14 Chapter 14: Rumors are everywhere (Part 1)

It has been weeks, since the first day of school. 

We slept on a bunk bed, which I've gotten used with sleeping at.

It seems like the girls have two separated beds, while we boys have bunk bed. What's with this gender inequality?

Well, I am sleeping below, while Russell is sleeping above. At first, I was the one above, but soon Russell gave me the spot below.

Do I have a bad sleeping habit? Is that why he suggested that I sleep below?

Well, enough of the dorm talks…

Lately, there is a rumor that has spread around the whole school that even the proffessors know about it.

"Have you heard of the rumor about the ghost girl who is possessing people to find her older brother?" 

"This girl has a light blonde hair that shines like the moon and has blue eyes as clear as the sky" 

That is how they define her.

But as I know, no one has ever seen this girl yet. So, who the hell is spreading this so called appearance of her?

"Did you noticed, the whole school is filled with that rumor that has been going around, recently" 

The guy who sent shivers down my and the other guys' spine, during the first day of school, Gino Borther said so.

"Don't tell me you're the one spreading it?"

The lazy guy, who did nothing but doze off during the first, Kirt Yulirken thought out loud, after he heard Gino's statement.

Right now, I am eating lunch with my roommate, Russell and the two troublesome kids, Kirt and Gino.

"Why would I do that?" Gino asked Kirt, which the latter replied with a, "There are plenty of reasons for you to do so. Do you want me to point it all out?" 

Gino gulped and looked away from Kirt, before mumbling, "N-no thanks…" 

"Don't worry, I have it all clear, all you need to do is listen, Gino. I won't prove you bad, for I am your friend, here" 

Kirt's lips formed a smirk, which made Gino back off from him and push the guy away.

"What's wrong, Ed?" he then asked me, as he spared a glimpse on me, whilst pushing Kirt, who were threatening him with things, away.

I leaned my chin on my palm and smiled, before saying,  "Hmm, it's nothing"

"Kinda creepy" Kirt backed off from me, as well as Gino, who agreed with him, "Y-yeah…" and nodded.

I complained, "Aren't you two a bit rude?!"

"Yep, it really is delicious" a familiar voice spoke beside me, as munching sounds followed after.

The three of us look at Russell, who was happily eating lunch, whilst having us fight like this. 

"Hmm? Is something wrong, you three?" Russell spared a glimpse at us, as he munched onwards.

The three of us said at the same time, "No need to spare a time for us, go ahead and enjoy your meal" 

"Okay!"

Upon hearing Russell's agreement like that, a big sigh left the mouths of us, three and we thought to ourselves, "A usual day, huh..?"

For some reason, I have been getting along with these 2 problem children, along with my roommate here.

Well, since I also made the teacher cough that day, and the fact that I am a prince, kinda made others ignores me, more or less fear me. 

I am also considered as a problem child, like these guys.

Normally, a prince is often approached by many people, whether it is for friendship or for power.

But, since my father, the Emperor is someone who is very scary enough for others to fear him and be very loyal to him. 

I am ignored. 

He isn't like the person you guys are thinking he is, though. Me, his son can successfully point that out.

Well, about these guys I kinda noticed that they aren't trying to get along with me for power, but instead it is for sincere friendship. 

Plus, I don't expect such thoughts about power from these carefree guys. And the two of them are the sons of powerful men, as well.

Gino moved his face a bit close to mine and asked, "So, what do you think Ed?" 

"About what?" I asked Gino back, as Russell pulled my sleeve and shove a cut of meat, in my mouth. 

Gino backed off and sighed, as he touched his forehead, while I chewed the meat Russell gave me.

I shook my head quietly as response to Gino's statement about me, "You weren't listening were you?"

Slowly, I gulped in and told him, "Sorry, I was kinda spacing out a bit" 

"I was talking about the rumor that had spread around the whole academy recently, bro" he moved his face a bit close to mine.

I tilt my head to the side and asked him, "What about it?"

"You see, they say that "that" girl seems to be in the school's forest" he beamed a grinned at me, which I flicked with a, "So..?" 

Gino grinned, without giving up.

"I was saying that if the rumor is true then she's there, right? So, I'm thinking of checking her out!" 

Now, his is only a breath away from mine.

I shouted, "You're close!" as I shoved him and backed off, which made the latter clicked his tongue.

"Check her out and do what?" Russell asked, before taking another bite of meat in his own mouth.

Nice one Russell!

"Well, of course, we'll be checking out if she's really a ghost and has possessed others. Plus, wouldn't it be amazing if we really meet a ghost?"

Gino clenched his fist, and moved it up and down .

"Is it?" Russell asked and Gino fidgeted, "B-but! It will also be great if she was a human, instead of a ghost…" 

So, it's okay?

"What would you do if she really was a ghost and suddenly possessed you?" I asked, as I leaned my chin on my palm.

  Gino gulped and mumbled, "W-well…"

"You won't be able to do anything if you were possessed, you know?" this statement left my mouth, as my lip formed a smirk.

Though, I'm kinda interested on what would happen to a person's soul if some other soul were to possess his body.

Will it go out of its body or stay there?

"I-in that case!" he spoke up, interrupting my thoughts and grinned. "In that case, I will have you help me" 

Have me help you? 

Pfft..! 

I burst out into laughter, which made Gino look at me with a baffled expression.

"Alright! If you were possessed, I'll run away and call for a professor to help you" I tapped Gino's shoulder and he retorted, "You're the one who's supposed to help me!" 

