"Brother Aren? You're back! Wait, why are you doing in the forbidden chamber?"
"... Aren. It's been a long while since I heard that name."
The demon named Ran slowly approached the girl who was lying on the ground, helpless and in fear. She questioned the demon or rather, her brother. The demon raised his sword without answering any questions and swung it.
"Ara, WAKE UP!" A loud voice echoed.
Ara's eye flushed opened as she jumped out of her bed on instinct and landed on the ground. She quickly grabbed the spear by her bed and raised her guard.
"Demons?! Is the brother Aren here?!" Ara asked while gripping her spear.
"No, you're going to be late for school, Ara!" The voice echoed in Ara's head.
"Oh no! I'll go prepare now!" Said Ara.
"I'm just joking, you need to wake up early so that you could double check on your stuff Ara." Said the voice.
"Oh. You're right Eun… Sorry…" Ara apologized.
After all the ruckus has been solved and cleared out, Ara went to clean herself up and prepare for school. She didn't had a good night sleep due to the nightmare she had, the memory of her brother, Aren, turning into a demon and siding with them. It was thanks to Eun that she could survive. Her goal now is to finish school as soon as possible and gain permit to go on a mission to find and rescue her brother. Even though she had much experience in martial arts and spirit energy manipulation, or Rakshasa, she couldn't leave Velder without the permit. And to get the permit, is to pass the El Protector's Academy exam.
Ara lived alone with Eun in a house left behind by her parents for travelling use, as they would travel to Velder to restock on arms and supplies, and the house was big enough to allow housing of 30 men and women. Cleaning and managing was impossible without the help of loyal maids that served the Haan family.
Once she's done with breakfast, she went straight to school. Eun who was awake all night told Ara she needed to sleep in the day so she had to be careful. Ara told Eun she will be fine. On the way, she met her classmate, Add, and she greeted him. However, Add didn't give a El damn about her because she was annoying and clumsy all the time. Even so, he still acknowledges her superior close combat capabilities.
"Morning, Mr Add!" Greeted Ara.
"... Morning." Replied Add in a low voice.
"You look tired, did you not sleep well last night? Or did you not had breakfast yet?" Asked Ara, even though she didn't as well, she shook it off after the energy filled breakfast the maid prepared.
"... That's none of your business. More importantly, have you finish your homework regarding combat engagements and math?" Asked Add, as if he cared half heartedly, also because Ara's math sucked.
"I finished both this time! All thanks to the notes you gave me." Ara said cheerfully while showing Add her completion on her homework. Combat engagements was no problem for her, but math was really dead root. Until Add gave her the notes he had.
"... Good. Then can I have my note back…?" Asked Add.
"Yes, thank you very much Mr Add." Ara gave Add his notes."
As they continued walking, they pass by a convenient shop and Ara asked Add to wait for her as she needed to buy something.
"Mr Add, could you wait for me for a bit? I need to get something in the store." Asked Ara.
"... 5 minutes and I will walk to school alone." Add replied coldly.
Ara then hurried to the convenient store to buy her stuff. 5 minutes later, Ara exited the store and saw Add already walking towards the school.
"Wait Mr Add!" Ara shouted and ran towards him.
"... 5 minutes is up." Said Add.
"Here, Mr Add, I got you some breakfast." Ara held the egg sandwich to Add whose stomach grumbled at the sight of the warm egg sandwich. Add hesitated and then accepted the offer.
"... Thanks, although you could've just bought me a chocolate bar…" Add said as he took a bite of the egg sandwich.
"Chocolate bars aren't healthy Mr Add, and breakfast is an important meal, or else you won't grow taller." Ara said. Although ironically, Add is taller than her.
"... As long as the food tastes good and filling… I don't really care." Add replied half heartedly. "And I don't care about appearances, biological stuff doesn't interest me." Add addon.
"But you should take care of your body Mr Add. You won't be able to carry out missions or experiments that you like if you don't eat well." Ara warned Add.
Add got startled by her statement. To think that an innocent and dumb girl like her could see through him so easily made him wonder if she was acting dumb all the time. It was true that he liked doing experiments and he wanted to go out of Velder to search for Nasod parts to improve his tech. But Add didn't reply Ara, he just kept quiet.
They reached the school 30 minutes before class starts, so they had enough time to do whatever they want. Add just sat on his seat and started typing stuff into his holographic computer, while Ara just sat beside Add and talked to the girls.
Since they were the same classmates and they've known each other for a long time, the girls always asked if they were saying and if Add was even treating her well.
