Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Gifted “Family”

As the sun rose, it washed its loving rays across the University campus. Even if the smell of freshly mowed lawn and the singing of birds were great sensations to him, Alvis felt miserable. The dawn’s chilly breeze sent a shiver down his spine as he looked at his new living place on The City’s University campus, called the “Gifted Environment”. What a presumptuous name for a mere student residence… Then again, Alvis couldn’t complain, as he would be able to live there free of charge, thanks to the said gift of his. However, why were they moving in at 5am, of all times?!

Yes, them . As Alvis set foot in their 4-bedroom apartment, he was met with multiple boxes in the messy living room. The rustling of people, mixed up with some murmuring, was coming from the other side of the wall: the kitchen was probably over there. Alvis opened his mouth to speak, but: 

“SHIT,” a loud, gritty voice shouted from the kitchen. “Mythra! Watch where the hell you’re going! I banged my toe against that stupid table because of you!”

A female groan followed. “Why are you even in the kitchen, Malos?! Weren’t you in your room three seconds ago?!” 

“Come on, you two…!” a feminine, much softer voice said. “Should we look at your toe, Malos?”

“Yeah! Get me some ice!” replied Malos. After a short silence, he added: “Urg… Please, Pyra.”

Yes, Alvis would share this prestigious living space with these three bright individuals for the next few academic years until they became gifted alumni. Even if he’d rather live on his own and far away from this 5am chaos, Alvis felt a subtle smile flit over his lips as he walked towards the kitchen. 

Even though it was strange, these three figures were the closest thing to a family Alvis could ever have.  

…

Unpacking boxes, building computers, setting up bookcases and desks, putting clothes away in old chests of drawers, cleaning up afterwards – Alvis was so busy with Malos, Mythra and Pyra that he didn’t notice the time fly at all. When they were done, the sun was starting to disappear below the horizon – its warm light shone through the living room window onto their bright, new TV. 

“Would you look at that!” Malos exclaimed with a smile. “The Liberators’ games are gonna be so cool to watch on this beauty!”

Alvis rolled his eyes. Of course, the first thing Malos would think of after a hard day of work was The City’s professional basketball team, the Liberators. That wasn’t surprising, as Malos was a gifted basketball player himself, whose goal was to join the University’s team so that he could eventually be drafted by the Liberators afterwards. 

The two of them and Mythra were relaxing on the couch while Pyra was in the kitchen. Like always, a delightful and delicious smell unfolded through the apartment as they waited eagerly for their dinner. Even if she could easily become a first-class chef, Pyra obtained her residence here because of her gift for social studies. Her kindness and her sensitivity were her strongest qualities. 

Although strong, that sensitivity of hers could become her biggest shortcoming, eventually. A kind soul like that was destined to be betrayed or hurt. But not if they were there. 

When Pyra called for them, Alvis, Malos and Mythra joined her in the kitchen and they were met with a dazzling feast: fresh crab sticks, a shepherd’s pie, a juicy piece of steak, all of that with multiple healthy side dishes. The smell was incredible. 

“Good work today, everyone!” Pyra said with a joyful clap. “Here are your favorite meals!”

“Pyra…” Mythra called with a sheepish smile. “You shouldn’t have…!” 

“Well! Let’s just be thankful that Pyra cooked that for us, yeah?!” Malos said, as he grabbed the steak plate. “It’s a perfect first meal in our new home!” 

In their new home, yes. This student residence was in a completely different class than their last living place. After thanking Pyra for the food, Alvis served himself some shepherd’s pie with a side of roasted broccoli. This apartment, after today’s chaos, was comfortable and quiet, apart from the happy chatter between the four of them. Just the four of them. A slight smile appeared on Alvis’s lips, as he remembered how they pushed themselves to the extreme so they could be accepted into this gifted environment. They did it. Their lives were good: their future was bright.

Finally, they could live up to their full potential. 

…

The noises and squeals from children created a constant cacophony between these frail walls. Adding to that, the narrow hallways made it hard for the children to move around as they bumped into each other like rodents in a cage way too small for them. The poor lighting, thanks to the dusty windows that blocked most of the sun’s rays, made their behavior even more erratic. This was why Alvis would never interact with other children: the constant frenzy made him uncomfortable.  

The City Orphanage. A place that housed children whose parents couldn’t give them the care they needed. Most of them were orphans; others had parents that had gone missing; some were abandoned; a few just didn’t know. What about Alvis? He considered himself an orphan, though he wasn’t entirely convinced that his parents died. However, how could a 10-year-old boy know for sure? 

Today’s commotion was especially vigorous and that only meant one thing: adopters were in the house. When Alvis came down the stairs, his reasoning was on point: grown adults in their 30s in expensive attire were in the lobby, conversing with the old orphanage owner as children flailed around them. It really felt like an animal shelter. And, like always, wary Alvis stayed back. He watched keenly how the man focused his attention on a little girl with bright red hair.

“My, aren’t you an adorable little girl!” the male adopter said, bending down so he could properly look at the said girl. Her cheeks pinked as she let out a small laugh. It wasn’t exactly joyful: there were traces of uncertainty in that giggle. Next to her stood an unrefined girl with long gold hair. 

“Th…Thank you, sir!” The redhead thanked in a high-pitched voice – Alvis could hear the subtle insecurity in it. “My name is Pyra, and this is my twin sister, Mythra!”

“Would you like to come live with us, my dear?” the man’s wife asked in an unctuous voice, completely ignoring Mythra’s presence. “We own a big mansion, and you could do everything you’d want in it! We have a big kitchen, a big piano, and a big computer.” 

“Oh!” Pyra said before she eagerly grabbed Mythra’s arm. “My sister loves computers! Don’t you, Mythra?” 

“Uh…” Mythra mumbled, lowering her head so she wouldn't meet the adopters’ eyes. “I…”

“Dear, we are not talking about this girl: we are talking about you!” the lady said, her dry tone betraying her clear impatience. 

“Miss, Mister…” Her voice low, Pyra moved closer to Mythra before she looked at them, her pretty eyes shining with tears. “Mythra is my other half: if…if you want to adopt me, you…you’d have to take her too. Please…”

Every kid at the orphanage was watching as the lady scoffed before resuming her talk with her husband and the owner. While Pyra’s eyes remained full of hope, Mythra’s were on the opposite spectrum as she seemed disheartened. Even if he didn’t know them, Alvis felt his heart sink. It was clear as day: that girl just wasted her chance to be adopted into a wealthy family because she wanted to bring her sister along.

…

This adopting visit ended abruptly afterwards, as the potential parents left without any kids. Pyra’s attitude seemed to have ticked them off, which was ridiculous according to Alvis: how could grown adults get mad because of kids? 

The whole scene between them and Pyra replayed in his mind as he was partaking in his dinner in the cafeteria, on his own like usual. Other kids didn’t enjoy sitting with him, but that didn’t bother Alvis, especially when he was busy analyzing and thinking about what happened with Pyra. If he had a brother, would he be willing to leave him behind for a better future? The answer was yes, obviously. In this “rathole” (like one of the tough kids would say), there was no way they would be able to grow to their full potential as individuals. Alvis…wanted to do great things. And he couldn’t do it if he was stuck here forever and—

“Hey, you dumb idiot!” a derisive voice said far to his right - it wasn’t addressed to him, but Alvis turned his head anyway. There, he found the interlocutor, a blond boy, next to the table where Pyra and Mythra were sitting. “How does it feel to refuse the best life that you could ever have?!” 

“It…couldn’t have been the best life.” With hesitation, Pyra replied before adding with a smile: “Since Mythra wouldn’t be there with me! And Mythra is my family.” 

“Pyra, please…” Mythra mumbled in a voice so low that nobody heard her.

“Pff! PWAHAHA! She isn’t your family: she’s trash! She’s like the big, bad iron ball that prisoners have attached to their ankle!” The boy mocked, loudly enough to attract everyone’s attention. “You’re gonna stay here forever at this rate! You’re STUPID!”

A harsh grinding noise, followed by the sudden bang of a chair hurting the floor, echoed through the room. Mythra suddenly raised to her feet, her eyes burning with anger. 

“You take that back!” she shouted as she pointed her finger at the boy. Her hand was shaking. “You can trash me all you want, but don’t you dare say anything to my sister!” 

“Or what? You’re gonna hit me, you sicko?”

The guy probably wasn’t actually expecting to get his face punched for an answer. When Mythra’s raging fist struck him, a roar filled the air, and in a matter of seconds all the kids were standing and screaming. “Fight! Fight! Fight!” Chants were going off as Mythra lunged at the bully in front of a petrified Pyra. 

“Mythra, stop!” Pyra pleaded to no avail.

Such barbaric behavior, thought Alvis. All this noise, all this chaos: this place truly was a rathole. Quietly, Alvis picked up his things, but even if he wanted to leave, his eyes stayed glued to the scene. Was it curiosity? Empathy? A mix of both? His heart was feeling many things. On one hand, he thought the redhead was stupid for giving up such a lifetime opportunity; on the other hand, he found their bond fascinating. So, he just stayed there and observed. 

