“What about?”

Cailly and I were walking to the cafeteria. Xe undid hirs ponytail and allowed hirs black hair to flow down naturally.

“I don’t know if I should even be saying this so openly.”

“It’s a sensitive thing, I understand that.”

“I heard you’re the one who helped one of the students in the year 4 classes?”

I nodded.

“Then do you know anything about the NtBM treatments? There’s a lot of contradicting information online, I don’t know which to trust.”

“What’s the problem exactly? The most basic treatment method is to drink blood.”

“I know. But it wouldn’t last, would it?”

“There are two stages..”

Cailly had already ordered hirs food using the menu on hirs OptAR. I, on the other hand, prefered to browse the kiosk. We parted temporarily. I ordered a bowl of curry rice with crickets.

I went to grab the tray with my food at the counter before meeting up again with Cailly who had already found a spot to sit.

“As I was saying. There are two stages to NtBM, the first stage can be solved by drinking a little blood. The second stage requires that the person drinks more blood. The problem, or the reason why so many die during the second stage is because they don’t ingest the needed amount.”

“How much blood? Can my blood do?”

“Yes. But be careful not to get their saliva on you.”

“Okay.”

We began eating. I noticed that Cailly was eating fruit salad.

“Is that even enough?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“You’re only eating salad?”

“This? It’s enough, I don’t eat a lot.”

“But you work out a lot don’t you?”

“That is that, this is this. I eat a lot back at home, so I thought I should eat less to lose weight.”

Seriously?

I shook my head and sighed. I proceeded to down my curry.

My mind began processing Cailly’s words.

Xe says that xe isn’t a vampire. Assuming that’s true, then the only other possibility would be that a close relative or family of hirs is a vampire.

Else, it would be that xe has a friend who’s beginning to exhibit symptoms.

“Cailly, who is it exactly?”

“It’s.. my father.”

“Then I think you should just bring him to the hospital.”

“Our family situation isn’t so simple. We can’t bring him to the hospital.”

Cailly Xe’s name was never mentioned in <Cookie Cult>. Even so, I can’t just conclude that xe didn’t become a vampire because xe didn’t join the cult.

“You’re playing with fire.”

“I know.”

“Big bro, can I sit here?”

Lia jumped in the fray. Behind hir, nodding was Tabbie.

“Sure.”

“By the way, xe’s not that girl Novelle is xe?” Lia asked in a whipher.

“No. It’s Cailly.”

“Excuse me.”

Tabbie said, sitting beside Cailly.

“It’s alright.”

“Xe’s Cailly. Cailly, meet Lia, my etler.”

“Nice to meet you. So you’re friends huh?”

“Yup.”

It seems Tabbie and Cailly know each other. Maybe they were from the same club.

Lia began digging into hirs noodle. Seeing that, I realized I should probably finish my curry before it turns cold.

[“Cailly, if it comes down to it, you need to cut yourself and let the blood pour out into a cup before having him drink it. I repeat: be careful not to let your wound come into contact with his saliva or anything like that. I don’t recommend it this method, but it’s a last resort.”]

“Thanks, Avner.”

“What did you write?”

“Something.”

“Let me see.”

“No thank you.”

“Let. Me. See.”

“No.”

Lia punched me with hirs fist.

It didn’t hurt.

===

Class ended, and I was packing my bags to return. I looked towards Cailly. Xe nodded before leaving.

I guess hirs rushing to bring this information back to hirs father. Though, I’m a little bummed out by the fact that xe would be so willing to trust my words. I don’t know what hirs father would think about drinking his irul’s blood. Like, a lot of it.

“Avner.”

“Yes? Oh, see you Pu’er.”

“What did you talk about?”

“About?”

“With Cailly.”

“That. It’s about hirs family.”

Pu’er bit hirs lips.

{YOU HAVE STEPPED ON A MINE}

{WARNING: YOU HAVE STEPPED ON A MINE}

I lurched forward and staggered. Grabbing onto the table to stabilize myself.

“Pu’er, what are you trying to pull?”

“Avner, why aren’t you looking at me?”

Pardon?

“All this time, you’ve been trying to avoid me, haven't you?”

“What? No.”

“Then why? You don’t even look at me anymore.”

What? This is some crazy development.

“What do you even mean by that?”

Hir eyes quivered.

“Pu’er. You’re probably misunderstanding…”

My stomach turned itself inside out. Pu’er fell onto me, I held hirs shoulders.

Then xe pushed me away, causing me to fall back on my seat. A screeching sound was produced as the legs of the chair rubbed against the floor.

