Being a university student can be quite hectic; as such the busy schedules, assignments and projects, not to mention the other trivialities of everyday lives. This however did not break even the slightest spirit of one fiery youth, Aiden Vyce.

Though, he now feeling like wanting to commit arson in the early morning. What was with the loads of work given on the first week of semester?

He sighed lightly while getting dress for the morning.

Aiden, like most typical university students, had a dark ring under the eyes. His more so darken than the others.

He was a third year now.

His standard class attires are mostly casual wear. Like today he just wore a plain t-shirt, under a dark grey collared hoodie, and thrown in a pair of black jeans. Actually scratch that. His standard class attires are mostly consist of whatever plain clothes and jeans he had, under a variety of hoodies. Aiden collects hoodies, though mostly unique or edgy-looking ones.

Although he didn’t care much about appearance, Aiden still tries to tame his wild black haired which stopped at his neck. To no avail, the strand kept on going rebel on him. Don’t know why his supposedly straight hair like to defied gravity sometime His hair was a bit ashen, and some part appeared to have purple heather shades under a shine.

His gray eyes suddenly fixed upon the person entering the room based on the reflection on his desk mirror.

“Ai? You’re already dressed?” his roommate, Articus Nathaniel asked as he entered their shared dorm room. He said rather nonchalantly with only a towel hanging around his waist, seeing that he just finished having his morning shower.

“Hm,” Aiden answer simply, though unsure whether it was a question or a statement. After deciding that his hair looks presentable enough, he quickly sling his messenger bag and beeline to the door.

Articus stare at him amidst dressing, and felt like going nagging mode in the morning as he saw his diligently roommate about to leave. “Why do you always have to go so early? We’re seniors. Sure you know that the schedules aren’t that-“

“-aren’t that lenient,” Aiden cut him, and then throw him a playful look. “Besides, aren’t you the one who supposed to go early, Mr President? To show some good leader punctuality or something?”

“Haha. See? Even the president was that laid-back,” Articus laughed good heartily, choosing not to say anything afterward.

“Later.” Aiden smile at him before leaving. If the ravenette had turned his back for a second, he would have seen the frowning eyes his roommate was given him.

 

♬•°♩°•♪*✦*♪•°♩°•♬

 

The walk to morning class was as usual; ignoring everything or everyone around. Aiden was used to this; going to and back from class, alone.

However, it was not like the ravenette was been unsociable or trying to be an emo or something. He was never an emo teen or an edgy rebel in his teens; just an average loner guy who like to keep to himself.

It was more than that actually.

In fact, Aiden was browsing through his social media feeds right now, as he walks across the buildings. Occasionally, leaving a like or two on the little shits someone post. He can crowd himself well with others just fine, but he chose to do otherwise. And he perfectly fine being an introvert.

At least like this.. no one will know what a ‘freak’ he is.

Aiden slowed down his pace as he arrives to a lone open corridor. It was still early, so there’s no one on that path at the moment. If Aiden were to make a metaphor about himself, it would be this now lonesome corridor. A lonely long path.

The ravenette resisted the urge to chuckle that he just compared himself with the corridor. Sometimes he wondered, if it because of his passive nature or because the secret he held inside that kept him from befriending others. He chose the latter.

Aiden sighed inwardly, shoving his phone into his pocket. It was not showing on his face, but he truly does feel dreaded.

If he had recalled correctly, it was a very long long long time since he had that curse of a dream. Scratch that; nightmare was the appropriate term to describe how he felt over the years of his life.

Ever since Aiden was a child —he’s unsure the exact age it started— but for as long as he could remember was that.. he always had these weird bizarre dreams. Flying through the air above a grassy field, drowning under a cold lake, laying down on a soft-bed snowfield, getting attacked by unidentified monster and others weird bizarre adventures-esque dreams.

He would always dream about doing something or going into places he never even been to. And it felt like as if he was there. Like he had already experience it before which was really weird.

Each and every one of these dreams were different every time. The only thing he learned about those dreams for the past years was that, it had a fairytale kind of thing going on. But what stand out the most among the dreams; are the people he never met.

He didn’t know why or how; he always had the same kind of dreams about many different men, which oddly enough he never remembers their faces everytime he woke up. Seldom, not always, but it still frequent enough throughout his life after he turned eighteen.

