In Everwood Academy, students had classes based on their seniority, with the youngest freshmen, the first years. Attending introductory courses, while the most senior students, the fourth years, honed their specialized skills.
After completing their fourth year, students could choose to graduate and pursue their careers or spend an extra two years focusing on research and practice to further master their craft.
After their second year, students could choose one course to pursue further. The academy had seven departments managing their respective courses. Each department was led by a head professor, assisted by assistant professors. The department heads reported to the Vice Master, who in turn answered to the Head Master.
The Academy was divided into seven sections. One section housed students of all years. One was dedicated to research centers. One catered to the departments. One served as training grounds and examination centers. One boasted the grand library, beautiful gardens, and banquet halls hosting events. One was for dormitories for students and residences for the professors and the last one was the administrative hub and logistics .
Aerick being the first year, walked through the gardens and entered the beautiful architectural building.
In the reception stood an imposing stone statue of a man holding a book, his face shrouded in the hood of his cloak, once a symbol of wonder, now just a bitter reminder.
As he walked through the wide halls, adorned with paintings and artifacts in glass, the din of chatter and laughter hit him like a wave, but it was the whispers and snicks that made his jaw clench.
Students rushed passed him. Many left in a hurry to attend their classes while some dodged his gaze, others shot him curious glances. A group of students sneered, one muttering,
"This disgrace hasn't left yet?"
Aerick's eyes narrowed, but he kept walking, thinking;
'Donkeys'
As he was walking, female student bumped into Aerick, falling down with a soft thud.
She burst into tears, sobbing loudly and drawing a crowd. Aerick flinched and raised an eyebrow, confused, as he bent down to help her as per the etiquette of a gentleman.
'What's with her? She bumped into me, fell down, and now she's crying like her world's ended?'
A freckled student same age as Aerick rushed forward, shielding the girl.
"Y-Young master Aerick, p-please don't blame her! She didn't mean to!"
Aerick frowned but instantly felt a pang of pity for the kid, who was shaking like a leaf.
Seeing the sudden changes in Aerick's expressions the girl's sobs intensified, her shoulders heaving, seeing this Aerick sighed, feeling like he was stuck in a soap opera or poor theater flop.
'Who put them upto this?'
Just as he was about to say something, an arrogant voice cut in.
"Oh my, what's going on here? Young master Aerick, getting attention for all the wrong reasons, I see?"
A boy Aerick's age sauntered over, flanked by two guys with matching smirks.
'Now who is this donkey? Oh, it's the Lysander family's donkey.
The silver-haired boy smiled gently at Aerick, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Young master Aerick, still clinging to those old habits, I see? Discriminating against commoners, are you? Though, I must say, they are here by their promising talents."
His lackeys chimed in, their voices as fake as their concern.
"Oh dear, Young Master Aerick, have you forgotten the academy's sacred rule of equality?"
"It's quite distressing to see you behave this way, sir."
Aerick's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. As Aerick was about to retort the girl on the floor suddenly stood up, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"I'm not just a commoner, I'm a student of Everwood. And I'll prove myself worthy of this place."
Aerick's gaze swung to her, and for a moment, he was taken aback.
'Lady, what's with you? Weren't you just crying? Who looked down at you? Aren't you practically the cause of this mess? Don't tell me you are a donkey too.'
But he recovered quickly, his expression scornful as his annoyance increased.
"Spare me the speech, miss. You don't have to prove anything to me."
He turned back to the silver-haired boy, his voice dripping with disdain.
"And you, Lysander? You're really savoring this moment, aren't you?"
Lysander's innocent blink was almost convincing, but Aerick wasn't buying it.
"Ah, I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression, Valorian,"
Lysander said, his voice dripping with faux concern.
"I was just worried you'd forget that some of us are here on merit, not just because our ancestors bought our way in."
Aerick's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. The lackeys chimed in, their voices as annoying as a mosquito buzzing in his ear.
"Yes, Young Master Aerick, do try to be more... inclusive. After all, talent is not exclusive to the privileged."
Aerick's face turned red with rage, but before he could respond, he noticed something unusual.
'Since the start of this conversation, I have been feeling uneasy. It feels somehow familiar.'
