While running far enough, Elora felt a little relieved. She kept looking down and followed the white pavement.

She pondered again and again. "What do I do?", "Wait, what if someone saw?", "What if something happens to me."

Elora was in a panic as she walked by her campus. She clutched her hands and breathed calmly. She knew well enough that bare contact and even the slightest touch wasn't allowed. She tried to remember what her parents had said about skin contact. While growing up, Elora had been told so many times that skin contact can be very deadly. "Does that mean I'll die at any minute?" she analyzed the situation. She tried to recall all the books she had read if there were any type of procedure she should do. She was just hoping for a clue. Her only idea of Law 1 was that bad consequences were bound to happen. Law 1 or the Touch Ban has been the law for a decade, so there should be clues. Elora has always thought that the laws were suspicious especially since no common people are allowed to talk about it and even question it.

For Elora, that law has always been a mysterious piece to be unraveled. Elora guessed that only the government officials, people with higher positions like researchers, and elders, probably knew why the law came to be. She was unsure if she should dive deeper. Her parents did tell her to be careful, especially with other people. Elora didn't want to ruin her whole life ahead. Elora aimed to discover something new, that's why her curiosity is bothering her.

She got accepted to a privileged university. Elora is currently enrolled in the University of Scientia. Usually, universities either have single-sex students. Due to the high expenses required, facilities either have a male or female authorization. However, the University of Scientia is the only co-ed university-approved and funded by the government. Since her step-parents were one of the main contributors to the University, Elora is one of the lucky few to be able to also intern as the assistant researcher of a scientist. Not just any scientist, one of the best in the world. Elora can't help feel excited as she would be working with her idol.

She remembered during her high school days, that scientists came to visit. From there Elora became fascinated. Dr. Fadigan contributed much researches. He was the one who was able to produce successful studies regarding genetic engineering. She has read a lot of articles about Dr. Fadigan's accomplishments. Elora hopes to be like him one day. She hopes and aims, and now she has the opportunity.

While Elora comes near to her classroom, thoughts about what happened in the morning suddenly came back to her. She tried to conceal her thoughts and tried to concentrate on more important things. As she entered her classroom, she sat on the right side of the room. The opposite sex would have to sit in the other half of the room. Usually, to know where to go, everything in the city is color-coded. The color, white, is used to guide women. White doors, white paths, and even white rooms are all designated for gene XX or women. The color, black, is for the men or gene XY. Grey areas are risky places, as people have the freedom to roam but still have to avoid contact. To avoid contact, the distance given is usually two arm's length. Society's norm has made people more mindful of their surroundings. Every class has equal amounts of students, currently, there are eleven students in the room. Since the class was still about to start, Elora chooses to sit near the back of the room. As she sat down, she cleared her head. When the bell rang, students filled up the seats. A professor enters wearing a white lab coat with a patch that has a symbol of a tree in an Erlenmeyer flask,

"Welcome students! I am Dr. Ronfel Swers. I will be your professor for both terms."

Ronfel Swers was a middle-aged man. He had this short structure, and he dressed well under his lab coat. He had a sincere smile that showed his passion to teach.

"Now, tell me what you do desire to be?" Dr. Swers asked while looking for a student to make eye contact with. Silence invaded the room. "Very well. Let's start with the people in front." He said with enthusiasm.

One by one, the students stood up and answered things like "I want to be a doctor", "I'll be an engineer", and others claimed to be undecided. Elora was already thinking ahead on what she was about to say. She thought about stating her intentions of researching. She wanted to become a scientist just so she could learn about the mysteries of the world she lived in. She decided not to because she wouldn't want to look weird. When it was finally Elora's turn to speak, the door opened. A person enters the room.

"Better late than never, I guess?" Dr. Swers chuckled, he wasn’t too angry.

"I apologize, professor, this won't happen again." the guy pleaded as he bowed.

"Well then, I'll take your word for it, Mr. ?"

"Lavellan. Sir, Raziel Lavellan." He said as he lifts his head.

Elora couldn’t believe her eyes. Her skin became paler. She stared at him. He didn't notice.

The whole class actually stared in awe at Raziel. There were both good and bad intentional stares.

"Have a seat and we were just talking about one's plans and goals for the future, you may continue… Miss?" Dr. Swers said to Elora.

While walking through the aisle, Raziel scanned the whole room. As he looked at the corner of the room, he saw the girl he once held. He was also surprised but he didn’t show it. "It'll be obvious" he probably thought. Raziel sat 2 seats in front and to the side of Elora. Raziel and Elora made eye contact however, both of them knew they shouldn't react. Elora looked calm on the outside, but she knew that her new classmate will be a bother to her. The situation they were in was very risky, and they both knew that. If others knew of their situation, who knew what could happen. Elora had been in a daze, she thought about the guy's name. Why it did seem familiar? She thought. "Raziel… Lavellan…" this name rang through Elora's head. She quickly averted her attention, as she noticed everyone was looking at her.

"Yes sir, My name is Elora Arivae. I want to be a scientist."

"Do you have any specific reason why?" Dr. Swers was curiously amazed.

"I just really want to make our world a better place," Elora exclaimed with a small smile on her lips. She did really meant it. She had thought a lot about her situation and her purpose. She knew she wanted to change the norm, society, and the laws. The mysteries had bothered her though, but she was determined to find answers.

"A bold altruistic plan, very inspiring Ms. Arivae." Dr. Swers said, and then he continued with the rest of the students and the class' course outline.

Elora thought "altruistic", but she knows deep inside her heart that it wasn't because she was generous. She wanted to become a scientist for herself. She loved helping others, but she loved researching the most. She was thinking about the feeling of being able to control and gain more knowledge.

The professor had opened the projection screen. The screen had shown a chart. It was the lab group divisions. Elora's heart skipped a beat when she saw the last names, "Malis, Lavellan, and Arivae." All in one group. "This is all coincidental…" Elora said to herself quietly. Looks like she will be seeing the guy more often than she thought. She convinces herself to act normal, otherwise all her plans and hard work would be for nothing.

She needs to be cautious as one simple act could turn into a ripple of events that can ruin her own true goal.