Eventhough he couldn’t remember the faces, Aiden could easily differentiate the men based on their unique physical traits, which consist of wings, cat ears or dog ears, demon horn, cool armor and the like. Which bring himself to question; why did he dream about all of that?

And to make the matter worse.. the words. The words. The words of the four men said when he dreams about them. Aiden didn’t even question if they spoke his language because he could very much understand each and every sentences they said to him in those dreams.

And just last night, he had that dream again. The dream about those four men whom he doesn’t know who or what they are.

‘How to stop this weird-ass dream..?’ Aiden trailed, and then frowned at the thought. His parents or anyone never believe him when he told them about his weird dreams. Not even the therapist. So he never told them about these particular ones.

It’s not like he could just share it with someone that he often dream about several different men confessing their creepy undying love to him. They probably wouldn’t say anything about his preference, but they sure as hell would be judgemental of him dreaming about men with wings or horns.

“No one must know.”

“What no one must know?”

SMACK!

The sudden question accompanied by a loud smacked of hand on the wall besides Aiden causing him to stop abruptly.

A tall and broad body stood infront of him, which effectively block his way.

“Good morning, fairy!” The owner of the body greeted cheerfully.

While Aiden appreciate his classmates or others who tried to approach him in the past, this however was not the case. The venom dripped from the man’s greeting was especially strong this morning. He may have to cut his monologue short for this one.

Caelum Rivers, with his light blonde spiky hair, tan skin, riveted ears and evil sneer was the university’s infamous bad boy and former delinquents, and ironically the Head of the Disciplinary Committee.

Caelum was respected, but mostly feared throughout the student body because of his senses of law, which again sound ironic considering his delinquency’s past. He wore a low v-cut shirt under his blazer. What an asshole. His hair was probably bleached out too.

“What did you said about my hair?”

“Did I say that aloud?”

In the distance, Aiden could see the disciplinary committee members, the campus prefects, Caelum’s minions, are surrounding the corner, blocking his chance to run. He cursed his luck. They were the reason why he always had to go to class early.

“Hey! I was greeting you nicely! Was I not?!” Caelum snarled at Aiden while he closed the gaps between them.

“Morning. What do you want?” Aiden decided to humour him.

“Ha, quick to the point as always, Vyce. I want to meet you after morning classes.”

“Sorry, I’m busy.”

“What are you busy for at that time?! It’s lunch time!”

“I’m busy eating lunch.”

Caelum was not amused, but offered graciously, “Then, let’s have lunch together as we talk.”

“No.”

“Dammit just meet me after this morning classes!”

“May I please know why?” the ravenette feigned polite.

The Disciplinary Head snorted at that attitude, “Ha, some anonymous tipped me that you leave the dorm last night.”

“But didn’t I come back before the curfew? I don’t see why it’s a problem. Wait, do our uni even have a curfew?”

“It’s a problem because you went into that forest. You know, that forest.”

“I don’t see why me going into a forest-“

Caelum cut him off with a stern look, “-That forest was forbidden because of the incident two years ago, which I recalled you were involved!”

‘Ah, to hell.’ Deciding the conversation was pointless as Aiden already knew what the Disciplinary Head was hinting at, he sighed before glaring at the man before him. “How many times do you want to do this?” his monotone voice changed to a cold one.

Caelum didn’t even falter, and answered firmly, “Until I got my answer.”

“Well, keep searching then.”

Instead of fighting backs, which obviously what the Disciplinary Head want, Aiden chose to ignore him by using the other way. Caelum was alarmed by the action, and immediately attempted to block him again.

“Hey, that’s rude! I’m not finish talking with you yet!” Caelum forcefully yanked Aiden’s front hoodie.

Two hands pushed back the light blonde haired man, though he didn’t budge. Aiden’s eyes desperately tried to search for an opening. He didn’t want to do this early in the morning.

But before the ravenette could do anything, someone had approached them.

“Hey, you two.”

Both Aiden and Caelum turned to the silvery voice.

It was owned by a fair white skinned man in his late twenties in a kept white collar dress shirt with soft purple tie, under an opened black stand-up collared jacket. He had a pair of black eyes, with straight black haired that had some tone of dark shades purple under the morning light, and for some reason wore a little braid at the side.

All of them immediately acknowledged the person as their lecturer and dorm warden that just started teaching last year, Dr. Hermez T..

