The noise of the forest woke me up.
"Well. The second day is upon us."
I slowly stretch my body to exact some energy. When my arms fell down to the ground, the feeling of a soft yet rough skin made contact with me.
"Huh!"
I slowly opened my eyes trying to look at the person beside me. And so I removed the cover from the ground.
"What the!" The shuck that shocked my body at that time was quite painful.
When I looked down on the floor beneath me, I saw half the boys from my class. Yeah, the other lower grades are still here.
I then came to the realisation that the boy might have thought this was our tent since I went in alone. Then Lily must have slipped away when everyone fell asleep. She just needed to put her head under the covers until everyone fell asleep.
"Oh. Hey Rial. How is your morning?" Asked Lee.
"Yo my gee. Everything is fine and you? I asked trying to sound a little enthiastic on the matter.
"You know me, living by the youth and going on with my day. Lee said while smiling like he also does.
Lee is by far the most down to earth person I have seen ever since I was reincarnated here. He is relaxed, happy, calm and reliable when he needs to be, unlike Max or Eigi. Who, though are very intelligent and strong, they still don't have the energy Lee carries. Not even me in my earth days could compare.
Well. I used to have a friend like that. Rue, a person I met in middle school and honestly was my best friend when growing up on earth.
I sometimes wonder how he is doing? Will I even see them again?
No.
Even if I was given the choice, I couldn't choose that reality. I wouldn't want them to suffer in this evil world. This dark world filled with beautiful wonders, yet if they are touched with the hands of evil. Becomes a nightmare nobody wants to make contact with.
Even so, why was the presence of spirits and charkra filled with some specific individuals. Like Rue himself, Masato, Takahisa, and Satsuki. All these people were individuals I met during my life on earth. A planet with no magic.
Then how did it produce magic with no magic.
I guess I will have to research about it, when I leave.
"Down to Isal. Rial."
"Huh! Oh sorry Lee. I-I just wondered of to somewhere quite familiar.
"Home, are you talking about home." Lee asked with a sadden just reassuring smile on his face.
"Well. I guess you could call it that. But really it wasn't. It was the opposite of a home."
Suddenly the memories of my life on earth rushed back in my mind. My biological little sister Miyu, when I left Miharu alone, Rue's last words to me after I died: "You will also be my best friend no matter what happens."
The disowning of me by my mother. Everything that happened in my life came back to me. Even though I had tried to flash them all down the drain, they all somehow found it way back.
"You look quite sad." Said Lee.
"Naa. I am not. Anyways let's get ready to go outside.
After that a message notification arrived on the screen of my phone.
Bang.
//"Hey Rial. It is Tsubaki speaking, I just wanted you to know that you will be coming with me to the other classes." //
//"What is the reason for that?" // I sent.
She responded quickly.
//"I just want to gather information from them."// Said Tsubaki.
I also need to speak with Max. So this will be beneficial for the both of us.
//"Sure."//
From there I joined Lee in the bath. The bath was freezing cold and as a result both Lee and I had to come out of it.
"Now what?" Asked Lee with a disappointed face."
"Wow! This is the first time I have seen you react to things like this."
"Huh. I am a human you know."
"Yeah but you are so indifferent to things so I thought things like this don't bother you." Though all this came with a calm face, between the speaker and listener. The expressions on both faces really make us feel neutral. Neither good nor bad, we just try to stay in the center without getting caught up in the situation. Lee also had the right eye of my previous pure eye. And the other is with Eigi.
Using spirit arts I heated up the bath and got ready. I washed the lower and upper parts of my body.
30 mins later:
"Hey Rial." Said Max.
We just arrived at the base of class S territory. As we arrived we saw the class S students doing their daily activities. Some were cooking, others were cleaning while others were hunting for food.
"Ho ho. Is that who I think it is?" The voice came from the shadowy part of the forest and as a result their faces weren't clear. Slowly they approached us.
"Rio."
What is he doing here?
"Well! How do I look!" His voice reclaimed the same cockiness of his.
