Leigh had been dreaming. Why…did I remember all that?

Her wounds were tearing at her as the seal continued to push them all to the ground, the very ground where she’d first met Atalantea, met her comrades in the Zodiac, learned of Diwata and her kind. She ignored the pain or rather she was already growing numb to it.

This was stupid. She was going to die again and still she would be unfulfilled. She had not even found her murderer. Blasted Neo. Leigh could imagine the girl, cold eyes staring disinterestedly, watching her die. Damn.

With a sudden pain, Leigh felt herself grow cold and desperate. They were all going to die. Not like this! Why? Damn it all! Leigh gasped as the link that connected them all shared the pain of the others. With tears held back, she gave up the fight.

Her vision began fading, with that Leigh succumbed to what she had done for a living, what she brought upon so many beings, her duty. Death.


***


The alarm rang at exactly 6:20 am. Stretching out her hand, Lyca stopped the alarm before the first set of rings ended. She had been up since five and was already dressed and ready for work. The alarm was just there to tell her when it was time to leave. The bus was going to be at the corner stop at 6:30 am.

Picking up her buttered toast and thermos, Lyca rushed to her door and logged in the security code before opening and closing it. Munching quickly, she pressed the button to the elevator and waited. By the time it opened, she had already finished her toast and was pouring her tea on the thermos cup.

“Good morning, Ms. Ashvrn.” Elliot, the resident elevator doorman, was as usual, dressed up crisply in his black and red-lined uniform.

“Good morning, Elliot.” Lyca quickly drank her tea and got on the elevator. As it was early, she was once again alone during the ride down to the building’s lobby. Stashing her thermos into her bag, she began chatting with Elliot about the weather and her latest lessons. This was already a regular habit during weekdays.

The doors opened to the lobby. “Have a good day, Ms. Ashvrn.” She returned the greeting, waved goodbye and headed for the exit. Max, the front door’s doorman nodded his greeting and said the same. Lyca nodded back and went out the door. Looking at her watch, she saw she had less than five minutes left before the bus came. Walking quickly, she headed for the corner bus stop and waited exactly one minute before the bus arrived. Getting on, she grabbed a seat on the second row and waited for the long commute to the university.


At around 7, the bus reached the university and her with some others who came along the way got off the bus at the North entrance. The University was well known not only for it’s excellence in the academe world but for the famous collection of rare books that had been the actual lure that led her to it. As a freshman she’d immediately done her best to join ranks as student assistants and now on her fourth year, had finally been promoted to Assistant Head Librarian. She had the keys to every bibliophiles dream. Of course, being Assistant Head, she was granted permission to even stay late (though sometimes, it got so late she’d “accidentally” stayed overnight quite a few times).

After checking if she was ready for today’s lesson, history of Qi – Warring States Period, she headed for the high school division of the University. Being something of a genius, she’d already taken up most of her required subjects for her course and was now taking her internship(?) in teaching.

Heading for the high school division, Lyca hoped that this time the teacher she was assigned was actually there today. Her evaluation was nearing.


Heading for the high school division, Lyca hoped that this time the teacher she was assigned was actually there today. Her evaluation was nearing.

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