IT WAS REALLY YOU

I sat at my desk, watching as the other students got checked. Some seemed happy, some were sad that they didn't get the results they wanted. But at the end of the day, at least they showed some natural affinity to disciplines. On the other hand, I was branded as the class jester. Students talked behind my back, gave me side-eyes, and two boys at the further back even threw little paper balls at me. Man, that other shadow realm was getting luxurious by the second now… I wish I was there instead of here, getting humiliated.

Mira patted me on the shoulder and smiled. I smiled back, nodded, and instinctively held her hand that was on my shoulder. I got red like an idiot and immediately pulled back. She wasn't red at first, but after seeing me act like a virgin, she blushed too.

I shook my head and put my head on the table, trying to escape the situation. She did the same, starting to talk with her friends in hopes of just forgetting it all.

[Reminder: Unspent AP Points.]

'Yeah… what were my stats?'

[Strength: 2

Agility: 4

Dexterity: 4

Intelligence: 3

Constitution: 1

Wisdom: 1

Charisma: 2]

'Hmm… what does Intelligence do?'

[Intelligence is tied with mana. With your current glitched state, it would be useless to spend a point there.]

'Okay… How about wisdom?'

[Wisdom: Grants master a new ability.]

'My wisdom is at one. But I know four spells already.'

[Starting spells aren't included in the wisdom attribute.]

'Huh… okay. Let's go with Wisdom. All points to that.'

[Confirm?]

'Yep.'

[New points assigned.

Strength: 2

Agility: 4

Dexterity: 4

Intelligence: 3

Constitution: 1

Wisdom: 3

Charisma: 2

New Skills:

Dark Reflection: Create illusory duplicates of yourself that move and behave like you, confusing enemies and drawing attention away from your true position. Moderate mana cost.

Upgraded Dagger: Manifest a blade of pure shadow energy that can cut through armor and magical defenses. It dissipates after a few strikes or upon contact with a powerful barrier. Moderate mana drain per strike.]

'Sweet.'

"Okay, class. Everyone is checked. That's all for now." Mr. Vlad put the box in his bag. "Next lesson is in about ten minutes. Don't be late. I'll meet you all in the training grounds. You're all dismissed."

"Yes, sir," the class responded in unison.

As Mr. Vlad left the classroom, students began to pack their books.

"Axel's coming too?" a girl whispered to her friend. "Shame."

"Poor dude," a boy said, sitting two desks away from me. "If I had no mana, I wouldn't even try to attend this type of school. What was he thinking, I wonder. Weird."

"Don't listen to them," Mira said, leaning closer and giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Like Mr. Vlad said, you just have to practice. I'm with you; you can count on me."

"Thank you, Mira. I appreciate it." I gave her a small smile, trying to ignore the whispers around me.

Suddenly, a student burst into the room, panting and wide-eyed. "Shadow Dancer has been apprehended!" he shouted. "He was caught near a tavern! They're executing him right now!"

"Oh, shit." I muttered to myself, feeling a mix of panic and regret. "No… I wanted him imprisoned, not publicly executed, you idiot…"

"That's great!" Mira exclaimed, shaking me by the shoulder. "He was the one giving you trouble, right?"

"Y-yeah…" I whispered, trying to process the news. "I kind of tricked the guards into thinking he was the 'Shadow Dancer' though. I thought they would just lock him up or something. Not execute him."

"You stole – 'he' stole the king's artifact, Axel. What did you think was going to happen? They'd roll out a red carpet into his cell and give him some wine with grapes? Of course they'd hang him."

"I feel responsible…" I said, running my hands through my hair in frustration. "Shit, I need to do something. My conscience couldn't take it."

"What? He is a terrible person, Axel. Trust me, my father used to talk about that man. He was a rapist, murderer, a vile man. The whole world should celebrate that he's getting executed!"

"Yeah but… fuck. You're right. I don't know…" I ruffled my hair again, feeling conflicted. "I wish this had happened before I crossed paths with him."

"Eh, just forget about that rat," she said, linking her arm with mine and gently pulling me toward the door. "Let's head to the back garden. I'd like to check some flowers there. Need some Aethira to make a perfume for myself."

"Yeah… okay, sure. Let's go," I agreed, letting her lead the way as I tried to push the troubling thoughts out of my mind.

I was so distracted with thoughts of James that I didn't even realize Mira and I were walking arm in arm, like a couple. When it finally hit me, my eyes widened in surprise. 

Mira had always got my back, even when her father didn't care about me or my sister. Barton raised us, fed us, but as soon as we hit ten, he made us work like slaves. Sura and I were breaking into houses before we even knew how to read. Mira would always scold her father, saying he shouldn't use us like that.

Of course, Barton would always promise never to do it again, but as soon as Mira turned her back, he'd have us back at it. That old sly bastard… I couldn't hate him, though. Thanks to his teachings, I was able to become the 'Shadow Dancer' and survive to this day.

"Thank you," I said, looking at Mira. "For always having my back. You are a great person."

"W-where did that come from, idiot?" She replied, her cheeks reddening as she playfully nudged me. "Did you hit your head or something?"

"You're making me regret now." I slumped my shoulders.

"You're just so nonchalant about everything and talk so little. I didn't know your tongue could form sentences like that."

"Oi, I'm human too."

"Uh-huh." She chuckled. "I guess I should thank you too."

"For what?"

"For being such an idiot. You make me feel good about myself. Knowing I could've been like you."

"Joke of the century," I said with a laugh, rolling my eyes.

"I wouldn't call you the joke of the century. But the joke of the world, maybe." She laughed along, her eyes sparkling with humor.

"You're good," I said. "You should be a comedian."

"Yeah, yeah." She opened the double doors of the school. "Let's pick those flowers before the class starts. Come on."

A student and I shoulder-bumped, both of us stumbling backward. She tried for my pocket – attempting to pickpocket a thief, huh? I grabbed her hand, moving in to steal her pouch from her belt. But she blocked me and pulled me closer to herself.

"So it was really you," she whispered into my ear. "Shadow Dancer."