Chapter 7: The Arcana of Time
Just before realizing it, I already had passed through the gross well. It was just then that I found myself hanging on another well, which was located on some weird cell. I helped myself up. I knew that it took me some time before regaining my consciousness here, but I couldn't remember what happened during the interval between diving into that gross well and waking up here.
I saw Twinkle Bell, and I was so glad to see him here!
"Twinkle! Oh, I'm glad you're here. I'm confused. Where are we? Also, I'm having vague memories of my mom." I said.
"Oh, that must be because your time here is running out. We need to hurry. Open the door and let's see where we are." Twinkle replied.
I hurriedly opened the door and took a peak. I was shocked to see such a familiar place! I stepped outside and closed the door. I walked slowly, trying to recall where we were. Finally, a pang of realization struck me.
"What... this...?! This is the academy!" I unconsciously said out loud.
I suddenly became conscious of the trouble that I had made. I made a noise in the Forestierre Academy! Everyone looked at me! Due to my surprise, I forgot all about avoiding eye contact and accidentally made one with a student in front of me.
Darn... I am completely a klutz. I forgot that I can't make any eye contact here!
I bowed my head down. My knees were really shaking. Everyone was glaring at me again! I decided to just ignore them and walk, but right when I moved a step forward, everyone started walking slowly towards me!
W-what...? What are these people up to? Why are they moving closer to me? Are they going to hurt me? Where's Twinkle?!
I was almost ready to be eaten alive when someone suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the crowd then out of the academy. This totally shocked me, because the stranger was wearing the Forestierre Academy's uniform.
Not so far from the academy, we stopped. I looked at her carefully, and surprisingly, she looked not as weird as the other students in the academy. I was also able to look at her eyes without making her glare at me.
"Please stop gazing at me. You're scaring me you know?" she said.
I sighed for relief. She talked!
"You're talking, I'm glad. Then you aren't as weird as the other students there, eh? Should I say thanks?"
"You don't have to. First of all, just for the sake of formality, I am Rania- holder of the Arcanum of time."
I was confused. I didn't understand what the "Arcanum" was about, but just as I was about to ask, Rania was suddenly attacked by a familiar beast. The beast growled angrily while pressing Rania against a tree, until I finally recognized him.
"Is that you? Yuzan! Hey, don't hurt her, she's not an enemy." I said.
"What? Are you sure?" Yuzan asked.
"Please get off me, this is embarrassing." Rania said.
Yuzan backed off. Rania stood up and brushed the dust off her clothes.
"Yuzan, what happened? I'm glad you were able to find me!" I said.
"Yes, I followed your scent. What happened to you?" Yuzan asked.
