managed to turn the ribbon into. He highly praises those who performs the magic in a calm demeanor because he sees how collected the student is. Collected mind is crucial on casting a magic. As he is getting closer to me, I did nothing but wave the pencil with the ribbon still tied in the air playfully, making myself look as if I did not do it. Although I don't know the purpose of me doing this, I still do it anyways. When he took notice of me, he walked up to me and placed his hands on his hands then stood right in front of my desk.

"Mister Advincula." He called me. I looked up to him with no care whatsoever. "What is your progress" he asked. I only waved the pencil in front of him but when he saw the white ribbon on the pencil, he thought that I was playing around and used the ribbon decorate my pencil.

"Mister Advincula. We are not here to tie a knot with our ribbons and decorate it on our pencils." He said. He said it in a calm way but the loudness of his noise was heard in the entire classroom. My name would always catch everyone's attention. Though when it clicked to me that he thought the ribbon tied around my pencil is the ribbon that he gave just now and the pencil that I had in my hand is a pencil from my bag and not the ribbon I casted creation magic on, I tried to reason with him, however, when I tried to reason, it's almost as if my tongue was tied by an unknown reason and I couldn't say a thing.

"Well? You got something to say?" He said when he noticed I tried to say something.

I couldn't say what I want to say so I completely change my course of reply and told him "I am not gonna waste my time on performing small magics as this. Do you have any interesting magics to teach us instead?" I said with a demanding tone, disregarding his efforts of making everyone to learn.

"Mis. Ter. Ad. Vin. Cula!" He yelled my name. Each syllables were pronounced deep. "You are here to learn magic! If you cannot perform a simple magic, how would you expect yourself perform bigger magics then?" He tried to reason with me. His tone now strict and condescending. Is ould be lying if I said I am not scared right now. I don't do well with provocations but because of Carlos' character I am forced to perform such acts.

I didn't reply to him. I only looked at him angrily. My eyes squinting and made it appear as if I am burning with rage. He didn't say anything more to be and proceeded to go back to the front and congratulated those who finally succeeded to turn their ribbon into a different item, he also excluded my name specifically and telling how I did not even try and they should not take me as an example in life.

Hoowweeee Sir Symoun, for sure they are not gonna use me as an example for what they want to achieve.

After excluding me, everyone turned to me again and started whispering and murmuring. I could hear them of course. I could hear some snickered at my tragedy and some were disgusted by my behavior, overall, they are not great to listen to.

Sir Symoun's time has passed and I was glad it is now over. I feel like shrinking in my chair wishes to be swallowed by the dark ess right now. I feel horrible at some point. How will I be able to survive my days at school when everytime I am picked on. I also cannot change character because I fear of getting the attentions of the goddesses and I wouldn't even dare to try to.

I sat the whole classes just waiting for the protagonist to arrive.

Please... Why are you not here yet?

Though your arrival might not get me into a better situation of life in this world but I will take it. I will change my fate at some point once the protagonist is here.