"Hey Ara, are you sure you two aren't dating?" Asked one of Ara's friend.
"No! Mr Add and I are just friends for a long time. We aren't dating or anything…" Ara replied.
"Are you sure? Because you look like you care about him a lot." Asked one of Ara's friend again.
"Isn't it normal to take care of your friends?" Ara asked curiously.
"I mean it is normal, although he looks like he doesn't appreciate your care and all… He is quiet and kinda mean to everyone else." the girls said.
"I think Mr Add is just shy and is too obsessed with his experiments, he doesn't mean to be mean to everyone." Ara explained.
Add who sat beside Ara heard and answered.
"I'm just annoyed by incompetent people that may disturb my experiments, besides, I rather spend time for my experiments than wasting it on chit chatting. And Ara… I'm not shy." Add said. His face looked kind of annoyed by the word 'shy'. "However you are right, I am too obsessed." Add shrugged it off.
Everyone else got surprised when Add finally spoke in class. He never spoke in class except when teachers called him to read or answer. And this made everyone though if Ara was dating Add again. Because he'd only talk if Ara is involved.
"Add, then let me ask you, why do you not talk to any of us, rather with just Ara?" asked one of Ara's friend.
"That's because you guys aren't worth the time, Ara's combat capabilities are far superior than anyone here in this room, and I cannot deny that as a student trying to gain a permit for a mission. Competition is fierce for permits. That aside, it's because we are relatable. Ara lost her brother like I lost my mother. None of you will understand the pain induced. None of you." Add replied, his cold voice sent a chill down the girls spines. Everyone just kept quiet after that, because they knew how Add's mom was killed, by the hands of his own father.
"Mr Add…" Ara tried to pat Add on the back, but Add out of instinct wanted to slap Ara's hand away, but he didn't. Because he considered her as an ally and 'friend'.
"... Don't touch me." Add said and continued typing.
Ara was sad, but she was glad at least Add helped to clarify the misunderstanding of their relationship.
After school…
Ara and Add was the only two students left in the classroom, Ara's friends went ahead because they were going to a newly opened cafe to try out the menu. Ara stayed back because she wanted to company Add, she felt he needed someone to cheer him up from the incident long time ago. She kept silent because she knew she'd interrupt Add's thoughts. Then out of a sudden, Add spoke.
"... How long are you going to wait for me? I won't be leaving anytime soon, you should've gone with them." Add said as he typed.
"I was thinking Mr Add and I could walk home together." Ara said smiling.
Add didn't reply after she answered his question. He just kept typing, minding his own business. Ara then decided to grab some coffee and snacks from the canteen for Add and herself before starting to do homework herself.
"Mr Add, I'll go to the canteen to get some snacks, do you want anything in particular? It's my treat." Ara asked kindly.
"... Choco-..., sandwiches will do." Add stopped for a while, thinking about what Ara said earlier in the morning about eating healthily. "... Sugar for coffee please, I don't like bitter stuff."
"Sure thing Mr Add." Ara smiled and left the room. She was happy at least he considered his health for once.
Add then began to question himself. "... Do I really have to follow that idiot's advice… I'll die sooner or later… might as well enjoy my life now."
20 minutes later…
"What's taking her so long... " Add thought, for once he's worried for that idiot. "She can't be lost can she…?" He thought again.
Add then decided to look for her, not because he cared about her, partially because he is, so that he can use her next time if there's any combat related stuff he needs to settle. And also, he's hungry.
Add walked along the corridor leading to the canteen and as he's about to turn around the corner to head down the staircase, he heard voices of boys talking. He hid behind the wall and peeked a bit. It was Ara with 3 guys pushing her to the wall.
"Hey… why don't you hang out with us pretty girl?" one of the senior said.
"Yeah, we have games at home." said another one.
"Why don't you join us? It will be fun." the third guy said.
Ara who was looking down and away from the seniors said, "I have someone waiting for me, please let me pass…" Ara's voice shook a bit from panic.
"El Lord… you bastards even dare doing this kind of stuff in Velder's school…? More importantly, that's disgusting." Add thought.
His dynamoes wasn't with him right now, without those, he had zero combat capability. He has no martial art skills, or even a strong physical body. He was contemplating whether to help Ara or not.
"Ara… why don't you hit them already… you're more capable than these assholes." Add thought. "... Of course… She'd refrain from hurting anyone in Velder just to get a clean paper for her blacklist. Since hurting someone would actually cause you losing the permit…"
One of the boys then slowly approached Ara's face, wanting to give her a 'smooch' and harass her. Add could peek no more as his mind and body start going all over the place.