I wiped my tears off and said the words, "I'm just kidding I'll help you" which made Gino's eyes widened, in joy.

"Yay! Thank you, Ed!" he exclaimed, as he tried to hug me, which made me shoved him away, quickly.

I turned around my side and asked, "How about you, Russell?"

"Hmm, me..?" he mumbled and took another bite of meat. "It seems fun, so I'll be going with you guys" 

You're a guy who seems to be interested in this kind of thing, after all.

"Then, we'll go at Saturday night!" 

Gino clenched his right hand into a fist and raised it up above, as if he was forming a victory pose.

"Am I already counted on that "we"?" Kirt raised his right hand and Gino quickly nod, "Of course!!" 

Kirt wrinkled his nose. 

"Ugh…Well, I don't mind otherwise, though" he mumbled, before he ate the last piece of carrot he took with his fork.

So you don't mind…

I stood up and walked towards the exit of the cafeteria, with Russell and walked passed Alicia, who didn't call me or even spare a glimpse at me. 

"Acting as strangers, huh?" I mumbled to myself and Russell looked at me, with a bit confused face.

Gino called, "Ed! Don't forget, this Saturday night!" and I waved at him. 

"Yeah, I know. More or less, aren't you the one who is supposed to remember that?" he flinched and Russell giggled. 

I'll be joining them. 

I personally think that rumors are just lies and I don't believe them. But, even if I don't believe in them, Gino does. 

Let's just say that I got pulled by his enthusiasm, rather than by my own curiosity.

I do think that besides his intention of seeing a ghost, Gino has some ulterior motives. And I can't doubt myself about that being true. 

…

The next day. 

"For what reason, are we gathering today?" I asked Gino, who beamed a grin at me. "To discuss the information I've gathered about the rumor" 

You really are eager to go, aren't you?

"You see, the rumor has been getting bigger lately" he started and Russell asked, "What do you mean?" 

Gino pointed up.

"Remember the news about the deer found dead, with some trees broken?" he asked and I nodded, "The thing that happened the other day, right?" 

Gino nodded. 

"When some teachers investigated it, they found out some traces of magic used to cut the trees and to kill the deer" 

Kirt went on and continued for him, "And some students connected that news to the rumored girl?" 

Gino nodded.

"It seems that there is a wind magic like thing surrounding the girl, which she must be using to keep herself safe"

I pressed my chin and asked, "So, you're saying that they are thinking the girl was the one behind that news?" which he nodded to.

Trying to organize my thoughts, I remained silent, until a thought struck to me and made me gasp.

"Wait a minute. If they're saying that there is wind magic around the girl, means they have seen the girl?" I asked.

Gino answered, "Probably…" with a bit hesitation and I asked him, "You aren't sure?" 

"Honestly, I don't know that much.  After all, it is just a rumor, so it is hard to… you see" he stated and I sighed.

Kirt spoke up, "But I guess that is prolly true" 

"Why so?" Gino and I asked, which made Kirt raise his index finger. "Remember the thing the professors tell us? Don't go to the woods of the school, late at night" 

Russell tilted his head to the side and mumbled, "Isn't that normal? Because there is a possibility of monsters appearing in the woods, aren't I right?" 

We three remained silent. "Eh? Was I wrong?" he asked.

"It wouldn't be strange if it is a wild animal, but we're inside the academy. Plus, the academy is an island surrounded with the sea" 

Kirt stated, which made Russell repeat his statement, "Then it really is a monster"

"Russell, let me ask you. What is a monster?" He pressed his chin and answered, "A creature that became hostile, out of malevolence, right? 

Gino called him, "Russell"

"There's no way a monster can appear in the academy, nor anywhere in this human realm or even any other realm"

He continued on his statement.

"The 9 realms are connected to the roots of the Yggdrassil. Previously, all inhabitants of each realm are free to go to other realms.

But due to a certain accident, the Gods put a barrier on each realm, which caused the other inhabitants' inability to travel to the other realms.

And it also protects the creatures inside the realms from malevolence, up a certain extent" 

Kirt and I nodded to ourselves, as we listened to Gino's explanation, which Russell took on as a surprising knowledge.

"I didn't expected that Gino knew it and Russell didn't" Kirt mumbled and I nodded, "The same here" 

Gino frowned and mumbled, "Aren't you rude to me?"

It might be unexpected of Gino, but he is right. 

Normally, one would think that "that" barrier is already broken, since the root connected to the human realm was broken 28 years ago.

But it was directly casted to the human realm, so it is still here.

"Then, that will mean that the teachers have already seen the girl?" Russell pointed out and Gino nodded, "That is another possibility…" 

Kirt pressed his chin.

"If that is another possibility… Then, a teacher being possessed, and the girl is now inside that teacher's body is another possibility, right?" he mumbled, whilst having his lips form a smirk.

I gave him a weak karate chop, over his head and stated, "Don't say such baseless things, easily!" 

Kirt might be right, but…

"Nevertheless, whether she's true or not, or whether she's dangerous or not, we'll found out tomorrow night, right?" 

I spared a glimpse at Gino and he nodded, "YUP!" with a large grin.

…

"It was kinda tiring today…" my body jumped on my bed and I mumbled, "I should sleep" before dozing off, quickly.

This rumor had become too much of a threat, more than I thought. 

Now that I think of it, a girl possessing others to find her brother. Somehow, that setting reminds me of the story of the twin Gods. 

The twins that have been separated for eternity…