4 The Angel

Kathina Eiríni sat herself down in the classroom as she glanced around. Apparently there was no one else that she knew that was also in her class but that didn't matter to her. She was very confident in her ability to make friends. In fact she was often praised for her forgiving and benevolent attitude that it wasn't rare for people to call her an "angel."

In the end, it kind of became her unofficial title. Kathina didn't really know if she was truly an angel or not but she really didn't have the heart to turn away the compliments that people greet her with. As her mind began to linger on-

"Ahhh... you must be Kathina the 'angel of Vasilas'. While the rumours that she had the face of an angel seem to be true... what about her personality?"

Kathina blushed slightly as she turned to face the voice that addressed her abruptly. She glanced to the right to find a boy with a neat, tidy appearance sitting next to her. On his bland doll-like face a faint smug smirk can be seen. But that his sudden appearance wasn't what startled her the most but rather his somewhat rude and personal question that he just asked to someone he literarily just met. How should she react? Maybe he was just excited by the knowledge that she is the angel of Vasilas and asked that question abruptly? She only knew that she shouldn't be rude to him.

"Erm... ahhhhh... Ye-yes I am Kathina. Pleasure to meet you."

She reached out offer a handshake only to be interrupted by his laughter.

"Ahahahah, looks like you really are as forgiving as they say you are. Normally when I saw something rude like that, the girls of noble birth would often tell me to 'know my place' with a look of contempt or try to mask their disgust only for the look in their eyes to betray them. But your eyes... they shine of genuine forgiveness as if my rude remark was a 'joke among friends.' The existence of people like you improve my impression of the nobility."

Kathina was startled once again for a moment. [To think that he would throw away his self image just to test my personality. There is no doubt that he belongs to the competent group of nobility rather than those that just idle about]. As Kathina got lost in her thoughts about this enigmatic boy, he grasped her hand in a firm handshake.

"The name's Maximillian, Maximillian Vasilas."

Kathina's eyes grew wide as she heard his name. [Maximillian Vasilas? The King's nephew that was proclaimed to be a prodigy? And he sits next to me in my class? No wonder he gives the impression of being a tactical genius just by talking if he's actually Maximillian Vasilas.]

"I'm looking forward to attending class with you for the following year." Though Maximillian still kept a somewhat smug tone, it was subdued by a mood of genuine friendliness and familiarity, as if he already regarded her as a close friend.

Kathina felt her heart warm up as she already made a friend in her class. She smiled at Maximillian replying "Me too. Nice to meet you Maximillian"

"Likewise."

Kathina wanted to continue having a conversation with her newfound friend but a sight in the corner of her eyes gathered her attention. It was a frightening sight which startled Kathina. It was a girl with bronze-red hair which contrasted her pale face and empty eyes, giving an image of a person who literally had their life drained from them.

She sat herself to the left of Maximillian and she seemed to radiate a sad sombre aura. Yet this girl seemed familiar to Kathina almost as if she has seen here somewhere before... but where?

Maximillian seemed to have read her thoughts and he whispered into her ear.

"Don't mind her... she's not feeling well after the professor announced her trait."

"Not feeling well after discovering her trait? What trait could possibly do tha-"

"Hatred"

Before Kathina could finish her question, Maximillian immediately answered in a blunt, serious tone. Kathina gulped as she finally remembered who this girl was, or it should be said how could she forget? That day when the air turned foul and the liquid turned a crimson-red, the cause being that girl sitting across from her. Persephone Odius.

Kathina like many others were filled with fear the moment the atmosphere started turning oppressive but soon after, after watching the sight of Persephone returning to her seat, Kathina can only feel pity.

Kathina knew what others thought of people with the 'hatred' trait and she figured that Persephone probably knew about it too. To be looked down upon as a monster simply for something you were born with... what else can you do but pity them?

Knowing this Kathina gathered her resolve and called out towards Persephone.

"He-hey Persephone?"

Maximillian seemed unfazed by her decision and simply sat idly while Persephone turned to face Kathina's way.

"What do you want?"

"I want you to ignore what the others say about your trait."

"Wha-"

"I want you to ignore what the others say about your trait. Your trait is not bad. Your personality is not bad. You are not bad. The idea that people with the hatred trait are all evil are an old stereotype, I want you to understand that."

"Yes but-"

"But what? You are you, you are not defined by your trait. If anything the fact that you haven't done anything bad yes is proof that the idea that the hatred trait is bad is false right?"

"Ri-ight..."

"I know that changing other people's ideas about you is hard but to not try means that you agree with the stereotype that people with the hatred trait is bad... do you believe that people with the hatred trait is bad?"

"No"

"Do you want to be forever known as another monster with the hatred trait?"

"No"

"Do you want everyone else who just like you, were unlucky enough to be born with hatred trait despite not actually being a bad person?"

"NO!"

As a small faint glimmer of light seemed to return to Persephone's eyes, Kathina glanced back towards Maximillian who sat with eyes his closed and armed crossed. A faint smile lay on his face as if everything has gone according to plan.