As Aerick was thinking Lysander's next words shocked him
Lysander's smile turned cruel, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he struck like a snake.
"I wonder, Valorian, do you still have nightmares about the maid you... 'accidentally' hurt at the officer's ball last year? I heard she's still recovering from her... injuries."
Aerick's face froze, a mask of icy calm, but internally, he was screaming.
'Oh hell no, you donkey. Don't say that familiar line. Okay. Calm Down. Maybe it's just a coincidence? Yeah. Let's not just jump onto the conclusions. After all in the book one of the side character confronted me with the same rumor. It can't be him even though he is a donkey.'
His mind was a whirlwind of panic, but his expression remained steady, his eyes locked onto Lysander's with an unnerving intensity.
The onlookers exchanged uneasy glances, their whispers growing louder with anticipation. Lysander's lackeys leaned in, their faces alight with anticipation, waiting for Aerick's explosion.
'Look at them. This guy is definitely bad at petty schemes.'
But Aerick's silence was a living, breathing thing, a palpable force that seemed to push back against Lysander's words.
Lysander's smile began to falter, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sensed something was off. He hadn't expected Aerick to take it this well.
Aerick finally managed to speak after some time;
"Lysander, the rumor that you might talking about is the false one. I was the one who had found the unconscious and bruised maid in the corner of the balcony at the ball. Poor thing was barely breathing. I helped her."
Aerick's calm response earned him a confused frown from Lysander, who narrowed his eyes, trying to gauge Aerick's next move. Aerick smiled gently at the two students, who flinched under his gaze, their eyes darting between him and Lysander.
"And if I remember correctly, this girl bumped into me first. Of course, instead of excusing herself or a simple apology, she had to made a scene. Luck's on your side for I'm in a good mood. Behave properly next time, Everwood students."
'That's right. It is definitely a coincidence. Even that guy is not here.'
Aerick's calm tone masked the turmoil brewing inside him. As he convinced himself it was just a coincidence. This hope was shattered when a smooth, velvet voice cut through the tension like a warm breeze on a winter's night.
"Looks like I have to interrupt something. Of course, I won't apologize for it."
Aerick turned, his eyes locking onto the newcomer. A tall boy with his piercing golden eyes was scanning the scene as he moved forward and stood between Aerick and Lysander with an air of detached curiosity. His handsome face was emotionaless as he gazed at others.
His black hair perfectly in place, added an elegance to his demeanor that was as captivating as it was unnerving. The silver pin on his coat, marking him as a member of the prestigious student council. He was none other than Aerick's arch nemesis (self-proclaimed) and the main protagonist of the cursed book, Zylan.
Aerick's mouth twitched as he thought to himself;
'Ah, he is here and he said the same line even in this situation and appeared at the right time according to that cursed book. Hahaha. I really am the royally damned snob.'
Seeing Aerick and others remain silent. Zylan sighed and spoke to onlookers his smooth voice sliced through the tension,
"Well, it seems like there's nothing special to see here. Time to move on to more pressing matters, wouldn't you all say?"
Aerick nodded with an unusual bright smile that felt anything but genuine. Crowd dispersed whispering among themselves. Zylan then turned towards Aerick and others.
" If attention is what you're after, might I suggest a more... conventional approach? A stage, perhaps?"
Aerick's eyes gleamed with excitement as he thought to himself,
'If that book really tells an accurate future, then the past must be set in stone too... and boy, does Zylan have a heavy stone.'
His expression turned complicated as he recalled the fragments of Zylan's past he'd read, the suffering, the pain. It seemed unlikely, but unfortunately, it was true.
' Well, I am not in the position to feel bad for anyone. Let's get this wrapped up'
Aerick's face morphed into a mask of mock despair as he replied,
"I may not have the best image around here, but trust me when I say this: this is all his fault."
He pointed an accusatory finger at Lysander, who promptly donned a pitiful expression and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, somehow it is always us. Whatever you say, Young Master Aerick."
Aerick's jaw dropped in shock,
'The nerve of this bastard. Heh, two can do the same.'
Aerick chuckled with a sad expression and fell to the floor in a dramatic display, putting hand over his forehead;
Thud!