The moment Mythra stopped the fight was when another kid approached them. Pyra immediately let out a sigh of relief, as she was still trying to hold her sister back. This bigger kid – maybe two years older than them – had broad shoulders for a boy his age. Dark hair, gray and piercing eyes: his aura was menacing enough to freeze Mythra. A grin appeared on his face.

“Nice punch you got there, partner,” he complimented. He looked as though he was enjoying himself a lot. “Mind if I join you?”

“Huh?” Mythra said, visibly confused by what he just asked. 

“That little shit stole my watch a few days ago. Didn’t you, Galen?!”

The bully – who now became the bullied – kid, Galen, just let out a yelp before fleeing like prey scared for its life. The newcomer chuckled before clapping Mythra on the shoulder so hard that she almost fell over. 

“He couldn’t handle the two of us! What do you say we catch him and make him pay?” 

“What are you even talking about?!” Mythra stuttered, baffled by everything that just happened. “He’s already done. I…” Her voice turned lower as she looked at Pyra, whose eyes were filled with worry. “…Sorry for getting carried away, Pyra…”

Pyra just shook her head. “It’s…okay, Mythra,” she said before looking at the other guy. “Thank you for stepping in! What’s your name?”

“No need to thank me, I just wanted to finish that brat off, but he ran away,” he said while waving his hand nonchalantly. “The name’s Malos. So you two are Mythra and Pyra?” Malos asked before observing Pyra with a slight smile. “Heh. You’re dumb, you know that?” 

“What did you just say?!” Mythra roared, already fired up and ready to launch.

A loud voice echoed in the cafeteria: “HALT!” When all heads turned, everyone could see the orphanage owner approaching the troublemakers. His step was heavy and serious: it froze up Mythra instantly while Malos just looked annoyed, like he was caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. “You two! You’re responsible for this chaos?!”

“Hell yeah!” Malos said proudly, even though he didn’t do anything. 

Mythra opened her mouth to say something, but she closed it as she gave Malos a puzzled look. Not too far from them, Alvis mirrored her expression. Why did he sound so thrilled? It was like he looked forward to finding someone who could cause trouble alongside him. 

Trouble…Ah yes. Alvis remembered. The name Malos definitively rang a bell. A lousy boy with a foul mouth whose fun in life was to defy the authority here. For the 5 years he had been here, Alvis had never seen him. He could now put a face to this well-known individual. 

…

In the end, Malos and Mythra got detention, and that was how they became friends. Both had trouble with authority and bullying, so they bonded over that. However, their fiery temper would lead them to idiotic fights. Like the one happening right now. When both of their hands met on the bottle of Coca-Cola laying at the center of the table at the same time, they just shouted about who got it first. And like always, Pyra would bring peace to the situation as she took the soft drink from them so she could fill two cups instead. 

“Besides, we have other Coca-Cola bottles, so no need to fight!” she said with a giggle. “You two can be silly sometimes.”

“Thanks, redhead,” Malos thanked with a smirk. 

Pyra really was the glue that bound them together, Alvis thought as he kept remembering the dark orphanage days. He held Pyra in such high regards. Afterall, she has been the one who approached him too. 

…

“Hah! Animal monster! Where are you going this time?”

“I bet he captures them so he can eat them! What a freak.”

“Why won’t you share your meals with us, Alvis?!”

“Ew, don’t call that by its name!”

Alvis was used to this blathering, so he didn’t bother looking back: he had a much more important matter on his mind. In his arms, was held something wrapped in a soft blanket: an injured bird. Earlier, Alvis was taking his daily night walk and came across this poor little guy: it was laying in the grass with its wing bent in an awkward angle. Of course, Alvis had to take it in so he could figure out a way to help.

At the end of the day, Alvis was considered gifted in natural sciences, so it wasn’t a rare occurrence to see him coming back inside the orphanage with a new injured friend covered in a blanket. That was what he had been doing ever since he got here. With this behavior came the reputation that Alvis was a freak, but he didn’t mind because he knew that he was doing the right thing.

…

By living here for the past 5 years, Alvis had memorized the building’s structure. Every room, every hallway, every closet; everything was written down with exactitude in his mind. Perhaps his memory was outstanding, but his social worker corrected him and instead explained that this behavior was one of survivability. 

Maybe he was right. After all, Alvis couldn’t keep track of everything. He couldn’t even remember how his parents were before their passing. But that wasn’t important to him. What mattered the most right now was finding the secret closet that also functioned as a personal veterinarian clinic for him. 

A closet tucked away at the far-end of the orphanage, near multiple locked storage rooms where only a few staff members go – that was where it was. When Alvis opened the door, he tugged at the cord and the weak light bulb cast its dim lighting across the narrow space. Carefully, as if he was handling the most fragile package, Alvis kneeled on a blanket on the floor and unwrapped the injured bird. It let out a small chirp that made Alvis smile faintly. 

“I apologize if the travel was hard on you,” he said first, before picking up the bird with care. Meticulously, he analyzed the wing’s bone structure. It seemed like it was broken at the joint. “Your Digit II seems to be broken. Perhaps you fell? Though… according to your current appearance, something must have attacked you and you managed to flee.” His expression looked pleased. “Your will to survive got you this far. I shall tend to your injury now.” 

“You are…very knowledgeable, aren’t you?” a soft voice said.

Alvis’s heart dropped in his chest and his whole body froze up instantly. Had he been followed? How reckless of him! If someone were to find out where his hideaway was, he was done for.  He could never heal injured animals ever again in this frantic orphanage. Slowly, Alvis turned his head. He was met with a kind and warm gaze. Pyra was right outside the closet and observing him, her head tilted to the side. Even though he didn’t know her personally, Alvis felt his anxiety lighten up. How strange. He’d never felt unwary with someone else before. Regardless, Alvis had to let go of his introspection as Pyra was waiting patiently for an answer. “I know a lot about natural sciences,” he just said plainly. 

“Is that a bird?” she asked with a small gasp. She kneeled next to Alvis with haste: his body tensed immediately, but it relaxed not too long after when he realized that she didn’t do anything but stare at the injured bird. 

“Yes,” he replied, before showing her the wing’s fractured joint. “It’s injured, but if I were to stabilize its wing, it will recover.” 

“You’re talking like you’ve done this before.” Pyra noted with an impressed look – Alvis couldn’t help but feel pride warming up his heart. It was unusual to have his “pastime” getting compliments and not weird looks. 

“I have,” he said with a shy smile, before proceeding to grab bandages and clips; the multiple tools that he had stolen from the nurse’s office through the years. The bird rested on his lap as he carefully grabbed its wing: it let out a vexed chirp as soon as he touched it. 

Next to him, Pyra wriggled a bit before moving forward so she could meet his gaze. “Do you need a hand?” 

No, of course he didn’t. Alvis brought multiple animals back to full health on his own, in this very dimmed closet. Besides, Pyra probably didn’t know anything regarding medicinal procedures, and even if she did, Alvis wouldn’t let a stranger lay a finger on his feathered patient. So, Alvis was taken aback when the words came out of his mouth on their own: “I wouldn’t mind the assistance. Could you hold the bird carefully?” 

When Pyra’s expression lit up, Alvis didn’t regret accepting the helping hand. A light smile flittered across his lips. For this time, maybe, he could count on somebody else other than himself.

“I don’t think we’ve ever met! What is your name?” 

“My name is Alvis.”

“Alvis? What a beautiful name! My name is—"

“It’s Pyra, isn’t it? A fitting name for a girl like yourself. It means “flame colored” in another language.”

…

And that was how the four of them came to be. Even though they were thoroughly different, they worked well together. Their partnership was showing well right now as they were doing the dishes while Pyra was putting away the leftover dinner. All four of them had their strengths and weaknesses, but they made each other better. Even though Alvis still kept to himself most of the time, he was able to express his opinions more easily thanks to Malos’s honesty; he grew even more attentive to others’ emotions thanks to Pyra’s sensitivity; and he understood feelings better thanks to Mythra’s expressiveness. 

They also discovered that they were all gifted in specific fields, so they worked extra hard for the past several years (even Malos!) so they could enroll into The City’s University, free of charge, thanks to this “Gifted Environment” school residence and its subsequent scholarships. Hence why it felt so fulfilling. The misery of their orphan era was over. They could now seize their destiny. 

And it all would begin with The City’s prestigious University. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 2 – The City’s University

The fall semester was starting a week after they had moved into their “Gifted Environment” residence. As such, on this fine Monday morning, chaos woke Alvis from his deep slumber. Groggy, he took his time as he got out of bed and walked to his window. With a lazy push, he moved the curtains aside and squinted when the sun’s rays shone brightly into his room. Well, it won’t rain today , Alvis thought to himself before putting on his school uniform and leaving his safe space. Today’s chaos was brought by Mythra herself: her horrified eyes were fixed on her plate.

“Urg, Pyra!” she moaned with disgust, her finger pointing at the red fruits on her plate. “You know I hate tomatoes!” 

“Shut up and eat, idiot,” Malos was sitting next to her, eating his breakfast with an unbothered expression. “Or else we’ll be late.”

“Tomatoes are healthy for you,” Pyra said, and her eyes lit up when Alvis walked into the kitchen. “Good morning, Alvis!”

