“Aster!” 

“Aster!” 

“Wake up damn it!” 

I opened my eyes to find myself staring up at a white ceiling. Rolling over I found Sky with his remarkable smile with his arms behind his back.  

Out of nowhere he rushed forward and pelleted me with the bucket of water. I was completely soaked and was furious for a second, but shortly broke out into laughter. Sky had already fallen to the ground and didn’t react with when I jumped off my loft.  

“Damn it, dude, now I have to wash all my sheets.” 

“Your fault for oversleeping.”  

“What are you waking me up for anyway! Classes don’t start until next week.” 

“Orientation, we have to be out on the field in 10 minutes. Get moving!” He ordered pushing me to get ready.  

I put on a new set of clothes but couldn’t help but reminisce when seeing my figure in the mirror. I was remarkably similar to Ziph as his appearance was based on myself. Which may explain why I was put in Ziph’s body, not something I thought about until just now, but worth noting. 

White hair that was long in the middle but a fade on the side, a pair of light eyes more orange than brown, and tanned skin more brown than golden while also being in above average shape. At a height of 5’ 10” (178cm) if I remember correctly. 

+++ 

I stood out on the sports field and chatted with Sky as we waited for everything to begin. “Sky!” That voice… 

As I turned around she walking over, Megan. “Aster, this is my girlfriend Megan. Megan this is Aster.” I hid my anger behind a smile my hand stretched out in greeting. 

“The pleasure is all mine,” I answered, an untraceable amount of malice covered by the fake laugh. 

“Where you from Aster?” She put her dainty and smooth hand in my contrasting vast and coarse hand. 

“A few blocks down, my parents own the archery range.” 

“So, you’re an archer. That’s cool!” Her voice was chipper and her overuse of hand motions expressed her excitement.  

“Not really, spent much more time with swords in the open field than with the bow.” 

“You know how to use a sword?” Sky blurted, his face covered in shock and his eyes restless. 

“Been using it for years. You used one before?” 

“Absolutely, been a hobby of mine.” His eyes were red hot staring me down ready for a challenge, his fingers rapidly drumming on his leg.  

“We’ll have to spar sometime.”  

“Sure thing dude, sounds like a date.” He hung his arm over my shoulder and pulled me into his broad and overly muscular frame. 

“Dude I’m not gay!”  

“Neither am I!” 

“Get a room you two.”  

“We already have a room together.” 

“It’s official my boyfriend is cheating on me with another guy.”  

“He isn’t!” I declared. The couple couldn’t contain their laughter any longer and I wasn’t long to follow. I may dislike the person Megan became, scratch that I despise her. But these euphoric moments were times that defined the rest of my life. Her voice was what always charmed me. Her contagious laugh, her remarkable smile, her curious eyes, her trained posture, and a personality that everyone can get behind. It is because of this all that when she was finally gone it hurt so much. 

“Why don’t you guys go now? Not like this event is truly that important.” Megan suggested. 

“I’m done for it.” I inputted. 

“Yea why not? This whole orientation is meant to help students make friends.” He elaborated to himself as we already knew this information. In the field of a couple thousand students, you won’t notice when three are missing. The walk to the range was short with the conversation revolving around me and Sky.  

“When did you learn to a sword?” I already knew the answer but I was recreating the conversation from the first time through. 

“I was 12 at the time, father came back with one and I was fascinated by it. I could barely lift it at the time but that the start of the obsession.” 

“My story isn’t near as remarkable. I was out on the range when I heard the clash of metal behind me. My Uncles were fighting using the training swords but the constant sound of clashing steel became infatuating. I couldn’t stop training with the bow though. My mother would never allow me to use a sword instead of the bow. After my Mom left that day and the range was empty, I picked up the nicked blade and started slamming into the training dummy.”  

“How is that remarkable? You are completely disregarding the orders of your parents to follow what you love! That is so cool!” Megan proclaimed with sparkling eyes while Sky shot me his infamous half smile. After the proclamation Megan walked close to me to the point, we constantly bumped arms. I tried to put the distance between us but she consistently encroached on my personal space. 

