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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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Chapter 21: Lively Friendship (1)

Beta-Reader: Ant0nius

There's less than a week before Parents' Visit Day happens. I was unsure whether things would end well, but now I was feeling more uneasy as this event slowly approached.

While I didn't have to worry about father or mother visiting- ignoring the matter that mom would probably take the opportunity to scout the area, find potential daughters-in-law and then push me to 'show them how nice and upstanding I am'. This wouldn't be the first time it happened, and I figured this wouldn't be the last time for me to suffer in such a manner.

Exams had finally come and gone, with everyone doing relatively well with all their grades. Miles was incredibly giddy when he glanced at the overall positive document he had received about his performance.

Hope lamented due to her lesser grade in History, saying that she would seriously work on it to gain a positive reaction from Shin. While I knew that Shin was good at History, I doubted the girl was even remotely paying attention to him in that stuff. I decided to step up and offer her some help if I didn't want her to screw her grades just to spend more time with the blond.

The rest of the group was doing well, yet I still held my own doubts that Davin had really studied at all. Despite his presence in all study sessions, he barely paid any attention, and the best interventions he could offer were making off-topic remarks. While I believe I hadn't reacted too harshly about it, I felt quite sure he noticed most of the time that those comments only distracted others during the occasions.

He didn't seem to react badly, but he wasn't even that happy that he couldn't just 'have some fun with the babes and his bros'. He only quieted down when I reminded him that he literally had after the sessions to do that.

Despite the fact we still remembered fondly those moments in our childhood when we first met, I doubted that those were enough to have me ignore that laid back personality of his and how frustrating it tended to get when I was trying my best in helping others pass their tests.

I felt relieved that I was allowed out of my duty once the exams were over, so I could avoid escalating this issue to a more unpleasant area. I didn't have any reasons to doubt Davin's good intents that had to be deep below his 'tough womanizer' mask, but the further I looked at his case, the more I felt like he was going to suffer if he didn't do something to change his current situation instead of abandoning himself to his hopes of having an eternal life of college, fun, and no responsibility beyond Prism Uni.

Even Tobias seemed irked by this at times, but the Lion Prime was less keen to show that to others. Angel didn't seem to mind at all, which matched well with her no-seriousness kind of lifestyle she was going for. Finally, Tiare was the one that seemed to actually show some concerns about it, just not in a way that many could notice.

I just had a conversation with her, and the young woman had mentioned that it was a problem she was already working on. Despite her usually cool state of mind, I couldn't help but find some interesting hints of emotions leaking out due to this very topic. I don't know how someone like her ended up being befriended by Davin, but I wasn't ignorant enough to just stupidly ask.

Tiggs was beaming as she had recovered a couple of grades, the same for Vixy. Both girls had been having a few uneasy thoughts about this kind of a comeback, mostly because they couldn't dedicate the usual amount of time and attention other students could in the study groups because of their duties by the cheerleaders club.

Finally, things were doing incredibly well at work, and I felt quite relieved that we had little issues in handling the pace unfolding in the kitchen during the shifts. Waitress were quick to deliver their orders and take the plates meant to be served to the clients they were assigned to, Tiggs and I didn't lose a single aspect of our cooperative nature despite the upsetting thoughts of failing on the job, and then the boss was kind enough to mention that we were going to receive the minimum wage mentioned by the contract we signed before starting to get the full checks after a month of working had gone by.

It was a little prerequisite as she wanted to be completely certain we weren't going to have any stupid thought of expecting this to be an easy job to keep. All mistakes, just all successes, counted and everyone needed to be incredibly careful in how bad those mistakes were in the overall situation.

After a few days of working at the Shark Bites, there was no complaint or any issues in preparing the food. The only worry being tied to the shortage of a couple rare materials in the storage area, but that was quickly fixed by having those bought and removing one or two dishes based on those ingredients off the menu for the time being.

