The World Of Sally

Chapter Five: Unexpected Help from Unexpected People

She felt herself falling, but someone caught her before she could touch the pavement. Surprisingly, it was the redheaded prince with a sharp gaze towards her. She immediately straightens her posture and bowed down before Helios.

“I apologize, Your Highness. Please forgive me.” She muttered anxiously. Helios stared at her before he left them. He gazes at his right hand which he used to hold her. She’s surprisingly light and thin. Her small waist is still clear and then, a thought played in his mind.

‘Is she even eating?’ He brushed the thought away. He doesn’t have enough reason to worry for someone whom he just met. Besides, he hated people who can’t defend themselves. ‘Why is she even in here when she’s so weak?’ He added still feeling annoyed at her presence.

The classes have started and he’s already five minutes late so he decided not to go to class anymore and went straight to the library. Aside from weak people, he also hated wasting his time over nothing. The moment he enters the library, he went to the last shelves where prohibited ancient magic books were kept. He took one of the books and went to a vacant table near the window. There’s a lot to learn but doing this type of magic needs a lot of stamina since they are classified as class S type of magic.

‘However, I am confident that I can use this type of magic soon. And if that happens, no one can stop me, even those aristocrats who wished for my fall.’

“I won’t let that happen.” He murmured gravely as his amber eyes glowed dangerously. He flips the next page and saw a familiar structure of magic written on the book. It was the magic he once encountered before. He closed the book and went to the counter to borrow it. He needs to confirm it himself.

‘This might be the key to locate that person.’ He thought as a smile formed his lips.

“Amazing, I never felt this much excitement in my life. I’ll make sure to have her.” He muttered in enthusiasm as he walked on the empty hallway. While on his way, he encountered Felix. Felix who saw him stopped and smile.

“Your Majesty, are you heading back to class now?” He asked him.

“No, I’m going back to my room to clarify something.” He answered his question.

“Is it about the poet, Sire?” He inquired further.

“… Yes. If I meet her, I’ll make her my magician.” Helios smiled at him. Felix blinked and nodded in response.

“Well, that is a nice idea, Your Majesty. It will be a waste if that person’s talent will not be of use.” He added. “If you don’t mind, Sire, may I accompany you?”

“Suit yourself, Felix. Would it be nice to accompany me than to walk in this boring hallway alone, wouldn’t it?” He smirked at him. Felix chuckled.

“That is indeed true, Sire.” They started walking towards the dorm when Helios suddenly started a conversation.

“What happened after I left?” He asked him while still looking ahead of them.

“Ms. Esther was escorted to the infirmary and Athena went back to her class. We will visit her later after school. Do you want to join us?” Felix inquired at him. Helios thought for a while before answering.

“Alright.”

---

Sally woke up and saw the white ceiling. She roams her eyes and saw that she’s in the infirmary. Right, she remembers now, she was forced by the Robia siblings to be medically treated despite her refusals. She sits on the bed and looked at the window. It’s already sunset and the red-orange light past through the glass window. She removes the blanket covering her body and saw that her calves were already wrapped in bandages. Her knees were also being treated and both of them were not painful anymore. She stood up and slowly walked towards the window silently. She pushed the white curtains away and stared at the view outside.

‘How long did I fall asleep?’ She wondered while dazing at the view outside. ‘I ended up skipping all of my classes.’ She sighed. All of a sudden, she heard the door opened. She turned around and saw the Robia siblings and the crown prince. Her eyes widen and she immediately greeted them.

“G-Good afternoon, Mr. and Ms. Robia, and Your Highness the crown prince.” She bowed down in courtesy.

“Ms. Esther! Why did you stand up when your legs are not completely healed yet?” Athena asked and rushed to her side. Sally’s eyes widen and step back a little.

“It’s alright, Miss. It’s not that painful anymore. The doctor treated me very well.” She answered although it’s her first time being in the infirmary. She always treated her wounds in her room and for her, it’s the best treatment she had so far until she came here. Thanks to them.

“Still!”

