章節 10: To change the world...

"I am... Lucas..." Lucas said with a stutter. He didn't know how to communicate with people because in his past life Lucas stayed away from people, been very withdrawn and only interacted with Detective James. The same man who had shot him.

"My name is Lucas Ciffer." Lucas repeated, extending his hand for a handshake.

"Nice to meet you." Sarah lifted her face and smiled, accepting Lucas' handshake.

"Uh... Well then, tell me what you want from me." Lucas said, waiting for her to explain what the project was and why Lucas needed to be involved.

"Uh... I... I've asked the teachers myself to have you as my partner." She said, surprising Lucas. He thought it was nice, but he still had no idea what the project was.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Lucas asked.

"Y-You don't have to do anything!" She said quickly, thinking Lucas was worried.

"What?"

"The purpose of the project is to give those who can't defend themselves protection."

Lucas gave a short laugh.

"You mean... You're going to protect me from bullies?"

"Y-Yes. I believe all students are equal, regardless of their magical abilities." Sarah bowed her head to Lucas again in respect.

"I'll pass." Lucas said, closing the door, still laughing. He didn't need an attachment to stop him from his favourite hobby; catching and killing criminals.

"W-What..." Sarah raised her eyebrows, unable to believe that Lucas had refused to help. She had chosen Lucas because he was the most abused at school.

"Well... Maybe he has his own reasons..." Sarah said, but knocked on the door again.

"Can I help you?" Lucas opened the door with a frown on his face, obviously not satisfied.

Sarah didn't want to put Lucas in the awkward position of forcing him to accept help, but decided to at least ask about school.

"Lucas... Are you planning ongoing to school?" She asked, and her gaze once again darted from corner to corner.

Lucas thought about it and remembered that one of his plans was to go back to school and learn to control magic. The problem was that he didn't know how to get to school.

"Oh... About that...." Lucas smiled.

"You missed yesterday..." she said, but her face quickly turned red; she didn't want Lucas to think she was stalking him.

"T-That is, I was looking for you yesterday to tell you about the project... That is..." She started stammering again, trying to explain herself.

"About school..." Lucas said, unable to contain his laughter at the girl's efforts not to stutter.

"Would you walk me to it today?"

The girl's face lit up when she heard Lucas' question.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really." Lucas replied.

"Sure." Sarah said, grinning; she hoped Lucas had slowly thought about her proposal and was just ashamed to ask.

Lucas went and got dressed in his school uniform. He walked over to the mirror and saw Lilith's face scrunched up, blood streaming from her eyes, black as pitch.

"Eh? What's wrong?" Lucas asked the ghost of Lilith, but she just turned her face away, pouting.

Lucas raised his eyebrows in surprise. Lilith had never shown displeasure until now. This made Lucas a little worried.

"Something wrong?" He asked Lilith again, but her reflection disappeared from the mirror, leaving Lucas staring at himself.

"That was weird." Lucas said as he adjusted his shirt, still hoping that Lilith would reappear. But since she didn't show up, Lucas just shrugged and left the house.

Sarah stood with her hands behind her back, hunched over a little and kicking the ground in anticipation. This was supposed to be her first mission. Lucas was supposed to be her first rescue.

"Sorry I'm late. How long were you waiting?" Lucas said as he walked towards Sarah.

"T-just two days." She said without thinking, and when she realized what she had said, she wanted to dig a hole and hide in it.

"W-what?" Lucas stopped, gasping in surprise. This girl was much more awkward than Lucas; and Lucas had lived in hiding from humans for eight years.

"I... I..." Sarah blinked as she stared at the ground, tears beginning to gather in her eyes. She couldn't believe how important it was to communicate with people if you wanted to do something good for others.

"Can you tell me about this project?" Lucas said, trying to distract the girl from her awkward answer.

"Y-Yes." Sarah's pink eyes sparkled with happiness. Not only was she able to start the conversation all over again, but she had prepared the speech and had memorized it. A smug smile appeared on her face.

"I created this project hoping to change the way society did things at school. Those who don't have magic should live fulfilling lives." Sarah said, taking Lucas by the hand and leading him to the school.

'If only this was the case.' Lucas thought, remembering how badly 'Lucas Ciffer' was treated after his parents sealed his magic. Betrayal and bullying were not something Lucas had experienced alone; It doomed anyone without magic to a tragic life.

Sarah talked about the project, about how she dreamed of changing the school into a better place. A place not run by the powerful, but by those who were intelligent and could continue to improve the school.

"School is just the beginning; I hope that one day I will make a difference in the Elemental kingdom..." Sarah said in a hopeful voice.

"No... I want to change the world."

Lucas remained silent and smiled. He knew it was a futile wish because projects like Sarah's had been done many times in the past; but in this world the powerful always force their will on the weak. All projects ended when some bastard with more power threatened the disobedient with death.

"Well... I hope you succeed." Lucas said genuinely. In truth, Lucas believed he was doing the same thing; getting rid of those who force their will on others.

"You know what..." Lucas bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing.

"We'll get along." Lucas said with a smile, deciding that he would help her with that project. Lucas knew how to make the project a success. This project would not be doomed if there were no more of those who dared to take over by force.