Life was going brilliant as far as I could tell, and, since I didn't end up facing Ifera in any circumstances since our last encounter, I felt quite sure my only concern at the time was the Parents' visit day. And yet, my expectations had been dashed to oblivion when I was asked by Professor Aken to remain in the classroom after the lesson was over. It didn't happen in the middle of it, rather the Lion Prime spoke up to me before I could even think of leaving.

I complied, confusion adorning my face as I ended up facing the professor alone for no reason that I could think about. I had followed the lessons just fine, I didn't do anything disruptive, and I had aced the exams for his subject. All in all, I was in the best position with him in terms of college-related stuff. But I would soon learn that the predicament that landed me in this situation was actually tied to Ifera herself.

"The High Prime- I don't understand why she would want to speak with me."

"She's been quite insistent," The teacher elaborated. "Ever since you developed an affinity for Wisdom and obtained the capacity to make use of Magic, it has been within her curiosity to see how intense your control is."

"But how does this… work? You mentioned… training?" I pressed on, feeling like I had missed something about this situation. Sure, it was clear that the High Prime, in this case taking on the role of the Wisdom Crest, wanted to make sure I didn't become overly dangerous if an emotional moment came up and stressed me out enough to make use of this element in my inexperienced hands. None of this helped me understand why I felt that this training wasn't just implemented to give me an acceptable control over my unlocked power.

"You will be tested. It shouldn't be a particularly difficult or harmful exam of sorts to take- consider that it is a way to gauge your potential and determine the best action to take in providing you the training you need."

"Any hints for what kind of training I should expect?"

The Lion Prime shrugged, offering me a calm look. "Enough to have you handling your own against a couple of Assassins."

…Eh?

"Professor, I don't wish to misunderstood this situation- but I believe there are knights-"

"That don't have a crystal ball to predict when and where you might be attacked next," Professor Aken interrupted flatly. "Mr. Parker, your concern is expected and I will not tell you to sell it to you as a wrong reaction. You have been present in two close attempts and the last thing I will allow is for a student of mine to be subjected to this kind of danger without some preparation. Knights are strong and are prepared to face threats of this kind, but they aren't omnipresent, and they will fail if they aren't sure how to track down an elusive individual like the one you faced twice now."

I could say that Ifera hadn't seemed to be that difficult to spot in a crowd considering her choices in clothes and her appearance.

"So after the test, I suppose I will get a tutor from the Wisdom Clan or-"

"I believe the High Prime can hardly invest in anyone capable of her Clan," The teacher interrupted again. "Not because of anything related to you. But since her clan serves as a way to unite other clans, most of her Knights, those that would have a better are already spread thin enough in handling their current duties."

I nodded, understanding that notion. I could remember reading something on that very note, but hadn't lingered long enough to keep it in mind for this very situation. To be fair, I wasn't expecting for things to pick up so quickly, and I had imagined for more knights to be employed instead of having me trained for an eventual third encounter. At this point, knowing how my luck had gone last time, I figured that I couldn't expect to be spared from any further developments in similar predicaments.

"When am I supposed to visit the High Prime's manor?"

The teacher hummed, standing up from his chair and offering a small smile. "Now."

…

"Sir-"

"I've already alerted Madame Jacqueline of the situation. You are allowed to leave the premises for the duration of this visit," Professor Aken continued, ignoring my effort to inquire some more on the topic. "I will personally take you to the place and see that you are brought to Lady Ambar safe and sound."

"But… why?I don't think you ever said how you are so close to Lady Ambar. Are you one of her knights?"

That would explain a lot of unanswered questions, but even then I knew that the man wasn't a proper knight… if he was one to begin with.

"That assumption is mostly incorrect," The Lion Prime remarked. "But not completely false. You just missed a couple of elements along the way, but I believe you will better understand once we are there."

