THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

The next morning, I wake up feeling lighter. Some of the weights on my shoulders have been lifted. Now, it is time to take care of Tatiana. There is a high chance that I will die this time if I confront her since she has somehow sealed my draconic power. I know that but still, if I don't make her pay for what she did to Anriette, if I don't do it now, I don't think I will ever be able to. I can feel it in my bones. I go to the hall and find the priest at the counter like usual.

"Good morning."

"Good morning. You didn't sleep well. It's still dark outside." Well, I am used to waking up early.

"I don't want to sleep anymore. I need to leave."

"Leave? To where?"

"The eternal academy, of course."

"What? No, no, no. My master said you must stay for another five days. You aren't fully healed." The guy leaves the counter and walks to me.

"This much is enough. There are things that I must do."

"I am sorry. I can't help you."

"I wasn't asking for your help. You did more than enough."

"Well, in any case, you aren't fully healed yet. If you really want to leave despite knowing that, go and see Master. She should be in the church right now."

"And where is that?"

"Just go outside then to the building at your right. You can't miss it."

"Okay, thanks."

I leave the hall and indeed, I couldn't miss that building. There are only two outside the one I just left. One is in front of me and the other is to my right like he said. Only surprising thing is that there are walls everywhere. I don't see any entrance to this place. Also, it looks like we are on a mountain. How did they build this place?

I enter the church and there, at the front, kneeling in front of a statue of the goddess, under a dim light shining on her face only, Djibril is praying.

This is the first time ever that I set foot into a church by myself. No wait, back at Mercuria, I also went to the church there. Well, one thing is for sure, I never entered a church to pray in my life. Now more than ever, I really wonder if praying could resolve my problem.

"I believe I have asked not to be bothered when I pray."

"I am sorry but I had to speak with you."

"Eh? Mister Dragonroad?" She finally opens her eyes and turns around while standing up. "Why are you out of your bed?"

"I am leaving."

"What? No, you can't leave! Your Angas flow is still a bit unstable and there are irregularities in your body that have to be checked some more. Plus, your stomach was really badly injured, I thin-"

"Even so, I have to leave."

"No, you don't understand. You are not in a state where you can do anything. Whatever it is that you wish to do, you will only get hurt again."

"I know. That's why I must do it. Because even if I was fully healed, I am not sure I would return unscathed." Hell, I am not even sure I will return alive from this.

"Do you have some suicidal tendencies?"

"No, I wish to live as much as anyone out there."

"Then what can motivate you enough to throw your life away like this?"

"There are things that have to be done."

"I see. Still, I won't give you my permission to leave."

"But I-"

"Our role is to heal people. No matter who it is, nor why, we heal them to the best of our abilities. Letting you go would only mean that I have failed my duty."

"Is that so. Then there is nothing we can do about it then. I am sorry."

I must look for another way to leave then. I had hopes that she would teleport me directly though.

"Oops."

"What?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I just remember that I forgot my teleportation orb there, on the chair over there. It would be really bad if somebody was to somehow steal it. After all, it is connected directly to the church in Mercuria."

"I see." You conniving woman. "It would be really bad, indeed."

I walk to the chair she indicated and grab the orb.

"Thank you, madam."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Fufufu." Of course. I inject my Angas into the orb and it starts shining. And right as the light engulfs me…

"Good luck and please be careful."

Luck. I don't think I am somebody lucky, Djibril. But at least, I can try to provoke that luck a bit.

***

"You are back already?"

Back at the dorms, I find Cordel in the living room. I thought everybody would be following his class right now. Why is he here alone, all by himself?

"And you are not in class."

"Nope, didn't feel like going to class today."

"Why?"

"Sigh…Actually, I talked with the headmaster. You guys are going to do something really dangerous, right?"

"Huh, yeah. I guess." Did Frankher decide to act already? That's great! The less time we lose, the more the chance to kick Tatiana's face. Then it will be Veronica and Demether's turn.

"I want to be part of it." What?

"Why? You don't have anything to do with it."

"I know. But my instincts are telling…They are screaming inside my head. That if I don't help now, I will forever regret it."

"You should tell them to shut up." Listening to your instincts can never be good. I can testify it. Unless he wants to destroy a whole city as well. Though, no, I guess most people can't really destroy a whole city just like that.

"I have tried. Trust me, ever since you have woken up. I have tried my best to ignore them but they won't stop." Cordel looks a bit tired. Has he been lacking sleep?

"Is that so. And what did the headmaster say?"

"He just said I should take care of myself. That and to be careful. Concerning the mission, normally, we were supposed to move out today but since you are back. Maybe there will a change of plans."

"No, let's do that."

"Are you sure? We were told that-"

"I am sure. Besides, this will be difficult even if I had fully recovered."

"The more reason then to let your body rest."

"No, we are doing this, Cordel. Just like you, my instincts are screaming at me. I have to do this now or I won't ever be able to."

"Okay."

"Who is participating aside from you?"

"Concerning any outside help, I don't know yet. But as far as we are concerned: Peter and Es."

"Esteressa?"

"Yeah."

"Why? This is even less understandable than your…Ah, okay."

"I have tried my best to talk her out of it but she wouldn't listen."

"She is not known for being reasonable after all."

"Fufu. Yeah, she clearly isn't."

"I will see you tonight then, I guess."

"Yeah."

***

When the night falls, there is no sound in our dorm. That's rare. I go down and two people stare at me like a criminal. The last one is just silently looking at his scythe.

"So, you are really doing this, huh. You really don't like your life." Esteressa is wearing our secret armor. It is emphasizing her curves a bit too much and it looks on her with huge knuckles on her arms.

"It's not like he ever did so you shouldn't be surprised." Peter looks as grumpy as always.

Cordel is also wearing that armor. It doesn't look good on him. Just like Esteressa, he doesn't have that assassin's vibe to him.

"Here." Cordel gives me my armor, with a new raizen, emerald this time, a teleportation orb, and a ring.

"Thanks."

"We must regroup in one hour. That's what the headmaster said."

"Okay. By the way, where is everyone else?"

"The heroes were dispatched for Mohana school's trial. The others are at the gamma's dorm." I didn't ask you, Esteressa. "What?! You got a problem?!"

"No, I don't. Thank you."

"Hmph!"

I get dressed then sit as well. Because nobody is talking anymore, you can feel the tension in the air. You can also hear Esteressa tapping the floor with her foot. Surely a way to erase her uneasiness.

"Let's go."

Finally, Cordel's signal breaks the silence and then he pulls out his orb. Just like him, Peter and Esteressa do the same. I thought we were going there by foot, though. Oh well.

I do the same and when the light disappears, we are in a forest. There are six people already there, and my sweet little…

"Woof!" K'nor instantly jumps on me and it becomes a festival of licking. I must admit, I am really, really happy to see you.

I don't think there has ever been a time when I have been happier to see you than right now.