Extra's Descent

The exhibition matches continued in the afternoon.

Brandon dropped out of the competition. And thus Raven won for the first-years.

The results went on:

—————————

⌞First Year:

Winner: Raven Blackheart.

.

⌞Second Year:

Winner: Oscar Regius.

.

⌞Third Year:

Winner: Amelia Constantine.

.

⌞Fourth Year:

Winner: Daphne Lavine.

—————————

And that was it.

There were fifth year students, but they were never in the academy much.

Fourth year would entail the preparations for guild or military internships. While fifth year would mark the start of said internships.

Most of the students were excited for the internships.

And one of them was Raven.

After winning the exhibition match, he was given a substantial amount of coins.

Currently, he was exploring the festival.

Booths were still up, though not as active as the first two days of the festival.

And since he won the exhibition match…

"Let's go there."

"Damn it, Claire."

"Shut up, Amy."

His friends requested that he should treat them during the festival.

Reinhard had left off to go somewhere. Currently it was only him, Amy, Rachel, and Claire.

Amy and Claire seemed lively, especially Amy.

But for some reason, the atmosphere around Rachel was quite gloomy.

"Cheer up."

As those words left his mouth, Rachel turned to look at him.

"Hm? What are you talking about…?"

She fixed her expressions and tilted her head.

"It's fine. It's just us here."

Claire and Amy had already run off to the stalls.

"So? What happened…?"

He decided to ask.

"Haa…"

Rachel breathed out a sigh.

"Things aren't looking good for me. I've barely seen him these past few days."

"Ah, he is really busy though."

"Yeah, I know…."

Rachel seemed to suppress her words. Noticing, Raven skeptically raised his brow.

"But is that the only reason why you're down in the dumps?"

"...No."

Rachel shook her head.

"Do you think…"

She bit her lips.

"...He's seeing anyone?"

"Huh?"

Raven was dumbfounded.

Shaking his head, he pursed his lips.

"That guy? No way."

"But…"

She hesitated once again.

Biting her lips, she continued.

"...He seems to be having fun with Lady Amelia."

"Lady Amelia? His committee head?"

"Yeah."

"Hm…"

Raven pinched his chin.

"They did seem quite close."

But Raven shook his head and reassured her.

"Still, I can't see that guy liking anyone on his own. No offense."

"No, I understand, I–"

"Hm? Whatsh thish aboutch Lade Ameliuh…?

Claire appeared all of a sudden. She spoke with bread in her mouth.

"Ah, it's nothing."

Rachel dismissed her.

"Is this about Brandon?"

And Amy chimed in as she stepped beside Claire. On her hand were a couple of paper bags.

"Let me get that."

Raven offered to hold the bags for her.

"Thanks."

Amy flashed him a wide grin.

Looking at the two, Rachel wore a bittersweet expression.

The three looked at her back with a conflicted look of their own.

"We know you like him."

"Eh?"

Claire's sudden revelation took Rachel aback.

"Yup, it's written all over your face."

Rachel touched her cheeks as soon as those words left Amy's mouth.

"Is it that obvious?"

"It is."

"Yup."

"Told you."

Rachel averted her gaze and looked away at their confirmation.

"It's not that obvious to him, though."

She muttered barely audibly.

"Don't compare us to him."

All of a sudden, Claire clasped both sides of Rachel's cheek and turned her head to meet her gaze.

"We all know how dense he is. He won't notice anything unless you say it right to his face."

"That's what I said."

Raven chimed in from the side.

Claire knitted her brows and turned around to glare at Raven.

"Shut up. Like you could talk."

"Uh…?"

Raven sported a stupefied expression. The hell is she talking about?

Claire then looked back at Rachel—who still wore a disheartened expression.

"Back to the topic of Lady Amelia. I don't think they're dating."

"Yeah, it didn't seem that way to me as well."

Amy joined in on the conversation.

Hearing their words, a sudden hope boiled within Rachel. Unfortunately, it was shattered as fast as it came by Amy's next words.

"But if they like each other, that's another story."

"..."

Once again, Rachel was disheartened.

If they did like each other, then there was no way she could even begin to compete with Amelia.

