"To be the next Oracle, you must have a resonance with the Ether Stone… that's what we know for now."
Teacher Sylvia's calm voice echoed through the lecture hall, each word carrying an authority that made the restless students lean in. The Ether Stone an object shrouded in mystery, legend, and power. Just the mention of it sent whispers of awe through the room.
"So, everyone here has the possibility of becoming one," Sylvia continued, clasping her hands neatly behind her back. "That is why you are in this academy. That is why you are here to learn, to be tested, and perhaps, to be chosen."
The students exchanged excited glances. Their eyes glittered with naïve hope, their faces almost shouting me, it could be me!
End, had he been present, would've scoffed. Just having a face full of dreams won't get you anywhere. To be the Oracle, you'd need more than just luck you'd need a divinity, a connection to something far beyond mortal reach.
Sylvia paused, scanning the classroom. "If there are no questions, I will continue—"
"Teacher! I have a question."
Heads turned. Melin, the class's ever-curious troublemaker, raised her hand with a mischievous sparkle in her eye.
"Yes, Melin?" Sylvia said, though her sigh suggested she already regretted calling on her.
"You said the resonance with the Ether Stone can only be accessed by humans. But… is it only humans who can resonate with it?"
The class murmured at the bold question. Some leaned forward, eager, while others rolled their eyes, knowing Melin always sought to twist words into riddles.
Sylvia, however, did not dismiss her. "Generally… a few demi-humans may be capable. But it is rare, very rare. Still—let us say this: if you have a heart, resonance is possible."
Melin's eyes widened. "Then… what about plants with hearts?! Could a tree, or a flower, resonate too?!"
Sylvia blinked. "A… a plant with a heart?"
Giggles broke out in the classroom, some students nearly falling out of their seats.
"Melin, do you intend to ask if carrots will become Oracles next?" a boy in the back laughed.
"I'm serious!" Melin shouted back. "What if plants evolve to have hearts?!"
Sylvia rubbed her temple. "Melin, please—"
But before she could finish, a loud yawn echoed through the classroom.
"Ughhh… where am I?"
The shout had woken Ray, who had been asleep since the lecture began. His hair stuck out in awkward angles, and his desk bore the perfect imprint of his drool. He blinked blearily, looking around.
"…Where's End?" he muttered.
He glanced toward End's usual seat
empty.
"Tch. That guy. He actually meant it when he said he wouldn't bother coming to class."
The students chuckled, and Sylvia tried to press on with the lesson. But Ray leaned back, folding his arms. Skipping class already, huh, End? Figures…
---
Meanwhile, atop the academy rooftop, End stretched lazily against the tiles. The cool breeze brushed against his face, the kind of calm he couldn't find in the noisy classroom.
"What a nice day…" End muttered, closing his eyes. His hands rested behind his head, his body sinking into a comfort that almost made him forget the world around him.
Wait… the former soul of this body… was he a good student? End thought absently.
He smirked to himself. Well… it doesn't matter anymore. Good student or not, I'm me now.
The thought alone was freeing.
But just as sleep began to claim him again, the rooftop door slammed open.
Bang!
End's eyes snapped open. "What the—? I swear I closed that door."
He carefully peeked his head up, just enough to see who had intruded.
"…Oh." His eyes narrowed.
It was that girl the one always hanging around the red-haired one. If he remembered correctly, she was also part of the student council. What's she doing here? Please don't let her see me. The last thing I need is to get dragged into some drama.
He was just about to quietly sneak away when—
"Waaaaaa! Waaaaaa!"
End froze.
The girl, Lilian, wasn't crying. No she was yelling, screaming, her voice tearing through the rooftop air like a battle trumpet.
"Monica, you snake-like bitch!" she shouted, her fists clenched tight at her sides. "So what if you're a princess of [R] Country? Hah?! You think your title makes the world yours?!"
End blinked. Wait, wait, what the hell did I just walk into?
"I'll make sure to" Lilian's voice cracked into curses so sharp End almost flinched. "I'll ruin you! I'll break you! I'll tear down your fake little kingdom! To hell with your rules and regulations, to hell with your stupid dress codes!"
Her voice rose higher, echoing off the academy walls.
End gulped. Oh crap. She's really losing it.
"Face me after you strip off those stupid pads from your sorry excuse for a chest and ass!" Lilian screamed, her voice full of venom. "Let's see how mighty you are without your fake crown!"
The wind carried her fury across the empty rooftop.
End pressed his palm against his face. Why me? Why here? Out of all places, I had to be here, right now, hearing all of this. This is way above my pay grade.
But Lilian wasn't finished.
"Clean your damn head, Monica! One day one day I'll bash it into the ground myself! You better pray to whatever god you believe in, because I'll be seeing you soon!"
Her chest heaved, her face red, her body trembling with rage.
End, crouched low by the door, winced. Okay, yeah, I definitely wasn't supposed to hear any of this. If she notices me now, things are going to blow way out of proportion. Time to get the hell out
He slowly edged backward, careful not to make a sound. But then
A sudden chill prickled at the back of his neck.
End froze. Slowly, hesitantly, he turned.
Behind him… Lilian hovered in the air, her hair swaying unnaturally, her eyes burning like fire.
"Dress code violation," she said coldly. "No tie. Skipping class."
End's stomach dropped.
"…Ah, shit."