+++ 

The range was closed as it was a Sunday, but I used my personal key to get in. I did write myself a reminder on my phone to wipe the cameras of our visit none the less though. 

Sky and I stood across from each other swords held in hand. “Want to do a few practice swings on the training dummy over there?” Pointing to a dummy lying in the corner. Sky nodded in agreement and walked over to get in a little practice.  

“Aster!” Megan called me, and without turning back already knew what this was about. 

“What’s up!”  I called back not daring to face her. 

“I need some help. I want to know how to use the bow.” She further elaborated. 

I closed my eyes and prepared for the scene that would ensue. A long breath was released and I turned around to see her. Her eyes were down range, focused for the first. Her arms were taught her hands unmoving all her overreactions missing. Her scarlet lips were narrowed, and like it was nothing the arrow left her bowstring. Slowly the arm holding the bow fell to her side, but the completely focused look didn’t leave her. With a thud, the arrow inserted itself in the target, bullseye. Her lips curved into a large smile and her eyes were back to their bright selves. A gust of wind blew into her face but she didn’t flinch but her hair relentlessly followed the course of the wind. 

I was once again left speechless; why even in my hate was I bewitched by her beauty? 

“I did it! I hit it!” A jubilant cheer left her gorgeous lips as I was left starstruck. 

“Looks like you didn’t need my help.” Broken out from her spell after a short while I expressed my honest opinion.  

“I totally do!” She repeated her actions but now didn’t hold the same focus she previously had. Her emotions affected her. Her arm was trembling, her back wasn’t straight, her footing was off, the bowstring was pulled back wrong, and she held the arrow the wrong way. Obviously, the arrow flew off course and was lost in the meadow.  “See! I need you to help me!”  

“Sky you good to go?” I didn’t even acknowledge her temptation; I couldn’t allow myself to fall for her tricks another time. I instead, returned my focus to the man aggressively bashing the training figure.  

“Yea I’m good to go!” He exclaimed and readied himself on the other side of the area. 

“One hit or off balance, win?” I offered, got myself into a basic Kenjutsu stance. My footing was slightly off but nothing abnormal.  

“Best of five then,” He took a similar stance to my own, but held his blade vertical and by his shoulder.  

I took a slight step forward to see any sort of reaction. Nothing, his arms were loose, and his footing was immaculate. ‘You are still a demon with the blade.’ This match was over the moment I accepted. I rushed forward blade in a downwards arc. He lowered his body weight and prepared for a block. I slightly curved the blade and aimed for his unguarded wrist. Noticing the slight change in trajectory, he slid and maneuvered his blade to push mine away. Immediately following through with upwards swing towards my neck. Leaning back the blade soared by and I fell flat on my back.  

“Point 1 Sky,” I dusted myself off and conceded the first point. 

We separated back to about the same distance we started at. With a bow to signify we were both ready; we were both back in our same respective stances. The crash was immediate as our blade in the classic X stand-off. His eyes were on fire, as we pushed back against each other. Sky pushed me onto my back foot but I didn’t concede the contest of strength too easily. Sky knew and expressionless face was replaced by a youthful shout with a wide smile. I pulled my blade slight towards me as I pushed him off me. He could correct his balance near immediately but I took the split second to rush forward. I lost 0-3 last time this same day happened. Sky later told me this second exchange was the one I had a chance of winning.  

His weight had been put onto his right leg so I swung horizontally in hopes of worsening it. Without much choice, he ducked down and under my blade. In the close range, I swept his legs as causing him to lose his balance and fall just as I had.  

“Point 1 Aster,” He answered as I reached down to help him up. As we stood eye to eye as equals, the world went black. 

+++ 

I opened my eyes to find myself staring a different white ceiling. I turned over and saw a scarlet-haired beauty sitting at my bedside. 

“So, you’re finally awake?” That trained smile was disregarded as her face was devoid of all emotions. 

“How long was I out?” I inquired, not expecting an answer. 

“How do you know?” She ignored my question, just the same I ignored hers. 

“What, that’s you’re adopted?” I taunted, my eyes were furious. 

Her face was dark, and her knuckles turned white, her body pulsated as the blood rushed through her. She was unwilling to bow her head so in her ire, she punched me straight in the face.