"What are you here for?" Asked Max. Who though didn't express his expression seemed annoyed if you saw it from a distance.
"Am I not welcomed here?"
"You know very well what the rules are, don't you."
"I sure do. But then if we were to reverse it then. What is Rial doing here with his companion?"
"I am here because I requested it. You see the teacher did say visits are allowed, if the leader agrees on it."
From this I deliberately let some information out. But this will lead to his downfall if he takes the chance.
"Hmm, I didn't know that."
"I guess you have to pay more attention to your superiors."
"Sure. I will keep that in mind."
Just as he left Max tagged the back of my shirt and said. "Follow me."
We walked to the bank of the river. Where the living creatures there swan freely as they pleased. It was as if we were there even, almost like humans were fish that could just stand.
"It is beautiful." I said with a slow pitch voice.
"Yeah, it is."
Max looked at me with a deep and meaningful look. He directly stared at me with his soul eyes. His face was as calm as ever but this time the wanting to learn was present on his face. Then he said.
"Rial. Have you ever fallen in before?"
"What!"
The question got me so off guard that my whole facial expressions flashed at once.
"Why would you ask that." I asked him.
"I wanted to know. You see, the relationship between you and Lily or Tsubaki. I wanted to know if you liked any of them."
"Well. To say the truth. No, I do not love them in that way. I care for them but when it comes to love. It is a no."
"Hmm. I wonder? What do you think will happen if I spend more time with Arisu?"
I really don't know nor want to know.
"Do you have feelings for her." I asked.
"I don't know. All that I know is that I somehow see her in a different way now." Max said while looking at me a plain expressionless face.
"I am not an expert in love but I guess we ask Eigi and Kakashi or maybe Rui for help."
"And Eichiro." Max suddenly said.
"He is useless in that category of topic."
"From my analysis you are quite often to remove him from any important events."
"It is not that. His abilities weren't useful to us. Plus he does help but not directly." I replied.
"Is that so. Hmm, I guess I have to watch him now closely.
"Wait! Can I ask again. Are you in love with Arisu." The question was directed at him, no matter what he feels this will be crucial if he wants to live a normal school life.
"I don't know, but I can feel my heart beating every time I say her name."
So he does love her, but he doesn't see it yet. Love is a complicated sigh of affection that can happen to anyone. Love can come in many ways sometimes it is good and sometimes it is bad.
The agonising feeling stuck in your throat, barely able to speak a word. Love doesn't follow the realm of logic. The words 'I love you', often made one of the most difficult words to say. I wonder, will I ever be able to say that to someone precious to me.
(Just as they spoke, in the heavens a powerful being watched from space. He had engineered everything from the start. That god's name is Poo, a powerful being who once fought for the outer verse. A realm beyond anyone on Isal or earth comprehension. He stared at them and said.
"Well. King of the dragon, what are you going to do now?"
Although this being knew everything that is and was to happen, there were more to time that couldn't be explained. He raised his hand and said release the chains of the beast. Immediately the chains that sealed a legendary god from the world broke, and from the underworld the demons gathered ready to attack. Then he said "I know you can handle the pressure this brings.")
Garmish seemed to have sensed the danger.
"Hey kid. Something bad is coming. Warm your friends to get ready from battle and warm Rui especially."
"Huh."
(The god had arranged a special task for the beast to complete and this assignment was on Rui. One of the Rial's closest friends. What the assignment was unknown but this will be either good or bad.
Even from the shadows Rushed, Master Skies and the queen had also prepared their test. From this onwards things will change drastically. They had prepared a girl with a powerful eye ability. And this was also meant to change Rui, Rial and Kakashi's lives for ever.
But still hope remains, as long as Rial is alive, my plans will stay a float. This words came from the main creator. The being who created Poo, and the being who reincarnated Rial from Isal to earth then incarnated him back to Isal again. )
Meanwhile in Class A: Eigi's perspective:
On the second day of the island exam, the lower grades and us (the first years) had successfully made it through the first day. Despite the major differences between both years. Ai and I made it work for the benefits of each class.
