Never Forget

[Lorraine POV]

"I see. Well, introductions first. Young Lorraine, my name is Irene Starray. I as headmaster of the Floating Islands of Legacies welcome you as a new disciple.

"Waa?"

Walking up to me, the pretty lady reaches out her hand to give a handshake. Seeing her outstretched hand, I simply reach my hand out to shake hers without too much thinking. I see the lady give a nice smile, so I smile back not knowing what else to do.

"You're going to be living here for the next few months so get ready for it."

"Umm, Ok?"

Clap! Clap!

"Alright, looks like you're all set. Time for me to go."

After clapping her hands to get my attention, I see Master walking toward the door as if she's ready to leave. Letting go of the Headmaster's hand, I quickly run in front of her and block her way.

"Wait! Master, you're leaving?"

"Yep, I can't be supervising you the whole time. I got my own duties to take care of. Having dedicated so many months to teaching you, I got quite a bit stacked up."

"But, what about my stuff?"

"I'll send everything here, once I get back."

"But Aegis-"

"Lorraine."

Suddenly, Master walks up to me and grabs me by the shoulder.

"Lorraine, the path to power was never a single person's conquest. Haven't you felt like you've hit a wall in training? You need to interact with others and learn in a new environment."

"Master-"

"Also, Lorraine, ever since you've started training, you have slowly lost something inside of you. It's something precious to you. Get it back."

With that, Master pats my shoulder a few times before walking past me and disappearing. I was just left staring into the void, shocked by what I had just heard.

'I lost something? What could it be?'

After a few more minutes of deep contemplation, Irene speaks up to break the silence.

"Alright, Young Lorraine, contemplation will do nothing. Since Aegis send you here to get back whatever you lost, you might as well start fitting in."

After she finished speaking, the headmaster of my soon-to-be home picked up a small hammer and gently tapped it against a gong located just outside the house.

Bonnnnnng

As the sound of the gong rang out, I see a middle-aged man appear before us. He had short black hair, wearing a light blue uniform with highlights of dark blue. Then he quickly down on knee and lowers his head, all while having a stone cold face.

"Greetings Headmaster."

"Gale, get Lorraine introduced to the place. She's new here."

"Yes."

Immediately, the man gets up and gives a slight bow. Suddenly, a gust of wind comes as I get blown into the air. I yelp in surprise or at least, I was supposed to. Somehow, I couldn't speak for some reason. Soon, the wind carries me out of the room and off the island.

"...ah..."

After getting a few hundred meters above the island, I suddenly feel something change and I could speak again. Looking around, I see the man beside me, also being carried by a gust of wind.

"Sorry for that...Lorraine but I couldn't have someone screaming in the residence of the Headmaster. I'm Gale, I'm one of the Headmistresses representatives."

"I-Its ok, M-mister Gale, so where are you taking me now?"

I was a bit shocked to see the cold-faced man suddenly open up and show a smile mere moments after. It was almost as if they were two different people.

"I'm taking you to the registration hall. It's on one of the outer islands so on the way I'll take to you about The Floating Islands of Legacies.

The easiest way to put it is that this is an academy of sorts. It's the largest academy for weapon users, of course probably only until the Euqolian Higher Academy is built in a few years.

Anyways, there exist many floating islands that make up the academy. With each of them belonging to a different type of weapon. This concentrated setup allows for all the disciples to easily interact with people of similar skills. Of course, there are many events and activities in place for the disciples to interact with their peers on different islands.

You'll learn more when you start to fit in. For now, we'll get you signed up and you'll need to partake in the entrance exam though. Even with the recommendation of the Headmaster, everyone needs to prove themselves to be a part of us."

After Gale finished speaking, he simply stayed quiet as we travelled through the air. This allowed me to relax for a bit. Being in this new place, my nerves had always been high. For the past months, whenever I would be in a brand new place, it probably meant I was going to be attacked by all sorts of monsters.