“What are you two doing here? Blocking the path?” Dr Hermez questioned with a stern tone.

“There is no one here yet.. Dr,” Caelum answered him, still holding Aiden’s front hem hoodie. He was right, there were only the three of them in the big corridor. His committee members had long gone their ways when the lecturer came.

“Well, aren’t you two supposed to be in class right now?” The lecturer crossed his arms, still in a strict demeanour.

“It’s still early,” Aiden offered. True enough, it was still 7:35 am where classes usually starts at 8 am.

Dr Hermez’s stern facade inevitably crumbled as he burst on fake tears. “What the hell? You guys could at least pretend to eat up my words! I swear some of the students here are meanies for no reason!”

Aiden and Caelum stared flatly at him. It was already known throughout the university that this particular lecturer was an eccentric one.

Hermez suddenly stopped to look at them, this time with a gentle smile on his face. “So.. what are you two doing? Fighting? Practice combat? Aggressive hugging?”

“He is clearly bullying me, ” Aiden stated with a matter of fact voice.

The lecturer had a dramatic gasp with his right palm on his mouth.

Caelum immediately bristled at that, “Wha- What?! No! You bitch don’t wanna listen to me! I only want to talk about that-“

Prompt, the ravenette’s facing away in annoyance, causing the light blonde haired man to lose his shit. His fingers tightened on the cloth. “You little shit-!”

Dr Hermez cut him off, then proceed to scold him, “Now that was not very nice of you, Rivers. I can’t believe that a respectable student like you is harassing another student who is innocent, weak, fragile, flimsy, frangible, insubstantial, delicate, defenceless-“

‘The fuck he’s on about?’ Both students grew concern as the lecturer keep on babbling. Aiden beginning to feel insecure about his supposedly fragile outlook. He swore that he had been constantly periodically following Articus on his exercises session and gym trip!

“-You are the Disciplinary Committee’s Head! You’re suppose to uphold the law and protect the students! The council had chosen you! You-!”

“-Ok, fine!” Caelum let go the ravenette’s front hoodie. “I see you after this, Vyce! Don’t you dare run away!” Then he turned to give a curt nod to Hermez before walking off from there.

“Like I give a F,” Aiden called out after the man, earning a grunt response.

After the Disciplinary Head leave, Dr Hermez walked to Aiden side. “You two seem at odds with each other just now, why was that?” he asked kindly, placing a hand on the student shoulder.

Surprisingly, Aiden flinched at his touch. But then shrugged it off. He was not used to stranger touching him so suddenly. He was a rather reserved child growing up.

“Oh, it was nothing, Dr,” Aiden mulled over his sentences, “Just a.. misunderstanding.”

Thankfully, Dr Hermez did not press further, as he still smiling gently. “Well, ok then. I see you around or in class.. Umm.. You..” His words trailed as he looks expectantly.

“Oh, Aiden. My name is Aiden Vyce.” Aiden finished for him. This after all was their first conversation outside from classes. He did not expect a teacher to remember all his students after all.

“Aiden then. Good day now.” Dr Hermez bid with a light wave of hand as he walked to the opposite.

Aiden couldn’t help but stare at the fleeting figure of that lecturer.

There’s nothing much known about Dr Hermez. He started teaching in General Studies’ department last year. And immediately after that, took a spot as one of the male wardens after the old one sudden quit.

On his first day, he insisted everyone to use his first name, ‘Hermez’ rather than the surname, ‘T’. No one knows what that, ‘T’ is though. He also wanted the students to address his name in Greek’s pronunciation of ‘Hermês’, or at least referred to him as, ‘Dr Mez’. Well, it didn’t do much; he’s still going to end up address as, ‘Dr’ or ‘Prof’, like the other lecturers.

Though, he had quite a following. Most students, especially the female students, cherished him for his good looks and vibrant personality, as well on the fact that he was one of the few young lecturers at their university. The guys, not so much.

The lecturer had quite unconventional method of teaching and evaluation. He preferred doing field studies, assessments and group activities, rather than giving tests, exams or quizzes. Aiden himself had been to one of his classes in the past, and currently attending one.

Despite the calm look and sanguine temperament, Aiden couldn’t help but felt some odd vibes coming out from the lecturer everytime he saw him. He’s pretty mystery, right?

Like a mist.

Aiden had to wonder why he felt that way with that lecturer.