PART ONE

[Nowo’s POV]

It all started at that magical place called HIA. It is an agency-slash-orphanage, where all orphans are allowed to work for their own living when they reach the legal age of 18. They were taking care of neglected children by adopting them, providing their needs, and by showing them the real love of a parent they were all longing for. To share and bring fun is what the HIA aims for. I know, right? It is indeed amazing to have met such a great place like this. Also, I’m really thankful to have met the most naughty and a little bit nice best buddy of mine. Omo, I really do miss him a lot.

I thought everything I knew about HIA will be the last things I will ever know about it. I thought it’s going to be that easy since it all went right when a person took me there. But when I reached 18, everything turned different from what it was before. I got trained, started to work, and do whatever task is on me, I even became like the attentive agent before when I was starting. Kidding. My mind was always gone with the wind, so I received a lot of bad compliments rather than good ones. I give my whole life working there, ‘cause I just find it like a safe haven. I mean it, no jokes. It seemed happy from the first few weeks, until one day.

“A reminder just came from our founder, please check your lockers immediately. Good luck and have a sweet nightmare.”

Why in the world would he say such a word? Like 'Oh my Lord', what’s with the “Have a sweet nightmare?” It gives me the creeps and goosebumps every time that anonymous person is on MOD stand. He never showed his face to anyone, I guess, but who knows? About the lockers, once you turn eighteen and complete training, your trainer will give you a key which is for your locker, obviously. Well, I’m on high rank now, but I’ve never opened that locker. Since we were told to do so, I’m going to see what’s inside for the very first time, and I’m freaking nervous. As I walk down the stairs, ‘cause the locker room is an underground room, someone bumps into me like she did it on purpose. I’m about to nag on her, but she disappeared like a ninja. I’m serious; she really did. I just ignore it, since I'm not sure if it’s just a part of some hallucinations of mine because of that order. Not only that, but I finally got here, and I'm now standing in front of my locker. The key is already inside the keyhole, and I'm going to open it right now; my heart is pounding like a drum whose drummer is so angry at hitting it. At the count of three, I did slowly open it.

“Waaaaaaaaaah!” I screamed.

There is someone who startled me :(

“You’re so freaking cute, Nowo,” he said, and then laughed like there’s no tomorrow.

“You know, Moha, I’m just cute, but I’m not freaking. So will you please get out of my face or I’ll give you the cutest punch you deserve?” I calmly said.

"Woah, haha, take it easy, I just miss my best friend.” He murmured. “Alright, it’s ok. I miss you too, but not that much, ‘cause my life's way peaceful when you’re not around.” I added.

“Woah, that was hard.” He gave me his unfamiliar look. “Well then, bye for good, my dearest Nowo.” he added. I got his right hand when he’s about to leave.

“Sorry, I was just suffering from depression these past few weeks. I have no one to spill these things out since you left. Hope you did understand.” I said.

“I’m sorry then. I didn’t mean to do that; I was just forced to.” He uttered.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked.

“Nothing.” He smiled. “Come on, let’s open our lockers together or else someone will come here to give us a warning for not following what is said to.” he added.

“Aye.” I answered.

As I opened my locker, lights came out, everything turned white…………….. And then black, and It feels like I’m blinded now. It took a few minutes, I don't know how long, until I got my sight back. When I finally am able to see everything, all of it truly shocks me.

“What just happened?” I murmured.

I slowly orbit, to see everything clearly. Not only that, but I even pinch myself to know if it’s a dream or reality. The orphanage is not what it used to be anymore. What I'm seeing right now are places to train different kinds of martial arts, battle areas, there are lots of unfamiliar creatures which I've never seen in my eighteen years of existence here in an orphanage. What even made me shocked is I know what to call them, like those fairies, gnomes, centaurs, mermaids etc.

‘By the way, where is Moha? Is he here as well? I am pretty sure we’ve opened our lockers at the same time.’ I uttered in my mind.

I started to walk with a task on my mind, which is to find my best friend. Furthermore, I honestly don’t want to be alone anymore. But it looks like I'm destined to live alone. I feel like everyone hates me. It’s not like I have some kind of contagious disease which is a valid reason to get away from me, but that is not possible. I’m stronger than Hercules to beat the illness.

As I was taking my own path to find Moha, someone called me.

“Nowo.”

It is some kind of little voice which I guess is coming from the right side. I quickly search for that someone who just spoke my name, then I see a fairy. She’s very lovely and pretty.

“Hiya,” the fairy said, and then she smiled at me.

“Uhm...hi,” I answered, and then I smiled back.

“I’m Lane, your guardian. I will be your weapon to protect yourself from danger until you have learned how to fight on your own, I will also be your guide in everything you do, everywhere you go. You and I will share just one life, so we must protect each other. But don’t worry, I'll never let someone harm you as long as I can,” she murmured.

“We share just one life, which means—”

“Yes, which means if I die, you’ll have the same fate as me,” she said.

“W-w-wait,” I said, stammering. “Everything happened so fast, and I really am confused right now, like, where is everyone? What am I doing here? Where is my best friend? What is happening? I used to be a worker, and now what am I now? A person who just popped into this kind of weird place?” I added.

I do feel really nervous and confused at the same time.

“I’ll explain everything to you when you’re ready.” After she said those words, which really makes me curious about what is behind all of these?

She moved both of her hands, and then she spilled some kind of glowing dust on top of my head; I felt sleepy, and my feet are like going to collapse anytime.

‘What is happening?’

‘I thought she’ll be my guardian?’

‘Yet she did manage to hurt me like this.’

After I uttered those words in my mind, I suddenly lost my consciousness.

****

"When you suddenly feel like you're not safe anymore, and no one in this place you can trust but yourself. About trusting someone, you must let them gain it, not just give it. ‘Cause you’ll never know who’s real and who’s just a part of a dream. It might be confusing, but let your heart lead you to your destination. You have it pure. So you can continuously walk on your path without any worries. Remember to be wiser than smarter."