I was tempted to ask for more, but I had a strong belief that he wouldn't tell me much more beyond that. This was frustrating, the idea that a teacher of mine was actually much more than what I had initially thought him to be. Ever since I saw the man tell off Ifera through the use of words, I had tried studying what kind of individual the professor was. A knight was the best description I could ascribe to him with reason, yet it was the most convenient option among the others. Now I knew that this assumption was mistaken.

Still, we left the college's perimeter and started to make our way by foot to reach where the High Prime lived. Despite all the assurances I was getting, I couldn't help but feel that something big would happen… and it wasn't going to be a good one judging from a gut feeling .

Sem held back a sigh as he glanced at the gates of the manor with some annoyance.

It's been a decade since he had visited the place, and he hadn't expected for the building to remain the same as he remembered it being. Maybe it was an expectation he had built on Ambar since he knew how the woman loved to keep with the times and, most of the time, reinvent herself with a new look, a new style, and new dresses.

The guards at the entrance made no fuss as he displayed a card the High Prime had given him centuries ago, the small document giving them an easy way to enter the manor quickly without being stopped by anyone trying to obstruct his visit. He wasn't looking forward to it, no matter what his cynical and 'logical' take said on the matter. He still visited during the Gathering, albeit dull on most part,

The young man he currently led around didn't seem to understand what was going on, but seemed receptive enough to pick up that something big would be unraveled soon enough. He realized that he should have told him something instead of allowing for the suspense to build.

Glancing back, he could see the human looking around with a curious expression plastered on his face. Not unusual or unexpected, but Sem was mostly relieved that his current ward wasn't asking any questions during the entire trip. While he would have endured any efforts to gain any possible clues to what his real identity was just fine, the Death Crest wasn't making any plans to be annoyed during the journey itself. He had Ambar to take care about, and he really didn't need his mental endurance to be depleted when facing this Bear Prime.

Just as they reached the doors to the office, Sem decided to play things safely and stop there as he laid out the 'plan of attack'.

"First, I will enter inside alone," The teacher muttered, gaining an extra frown from the student. "I will personally make sure that the High Prime is ready to receive you. She tends to be found in… rather unflattering dispositions at times."

"I… I understand."

He didn't, but he was too polite to be honest right now. Frankie was completely immersed in the scenery they were now. For a first-time visitor, the young man was holding himself well enough. Taking a swift breath and steeling his posture, Sem entered inside the room with a determined mood.

"...You look absolutely old," The High Prime greeted from behind two tall towers of paperwork. They were relatively distant from each other, but the distance was quickly reduced as the Lion Prime approached with a calm but slow pace. "Seriously, you look like you've lost decades."

"And you look fairly busy, Ambar," The fellow crest remarked as he finally reached for the closest seat, sitting right in front of the Wisdom Crest and her current work. "I suppose you picked this particular hour to give yourself a reason to skip out on your responsibilities."

"Of course," The redhead admitted without shame. "I might not have any major problems with my duty in facing any issues in the continent and the foreign cases now that Naerie isn't around, but I'm not going to say 'no' to a chance to get my mind elsewhere."

He would have shaken his head at her infantile plan, but Sem knew way too well how painful paperwork could be just as a simple professor, so he could definitely imagine how frustrating it had to be to deal with a higher tower of paper and ink than what he was usually forced to face due of his current job.

"I suppose everyone has their ways to create their breaks," He allowed, getting a happy nod from Ambar herself.

"Yep. But now I have to ask: is the cute bo- I mean, the cute boy waiting outside?"

He sighed, shaking his head at the redhead's usual mood shining at this precise hour of the day.

"He is waiting on the other side," Sem replied with a nod. "I wished to speak with you before you test him. About calling Feather."

"Oh, now you want to chat about it with me? And I thought that you weren't open to discuss it beyond our deals."

"I've had time to think and… I wish to ask for a small request if you haven't called her yet."

"Depends on what you wish to ask," The Bear Prime replied, staring quietly at her fellow Crest as to try and understand what kind of plans the man had on the matter.