"Hey lovey," Said Ai, who walked towards me with a sleepy expression all over her face.
"Sup."
"Just the morning has been pretty harsh on the girls. You know!" The girls had faced the major difficulties in this exam. Due to their low stamina and low mana reserve. The probability of us winning this exam directs a question mark on our faces.
Some things need to change. Especially the positions and contributions on both classes.
"What are you thinking?" Asked Ai. I know she has the same ideas I do. Because she is as smart as me.
'The 3rd smartest girl in school.' Only Arisu and Lily who are in the first and seconds places would put up a fight.
Then from the forest 3 students emerge from it. Their faces were unclear due to the shadows blocking their faces. But as they approached further and further, we instantly realised who it was.
Rial and Tsubaki from class C. But they were accompanied by Max from class S. Ai seemed to have realised.
"Max, Tsubaki and Rial. What are you doing here?" Ai suddenly asked them with a bright smile.
"We came because they insisted on coming here." Tsubaki explained the reason as if she herself didn't want to do the same thing as us.
"Sorry for the sudden intrusion. But could we speak with Eigi for a moment." Rial asked Ai calmly and respectfully. The way Rial spoke has always been in a responsible, respectful and considerate manner. No matter the person he is conversing with.
"I don't mind. As long as he wants to then I am fine with it. But if you make mistakes talking about another girl behind my back! You know what could happen!" Said Ai sharply and slightly controlling.
"Sure." Max also said.
From there we moved to a quieter place. The bank of the forest, away from everyone. Rial kept silent the whole time, only looking at me occasionally.
"So. What is it?" I asked them to explain themselves.
"First I need you to promise me something." Max said.
"Sure anything."
"No matter what comes from my mouth. Do not laugh!" Max with a slight tense expression said.
"Ahhh. Sure."
"What would you say. Hypothetically if I had a crush on someone but yet doesn't know how to convey my feelings."
"If that were me, I will probably just tell the person head on with the fear of rejection. That is what I did with Ai."
"Oh, so that's how it works. Interesting, love is something wonderful to study." Max who saw everything as a learning experience said.
"But. He does not have to think that is a learning experience. Love is just a feeling and a connection of mutual understanding. With communication and respect as the key of the relationship." Rial said.
In the dictionary: love is said to be an intense feeling of affection towards someone special in your life. But the way I saw it, and the way the dictionary and Rial explained are resulting towards different directions.
"Hey Rial. Have you ever fallen for someone before?"
As fast as the question came from my mouth. Rial who just stood there had already prepared for an answer. "No."
"Really?"
"Yes. I never had the time nor reason to fall in love." Rial said.
"Hmm. Alright."
"Wait... Rial let say you had to choose any female in this school to be your girlfriend. Who could you choose and why?" Max asked. "And you have to choose someone, you don't have a choice."
"That is a risky one. For me without a doubt I would choose either Lily, Christina or Tsubaki."
"I did say just one." Said Max.
"Well. Max I don't know if you know this but one man can actually marry up to 15 women. You know since the ratio of 'women to men' is 90: 75. That also means if you were to divide 15 women to each man all over the world, it will fit perfectly."
"Fascinating."
"Well. I hope that answered your questions."
Just as we started walking back, we saw a bark clouds forming everywhere. It was not quite like a rainy cloud. It was something more ominous and a frightening kind of cloud. But when we looked aside, nothing dangerous was coming our way so we just ignored it and walked back to the camp.
"Yo those clouds I really don't like them." Someone said.
As thought mine and Rial's pure eyes were reacting to it. The vast darkness in it caught our gazes but immediately it slipped out. There was nothing again, only darkness in them.
"Hey Eigi, get ready on the last day of this exam." Suddenly Rial said.
"Huh!"
"Something tells me. There is a big storm coming up, but it is not a rain type of storm."
"Yeah." As though we all know that was. We all said it together simultaneously.
Class B: Kakashi's perspective:
"Hmm. Looks like I all alone once again.
