Morning is gray and lazy, a bit on a rainy side too. Not a big fan of weather like that but the air does smell nice. Wet grass must have been one of my favorite smells. The sound of the light rain is also oh so calming… If only I could afford myself the luxury of five more minutes of sleep…

Dang it! No sleep! Knew reading a book the whole night would hit hard. The book also didn't hold anything of information value, which sucks… 8 hours of sleep wasted.

I pull myself back from a drowsy state to not fall face down on the desk. Shoot, what class am I in again? History? Oh gosh I'm not gonna survive it, am I?
Thankfully, nobody in this classroom, including the teacher, look wide awake either.

Well, nobody except one.

I glance at Brago. He sits in a row two places ahead of me, somewhat relaxed, leaning on the back of his chair. I noticed a few scratches on his hand and a band-aid on his cheek.

Could it be from yesterday? Did he really fought those four guys who cornered me in the dark valley back then?

Is that guilt I feel? Eugh. Bleh. Not happening. The guy got in a fight on his own terms, I didn't ask him to help me out!

…

I do need to thank him somehow. I feel partly responsible and I can't do anything about it. But I can't just come up to him and say thanks like we're both buddies or something. I need to not get out too out of character, I need to keep myself in line to not get suspicious.

Maybe a small gift or a note? How to give it to him, though?

I just now realized that I was staring at him for at least a minute. Darn it, I'm so tired, I can't even think straight! I locate a very interesting collection of cracks on a wall and focus all my attention to that while getting swallowed by deep thoughts once more.

If it was a movie I'd put a note in his locker. But this is not a movie and this school doesn't have lockers because it's students don't need them.

Maybe I could drop it from the window right on him? Tie it around a rock so it wouldn't get caught by the wind…

Wait, what the hell am I thinking? I have telekinesis for god's sake!

Just float the paper on his desk… But he might realize that it's me? Shoot, I can't let THAT happen - it won't only be embarrassing but also will ruin my, already flimsy, image of old Zofis. And then I'll get questioned, maybe even interrogated… With how mamodos talk about humankind - I'm not sure I'm gonna get relatively easy treatment.

Perhaps they'll just laugh at me, not believing a single word I say… In a best case scenario.

Alright, what if I'll change my handwriting and, uh, put the note when he's out of the class. That way there's no way he'll find out it was me - there'll be hundreds of people around. I mentally pat myself on the shoulder. Golly, was I always so smart? (Probably not. I'm probably acting dumb right now but my sleep deprived brain give 5 out of 5 to any idea it gets)

The bell rings, breaking me from my trance. Alright, now or never!

Ah, shoot, forgot to write the note!
I quickly rip a piece of paper from my notebook before it disappears and write a quick 'Thank you' in mamodo language. It looks very rushed and ugly. Ha, there's no way anyone would look at it and think 'Yeah, that's Zofis, alright'! I join my classmates in a colorful crowd as we leave the classroom.

It wasn't easy to give Brago that piece of paper - in the end it just got stuck in his fluffy cape (Is it fur? Is it feathers? IS IT BOTH?) and all I can do now is just hope he'll somehow notice it. Maybe he'll throw it away afterwards. Maybe he won't even read it.

But that's not really my problem now - all I needed to do was to calm down my conscience, which I successfully did.

The rest of the day goes routinely, or at least as routinely as it can with me being here for less than a week. Sit through your classes, pass an old book to the library, get a new book, wait for something precious, get back home, have dinner and go to sleep. Then the day just repeats.

Except, of course, with some little events down the way. I'm actually glad I've befriended some preschoolers and now have to babysit them. At least some way of entertainment.

Today Zatch and Kolulu brought a few friends to play… Or, more likely, their friends brought themselves.

A red haired girl named Tia and a pony (Horse!) mamodo, who's name is a tricky one to keep in mind, actually. I think it was Schneider?.. I don't think I can pronounce that first try (Kids can't do that, so why should I bother).

"Hey Zofis," I look down at Kolulu. "are you planning on becoming the next king?"

Ah, right, I almost forgot that I should feel constant anxiety about that.

"Well…" I don't think I need to lie to children, they didn't know who Zofis was before me, nor will they have a fuss even if they knew him before. Kids can be so forgiving. "... I'm not interested, to be honest."

Kolulu lets out a gasp while both Zatch and Tia look at me puzzled.

