Arc 1 P1

The blaring alarm and the shouting made her heart drum faster. She couldn't hear anything she thought the last of her explosives finally crushed her eardrums along with some of the guards stationed. However, even if she packed extra, there's just so many it'd take a stronger—like one of those hydrogen bombs they manufactured long ago.

In any case, it all paid off. As she ran for her life, her whole throat burning from badly needing oxygen and her joints on the verge of popping from exhaustion, she smiled. She got ahold of the treasure of this house after all. The sleepless nights of scouting and planning made it possible for someone like her to feel the cool metal of a powerful relic. Were swords this light?

Word has it that this sword was powerful. Too powerful it used to be displayed at the museum until recently. Flashbacks of the auctioneer narrating what the blade could do replayed in her mind as the adrenaline rush put her in a trance-like state. 'A sword capable of ending wars' was the catchphrase the man used. Ironic, because as soon as the bidding started, everyone was shouting their offers like uneducated savages.

As if a war broke out.

In a way, their enthusiasm was normal. Had she got the money, a mere 10 or 100 million wouldn't hurt. That's how the attendees valued this relic. Heck, she even tried placing a bid if not for the last shred of common sense stopping her at the last moment. After all, she only intended to observe the auction that day. Observe and note to which rich bastard would the relic end up.

Relics, as the name implied, were remnants of the civilization that lived approximately 50 thousand years before. To think technology back then wasn't so different from now didn't faze her. Regardless of era, the same issues prevailed.

The sudden vibration of the sword in her arms snapped her back to the present. That's right. She had a feeling this would happen.

Even if she's ruled out by both law and common sense as a transgressor, she had faith in her beliefs. Like all the misguided criminals before her, she knew she's in the right. Unlike them however, she knew she's doing the right thing. Even the relic responded. It knew which side was worth joining.

I am not Robinhood or Arsené Lupin. I am—

***

Crack! The rubber pointer hit the edge of the desk in a thunderous creak the girl sound asleep on it shot straight up out of reflex.

"Miss Valerie Neue," the stern professor adjusted his glasses as he looked as the girl hastily wiping the threads of drool off her cheeks. "This is, I believe, the tenth time you've slept in class. Haven't I stressed it enough that if you kept this up then I'm afraid I'd have to also you to drop out of my class."

"If I may respectfully correct you, sir," Valerie said. The sharp noise made her temporarily deaf she could only guess what he's talking about. He always did this it's become a routine by now. "This is just the seventh time you caught me, but I've been sleeping in class throughout the whole semester."

The professor's face twitched. She's trying to be courteous, alright, but the offense remained true, if not worsened by her response.

However, the man knew better than to give in to what he saw as childish provocation. Throughout his years of teaching in this prestigious academy as one of the terrifying teachers, he knew how to handle these situations with finesse.

He adjusted his glasses again. "Very well. If you're so confident to flaunt your offense, why not tell us what you know about Erlingier, the Staff of Twisted Space?"

Valerie's eyes widened. Her eyes darted through the board and found nothing related to the question. The professor smirked. He finally had her, after all those times she came prepared, finally he got her a topic she'd literally have no chance of answering.

The whole room was abuzz with muttering. Nobody knew about the staff in question and they doubt the genius sleepyhead could answer something not covered in the syllabus.

She had it coming though. One thing they noticed with the professor's pop quizzes for Valerie was the increasing level of restriction required to answer. The relic he asked last time was a military-grade; while quite known was still impossible to know more about. It's possible Erlingier belonged somewhere along those levels.

After balling her fists on her sides and biting her lip hard looking distressed, Valerie quietly picked up her stuff and headed to the door. "I'm sorry, professor. I'll try to gather whatever information I can by next meeting."

With the winner's smirk still plastered on his face, the professor dramatically checked his watch and said, "Would you look at the time. That'd be all for today. Make sure to study so you'd have something to write on your midterms."

"Val!" A soft-voiced girl joined Valerie's side.

"Oh, Kaya. Heading for next period?"

Her brows furrowed. "Were you not?"

She waved her concern off. "Nah, Erlingier, remember? Geez, were you also asleep? Pfft, so unlike you."

"I'm just worried. Professor Feder appears to enjoy picking on you. Didn't I tell you to drink that tea? It'd help you stay awake."

"It's fine, really. Besides, those GM leaves might be a little too effective…"

Kaya gasped, dropping one of the books cradled in her arms. Fortunately, Valerie caught it in time. "Did I modify the DNA strands incorrectly? I'm pretty sure I followed the procedures. I'll confirm with Racquel later."

"Don't worry about it."

"Well, I'll stop worrying if you stay out of trouble. Professor Feder is an outstanding teacher of relic history but he's a bully to those who caught his eye."

Valerie held back a chuckle. "He calls that bullying? Maybe yours truly should teach him how it works."

"Val, please. Refrain from doing something that'd hurt your future. You're set for a good spot after graduation already. Forgive me, but I really don't see the point of your actions. I'm grateful you've been lending me your notes and tutoring me that's why I'm concerned where you'd end up if…" Her words trailed off.

Valerie offered her handkerchief but Kaya politely refused and used her own to wipe the tears budding at the corners of her eyes. This time, Valerie couldn't catch all the books that fell.

"Worst case is expulsion," Valerie shrugged. "I don't think they'd go that route though. I mean, not to brag but Val's at the top. They wouldn't want a scandal to break out that's why they're not reporting to my parents. There were rumors though thanks to my ravid fans."

"Um, I think you mean 'rabid'."

Valerie grinned and playfully hugged Kaya. "That's the witty part, silly! Like rabid and avid combined. Genius, right?"

"Still bad wordplay."

She flashed a hearty grin, cheering up her friend.

The two burst out laughing.