Part 1. The incredible truth

I just can't believe what I heard. My head is going circles. Aqua is the daughter of the legendary artist who painted the Heaven Palace? She's the daughter of who painted where the gods live. All the invaluables paintings that are hanging in Iris Castle, were made by Aqua's mother? This place, this town is named after her father, a legendary wizard.

This lazy girl, this hard headed goddess, this short-tempered god, has legendary blood running through her veins. Imagine being the daughter of the only wizard that figured out how move a god's curse? There's too many questions.

But.. it makes sense. I always thought that Aqua's skills for art were out of logic, until today. Anything that she does, was taught by her mother, the most incredible artist who had lived in Belzerg taught her every technique, every trick, every little secret she knew. She passed the torch to her daughter in order to gift this world... the beauty of art.

And her father probably gave her... No. Her father died when he transfered the curse to himself, and he died 5 years later. Meaning that Aqua was only 5 when he died, she grew up without him. But she probably remembers him because...

"This poem is dedicated to all the people who have a loved one, to all who dedicated their hearts to only one person and even swore to put their lifes on the line for the person they love"

Her father put his life on the line for her beloved Crystal and Aqua. When she was 16, her mother died leaving Aqua alone. According to her mother she was ready for this world. I feel an empty feeling by only imagining what Aqua went trought by losing her mother, but I guess turned alright since Axel and Crystal encountered again in heaven and well technically Aqua became a goddess so she was ready enough to reach the heaven and taking the name of a God.

Wait.

In all this what Eris just told me, she never mentioned Aqua's process to became a goddess. This was the reason why Aqua is such an skilled artist, not on why she took the job. According to Darkness, the myth, I mean the story, is about an artist who lived centuries ago. Meaning that was a loooooong time ago and Aqua even gets mad because I call her a grandmother. Herself said to me that in heaven time goes different, but she's obviously more than 16. She looks 16, but is several years older.

Aqua and Eris had to do something that turned them into the most followed goddess of this world. And it had to be after Aqua's mother passed away and it had to be centuries ago.

How does a 16 years abandoned artist became a goddess in a matter of time? Didn't also she lived in the mountains during those times? What the hell happened?

Ok, I will have to ask this to the only person who knows and is sitting right next to me.

"Say Big Boss, how do you know that was the story of Aqua's parents?"

"I've met Aqua before all this, before we were asked to take care over Japan. She told me the story right in a crucial I can't tell you no more. We're reaching things a mere mortal shouldn't know"

"Steal is such an easy spell to use you know?"

What I'm doing? I'm threating Eris?

"Ja! you just want to know how we became the goddess of this place right? I will tell you, after all we have 3 hours before they came back. I will tell you because probably you will realize more of Aqua and it will help you to understand her a lot more. You care for her after all"

Well she has stayed with me since I came here, I can't say I haven't feel an attachment to her.

Hold up...

"Did you just say 'we became a goddess'?

"Yes, Aqua and I became the goddess of this place at the same time. You see, you have defeated Demon Generals in the past, because your job as an adventurer allows you to it. It may have a lot of power differences with said foes, but as adventurer, mage, crusader and even as a thieft you can stand your ground against dangerous threats. But do you imagine a merchant going against the likes of a Dragon or an Slime?"

Yes it does not make any sense that if you are not prepared to fight, the last thing you would do will be putting yourself against forces that could easily kill you.

"Tell me what could happen if you put two young artists against a Dark Lord, who is way more stronger and dangerous than a Demon King General?"

"Big Boss, I got it. If you're not in a job that is made for danger, most likely you will die."

"Answer me the question"

Why is she keeps asking? I get your point.

"Well, they would be stomped, killed or will suffer a merciless torture"

"If the result goes the other way round, it will be more than enough to become a god"

What the hell does that mean? Is this girl drunk already? She only had three beers because she also understood the problem with reaching the fourth beer. Is this girl alr...

No... fucking... way...

"Please Assitant-Kun, close your wide open mouth. It is not elegant doing that in front of a girl"

I can't help it with just understanding what Eris just said me now.
That's what these girls did? They took down a Dark Lord all by themselves? As an artists? How?

"Please tell me everything"

"Haha, ok it all started when I was..."

