SYSTEM ASCENSION

The next morning, class proceeded as normal. The royal family returned to the palace, and the students were left with whispers.

”I heard the emperor forbade princess Bora from returning to the palace.”

”Now, she’s stuck here with us.”

”She must be feeling horrible.”

”Serves her right.”

Elias and Kael exit the history class after the first lesson, only to be met with hateful glares and comments from the students in the hallway.

”That’s him.”

”C rank you say? He certainly doesn’t look like one. Almost fooled us.”

”Sucking up to the royal family. What a retard.”

”I heard he forced himself on the young princess.”

Kael glanced around. ”Umm, Elias...”

”Ignore them,” he calmly said. ”That Bora brat must be staring up trouble.”

”Bora...brat? The princess?”

”Yeah.”

Kael moved closer and whispered.

”You could get into trouble for saying that.”

He didn’t even listen to Kael. Instead, he cranked his neck to the part of the school where he could hear commotions.

Kael stopped.

”Did you hear that?”

”I’m not deaf.” Elias replied.

He frowned. ”You’re surprisingly snappy for someone who looks chilled.”

”Elias!”

They both turned around after hearing the female voice.

Tiana ran to them at full speed, eyes pouring water that could no longer be called tears.

”I lost him! I lost Mona!”

”Huh?!” Kael gasped. ”Just one child and you messed up!”

”I’m sorry! We both went to sleep and—”

”Shut up! That’s not a good excuse!”

”Waahhh!”

Elias just stared at both of them with a dumbfounded expression. He didn’t even remember that there was someone named Mona until she brought it up.

”That’s enough. He’s still in school.”

”How do you know that?” Kael asked.

”Because he’s me.” Elias turned around and began to walk to the direction where the ruckus was coming from, leaving both of them to follow behind. Mimi joined them on the way, but didn’t get too close to Elias.

They finally arrived in the hall.

Students gathered around, but none of them stepped closer to the middle where the teachers were. The professors also gathered around a girl and a strange creature, while the teachers took stances to eliminate it.

”Why are you protecting that thing?!” One bulky man yelled. ”you could get exiled for this.”

”But, it’s not hostile.” She yelled back.

Kael gasped. ”The girl from yesterday!”

Elias squinted his brows. ”Rolarza?”

”You know her?”

Mimi and Tiana glanced at her with a question: ’another girl?’

Elias stepped forward, cutting past the arguing students and teachers.

”What the hell are you doing?”

She stiffened up at the sound of his voice. The one person she had believed to be dead. She didn’t turn around. Not immediately, but just stood there and stared into space.

Elias got to her, and tapped her shoulder.

”You’ll get yourself exiled.”

She looked up.

He really was the one. Taller, hair shorter, but the same person. Her eyes turned misty.

”Elias...”

She raised up, and touched his face. Confirmed if he was the one actually standard behind her.

”You’re...real. You didn’t die.”

”What do you take me for?”

She lowered her head, and covered her face.

”Thank goodness... I thought you...the connection was lost, I thought...”

He patted her head.

”I’m not going anywhere.”

While she was still trying to hold her tears, he grabbed the creature around her neck and yanked it off.

”Hand it over.” A professor reached for it.

”Why should I?” He dropped it.

As soon as the creature touched the ground, it ran up Elias’s leg and curled around his neck.

”It’s mine.” Elias added.

The students’ murmurs were increasing and the professors were getting frustrated.

”You could get exiled for going against the school authority!”

”Wait!” Tiana ran forward.

They stepped back when they heard her voice.

She moved to Elias and reached out. The creature uncurled from his neck and hopped on her hand.

”Haha,” she giggled and hugged it. ”Mona.”

The professors exchanged glances, before a lady stepped forward.

”Your highness, does the creature belong to you?”

She hasn’t replied before Mona started shifting back into his baby form. Tail retraced, and horns went in. Claws turned into nails, and soon, he was a child again.

He giggled cutely.

The whole school didn’t find it funny at all. They all ran back.

”That’s...your child.”

”Listen,” Tiana increased her voice. ”Mona is not my child. He’s not even a child at all. Only a physical manifestation of Elias’s ability. Those bullshit rumours going around will be investigated!”

They flinched.

”Physical manifestation?”

”Isn’t he a C rank?”

”How is that not a child?”

”What did he turn into?”

Tiana was already walking away, carrying Mona like a prized possession. They all part ways, terrified at the strange creature.

Rolarza stared at her till she left, before she turned around and hugged him.

”I missed you.”

Mimi and Kael finally walk to them.

”I didn’t realise that that was the child.” Mimi chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood, while Kael just stared at the duo hugging each other.

”I wasn’t expecting to see you here though.” Elias spoke.

”I didn’t expect sir Zeal to actually write the recommendation for me,” her vibrant expression diminished. ”I’m sorry... about his death.”

”...”

Elias pulled back and looked at her.

”You’ve gotten a bit taller.”

”Really?” She laughed.

”Sorry to spoil this lovely reunion but,” Claude popped out of who knows where. ”We need to talk.”

”Huh?” Rolarza pointed to herself. ”Me?”

”Do I know you?” He smiled.

”No...”

”Good.” He turned around and walked away.

Elias tapped her shoulder twice before walking after Claude. Kael also followed behind.

She cranked her neck, watching as a particular set of people followed behind.

”They are the student council.” Mimi said. ”Something must have happened.”

”Oh...I see.”

They looked at themselves for a moment, before releasing awkward laughter.

”I’m Mimi.”

”Rolarza.”

The student council proceeded out of the main building in silence and headed towards one of the male dorms. No one seemed to mind Tyler going with them. When they arrived, a few professors were present, along with a boy who crouched beside the wall, shivering and biting his fingernails. He seemed to be in a state of shock.

”Welcome.” One professor stepped forward. ”The body is inside.”

”Did you move it?” Fayera asked.

The man shook his head. ”There was nothing to move.”

”That one?” Davon pointed to the student.

”He’s the witness that reported the case.”

They proceeded into the room.

It was dim-lit with only a lamp, so Tiana pulled the curtain. As the room lit up, all eyes naturally swivelled towards the bed on the right.

”...”

All expressions changed.

A few of them stumbled back, while Anya ran into the bathroom covering her mouth.

On the bed lay a student. Or at least the traces left of a student.

”He was melted, on his bed.” One professor said from the door. ”No scream, no alarm. His roommate woke up and saw this.”

Elias’ eyes remained on the grotesque scene.

”Blur.”