A few days passed, and the entrance exams of Arcadia Academy began. Hundreds of applicants flooded the school grounds, which were the largest on the planet. The entire establishment was crowded with potential students.
Firstly, there was an intelligence and knowledge text, in which one was tested based on their reasoning skills and knowledge about the world and Heaven’s Spire, where they could possibly receive a job.
Arthur found the test quite easy. After submitting his test sheet, he headed out to meet his family, who was waiting for him outside school grounds.
“How did it go?” Magnus asked, ruffling the crimson-eyed man’s hair as if he were a child. 𝚍ｎ𝚘ｖ𝚕.𝚝
“Good,” replied Arthur. “I’ll know the results in an hour, right before the practical test begins. Are you guys going to stay?”
“You bet,” Anna confirmed, cradling a sleepy Lily in her arms. “We’re going to watch the entire event! We might even buy a few snacks for Lily, since she hasn’t eaten anything since morning.”
“She hasn’t eaten anything?” Arthur asked, narrowing his eyes. He snatched Lily from Anna’s arms before placing his palm on her forehead. Noticing it wasn’t too hot or cold, he frowned towards Anna. “Why is that?”
“Look at you, being the protective elder brother,” Anna giggled, taken aback but glad at the sight. Her arms were sore, anyway.
“Why hasn’t she eaten?” Arthur asked. His gaze dug into Anna.
“She ate breakfast and fell asleep,” explained Anna. “She hasn’t woken up ever since. I was thinking about getting her a croissant.”
“No, let’s get her a watermelon when she wakes up,” Arthur suggested. “She always complained how our village didn’t grow watermelons. But there’s tens of stores that sell watermelons in Arcadia.”
Anna’s eyes brightened as she nodded. “Get me some, too. Magnus, would you like some watermelon?”
“Of course, darling,” replied Magnus, pecking Anna on the cheek. The latter blushed like a teenage girl, and when the two turned around, Arthur and Lily were nowhere to be seen. “I guess… we freaked him out?”
“He’s an adult,” said Anna. “This much is fine. He probably spotted a watermelon stand or something.”
“Probably.”
*
“It’s you,” said Alisha, forming an expression of disgust as she spotted the approaching crimson-eyed man. Jamie tugged on her clothes, hiding behind her in pure fear and trauma. He remembered the incident in which the crimson-eyed man had sliced his finger.
For Jamie, the man was the incarnation of the devil.
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he buried his head in Alisha’s back. Tears threatened to escape his eyes.
“It’s the blind bitch!” Arthur commented, walking towards the watermelon stand beside which Alisha and Jamie stood. “What’re you doing here?”
“Blind… bitch?” Alisha asked, glaring at Arthur while wrapping her arms around Jamie, who trembled at the sight of the crimson-eyed man. “What do you think I would be doing next to a watermelon stand? Are you braindead?”
“No, I’m just surprised you can read the sign,” said Arthur, pointing at the sign in front of the stand that said, ‘Watermelons for cheap!’
“I’m surprised you haven’t unsheathed your sword yet.”
“That’s… not an insult, but okay,” Arthur said awkwardly, passing by Alisha while walking towards the watermelon stand. “Could I have one sliced watermelon… no, make that two sliced watermelons.”
“Sure!” The owner of the stand replied before getting to work. While he prepared the food, Arthur ruffled Lily’s hair.
“It’s time to wake up, Lily,” whispered Arthur gently. Lily shifted in her sleep, latching onto Arthur’s finger before groaning. It seemed she didn’t want to wake up. Soon, her disorganized breathing returned to its rhythmic state.
Arthur sighed, unable to do anything. He didn’t want to interrupt her sleep, as she needed as much sleep as she could at such a tender age.
“Look at you, being all soft,” said Alisha mockingly. “Softie.”
“Still not an insult,” replied Arthur blankly. He then glanced at Jamie, who squeaked in fear before hiding behind Alisha.
“Fuck you.”
“What did you say?”
“I said fuck you!!”
At those words, Lily stirred in her sleep, and Arthur’s eyes widened. The latter gritted his teeth before shooting a death stare at Alisha. If looks could kill, the cyan-haired woman would have perished several times.
As the crimson shade in Arthur’s eyes deepened, Alisha stepped back in surprise.
“You speak loudly once more and neither you nor your brother will leave with any fingers intact today,” Arthur threatened, baring his fangs. At that moment, Lily’s hand touched his shoulder, and the anger on Arthur’s face dissolved into a gentle expression.
‘A sister complex?’ Alisha wondered before shaking her head violently. ‘What am I thinking? That’s his little sister. I dote on Jamie like that, too.’
A sudden realization struck Alisha.
‘Lily… that’s his weakness… his vulnerability,’ thought Alisha. If she could somehow get to Lily, she would have Arthur under her feet. The only problem was… she was terrified of his crimson eyes and the gaze he directed towards her.
If she was so scared, then Jamie…
“Big sister… let’s go!” Jamie sobbed, burying his face into Alisha’s shirt. “Please…”
“Let’s go,” muttered Alisha with a horrified expression, grabbing Jamie’s hand before leading him towards an unknown direction.
Arthur gazed at the pair in the distance. A weird expression appeared on his face, and he somewhat regretted his decision. ‘Was I… a bit too harsh on the boy?’
But that thought was quickly drowned out as a sour expression appeared on his face. ‘That bastard deserved it… making Lily cry.’
Once he received the watermelons, Arthur headed back to where his parents were.
*
‘Kissing? They had never done that in my past life… or had they? I can’t remember,’ Arthur thought as he approached his parents. The two had their lips locked, and were performing indecent activities such as kissing in public.
Well, it wasn’t indecent…
‘But it’s weird…’ thought Arthur. ‘Thinking that makes me seem like a child. Come to think of it, I never had romantic relationships in my past life.’
Not that he was interested.
‘I’ll eat this with Lily for now. They can do whatever they’re doing for a little longer.’