All attention was gathered on us.

Pu’er took hir bag and stormed away.

I just sat there, blankly.

What just happened?

===

The week passed with an odd tension in the air. It’s between me and Pu’er, not anyone else.

Exam is next week, and I’m sure what happened that day will continue to gnaw at hir. What’s the best way to resolve the issue anyways? I came up with one solution. It’ll hurt when we get to that point, but I believe it’s also for the best.

I don’t know what Pu’er Julis would think of this. Provided that xe would ever appear again.

“Pu’er.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you the truth of what happened that night. After the exam, next Friday, there’s still some time left before we are released from school.”

Pu’er fell silent.

We arrived at Cain’s office.

2.18.

I threw a slash upwards, the drones followed and intercepted the incoming enemy drones.

“AHHHH!!!”

Relegating my foot to the back, I brought the sword to my flank before throwing a few wind blades at Cain.

He blocked them using his plasma cannon arm. Some managed to hit him.

“Geh?! OUch.. h-huh? Hikh?!”

The wind blades were created using mana. It’s blunt, compressed air that creates a really loud whizzing noise. It kind of shattered my initial expectation of your typical fantasy wind element. Logically speaking, wind blades being blunt would make a lot more sense. Air disperses moving further from the source.

And, just for your notes, the wind blade attack isn’t part of the 2nd grade weapon, Blue Kaizer’s special functions. It’s something I could initiate for any sword weapon. With exceptions like the photon blade as it lacked a solid blade.

I honestly have no idea where I learnt this.

Cain misunderstood initially, thinking that it was a hex.

I pointed Blue Kaiser at him. A blue light began condensing at the tip.

Cain fired his plasma cannon.

I released the charge, he did the same.

The two collided. With the angle slightly tilted, they deflected each other in a way that seemed kaleidoscopic.

He’s going to win this bout.

I ran towards him by moving in an arc. Making sure to intercept the laser barrage coming at me.

“AHHH!!”

Because of hirs shout, my focus slipped.

A chill was felt and I stopped my advance and jumped away. The steady laser cannon stream just went past me.

I commanded all the drones to fire at Cain.

It was pointless. His drones shot down the lasers my drones fired with ease. Not to mention, it was 2 to 1 in the drone department, with Cain having twice the number active.

“I concede!”

“Good job Avner.”

“Help! Me! Help!!”

I heaved.

“I’m not as strong as I think I am.”

The ability to handle weapons is one thing. Being able to utilize it strategically to incapacitate the opponent is another.

It’s not a problem of the micro, it’s a problem of the macro.

A strong army isn’t omnipotent. It can be defeated by a weak army if the wrong strategy is used and vice versa. This is the problem I face. I’m bad at the strategy part.

I only think of the battle in front of me, not the battle as a whole. Brute force, basically.

“Help me! Stop! Stop! I don’t want this!!”

“How long are you going to have the drones chase hir around?”

“Until xe reaches the roof. I’ve made sure that it won't hit hir.”

“So it’s only firing threats?”

“Yes. So please don’t tell hir.”

“You guys are so mean!!!”

Xe’s enjoying hirself at least.

Until xe can successfully make hirs way here, Cain won’t begin teaching hir about weapons.

“Cain, is it possible that we do the training more frequently?”

The excuse we were using to come to his place on a Friday was to ask about homework. Every time, Pu’er and I had to act as if we’re having a discussion, Cain being our tutor.

“I can arrange for that.”

“How about you just set a mine in the early morning? I step on it and then we begin training. That way I wouldn’t need to keep coming to the office.”

“How about Pu’er?”

“I think xe’s having enough on hirs plate now as it stands now.”

“As you wish, Avner.”

Bam!

Pu’er managed to climb all the way to the rooftop through the stairs. Xe fell flat on the ground, breathing wildly.

“Congratulations.”

“Y-You’re.. so mean..”

“We can proceed to the next phase.”

“Let me.. rest.. first please!!”

Pu’er was almost screaming.

“Speaking of which. Mister Cain, I have something I need to discuss with you.”

“Yes.”

“I actually bumped into a demon not too long ago, and he told me to come to the demon association to activate my system. Were you aware that my system was never activated?”

“A-Ah. I.. forgive me Avner. I hadn’t taken that into consideration..”

As if.

“Are you doing this on purpose? I’m at a disadvantage by not being able to differentiate between normal people and the other angels and demons, you know that, right?”

