Warmth

Chapter 1 - Realization

ARTHUR LEYWIN

"The headmaster is calling for you, Kid. And fix that goddamn mess you made." Gideon frowned and immediately he started teaching again.

Mess?

I looked in front of me and saw the table upside down, I sheepishly chuckled and fixed the mess. "I'm out then, Professor." Gideon waved his hand and I walked out of the room.

While on the way, Sylvie on my shoulder was looking at me, worry blazing upon her eyes, 'I know you have questions, but later, okay?' I assured her. Sylvie nodded at this and sat on my shoulder.

While walking, I pondered. So, this was the farthest I could go back with 4 layers, and the sacrifice of Regis. I wonder, do I still have my mana core? I closed my eyes and tried to use mana to coat my body.

Though, it was inevitable. Mana was not moving nor was it in my body. I channeled aether to my eyes and looked at my core. And I saw a dark purple sphere, translucent enough to see a darker yellow sphere inside of it.

'Is that my mana core?' I tried channeling mana from the core to my body, and it started moving. Before hitting the translucent wall and dissipating. I see, I forgot that aether and mana don't like each other.

So what will happen to it? Will it disappear? Then my abdomen pounded, an unimaginable pain washed over me and I knelt down. Sweats fell from my forehead to the floor and air was leaving my body.

'What the fuck happened?!' I looked at my core and saw my mana core, but now with cracks appearing on it. I can't let it break! I might still need it in this life, I closed my eyes and focused my head on my core.

I controlled the aether around my core and pulled the cracks, but as soon as the purple hue touched it—it dispersed and disintegrated.

'Fuck!' I cursed, what if I use aether to protect it even for a while, until my talk with Director Goodsky is finished. I let aether heed my command, and the purple motes traveled to the holes in my core.

'Don't disintegrate,' I plead.

Aether touched made contact and thanked the god, it didn't disintegrate it. A sigh of relief came out of my mouth as aether formed a dome around the holes. Partially repairing it.

'Are you okay, papa!' Sylvie shouted inside my head. I opened my eyes and saw her sitting on the ground, looking at me with her yellow eyes, I smiled.

'Yes, don't worry. They were just some minor implications in my core. It's okay now, Sylvie,' I caressed her head.

...

Arriving, I took a deep breath and placed my hand on the handle. I closed my eyes and rotated the knob. I pushed the door, a creaking sound resonated to my left, the sun ray past the window behind Director Goodsky—blinding my eyes slightly.

Director Goodsky swept her gaze from the documents on her table to me. Our eyes met and the corners of her mouth curled up, "There you are, Arthur." She greeted me.

'It feels good to see you again, Director.'

I smiled and greeted her too. Our conversation was the same as the past, about professor Geist, and about the offer of me becoming a replacement for his class. Which I hesitantly accepted.

"Thank you for your time, Arthur. You may go."

I nodded and before going out of the door, I bowed down.

Walking in the hall now there were students visible. Chatting against one another, and walking towards their classes. Seeing this peace again brought a smile to my face, students chattering—no one dying, and no one going to war.