Moonblade, Ch. 1

Escape From Hiberia
Ch. 1

Playing in the shade of a requiem

"I don't think that's going to work," Akari commented as she furrowed her brow. She sat where she spent most of her lunchbreaks, beneath the large oak a hundred meters behind the school. Unlike most of her lunchbreaks, however, she was surrounded by the majority of her classmates.

As last years, they had gathered together under the oak's shade to discuss their farewell prank. Akari had little interest in the topic, but felt even less interest in leaving her favorite spot. Though often alone, when she leaned against the elderly trunk she felt a far away echo of an embrace, like a friend was nearby. The notion sounded somewhat insane, therefore she never expressed it aloud. Then again, no one had ever cared to ask her about her insistence on sitting here, and Akari knew herself that enjoying the company of trees was the least of what made her unusual.