Maybe it doesn’t matter if I die here. The most I’d lose is a burden. Which could be seen as a good thing, especially when I just want to live a normal life.

“It would be great if I just lost all memories of this angel-demon war thing,” I muttered.

“I bumped into a demon recently.”

Pu’er got up.

“Really?”

“He probably got into a fight and retreated. He didn’t try to attack me, at least..”

“Fortunately.”

I waited for hir to finish, then turned to Cain.

“Mister Cain, is it alright if I went with the demon to get my system activated? Will there be any side effects because I have this on me?”

I showed him the chain.

“There shouldn’t be any issues. Just beware that they may take it away.”

“And if that happens, I’ll become an enemy, correct?”

“...”

“Mister Cain, I’m very grateful for what you’ve done. But why are you helping me? Wouldn’t it be easier to just destroy my memories?”

His actions weren’t congruent to his intentions.

“Mister Cain. I don’t want to think that you’re my enemy.”

He saved me, yet didn’t teach me enough about the world. It’s as if he’s trying to hide something from us.

“I believe.”

He started.

“No. I wanted to believe that it is possible for the war to end.”

I narrowed my eyes.

Haven’t I already made it clear that I didn’t really care for the peace between demons and angels? Why is he..

“Avner, Pu’er. What I told you about losing your memories.. that was a lie. The truth is, I don’t want to see more people die.”

===

Cain didn’t want to scare us. He was planning to reveal it when we grew a little more, or when we were settled into this life. Since I’ve touched on the topic, he thought that it was best to just reveal the truth. Else it would only cause more misunderstanding.

When we die in the astral space, we lose our soul.

We die.

Our body in the real world moves on– as puppets. We become an empty shell.

People wouldn’t find anything suspicious about our shell. It would act as it should. The shell would even live out life as normal humans, expressing emotions, falling in love, getting married, even having children.

But that’s just the shell carrying out our lives so that the humans don’t suspect anything.

It’s a mysterious phenomenon that Cain can’t explain either. It’s just part of the natural law of the world.

After all, we’re not exactly humans.

An alien race, a mythological existence, a paranormal entity, God’s pawns.

We weren’t bound by the same rules.

“T-That means I-I almost died..” Pu’er’s voice quivered.

“My sincerest apology.”

“This is why we have no choice but to learn to fight?”

“Yes.”

Many pieces fall into place with this information. Why would angels and demons involve themselves in this war? Why was there a need for conflict? There had to be some form of risk, or loss involved.

A concept of death that encompasses a single generation.

Companionship and camaraderie each side wishes to keep.

The reason why Cain kept me alive.

It wasn’t only because I was this so-called legendary incarnation of Avner.

It was so that I could protect others.

“Avner, if you are going to the demon association. I can only advise you to take prudence. I don’t know how the procedures have changed over the past few years.”

And, now that I know my life is at risk. I can’t delay activating my system any longer.

“I understand.”

2.19.

[“Cailly, did you bring your father to the hospital?”]

I should’ve been more concerned about this. I don’t know why I didn’t push hir to bring hir’s father to the hospital.

Was it responsible to tell Cailly the way to do home remedy? Especially for a dangerous disease like NtBM, I don’t think trying to keep the person under wraps is a good idea.

I waited for a few seconds, no reply came back so I began studying. Examination was next week, I still had a few subjects I needed to polish up. History, Geography and ICT. Specific subjects which I wasn’t able to rely on Shin’s knowledge.

As mentioned before, World War I, World War II, and the Black Plague also took place in this world. Just that the regions and topography of the planet is different from that of Shin’s. I can’t give any comparisons like saying Alska resembled Shanghai of China. The continents are just that different.

I wouldn’t say it’s simple mapping either. Rather, it looks like a whole ‘nother Earth. Tropical countries and four season countries existed. Alska is located at the northern side of the globe.

The cuisines of the world are like a mish-mash of food from what Shin is used to.

Luckily, Earth is still the 4th planet in the Solar System.

“Big bro, we’re going to move.”

“Pardon?”

Lia came to disturb me.

“Innis said Ui said it. That our parents are discussing about going to Rwiel, Poa.”

Poa is a giant island off to the western part of Alska. Rwiel is one of the cities..

Moving? Avner stayed, didn’t he?

[That seems to be the case.]

Innis, the floating ice cream zipped onto my screen.

I put my studying aside and began thinking.

Perhaps my guess was off the mark. Perhaps Avner’s parents didn’t get a divorce?

Avner stayed put at home while everyone moved to Rwiel?

That would make no sense. Or would it? This is the <Cookie Cult> universe.