"I… I want to be the one to contact her. I know you would prefer to be the one calling numbers, but I wish to try and… see how things are right now."

"I guess I can spare you this much." The woman conceded with a quick nod. "But I believe you wish to discuss something else. Am I right?"

…

"Yes," Sem replied with some reluctance. "I know that you are trying to bring my family back together, but shoving my daughter into Prism Uni when we are dealing with quite the situation is just-"

"Isn't keeping her safe from any possible assassination attempts from any possible Narakhan's group joining up the fight," Ambar interrupted with a huff. "But she'll be fine. She's been trained by the best, after all."

"Before she used It to do heinous things," The Death Crest reminded. "There are some things that just can't go away."

"Maybe. Or maybe you are being too harsh on her. She was barely sixteen when that happened."

"I… I just couldn't ignore it. I tried to make things work even when… when she started to join that group of- of bastards and..."

"And then she got burned in the process, imparting a valuable lesson for her to live by ever since that problem was solved."

…

"You are still going to deal with her, whenever you like it or not. Being a father isn't a role you can manage at your complete leisure. You have duties and rules to follow, even when it means harming yourself in the process," Ambar explained with a neutral tone. "I understand you are angry, and even quite irritated that I'm taking such an active role on the matter only now… but I have been asked by Feather to do something about it. Your daughter needs her father back."

…

"Hmm, perhaps we should bring him inside?" The Bear Prime suggested quietly, knowing that pressing even further was going to harm them both in the long run. "Wouldn't want to miss the best part of your visit after all~."

It was still impressive how someone like the Bear Prime managed to keep being so fascinated in newer generations. At least, in a more 'active and intimate' way than any. He nodded, feeling like it was time to get things done at once. He turned around and he walked up to the door to try and retrieve the young man he had brought for this very predicament. Yet there was no one around and the spot where the human was previously standing was now empty, making it so that it was only Sem around in the area to see this.

But why and… where did the young man go?

He looked around, trying to see anything that could help him understand what could have gotten the student to leave the area just like this. Then, he noticed it. Something, a magical leftover. There was a sense of familiarity coming out of it. As if he had already felt it before- experienced it. He could feel the liveliness of such a magical trace, and…!

The Lion Prime's eyes widened slowly as he began realizing what was going on and why Frankie was no longer waiting as he had moments before Sem had entered the room. Without hesitation, the Crest rushed back into the office, half-tempted to glare at Ambar.

"Ambar, did you- you have to. There is no other possibility other… than that," The teacher said before narrowing his eyes at the confused woman.

"What? I may have done a few things that nobody is proud of- what did I do this time?"

"Geecku, did you set her free when I was visiting?"

… "Oh, so that's what I forgot about-"

"Ambar!"

The Wisdom Crest could only huff pointing at the paperwork. "If you hadn't noticed, I have had a lot to think about."

"Geecku is a big priority!" Sem reminded her with a serious tone. "If she is free right now, then she is already trying and seducing everyone on her path."

"Which isn't really a bad idea-"

"And she will definitely pick up on the fact that Frankie is a human with Wisdom-related powers. And make things even more interesting for her to play with."

That actually seemed to be enough to finally gain a concerned look from the Bear Prime.

"I'll track him down," She offered tensely. "I will use the audio system in the camera to give you directions."

Sem nodded her way and didn't linger any longer. He had a student to save at once from his natural enemy.

I couldn't exactly remember the precise point when I began running around the manor.

My attention wasn't focussed at that bit of the past considering that I was still being chased by someone that had tried to capture me. With the speed the attacker used, I could hardly notice much about them beyond the fact that they were a reptile Prime of some kind. Green skin/scales, a couple of cold colors like violet and blue spread in specific spots, and an interesting lack of clothes.

