After the letter introduction session, Alarisse invited all the students to try writing their names on paper.
"It doesn't need to be perfect," she said softly. "What's important is that you try. Writing is like climbing a hill; it takes patience and effort."
Neir stared at the sheet of paper in front of her. Her small hand gripped the charcoal carefully, trying to copy the letters Alarisse had written on the blackboard. Tira beside her had already written the name 'Tira' in large, messy letters, but she looked proud.
"Look, Neir! I did it!" Tira exclaimed, pointing at her paper.
Neir gave a small smile. She tried to write her name, but the first line was too thick, and the letters wavered.
"Do you need help?" asked a gentle voice behind her.
Neir looked up and saw Alarisse standing there with a friendly smile.
"Just try to relax, Neir. Let your hand move slowly," Alarisse said, gently guiding Neir's hand. "Like this... Draw the line from top to bottom, then curve it a little at the end."
Neir tried again, and this time the result was better. The letter 'N' she made, though still imperfect, was starting to look like an actual letter.
"Good! See, you did it correctly," Alarisse praised.
Neir's face flushed. It was the first time someone had praised her for her effort, and it felt wonderful.
However, not everything went smoothly.
---
The Irritating Presence
Among the students was a boy of about seventeen named Jaron. He was taller than the other students, with messy black hair and a rather arrogant gaze. From the start, Jaron had shown an unpleasant attitude.
During the writing lesson, he deliberately tapped his charcoal on the desk, disturbing the concentration of other students.
"Hey, don't act all serious! This is just a free school, not a place for self-important people," he said in a mocking tone to a student sitting in front of him.
Alarisse, observing from the front of the class, immediately stopped him. In a calm yet sharp voice, she said, "Jaron, you may be the oldest student here, but your attitude doesn't reflect maturity at all. If you truly don't want to learn, no one is forcing you. But if you stay here, at least respect those who do."
Jaron snorted loudly, leaning back in his chair with an air of indifference. "Hah? Maturity? Nonsense," he said with a dismissive sneer, his eyes challenging Alarisse.
Although he fell silent for a while, it didn't last. When the arithmetic session began, he started tapping his charcoal on the desk repeatedly, creating an annoying sound. Not satisfied, he began scribbling on the desk surface with a smug expression, as if daring anyone to reprimand him.
Neir, who was sitting not far from him, felt uncomfortable. Jaron's gaze occasionally flickered toward her, as if seeking a reaction. But Neir chose to stay quiet, not wanting to deal with someone like that.
---
An Interrupted Noon Break
When a small bell rang, signaling break time, the students immediately spilled out of the room. The sound of chatter mixed with laughter filled the schoolyard.
Some children headed straight for the food baskets provided by the volunteers, while others chose to sit under a large tree to enjoy their break.
Neir and Tira also took shelter under that large tree. Tira pulled a piece of bread from her pocket, while Neir sat leaning against the trunk, watching the bright blue sky.
"Aren't you hungry?" Tira asked, chewing her small piece of bread.
Neir shook her head slowly. "I'll eat later at home," she answered briefly.
Tira frowned, unsatisfied with the answer. She pulled another half-piece of bread from her pocket and offered it to Neir. "Here. Take it. I still have one more."
Neir hesitated for a moment but finally accepted the bread. "Thank you," she said softly, touched by her friend's kindness.
Tira smiled. "I'm glad we're in the same class," she said cheerfully. "We're going to have fun together."
Neir only gave a small nod, but a thin smile touched her lips. In her heart, she felt a little more comfortable in this new place.
Under the Tree
Neir and Tira were still sitting under the large tree in the schoolyard, enjoying their break. Tira was chewing the bread she had brought, while Neir just gazed at the blue sky, her thoughts drifting.
However, the peace didn't last. Jaron suddenly appeared, walking toward them while swinging a small twig in his hand. Without preamble, he poked Tira's shoulder with it.
"Hey, what are you two doing sitting here? Acting all shy like you've got nothing better to do!" he said with a wide grin.
Tira brushed away the twig poking her. "We're on a break. What's wrong with that?"
"Just admit you're lazy!" Jaron teased, this time poking Tira's knee with the twig. "The school just opened and you're already lounging around. You spoiled kids, huh?"
Tira huffed, glaring at Jaron in annoyance. "At least I'm not bothering others like you. You were making a racket in class, scribbling on the desk, and now you're bothering us. Don't you have anything else to do?"
Jaron burst out laughing, slapping his own thigh. "Look at the little know-it-all lecturing me! Listen, this school isn't that important. Just a waste of time."
