“How are you feeling, Rose?” 

“Yeah. I’m fine.” Jenyx talked to Rose as they walked. It was the first time he had seen Rose use magic against another person. Usually, Rose would only strike or scold them. However, things went too far today. He wasn’t concerned about what that meant for Brad. No, not at all. He couldn’t care less about what happens to him. His concerns lay with the punishment Rose would receive once they learn that she used magic against a fellow student. If it were a supervised battle in the field, the institution would understand her usage of magic. However, she used it against a defenseless student. Even if they say that it was to protect him, she still broke the rules of the institution. At worst, she could get expelled, even with her status as an honor student. Jenyx desperately exhausted his brain for the sake of coming up with a solution in order to help Rose, or at the very least, lighten the punishment she would incur.

“What’s wrong? Are you still hurting?” Rose noticed the frown in his face. “Nyx?” 

“Huh? Oh, no, I’m fine. Don’t worry!” Jenyx replied to her with his usual smile. Although he knew that she wouldn’t believe him, he still had to try. 

“I’m sorry I took so long… ” a thin stream flowed down her cheek. “If only I arrived earlier…” Rose's gaze cast downwards as she recalled the earlier scene. Oh, how she wished to end Brad’s life in that instant! If it weren’t for Nyx, she would’ve slowly roasted Brad.

“R-Rose? What’s wrong?” A soothing voice called out to her. Nyx’s gentle voice had always been a source of comfort for her. The concern that accompanied his every word made her anger subside bit by bit. So long as Nyx was by her side, she felt like everything would be fine. 

“It’s nothing… sorry.” Rose replied. “Hey… Nyx, you won’t leave me… right?” 

“..? Of course not. We’re friends. I'll never leave you even if you wanted me to."

“Hehe, yeah!” Rose wiped the dried up stream of tears on her eyes as her face lit up. Seeing her, Jenyx couldn’t help but smile as well. 

“So… what do you plan to do?”

“Hm? About what?”

“What do you mean 'about what?' Didn’t you attack Brad with a spell?” 

The smile on Rose's face disappeared as soon as the realization hit her. “Ahhh!! That’s right!” She wrapped her hands around her head and came to a halt. 

“At first I was just going to stop them, you know? B-But then, I saw you crying! Before I knew it, I’d already sent him flying…”

“I didn't expect you to really do it either...”

“Uwaaaa!! What do I do, Nyx!? I don’t wanna leave the institution....” Rose’s tears began to flow again as she spoke.

“I've been thinking of what else we could do, but… nothing really comes to mind.” Jenyx replied while scratching his head. “Haaaah… I give up. Let’s go ask Dad.”

After leaving the institution, Jenyx and Rose made their way to Daflen, one of the many districts in Bauheim city, the capital of the Vistergan Kingdom. Daflen is one of the more popular districts of the kingdom and is known as the “Magi-tech district” due to the dense amount of shops selling spell-infused items. Be it, magic scrolls, odd concoctions, mystical weapons, and even appliances. It is visited by hundreds of people each day and even merchants from different nations or kingdoms come to do business. While walking along the busy district, the two stopped in front of a small shop with tables and chairs laid out in front. A sign lay atop the shop, reading “Folia Argenteas'' 

Jenyx casually opened the door and sauntered in with Rose behind him. As they entered, they saw a girl sitting at the counter with her jaw planted on her hand. She had glossy, Lilac colored hair, fashioned into a braided ponytail and had a listless expression on her face. The girl’s disinterested look vanished when she saw the two who entered the shop, immediately running towards them.

“Big bro! Rose-sis!” The girl latched onto the two who caught her. “Oof! Meri, I told you to stop running in the shop. You could get hurt! Where’s Dad?” 

“In the kitchen, and I know! But it’s been sooooo long since I saw Rose-sis!” The girl named Meri let go of Jenyx and hugged Rose instead. “Oh! I'm happy to see you too, Meri!” Seeing her, Rose happily reciprocated Meri’s hug. 

“Meri? What’s going on out there?” An aged man who seemed to be somewhere around his forties emerged from behind the counter. He had brown hair with a few hints of gray and wore a yellow apron over a shirt.

