19 "The Billboard"
"Life is measured in moments that take our breath away, not when we breathe."
*
There are two paths in front of me: one is light and full of flowers, and the other is dark and swampy. My logic tells me to go the beautiful way, while my heart tells me to go into the dark all the time. My heart keeps saying that the end of every darkness is bright but I can't believe it. It's as if my logic is ruled by someone and I can't stop it. There is something wrong with my heart, I cannot feel and love the way I used to. It's like I lost a part of me. It's like someone... someone took the most important part of me! The blue eyes that come to my mind the moment I step forward obstruct my view. Whom did these eyes belong to? Why couldn't I remember? Who are you?
*
When I opened my eyes, I realized I had fallen asleep on the floor. It didn't take me long to realize that I was in pain all over as I straightened slowly. When I got up, I quickly changed my sticky clothes and walked out of my room. I seriously wanted to take a shower right now, but I had to attend classes first. I was 10 minutes late to my first magic lesson. Well done to me!
I knocked on the door before entering the classroom and went inside without waiting for an answer. The young blonde teacher sitting at her desk looked at me angrily and told me to sit down. While Bruce smiled at me, I smiled at him and sat next to him. Without caring anyone, I was stunned when he suddenly kissed my cheek.
"Bruce! Why did you kiss me?"
"It was to say welcome."
I raised my eyebrows and looked at him and, exhaling, turned in front of me. While Bruce was not interested in the lesson at all, I was listening attentively and taking notes at the same time. With the sharp pain that entered my head suddenly, I took my head between my hands and started rubbing my temples. When I see blue eyes and lips kissing my wrists, I was still trying to understand what was happening. What was going on?
When I turned my head to the left, I saw the person who had the same things in my dream.
Dylan.
I was trying to understand what was happening while Dylan looked at me with fear and anxiety. Dylan was a nice guy. I just didn't spend much time with him and did a week of training for the challenge. I didn't remember how I met him. There was a gap and I couldn't fill that gap. It wasn't happening. A thick wall wouldn't let me go forward.
While I and Dylan were still staring at each other, suddenly Bruce wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me towards him. Just as I was telling him he was going too far, the bell rang and everyone started to leave the classroom. Bruce stopped me just as I was about to get up and he waited until everyone was out. But Dylan was still here and staring at us with anger. Bruce grabbed my arm and started tugging at me.
"Where are you taking her, Bruce?"
The things Dylan said in anger made me fear. At the same time, Bruce squeezing my arm was hurting me.
"My arm hurts, Bruce!" looking at Dylan, I knew I was looking at the wrong person, but I felt as if he could save me. Actually, maybe I haven't felt anything for a long time. I was like an empty box.
When I tried to pull my arm with my other hand, he also grabbed that arm and clasped them both. I felt scared as I stared into Bruce's fiery eyes. This was me: a cowardly girl with a stupid phobia.
Bruce was sending me his incomprehensible glance as I gasped and my eyes were tearing. That day came to my mind when Dylan came to us and saved me from his hands: the first day I came here.
As those all passed before my eyes like a film strip, I couldn't understand why I remember those now.
While I was thinking about this, Bruce punched the wall so I thought the wall was cracking. Dylan was staring at me as if nothing had happened when I looked shocked at Bruce.
"Damn! You can't take her away, Dylan! Stay away from her!"
"Nobody asked you, Bruce!"
Just as Bruce was about to punch Dylan, I stopped him and looked at him in fear.
"Bruce... I don't love you. You don't have to hit anyone for me! This is so stupid!"
Bruce looked at me in amazement and pointed to Dylan. When I looked at Dylan, there was fear in his eyes. It was a pure fear that no one else can see.
"Do you love him?"
Really... who did I love? I guess I loved someone, but for some reason I couldn't feel like I did. Complex emotions had taken over me. It was weird...
My heart was saying wait a little while when my logic said you don't love him. I guess this was the crossroads... Although I didn't understand anything, I trusted my heart and left the classroom without looking at Bruce and Dylan for the last time and answering.
*
Exactly one week had passed. Dylan and Bruce stayed away from me and didn't interfere with each other. I could no longer enter the wards as before. Security in the wards was increased, and the most professional sorcerers and fighters were placed in the wards.
As I wandered down the hall, the crowd in front of the billboard caught my attention. I quickly went over to them and passed everyone, looking at the announcements. The announcement that was just posted on the board looked like it was written for me!
"Magic and fighting duels will start from tomorrow!
Anyone who finishes the duels first and gets a good rank will be given the right to be the chief officer on the wards!
Two people to duel must come at the same time to apply!"
If the plan I made in my mind while reading the announcement works:
1. I would prove myself to everyone here and make them afraid of me!
2. I would secretly heal everyone in the wards and release them all!
3. If I had some luck, I would find the third Tania Statue!
The plan was this:
Challenge the chief officer in the great ward! To Dylan!
I was seriously funny right now. I started running in search of Dylan as I left the billboard. If I didn't challenge him before everyone else, I would also wait for my turn to come. But of course I had no such intention!
Dylan was sitting on the stairs, his head in his hands. Even though I was wondering what he was thinking, I didn't think too much and sat next to him.
He said my name without looking up. My fake name... Nobody here knew my real name anyway. But for some reason my gut kept saying it was wrong. I shook and immediately got to the point.
"Dylan... I want to challenge you. Well, if you accept..."
Dylan looked at me and smiled slightly. But there was a deep pain in that smile. Why was Dylan suffering?
"When you're challenging you don't have to ask, and yes… I accept."
"Okay... When are we going to register our name?"
"Right now!"
I was looking at him with disbelief. How quickly he accepted. However, he could do a better duel with stronger people than me. I didn't know... What was he doing?
He stood me up as he stood up. I smelled him with a moment of intimacy. I unwillingly inhaled this familiar scent as if it was something I had always done. As my eyes closed with this fragrance, Dylan suddenly walked away from me and shook himself. My heart, accelerated by the absence of smell, was trying to say that I was angry.
As he grabbed my arm, he led me to a room with "Application" written on its door. The woman sitting at the table looked at us in surprise and smiled.
"How quickly? Anyway guys, let's write your names. The first duel is yours. 3 days later it will be in the duel area."
While the woman was still talking, we wrote our names and immediately went out. When we left, my whole body stiffened from David and Chris I saw in the front door. David was laughing at the same time as he cast his impulsive gaze over me. David whistled as I passed Dylan. I ran to my room and sat on the seat in the corner of the room, wrapping my arms around my legs. Suddenly I got up with the knock on the door and said "Come in!"
As Dylan, standing in front of the door, reminded me of his scent, my eyes were tinged and I was caught in a torrent of emotion I could not understand. Dylan closed the door and walked in front of me and knelt. When the tears started running down his eyes, I was surprised and immediately wiped my face.
I couldn't ask him why is he crying because I was afraid of the answer I was going to hear.