Part 2. Meeting the Academy

I don't even know what to expect. I always thought that this day was too far from happening., but it is today. Turning 17 in the orphanage last week, was my final call, I couldn't stay longer. But I'm not sad, I'm just surprised.

The Art Academy of Axel accepted my request the same day I was told I had to leave the orphanage. What a lucky day that was. Otherwise I would have to look for a job or to become an adventurer in this city that changed its name last year, Axel.

I'm not a fighter, I don't like to hurt creatures that like us, they deserve any chance to live in peace. I wasn't born to be an adventurer. I want to be one of greastest artist in this town!. People say that I'm incredible lucky, maybe it will be the key for becoming what I always wanted since I was a kid? I hope so.

But right now, I only have 3 things to start this new journey in Axel: My acceptance card, my clothes and my name: Eris.

"Hey lady, is here. My lizards can't go trought that hill. I'll drop you here, you'are still close to the academy. Just walk pass the hill and you will see it. Hey lady are you listening to me?"

"Yes, sorry I was day dreaming. Thank you kind sir"

As I drop from the carriage, the rider told me seriously:

"I don't from where you came from lady, but this is not the right time to come to live in Axel. This city is known for being the place where adventurers started their journeys. However, by some reason the new adventurers started to decrease in this town right after changing its name. Hitting the economy way to hard because all the magic shops, restaurants, swords store, even the guild are losing their costumers. There are a lot of strange things happening in this town that started once the city was renamed as Axel, people started to dissapear, adventurers who took missions and never came back. In fact, the giant forest it is said now that is cursed. Going there means your death. I don't what are you doing here in Axel, but my advice is to take what you learned in Art Academy and move on to the Capital. Because Axel is not a safe place, especially if you are not an adventurer"

Those warnings caught me out off guard, but sadly aren't new to me. In the orphanage told me that I was leaving to a lost place. This city was about to doom anytime, but right now is the only chance I have to live a new life, for trying to be the artist I always wanted to be.

As I waved the kind man who brought me here for free on the top of the hill, I turned around and finally saw it. The Art Academy of Axel was right in front of me. It looked like they just took a huge farm and decided to built a gothic castle on it.

It looks horrible, looks like an excuse for a haunted looking castle. But whoever did it ran out of money, so now it looks like a half-farm half castle. But I guess is the quality of what they teach what matters.

As I entered the huge main door, I was taken to a little office where a elegant lady was filling paper-work behind a wood stand. Her name was Artemis, and she is the one who send me my acceptance card to this academy. There's something that bothers me about her.

Why she has such a huge chest? And why she has to wear clothes that obviusly focus in her chest? How she was able to have such a gift? This is why this world is unfair.

"Ms. Eris-San, calling Ms. Eris-San"

"Yes! That's me."

"Please hand me you acceptance card"

"Here"

My warm smile was hiding my envious eyes that stare right into this girl's huge fruits.

"Ok, this card is real. Please head over to the Student Department, my name is Artemis as probably already knew and I'm in charge of the information department of this academy. Anything you need to know you can ask me, nice to meet yo Eris-San".

What a nice lady. But still is unfair she has those gifts.

I headed to this "Student Department", I walked through the allies slowly, wandering the place. You could see the painters lunching together as they were trading brushes and pencils. In the green areas the dancers gathered for a "dancing battle" if that's the correct term. Yes, I'm finally where I wanted to be. I passed the main guild of the place, where the accommodation of the place right tells you away this is the place where all the students meet for announcements and meetings. There was a huge portrait hanging in the wall. It was a brown haired girl, with such honest eyes. Under the description you could read. "The greatest artist this world has ever seen. Rest in Peace wherever you are Crystal."

"That's nice painting isn't?"

I had a jump-scare. From where that deep voice came from?

"That's Crystal, the legendary artist who it is said that painted the Heaven Palace. You must be Eris-San right? I'm Vanir, the one who's in charge of the Student Department. I was told you would come, but since you didn't appear I started to look for you. Every person who is new here always seems lost in this painting. I thought it had to be you"

Why is this guy so mysterious but at the same time handsome? He looks older than me. He is not an student by the looks. Is comfortable wearing such an tuxedo in this place? Is that a cape?

