The world felt heavy, or maybe it was just him, lying face down on the cold tiles in his bedroom. Asher didn't know how long he had stayed there, but he dreaded every second.
The letter was still in his hands, crushed slightly at the edges from how tightly he held it.
He didn't bother to open it, knowing it would only cause him more agony. Just the word Academy had already given him a hint of his doom.
Velcrest Academy for the Gifted and Talented.
A prestigious institution, highly selective... although they accepted many races as students. And most importantly, a place he had absolutely no intention of setting foot in.
Yet here he was, accepted. And from the way they had written his na in perfect calligraphy and the number one by his na, he already assud they had their eyes on him.
"You're being dramatic," Alya's voice broke the silence, amusent laced in her tone.
"You don't understand." His last word beca muffled as he sank his face into the pillow beneath his head.
She crouched beside him, carefully pulling the letter from his hands and waving it in front of him.
"You know you worked months for this, Asher. You studied every night. You made sure to volunteer for the academy's services, even joined the raids—knowing fully well you'd be hurt..."
"…You hardly got any sleep. And not to ntion two days ago, when you almost got killed in the dungeon if your friends hadn't found you. And now you're acting like soone just sentenced you to death?"
He groaned. He heard everything she said, but sohow, his mind was stuck on the raid part. He let it go, though, because there were more important matters to deal with.
Shifting just enough to glare at her from the corner of his eye, he muttered, "Because they did." Then, he buried his face back into the pillow.
Alya simply rolled her eyes. "Co on. Do you know how many people would kill to be in your shoes?"
"They can take my shoes. I don't want them."
"Tch," she scoffed. "You're throwing a tantrum over getting exactly what you wanted. You're not a kid, you know."
"That was the other Asher, not ."
She frowned. "What?"
Asher quickly sat up and leaned against the sofa behind him. "Never mind."
He didn't care what the forr owner of this body had wanted or worked for.
All he knew was that he was stuck with the consequences—and the future—of sothing he hadn't planned for.
He had been partially happy with his old life. It might not have been as comfortable as this one, but at least he hadn't needed to stress himself.
Now he had to wake up early, study, and—worst of all—socialize with people he had no idea how to deal with.
Alya heaved a sigh and shoved the letter into his hands again, despite his protests. "Just read it properly."
He sighed, finally giving in, and let his eyes drop to the letter. Ripping it open carelessly, he pulled out the piece of paper inside and held it up.
"Dear Asher Morgan,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Velcrest Academy... blah blah blah... a bright future awaits... luxurious living, elite ranking, training, endless opportunities... blah blah... report to the academy by..."
He paused, and at that sa mont, his pupils dilated. He then shifted his gaze to Alya, who smiled unknowingly.
"What's today's date?"
"14th, November. What's wrong?"
"Why are you just giving this now?"
"Ah," she exclaid with a nervous laugh. "It arrived two days ago, but you were so busy getting everything ready for Mom, so I kinda forgot."
Asher exhaled and leaned back into the chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Alya grinned. "You're so happy you're speechless, huh?"
"I think I'm going to throw up."
She smacked his arm. "Stop being ungrateful!"
"I'm not ungrateful," he grumbled while rubbing his arm. "I just don't want to go to school or deal with people."
Alya scoffed. "That's too bad because you're going. And you don't have a choice."
Asher scoffed. "I doubt you can make ."
The sound of footsteps approaching caught his attention. As he turned, he saw their mother standing in the doorway with a cup of steaming tea in her hand.
She just stared at them with the sa tired but gentle expression but didn't say anything right away.
Her gaze moved to the letter in his hands. Just seeing the words brought a smile to her lips.
"Velcrest," she uttered. "I knew you could do it."
Sohow, for no reason, Asher's heart skipped a beat, followed by a slight pang of pain as he stared at her.
He wasn't sure what it was… guilt, maybe? He almost felt sorry for her and for the previous owner of this body. If anything, he blad himself.
They should have picked a different person—soone more hardworking than he was, soone as enthusiastic about school as Asher had been.
Instead, they chose him, and he couldn't bear to sit around and waste the efforts of this family, especially the owner of this body.
But he just couldn't see himself going to an academy as a new student all over again.
Alya crossed her arms, a smirk plastered on her face. "See? Mom's proud. And you're still acting like it's the end of the world."
He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I'll go."
Alya blinked. "Wait, really?"
He scowled. "Don't make say it twice."
His sister bead, and their mother just watched him with that soft, knowing look...the one that made him feel like he really was their Asher.
Even if he wasn't. Even if he never would be.
At the very least, he might as well live up to their expectations and try to piece together the mories.
He sighed again and stared down at the letter in his hands.
'Velcrest Academy, huh?'
If this world had decided to drag him into its ss, then maybe… just maybe… he would make sothing out of it.
Or burn it all to the ground and get labeled a tyrant so they'd send him away.
Either option worked.
Just as Alya was about to exit his bedroom, and he made to get up and head for the bathroom, a knock echoed through the apartnt.
At first, it sounded like sothing dropping—until a soft voice called his na, followed by another gentle knock.
"That should be Emma," Alya answered his unspoken question and turned to face him. "Answer the door while I prepare breakfast for you."
That said, she exited the room, leaving Asher and their mother. He shifted his gaze to her, waiting for so kind of approval, and she only gave a simple nod.
Exhaling, he stepped out of the bedroom, took a few strides through the hall, past the kitchen, and into the living room, which looked massive compared to where he had stayed before.
Without thinking twice, he pulled the door open—only for his gaze to fall on a brown-haired 'kid'.
She had big, round hazel eyes that faintly glowed, It reminded him of the sunset, and she was a little thick, in a good way, but he was still slightly annoyed.
Just staring at her brought a frown to his face, not to ntion how she just stood there, staring up at him cluelessly.
It took all he had in him to control himself and say sothing instead of slamming the door shut, because he didn't like kids, especially the loud ones.
"Can I help you?"
"Hm?" Her brow rose. "That's not nice, Asher," she mumbled, lowering her gaze to her fiddling fingers. "Naomi told to call you so we could walk to the academy together."
Naomi?
The na triggered a series of images in his mind—his phone wallpaper, voices, and the face of a blonde girl.
"Uhm... w-where is she?"
"She went ahead with the guys. She said she was in charge of cleaning duty with Tay," Emma answered, tilting her head when his gaze shifted away from her face. "Is everything alright?"
"Y-yes," he stuttered, forcing a smile. "Co in."
He stepped aside, allowing her inside, but just as she walked past him, he caught a glimpse of sothing...or soone...watching him from a corner.
If he had seen correctly, there were red eyes... or orange.
Setting that aside, he closed the door behind him and turned to head to his bedroom, but the conversation between Alya and Emma caught his attention almost imdiately.
"What do you an she went to karaoke with the boys? Asher was ho all day," Alya questioned.
Emma giggled as she placed her bag on the sofa beside her. "She actually goes there with them a lot, since Asher is always busy studying and running errands."
"Don't you know?"
"I barely talk to her," Alya admitted, handing a cup of coffee to Emma. "What about Tay? Is he always with her?"
Emma shook her head slowly. "He only talks to her about Asher or school stuff, and you know he's always busy." She paused, taking a sip of coffee before sighing.
"You shouldn't really be bothered. She's his girlfriend, after all. You don't have anything to worry about."
"She drove him insane last month over this sa issue."
"Hm?" Emma mumbled, glancing up at Alya with the cup between her lips. "She said he didn't mind."
Asher just watched, irritation plastered on his face. He let out a quiet chuckle and continued toward his room.
'Didn't think a bookworm would have a social freak for a girlfriend.'
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