Do You Know Him?

Aranea, Elenea, and Leonel went out this weekend to buy the things that they needed for the ordeals.

They decided that they visit the shops present in their town so Aranea and Elenea could be familiar with the things that they could use during their stay in the academy.

A lot of students were out this weekend. Most of them seemed to be preparing for their ordeals, too.

In town, there was a potions shop, weapons and armory shop, taverns, and guilds as well.

Aranea and Elenea could not help but look around them as it was their first time seeing places such as this. It was clear to whoever looked at them that they are new students in the academy.

"What should we get?" Aranea asked her twin sister as Leonel followed behind them.

As they go, there were more eyes on them than usual. People remembered Aranea as a student whom they believed didn't have any magical prowess.

Now with the familiar following behind them and remembering how she summoned him, it was understandable that the stares and attention were on them.

Aranea was happy to show them that she wasn't powerless. However, she also felt uneasy with how people talked to her.

"Isn't that the new student?"

"Yeah. The professors said she doesn't have powers at first."

"I was surprised, too! I thought she was powerless."

"She could summon familiars?!"

"That's the same as our famed goddess' powers."

"Could she be related to the goddess?"

"Ha! Do you think so? I think it's just a coincidence!"

Aranea's eyebrow twitched, annoyance rising in her body as she found their whispers about her irritating.

"How could these people talk about me so openly when I'm here? Do they think that I'm deaf?" she mumbled, Elenea nervously laughing as she felt that any moment soon, Aranea could snap.

She always knew that her twin sister Aranea was irritable when she feels uncomfortable.

Noticing the discomfort on his Summoner's face, Leonel gave her a small smile as he patted her head, comforting her.

"Don't mind them, Aranea. It gives them another thing to think about, such as them not underestimating you," he said, his words comforting her.

Aranea smiled, nodding as Leonel continued to pat her head.

"Thanks, Leonel," she said, "You and my sister make me feel better," she added, Aranea and the group turning on a blind curve.

The moment Aranea turned to her left, she bumped into someone, making his books fall to the ground.

"O-Oh! I'm so sorry," she apologized, Aranea picking up his books. The moment she stood up, she noticed that the man she bumped was Zann, making her eyes blink a few times.

"Watch where you're going," he coldly said, getting the books from Aranea as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Rude. I already said that I'm sorry."

"Whatever."

Zann scoffed as he walked past Aranea. The moment he did, his eyes locked with Leonel's, both of their eyes cold as they stared at each other.

As Zann was about to walk away from them, Leonel spoke, making Zann stop in his tracks.

"You're the one who needs to watch where you're going."

Hearing that, Zann turned his back to look at Leonel. The moment he did, Leonel faced him as he raised a brow at him, the atmosphere around them turning cold as winter.

The two stared at each other as if they were aiming a dagger under each other's throat.

Not saying a single word in return, Zann scoffed as he walked away, Leonel sighing as he shook his head in disapproval.

With them acting that way towards each other when Elenea and Aranea knew that it was the first time the boys saw each other, they grew curious because it seemed like they are familiar with each other.

"Do you know him?" Aranea asked, Leonel's face turning lighter as his Summoner asked him a question.

"No," Leonel shook his head, "I don't know that person," he added, the familiar already entering the potions shop.

Aranea and Elenea looked at each other as their eyebrows creased in wonder.

"It seemed like they don't know each other like he said," Elenea commented, Aranea cocking her head to the side.

"Do you think so?" Aranea contemplated for a few seconds, "But how could strangers glare at each other coldly even though they don't know each other?"

With that thought in mind, the twins just shrugged at each other as they pushed their curiosity to the side. They then followed Leonel inside of the potions shop, browsing at the items they need.

***

The moment Zann got away from the group, he hid inside an empty alley and started panting.

He fell to his knees, his hand on the wall as the other held his head as if he was experiencing another headache that was unbearable to him.

Zann started to feel cold sweat trickle down his body. His eyebrows creased as his hand on the wall turned into a tight fist. His head hung low as he winced in pain, the throbbing in his head increasing as seconds passed.

'This headache,' he thought, 'Does this got something to do with Aranea?'

Zann sat down on the ground, his back leaning on the wall behind him as he panted. Sweat dripped from his forehead, his head still throbbing in pain as he continued to think of what's happening.

It was the same headache he felt when he first encountered Aranea. It was also the same headache he had during the opening of the school year in the Great Hall.

With that in mind, Zann heaved an exasperated sigh as he looked at the blue sky, feeling irritated than ever. He then ran his hand through his hair as he gritted his teeth, his right hand giving the ground one punch as he continued thinking to himself.

'There are only two things to choose from,' Zann thought as he looked at the sky.

'To go back home, or to renew my vows and loyalty.'