"Yes I am. sorry I got distracted. This place is wonderful, easy to get lost"

"Please come with me, I have to take you the place where you would be staying"

I went with Vanir and he told me how the builidings worked here, quite interesting.

"This place have 2 divisions for its clasrooms, the library and even the dinning rooms. It has a two code letter. For example, BC1 means Bathroom Castle 1. BF1 means Bathroom Farm 1"

Obviously, instead of building everything in the half-part of the castle, they decided to do it in both places. What a horrible idea.

"Your room will be the RF12, here's the key. Goodluck and enjoy your time in the Academy. The place is probably one of the last places where you could feel safe."

The last places? Is seriously Axel in such danger and dowgrade? Well, good thing to know then that I could be out of danger as I stay here.

Hey, RF12 means Room Farm!

"Vanir wait, why I have to stay in the farm?!"

"Hate me for I what I will say, but your application says you come from an orphanage. According to my superiors, is better for the royals who are in the Castle to be separeted of people who could be troublesome. You seems like a nice girl, but since Axel is having problems, they believe that if they manage to keep the royalty who are here happy, they may help the town. Also, all the rooms are occupied in the Castle."

"That's not fair!"

"On the other side, there will be another companion for you. She comes from the mountains and her mother send an application for her and by some reason the application was approved immediately. Only that happens when an extraordinary student is found. She's your age and comes today too. Basically an extraordinary student will be your roommate and your classmate."

"Vanir, that does not make any sense at all. I will have to sleep in a farm and she will have too!. You're sending her here under the same excuse! It's simple. Poor people go to the farm! Rich people to the Castle."

"You're correct, but neither you and me can't do anything about it. I have to leave, new students are about to come"

This is why the world is unfair, but my luck is still on my side. I reached the farm, yes it's a barn where I'm sleeping. On the bright side, I'm staying in the biggest barn.

I wonder who this extraordinary student is. I just better wait here in this... barn.

Part 3. The First Night

After 4 hours of doing nothing...

"WHY I HAVE TO SLEEP IN THE BARN?, JUST BECAUSE I'M POOR AND LIVED IN THE MOUNTAINS MEANS THAT I'M A SAVAGE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE CASTLE? WHAT LOGIC IS THAT YOU TALL MAN?"

"You ungrantful brat, your roomate waits for you"

I heard the screams, and obviously came from who would be my new partner in this place.

She was a blue haired girl, blue eyes. So pretty, but you can tell she's not to fond to this place. But what can I say? I come from an orphanage I'm the same as her. According to the system we're low class people for the royalty. We have something in common.

"Hi I'm Eris-San, you can call me Eris"

"Hi Eris, my name is Aqua. For the looks of it we would be together in this journey. I feel safe knowing that it's girl who will be my companion"

"Why you would say that?"

"Just you know, in case when we are sleeping a man would try to harass me. Hey Eris are you not a lesbian right? I mean you could be it, since you could attracted to bigger chests like mine?"

This girl isn't the brightest person on the planet.

"Why would you say that to someone who you just met?"

"I'm sorry, it's just that your chest is too small that I thought you could be attracted to what you don't have"

This is the extraordinary student Vanir told me?

"Anyway, Aqua we need to put ourselves together. We haven't even started and we're already in problems for being poor."

"Tomorrow"

"What?"

"I said tomorrow. I'm falling sleep, look at the time"

This girl is right, I haven't pay attention. But is getting late. I waited too long for her and didn't realize the time.

As we both were getting ready to sleep in a haystack. I realized that we don't have any pillows, we don't have anything to cover ourselves for the cold night.

This is first night, and we're already losing. Is life always this complicated for people like us?

"Eris, aren't you excited?"

"For what Aqua? Yesterday I thought I could become the greatest artist of this town. And now I'm just realizing this world is unfair"

"You can always run from the unpleasant things! That does not mean you have lost!"

Is this girl already telling me that I should give up?

"Although would be a shame. I was looking for tomorrow with my new friend!"

Maybe the world is not unfair. Maybe my luck brought me someone who I could trust.

"Have you ever thinking in using pads? It may help you with your chest"

This girl...