“Hello there,” Alvis replied before taking an apple from the fruit basket. “Agitated on this fine morning, aren’t you, Mythra?” 

“Pyra is just making me eat tomatoes and I hate it.”

“Tomatoes are a high source of Vitamins C and K, as well as Potassium,” Alvis explained casually before taking a bite out of his apple. “You should consider eating them.”

“See? Tomatoes are good for you!” Pyra chimed in with glee.

“Urg, you guys are the worst,” Mythra grumbled before taking a bite of tomato and making a face like she just tasted the world’s most rotten trash.

“How about you all shut up and let us finish this damned breakfast?” Malos groaned before he gulped down his black coffee. “And don’t ever talk like that again in the morning, shithead,” he added, pointing at Alvis. “It’s too early for damned science terms.”

A smug smirk graced his face. “You should be used to it by now, Malos,” he said, before serving himself a cup of coffee that he could bring with him. “Shall we go to class now?” 

Even if he had only just suggested they leave, Alvis was already on the move towards the exit. Mythra’s astonished whines echoed in his steps, and Alvis couldn’t help but smile a little: his family of choice certainly was entertaining, even after 11 years of companionship. However, his train of thought got interrupted by quick little steps – when Alvis turned around, he met Pyra’s smiling face. She was holding a bright red lunchbox.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” she asked, before opening his schoolbag without warning so she could fit the lunchbox inside. This gesture warmed Alvis’s heart, and he chuckled softly.

“You shouldn’t have,” he said in a low, but grateful voice. 

“Come on! Weren’t you in a hurry?” Malos said with power, while Mythra hastened to do the dishes before grabbing her things. Obviously, Pyra went back to help her out while Alvis nodded.

“I was. Let us go.” 

As soon as they set foot outside, the four of them were struck by the combination of heat and harsh sunlight. Thankfully, every building facility had air-conditioning, so Alvis was already looking forward to cooling down in class. 

While he and Mythra could walk on foot to their respective facilities, Malos and Pyra’s History and Social Sciences building was at the other end of campus, so Alvis shouldn’t have been surprised when Malos took out his motorcycle, equipped with a sidecar, from their garage. But here he was, staring dumbfoundedly as Pyra took her place in the sidecar while Malos grasped the wheel with a smug grin. 

“Safety first!” Malos shouted before giving Pyra her helmet, and she put it on with a giggle. “So, see you two later tonight?” 

“Er…Yeah…” Mythra just said, bewildered just like Alvis. “Have a good day, you two. And don’t hit anyone on the road, Malos.” 

“You know I can’t promise that,” Malos replied mischievously before going off. 

“He’s joking!” They heard Pyra’s voice echoing as they both disappeared into the distance. 

Alvis and Mythra simply shared an astonished look before heading towards their destination. Like Alvis pondered earlier, his family really was amusing. 

As they were walking, he and Mythra let their eyes analyze their surroundings: there were so many people from so many cultures to observe. It was a lot to take in, but in a comforting way: the significant number of attendees from all over Aionios meant that The City’s University’s renown was legitimate. That made Alvis smile fondly. Finally, their lives were on the right track.

“Sheesh! There are so many people from around the World here,” Mythra said as she crossed her arms behind her head. “Thank God Nia and I share many classes. I won’t be alone with weirdos I don’t know,” she sighed, and Alvis just nodded. He remembered Nia well, even though they had never properly met. Her and Mythra were joined at the hip in high school, despite the fact that Nia didn’t attend their public school, as her wealthy family was beyond that. If Alvis remembered correctly, she and Mythra met in a videogame club and they became friends instantly. Mythra would always go to the library next to the orphanage so she could play online games with Nia using the computer there, or she would go to her place to hang out. “What about you, Al?” 

“What about me?”

Mythra just gave him a look. “You got any pals in natural sciences?” She asked, before answering without giving Alvis a chance to reply. “Oh right. You didn’t have any friends in high school, didn’t you?”

She looked so proud of herself, like she’d finally found his sole weakness, but Alvis didn’t flinch. “I didn’t see the point of making friends at that dishonorable school, and I know you’re thinking the same, Mythra. You only had Nia, after all.” 

Her expression darkened immediately as she admitted defeat. She just nodded, as they resumed their walk.

Their high school years mirrored their orphanage life: dreadful, erratic, and lawless. Goodwill teachers tried their best, but they were flooded by problematic teenagers who made their lives hell. In the long run, they’d just given up, distraught, and went with the flow. Alvis’s stomach turned when bad memories flashed swiftly in his mind: skipping lunch so he could avoid bullies in the cafeteria, getting his head shoved into the toilet if he refused to do said bullies’ essays, the Principal’s dismissive attitude when Pyra tried to report the bullying. Malos and Mythra would often fight back, but they’d get detention. And seeing as they were working to be picture-perfect to be eligible to the “Gifted Environment” program, Alvis had demanded that they stop defending him. And that was the end of it. Years of silent mistreatment; but it was worth it in the end, as they finally had reached the promised land. 

“Still,” Mythra finally said, as she also seemed to be reminiscing about their past. “I think now’s the time to make friends. We can finally have a normal life. Might as well enjoy it, huh?” 

A bright smile graced her face, as Alvis nodded eagerly. “Right. I will. There are many famous researchers here, and I’d be honored to work alongside them.”

Mythra let out a scoff. “I don’t even,” she mocked before elbowing him gently in the ribs. “You should join my eSports team instead of being a bookworm! There are things in life other than your field of study, y’know.”

At her suggestion, Alvis couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do I need to remind you how much you hate losing to me? You’re certain that you want me to be your eSports partner?” Mythra’s annoyed screech was the exact reaction that he expected, and that just made him laugh even more. 

…

“My name is Klaus Hermanussen, and I’ll be your Human Functional Anatomy teacher this semester,” a man, with shoulder length hair of gold in his late-20s, told the class of around 100 students with a powerful, yet slightly insolent tone. “You better listen well and not ask too many questions, as I’d rather work on my research than teaching First-Graders. So! We’ll go through the course’s description first.” 

His cold instructions made the class shiver, except for Alvis, who found it inspiring instead. If only his previous teachers had the same threatening aura as Klaus, his high school years would have been a breeze. 

The 4-hour long lesson ended quicker than he expected: Alvis was startled when Klaus called it a day, and everyone started putting their things away. Outside, the sun was setting slowly, as this class was his last one of the day. Lost in thought, Alvis observed the changing colors of the sky while his mind drifted not too far away. 

Klaus Hermanussen. A man whose tone was confident because he knew his subject perfectly. A man whose intelligence shone so brightly that people from all over the World gathered here to listen to him in awe. Alvis was fascinated, prior to realizing that he was now on his own, as the class had emptied itself during his daydreaming. Meticulously, he grabbed his belongings and was on his way to the exit, but he stopped himself when he realized that Klaus was still there. When the man’s eyes laid on him, Alvis just stared back and wondered what to say to such a celebrity in the medical field. 

He wasn’t expecting Klaus to say something first. “What do you want?” He just asked, visibly tired from his day. 

What did he want? Someone with such prestige as him was asking what Alvis desired? In the back of his mind, Alvis could hear Malos calling him an idiot for thinking of it like that, but he shrugged it off and just nodded. “I admire your work,” Alvis said from the outset; thus Klaus’s expression went from annoyed to doubtful. “I’m sorry if this sounds premature to say, but…When you mentioned your research, I wondered if you could use some…assistance?” He nodded before carrying on. “I have some experience in the medical field myself, though I learned everything on my own.”

Even if Alvis was typically perceptive, at this exact moment, he had trouble figuring out what was on Klaus’s mind. One thing was for certain: Klaus wasn’t expecting this extensive answer from Alvis, and Alvis couldn’t blame him. After all, he was straightforward when expressing his desire. After a moment that lasted far too long, Klaus muttered something with a confused look: “Uh…Whatever. I’ll think of you if I ever need an assistant, I guess.”

That was a good enough response. “Thank you for your time, sir Hermanussen. I look forward to your class next Monday.”

“Uh, yeah. See you next week, uh…What was your name again?”

“My name is Alvis.”

“Alvis? Okay. I’ll remember that.”

…

His spontaneous talk with Klaus made Alvis come back home later than expected. He realized it when he walked past the front door and was met with a rich smell of roasted chicken and happy chatter in the next room. Without making a sound, he left his schoolbag and uniform’s coat by the door before tiptoeing to his place at the table, which was packed with side dishes and the obvious chicken. Pyra welcomed him home with a smile, as Malos was talking about something with a burning passion.

“And can you believe that?! Our highschool’s team’s rival is RIGHT THERE!” Malos complained, as Alvis tried to think about said rival. Their school’s basketball team sucked, except for Malos. Could they really have any meaningful rivalries? “That stupid Jin from Torna’s highschool. Are we really gonna be on the same team?!”

Ah yes, Jin from Torna. Malos would often talk about him because he was also a basketball star at his own highschool. Not to mention the fact that, ever since the first time they played against each other, Malos had self-proclaimed that this guy was his fated rival. Did Jin even know? Probably not, Alvis pondered with a slight chuckle.

