[Pargoina Academy] [2]

[Wait! Azariah, are you really going to jump?]

"Why are you panicking so much?" I grumbled in reply as I made my way towards the main academic building where the entrance ceremony was being held.

[Just stop doing things that will damage your body even more.]

"I can't be sure if I can do that, but I will try," I replied, shrugging off his words as I moved through the corridor of the building.

[You do remember how much time you have left to live, right?]

"Ten years, give or take," I replied as I walked towards the gate of the hall where two guards stood, "maybe less than ten years."

[Wait, why are you saying that?]

"Open the door." Ignoring El's words, I ordered, looking at them.

"You are la—."

"Stop!" Before the younger guy could continue barking, his partner stopped him and bowed towards me. "I will open it, sir."

I nodded my head as he pulled the handle of the door.

"Wait!"

But just as he was about to open the door, another voice resonated in the corridor, making us turn towards its direction.

And there he was, the protagonist of the game.

With disheveled brown hair and a handsome face, he ran towards us, breathing heavily, before stopping in front of the door.

"Sorry... I am... late," he said between breaths, his light brown eyes scanning us.

I didn't reply but just looked at him, and after taking deep breaths, he looked back at me.

"Hi, I am Ethan Varon." With a bright smile on his face, he extended his hand.

"Azariah Noah Aljanah," I replied curtly, not bothering to return his smile.

Grip!!!

[AZARIAH!]

'Calm down, El,' I said as Ethan tightened his grip on my hand.

His expression faltered slightly at my name, but he quickly recovered.

But within that second.

I saw it....

Endless...

Boundless....

Hatred....

Hatred so deep, that if I hadn't been accustomed to my mother's emotionlessness, even I would have feared it.

"Nice to meet you, Azariah," he said, his tone slightly strained as he loosened his grip.

"Open the door." Ignoring the guy, I said to the guard, who nodded his head before opening the door.

[Why is he like this?]

El asked as I noticed the protagonist's damaged clothes and disheveled hair.

'I tried to avoid the cliche,' I replied, glancing at him as the door started to open up, 'this would have happened to me as well if I didn't.'

[No, not that his react—.]

'later, El.'

Creak...

With a suitable 'creaking' sound, the door opened up, and all the people present inside the hall looked in our direction.

Every single pair of eyes was on us as Ethan stood beside me.

[Oh boy.]

...I know, right?

As I slowly walked, a small murmur of the students filled the hall, and it didn't take long before it turned into buzzing among the students.

[...Are you sure you want to be here? Except for fear, hatred, and indifference, I don't feel anything from all of them.]

'Things we do to live, buddy.'

Like he said, within the hall, those who are present here either fear me, hate me, or don't care about me.

That's all there is to it.

"Azariah," I heard someone call my name from the main stage.

"What are you doing here?" a blonde guy with a handsome face asked as I walked, surveying the hall before my eyes landed on Ashlyn.

"Why can't I be here?" I retorted, making my way toward her, noticing she had saved a spot for me beside her.

"There are rules and regulations in the academy," the blonde guy persisted.

"Ok, and?" I countered, taking my seat beside Ashlyn. "What does that have to do with me?"

"You—"

"Prince Johnathan," the slightly older man beside him interjected, "please continue."

"But—"

"Please," the older man insisted, and I settled into my seat beside Ashlyn.

"Why are you so late?" She whispered in my ear, but I didn't respond immediately, my attention drawn to Ethan taking a seat nearby.

"There wasn't any other seat here," Ethan explained, catching my gaze.

"I am not that late," I finally responded to Ashlyn's whispered inquiry.

"You are," she insisted in a hushed tone.

"I am not," I countered once more.

"So as I was saying, we as the students represent the empire itself to the world," the Prince resumed his speech, and all the students focused back on him.

[So...where is your fiancée?]

El's voice echoed in my mind as I glanced around.

'She isn't here,' I replied mentally, 'She won't be arriving here for at least a month.'

[Where is she?]

'Traveling,' I replied, refocusing on the Prince. 'She is traveling around with my sister.'

And the irony of the situation, here I am fighting for even a single day to live, and there she is living her life to the fullest.

[How is she?]

'Well... She is funny, and moody, and smart,' I took a moment to recall her before continuing, '... and beautiful.'

[Azariah..... Did you love her?]

'... People can love and still let go.'

"As the representative of the student council, I welcome all of the new students to the academy," the Prince announced, but I barely registered his words.

Clap. Clap.

Clap. Clap.

The hall resonated with the sounds of clapping as the Prince continued.

"And now I would like to call the representative of the first year students." With a brief pause, he looked around until his eyes landed on the girl in the front row.

"The third princess of our Empire and my younger sister, Arianell Alea Pargoina!"

Clap. Clap.

Clap. Clap.

The applause gradually faded into silence as a girl in her academy uniform stepped onto the stage, capturing the attention of everyone in the hall with her ethereal beauty.

With hair as white as snow and eyes to match, she appeared like an angel amidst mortals, radiating an aura of purity and grace that left the audience in awe.

"Good morning, everyone," she greeted with a gentle voice, bowing slightly. "I hope my presence isn't too much of a disturbance."

"No, Princess!"

"Of course not!"

The room erupted with affirmations from some enthusiastic students.

[Look beside, Azariah.]

I followed El's instruction and glanced at Ethan.

He was looking intently at the princess as if trying to engrave her image into his mind.

[What's with this girl, now?]

'A [Main Heroine] of the game,' I replied, looking back at her.

[So... you know her then?]

'Yep, after all, I am her first love,' I replied with a tired sigh. 'But last I remembered, I forcefully tried to kiss her, earning a slap from her.'

[.....]

'I know it's fucked up.'

It's very hard to make the person who once loved you come to hate you.

And...

Azaria—no, I, I did a great job making them all hate me.

Leaving no way for them to find any redeeming quality, that they remain away from me.

[... don't know if I should pity you or curse you.]

'Meh, do what you want,' I replied nonchalantly, my attention fixed on the girl on stage.

Unlike before, when I remembered her as my childhood friend, she had changed significantly.

She exuded a newfound gentleness, confidence, and an air of aloofness.

[...Is it me or is she ignoring your presence entirely?]

'....Well, they can either hate me, fear me, or ignore me; there is no in between,' I responded, observing the girl as she continued her speech. '.....annnddd she is ignoring me.'

But as her speech progressed, I felt a chill run down my spine.

Alert now, I scanned the room until I locked eyes with a pair of crimson orbs staring back at me.

[....And now what's with this silver-haired girl?]

'Well, she is someone who hates me the most,' I replied, meeting her gaze evenly.

And she is someone whom I hate the most as well.