He then thought to himself. "Fuck that shit…"
Add walked out of his hiding spot and spoke, "Who the fuck you think you guys are? Flirting around and trying to make girls go home with you. Are you not aware this is Velder's school?".
One of the boys laughed at him and said, "Just so you know, I'm one year above you, so call me senior. This is none of your business, and fuck Velder's school, who gives a shit? There's hot girls everywhere and you wouldn't even want to fuck any one of them?"
"Tch… so simple minded fools. No wonder you're listed B rank. I'm not interested in stuff like these, biology is too unpredictable and useless, just die and everything will be gone." Add spoke confidently and gave off a laugh.
"What did you say?" another guy walked up to Add and grabbed him by the collar. "What's your name, class and rank kid?"
"Add, or Edward Grenore to be precise, class S1, rank SS." said Add as he pulled out his student ID card.
The two boys froze in fear, a real SS ranked kid. Being S ranked is a big deal if you're thinking of going for missions, but being SS ranked at such a young age means you're equivalent to a fully able candidate to participate on a mission hosted by yourself. That is if you have the permit.
"Ara, class S1, rank SS as well, are you going to let these low life assholes do whatever they want to you so that you could get a clean certificate?" Add asked Ara. The boys looked at her and startled again.
"I…" Ara couldn't say anything.
"If there's one word I could use to describe you, that'd be 'naive'." Add said. Ara froze and looked at Add, who was still being held on the collar.
"Hey kid, I'm in front of you, so respect me instead. Rank SS doesn't mean shit if you can't do close com-" Before the boy could finish his sentence, Add kicked him in the face.
The two of the boys then jumped towards Add to attack him, but he already knew what these low life would do and moved one step backwards to let them collide with each other.
"Hmmph… fools, I don't have close combat capabilities, but I can already predict different scenarios and moves that you would do. Such low life tactics like yours won't get you up even A rank. No… you don't even deserve B rank." Add pointed out as he laughed.
The boy who was kicked in the face then leaped at him, Add simply just stepped aside and kicked him by the back.
"Low life, don't you dare ask me to respect you when you can't even respect women." Add told the three boys. "If you don't respect women, you don't respect your mother." Add said as his left eye sparkled. "If you don't respect your mother, you fucking die." His eyes sparkled even more. But Add suppressed his emotions and decided to walk away from this mess.
Add grabbed Ara's arm and walked downstairs towards the canteen with her. It was the first time he ever held a girl's hand.
Evening…
Ara and Add was now packing and getting ready to head back home, Ara wanted to thank Add but didn't know how to start. She was afraid that Add is still angry with her behaviour. She looked at Add with a saddened face then looked back at her bag.
"... Don't mention it." Add said. He knew Ara wanted to thank him from her expression.
"Still, thank you Mr Add." Ara said as she smiled at Add. "If you didn't step out and wake me up, I might-" before Ara could finish, Add spoke.
"Enough. Just learn from your mistakes. I'm tired after all that shit, please be quiet for a while." Add said coldly.
Ara had nothing to say and smiled instead. She kept quiet so that Add could focus on recovering from that situation just now.
"Mr Add must've been shocked from having to fight in close combat. It's not his specialty after all…" Ara thought to herself.
The two of them walked home together after packing everything and they passed by the same convenient store time, Add asked Ara to wait for him.
"... Stay here." Add said coldly.
"Oh, okay." Ara knew he needed to get something from the convenient store and waited for him.
After a few minutes, Add came out with a plastic bag. He then held out the content inside to Ara.
"... Chocolate or Strawberry?" Add asked Ara to choose.
"Ice cream? Thanks Mr Add, I'll have strawberry please." Ara accepted Add's offer and took the strawberry flavoured one.
As Ara opened the small box and tasted it, she was surprised. It wasn't ice cream, it was yogurt. She smiled happily that Add had completely changed in terms of diet.
"Mr Add, I'm glad you changed your diet to a healthier one." Ara said as she smiled.
"... Oh wait… that one is yogurt… I think I bought wrong…" Add apologized and he look a bite of his ice cream.
"What?" Ara's eyes widened. And then Ara gave off a laugh and said. "You never change Mr Add."
"...? Whatever." Add said.
I hope you all enjoyed this story! Thanks for reading!
I'm sorry for not posting any chapters for Seraph's sword lately, I'm busy and I'm not in the mood for it, but I will do my best to write it. Thanks for your support so far!