Selene Terra Firma

Tree

Creatures of different species spanning from around fifty to two hundred years of age have gathered in the Lactea Academy. The entire institution was an ancient historic remain from hundreds of centuries ago, founded by the sole rulers ever since the first war. Although the academy has been a symbol of peace, creatures of this world never did consider each other as their equals.

On the contrary, the Union has made sure that this would not ignite another war. They are the ones who value the peace their ancestors had created for them, thus developed the said organization to maintain it.

There are appointed officers for each sector in the academy to directly help the students get along well with one another, as well as fifty dormitories provided for the students.

Two of the most prominent life forms are vampires and werewolves. In this world, they were entirely different from what the mundane world where Selene came from has pictured them to be. Though she couldn't even give a damn about it.

Wrapped around with a warm and thick quilt, she was hiding at the corner of Ares's dormitory room.

It has been six days since she fell on that dark hole and up until now, she's still dreaming. She won't wake up. Whenever she goes to sleep, she would always wish she could at least visit her real world, even if it is not her reality anymore. But she would always turn out disappointed every time she wakes up.

She went back to that same dead tree, dragging Ares along, whenever she had the chance. She even tried sleeping inside that dark hole for a whole day! Even so, she had accomplished nothing.

Till now, Selene couldn't accept the fact that the world she once thought was just a dream suddenly became her reality.

How could this world even exist anyway? It was purely just an imagination—a work of fiction! Magic doesn't even exist because science couldn't prove it!

How could there be a world too impossible and different from her real world?

"I brought you the floor and some clothes." Ares entered the room with a plate of the floor in his hands. The twins then followed inside, holding a bag of clothes they had bought from the Central.

Selene glanced at them emotionlessly, thus making the twins more worried than they were, and Phobos cry. Ares sighed deeply. He sat next to Selene and offered her a piece of juicy felpor leg. Although it was her favorite food, she had no appetite to eat at all.

"It's been a week, Selene. Are you still going to be like this?" He said with a concerned look on his face. He then recalled how he felt her usual faint presence became stronger when she was dragged inside that tree.

The graveyard where their ancestors' rest was located just behind the academy and everyone believed that it was being protected by their souls. Whereas the huge dead tree was known as the gate of the dead from the other side.

The academy strictly prohibits the students from entering its premises but for some reason, Ares had managed to enter the f*******n graveyard without difficulty.

Two years ago, he was running away from Phobos and Diemos for always hindering him from doing the things he wants. Until his feet brought him to a secret tunnel leading directly to the graveyard. Out of curiosity, Ares wandered the place and he felt something was calling him.

He looked around to see a huge dead cursed-looking tree. He walked towards it and saw inside its hole what he first thought was a spirit but was a girl wearing odd clothing, softly crying.

The full moon of Terra was so bright that it shone a light at the girl's spot. She raised her head and that was when their eyes first met. A rush of blood coursing through his body. Seeing the girl for the first time, his cold heart skipped a beat.

She was a total stranger yet she felt so familiar to him.

"Why are you crying?" He asked her calmly. She just stared back at him.

He gulped as he tried reaching out to her. He wanted to confirm whether she was just an illusion or a just doll mistakenly placed there. His fingers sank on her soft skin, touching the wet warm liquid gushing from her deep and tantalizing green eyes. His mouth dried up.

"What are you?" He asked, confused as she had no scent similar to any creatures living in this world but a foreign one. It was so new to him.

"Can't you talk?" She blinked her eyes but still couldn't speak. "Are you lost?"

There was a long pause. He waited for the girl to speak up but she only pushed his hand away. At least, she stopped crying. His face is wrinkled.

"Hey, don't be so rude. I'm not going to hurt you. I was just trying to help you."

"Go away."

He was taken aback. "So, you can talk?"

She didn't respond again but only she looked at him scornfully before shifting her gaze to the ground.

Doesn't she know who he is?

How could she ignore him like this?

Maybe, she's a werewolf. There are no species, except hers, would even dare treat a vampire prince like that!

"Hey, you little wimp! Don't you dare ignore me? I've been patient with you!" He shouted at the girl but was soon startled when her fierce eyes started glaring at him.

"What's a wimp?" She asked boldly, though her tiny voice shows otherwise. Ares found it adorably cute but tried not to be obvious.

"Oh, you don't know? Really? Or maybe you're just playing stupid because you want my attention." He mocked, trying to irritate her with his smug expression. He frowned when the girl just continued glaring.

"A wimp..." stalled Ares. "It's an ugly, dirty, brainless, futile creature. That's a wimp."

A lie.

A wimp is a type of fairy that resides by the lakes or rivers. They were one of the most charming creatures to have ever existed but unfortunately, they have already gone to extinction since the war had ended.

"So, a wimp is an insult. And I am a wimp." She mumbled, now looking depressed. "I knew it. I am a wimp."

"Uh..." Her eyes started to well up and she was crying again. Ares did not saw that coming. Before he knew it, her cry grew louder. Was she playing with him?

"Do you have to cry?" He complained, feeling slightly guilty.

"It's because I'm a wimp!" She whined, sobbing.

So, she had no idea.

What is wrong with this girl?

"You don't know what a wimp is then," he confirmed.

"So, what? Does it have other names? Like a beggar? A monster or someone that's more awful?" The girl asked anxiously.

"No!" Ares exclaimed.

"You're a wimp because you are pretty! I just told you, you were pretty!" He surrendered while his face annoyingly turned beet red. She stopped crying.

"What? You said I'm pretty. Do you like me?" Her mood changed with audacity.

"Oh, aren't you shameless?" He asked showing disgust on his face. "Why would I like you? Who knows you might be some succubus hiding behind that gorgeous body to covet me."

"Covet? Are you being serious?" She scoffed.

"Why would I want to covet you in the first place? And did you just say I'm gorgeous?" She laughed.

Ares was stunned. Even in his annoyed state, he still managed to get amused by just seeing her laugh. It was more alluring than seeing her cry.

"See?! You are seducing me! How could someone laugh so beautifully?" He protested, too careless of what he's saying. It made her laugh even more.

How could she not? The young man was so hilarious being that his constant way of taunting her was to throw her sweet compliments.

"Enough! You can't bewitch me, witch!"

She giggled, wiping her tears away with her shirt. She was happy to meet the young man in her dream after that emotionally and physically draining day she had. At least, she had finally smiled and laughed again even if it was just in her dream.

"What's your name?" She asked, smiling casually at him.

He should have left her alone already. He should have ignored her in the first place. That's what he would normally do anyway. But why is he still here keeping her company?

"Stop smiling." He answered, glaring at her pinkish plump lips.

"That's your name?"

Ares grunted before pinching her soft cheeks. She's so adorable he wanted to squeeze her whole face until she bleeds. "That's not my name, you wimp."

Her smile widened. "So, what is it?"

"It's Ares."