“Duh,” Mythra sighed while wriggling her fork nonchalantly. “Obviously, you’re gonna be on the same team if you attend the same university.”

“I’m not gonna let him win,” Malos swore with a serious look.

“HUH?! Dude! You’re on the same team!” Mythra exclaimed immediately. 

“I gotta show him who’s the best player,” Malos said without any further comment, as if his statement made perfect sense. 

And that was it. Malos just resumed eating earnestly, so the others decided to let it go and the catching up continued. Mythra mentioned how many “nerds” there were in her computer science classes, so she was looking forward to recruiting new members for her and Nia’s eSports team, Photon Edge. She seemed genuinely happy – Alvis couldn’t help but feel content for her. When he paid attention to Pyra, he realized that she was putting up a plate for him, as always. With a gentle touch, Alvis let his hand rest on her forearm to stop her – when she met his eyes, he smiled kindly. She was always doing so much for them.

“And how about you, Pyra?” he asked in a warm tone. “How was your day?” 

He wasn’t expecting to see her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. Pyra giggled - she sounded pleased, yet shy at the same time. “Well, uh…I wasn’t expecting to see a familiar face in my class. It made me happy.” 

“Who wazzit?” Mythra asked between two bites of chicken. 

“The boy I met when I volunteered in Leftheria,” Pyra answered carefully. “Remember when our orphanage director sent me there for summer? When was that, around 5 or 6 years ago?”

“6,” Malos said with assertiveness. Alvis was always in awe of how well Malos remembered things, even if he didn’t show it often. “You three were 15 years old.” 

“Right! And we celebrated your 18th birthday the year after,” Pyra recalled as she clapped her hands together. “Thank you, Malos. Well…Yes. When I volunteered there, I met Rex and we spent so much time together.”

“Weren’t they asking specifically for volunteers because of an unfortunate event?” Asked Alvis as a rhetorical question, since he answered immediately: “A flood, if I recall correctly.” 

He recalled their orphanage’s owner talking about it with a business partner: if they sent kids to help Leftheria, the orphanage’s reputation would increase, and that would result in receiving more money from investors. Even if the outcome was beneficial for the orphans, the fact that they used Pyra for this revulsed Alvis. People would always take advantage of Pyra’s gentle nature. Pyra’s smile brightened before she nodded happily.

“Precisely. Rex even lost his parents in the flood - that was why he worked so hard. He’s a very nice boy. And…I was surprised to see him here! He grew up so much in 6 years!”

“Men tend to have their growth spurt at around 20 years old,” Alvis said in a matter-of-fact tone that made Malos laugh.

“You sure about that, shrimp?!” 

“I am still waiting on this growth spurt, yes,” he added with a fake, exasperated tone.

Alvis didn’t really mind being stuck at 5’7”, but he went along with Malos’s comeback to make their bond stronger, and it worked: Malos clapped him hard on the shoulder with a smile. “Maybe someday, kid. Maybe someday,” Malos said before glancing over to Pyra again. “So you’re saying he’s hot now?”

Pink cheeks turned bright red, and Pyra’s jaw dropped with dismay. Mythra looked outraged. “What the hell, Malos?!” Mythra shouted while Malos just shrugged with a simple “What?”.

Poor Pyra looked absolutely helpless, like an abandoned puppy on the side of the road. With gentle care, Alvis squeezed her forearm and gave her a sympathetic look. “Hot or not, it doesn’t matter. The most important part is that Pyra has found a familiar face in her class.” Pyra graced him with a grateful smile. 

“Yeah, I get it,” Malos said, even though his expression said the exact opposite. “What about you, shrimp? How did it go for you?”

“It went well. I stayed with my professor after class, and I asked him if I could become his assistant.”

Malos, Mythra and Pyra were all at a loss for words, but Alvis didn’t mind. After all, that was what he had foreseen. His found family had never understood his yearning to become the best version of himself that he could be, so obviously they would be astonished by his first school day’s highlight. Malos approached him first, while Mythra just shook her head with an exasperated look. 

“Wait, why? You need more cash, Alvis?” Malos asked in a confused tone.

“No, but I’m looking forward to improving my medical knowledge by working alongside Dr Hermanussen. He didn’t agree, but he’s aware of my interest.”

“Alvis, dear…,” Pyra’s soft voice said before she took his hand. “You will gain knowledge naturally as you attend classes and do your schoolwork. There’s no need to push yourself even more.”

“You suck, Alvis,” Mythra’s contrasting response came instantly. “You need hobbies that don’t involve your science crap.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“That’s it!” Mythra gasped while slamming her hands on the table. “The Opening Week is happening at the main building! Nia’s taking care of our gaming club’s booth over there. What if we go there tomorrow during our lunch break? We’ll go see the other clubs that our university has to offer!”

Alvis knew that tone perfectly: it was the one that Mythra used when she had her mind set on a brilliant idea of hers, and she wouldn’t budge even if her life was at stake. She was that stubborn. Hence, Alvis just frowned without contesting it. He knew he had to follow her, or else she wouldn’t let it go. But he didn’t mind, as he had no obligation to register to a club. Besides, going along with her idea would make Mythra happy, so it was a win-win situation. 

…

The day after, the bell rang across the campus to announce the coveted lunch break. At the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) facility, students roamed through the hallway like ants in an anthill scurrying towards the outdoors for some fresh air. When Shulk set foot outside the building, he took the deep breath that he had been longing for. He then looked at his watch and smiled: he had to meet up with his friends at the Opening Week, since they had a special guest visiting today.

When he got closer to the central property of The City’s University, Shulk smiled to himself when he recognized a taller figure with long, dark hair. He stepped up his pace as he got closer and the man turned around to face him, a bright smile flashing on his face.

“Shulk!” the man called before giving him a welcoming headpat that warmed his heart. “Long time no see!”

“It’s been a while, Dunban,” Shulk said, before smiling at his other two friends standing next to Dunban. “Reyn, Fiora! How was your morning class?”

“Boooring,” Fiora booed while playing with her short, golden locks with her thumb and forefinger. “First week of class is always so uneventful.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Reyn added with a grin. “I can’t wait to join some clubs, though!”

“You three should enjoy the quiet before the storm,” Dunban said in a poetic tone. “When exam week shall happen, you will miss these peaceful days.” 

“Yeah yeah Dunban,” Fiora rolled her eyes before elbowing her big brother with a teasing look. “Come on! You’re visiting! Shulk, Reyn and I wanted to check the clubs before going out to eat, if that sounds good?”

“Absolutely. I’m interested to see how the best university in all Aionios looks.” 

Shulk puffed a silent laugh as he followed his closest friends inside the main building, which was already roaring with enthusiastic students chattering. The Opening Week was in full swing, and it offered too many activities to count, including the club showcase. In the circular-shaped main lobby were settled multiple booths owned by their respective affiliations. Some had people lined up, others were just getting visits here and there. Shulk’s eyes caught the Ouroboros’s booth – the university’s sports program – and he nudged Reyn instantly. 

“The Ouroboros’s program is over there,” Shulk said and Reyn let out a happy yelp, followed immediately by a groan. 

“Have you seen the line? It’s huge!”

Dunban chuckled. “Might as well get in line already then. Thankfully, your classes are resuming only at 3, if I remember correctly?”

“Yeah, hence why today was the best day for your visit, Dunban,” Fiora said with a smile. “How was your last mission, by the way?”

When Dunban started talking about his recent mission with little to no detail, Shulk listened to him with an attentive ear. As the only older brother of their orphaned family, Dunban enrolled into the army at the age of 18 so Fiora could grow up with everything that she needed. He sacrificed a lot for her happiness and pushed her to attend university so she could have a brighter future than himself. Fiora wasn’t especially down for her Business Studies bachelor’s degree, but she was doing it to pay back her brother for everything that he had done. Pride was what Shulk felt for her, as he had the opportunity to grow up alongside her in the countryside of Colony 9 and he admired their genuine sibling relationship. 

“Fiora, you waitin’ with us in line, or nah?” Reyn asked her, his arms crossed. “Didn’t you want to join a sports team?”

“Yeah, well,” Fiora started, glancing over at Shulk with a smug expression. “I’m gonna hang out with Shulk for a bit. He wanted to check the clubs so I’m gonna follow him.”

“I’ll…be okay on my own, Fiora,” Shulk mumbled while scratching the nape of his neck. 

She elbowed him with a smile. “It’s fine! Reyn and Dunban will keep my place warm in the meantime, right?”

Reyn groaned, which made Shulk become sympathetic, as he and Fiora would discover the exciting club varieties while he was stuck in the boring and extensive line. At least he had Dunban who would keep him company. 

That being said, Shulk and Fiora squirmed their way through the jam-packed crowd while trying their best to look at the booths’ banners. From the corner of his eye, Shulk found a reading club and a chess club. He also caught a glimpse of a purplish-looking flag, but he got interrupted when he collided with Fiora, who suddenly came to a halt. 

“Gah, Fiora!” Shulk stuttered before gently touching her shoulder. “Sorry. Are you okay?”

“Shulk, over there!” Fiora replied, unbothered by their collision, and she pointed at something. “Is that the League of Legacies logo?! My roommate plays that game all the time!”