The darkness in my heart still linger. The quiet void in heart, the monster that took my family way.
Those with darkness in their hearts are drawn together. Max, Rial, Rio and me. We all see the world in different lences and yet we all have the same void. We, who are filled with darkness are drawn togrther, and then , the stronger one between them inevitably engulfs the other. This world contains more darkness then it intended to create. Yet it manages it, no matter the circumstances.
I wonder. How did Rial feel? When he saw his parents lifeless corpses?
What we felt at that time, might be different but I can wholeheartedly say: that we both had the same respondes.
Could I take take revenge?
Maybe.
I mere thought of taking a life. Sounds completely monstrous but when I remember, What happened on that day. My heart completely gives out.
"Why does people suffer in this world?"
"Because the world knows bound." The voice came from the forest behind me. " Huh."
"This world we live in, it has no boundaries. The limits of goodness or evil in this world are boundless. The main you should ask is. What is the meaning of life?" Said the voice.
"Hmm. So that is you. Rial."
"Yep. But I am not alone. I came with Tsubaki, and Max."
"Them too." Said said.
"What were thinking about?" Tsubaki said while looking at me with a confused face.
"Huh!"
"Were we watched you. Your facial expression were tho ones of gloomyness, sadness, and misfortune."
I looked deep in her eyes and said:"I am fine don't worry." But honesty I was notand I guess both Rial and Max seemed to have seen through my lie.
"Where is your classmates."
"They all went to search for food, and water."
"I can see."
"Are you lonely." Said max.
"No. As I said don't worry about me. I am fine as they come."
To the outside view, I turn out to be okay. But when it come to the people who knows, who you truly are. It turns out that, no matter waht you can't fool them so easily.
I checked my phone, there where a notification one it. Flora;
"Kakashi can you come hepl us. We need it badly."
"Can uou guys come and help me with my class?" Said with a little chuckle on my face. I had already known Max and Rial would go with me. But Tsubaki is a different story.
"I will be coming with guys too. So let make it quick."
Using the map's directions shown on the phone, the way to them became relatively more simple. They were still at the river, probably still fishing.
"Alright let start heading there." Said Rial. Then we left the center base and headed to the river reserves.
We walked through the deep forest, where we could occasionaly cut of the branches blocking our way. I crossed a small river in the forest and then we made our way to them. The first thing our eyes laid on: were the students who were just sitting there doing things.
Flora and friends were struggling to lift the baskets that contained food, the Liva's group also had a lot of trouble carrying the fish. The boys in the class were also trying their best to climb the coconut tree. We didn't get the best place for resources of water only food. Flora approached us sweaty and tired.
"You finally got here!" Her voice was filled with tiredness, water and a little bit of sleep. I can't lie, she needed help badly. From leading a group of these numbers, while being a child. I have to say, that is truly impressive. Hearing my voice echoed in her ears somehow brought her a sudden boost of energy.
"Mmhh! Now I'm ready to work again!" She said. "Oh. I see what is going on behind closed doors between you too!" Tsibaki said with a little chuckle on her face.
"It is not what you think!" I said with embarrassment all over my face. It was as if someone had boiled hot summer water at 190 degree celsius. And the more Tsubaki and Ichika teased me the more I became embarrassed. Without knowing it, I had completely forgot about the situation I was in a few moments ago.
So, is this how I would change? Maybe someday start a family of my own. Travel the world with them. Go some places we can't now. Honestly there are more to life than I want to agree upon. And the only problem is we keep more weight to the bad experiences that we had than the good experiences we have.
It is like the subjects say: Negative bias.
:Negative bias is a phenomenon by which individuals like us pay more attention to the darkness in us and forget about the good moments that happened. Some bad things, yes. But it also happens to create better things in life.
Like for example if my parents didn't die I would have never attended this school. Which in term met I would have never met with Max, Eigi, Rui, Lee, Eiichiro, Rio, Floar or Christina. Maybe somewhere in the line I would meet Rial since he once said he would travel after this semester ends.
