~ o 0 o ~

The cla.s.s today ended earlier, but she was not in the mood to go home yet. The girl found a quiet spot in the school grounds, a circular concrete bench around a tall Agoho tree. Seeing that no one was there, she sat down, took her sketchpad out and began sketching whatever to relieve her mysterious uneasiness.

Her fingers started moving on its own. Somehow, she ended up drawing a young man with pale white face, tall nose, high cheekbones, thin lips, narrow eyes. His long silver hair and his green eyes, they looked so beautiful.

With a smile, she finished the sketch with a few shadows over his chin and eyes. Tears fell from her eyes, wetting the sketchpad with salty drops. She didn't even know why, but looking at that picture made her chest ache. Who is this man?

"Kirin Aethelmer." A sudden voice from behind her, snapped her out of deep thoughts.

She jumped back in surprise, dropping the sketchpad on the ground. More than the sudden appearance of a stranger, the name that was suddenly whispered on her ears made her heart pound uncontrollably.

The stranger, a girl wearing the same uniform, with long wavy hair and clear, tan skin faced her with apprehending eyes. "This man is Kirin Aethelmaer, isn't it?"

This stranger's eyes and hair are both chestnut in color, something unusual in their country. "Who are you?" again, the girl asked.

She can't give her an answer. She wanted to know too, including the name she's supposed to give her. Her splitting headache came back. She squeezed her head tight, tears fell from her eyes. The chestnut haired girl held her hands. She smiled.

"Van." The girl said it, her name. "My name is Van from year 1. How about you?"

She was captivated by her gentle voice. It reminded her of the sad dream she's been desperately trying to remember. "What is your name?" Van repeated, driving her to a corner.

"Who are you?" She was sure she heard the same question before. And she was sure she answered it right, long before.

"Who are you?" All of a sudden, a familiar, comforting, nostalgic voice rang in her mind. Tears fell from her eyes. It's so comforting, it's like she's waiting for that voice for so long. Roughly wiping her tears off, she faced the chestnut-haired girl with a smile.

"I am Freyja."

~ o 0 o ~