Eleven's Ghost

Chapter 27: Vicious Sunset

Louise and the others left the arena. They followed the others into a larger yard. Older students were there, distributing papers.

Shams took one. “Oh, it’s the map of the campus.”

“This is pretty useful.”

“We can get our uniforms here. Let’s go!”

They walked to a different spot and stood in line. It didn’t take long before they received their uniforms in a box.

“Go to the dorms now. Someone there will give you your room keys and your studying schedule.”

They all went to the dorm. Their eyes widened, seeing that it was a city of its own with trains to move around. Shams and Yayis exchanged glances after discovering that they shared the same building. They walked inside and stared at the boards on the wall. “It seems like you’re on the tenth floor,” Shams said, “I’m in the fourth.” He grinned at him. “It will be a good workout!”

Yayis chuckled and pulled him into a tight hug. He ran his hand through his hair and shut his eyelids. “But I need you. Being six floors apart isn’t helping,” he whispered.

Shams’s gaze saddened. He hugged him back and buried his face in his chest. “I heard that we can pick who stays with us in the room if we pass this year with honours. Let’s study hard and… make it happen.”

He looked up to Yayis and rested a hand on his cheek. “Until then, I can always come over or… I bet there are many places to hang out here. We will be fine. I promise.”

Yayis closed his eyes and nodded, forcing a smile. “Okay.”

They took the stairs and split up in the fourth floor. The narrow corridors were filled with new students.

Shams entered his room and sighed, sat down on the floor. It was a small bedroom with a bathroom and a small kitchen. The bed had two bunk beds and a desk between them. Shams glanced around and saw someone opening the bathroom door. A young man walked into the room and stared at him, drying his hair. “You’re the new roommate.”

He walked to his bed and sat down. “I occupy this bed. You can use the other one.”

Shams frowned. “There aren’t… four people here?”

“No. Not this room.”

The teen lowered the towel from over his head, and his wet yellow hair fell on his face. His purple eyes gazed into space for a moment as the water droplet slid down his dark tanned skin.

“Not me.”

“Huh?”

He blinked and glanced at Shams. “Nothing. Nothing. Who are you? My name is Janne. I’m eighteen. I’m a beastman. I may have a human-like form right now, but I use my beastly form only mid-fight.”

“Oh…” Shams smiled briefly. “I’m Shams. I’m sixteen. I’m a h–ah… a…”

“Human?” Janne stood up with a faint smile. “You don’t need to hide it. You do need to be more careful outside though. There are always evil eyes and evil intentions.”

Shams pouted and lowered his head. “But everyone has been figuring it out. Do I stand out that much?”

“Your eyes.”

Shams tilted his head. “My eyes…?”

“For me, your eyes gave you away.” Janne nodded. “Your eyes are very typical to humans.”

“What should I do? Can I change them?” Shams panicked.

Janne’s gaze softened. “Let’s look at your schedule. Do you have it?”

“Ah!” Shams sighed. “I forgot to bring it!”

“I will go down to get some errands anyway. Come with me.”

He wore a leather jacket and pants, keeping his chest exposed. He smiled at Shams, who was staring at his abs. “Are you okay? You seem scared.”

Shams looked away. “Um… I mean… You look really… um…”

“It’s natural to be scared of someone you’re not familiar with.” Janne walked past him. “If you’re wondering why I’m showing so much skin, it’s because in my homeland, we wear little to no clothes.”

Shams’s eyes flashed wide.

“When I came here, it was awkward. I had to wear the uniform. At first, I found clothes confining, but now I’m used to them. Now, I find being naked odd.”

Janne tied his long hair in a side ponytail. “Let’s go.”

“Why… does it feel like you’re sad?” Shams looked down, fidgety. “I don’t mean to sound rude or nosy, but you sound like something is bothering you.”

“Maybe it’s the fact that I’m a repeater?” Janne scratched his head. “I failed my first year.”

“There are… years?”

Janne nodded. “I’ll tell you about it if you go out with me. I will buy ingredients to cook.”

Shams smiled and nodded. “I’ll go!”

Janne smiled back. They left the room and walked downstairs. Shams frowned slightly. “Are there no elevators here?”

“There are, but almost nobody uses them.”

“Why?!”

“Using the stairs is a better workout. In this academy, having a good physical condition is the most important thing,” Janne explained.