Oh, right, that online videogame that was on every gamer’s lips. Shulk didn’t understand why Fiora seemed so engaged by this booth, but knowing her, she was probably looking forward to acquiring details for the sake of her dormitory roommate. Fiora was that kind of friend. 

Unwillingly, Shulk followed in Fiora’s footsteps and found out that two students were already chatting with the person in charge of the videogame club booth. Well, the blonde-haired girl was , while the silver-haired guy was just looking everywhere else. 

“Excuse me!” Fiora said clearly enough to attract the booth’s owner’s attention, who had neck-length hair of a bright ash color. “Is this the videogame club?”

The girl in charge adjusted her yellow headset, which had cat ears on top. It was pretty cute. “Aye, yes!” She replied with a lifting and melodic voice. “Welcome to the gaming club! Would you like to join us?!”

Fiora shook her head. “I can’t say yet. I’m interested because my roommate likes League of Legacies!” 

Bingo. Shulk was right. Nevertheless, the girl in charge nodded eagerly. “Awesome! You gotta bring them here then. We even own an eSports team for this game. The name’s Nia, by the way!”

“Nice to meet you, Nia! My name is Fiora.”

As soon as Fiora initiated the chit-chat with Nia, Shulk noticed that the blonde girl focused on her silver-haired partner instead. Curiosity took over Shulk as he lent his ear so he could listen to them.  

“The Green Thumb club seems interesting,” said the guy in a calm, soothing voice. 

“Yet another natural sciences club!” the girl complained, facepalming as she spoke. “You gotta try something else, Alvis.”

Alvis? What a lovely name, Shulk thought to himself. With a dull hand gesture, Alvis pointed at an empty booth. “There’s a crochet club over there.”

A groan was delivered before she asked: “What are you, an old lady?!”

The mockery didn’t make Alvis flinch, as he replied calmly: “This could be useful if you ever need a new hat for this upcoming winter.”

There was a crochet club? Shulk didn’t even notice it at first. And there it was, handled by an old-fashioned girl who smiled at him before designating the poorly drawn yarn logo above her head. Feeling bad that she wasn’t getting any attention, Shulk forced a hopeful smile and waved unwillingly at her. He wondered if anyone was going to join her club. Perhaps Fiora could? Shulk put a halt to his train of thought, so he could analyze Alvis and his…friend? He made a comment about crocheting a hat for her. Perhaps they were siblings? But they were nothing alike. The girl had a fiery look, while Alvis’s silver eyes reminded Shulk of space. A mysterious and intriguing color, yet it shone brightly with stars. Er. Why was he staring? And the two of them noticed it!

“Uh…” Shulk just mumbled.

“I suggest you stop staring,” Alvis said casually, before putting weight on his right leg as his hand rested on his hip. He stopped his gesture when the girl smacked him on the arm. “Mythra, that hurt.” 

“No it didn’t, dummy,” the girl named Mythra said, before glaring at Shulk. “What do you want?”

They definitely acted like siblings, but Shulk didn’t have the time to make assumptions about the nature of their relationship, as their staring made him nervous. “Sorry, I just heard you two talking and…You’re looking for a club?” Shulk managed to say with a steady voice, and relief washed over him when they nodded. Good! They were open to hear what he had to say. For a moment, Shulk got lost in thought and remembered the purplish booth. When he glanced over to its approximate location again, he managed to read its title: the Astronomy and Space club. Huh. That was interesting. In a loose motion, he pointed at the booth. “I guess there’s the Astronomy and Space club, if you’re uh…into that, obviously.”

Alvis followed his finger and laid his eyes on the purplish stand for an extended period, like he was breaking down the pros and cons of such a club. During this time, Shulk just stared while Mythra crossed her arms stiffly, boiling with impatience. 

Alvis…He had such an unusual presence. Maybe it was the way that he spoke in that soothing tone, maybe it was the calm demeanor, or perhaps it was his silver eyes. His kind, silver eyes. It was shameful, but Shulk really couldn’t stop staring. Those eyes reminded him of something familiar, like déjà-vu. He felt that…he knew Alvis from somewhere, but not, at the same time. Shulk shook his head. He had to stop overthinking, as he was on the brink of embarrassing himself again, like when he had gazed a bit too hard earlier. 

Thankfully, Alvis turned his attention back to Shulk, his eyes beaming with curiosity. “…Yes. That sounds interesting,” He said with a slight nod. “Would you lead me to this club’s booth?”

Shulk heard Mythra groan: “Why do you talk like that,” but Alvis didn’t bother making a comeback, as he looked unfazed by her comment. Shulk just nodded and walked to the Astronomy and Space booth with Alvis.

During their walk to its location, Shulk told Alvis about how the booth caught his attention, but he couldn’t gather any insight back then because of how noisy the crowd was. Shulk then followed up by saying that he didn’t join any club yet, but that his best friends were looking to get into the sports program. At every word that he said, Alvis would just nod with a slight, knowledgeable smile. Suddenly, Shulk felt a nervous knot in his stomach: how many times had Riki told him to also let the other person speak? With an awkward gesture, he patted Alvis on the shoulder. 

“What about you, Alvis?” He asked with a nervous laugh.

“What about me?” Alvis asked and he tilted his head, visibly amused. “I have nothing to add, as I’m also looking for a club.”

“But like, uh…I heard your friend say that you’re into natural sciences?” 

“Correct. Hence, why I’m curious to hear about this Astronomy club. I wonder how much time they spend in there, theorizing about extraterrestrial life?”

Shulk chuckled. “That’s what we’re gonna find out!”

Shulk wondered if he heard Alvis puff a small laugh or if it was just his imagination.

When they gathered at the Astronomy and Space club, the student in charge praised their affiliation and explained everything they were doing there. Every member was getting an Observer’s Handbook; they were attending conventions; they were taking part in observation nights, and the list went on and on. Even though he wasn’t entirely into it at first, Shulk was now convinced that this club would enhance his knowledge overall. It might even tinker with his engineering brain. He looked at Alvis, whose eyes tingled with curiosity. 

“I believe that we’re going to join this club, huh?” Shulk said.

“…Yes. It seems interesting, and Mythra will cease to annoy me,” Alvis replied with a chuckle. “I presume that we will meet again in this club. Mister…?

Oh right. He’d forgotten to introduce himself, hadn’t he? “Uh, Shulk! My name is Shulk.” He said while scratching his nape. “So uh…I look forward to seeing you at the Astronomy club, Alvis!”

Alvis just nodded with a slight smile. “Likewise.”

…

The monitor lit Alvis’s bedroom with its blinding light. Spots of purple, blue, and white shone on the walls as Alvis was scrolling down the Astronomy and Space club’s website with intensive care. The affiliation was renowned thanks to its rich history. Through the night, Alvis learned that its creator was a current astronomy teacher, named Galea Bellincioni. Apparently, her students historically would join the club to keep it alive and well. This put Alvis’s heart at ease: joining them wouldn’t be a waste of time at the end of the day, as their club was being taken care of by specialists. He was grateful that this Shulk person approached him. 

Shulk…Alvis felt like he had heard the name before, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Perhaps he came across this name randomly when reading, hence why it rang a hazy bell that probably didn’t mean anything. 

His interior monologue got interrupted when Malos flicked the lights on without mercy: Alvis immediately raised his arm over his eyes with a slightly annoyed moan. “Malos, could you please knock before entering my room?” He asked politely, but Malos just smirked at him as he walked to the bed so he could sit loosely on it. As soon as his back hit the mattress, Malos let out a relieved groan, while Alvis held back a grumble. Make yourself at home then , he thought to himself before looking back at his computer screen. 

He heard Malos squirming and making himself comfortable on the bed. “The Astronomy and Space club eh?” He asked with interest. 

“It got recommended to me, and I must say that it looks quite interesting,” Alvis explained, his focus unwavering as he was still scrolling down on the website. “I’m not the astronomy type, but the extra expertise wouldn’t hurt.”

“Bullshit,” Malos said as he straightened up on the bed. His foul mouth made Alvis frown – he turned his head and was met with Malos’s flashing smile. “You’ve always enjoyed the stars, haven’t you?”

The sudden reminder took Alvis by surprise, but Malos was right. When he was younger, he would always take his daily walk late in the evening. He did it mostly for the quiet from the orphanage, as well as looking out for injured animals, but Alvis also liked peeking at the stars. However, he never thought of observing them fundamentally. In fact, Malos was the one who joined him once, and he made Alvis take the time to contemplate them. 

“I remember when we were kids,” Malos began, his voice seeming far away in the past. “We took the time to admire the stars, and we talked about our future.”

That made Alvis’s throat slightly tighten. “That is…true. You’re right, Malos,” He admitted with a quiet chuckle. “How could I forget? This is…such a beloved memory, after all.”

Malos sounded pleased and nostalgic. “Yeah. That’s when we learned about the “Gifted Environment” program, and we swore to work our asses off.”

Alvis opened his mouth to correct his foul language, but he closed it immediately with a soft smile. 

