Dear Maria,

We hope that you are doing well in your training and stay in Daath. Your mother and I both know how rough training to be a soldier can be. We both miss you dearly and are counting off the days when we will see you again. Stay safe and out of trouble. We love you very much. -With love, Mom and Dad

I folded the letter and sighed as I propped my feet up on my nightstand. I laid back on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I heard my wall clock's second hand tick. It was very soothing. As much as I loved my father and wanted to send him and him alone a letter, I couldn't. I would hurt my mother's feelings which wouldn't bother me, but deep down I would feel guilty. That would throw off my whole focus during training which was something I didn't want to do with a mentor like Asch.

It has now been two weeks since my training here at the Oracle Knights started, and I've been enjoying my early morning training as much as I could. It really helped me learn how to control my emotions (which tend to run wild) and help me wake up everyday. This was the very first letter my parents had sent me since I left. Sam and her sister dropped me two letters during my first week (they were mostly written by Sam). Even after two weeks, I still haven't really met anyone or have really known that blonde woman's name. In fact, I hadn't really seen her since my first day of training.

I mostly spent my two weeks of training and in my room. I never really bothered socializing with anyone because I didn't know how to break the ice. All my friends or people who I considered friends came to me first. I never really had any practice introducing myself to some random stranger. Occasionally, Arietta and I went out to garden in the back of the cathedral; but she was usually too busy with only Yulia knows what. Currently, it was about seven in the morning; and I had just finished training with Mister Ass the Bloody... Okay, I need to come up with a better nickname for him; but Asch does sound like...anyway...

I took of my gloves and started chewing my nails. I always chewed my nails to relieve my anxiety disorder. When I was about three, I had developed a serious anxiety disorder due to some traumatic events I went through. I don't really remember what happened, but all I know it must have been pretty bad to damage my mind and subconscious very badly. Biting my nails helped me with my disorder (don't judge me...). The letter was making me feel anxious. I didn't know how to reply or even if I should. If I didn't, they would be mad at me; and I would have to deal with their anger when they come and visit me in two months.

My heart began racing rapidly.

I didn't know what to do. I hated my mother. I didn't want anything to do with her. I didn't care about her. I wished she would just leave me alone. I loved my dad, but replying to him was like replying to my mother. I didn't like my hate for my mother showing. I didn't want to hurt her feelings even though she hurt me so much. All the mean things she said and did to me...she acted as if I was a criminal or the enemy...my dad saw me as his pride and joy. I just didn't understand.

I bit my lip as tears welded up in my eyes. I blinked rapidly to hold them back. I am not going to cry...it's wrong to cry...it's wrong...I'm not going to cry! I'm not!


Maria put her hands in her pocket as she walked down the halls. She rounded the corner and into the cafeteria. It was mostly empty except for a couple of Oracle Knights and Arietta along with two other people she hadn't seen before. One of them was a young boy around her age in a mask. She began getting all curious about why he wore a mask. The other was man about in his late forties (like her Dad) who made the blonde want to sink back into a corner. The man was quite large and looked very strong. Maria pretended they weren't there a grabbed a tray and began grabbing whatever was left of breakfast. She didn't intended to socialize.

She just wanted to eat and leave. As the blonde went through the lines of limited options, she ended up getting a bowl of oatmeal, a glass milk, and a cinnamon muffin. It wasn't much, but it wasn't like she ate a lot to begin with. She was about to sit down in the most isolated area of the cafeteria when Arietta called her over. She could no long ignore her. Arietta was just too nice and adorable to say no to. On top of that, she was the only one who really bothered to hang out with Maria.

The apprentice mentally sighed as she walked over to her table and sat down next to Arietta. The boy was sitting across from her; the man sat across from Arietta.

"Morning, Arietta," the blonde greeted nonchalantly.

"Good morning, Maria," the pinkette chirped. "There are some people I want you to meet. This is Largo," she gestured toward the man, "and Sync."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Maria gave them a good, fake smile. She was still out of it from earlier. In fact, she was so out of it, she didn't even realize the fact she was in the midst of two of the six god-Generals.

Maria started eating as the man and Arietta engaged into a conversation. She wasn't really paying attention to what the two were saying nor did she really care. Her thoughts were on the boy across from her. She wondered why he wore a mask.

Maybe he is hideously disfigured or he is secretly a spy for the Oracle Knights so no one can know his identity...Maybe his face reminds people of death or something...Wait, doesn't that only apply to demons...Hm...

"Maria," Arietta called.

Or perhaps he is a wanted criminal...

"Maria..."

Nah, that wouldn't work. If he was then he couldn't be in the Oracle Knights, right?

"Maria!"

"What?!" Maria shouted. She blushed when she saw people were staring at her. She pinched the bridge of her nose. She could have sworn she heard the boy snicker. However, she ignored him. "I'm sorry, Arietta. What do you want?"

"I-I was just going to ask if you were going with us on the next mission the day after tomorrow since Asch is."

This caught the blonde's attention. She looked on the girl and raised an eyebrow. "He didn't tell me about he was going on a mission."

"Oh, forget I said anything."

"Forgotten." Maria glared at her half-empty bowl. Why didn't he tell her anything? She was his apprentice. She should know about him leaving, right?

"So Maria, how are you enjoying your stay here at the Oracle Knights," Largo spoke up. The blonde snapped out of her trance and looked up at the man. He didn't seem so bad up close. Sure, he looked like a fierce giant; but he seemed gentle with the way he spoke to Arietta.

"It certainly has been a rough and interesting experience. I've learned a lot, but I feel like my mentor is going to stab me when I'm not looking," she answered rubbing the back of her head.

"If you think I would do something like that, you are even more of an idiot than I thought," a voice said behind her. Maria laughed nervously as she turned around to see her mentor giving her an annoyed look.

"Hey Asch, fancy meeting you here...in the cafeteria..." Maria groaned as she put her face in her hands. Today just wasn't her day.

AGL: Another chappie done. Bam! Also, I appreciate all the reviews, follows, and favs. It means a lot that some of you care. Oh, and the reason I update so quickly is because I'm home schooled so I kind of have a lot of time on my hands. However, life and stuff still happen so I will be slow at times or I won't take the time to re-look my writing and stuff until later (like this chapter...sorry for any mistakes...). Just FYI, people. Anyway, if any of the characters tend to be OOC please, please let me know. Until next time, bye! :)