Tira immediately stood up, pointing at Jaron with the bread still in her hand. "You're the one wasting time! If you don't want to learn, why are you even here?"
Jaron sneered, then brought his face closer to Tira's. "Because I like watching weak kids like you panic. It's funny. Besides, I'm the oldest here, so you all should respect me!"
Tira furrowed her brows. "Respect? For someone who only causes trouble like you? You think your age is a reason to be respected?"
"Of course it is!"Jaron retorted, hitting the tree trunk near them, making Neir flinch. "I'm grown up, got it? You're just snot-nosed kids. Do as I say."
Neir, who had been quiet all this time, finally glanced at Jaron but still said nothing. She just pulled her knees closer to her body, trying to make herself as small as possible to avoid drawing Jaron's attention.
Tira, on the other hand, wasn't about to back down. "You're just full of yourself. This school was just built, but you act like you own the place. You're more like a kid who can't cooperate."
Jaron stepped closer again, almost pressing his face against Tira's. "If I'm a kid, then what are you? Babies? Go cry to your teacher if you don't like it!"
Tira gritted her teeth but finally chose to take a step back, calming herself. "I'm not going to waste my time on someone like you."
"Good," Jaron sneered again, this time swinging his twig toward Neir's head. Luckily, Neir dodged quickly.
"Hey, leave her alone too!" Tira cried out, blocking Jaron.
"Why should I listen to you?" Jaron shot back with a satisfied laugh. "Alright then, you just sit there like statues. I'm gonna find some other fun. Enjoy sitting, brats!"
After saying that, Jaron walked away laughing loudly, leaving them with simmering frustration.
Tira let out a long sigh, then sat back down next to Neir. "He's really too much."
Neir nodded slowly. "He... acts more like a child than we do."
"And what's weirder," Tira added, "he acts like he's some old-timer here, even though this school was just built. Shameless."
Neir gave a small smile, though inside she felt disturbed. She just hoped Jaron wouldn't bother them again later.
---
Walking Home
When the dismissal bell rang, Neir sighed in relief. She left the room with Tira, who seemed more cheerful than before.
"Neir, what did you think of today?" Tira asked, swinging her small bag.
"It was... quite nice," Neir answered with a faint smile.
Tira leaned closer. "But that Jaron was really annoying! You saw him, right? He even scribbled on the desk!"
Neir nodded slowly. "Yes... but I think, maybe he just doesn't know how to get along."
Tira rolled her eyes. "Well, he needs to learn. I won't let him keep bothering us."
The two of them chatted all the way home, discussing the day's lessons, new friends, and of course, Jaron's antics.
"Alright, this is me," Tira said as they arrived in front of a small house with blue-painted windows. "See you later, Neir!"
"See you later," Neir replied, waving.
---
The Empty House
Neir continued the journey home alone. Her house wasn't too far from where Tira lived, but the streets were growing quiet as the afternoon deepened. When she arrived home, she found the simple wooden door unlocked.
Upon entering, she saw the small room felt empty. There was no one there, as she had expected. Her mother was probably still busy at the market.
Neir put her small bag on the table. She wanted to help her mother, but she also knew today had been tiring enough.
"Maybe later," she murmured.
---
Strange Symptoms
Neir's stomach began to rumble. She went to the dining table and found a small piece of bread that seemed to be leftovers from breakfast that morning. The bread looked dry, but Neir didn't mind. She reached out to take it.
However, suddenly...
"My eye..." Neir muttered, clutching her left eye which began to feel hot.
The pain came so suddenly, shooting from her left eye to her left ear. A sensation like being pierced by thousands of needles made her jerk.
"Agh!"
Neir fell, clutching her head with both hands. Her breath came in gasps, her body trembled. The pain was so intense she couldn't speak.
At the same moment, far away in a different world, Dani felt the same thing. He was in his small room when a sudden pain stabbed his left eye and left ear, sending him tumbling from his chair.
"What... is... this...?"
Dani gasped, holding his head with a grimace.
---
Mysterious Agony
In her home, Neir tried to endure. She attempted to steady her breath, but the pain didn't subside. In her mind, strange visions appeared—spiraling green lights, alien voices echoing like whispers from another dimension.
Meanwhile, Dani began to hear something in his ear—a faint ringing that seemed to come from a great distance, like the sound of ocean waves crashing on a shore.
Neither of them knew what was happening. But one thing was certain: something connected them... something far beyond the boundaries of their worlds.
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