“Oh? Nyx, and is that Rose? Wow, it’s been so long! To what do we owe the visit?” The man drew closer to the three. “Good afternoon, Uncle Jullsariah. I’m sorry for not being able to visit much.” Rose immediately stood up and greeted Jullsariah. “Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine.” Jullsariah casually replied to Rose as they spoke a little bit. Jenyx wanted to butt in since they had more pressing matters to talk about, but decided not to. It's been a long time since his parents had seen Rose, and besides, they still had much time to spare. While the two were talking, Jenyx walked up to the counter and shoved the curtains aside, leading him to another room in the shop. Inside, he spotted a woman washing plates. Her name was Maya Troan. She wore the same yellow apron as Jullsariah and had the same hair color as the girl outside, albeit, with a few strands turning gray. Despite her age, the woman’s beauty had not diminished at all. If anything had changed, it could be said that she now has an air of maturity surrounding her. 

“Hi Mom.” Hearing him, the woman turned to see who it was. 

“Hm? Nyx? What are you doing here? We were just about to close shop.” 

“Yeah, looks like it.” 

“So, what’s going on? You don’t usually come here. Something about it’s a pain in the ass to be surrounded by lots of people.” 

“Yeah… we had something to consult with Dad today.” 

“We?” 

“Uh-huh, Rose is with me.” 

“What!?” Maya yelled while she was drying her hands on a towel. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? So that’s why Jullsariah didn’t come back...” After making sure her hands were dry, Maya started walking towards Jenyx. 

“Umm, sorry?” Confused, Jenyx chased after his mother with his eyes as his mother made her way outside.

“Rose! Oh, it’s so good to see you again! You’ve gotten taller! And more beautiful too.” Maya suddenly greeted Rose while she was in the middle of talking with Jullsariah. “Ah! Aunty Maya! Hello!” Maya hugged Rose as she replied. Feeling left out, Meri tugged on their clothes and joined in their hug.

“It’s been so long! How have you been?”

“Yes! I’m doing just fine on my own.”

“I see, I see… hey, since it’s been some time, why don’t you eat dinner with us today?” 

“No, she c-" Jenyx suddenly felt an odd sensation on his thigh and saw Rose pinching him. It didn’t hurt, but he was surprised.

“I would love to!” 

“Great! Why don’t you guys go wait outside? We’ll just close up the shop and be on our way. Meri, do you want to help mommy?” 

"Ok!" Meri left Rose's embrace and happily ran to Maya.

Rose thanked them and left the store with Jenyx behind her. 

“Are you sure you want to eat with us?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’m just a few minutes away from your house anyway.” A smile crept on Rose’s face as she replied to Jenyx. 

“Well, if you say so.” Jenyx shrugged in response. She was stronger than him anyway, so he had no reason to worry about her. The two waited in silence as they waited for Jenyx’s parents.

“We’re hooome!” Maya opened a door with Meri in one hand. Jullsariah flicked a switch upon entering and light filled every corner of the house. 

“Well then, don’t be shy, Rose! Come in.” Rose thanked Jullsariah and entered alongside Jenyx. 

“You guys just sit tight! I’ll cook something up. Why don’t you help me cook, Meri?” Meri vigorously nodded as Maya carried her to the kitchen. 

Once inside, Rose’s gaze wandered around the home. Although the house was bigger than most, there could be no denying that it was like any other commoner’s house. There were no fancy paintings, no servants, or any other aspects to make it seem extraordinary at all. It was the very definition of a normal home. However, Rose felt at peace as she entered their home. Something about it always seemed to have a relaxing effect on her body as a smile instinctively crept on her face. 

“Hm? What are you smiling at? Something funny?” 

“No, it’s nothing. I just feel… nostalgic.” Rose couldn’t stop smiling as she kept exploring their house. 

“Is that so? Well, this is the first time you’ve visited since a year or two, I think? Must be why…” Jenyx casually replied to Rose as he sat down on a couch. “Maybe. I’ll try to visit more from now on.” Rose sat on the opposite side of the couch. 

“So… wanna do it before or after eating?”

“W-what!?” Rose’s face suddenly turned red as she replied. For some reason, her body tensed up, which surprised Jenyx. “D-do you want to ask Dad now or after we eat?” Jenyx cautiously responded. 

“O-oh… right! Let’s talk to him after we eat.” The tension in Rose’s body suddenly died down, but she could still feel the warmth in her cheeks. (“What was I thinking!?”) Rose silently cursed herself for having such thoughts.

“A-anyway! We’ll talk about this once we finish eating!”

“...Alright, if you say so.” Jenyx wondered why she sounded so mad, but dropped it and decided to read a book instead. Meanwhile, Rose was still trying to calm her mind, silently scolding herself for her misunderstanding.

**

“Thank you for the meal, aunty Maya, it was delicious.” 