“Athena, why don’t you trust Ms. Esther’s words? And Ms. Esther, it would be nice if you sit on the bed.” Felix suggested.

“Right, uh, sorry.” She smiled awkwardly and sits on the bed. She remained silent and alternately looking at them. It’s the first time she’s with a group of people and not to mention, she’s with the popular people here in the academy!

“How are you feeling?” Athena asked her.

“I’m fine. Thank you for asking and thanks to you, I’m safe.” She smiled at her.

“It’s nothing. I never knew you had a tough time here in the academy. Was it always like that in here?” She further inquired.

“Athena, that’s too much to be asked.” Felix reprimanded her. Athena flinched and immediately took back her words.

“I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer…” However, Sally didn’t mind her rudeness, instead, she answered her with a bright smile.

“No, my days here aren’t always bad.” She laughed softly. They stared at her for a while, they don’t know if it’s due to the sunset but, her smile is so bright and warm that it reached their hearts. Athena’s eyes became teary and muttered.

“Don’t worry, no one will harm you now.” She promised. Sally stares at her and chuckled awkwardly.

“Thank you but I don’t want to include you in my business any longer. What’s happening to me will stay with me. I don’t want other people to be dragged into the same predicament as I am.” She answered while fingers kept on fidgeting. Helios stared at them for a while and found the whole scene pathetic. He stood up and walked towards the door.

“Your highness?” Felix called while walking towards him.

“It’s annoying here. I’ll take my leave.” He said and went out of the room. As he closed the door, he saw the familiar faces of the group who almost hurt Athena and beat the poor girl who’s recovering in the infirmary. The moment they saw the crown prince’s face, their faces paled, especially the one whom he thought was the leader of the group. He glared at them.

“You…” He called with his deep, cold voice. They flinched as they heard him and anxiously stared at him. “Don’t ever show your faces again.” He warned. They run away as if trying to escape from a monster. Helios stared at them for a while before heading to his room. There’s still something he needs to do.

He arrived at his room peacefully. He removed his coat and put it on the coat rack stand near the door. He removed his black vest and necktie and opened three buttons of his white long sleeve polo. He sits on the chair and opened the book he borrowed from the library. He turned to the page where the reverse magic spell of the anti-tracking magic was located.

He took a deep breath and started to form a magic circle where the mint green paper was placed in the center. He raised his hand mid-air and started to murmur the spell from his mouth. His eyes glowed bright gold and his mana surrounded the magic circle. The wind danced around him despite the windows closed tightly, however, the longer he does the magic the more his room seemed to receive the consequence. His room started to meltdown like ice-cream under the warm sun of summer.

“Shit.” He cursed as he stopped what he’s doing. “Instead of the magic on the paper, my room was the one being melted by the reverse magic spell.” He throws the book in annoyance and picked the paper from the floor. “Hah. How annoying.” He sighed and snapped his fingers to create a restoration spell for his now ruined room. However, he thought that’s the only consequence he needs to encounter for doing such magic. He heard a very familiar voice that made his breathing stopped.

“I’m sorry… I need to leave you… I’m so sorry…”

He flinched and turn around finding no one in his room but him alone. 

“I love you, I do, but, I choose my fate…”

“f**k, stop!” He covered his ears and all of a sudden, fire engulfed his whole room. “I don’t need your reasons! Even your feign love!” He shouted like a mad man. His panting and his hands were still clenching. A dreadful grin formed his lips as his eyes glowed. “f*****g memory. I swear I’ll beat that bastard for messing with me…” He growled. The fire died down and the room was finally restored, however, his mood remained the same. He decided to go out and take a walk for a while before the curfew started.

He grabs his coat and went out of his room. His feet took him to the maze garden. He entered the labyrinth without care of getting lost. If he did, then he can just create his path until he gets out of the place. Fireflies flew everywhere making the whole place more enchanting. The scent of the roses filled the cold air as it blew gently towards him. His feet stopped not far from a woman who was sitting on the ground while her legs were stretched comfortably. The bread is still in her mouth while she chewed it tardily.