Grabbing hold of my sword, I fiddle around with a pendant that was now wrapped around its sheath. Letting out a deep breath, I steady my gaze on the island that we're approaching.

'I will find what I lost.'

...

[Arius POV]

"Dakriaaaa, I can't read anymore."

Back in the library of books, I started reading books about craftsmanship since Darkria wouldn't let me out of Duargeinhelm. After getting through a few books, I was lying flat atop one of the tables looking at the person responsible for me being here. She was sitting on a desk reading a book with a pile of books next to her.

"Arius, you already know I can't do that. I spent some precious Mythril sending you here so you better make use of it."

"Yeah, yeah, you already said that before! That's why I'm in this library reading. Also, why are you reading, aren't you suppose to know everything already."

"Well, I don't have the resources to look through all the information so I'm making do with reading some things to refresh my memory."

"Alright, but can I please go out now?"

The boredom was really getting to me now. I was just a little bit away from rolling around on the ground and using furniture as an obstacle course.

"Arius, you'll need to be here just a litt-Oh! Never mind, you're free to go."

"Really?"

"Yep!"

Before I could celebrate, I feel my soul gets lifted up and transported back into my body. As I gradually open my eyes, I hear the door to my room open. Soon, I hear a few whispers fill the room.

"Do you think Arius is still asleep?"

"Don't know, I've need seen him sleep like this. He usually gets up to eat immediately when he feels hungry.

"Poor, Arius. Hopely this sister can help you."

Soon, I see three people come into view. I see them carrying a bag and start taking out many items from it.

"...Big Brother? Sister?"

"Arius, you're awake? That's great. I heard that you exhausted yourself so we decided to get you something to help you recover."

"Really? Thank you."

"Aww, no problem. Let's begin. Eh? Sophia, come on give me the cream."

"No."

"Ehhh? I see."

As I was still lying on the bed, Big Brother Jaque lifted me up to sit me down on the bed. As he moved me, I twitch a little as I feel stinging pain from my bruises. After that, Big Brother pulls off my shirt and winces a little after seeing my back. Seeing his face, I could only assume that it was bad but I couldn't tell how bad until Stella saw it.

"MY! Arius! What did you actually do yesterday? There are bruises all over your back!"

"I fell a lot..."

"Come on, Arius. You need to tell us the truth, or else I'll tell Edward to stop you from helping."

"No, don't do that!... I got dropped on the ground a few times...ssssSS"

As we were having our conversation, Sophia had already started putting what I assumed to be healing cream on my back. But when I revealed the true cause of my injuries, I felt a hand pressing really hard against my back.

"Why. Dropped."

"Umm, I tried talking to some merchants. They usually didn't believe what I said so they ordered their guards to take me awayOUch ouch ouch ouch, S-sophia sister, it hurts."

"Sorry."

"What!!! Arius!! From now on, I, no we forbid you from doing anything by yourself without telling us!"

"Sister Stella-"

"Arius!"

Hearing Stella actually yell, I decide to stop talking. Then when looking at them, I could see that each of them were dead serious and angry.

"Arius, what do you think we are to you? Friends, stranger?"

"N-"

"Arius, you might not realize it but we always thought of you as family. Not telling us what you were doing shows that you don't trust us."

"B-"

"We trust you. We worry for you."

"..."

Silence, after what I heard, I didn't have anything left to say. I simply looked down, guilty of what I'd done.

Suddenly I feel three pairs of arms hug me as I see the faces of Jaque, Stella and Sophia.

"You don't have to do this by yourself. If there's a problem, we'll all try to help as a family"

"Stella, J-aque, S-sophia... I...I WAAaaaaaa"

I could do nothing but cry in the embrace of family.

...

Gale's Fun Fact: Every year, in the Floating Islands of Legacy, there will be a large tournament held where all disciples are allowed to participate in a giant tournament. As thousands of disciples participate, the rewards are even more valuable. Access to the more private areas of the Islands and the chance to be chosen by a legacy. Truly something that everyone wishes for.