Dream Life

“So where do you two want to go?” Kurobi asked? “I’m not sure campus is huge. It's like its own city, there's so much to see!” Katsura replied excitedly. Mazoku trailed behind them silently walking with his hands in his pockets. “Hey, I know, let's go to the library. I hear it’s ginormous and has lots of books in there about magic and the world's history you can't learn anywhere else!” cheered Katsura. “You just wanna go find some boring books to read,” Kurobi stated. “I think it’s a good idea,” Mazoku interjected. “Then it’s settled!” Katsura yelled. The three of them head towards the Academy’s library taking in how amazing the school is. As they approach the library they marvel at the size of the building, at the front doors several guards step in front of them stopping them from entering. “Is something the matter why won't you guys move?” Kurobi asked out of confusion. “You three are not permitted to enter The Great Library” a guard exclaimed. “And just why is that?!” Kurobi yelled. “Based on your uniform colors you two are rank 3 nobles, the lowest ranking nobles there are. Only rank 1 nobles, lords, and government officials are permitted inside here. I also doubt we have to explain why your friend here can’t enter” the guard replied. Mazoku scoffed as he clutched his fist in his pockets. “Guys maybe some other time let's just leave, we don't want to cause trouble on our first day” Katsura stated. “Damned commoner” a guard remarked as the children walked away. “What a load of crap, can you believe those guys? What's their deal?” Kurobi said frustratingly. “We just aren’t high enough ranking,” Katsura said. Mazoku didn’t weigh in on the conversation, he just continued to think to himself. Katsura noticed his silence but did not say anything to Mazoku and Kurobi was too caught up in everything around them to notice. Kurobi rushes off and says that he has to go to the bathroom leaving Katsura and Mazoku alone. “Mazoku..” she asked. Mazoku turned his attention away from the sky and looked at her. “What’s up?” he replied. “Tell me what’s going on in your head…” she asked. He simply looked back at the sky.

“Honey I’m worried about our Mazoku, he keeps having that nightmare and he wakes up looking pale every time” Mazoku’s mother states. “Yes, I know, it is very bothersome. It’s normal for children to have dreams and nightmares but this one seems to be affecting him in some way” his dad said. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Hmm, you haven’t noticed. I’m actually a bit surprised” he said with a heavy tone. Mazoku’s mother just stood there in confusion and concern for her child as she did not fully understand what her husband could have meant by that statement. Mazoku, Katsura, and Kurobi head to the campus cafe to get lunch. Once they arrived a bunch of students just stopped and stared at them as they entered the cafeteria. You could hear them whispering amongst themselves talking about Mazoku not being from a royal or high ranking bloodline. Then a 2nd year stepped in front of them with his crew to cut off their path. “Move over 3rd ranks, our business is with this one” the kid laughed. “What do you want?” Mazoku groaned. “You don’t belong here, this school is for nobles, don’t show up here again or we’ll make your life hell. Got it?!” the kid replied angrily and walked off. “Who the heck is that guy?” Kurobi asked. “He’s ranked first place among the second year students, his name is Notani and he’s a spirit magic user.” Katsura answered. “I didn’t really care to know all that,” Kurobi replied. “I'm sorry,” she said. “Who cares, let's just eat” Mazoku said as he picked an open table for them to sit at. “What’s got him so moody?” Kurobi asked. “Do you want me to answer?” she replied. “Well duh!” he yelled. Katsura flinched “I think he’s worried about tomorrow’s aptitude test. Our magical abilities will be measured and our magic types will be announced to the entire class. As you know we will all receive either Spirit User, Guardian, Mage, Healer, or Assault.” she said. “Yeah and? I already know that, so what?” Kurobi asked. “Well I’ve only seen Mazoku use magic once before, by accident. He was training alone in the forest and I can honestly tell you I have never seen anything like it before.” she said with a serious tone. “Huh? Now that you mention it, we’ve known each other for years now and I’ve never seen him use magic” Kurobi realized. “I’m a healer and you are an assault, there's no doubt about that, but Mazoku isn’t like us... or anyone” Katsura finished. They walk over to their table and sit down to eat lunch. After they finished eating Kurobi states that he’s going to head home to start preparing for the aptitude test tomorrow and sets off. Katsura says that she was going to go help her mother back home since she has free time. “See ya” “Take care of yourself until tomorrow” Kurobi and Katsura say as they head off. “See you guys tomorrow,” Mazoku replies. Mazoku finds a shaded tree in the center of the plaza to lie under and he lays on the ground. He stares at the sky lying on his back with his hands behind his head thinking. “Why can’t I shake this feeling” he asks himself. He dozes off. ((Age 479)) A young boy is running down the street in the middle of the night in search of his family as people around him are slaughtered. Struggling to navigate through the burning city he searches and searches. “Where are they?! Father! Sister!” the boy yells as soldiers flood the street. “After that boy!” a soldier yells. The young boy runs for safe cover as he loses the ones chasing him. “Why is this happening?! What did we do?! I don’t understand!” the boy thinks. Hiding behind a barrel he feels a tap on his shoulder. Frightened at first, he turns around quickly to see that it’s his father who is badly beaten and bleeding from his head. Behind him he sees his little sister holding their dad's hand. “Son?...” his dad whispers. ((Age 879)) Mazoku wakes up breathing heavily and sweating as about an hour has passed. “What is this?” he asks himself. Mazoku gathers himself and starts to head home. “I don’t recognize the man or the little girl in this dream, but I can see their faces clearly, maybe I should finally tell mom and dad” he thought.