Raven's thoughts were in disarray.
For that past month, he had been seeing things.
"Ukh...!"
Things he couldn't explain.
"....I feel sick."
He was dying.
Spurt!
But then he wasn't.
He was clearly alive.
"I feel sick."
But he kept seeing the scenarios. They were so real, as if he had experienced them for himself.
"I feel sick."
"Raven, where are you going?"
Reina called out to him, but it all went to deaf ears. Raven groggily walked towards the bathroom and turned the faucet on.
"I feel sick."
It flashed in his mind.
Him, dying.
Over, and over and over over and—
"Ueeekh!"
His stomach twisted in knots, his head spinning as he puked profusely.
They felt so real, so much so that Raven could solemnly swear he felt the pain for himself.
"Ueeeekh!"
Things didn't make any sense at all. It was as if he was taken back to the past.
Certain scenarios played out in his mind.
Scenarios he had already witnessed himself, yet at the same time, he didn't.
Spurt—!
His chest pierced by Francis Osborn.
Spurt—!
His body, thoroughly torn apart by threads. Threads coming from David Aurae.
"Ueeekh!"
Him, crushed beneath boulders inside Astrea during the calamity.
Swoosh—!
Himself, consumed by a Wraith inside a place that was unfamiliar to him. Behind him, gathered what seemed like Imperial Army officers.
Crack—!
Thoroughly crushed by a wyvern's talon.
Spurt—!
Body, mangled by monsters he couldn't explain. The scenery, a myriad of mirrors standing tall around him.
"Ueeekh!"
What seemed to be a Wraith, with white hair and black eyes with no pupil, her crystal–black nails consuming his entire being.
Slash—!
The boy he had just encountered recently, Greed. The boy who should've been defeated. However, instead, it was Raven who suffered the consequences.
"Ueeekh!"
Two crimson eyes staring back at him, severing his head. He couldn't see properly who had done it, as before he realized it, he had already been killed.
"Haaa.... H-haaa...."
Over and over again. It was all too vivid, different scenarios that had never occurred played out in his head.
By the time they stopped, Raven was blankly staring at the ceiling, his face and clothes were all drenched with his fluids.
His mind was abuzz. It had been like this everyday, and he never knew of the cause.
Twist—
Twisting the faucet, water gradually poured down from the shower.
Raven looked down with a blank expression, his face darkening.
Immediately after those.... Visions? Had stopped, Raven would forget most of the details after a few seconds, as if it were all just a fleeting dream.
But Raven could somehow still see fragments of it. Not too detailed, just....
"Ueekh!"
His death.
After showering, Raven stepped out, pushing the curtains. Changing into cleaner clothes, Raven left the bathroom.
By now, he had forgotten most of what he had seen already, just a sharp feeling on his neck.
However, despite that, he couldn't deny the anxiety creeping up on him.
"Sherly...."
There, Reina sat on the couch, wearing a loosely fitted white string–top, exposing her cleavage unknowingly.
"...."
Raven was immediately snapped out of his dilemma, frowning.
She was always like this—completely unaware of her surroundings, letting her guard down without a second thought.
"You're leaving yourself open again."
Raven muttered under his breath, his voice barely loud enough to reach her.
No, follow wasn't the right word.
Investigate.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes...."
The two drove off, Lianna had told the driver of their location.
If anyone else were to see this, they would immediately think Lianna and Raven were going out on a date.
But that wasn't the case at all.
It was a job–interview.
"We're here, Miss Venice."
"Thank you."
Immediately, they got off the black—sedan.
Raven raised his head, staring at the flashing neon sign that adorned the entrance.
"Casino."
It was a casino.
Of all places.
The moment they entered the casino, the noise hit him.
Bibibiiip—
Laughter, cheers, the clinking of coins, and the constant shuffling of cards, the sound of slot machines, clearly indicating whoever was playing was a loser. \\
The atmosphere was lively, but Raven felt disconnected from it all.
Lianna led him through the crowds with ease.
Raven couldn't help but notice how people seemed to part for her, as if she was Moses separating the ocean.
They reached a door at the far end of the casino, guarded by two large men in suits.
One of them gave Lianna a nod before opening the door, allowing them inside.
The room they entered was dimly lit, in contrast to the bustling atmosphere earlier.
At the center sat a round table with several individuals seated around it.
They all turned their attention toward Lianna and Raven as they entered.
"Ah, Miss Venice. We've been expecting you."
A man, older than the rest, with graying hair and sharp features, spoke first.
His eyes flickered to Raven for a moment, but he didn't ask any questions.
"Gentlemen, this is Raven Blackheart."
Lianna's voice resounded across the room.
"So this is him...."
"He looks promising."
A lady, who sat with her legs crossed, licked her lips.
Raven, feeling uncomfortable, but completely dismissed it.
"Apologies, Raven. But we don't accept just anyone. Is it fine for you to take a test?"
"Yes, I've signed up for this, after all."
"Okay."
Lianna nodded her head in agreement.
Then, a bulky man, wearing a suit and a pair of shades stepped forward.
"Follow me."
Raven swallowed deeply and followed suit.
It had to be said, what Raven had applied for was bodyguarding duty.
Lianna had offered him the job, and realizing the experience he could gain, Raven accepted the offer.
Ideally so, as for some reason, the thought of Lianna just wouldn't leave his mind.
It was two birds with one stone!
It was good training to prepare himself for the second semester as well.
In any case, the man stopped in front of a metal door and gestured for Raven to enter.
"Inside."
Raven nodded his head, bracing himself.
The room was dimly lit, just like the rest of the casino's back areas, but it was clear this was a place for combat.
The floor was padded, and various weapons lined the walls.
However, it wasn't the room or the weapons that caught Raven's attention—it was the person standing at the center, stretching his limbs.
For a moment, both of them froze in place, their eyes locking in disbelief.
Red hair. Blue eyes.
"Raven?"
"Reinhard?"
***
Reina stopped, blinking her eyes in disbelief.
She had followed the car discreetly.
The moment Raven stepped outside and entered the room, Reina couldn't believe it.
It was a casino.
So.... the reason why Raven had been distraught lately was because....
"This kid was fucking gambling!?"