They reached the ground floor, and everyone avoided looking at Janne. He shut his eyelids and walked behind Shams in silent, his hands shoved in his pockets. One student grabbed Shams suddenly. “I should tell you not to talk to him. He’s bad news!”

Shams frowned. “Why?! What?”

The girl then ran away.

Shams glanced at Janne and stared at him, his eyes filled with curiosity. “Why…?”

Janne patted his shoulder and stood in front of the receptionist. “Come on. Get your stuff.”

Shams nodded slowly. He received his schedule. Janne leaned down and rested his head on Shams. He smirked faintly. “Ha. We’re on the same class. Don’t worry about the schedule then. I’ve already memorized all of the classes.”

Shams nodded. They both left their building and found Yayis sitting outside, hugging his knees. Shams ran to him and hugged him. “What are you doing here?! Are you okay?”

Yayis glanced up at him, and his red eyes flared with joy. He hugged Shams back. “You’re here! I was feeling so lonely! I’m so glad you’re here!”

Shams smiled sadly and caressed his hair. “I’m here now. Let’s spend the day together?”

Yayis nodded and stood up. Shams turned to Janne. “Hey, this is my best–” He blinked, not seeing anyone. “Friend…?”

Yayis blinked and glanced at him. “Did you have someone else with you?”

“Um… Yes.” Shams frowned. “Where did he go?”

“Should we look for him?” Yayis offered, handling his map. “Or just explore the area?”

“Well, let’s do both.” Shams walked ahead. “This entire city is for the dorms… I heard all the students, teachers and janitors live here. Only the director lives elsewhere. Everyone else is here.”

“Yes.” Yayis looked down and bit his lower lip. “Maybe I can find him here.”

“Your dad?”

He blinked and glanced at Shams. “Huh?”

Shams smiled faintly. “Let’s go. Maybe we will run into him.”

Yayis blushed slightly and covered his face with his hair. “I wa… wasn’t looking for him or anything.”

Shams laughed. “Sure, sure!”

“Guys!” Louise ran towards them, excited. “I ran all the way here to check on you! So, are you up for grabs?”

They nodded. “We were getting hungry anyway.”

They walked along the busy streets, checking every shop on their way. Janne stood on top of a tower and watched them in silence. He shut his eyelids and lowered his head.

“I’m not meant to exist in this place,” he whispered, “Not here. Not anywhere else.”

He disappeared in a yellow flash as Shams looked his way. Shams frowned, not seeing anyone. Yayis pulled his hand. “Come on. Let’s go in! I’m starving!”

They walked around the city, discovering new places to eat, buy clothes and play. However, Shams couldn’t find Janne, and Yayis couldn’t find Iblis. Instead, they wandered at the different races and people gathered in one city, coexisting happily.

Louise sat on top of a statue, her scaled tail wiggling. “Look! The sun is setting!” She pointed at the horizon at the end of a sea that was visible from her height. “So pretty! There’s a sun here too!”

They both joined her and gazed at it with a smile.

“It was really a hectic day today,” Shams chuckled. “I learned so many things. Who knew that we needed a special currency to buy things in the academy?!”

Louise nodded. “We can get the money by accomplishing quests that show up daily in the advertising department. First-year students like us get monthly grants, but it all ends once we pass to the second grade or fail one year. The number of quests we can accept daily grows more the more we grow in power and grade.”

Shams stared at the sun thoughtfully. “I wonder… how many quests Ihdaachar used to take…”

“Wh-What did you just say?”

They glanced at Louise. She frowned. “Did you just say Ihdaachar? Did you know him?”

Shams smiled nervously, remembering that Ihdaachar warned him from mentioning his name in front of other people. “Yes! I just heard that he was the strongest person here before leaving. I was wondering… how many quests he used to take.”

“Hah!” Louise laughed. “Quests?! Probably not a single one! Everyone was too afraid of him. He climbed the ranks quickly and started doing dark things. He’s a vicious, scary man. I don’t suggest sniffing around too much about him.”

Shams stood up. “I’m going home.”

Louise blinked. “What… Why?” She pulled his sleeve. “Are you angry?”

“Ihdaachar isn’t vicious,” Shams whispered, “I won’t let you or anyone else say it. I won’t forgive you if you repeat this. Never.”