Chronicle Of The Stars

"So this is the Velmir you become."

Elize stared at the boy she hadn't seen in years. The sharp eyes, the keen action - he wasn't the little boy who was always hiding in shame. 

Yet in his eyes, she still... saw the same loneliness.

The same loneliness that once bound her and Velmir together in their quiet world.

"The day we know each other... that rainy day..." - Elize whispered to herself, eyes clouded by sorrow, before returning to the lecture

"Was she looking at me?" - Velmir asked in his mind with his left hand clenched, "My vision..." his eyes were atched like needles piercing them.

The compression backfired on him, leading to his poor condition - Still, his senses had never been clearer. He felt it... the gaze of 0035 and 0005, but at that moment... neither of them mattered. 

"What is... happening...? I can see...no, perceive...I can perceive everything!" - It wasn't like last time, he wasn't spreading his Ignis, and yet -

The structure of the room, the breath of the winds... the ticking of quills and the drip of ink. He captured all of them... And then a low voice beside him.

 "Ignis compression... isn't it?"

Velmir quickly turned to 0005, trying to read his expression... but it was unreadable. So he shifted to observe his gesture.

"Cross arms... and legs...? Why is he sitting like that..." - Velmir satirized in his mind, and asked a question aloud.

"...You watched?"

0005 nodded gently as he tilted his head, leaving the red hair fluttering on his white skin, and answered with a warm voice, followed by a blink.

"I like you..." - The words made Velmir stiffen and terrified. Sweats ran down of his temple as he instinctly shifted away. "...It ain't what I think... right?"

Before the awkward moment could linger, the magister's voice cut through the room.

"The survival test will begin after 5 months. Until then, you can do anything to prepare for the test. I won't teach you further - borrow books from the library and gather here to study. Lecture ends."

The husky voice of the magister echoed in the classroom as the overwhelming announcement stunned everyone, but before they could handle all of it, she added.

"Oh right, form a team of five, and you can call me Leiny. Feel free to find me if you have any questions. Office 35 at the functional hall."

The room fell silent until voices broke out all at once.

"My team welc-"

"We need to de-"

...

It was so loud that Velmir couldn't acknowledge which direction the invitations came from. But soon, Elize and her friend 0012 approached Velmir with bright expressions.

"Let's make a team!" - She reached her hands out with a smile. 

Velmir didn't hesitate. "Of course." 

Elize slowly swept her gaze across the room, then stopped at 0005. He met Elize's eyes, understood her meaning, and stood up with a faint smirk. "Sure."

The four quickly formed their group. However, as they were chatting, Velmir sensed a glare. Immediately, he reacted in seconds.

He turned - Zeon, he was staring at Velmir, eyes full of menace.

Before he could respond, a voice broke through the tension.

"Can... can I join too?" - It was 0035, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"I'm sorry for causing trouble... but I can be a supporter. My Ignis enhances your physical ability and spell runes."

Her voice trembled with earnestness, like a puppy trying to repay a kindness.

Velmir's look softened as he could feel the burden she carried.

0035's lips trembled slightly as her hands dragged against each other on her back when the four nodded to each other and their team was completed

"He... wasn't looking at me anymore?" - Velmir glanced once more before sitting down, and they began to introduce themselves.

"0012. All elements. I love snows." - Her voice was cold, distinct, with a trace of shame hidden beneath the surface. "All elements...?" Velmir blinked, "Three is the number a normal person could get."

"I'm 0006, stage 3, I love watching stars... especially the constellation The Hunter!" Elize spoke like always - calm and informative. "I love watching stars too." - Velmir unconsciously thought for a brief moment.

"0035! I can be a great supporter!" - "Energetic voice... she sounds innocent"

"0005... stage 4, I love things that can melt snow." - The guy said with a teasing gesture as he smirked slightly. Velmir turned away with tormented eyes, "... he is something."

One by one, they opened their shells as Velmir commented on it in his mind.

Some acted like cats, wary of this strange world.

Some were eager to belong to it.

And some...never did.

"I'm 0009... an ordinary person." 

Velmir stopped commenting in his mind. When his turn came, he spoke softly in a deep, sorrowful manner, unlike the thoughts he had echoed a moment ago. 

As the sky's color changed to the red of dawn, the refreshing wind was replaced by the cold-wild one, and the class dispersed.

Velmir stood up, but when he was about to leave his seat, Zeon passed by with a whisper,

"Guilt."

It all happened in a moment, yet Velmir saw it. 

The joy on Zeon's face and the ridiculous tone in his voice as though he knew everything.

Velmir's hand trembled, but he steadied himself - and left, while thoughts tangled in his head.

"... I shouldn't make friends..." 

"I'll come back home soon... friends aren't necessary."

He muttered as his will to come back home echoed harder than ever.

But then a sound broke through his thoughts.

Wheels. Carriage. Fast.

"Carriage!" - a familiar voice rang out, pulling Velmir back to his current situation.

His body moved on its own, even before his mind could think - dodging out of the way just in time as the carriage rushed past, leaving a streak of wind.

"Tick..."

He stood frozen. He saw it all - the girl running, the wheels spinning, the steps of each passerby, the accessories of clocks.

"Palm... my palm!" - He spilled out and looked at his palm.

It was glowing.

He shut it quickly, eyes wide, and sprinted to his rented inn.

But he missed a point - 

A white-hair man stood on a rooftop nearby, watching with delight.

"He awakened! Chain 7... but not The Wanderer...?"

Velmir in the crowd, rushed past them in a moment with the speed he had never achieved, and went to the inn.

"Quick!" - "Snap"

He closed his door while his palm was glowing nonstop. 

Velmir then leaned against the wall, looking at his palm, and...

"Pop!" - "A diary!?" 

Out of nowhere, a small book and a quill floated in the air as the pages flipped one another, until script was written.

[Ascension Throne: The Forbidden Knowledge]

[Soultrails: The Seeker]

[Race: Human]

[Echelon: Half Chain 7]

[Tale myth gained: Blessings]