After a while, I pondered on whether to say something. I didn't want to leave last night's conversation on a bad note. I wanted— no— needed his help but he was asking for too much. Why did he care how Rael died? Does he feel guilty? Does he think avenging Rael now will solve anything? 

I look down. But maybe I had to swallow that pill. I needed someone to help me, and why not use Heath since he knows of my identity? I don't think I could trust anyone else to help me. I took a deep breath. It was just to ask him... muster up your courage and say that you agree to his terms! 

"Heath—"

"Rael—"

We turned to stare at each other in surprise. I raised my hands.

"You first."

"No, go ahead, I insist."

I narrowed my eyes at him as he glared at me. Damn. It seemed we both had the same intentions but now we were too stubborn to start. Heath sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" I said.

"For being an asshole? For overstepping my bounds? Should I continue?"

"Sure—" His glare shut me up.

"I understand that I'm in the wrong, okay? I'll help you. However, my only condition is that you'll answer my questions regarding the future." 

"Eh..." I awkwardly smiled. That wouldn't be possible...

"What? You can't even agree to that?" Heath frowned.

"Hey, don't assume! It's not like that. It just happens that my memory had conveniently been tampered with after arc 3."

"Arc...3?" Heath tried.

"Oh, that means my third year." I watched Heath do the quick math in his head.

"So in four years? Does that mean you've got four years of knowledge? That's plenty." I sighed.

"Don't you find the fact that my memory past year 3 had conventionally been tampered with?" Heath didn't seem to care as he shrugged.

"Perhaps you only remember the important parts of the game?" I gave him a disappointed look. Was he this stupid in the game?

"Quite the opposite, I don't remember any major incidents nor how they're resolved. Only keywords or phrases." I had tried remembering as much as possible before going to bed and ended up passing out on my desk. I had a pen imprint on my face which Peri yelled at me about. Not fun.

"Well, whatever happens, it can't be that bad. After all, there's been peace for thousands of years, I doubt school children would be able to change that." Once he said that, I understood. He's not stupid, he's just... ignorant. He expected the peace to last forever because mages only got stronger as more and more dangerous species became extinct. How could mere high school children disrupt that peace? I wish I could tell him the answer, but I merely had a hunch that Lore Academy was heavily involved in a disastrous future, hinted at in the bad ending scenes. 

"Right..."

"Well? Are you in?" He raised his hand and I shook it. I couldn't help but grin.

"Always have been, partner." Heath broke the handshake and glowered at me. 

"I think you're misunderstanding something; this isn't a truce or a friendship, I'm merely using you for my gains." Ouch. I mean I know but still...

"I'm using you too," I said.

"Well try not to get upset that I won't be chummy with you. You'd better find a way to go back home and stop stealing someone else's life." Heath remarked.

"Rael wasn't all that happy either way, but sure. I'd hate to stay here with this despicable family after all." I challenged him with my eyes as his intense yellow ones peered at me. Our fight was interrupted by a shriek. It wasn't a shriek of horror, no, even worse, it was one of happiness. I watched Heath's confident stance shrivel as he took a step back. 

But it was too late.

"I've missed you!" The culprit grabbed Heath before he could escape and hugged him. Heath tried reciprocating the hug but the other person kept snuggling into his chest. Heath's face turned ten shades of white as the girl raised her head and smiled at him. "Haven't you missed me, Heathy?" 

"Y-yes?" 

I was trembling. This was...too funny. Can't... laugh! Heath will kill me if I do. The girl finally noticed me and gave me a funny look. 

"And who are you?" This rude and straightforward girl was Mary Qail, the duke's precious daughter and also... the love rival in Heath's route. I smiled at Mary.

"Oh, I'm Rael." Didn't she just see me walking out a minute ago? She gave me a look over before returning to merge—er, hug Heath again. Heath looked like he was in pain as he gently tried pushing her away. I saw him give me a look as Mary practically climbed him. 

'HELP ME.'

