The next week, we spent moving in. Mother was really happy and forgot all about the ‘talk’ we were supposed to have. Grandpa visited a lot, along with Miss Elena but Mr Xanxus hated when they did because it meant he had to see Miss Elena. I still couldn’t get used to living with Malia. We hung out in my room a lot, talking or duelling in the garden but normally, she’d go out or stay in her room meditating. Sometimes I’d join her but I would ALWAYS knock because once, I walked into her room and she came out of her bathroom in a towel.

“AHHHHH!” she screamed.

“AHHHHH!” I screamed with her.

She held onto the top of her towel and ran back into the bathroom, shutting the door.

“ZEREF!” she yelled from the bathroom.

“Sorry!!!” I rushed out of the room, red as a tomato.

I couldn’t get used to living with Mike either. He is just so odd. I called him down for dinner but when I knocked and came in, he was belly dancing in nothing but a short, pink skirt.

“What? It’s good for exercise.” he said but I just walked out in disgust; not questioning him.

Even Mr Xanxus was weird. I’d always find him belly dancing with Mike or singing in the kitchen or opening the bookshelf 100 times for NO reason! It’s not that fascinating!!! You own a whole ass school! Get yourself together!!!

I think the only good things about this whole thing is my mum and Malia. They’re the least weird or bothersome. Except for the accidental walk in, living with Malia is somewhat fun. I’ve even tried giving her nicknames which she hated. Mal, Lili, Lia, Mali, Mochi etc. She hated them all.

“Just call me Malia!” she yelled and I’d burst out laughing. Mum was really keen on Malia and my friendship, a little too keen… But she seemed happy so I was ok I guess. She told me she was happy having another two kids in the house. She had always wanted more than two children but dad refused after seeing my birth. I was glad mum treated Mike and Malia like her own. The look on Malia and Mike’s face, when she addressed them as her children too, was priceless. It was nice to see them feel like they had a real family now. We sat for dinner together when Xanxus would come back home and Mr Xanxus would tell us funny stories while we ate. The two weeks went by in a blur and it was soon time to get back to school.

**

“Mike! Zeref! Hurry the flip up! We are gonna be late!” Malia tapped her foot impatiently, waiting by the door. I ran down the stairs, swinging my bag over my back and standing next to Malia.

“Good morning, you look pretty.” I smiled genuinely and Malia laughed.

“Thanks, you too.” she smiled.

Mum came out of the kitchen with three paper bags in her hands. “Wait! Wait! I packed lunch.” she shook the bags in her hands and handed one to Malia and one to me.

Malia gasped and jumped up and down while screaming ‘thank you’.

“Have you never had a packed lunch?” I chuckled. Mum smacked my arm before kissing Malia’s cheek.

“Your welcome darling,” she winked and Malia giggled.

“I was always the one packing the lunch for Mike and Kenny. I’ve never had one made for me. Thank you, auntie.” she smiled up at my mum again and my mum blushed at her words.

“I’m done!” Mike came running down and stood next to Malia.

“Here, I packed lunch. Now you all behave. Don’t make trouble please.” she said before handing Mike his lunch and opening the door for us to leave. We all kissed mum before hurrying down the steps and through the gates, into the daylight. I really felt like a kid. Like I was living the childhood I never had.

We walked to school which only took 5 minutes and on the way, we spotted Jace and he joined us. Mike also spotted his friends and ran off to walk with them. Jace was pretty excited when I told him how cool Malia was, beating up her step brother.

“Oh shut up,” she gushed, bringing up her sleeve to her mouth to blush.

I really liked this life. If only I didn’t have to be a stupid contestant, I could enjoy this moment without thinking for what was to come. I still hadn’t forgotten about the vision I had about the start of the tournament.

**

“..I know that some of you have already awoken your mana pool stages, so this year the focus is to teach you all the basics of meditation and mana control. Who’s that sleeping over there! How disrespectful! Get up right now.” the professor spoke loudly, pointing his finger to the back of the class.

“Psst! Zeref! Zeref! Bloody… He’s staring at us, get up man!” Jace violently shook my shoulder and I lifted my head from my arms, I must’ve drowsed off again. The issue with these classes was that I already knew everything in the syllabus, Miss Elena had taught me most of the stuff during my 8 year training period and the rest was basic stuff.

“You, what’s your name?!”

“Zeref Amara.” I replied, still rubbing my eyes.

“What was I talking about just now?!” he shouted out of anger. Was this teacher trying to catch me out?

“You were explaining about the pros and cons of meditation and cultivating mana. Meditating for too long can mentally tire someone out, but mana can be recovered at an extremely fast rate. However, some have skills which can help them to recover mana while moving. This can be dangerous as it consumes a lot of stamina. Want more?” I gazed at the teacher coldly.

“Uh-Uh, that’s fine. Make sure you stay awake in my cla-class.” he stuttered, then continued talking.

“That went better than I thought.” Jace whispered to me.

“Who do you think I am?” I chuckled.

“As I was saying before, to replenish your mana while moving is an advanced skill that can only be used by mages who have a mana pool stage of 4 or higher.”

This professor was completely wrong. What was this geezer teaching? I raised my hand.

“Yes Zeref.” he sighed.

“Sir, I believe what you were saying is a little incorrect, replenishing one’s mana while moving isn’t such a hard task. In fact even mana pool stage 1 mages can use skills like those.” I corrected the teacher as kindly as possible.

“Do you think you know more than the teacher do you? I am a respected teacher at Xanxus Academy! Now stay silent!” the professor bellowed, shaking the room.

Another student put his hand up to ask a question. He was a frail and skinny boy, of a commoner background.

“Yes, Adam. What do you want?” the professor asked, rolling his eyes back in annoyance. I really hated his attitude.

“Si-Sir, is it possible to have multiple elements?”

“Adam that’s a stupid question! It’s Impossible! Absolutely impossible!” the professor shouted, releasing his frustration. I could see Adam look down in fear and shame.

I smirked, leaning back on my chair smugly.

Raising my hand, I lazily spoke up, “Actually, you’re wrong.”

The whole class looked back at me in confusion, giving me shocked looks.

“Excuse me.” the chubby professor retorted.

“You’re wrong, people can wield multiple elements.”

“I’ve had enough of you! I’m the teacher here, you always have something to say! There’s a reason I’m standing here and you’re sitting back there. If you don’t want to learn, just leave this class!” his voice echoed in the large room, I smiled in satisfaction; this was my cue to leave.

I kicked my chair backwards, startling Jace then proceeded to walk down the steps to the exit with both my hands in my pockets.

“Say less.” I scoffed giving the fat teacher a cold glare, which made him shiver.

“Ze-Zeref, wait for me!” Jace rushed behind me, grabbing both of our bags in the process.

I smiled back at him and we left the room together.