She had the looks, the brains, the strength. When she thought about it, she was perfect for Brandon

It wouldn't be surprising at all if Brandon liked her.

Claire locked her gaze with Rachel and spoke seriously.

"Are you just going to give up?"

"..."

Rachel couldn't respond.

And Claire continued.

"Nothing's confirmed yet. If you really like him, then let that dense fucker see it with his own eyes."

"...Right."

Rachel couldn't find the right words to say.

But she wasn't feeling disheartened anymore.

Right.

There were no confirmations to anything. They were merely jumping into conclusions.

And as long as nothing was confirmed, then she had a chance.

"...!"

All of a sudden, all heads flick towards a certain corridor.

"Huh?"

For some reason, everyone had the same reaction.

Rubbing her shoulders, Amy anxiously spoke.

"Is it just me or does it feel like someone was watching us…?"

"I got that feeling too… Fucking chills."

Claire cursed as her face contorted to a disgusted look.

Raven looked ahead with his arms crossed.

He then narrowed his eyes as he continued gazing at the hallway.

Something…

His instincts told him something was going to happen during the talent show.

***

Inside a room with barely any visible light, aside from the sun, a lone man sat in front of the piano.

Num~

The melodious tune of the piano filled the room. While threads meticulously danced around his fingers.

Slowly, the threads merged with the piano strings.

Swoosh!

A myriad of threads extended from his fingertips. Threads coiled the space around him.

Num~

Each press of the piano key, threads danced with the fine tune of the melody.

Num~ Num~

The piece's name was Avid.

One of the most hardest musical pieces to master due to its complicated transitions in each movement. Though it wasn't in this world, but in his previous one.

It was the piece he'd been practicing for months.

And…

His mother's favorite musical piece.

1st Movement: Don't you get there.

Num~

His fingers moved elegantly at each key as the threads loomed in the vicinity, dancing at each tune.

Num~

This persisted, but slowly, he transitioned.

2nd Movement: It calls.

Num~

The piece's second part.

A slightly different melody, and a bit faster.

Num~

The silence that once gripped the room, now drowned out by the harmonious melody of the piano.

Num~

Third movement: Echoes.

He smoothly transitioned.

The piece's third part.

A more aggressive melody, and even faster than the usual pace.

Num~

Even more threads extended from his fingers, filling the atmosphere.

Num~

Fourth movement: Voices of the Chord.

The piece's fourth and final part.

It signaled the climax. The hardest part of the piece. Even professionals struggled to play the fourth movement perfectly.

But Brandon…

In just two months of playing the piano, he had quickly caught up to professionals under the assistance of [Accelerated Cognition].

His fingers moved smoothly with regal. Each key he pressed, the threads wove around.

There were a total of 72 sharp threads that danced around the air.

It was his current progress.

And shortly after, a notification popped up.

⌞Cursed Threads: 96%

But Brandon paid no heed to it and his fingers continued to move gracefully over the piano keys.

Each movement, an image overlapped in his mind.

His mother.

This performance…

It was for her and for her alone.

He could imagine his mother, seated on the stool in front of him. Smiling at him warmly.

—Oh, you're back from school?

—My sweet boy, I'm so proud of you.

—Hehe, I've made some new clothes for you.

—Surprise! I've got you a pair of new shoes! Now you can be just like your trendy classmates.

—I'm home! Oh? Did you miss me that much? Hehe, love you too.

—Come home early today. I've managed to earn a bit more from work today. We'll be having your favorite for dinner.

—My sweet boy. Mom will always love you.

CRASH——!

Num~

And that final key signaled the end of the musical piece.

Before he knew it, tears were already pouring down his face. The piano, a bit drenched from his teardrops.

Sob. Sob.

Silence gripped the room as only the sound of his sobbing echoed.

His mother…

He missed her.

Everyday, he would try to forget about his past life.

It wasn't anything grand. He was no one special.

But just the thought of leaving his poor mother alone gripped his heart tightly.

His mother loved him and so did he.

He was her world.

Her sweet little boy.

If only…

Just a fleeting thought.

If he could come back.

But he knew that was impossible.

And just the thought made him clench his chest.