"Down to Isal. Kakashi." I raise my head, only to find Ichika face inches away from my head. At the pure reaction of a boy at the start of teens, I slightly pushed Ichika backwards and jumped myself.
"S-sorry. A-are you okay!" Realising the situation I quickly rushed to her side, but it seemed my apologies were unnecessary since she used magic to catch her self.
"Don't be worried over something so futile." Said Ichika.
"Well your help is here so let's just going or else we are leaving."
After that the other boys helped the basket and fruits. They carried most of them to the camp. And even though they were left alone sometimes, they never attempted to search anything that might help their class or anything.
Class D Rui's perspective:
Even now I guess I am stuck in that place. The hopeless dream of being a ruler, a leader. People like to pose the simple answer to my face: "You are not born of royalty."
But even so I stick with the dream, no matter what happens. No matter what comes in my way, I never give up because; once upon a time I made a promise.
There are three kinds of people in this world, and they all play the three kinds of games that exist.
They are the 'heads' people: These are people who face their problem heads on with no help, no third parties. They give their all, and if they fail they all simply come up with the conclusion that they failed and have to work hard to achieve it.
We also have the 'Tails' people: These people who are opposite to the heads people. They sacrifice without remorse, they always have an unreadable expression. They are cruel, selfish and sadistic. People like to call them the worst kinds of people. But in truth we all are these people. No one in the world can tell me that they have manipulated someone or lied to someone for their own benefit. And as a result we can never trust someone fully not even your family.
Finally we have the white and black kinds of people: These are the people who are neither good nor bad. They face problems with others, they give the best advice, they also bring many good things. But despite this they won't hesitate to sacrifice others, they don't see you as a friend they only see you as a replaceable toy.
This world we live in has more darkness than any other.
And as I stood there wondering these things, the sudden footsteps of Christina would be heard. She walked as gracefully as ever, I turned my head and gazed at her as she worked. She was at this moment helping our classmates who were having problems with food prep. The girls specifically were having the most problems, the trouble of cutting wood, starting fire and gathering ingredients. Which would be possibly harmful to us gave them quite a dangerous task. And as a result the boys agreed to help with work which had to deal with the physical part of work.
"Can you help with the cooking." Asked Christina"I am not sure if I can do the prep for the cooking tho." I said.
"I will just teach you step by step, and in no time you will be pro at cooking." Christina said as she smiled at me. She face always displayed the facial expression of happiness I wonder why? Despite the evil in this world, why does she seem like an exception. I curved my mouth to form and smiled then I replied: "Sure, I am in your care."
Christina brought me to the kitchen room, we first wore gloves first. The reason was to ensure that; no disease, bacteria, or illness can get to the food. But even if that happened don't we have healing magic to deal with the aftermath.
Sensing that something is wrong, I poured mana into my eyes to activate my 'Luna eyes' but strangely nothing seemed to be wrong. That was until I sensed the presence of the pure eyes owned by Rial, Eigi and Lee. We all sensed a strange sensation in the atmosphere.
A dark mysterious entity's energy seemed to be surrounding the forest but it wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"Hey, are doing okay." Christina asked with a concerned face."I am alright, it is that everyone was looking at us."
"Oh so you are flustered, aren't you."
"No I am not."
"Sure, sure let's focus on the food now."
Without a moment to spear, Christina gave me carrots to slice. I walked to the tool table and grabbed the nearest short knife. I sliced them as perfectly as I could, but it was still questionable since all the edges were of different measurements. And as I turned to Christina, I was met with delicious plates and trails of rice balls and dipping sauce. Christina smirked at me and directed me to the serving table.
"Thanks for the food."
"You are welcome."
"You will be a great person when you grow up."
"What do you mean?"
"You can cook, clean, wish and do many things."
"I didn't learn it by myself. Rial helped me and taught me too."
At those I sensed a strange feeling growing deep inside me. My rage did seem to have deepen but I concealed it. And focused on Christina while eating.