Her eyes went in his direction and they stared for a couple of minutes. Her eyes widen and she hurriedly chewed her food so that she can speak a greeting to him. He noticed it and sighed.

“Chew it slowly or you’ll choke.” He said calmly. Sally blinked and nodded her head. She slowly but thoroughly chewed the food before swallowing it. A big bright smile contrasts the night appeared in her face.

“Good evening, Your Majesty, I apologize for my rudeness.”

He stares at her for a while before speaking.

“What are you doing here?”

“Eating dinner, Sire.” She answered right away.

“Dinner? You mean the bread is your dinner?”

“Uh, it’s a long story, Sire.” She muttered awkwardly and averted her gaze. She looked at Helios again but the awkwardness remains. “Uh, do you think this labyrinth is scary, Your Highness?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I always hear from the other students here in the academy that this labyrinth is scary during the night and that the center of this place can cause misfortunes… Perhaps I just wanted to get rid of the awkwardness in the atmosphere.” She laughed nervously. “Did I just make myself weird in front of you, Sire? If I did, I’m sorry.” She added as her gaze went to the ground.

“Nothing scares me. Misfortunes, perhaps, make everyone sad than being frightened. It is not always the fear that makes a person avoid something.” Helios surprisingly answered her.

“Oh, I see. Thank you for answering, Sire.” She stood up and removed the dirt from her long black skirt and to the coat on the ground which she sat on the whole time. She wore it again and turned to face the prince. “I’ll take my leave now. Thank you for your time, Your Majesty.” She bowed down and was about to walk away when he called her.

“Ms. Esther…” She stopped from her track and looked at him with a puzzled look.

“Yes, Sire?” She asked.

“Follow me.”

Helios walked past through her and led the way. Despite the confusion, she still followed him behind silently. As she walks in the hallway while following him, she can’t ignore the stares she received from the other students who saw them. It’s like she’s a criminal who committed a horrendous crime.

‘But where is he taking me? Did I offend him?’ She wondered. The latter made her nervous urging her to ask him gently.

“Sire, did I offend you? Please forgive me. It won’t happen again.” She muttered behind with worry. Helios stopped walking and glanced at her. He sighed in annoyance.

“If you keep on asking, I’ll be angry at you.”

Like a child scolded, she shuts her mouth and decided to accept whatever punishment he’ll give her.

‘Is he going to beat me too? I hope it’s not that painful…’ She hopefully thought with a somber expression.

They entered a familiar hall. Three grand chandeliers were hanging on the ceiling, long tables covered with white tablecloths. Red chairs have placed on both sides of the table. It’s been a long time for her to enter the dining hall. It’s because she took her food directly from the kitchen, yet it can’t even be called a decent meal. Due to it, she sometimes has a stomachache.

She can still feel the horrible gazes from the other students. They were curious why they were together. She can’t speak for her own because she doesn’t dare to do so. If she talked back, what will happen to the kindness Helios showed her? No, she can’t lose it now.

“What are you doing just standing there?” With a hint of displeased in his tone, she hurriedly went to get a tray and looked at the food. There’s meat, salad, soups, bread, and desserts. Tea was served as well. In the end, she chose a salad, soup, and ginger tea while Helios ordered hibiscus tea.

“That’s it? How about adding a steak?”

“No. It’s alright, Your Highness. The steak was just too much to consume.”

“What? What do you mean too much?” Helios asked while his eyebrows furrowed.

“Oh, well, I’m vegetarian?” She anxiously chuckled as she put the tray on the table. “It’s been a while since I ate here. It’s still, grand, as before.” She added.

“Why? You’re not eating here?”

“No, I thought it’s more relaxing outside.” She answered and began eating the soup. Helios gazed at her as he sips his tea. As he puts the tea back on the plate, he asked her,

“Why are you avoiding people?”

Sally halted from eating and raised her head. She stared at him for a while. It was a rare question from an unexpected person. She never thought that she would receive help from these people. She forces a smile and answered him with a strange look in her eyes.

“It’s because people were avoiding me… But, I guess, it can’t be the reason now?” She chuckled gently and resumed eating again.

***