"Ah, woe is me! I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that I'm being blamed for this catastrophe. Oh, Lysander, don't fret! My image is already in shambles, so I'll just add this to the collection."
Zylan's stoic facade cracked, and his eyes widened slightly in surprise. He was rarely caught off guard, but Aerick's antics left him flabbergasted. Lysander's mouth hung open, unsure how to respond to Aerick's ridiculous display.
'When did this proud snob got so shameless and embarrassing?'
Though Zylan's authority sent most students scrambling, a few curious onlookers lingered, their ears and eyes glued to the drama.
Aerick's quip had many of them biting back laughs and hastening their pace. Zylan rubbed his forehead, a hint of exasperation creeping into his voice.
"Just be mindful of how you act... keep it civil, okay? Don't turn the academy into a soap opera."
Aerick stood up and dusted himself off, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Got it, good sir."
'At times like these it is better to side with the winning side. Main character is always the winning side.'
Lysander also nodded hastily, shooting Aerick a curious look. Zylan's gaze lingered on Aerick, his expression unreadable, before he turned and walked away.
The two students apologized profusely and made a swift exit, leaving Aerick and Lysander. Aerick smirked at Lysander, who scoffed and sauntered off with his entourage, flipping his hair in the process.
' This guy is unnecessarily dramatic. Hmm, am I forgetting something?'
As Aerick was left alone, a sudden realization hit him like a wave.
"Oh shoot, my class!"
He took off in a sprint, excitement etched on his face.
Aerick was in a good mood, and it wasn't just because he'd narrowly avoided trouble. He was buzzing because he'd gotten his hands on that book the one that told the future. And the best part? His family loved him.
Aerick stood outside his classroom, peeking through the door's gap trying to avoid getting caught.
The professor was mid-lecture, scribbling equations on the blackboard with a flourish. Aerick sighed, shrugged, and slipped away towards the library.
Skipping class wasn't exactly a novelty for him, he did it whenever the mood struck.
He made his way to the third section of the great academy, towards the grand library. As he pushed open the ornate doors, a warm wave of air enveloped him, carrying the soothing scent of green tea and old books.
Behind the counter, the old elf librarian snoozed peacefully, her soft green hair cascading down her front like a shimmering waterfall.
Aerick swiped his hand over the crystal globe, and the library's magic recognized him, granting him entry with a soft hum. The globe recorded his presence, noting the time and his research interests, not that he had any specific ones, but the library liked to keep track of these things.
He walked through rows of whispering students and researchers, their heads bent over ancient tomes and glowing screens. The library was a labyrinth, but Aerick knew its twists and turns like the back of his hand.
He settled into a cozy, dimly lit corner, the soft glow of the lanterns casting a warm halo around him. Time to dive into that book.
Aerick read on, his expression growing more serious as the pages turned. He got angry, then blank, his gaze stuck on certain sentences for minutes at a time.
The day slipped away, and the library emptied as students left for dinner, their chatter and laughter fading into the distance. The soft rustle of pages and the creak of old wooden chairs were the only sounds that remained, until even those ceased. Aerick closed the book, his eyes vacant, his mind still reeling from the revelations.
He stood up mechanically, his movements stiff, like a puppet with tangled strings. He walked out of the library, not really knowing where he was going, the fading light of the sun, casting long shadows across his face.
Aerick wandered into the garden, the scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass filling his nostrils, but bringing him no comfort.
He gazed up at the sky, now a lightest shade of orange.
Lysander and his entourage strolled by, laughing and joking, when he noticed Aerick but something about Aerick's demeanor stopped him cold.
The usual spark was gone, replaced by an air of gloom that seemed to cling to him like a shroud. Lysander's smirk faltered, and he sighed, deciding to leave Aerick be.
"I'll get him next time,"
he muttered, shrugging it off, his voice barely audible.
Aerick didn't notice how long he stood there until a warm hand landed on his shoulder. He snapped out of his trance to see his brother Arden, frowning at him, concern etched on his face.
"What's wrong with you? How come you're here? Don't you know your carriage has been waiting for you for almost four hours?"
Arden asked, his voice laced with a mix of concern and annoyance.