"Unu! Why not? Don't you want to be strong and cool and make your own rules?"

"Nope." I smile as their faces become more and more puzzled. "Although, I do have interest in the battle itself."

Kids stare at me like I'm an alien or some sort. Both Kolulu and Schneider even appear to be slightly terrified.
Perhaps I should clear the fog a bit.

"Not the fighting," I start. "But the chance to enter the Human World."

"Huh? The Human World?" Tia tilts her head to the side as if not believing what she heard.

"Why would you need that for? Humans are boring and they can't even do magic, that's what my mom said!"

"Well, er, I just want to take a look for myself, you know?" They still look puzzled at that but now they appear to be more understanding. All except Tia.

"That's unfair!" She exclaims and it's my turn to look puzzled. "How can you go there like some kind of tourist while there's so many mamodos that want to fight for the right to become the next king? Don't you think that without the will to fight you'll just get swiped in one hit?" She points out. "Also if you go, then there'll be other mamodos who will get angry at you for not even trying."

Oh, I see. She does have a solid point.

"Hmm… Well there's no way of telling IF I even get a chance to participate, is it? Only hundred mamodos can participate and I doubt I'll be one of them. This is why I'm trying to find other ways to the human world." I explain patiently. " Even if I won't get picked, I'll still find my way there."

Finally, all the kids seemed to be satisfied with that answer. Precious comes for me shortly after and I leave the kids with a short goodbye.

I wonder all the way home if what I just said was really true. Could I find my own way to the human world if I won't get picked as one of the participants in the battle? No, I'm only less than a week in this world and I've just started my research on magic and whatnot.

I'll find my way no matter what.

Days go by. Nothing changes, really. Same classes, same classmates, same kids who I meet almost daily. Same slowly growing anxiety as the day of the start of the 'Battle To Decide Next Mamodo King' is near.

I spent weeks researching, putting plans, getting leads that lead to nowhere. I'm always so close to finding answers to everything but also so far away. How did I got here? Where's my old body? What happened to the past owner of this body? Is there a way back home for me?

Too many questions, no answers.

Occasionally I get bits and pieces of very useful information about this world that might help me in the future. I now know about Ancient Battle - it was a battle held one thousand years ago, for the title of next mamodo king. About forty mamodos didn't return home after it.

Makes me wonder if this battle is going to be as brutal as that one was.

Doesn't help that all participants back there were kids. This time is hardly different.

Agh, enough of being angsty! I hardly have time for brooding.

Although I spent almost a month here this whole world still feels alien to me. It reminds me almost daily that me, the true me, is not welcome here. I am an uninvited guest.

It's not like anyone is mean to me or rude - Precious is incredibly sweet and my sister, aside from the fact that I see her very rarely, looks like a good person too. Zatch and his friends are always here to brighten my day (I even can stop pretending to be someone else with them!) and even my fear of Brago slowly dies down (Although I still can't make eye contact… It's simply too much… But I am getting there!).

But this world is not mine. I want to go home and I will find my way there, no matter how long it will take me to do so! I might not even remember my past but it still calls for me, on dreamless nights, on rainy days, on melancholic evenings.

I'll find my answers, return my memories and find who's responsible for all this mess.

A week. There's only a week left before the announcement of the participants in the battle.

I don't know how they pick participants, how they are going to break the news to them or how they are going to send mamodos into the human dimension. I have mixed feelings about all of this. I want to get to the human world as fast as possible but, with how brutal the last mamodo battle must've been, I can't help but feel unnerving. Part of me hopes I'll get picked but part of me believes it might be much safer for me to just find my way to the human world on my own.

Hm… It's not like I'll be the one who decides that. I decided to just leave it be. If I get picked - I'll be happy that I'm going home soon, If I don't get picked - I'll just find my way home myself.

Yeah, sounds like a plan.

Five more days. Students get nervous. Really nervous. Even a month ago they started sparring in friendly/rivalry play-fights (play is a bit of a stretch) to sharpen their fighting skills.

Unfortunately or not for me, my body isn't built for physical strength, so I couldn't participate (Not really wanted anyway, bleh).

I master my magic skills instead. In Telekinesis I thrive, in explosive magic we live! I even trained in that 'heart manipulation' magic. Only a bit, though… I feel very uneasy using it but if the worst comes to worse I will use dirty tricks.