“My pleasure, dear. Now why don’t you all go to the living room while I clean up? I remember Nyx saying you guys have something to discuss with Jullsariah.” 

“Ahh yeah… Dad, we need your help with something.” 

“Hm? Sure, what is it about?” 

“Let’s go to the living room, I don’t wanna get in Mom’s way.” Jenyx stood up and thanked his mother for the food. The three then walked to the living room. 

“So… Dad, We- no, Rose, has a little problem in the institution.” As soon as they sat down, Jenyx started talking. 

“Oh? What happened? Is it your grades?”

“N-no, Uncle, I… umm, may have hit a student with a magic spell?” 

“What..?” Jullsariah was dumbstruck as he heard Rose. “Well, why would you do that? That’s very dangerous.” 

“Y-yes, I know! But, I just used a beginner-level spell on him.”

“Ok, that's still wrong, but... why did you do it?” 

“T-that’s…” Rose felt an imaginary lump forming on her throat. She couldn’t speak. Jullsariah and Maya were probably unaware of the bullying that’s happening to Jenyx at school. Jenyx himself forbade her from letting them know about it, so she was at a loss at what to do. Just then, Jenyx replied in her stead:

“She said she was protecting a friend, Dad. Isn’t that what you said, Rose?” Upon hearing him, Rose nodded. “Y-yes. I didn’t know what came over me… I just got so mad.” With Jenyx’s statement, they weren’t totally lying to him so they have nothing to feel guilty for. However, Rose still felt somewhat skeptical about it.

Jullsariah placed his hand on his chin and sighed. “I see. So you were doing it to protect someone, right?”

“Y-yes.”

“So, what do you think we should do, Dad?”

“Hmm, well, the use of magic against a fellow student without permission is usually met with severe punishment. If I were to be honest, even expulsion wouldn’t be going too far.” 

Jenyx feared as much. It was the sole ironclad rule that the students never broke. The school once stated that they’ve already expelled nearly a hundred students since its formation due to breaking that particular rule. Whatever way they go about it, Rose wasn’t going to get away with it without severe punishment. But then, Jullsariah spoke up:

“However, that rule was formed because the institution wished to do something about the cases of stronger students bullying the weaker ones with magic. If you did it in order to protect your friend, then perhaps the board might consider what you did as somewhat justified, rather than with malicious intent.” 

“J-just like that?”

“Yup, just like that. I told you, the rule was created in order to manage bullying in the institution. Although I cannot say for sure that you won’t get punished, if you say that you used it to protect someone, I believe they would severely lessen the punishment for you. And if you want, I can write a letter to the headmaster. He is a friend after all.” Jullsariah showed a full-grin as he finished talking.

Jenyx and Rose breathed a sigh of relief as they heard Jullsariah’s reply. He knew he could count on his father.

 “Thank you, Uncle, truly."

“Mmm, think nothing of it. Although, try to control your emotions next time. I don’t think I can save you again should that happen, okay?” 

Rose nodded and thanked him again.

“Now then… It's getting pretty late. Why don’t you escort her home, Nyx? Letting a young lady walk at night is dangerous after all.” 

“Yeah, I will. Thanks for your help, Dad.” 

After bidding the Troan family goodbye, Jenyx and Rose left the house. The moon's illumination made their path seem quite eerie, but they paid it no mind. They chatted for a while as they walked in order to pass the time, and without them noticing, they’ve already reached their destination.

“Oh, we’re here.” Rose came to a halt as they stood a few feet away from her current home. “Thanks for walking me home, Nyx. Even though you didn’t have to.” Rose chuckled as she teased Nyx.

“Yeah, well. Dad had a point. It’s not right to just let a girl walk all alone at night. Regardless of how strong they are.” Jenyx snapped back at her with a smirk. “See you later, Rose.” 

“Yeah. Good night, Nyx.” 

As they bade each other goodbye, Jenyx started to walk back home. Now that his conversational partner was gone and the problem was fixed (sort of), he silently made his way back. 

“Guh!”

Suddenly, Jenyx’s head was struck with pain. It was like his head was being pounded by a hammer from inside with each throb. 

(“W-What the hell is going on!?”) Unable to take the intense pain, Jenyx took a knee on the ground.

“Hehehehe…” 

As he struggled to stay conscious, he heard a voice coming from his head. No, he wasn’t sure where it was coming from. The pain was starting to impede his senses. All he knew was that he heard it. Despite his best efforts in keeping himself awake, Jenyx soon succumbed to the pain as everything turned black.