New School Again!?

Just after hearing what I said, Vienna was shocked, drawing the attention of the students around us, including Hector. But before Vienna could respond at length, I glared at her to make her realize that this was something secret.

“Heh..! Really?” Vienna replied, staring into my eyes that were glaring at her.

“What’s up, Vien?” Hector asked as he was putting his books into his bag.

“Jovi said he’s also a—”

“What about Jovi, Vien?” Dai interrupted Vienna while placing his hand on her shoulder.

After cutting off Vienna and Hector’s conversation, Dai walked over to Hector and whispered something in his ear.

Upon hearing Dai’s whisper, Hector instantly emitted a blue aura for just a split second, then immediately rushed off, followed by Dai and Vienna. But as I was about to follow them, I felt a heavy weight on my shoulder—William’s hand was holding me back.

“Wait, Jov,” William said while gripping my shoulder.

But just as I was about to speak, William whispered to me, “Let them go ahead first, so we don’t draw too much attention by leaving together.”

William then returned to his seat to grab his bag, leaving me standing beside Vienna and Hector’s desks.

I could see Hector already at the teacher’s office door, while Dai and Vienna had reached the basketball court—more precisely, in front of the changing room, which also had restrooms behind it.

Just before I turned my attention back to William—

Tess…

—I saw a basketball flying fast, heading straight for Vienna’s head. I shouted, “Vienna, watch out!” But instead of looking at the ball, Vienna turned to look at me—she didn’t even see the basketball about to hit her beautiful face.

Luckily, a strong gust of wind blew up from the court, slowing the ball down and lifting her skirt slightly—but Vienna swiftly held her skirt down with her small hands and squatted a little, keeping it from lifting.

“Damn!” I said instinctively—because I’d almost seen something I shouldn’t have. But thankfully, Vienna wasn’t hit by the ball.

Vienna looked a little annoyed at the students playing basketball and then continued walking.

“Why ‘damn’? Shouldn’t it be ‘good,’ since the ball didn’t hit Vienna?” William chimed in.

“I meant damn those kids playing basketball,” I replied. He has no idea what I could’ve seen if Vienna hadn’t reacted so fast.

William and I left the classroom and followed the others.

As we passed the basketball court, I looked closely at the student who nearly hit Vienna. I glared at him with an intimidating expression. He looked back with a smug smile while spinning the ball.

I continued walking with William until we left the school grounds and arrived at a library about 200 meters away.

Inside, I saw Vienna, Hector, and Dai already waiting for us.

The library was very quiet—just the five of us and a woman who seemed to be the librarian.

“Oh… You must be Jovi? I’m Emma Egan, the librarian—and also the keeper of one of Halearth School’s gates,” she said, adjusting her glasses with a sharp look in her eyes.

“I’m Jovi, nice to meet you,” William said politely.

Vienna giggled, and so did Dai. Then Dai walked over to us, threw his arm around William, and ruffled his hair until it was a mess.

“I-I’m Jovi Halcyon,” I said, a bit nervous.

“Hmn… Well then, hurry up and go before someone else comes,” Emma said, returning to her book.

Vienna called me, and we all walked toward the bookshelf beside the stairs. We entered the aisle on the left side, then turned right, and right again.

In front of us was a dead end, surrounded by bookshelves. Without a word, Hector stepped forward—and just before disappearing through the shelf, he released a blue aura.

I was stunned. “H-Hector disappeared!”

“Ha… Hector disappeared!” Vienna echoed, turning back to me in a slight panic.

But Vienna had been in front of me and saw Hector vanish with her own eyes when he touched the bookshelf.

Dai moved next to me and Vienna, then explained, “He’s just going to school.”

Vienna raised her hand and laughed. “O-oh, right…”

Still chuckling, Dai released a red aura and walked into the bookshelf—disappearing.

This time I saw it clearly—Dai didn’t vanish but actually passed through the shelf. I walked up to it and grabbed a book from it… and I could take it.

“Oh… Right! You’ve never been to the school, huh?” William said after seeing me take the book.

William explained that the bookshelf was a gate to Halearth School, but only those who could use magic could enter. He also told me that Dai was surrounded by white energy before going through.

I was confused—because I saw red energy, not white!

As William was about to explain more, Vienna grabbed my hand and pulled me—dragging me through the bookshelf with her.

In front of me appeared a huge school with a medieval interior design, like a castle straight out of the movies or anime I watch.

A few seconds later, Dai, who was already there, approached and grabbed my hand too.

He asked Vienna, “Do we need to hold Jovi so he doesn’t get lost?”

“But Jovi’s a big boy. Why does he need us to hold his hand so he doesn’t get lost?” Vienna said with a puzzled look.

“Wait, you’re still holding Jovi’s hand?” Dai said, glancing at Vienna’s hand still clutching mine.

Vienna quickly let go and blushed, covering her face with both hands.

I was already a bit embarrassed and trying to stay cool in front of Vienna—but with Dai holding my hand too, I just got more embarrassed and tried to break free.

“Let go, oi!” I said, trying to shake him off.

Dai laughed and finally let go of my hand—just as William arrived.