Now he could remember it properly. Malos and himself, in The City’s poorest district, surrounded by homeless people and the putrid smell of trash. It was a poor sight. Young teenagers like them shouldn’t have been wandering this late into the night in such a precarious area. But Alvis and Malos didn’t care, because they’d found multiple trees next to a random house, whose lights were turned off. It was the perfect opportunity to climb into one.

Thus, Alvis was sitting in a tree for the first time in his life – the height scared him at first, but after a moment, he felt invincible. This sensation was so good that his smile wouldn’t drop. He felt safe too, as Malos was standing on a branch right next to him, with his finger pointing at the night sky shining with stars. 

“See, Alvis?!” Malos had called with a laugh. “The stars over there! We’ll shine brightly like them, I swear. We gotta give ourselves the ultimate life goal!”

Alvis’s heart was pounding. “…Yes!” He had agreed, both loudly but quietly. Alvis had never shouted before. “Yeah!” He had tried again, with more conviction this time.

Malos nodded with a proud expression. “Alright! I’m gonna be the Liberators’ best basketball player in history!” 

What did Alvis want, exactly? He felt slightly out of place, as his life goal wasn’t as precise as Malos’s. But when Malos gave him an encouraging nod, Alvis gained the courage he needed, and gripped his small fists before speaking. “…and I will become the best doctor, so no one shall die.”

Malos’s laugh echoed into his ears. “Pfff! That’s so gloomy, bro! But I get you,” he had said before sitting down next to him, his gaze genuine and understanding. “You’re gonna save people like you’re saving these animals, huh?”

…

After they reminisced about this beloved memory, Alvis and Malos stayed quiet for a moment as they both understood how much closer they were to their goal now. This downtime felt peaceful. No chaos, no nothing: just two men contemplating how much they had been through together. When Malos stood up in a hurry, Alvis held back a snicker: he understood Malos’s body language perfectly. For sure, his friend was getting emotional, and that annoyed him. He would probably swear soon enough.

“Anyway. Goodnight, little shit. See ya in the morning,” Malos just grumbled before walking to the door. 

He was on point. Alvis let him be, and chuckled for real. “Goodnight to you too, Malos. Sleep well.” 

Chapter Text

Chapter 3 - Club Activities

On Friday night, while the university's main building was attracting students ready to celebrate the weekend with its lively pub, Alvis just passed by with a steady step. Today was the Astronomy and Space Affiliation’s (ASA for short) welcoming event at the STEM facility. As he got closer to it, a familiar figure drew near on the horizon and Alvis greeted him. 

“Good evening, Shulk,” he said with a slight smile. Both he and Shulk were wearing casual clothes, as they were done with class. Shulk’s dark jumper had pink, purple and white lines across it – he seemed comfortable.

“Good evening to you too, Alvis!” Shulk greeted – he seemed happy as well. “I’ve already located the ASA’s room. It’s in my facility, after all.” 

Alvis tilted his head to the side. “STEM, hm?” Shulk gave a pleased nod as an answer before walking inside with Alvis. 

As soon as he passed through the door, Alvis took the time to appreciate how spacious and modern the STEM building looked. He was grateful to attend such a prestigious school. As they strolled in a comfortable silence, Alvis mused about how he finally found a place where he belonged. A place full of people with hopes and dreams, just like him.

His daydreaming came to a halt when Shulk nudged him with a sly smile. “Are you in space already?” Shulk teased, then he laughed nervously as if he wondered if he went too far. 

“It is a possibility,” Alvis replied, and he enjoyed how surprised Shulk looked. Perhaps he wasn’t expecting the snarky comeback. “Will you lead us to the room, Shulk?”

“R…Right! It’s on the 8 th floor. We’ll take the elevator and we’ll be there in no-time!”

It made sense that the Astronomy and Space Affiliation was on the highest floor. 

When they set foot inside the room, the sight took Alvis’s breath away. Light spots of bright colors were projected on the walls, contrasting with the dark and mysterious space illusion beneath it. Pictures of planets were moving ever so slowly; it really felt like they were in the otherworld. The projector was doing wonders. Alvis had to pinch himself to come back to reality, and he realized that his daydreaming had caught Shulk’s attention – he was staring at him with an amused smile.

“It’s immersive, isn’t it?” Shulk asked nicely. “And look at this window too!”

When Shulk raised his finger, Alvis’s eyes followed him, and there it was. At the far end of the square-shaped classroom stood an enormous window instead of the wall. From this window, they could see how small the campus looked, but also how brightly the stars shined in the sky. It was a lot to take in. Without thinking, Alvis felt his body moving on its own and it headed straight to the impressive window. Slowly, he let his hand rest against the cold glass, and he took in the breath-taking sight. His view from the tree back then had nothing on this one. It felt…phenomenal.

“Ahem. My apologies, young man, but could you please join the others? We will start our opening event soon,” a deep voice said right next to him. 

The speaker startled him. What was he doing? He probably looked bizarre right now: Alvis felt a blush creeping up to his cheeks. He mumbled an apology before turning to his right to…no one. He had to look down to see his interlocutor, and Alvis had to hold back an uncharacteristic shriek. 

Something was talking to him. Something hairy. Something with bulging, dark eyes. Something with… wings ?! Taken aback, Alvis just crept back to his place among the other club members and hunched over his desk, his heart still pounding loudly in his ears. He already felt stupid when he got carried away by the space environment, but additionally, he felt extremely confused by this…something. And nobody batted an eye when the thing stood proudly behind the classroom’s lectern, as if this was a normal occurrence. When Alvis turned his head, he realized that Shulk was observing him with a worried look.

“Are…you okay, Alvis?” He whispered, as the thing started talking in that impressive tone of theirs at the front. 

Alvis didn’t know what to reply: was he okay? That didn’t matter right now. More importantly, he had to know . “What is that?” He asked instead in the lowest possible voice, before tilting his head towards the thing. 

Shulk blinked, before getting closer to Alvis to hear him better. “What do you mean?”

“That…fluffy creature,” Alvis hesitated, as he didn’t know how else to describe it without calling it something.

“You mean the Nopon?” Shulk asked.

The what ? Before Alvis could ask more questions, the “Nopon” raised its wings in an exasperated gesture. “Will you two please stop talking? Riku needs everyone’s attention, as Riku will happily present the ASA. Short word for Astronomy and Space Affiliation.” 

When the creature named Riku started presenting the ASA, Alvis couldn’t focus at all, as questions were bouncing around in his head erratically. Why was it considered normal to have an animal as a club’s representative? Alvis was out of his depth. Wildlife was his most beloved subject, so why wasn’t he aware of the Nopon’s existence? Was this “Riku” a one-time only occurrence? Probably not, or else its species wouldn’t have a name. Could they breed? Did they live alongside humans? Why did they speak their language?  

In this exact moment, Alvis wished that he wasn’t stuck in a classroom. He felt overwhelmed and needed answers immediately. Being thrown off made him feel exposed and he despised it. He was always careful and composed, as he should be. Or else…

He shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on the past. And Shulk’s worried look confirmed that he looked agitated. That was problematic.

Deep breath. All he had to do was to embrace his spatial surroundings to regain his composure. A slightly more confident smile flitted across his lips as he nodded at Shulk, letting him know that he was okay. Shulk nodded back and they resumed their listening. 

After some time, Riku invited them to join him at the front. With his wings, which seemed to work as arms, he took out a box from under the podium. Inside laid multiple notebooks with the words “Observer’s Handbook” carved meticulously on the dark purple cover. 

When Riku opened his mouth to speak again, Alvis had to hold back a startled skip. It was going to take him some time to get used to this talking creature. “Observer’s Handbook made by Professor Galea herself! Please take good care of it. Every friend gets one book.”

Alvis presumed they became “friends” when they joined the ASA. Even if he was eager to obtain a notebook, Alvis didn’t reach out and waited patiently, until he and Riku’s eyes met. These big, bulging eyes. This made Alvis hold his breath, and then, a knowledgeable smile appeared on Riku’s face. “Friend uneasy?” This made Alvis flinch. “Do not worry. You are safe here.” Riku handed him a book in a friendly gesture.

Why…was he talking like that? Were Nopons able to see through one’s soul? Alvis had to say something, as all eyes were glued on the two of them. “Thank you,” he simply said in a formal tone, before obtaining the Observer’s Handbook from him. 

Alvis had so many questions regarding Nopons.

The Opening event resumed, and they had to save an important date already. On September 14 th , the group would reunite once more in this classroom, as the ASA would have its first observation night for a New Moon. According to Riku, a New Moon meant “New Beginnings”, so they should have been grateful that it would happen at the beginning of the semester. 

After some talking about lunar cycles, the club activity was over, and members gathered their belongings. Some stayed behind to chitchat between themselves or with Riku, while others left the classroom. Alvis was in the latter category, and he felt relieved when Shulk followed him outside the facility. He was dying to talk about what happened upstairs, and Shulk seemingly mirrored that feeling when he opened his mouth first. 

“You seemed so…surprised to see Riku! Was it really the first time you’ve seen a Nopon?”

Alvis frowned slightly. Obviously, he didn’t fake his reaction when he laid his eyes upon Riku. “Yes,” he replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “Are these Nopon creatures living exclusively at this university?” He asked, after letting his body tension loosen up – he needed to look composed.