I didn't get any further glances when it suddenly rushed to pick me up and bolt away. Caught off-guard by the suddenness of the entire scene, I managed to keep a cool head long enough to be keenly aware of which direction my stalker was coming from. It had happened so instantly and with little explanation- one moment I was patiently waiting for an input to walk inside the office, the next moment I was struggling against a steel-like hold that had me stuck firmly onto the frame of my possible kidnapper.

The 'ride' was unpleasant and I almost thought I had no chance of breaking free. Surprisingly enough, I managed to push myself just enough to get my head out of that hold and free me from that kind of limitation. The moment I was free, I didn't waste time bolting in the opposite direction where the figure had tried to take me to. Feeling my heart in my throat, the panic making my head burn into existence a simple yet strong plan. Run and Hide.

Once I was far enough from my pursuer, I decided to quickly take refuge in the nearest hiding spot I could find. A small locket conveniently open together with a couple of others. I went for the empty one, feeling cramped, but nonetheless interested in not getting caught by my chaser. I started to hide from her, hoping that she was eventually lose interest in me. Time passed, but then I was finally given a proper look of the individual that was still hunting me down.

Walking on all fours, my attacker had dark-blue hair, semi-glowing yellow eyes and a big grin that was aimed at the world around her as she happily gave me chase. Her frame was curvy, yet built in a natural and pleasant way. I wasn't sure why and how an individual like her managed to gain the interest from Ambar and be allowed to live here.

Also, It was clear that she was faster than me, yet I was surprised when she just persisted on running around on all four despite the specific disadvantage she held. It was somewhat frustrating since I was unable to shrug her off early on, and I had to strain my legs just to get to the hideout I was currently holed in.

There was silence, and the creature hadn't even bothered looking in my direction as she passed by my locker. I kept quiet for a little more, just enough to feel convinced that I was free of finally checking around and starting making my way back to where Ambar's office was. I was confused as to why I didn't notice any servants- actually, I would have imagined to find some Nanozell Spirits in the area to keep some simple patrol of the halls. Still, I had to move and I couldn't just stay and expect to be spared But, as I started to make my way through that route, I ended up forcefully pinned on the ground as someone tackled me from above.

"GOTCHA!" A loud feminine voice exclaimed. My kidnapper, the one that I had thought I had been spared from, had just finished jumping on me from the ceiling of the hallway where she had been waiting in preparation to strike. I don't know when that happened, but the problem was easily ignored as I had a more troublesome one keeping me pinned down.

A giggle, she leaned down and gave me a smug smile.

"Geecku wins, little wise boy," The reptile Prime muttered. "Now rewards!"

"W-What?"

"Rewards. Geecku wants rewards."

Rewards? What is she talking about?

Just as I thought about this, I felt her hands sneaking upward and trying to grasp at my collar.

"Reward!"

And I need an adult. More than one from the looks of it.

"Uh… How about something a little less weird… pretty lady?"

"Something… weirdy?"

"How about a game?" I offered with a nervous tone. "You know… like friends?"

…

"Friend?" She repeated, leaning even further and pressing her nose onto mine. "You wanna be Geecku's friend?"

Do I even have a choice on this?

"Y-yes."

…The blue-haired woman grinned, that look getting a couple of shivers down my spine. Before I knew it, she had me pulled off the ground and taken around the manor in a hasty manner, excited and interested by this unique circumstance. It took us a little while to finally arrive at our destination. We eventually ended up in what looked to be a massive inner courtyard that sprawled within the core of the manor. Soon after, I was 'invited' to join a friendly game of tag with the now more tame feral-behaving Prime.

I was completely intrigued by what kind of silly games I would be playing with Geecku, that I barely saw a familiar figure from apart. Professor Aken… looked immensely annoyed from afar as he merely watched over us as the game eventually ended and we had finally arrived back before the office's door.

Still, I felt a need/must to actually ask. What is going on here? Who is Geecku and... why do I have a feeling that I just dodged a fine bullet just now?

AN

Geecku is cute~! Geecku is love~!