I wonder if I could get myself a weapon but, turns out, by the battle rules, I can't use any (wonder if it's an old rule or a new one that was added after Ancient Battle). Only hand-to-hand, verbal or non-verbal magic.

Thankfully, I'm quite skilled in two of those so I don't let anxiety take over my heart.

It's going to be a walk in the park, a piece of cake… A solid, made of rocks and metallic parts, piece of cake.

Baransha no longer bothers me. Well, to be honest, she stopped getting on my nerves back at week one but now she hardly even talks. Looks like she's railing herself up for the battle as everyone else.

Can't really blame her.

Hey, at least she still visits school. Danny, Brago and almost half of the class simply dropped school in favor of training. It's not even clear who will get picked but they all get ready as if they know for sure.

At least kids are still the same.

"I hope I won't get picked." Said Kolulu once. "I really don't like fighting…"

"Yeah, I don't think you will get there Kolulu." Tried to reassure her Tia. "You're way too soft-hearted! There's no way they'll even look at you when they're gonna pick participants!"

"Tia, that's… That's reassuring but also very rude. Kolulu just hates conflicts and she's too kind to hurt anyone." I say as I help Kolulu finish her flower crown.

"Unu, and even if you do get into a fight I will protect you!" Zatch proudly buffs his chest but Tia tackles him down almost instantly.

"Ha! A wimp like you would never save anyone! You can't even use your own spells yet!"

I watch as kids play-fight with each other (Or, perhaps, how Tia chases Zatch all around the courtyard) and can't help but smile. Yeah, kids are alright.

I finished the crown and decided to call it a day. Precious sometimes gets busy with house chores so I just walk home on my own when it happens. Eh, I like floating at a slow pace much more than riding a giant spider anyway so I can hardly complain.

I give the crown to Kolulu, say a quick goodbye to everyone and head home.

Getting from down the plateau that the school resides on is an easy task for someone with telekinesis. Town isn't much trouble for me too (I got in the habit of minding my way around dangerous parts of the city so no trouble for me!). The sun is setting down slowly, stirring something familiar inside of me. Perhaps, a memory of my old self? Maybe I loved watching sunsets back then…

I turn away from the sun and resume my way back home. Can't let myself get enchanted by it like last time.

Day passes.

Few more days left. Just few more days.

I gave the librarian a book from yesterday and headed to class. there's even less people than before. Teachers hardly bat an eye to that - some of them even look irritated that there's still kids going to school at this time of the year (Kids getting education?! How dare they!). It's actually quite funny.

Baransha skipped the entirety of today's classes.

Yeah, the tension can be cut with a knife here.

Of all the kids in the courtyard I've met only Zatch today. He doesn't seem to be affected by whatever the quiet mass hysteria that everyone seems to slowly lose their minds in.

"Do you really don't want to become a king?" He asks all of a sudden.

"No. I simply don't think I'll be a good king, Zatch." I try to explain.

"What do you mean? Unu, kings can't be bad!" I'd spent my fair share of time arguing but I have to remind myself that I'm talking to a kid.

"Well… Some of them can. For example, there some that could become real tyrants who make their people suffer or those who do nothing but make stupid rules!"

Zatch looks like he's solving a five-hundred piece puzzle inside his head.

"unu... What king is good then?"

"Well, a good king is the one who cares for his people… Who is wise and smart, who is kind but also strict. Who's not afraid to put his foot down if needed but who also doesn't abuse his powers. Like a knight but better, I presume."

Zatch looks at the ground, again in deep thoughts. Is this even normal for kids to think that much?

"Hey, don't think too hard about it, Zatch!" I try to reassure him. Gee, I hope I didn't gave him a mental trauma or something. "There's a lot of good mamodo who'd make a good king! I'm sure at least one of them will become the next king. It's going to be alright!"

And once again I give empty promises. I can't tell for sure who's gonna be the next mamodo king. But I also can hardly care - this world is not my. I shouldn't feel bothered by it's fate.

I do still feel bad for lying to a kid, even if to make him feel better.

Zatch looks much brighter now. Can't help it but feel guilty. I really need to stop lying but it is hard to stop after weeks of doing only that.

But after all,

The kids are alright, the time goes by, and the battle for next mamodo king is closer by one day.

[hi this is author

its been a bit rough lately due health issues so from now on the story will get rushed as i don't want to finish this story until i get put into the hospital]