Shulk frowned slightly. “Not at all,” he replied, before bashfully scratching his nape – an obvious tic habit of his. “I…was raised in a Nopon family, believe it or not.” 

That revelation stopped Alvis in his stroll. He thought that his home life was strange, but Shulk’s was even more unusual. A nervous laugh from his acquaintance came to his ears – Alvis realized that he stayed speechless for a long time. “Is that so?” He simply said, even if he had many more questions. He didn’t want to pry into Shulk’s personal life. 

They stayed quiet for a little bit, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Alvis looked up at the starry sky and took a deep breath. The evening breeze was refreshing. 

“Alvis,” Shulk’s gentle voice said. When Alvis turned his head, he was met with his curious, yet concerned expression. “Where are you from?”

For a reason he couldn’t pinpoint exactly, Alvis felt his body stiffen. He opened his mouth, but his tight throat wouldn’t let him speak. What was he supposed to reply to this simple question? Shame clouded his judgment: he couldn’t say that he was from the orphanage. But why couldn’t he? He…didn’t know why. His mind was acting up, but he didn’t have the time to dwell on it. So, he just smiled and gave a vague statement: “From somewhere that didn’t have Nopons, apparently.” 

Even if he looked even more confused, Shulk didn’t push it, and Alvis appreciated it.

…

When Alvis laid in bed later that night, insomnia wouldn’t let him slumber. Normally, he would get up and read a book until he finally felt tired, but his head just kept spinning. Spinning and spinning. He felt so distraught after meeting Riku today. Alvis was aware The City’s Orphanage was in a world of its own, but at the point of hiding the existence of a species? Really? Nevertheless, what occupied his erratic mind right now was the choking discomfort he felt when Shulk had questioned him about his birthplace. 

When had Alvis started to feel ashamed? Back in his teenage years, everyone knew that he and the others were from the orphanage, and he didn’t mind. However, university was a fresh start. Maybe Alvis didn’t want to be associated with that dreadful orphanage anymore and wanted to start anew? 

He wished to be known as the smart guy – that thought made him chuckle dryly. Since when did Alvis worry about his…public image? This was ridiculous. He shoved that irrational reflection into a corner of his brain, so he wouldn’t consider it ever again. 

Irrationality was pointless.

…

Thankfully, when Alvis woke up the next day, the uneasy feeling wasn’t there anymore. In fact, he was in a good mood. Not the happy-go-lucky kind, but a composed and content one. With an effortless gesture, he split the pile of dirty clothes by color tones and set the washing machine in motion. Today, he and Mythra were responsible for the house chores while Malos and Pyra were running errands. 

“The clothes are now being washed,” Alvis announced as he came back to the kitchen. “Did you finish vacuuming already?” 

He wasn’t expecting to see Mythra leaning against the counter, visibly lost in thought. When she heard him, she raised an eyebrow. “Duh, obviously. Vacuuming our place is nothing like cleaning up the orphanage.”

“You’re right.” He walked up to her and scanned their apartment. “What is next?” 

Mythra let out a yawn before stretching her whole body. “We’re making breakfast. That way, Malos and Pyra could eat as soon as they get home!”

Alvis blinked, doubtful. “I don’t believe that this was on our chores list.” 

Mythra smacked him on the arm playfully. “Of course it wasn’t, dumbass!” She had a foul mouth when Pyra wasn’t around. “But Pyra cooks for us all the time. It’d be nice to pay her back, wouldn’t it?”

Her argument was valid, so Alvis nodded with a slight smile. “Indeed,” he replied before going to their fridge so he could check on its content. “Let us begin.” 

“YEAH! Let’s make them proud, Alvis!” Mythra rushed to his side, with a grin beaming on her face.

…

“What the hell?! What’s up with that bloody smell?!” Malos shouted as soon as he stepped inside the apartment. “Did you two kill somebody while we were gone?!” 

“Oh, shut up, Malos!” Mythra growled back. 

Pyra raised her hand to her mouth. “Oh my…”  

Alvis greeted the two of them before relieving Pyra of her grocery bag’s weight as he took it himself. “Welcome back. Breakfast is ready. Please sit down and enjoy yourself. Mythra and I will put the groceries away.” 

That being said, Alvis led the others to the kitchen table where patient breakfast plates waited for them. A sharp and sour smell overwhelmed the room so strongly that Pyra let out a small gasp, while Malos groaned painfully. But Alvis didn’t flinch. Obviously, he was aware of the odor, as he had experienced it first-hand. 

While he was filling the pantry with Mythra, Alvis noticed that she seemed uneasy. “What is wrong, Mythra?” 

She bit her bottom lip, before glancing over to the other two. “I don’t know, they didn’t seem excited to eat…Did we mess up?” 

Even though it was a simple breakfast, Alvis recognized the self-doubt in her tone – he squeezed her shoulder gently. “We didn’t mess up. Look. Let us join them and enjoy the meal that we made together. All right?” He did his best encouraging smile. 

That appeared to have lifted her spirits. “Yeah!”

When the four of them reunited at the kitchen table, a deep silence washed over them as they observed the oozy, steamy, strange yellowish meal. Nobody dared to move for a moment, until Pyra eventually did first while Malos held his breath. Alvis noticed Pyra poking the food carefully with her fork, before removing a layer of yellow mush, which revealed a brownish texture. Her eyes widened. 

“Are these…lentils?” She gasped, before smiling awkwardly. Malos made a strangled noise next to her. 

Alvis nodded. “Correct. Lentils are good for your heart and digestive system. They also have a high concentration of iron, which helps fight off fatigue. This is welcomed, especially after our first week here.” He continued while pointing at their meals. “Brussel sprouts, soy, and tofu are also included in this omelet.” 

Mythra suddenly looked horrified. “You’ve put brussel sprouts in there?! You didn’t tell me!” 

“Yes, but let me explain. The benefits are—”

“Oh, shut the hell up or else I’m gonna puke,” mumbled Malos as he glanced over at Alvis with a pleading look. 

“Please do not throw up, Malos.”

“Alvis…” Pyra finally spoke up again, before grabbing a piece with her fork. “Mythra. Thank you. You worked hard for us.”

“You shouldn’t thank us!” Mythra groaned and she pointed at Alvis. “He ruined our food with these sprouts!”

Pyra giggled nervously. “This omelet is so…wet,” she realized with a voice so low that nobody heard her. She then took a deep breath to steady herself, before raising the fork to her lips. “Well…Thank you for the food!”

When the piece of food got into her mouth, it felt like time itself froze. Everyone was staring at Pyra. Waiting. Longing to know if the bite was a divine discovery or, on the opposite side of the spectrum, if it was so atrocious that words couldn’t describe it. Obviously, Alvis knew it wasn’t this bad, because he and Mythra had used healthy ingredients and spices (which spices, exactly? He couldn’t say, as it was Mythra’s self-proclaimed expertise). 

After seconds that felt like hours, Pyra managed to swallow down the bite with a strangled noise that Alvis had never heard before. She sounded like she had just gotten punched in the stomach – Alvis frowned with worry. “Are you alright?” He asked immediately, while Malos let out a snort.

“Obviously not, shithead!” 

“Oh my god Pyra, I’m so sorry,” Mythra said as she observed her twin sister. “I shouldn’t have let Alvis put those brussels sprouts in there.”

Alvis couldn’t help but frown. “Why blame brussels sprouts only? Perhaps your spices are what caused her reaction.”

“Excuse me?! My spices definitively saved our dish!”

Malos raised his hand to put an end to their bickering. Right! In a hurry, they switched their focus to Pyra again and…Oh. She was so pale; it was worrying. Without hesitation, Alvis got on his feet and went to the bathroom to recover a wet towel and some anti-nausea pills. When he came back into the kitchen, Pyra was smiling faintly. Carefully, Alvis pressed the fresh cloth against her nape and offered her the pills. 

“Thank you, Alvis,” she said in a low voice, before swallowing them. “You two…” She stared at Alvis and Mythra for a time that lasted forever. “…what the hell was that?” 

That foul word that dropped from her mouth like venom made them freeze instantly, while Malos was laughing uncontrollably. Pyra never said “hell” or anything of the sort before. She was always the most polite and sweet person in the whole world. The fact that she swore at them…That made Alvis’s blood freeze. Even if he felt horrible, it didn’t show on his face thankfully. On the other hand, Mythra was on the verge of tears. 

“Pyra…I’m so sorry! I wanted to make you happy. You’re always cooking for us, taking care of us,” Mythra kept going, and Pyra looked moved. “I really wanted to cook you something good. But Alvis just had to add his stupid shit in it.”

That caught Alvis off guard. “Are you still blaming my brussels sprouts?” 

Pyra smiled at him. “The brussels sprouts were the best part of the meal, I thank you. However…We need to do something about your cooking skills, you two. Was there a cooking club at school?” Her face lit up when she asked. She seemed hopeful. 

Alvis and Mythra exchanged a look, as they pondered about their visit at the main facility. The crochet club, the gardening club…Alvis didn’t remember noticing a cooking club, but because Pyra asked, he would find it. If such a club existed, he and Mythra would become a part of it. 

