Walking through the steep, snowy mountain, I found myself gasping for air.
'Just a little bit.'
Every step was an eternity. An action so insignificant in the grand scheme of all the intricacies that the pale boy almost let out a bitter laugh.
'A coward like me had no reason to live. Abandoning my mother was the most regrettable decision I could have made.'
The blizzard grew stronger, and the path became steeper. Yet, I strode forward….Like a dead man walking towards the gate of resurrection. But there was no gate in front of me.
Only snow and snow. And death.
And before I knew it.
I had reached the peak of the snowy mountain. The sky cleared and revealed a crystal clear view from there.
"Never have I ever wanted to conquer a mountain like this!" My shout echoed.
And then.
I couldn't feel it… But something pierced through my shallow heart. Nothing metaphorical. But it felt real.
I looked down.
Blood. All I saw was blood. My entire torso had been a bloody mess.
I saw darkness. I saw my mom.
And then I saw eternity.
…
"Aegis! Wake up!"
Aegis had woken up to face the scrawny librarian who wore circular glasses.
"What's the time?" Aegis asked hurriedly and got up from his chair out of instinct.
"8:27-" before the librarian could finish, Aegis made a run for his class.
'Fuck this crap! Professor Magnus is gonna kill me today for sure!'
…
Somewhere outside the hall, two figures stood solemnly, who were clad in heavy metal breastplates and held two gladii. The dignified swords had a crimson hilt, and golden runes were carved into them. The essence of life brewed vibrantly inside the runic patterns.
The lady amongst them dropped the gladius on the soft grass, resting her wrists on the pommel of the sword. She cleared her throat and addressed the knight beside her,
"Lieutenant Max…"
The nonchalant knight, Max, whose face was hidden behind an intricate iron helmet, leaned against the tree and replied, "I am all ears."
The lady asked, "Are you perhaps aware why the sovereigns are coming to the city today?"
The knight paused for a moment before replying calmly,
"The sovereigns aren't coming today, Portia." He crossed his arms, the armbands clanking as metal met metal. "The diviners, though. I've heard from Colonel Klara about them coming today."
The lady thought for a moment before asking again, "Diviners? Are you sure they aren't some folklore stories?"
The knight replied instantly, "No. They are real. Even more real than us, probably, as the talk goes. Haven't met one. So, can't tell."
"I see-"
A kunai came flying at Portia. But before she could even flinch, two fingers caught the flying dagger. Max caught the straw kunai and looked at the figure who was approaching them. But he knew who exactly had thrown the kunai.
"Aren't you guys adorable? Flirting while we are waiting to ambush a rabbit!"
A man strode forward from the shade of the trees. A man with a chiseled face, with gleaming blue eyes and lustrous golden hair, was flanked by two armored figures, wearing the same armor as Max. Although one of them was holding a bow, the other held a gladius.
Max replied, almost nonchalantly, "Not funny, Chronos. Could've hurt the poor girl."
The figure named Chronos let out a light chuckle as he walked towards them,
"Don't be shallow now, Max. One could perhaps say that I am the best wingman!"
The figure that flanked Max from his right added, "Or the worst. My lady dumped me cuz I listened to this man."
The figure on the other side coughed, "Maybe you just have a bad game. Haha."
Portia, who now stood to face them, said with a somber face,
"It's been that long…"
She added,
"The 520th squad has finally assembled. Good to see you guys. Chronos, Toliver, Nico."
Chronos smiled faintly and greeted them back. They stood silent for a moment until Chronos broke the silence,
"Portia. Max. Tonight it's on me."
Before anyone could get the wrong idea, Chronos replied
"Drinks, of course. Well… After we are done hunting this monster."
…
Aegis had to continue the remaining 20 minutes of the class standing as a punishment. It wasn't particularly unpleasant that he had to keep standing. At worst, it just earned him some mischievous stares. At best, actually, considering no one actually cared much about it.
As the old professor Magnus left the auditorium, half of the auditorium had already been emptied. And Aegis was still standing. Not because he was about to leave as well, but because something caught his eye. He kept staring at the window, narrowing his eyes to observe the unusual activity.
Students were crowding outside the training grounds… Aegis couldn't see the grounds as his vision was blocked by the sea of people.
'What's this about? Not that I am interested! What do people find interesting about fighting anyway?'
He sighed and then sat down peacefully.
Until… It wasn't so peaceful anymore.
The memories of his dream… caused him to rethink his existence as he leaned back on his chair, fiddling with a quill pen absent-mindedly,
'I wonder if I am some reincarnated MC. Would be quite epic. I think.'
He looked at the ceiling of the vast hall as he leaned even further backwards, pondering.
"A dream… A dream so real yet distant. I should probably visit a dream-teller or two."
His vision was suddenly blocked by two boulders, causing him to slip and fall from his chair.
"Mr. Emporio?" Asked the familiar lady from before.
"Yeah. That's me." He replied as he was picking himself up from the cold marble floor. Dusting off his clothes, he asked,
"And how may I help you, Miss Vale?"
The graceful, blind lady must have missed the fact that she invaded Aegis' state of peace as she showed no emotions behind her words. She was blind anyway. Nevertheless, she replied with a chilling tone, causing shivers to run wild down Aegis' spine,
"Take me away."