Down System

Chapter 9

Still trying to resist the hands that imprisoned him, Keevan planned a strike. Unfortunately, his speed was too slow for his duel, which was why he couldn't accomplish it, and which made him scowl in distress.

I was stuck staring at Ferno, who held Keevan's hands and stopped him from touching me. Little did I know that Keevan had appointed to attack as I turned away; neither did Ferno's surpassing advent had reached my hunch. A flicker of pleasure played in the corner of my eyes as I watched Ferno protected me like a valiant knight.

"Your gender doesn't give you a hint of hurting your opposite s*x, thinking you are far stronger than them," Ferno told Keevan, still clasping his hands and not minding the crowd that was witnessing us three. "I won't let go of you if you don't make a promise now."

"Promise, what?" Keevan raised his brow. "Did you know that that girl you are defending as of this moment had given me a blow on the cheek? Can't you see this?" he pointed out his swollen jowl.

"She wouldn't do that to you if you haven't done something wrong to her, I guess."

"I can't even remember myself doing wrong to that girl whom I don't know, but just hurt me as if I am her slave. Gender has nothing to do with revenge! Just let go of me and let me slap that dumb daughter of b***h!"

Keevan did not halt protesting not until a man who was likely a teacher appeared and settled the dispute. However, the violent kid didn't let go of his ego and still tried to do what he wanted, and that was why the man had sent us three to the council.

As soon as we arrived in the guidance office, the staff contacted our parents and or guardians and informed them about the trouble we had created. All I thought they would tell them to come, but fortunately, they had given us the chance to surpass this issue since it was our first day. However, they had warned us that if this would happen again, they would suspend us.

Ferno had escorted me going to the room when we were already released, making sure Keevan would not come to hurt me again. He even patted me on the head and smiled at me before proceeding to his room.

I beamed as I watch the young boy walked away. I had not done anything to Ferno, but he was good to me. At first, I thought his heart was like the stone, but he had just erased that impression, proving his soul was as soft as a muffin. Knowing that he attended the same school as me, gave me an epiphany that I was not alone in this journey. However, I must not be complacent about having him near me. I, as a girl, must be stable even though it was just me all along.

The class for the whole day had ended with Keevan's sharp gaze at me. Throughout the discussion, he just patrolled me, and if he caught me also looking at him, he would show me his gripped hand. He certainly had the urge of knocking me. He could not be caught with words, indeed; perhaps his boorish attitude was innate.

I went to the guardian's corner where Namika rested, eating a sandwich. The very moment she saw me, she rose and assisted me in carrying my things.

"Wanna have some?" the old woman asked, raising the sandwich in front of my face.

"No, I'm good. I ate the one you gave me anyway, and it's delicious."

"Oh, really?"

I nodded. "It's kinda addicting. Should you expect me to request tons of sandwiches from you every week or even every day. I wanna give some to my friend Ferno, too."

"Looks like I've heard that name yet," Namika said. "Was he the young boy who defended you from the fight you had a while ago?"

I looked at her in astonishment. "How did you know about that?"

"Well, the counselor called me, apprising me about that. They thought I was your mother, and so I just went with the flow. I told them I wasn't available because if I said I'm here and they asked me to come over, they would doubt me being your parent," Namika explained. "No worries, young girl, this will not reach Perseus and Morrigan."

I let out a deep sigh as I exited the school. It was a bit of luck for me that only Namika was notified about this, or else, I might have given my family a secondhand embarrassment. It was the first day of school, yet I had already met a feud; no doubt everyone in the way was looking at me and seemed tattling regarding the issue.

I was about to ride on the school bus when my eyes caught Ferno walking on the left side going to the next bus in line. I uttered his name out loud that made him stop and turn around.

"You going home now?" I asked when I finally got near the young boy.

"Obviously," Ferno replied in a very cold manner.

"Oh, sorry. I just wanna thank you again for defending me against Keevan. I was supposed to be not fighting with him, but he's the one who has assaulted me."

"I've seen it, you don't have to explain," Ferno said as he moved his gaze away from me. "One thank you is enough, you don't have to say those words to me for how many times. I'm going now if you don't have anything to say further."

I beamed, never minding the way he spoke towards me. "Thank- oh, I mean, keep safe!"

Ferno didn't talk anymore but continued to walk instead until he eventually touched the bus.

I remained standing in my place, watching Ferno leave, not when Namika called out my name and shouted the bus was to depart. As the whir of the transport rang in my ears, I ran towards there with haste.

Warm hugs from Mommy and Daddy had greeted me as soon as I arrived and entered the house; they excitedly invited me into the dining area because they had prepared plenty of food as a reward for me for passing the commencement.

After eating, I punctually headed to the underground. The place was already clean— not totally, but cleaned— because I took time to dredge before the day of school. Starting the time I had discovered this location, this had been my personal area, but only for scrutiny of my revival.

I opened the 1578 photo album that was still placed on the desk; I still had no idea of who made this, but the creator probably intended to reach out to me.

As I was turning the pages, I studied the pictures thoroughly. It was only the year fifteen and sixty-five, yet the record was on the year fifteen and seventy-eight, which was obviously a rumple to the brow. If the album was assembled and the photos were captured even before the day it was supposed to be happening, could be this a product of conjuration and discernment?

Still flipping the pages, I had found King Ferno's image at the very end of the bound. Seeing his face even just through a picture, made my blood rise; until in my second life, he was still bringing me rigor.

I dispelled my rancor for a moment as I read the description below King Ferno's portrait; his full name was written there— Ferno Andilet, as well as the year of his reign.

If the time I was in was only fifteen and sixty-five, and the ruling of King Ferno would start on fifteen and seventy-eight, would it be falling again? Would the cruel system of Hades be taking its place once more?

I took the seat, holding my head in disbelief. I could not be living this second chance of life to suffer that tyranny for the second time around. If being resurrected meant undergoing the same process again, I would have chosen not to exist again!

Tears started to shed down my cheeks. Everyone's lives would be at stake all over again, and no one of them had an idea about the years coming. I would not bear losing my loved ones this time. I had to do something.

As I was still wiping my tears, a voice calling for me had aroused up to the underground; I knew it was Namika. My heart somehow pounded, but faded right away at the thought she wouldn't be able to find me since she didn't know this place.

Eventually, the old woman's voice hushed; all I presumed she had already exited the room, but after some time, she spoke again saying,

"Come out of the ground, young girl."