Because Pyra asked. 

…

Freaking finally! On Wednesday night, their basketball team was having its first inter-university game of the season, against Uraya University from the country of Agnus. Malos walked on the basketball court with pride, like a king marching to his throne, under the crowd’s fiery cheers – he even pressed his hand behind his ear to hear them better. Louder! Louder! For the best basketball player in the world! At the same time, the cheerleader’s team was singing and doing their pom pom choreography. 

“Jin! You got this!” a girl with a long, brown ponytail shouted from the cheerleading team. 

Urg. They were cheering for the best basketball player in the world, but also for that guy, Jin. Malos glanced behind him and saw his slender yet muscular figure. He couldn’t meet Jin’s eyes, as they were hidden behind his overlong bangs of a snowy silver color. Tch, he looks ridiculous , Malos thought to himself before getting ready at the center of the court – of course he started the game there, as he was the tallest guy on his team. 

Before focusing on the referee and his opponent, Malos turned his head to glance at Jin and to flash him a confident, cocky smile.  

“Ready to see a real pro at work?” 

These were the only words that Malos said, before he took a strong yet gracious leap to catch the bright orange ball that was thrown high in the air. The game started, and Malos was more than ready to show that he was the real deal.

When Jin and his team had gone to Malos’s school for a game, Malos was blown away by the other’s strong athletic abilities. Jin had danced around them, unbothered by the dribbling, and had scored multiple times with picture-perfect loops. And while his team had celebrated his points, Jin had looked completely calm, and that tilted Malos. If he had good teammates (he didn’t in highschool) who would cheer for their MVP, he’d be exhilarated! Jin couldn’t appreciate the value of what he had, so Malos had decided that he was his rival. Malos was the one who deserved praising teammates and fans, not him! 

Therefore, Malos had given himself the mission to prove his superiority when he found out that they were on the same team. And that mission began tonight. 

Malos moved around the court with confident ease and dodged multiple Urayan players, as he got closer to the hoop. There, he noticed two players ready to receive the most important pass for a clean 3-points goal: Jin, and that energetic guy, Matthew. With a smirk, Malos faked throwing the ball at Jin, who made a swift movement to catch it, but he immediately got covered by a rash opponent. 

Heh. All according to plan. Malos then passed to Matthew, who shot through the hoop with a sharp maneuver, and the game whistle rang through the gym as the local crowd exploded with loud cheers. When Malos gave Matthew a well-deserved high-five, he noticed the cold stare that Jin gave him, but he chose to ignore it with a smug smile across his lips. 

He needed Jin to feel this fierce rivalry between the two of them. It would be more fun this way. 

Malos always thrived on the feeling of getting under people’s skin. That was how he’d always been as long as he could remember. Every kid at the orphanage knew of “Destruction Malos”, who would cause havoc simply because of the thrill of it. And that was exactly how he was planning to enjoy his time on the basketball team: by becoming the best player, obviously, but also by annoying Jin. 

As he dribbled, feinted, and dodged opposing players, Malos felt invincible. His strong body let him throw the ball to his teammates easily and receive clean passes from them. Everything worked perfectly, like in a Liberators’ Championship match, and they won their first game of the season. 

Malos scored multiple 3-points goals, while Jin managed to get a single, pathetic point.

…

“What was that all about?” 

Jin’s slightly annoyed voice made Malos smirk. They were changing in the dressing room after the game. Between the jokes and laughter, the other players weren’t paying attention to Jin and Malos. With an extra motion for showing off, Malos passed the towel over his sweaty nape before turning his head to Jin. 

“What do you mean?” Malos asked in a fake, innocent tone. He knew exactly what Jin meant and he was eager to see what came next.

Hesitation wasn’t exactly what he expected, but it wasn’t an unwelcome reaction. “Well, uh…You never passed me the ball or anything. It almost seemed like it was on purpose.” 

Malos turned to face him properly, a delightful smile stretching his lips. “What if it was?” Malos asked, enjoying how Jin’s eyebrow furrowed, but he didn’t follow suit. 

Instead, Malos took his sweet time by observing how Jin’s eyes darted swiftly, in the way someone would when they were overthinking. Was Jin replaying their game’s highlights in his head? Of all the passes that Malos didn’t give him? Or was he thinking of an appropriate comeback? How was he feeling? Upset? Surprised? Frustrated ? Malos felt like a kid in a candy shop: he was so excited to see his incoming reaction. 

Malos didn’t expect Jin to frown. “But why?” He simply asked. 

Well, that was disappointing. “Because you’re my rival, idiot,” Malos replied with a sigh. Perhaps Jin wasn’t an interesting target enough. 

“I don’t even know who you are.” 

Oh boy, that fired Malos right back up. How dared he didn’t know of Destruction Malos, the greatest basketball player of The City’s public high school?! In a rough gesture, Malos banged his forearm against the locker before looming over Jin and staring into his icy eyes. 

“The name’s Malos. Remember it,” Malos replied in a low voice, so only the two of them could hear him. To his surprise, Jin didn’t move an inch, holding back his stare and his intimidating aura. Jin was brave, or perhaps stupid. 

His eyes…Even though they were cold like snow, they radiated a strong will. Jin wasn’t showing signs of idiocy: they were signs of courage instead. Malos couldn’t help but smile. No one was able to maintain a staring contest with him. “You…have nice eyes,” Malos couldn’t hold back the compliment.

At the sudden compliment, Jin looked astonished, but then a frown crippled his face. “Who even names their kid Malos, anyway?” 

Huh? How? Why ? Every time Jin opened that stupid mouth of his, why was he able to push his buttons without trying? Attacking his name like that: that pushed Malos over the edge. His mind went blind with anger: he brutally raised his fist, with the intention of crushing Jin’s face with it. But his motion stopped suddenly when a hand gripped his wrist. When he turned his head, Malos was met with Matthew’s annoyed expression.

“What the hell’s going on here?” Matthew asked, while Jin stepped back a bit. “Were you guys fighting?” 

“Relax, Matt. We were just having a chit-chat. Weren’t we, Jin?” Malos said in a cheerful tone as he glanced over at Jin. 

“Yes, we were. We talked about Malos’s unsportsmanship during the game, but we won at least.”

Oh, that idiot. Jin just had to throw him under the bus as soon as he got the chance to do so. Malos couldn’t help but laugh. Jin…was interesting. Really interesting. Jin dared to deny and defy him in a short period of time. Malos was even more determined to be better than him at everything, be it basketball or anything else. 

Matthew glanced at the two of them with a confused look. “Uh, okay, I guess. Malos. You should pass to Jin more next game.”

“Can’t do, partner. I’m a scorer, you see. You got a pass from me because it was the optimal choice,” Malos explained in an arrogant, matter-of-fact tone: Alvis would be proud to hear him talk like this. Optimal, logical, the best outcome: Alvis liked these words. “Just put yourself in a better position next time, Jin.”

“I will, Malos,” Jin replied with a cold tone. While Matthew winced at the tone, it made Malos chuckle. 

Jin was so amusing to him. He will be fun to torment for the next few years.

…

He couldn’t breathe. His vision was hindered. Something heavy held his frail body down. Alvis felt like he was getting buried alive. He coughed and gasped for air. It was so dark; he couldn’t see anything past his nose. He was so cold. He felt frostbite burning his cheeks. The piercing cold was making every part of his body numb. 

He couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t breathe . 

No. He had to survive. He had to find the will to survive. 

Why was it so dark? Why was he alone? Where was Pyra? Mythra? Malos? 

Where were his parents?

…

A startled gasp escaped Alvis’s mouth and woke him up, while his body sat up straight in his bed. Alvis felt his nightgown stick to his back, dripping with sweat. With a loose gesture, he removed it and let his exposed skin dry up with his bedroom’s warm temperature. Alvis let his clammy palm rest on his chest, as he gasped for air as quietly as he could. His throat felt sore.

It had been a long time since he last had this dream – this freezing cold nightmare. Perhaps his moment of weakness the other day at ASA triggered his subconscious and led him back there, to that scary place. What place, exactly? Alvis didn’t even know. He would always wake up before figuring everything out. 

Feeling distraught, Alvis got off his bed and left his room without making any noise. Their apartment was pitch black, but it was fine. Alvis closed his eyes and focused on his senses. 

The faint smell of dinner’s garnished potatoes, the clean wooden floor under his feet, the taste of his dry mouth. When he opened his eyes again, Alvis felt composed enough to reach the fridge so he could drink some grape juice. While he served himself a glass, Alvis kept focusing and heard some distant tapping. The sound caught his curiosity, so he went to its source material. 

Mythra’s door was closed, but by pressing his ear against it, Alvis could hear her. The angry keyboard mashing, the tapping on the mouse, the whispers into her microphone: that put Alvis’s mind at ease. Without realizing it, he felt a faint smile stretching his dry lips, as he sat down against the door. Quietly, he enjoyed his nightly grape juice while listening to Mythra gaming with Nia. 

Alvis chuckled to himself. Normally, he would have scolded Mythra for staying up so late, especially since they had classes early in the morning. But tonight, he needed the comforting, yet noisy routine. 

Mythra and the others felt like home, after all.