Maybe this trip to Rwiel wasn’t part of the original? That somehow my actions caused the butterfly effect?

“Why are we moving?”

[It seems that your grandma is suffering from cancer. Someone needs to be present to take care of her health.]

Grandma from my mother’s side.

I guess Ui had Innis share this information to prepare us. No wonder it feels like the house has been a little rowdier as of late.

“When are we moving?”

[The current plan is during the holidays, after your exams.]

“That means we’re also moving schools.”

“I don’t know if I should be sad or happy. I’ll miss my friends though.”

“I didn’t know you had friends.”

“That’s not a joke!”

“Haha.”

“Unlike you, I don’t have a elfriend or boyfriend. You’ll have to part from your elfriend boo-hoo.”

“I never had one to begin with. Your words don’t apply to me.”

“Really? I was sure you had one.”

“I really don’t.”

[I have my doubts.]

AIs really, are they persistent stalkers or what?

[“No.”]

[“How is he right now then?”]

“Who are you chatting with this time around huuh..”

“Another friend.”

[“It worked. He says he doesn’t feel the pain anymore.”]

[“Cailly, you have to persuade him to go to the hospital. I can tell you what I know, but it may not be the best treatment. It’s only some superficial knowledge I saw from the hospital.”]

There was no reply after that.

Should I get Lynda to persuade her?

Lynda hasn’t been discharged from the hospital, I think. I didn’t see her in school the past few weeks.

I don’t know the exact protocols of handling an NtBM patient, but seeing how long she’s being hospitalized for, I suppose it does make sense why one would want to avoid the hospital if there’s a natural remedy for it. The medical bills shouldn’t be small.

Though said, the price of life is much heavier.

It’s better to get the necessary treatment than to regret later.

Maybe I can get Nyill to persuade Cailly instead? I have hirs contact here.

[“Hey, when and where do you want to meet up?”]

Radingo replied. Fortunately. I thought he had given up on me.

“Who’s this?”

“You saw nothing. Keep it a secret from mom, father and aether please.”

“It’s something shady, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“So what is it about?”

I merely shook my head.

[“When are you free? I study at Saint High, to answer your previous question.”]

[“Really? I don’t know where that is.”]

So much for the school’s marketing and advertising scheme.

If anything, coming across an angel or demon is rare– wrong. It’s because I can’t even see the crown on their heads.

I’m pretty sure the only two angels in Saint High are Pu’er and Cain. If there was anyone else, Cain or would’ve told me about them by now.

[“Saint High is located in Zone 16.”]

What even is Zone 16? The logical nonsense that comes with these supernatural extensions to life.

[“How about Vinyl Park Station?”]

That’s the name of the ELRT station closest to Saint High.

[“I don’t know when I’ll be able to get the chance.”]

Radingo and I exchanged a few more messages. In the end, we were unable to come up with a decisive location and time. The biggest constraint is that I don’t have the free will to go out of the house. My mom would absolutely flame me if I did.

[“We’ll put on hold the decision then. Stay safe, be careful. The Seraph is leaving for other zones. If you receive a warning sign, you better get out of that place immediately. If, you’re even able to receive it. If not, I can only pray that your luck is good.”]

A demon using the word pray. Oh the sarcasm.

===

The first day of the exam: done.

The second day I had to face both Geography and History at the same time. Of course, as a senior high school graduate once, junior high school is nothing.

The third day, ICT was the most challenging.

The fourth day was the final day for the exam.

Though I told Cain previously that he can intercept me by planting mines, he probably didn’t do it out of consideration that I was having a major examination.

And now, the fifth day.

I told Pu’er that I would tell hir the truth.

[“Pu’er, meet me at the roof.”]

We’ve gone to the roof enough times to know spots where there were less people around.

There’s a lot I need to say, so it would be great if we had the proper space to talk.

===

dotturndot: friend or foe? You think Cain was hiding it on purpose?

Nope. Let me tell you the reality. Back when I was writing this, I realized that Avner hadn’t encountered a single angel or demon outside (which is abnormal). And so I just made it up by saying: if you don’t have your system activated, you can’t see this ‘crown’. Yup. So it’s just me trying to fill in the plot holes. Cain bears the brunt of it! Aha!

(In fact, Cain’s personality is also filled with plot holes. My initial idea as to why Cain worships Avner has changed from time to time. As more of the story got fleshed out, I needed to alter their stories to fit the logic of the world.. I don’t know when I’ll reveal the backstory behind it, anyways, just stay curious)