I gave him an innocent smile. Didn't he say we weren't friends? There was no reason for me to help him. Heath tried shoving Mary but the girl was persistent, clinging to him like a koala to a tree. 

"Mary, um, Rael and I were discussing something important. I would appreciate it if you—"

"Then I should listen, yes? There's nothing for you to hide from your future wife after all." She purred as she grabbed his arm and hugged it close to her. And then she stared at me as I tried not to snort.

"Heath, we can leave this discussion for later." Heath was sending me desperate looks but I tried ignoring them.

"But I'll be busy later."

"Then tomorrow. Have a lovely date—"

"Rael. Please." I sighed. I guess I have no choice. I'll have him owe me and use it for later. I had to at least have a civil relationship with the only person that I could trust, right? I grabbed at Heath and Mary grew annoyed.

"What are you doing?" She gave me a dirty look and tried slapping my hands away.

"Mary, was it? Heath and I were discussing something important—"

"I told him already that I'm staying," She began but I cut her off.

"—so could you kindly and very politely, piss off?" Mary had her mouth open in shock. She began stuttering.

"Y-you can't say that! And let go of him, he's mine!" 

"I can and I did. I'm merely saving him from a crazy delusional girl. Now shoo before I call the guards and tell them that one of the prisoners has escaped and is cosplaying a bratty girl with her daddy's money." I felt my lip twitch but kept a straight face. 

I pushed her hands off of Heath, his clothes wrinkled now, and dragged him away from a stunned Mary.

I looked up and saw Heath giving me a surprised look as well. I shrugged. "She was testing my patience so I snapped. Now I suggest we run before she starts screaming." Heath didn't reply as he began running out of the ballroom, with me following him. Just as we've left the ballroom, we hear a scream and burst into laughter. I nearly tripped as I kept on laughing and Heath had to stop his running to breathe. We stood in the hallway for a while, madly grinning at what we'd done. 

"That was..." Heath didn't have any words and resorted to laughing again. I chuckled.

"I've always wanted to say that to her."

"Oh, so she's like this in the future too?" I stare at him.

"She's worse in the future." Heath puts a hand over his face.

"Dear gods... How is that even possible?" I was tempted to tell him that he picks her in the bad ending, but refrained. I take a deep breath. I'm not too sure how being rude to Mary might change the plot but...

I saw Heath smiling and laughing to himself as if picturing the scene again. As annoying as he was, it felt good to have made him laugh. Heath caught me staring and his smile faltered. He opened his mouth to say something and stopped.

"Right, uh thanks." He finally let out.

"It's fine." Just don't forget that you owe me. I'd say this out loud except it'd probably ruin this hard-to-come bonding moment. I'm sure that after this Heath will continue to ignore me unless he needs something. But that's alright. Friendship and comradeship take time! Baby steps!

Heath lowered his head and tried talking when a booming voice interrupted him.

"And after all that mingling and eating, a bit of screaming too—" The announcer laughed at his joke, "—I think it's time for the birthday child to pick someone to dance with, don't you all agree?" 

"Crap! That's my cue! Well cya!" I didn't wait for a response and ran back. I made it right before they started looking for me. I went to the announcer and stood there. Now it was time for phase one of my plan. I took a deep breath and began walking. 

While running away with Heath, I spotted a certain guest. Knowing where the guest was, I walked there, under the watchful eyes of others. I met eyes with a girl who smiled at me. Ah, wasn't that Rael's original dancing partner? The one he humiliated along with himself? Wasn't her name... Corina? I smiled back but didn't walk up to her. Finally spotting the person I'd been looking for, I walked up to them, bowed, and offered a hand.

"May I please have this dance with you?" The person in question turned and we locked eyes. Striking green met my gold-brown eyes. I nearly froze with fear, scared that the person might decide to kill me a little earlier than expected when he put his hand in mine. 

"Yes." Ru Hasselt answered though he didn't look very happy to have been asked out. I heaved a sigh of relief as we walked up to the empty dance floor. This would be nerve-wracking. Dancing under judgmental eyes... I feared what might happen if I messed up.