Voyage Of The Villainess

Do you wish your dream to be fulfilled? Carolle remembered clearly where it all started. That sales lady that turned out to be the priestess asked whether she wanted her dream to be fulfilled and forced her to wear that strange silver bracelet.

Another three days had already passed since she was discharged from the hospital. And yet, looking at her empty house, with no one other than her, she felt utterly alone. Rather than alone, she never felt this empty inside before.

When Carolle had something she wanted to do, to achieve, she knew too well how she would pave the path for that. But that place, the place that was told to be a dream by Ms. Gina and Riza. 

'Was that really just a dream created by the things I wished to have?'

Carolle clenched her fist as she looked at the torn book of the Fate of the Stars in her hand. She borrowed it again for Ms. Gina. And looking at it, she felt emptier inside. Carolle clenched her fist and smiled.

'There is no way that is a dream. But even if that is the case, my heart bleeds if I don't go back there.'

Carolle grabbed her white hoodie and immediately went outside her house. But she was surprised when there was already someone waiting for her outside the gate of her house.

"Ms. Gina." Carolle narrowed her gaze as Ms. Gina was standing outside her gate.

"Ms. Gina, I know that dream. It is impossible for it to be just a dream created by my wishes." Carolle said as she clenched her fist. "I got a strong feeling that you know something about this."

However, instead of telling her anything relating to that, Ms. Gina spoke something different. "Can you accompany me somewhere, today, Carolle? It's been a while since I had to spend my time with my favorite student." She said with a calm smile. Her eyes were unreadable. Carolle was hesitant at first, but in the end, she agreed with Ms. Gina.

Carolle entered the passenger seat in Ms. Gina's car while Ms. Gina was the one who would drive. On the road, Carolle looked absentmindedly on the road. Her mind was always going back to the dream she had. However, her thoughts were interrupted, when Ms. Gina spoke.

"We're here, Carolle."Looking outside, Carolle was surprised to find the place she was in. It was her high school. The silver and huge letterings of the St. Benedict Highschool made her nostalgic.

Ms. Gina drove the car to the entrance and the guard seemed to notice her. Without checking her identity, the guard opened the gate for her. "That guard is pretty relaxed about letting us in without checking our identity," Carolle said.

"I've been working for twenty years here now. And that guard for almost seven years now. He is pretty familiar with my car now."

"I see." Carolle leaned her arm on the window of the car. "Seven years, no wonder I didn't recognize him. Where is that old guard who serves the school the same as you?"

"He already passed away." Ms. Gina said.

"I see," Carolle replied, without expressing many emotions.

"There are so many changes that have happened since you graduated here." Ms. Gina said as she finally parked the car.Ms. Gina led Carolle inside the school. Since it was Friday, there were students lingering here and there. Probably, it was their lunchtime now.

They still had the same white blouse and navy blue skirt uniform for girls and white blouse and navy blue slacks for boys. And on top of their blouses were dark navy coats. Most of the students that they encountered greeted Ms. Gina with polite smiles on their faces. Some looked at Carolle with curiosity but other than that, they still continued on their own ways.

Finally they both stopped in front of a door where a silver plaque of Academic Discipline was plastered at the top of the door.

"Am I getting a suspension, Ms. Gina?" Carolle chuckled. But Ms. Gina only gave a chuckle as a response as well. She opened the door and invited Carolle inside. Seeing the interior of the office, Carolle was a bit amazed. It was the same place as before.

On their way here, Carolle saw many new things, but in this room, it still looked the same. There were three bookshelves on the sides that were filled with books. Then the huge landscape of the school and the same sofa and teacher's oak desk.

Carolle sat casually on the sofa. "So why did you bring me here? Ms. Gina." 

"We need a substitute teacher for a certain class. Their adviser, who is the only teacher that can control them, is left for maternity leave. And would be back after four months. I want you to become their teacher for a while. Though you just got discharged from the hospital, rather than doing nothing in your home, this might be a great change of pace for you. Right now, you are already twenty-five and there are really not much of a stable job to support yourself." Ms. Gina said straight to the point.

'Ah, she is certainly true.' Carolle sighed. 'It's not like either that I will be able to go back to seafaring that fast either. But I don't intend to go back to my normal life here in the first place.'

"You will also have another sub teacher that will join you today."

Carolle narrowed her gaze. "Substitute teacher for four months. Though you are my teacher before, but with all due respect, why are you deciding things for me?" 

"Carolle, you want to go back to that world right? Then do as I say." 

This time Carolle stood up as she looked at Ms. Gina with wary and caution. "So you are really hiding something from me since the hospital. Is Riza also hiding something from me?"

"No. She is just a genuine friend who is concerned for you." Ms. Gina said. "And if you are worried that something might happen to that world while you're here. You don't have to worry about that. Time here and in that place flows differently. Even if you are here for a longer time, nothing much would pass there." Ms. Gina said as she reached out a paper in front of Carolle. "If you want to go back there, then become a substitute teacher for this class. I will also tell you something that is related to that world. And you can ask me anything you want, I will answer all of it truthfully. Right now, unlike that world, you don't have magic artifacts that can help you or powerful friends that can be behind your back."

Carolle received the paper and it was her biodata. Then there was another paper behind it. As she read it, it was the contract containing her being the substitute teacher.

"Please just sign in there." Ms. Gina said as she handed Carolle the ballpen. After reading its contents and seeing that it had nothing suspicious, she glanced at Ms. Gina. Then played the recordings of Ms. Gina's words earlier on her phone.

"I trust you to do as you say at the end of this contract," Carolle said then signed the contract.

"You can count on me for that." Ms. Gina said with a smile. "After all, I promised myself not to cheat on other people."

Carolle didn't say anything on that, then handed the papers to Ms. Gina. "When will I start to teach?"

"Next Monday." Ms. Gina said as she put the paper on a clear envelope. And at the same time, the bell rang indicating that lunchtime was over.

"I see, then I will look around for the school for a while to familiarize myself here," Carolle said as she headed to the door. 

"Ah, then have this card. It's a visitor card! If some school personnel ask about you, you can show this to them." Ms. Gina said as she handed the card to Carolle. Carolle put it in the pocket of her white hoody and headed outside.

There were no students in the hallway now, and Carolle just walked aimlessly wherever her feet would bring her. After a few times of walking, she was surprised that she found herself on the rooftop of the school.

Carolle could only sigh to herself. 'Why do I feel like something cliche will happen here?'

At the mention of that from her thoughts…

"Kyahh!" A scream of the girl resounded at the other side of the wall. Carolle slowly turned her back, since she didn't want to trouble herself to whatever it was. And it was not like, it could be a case of someone jumping out the rooftop. The whole rooftop was covered with metal fencing with a metallic net-like structure that overarched and could be considered as an entire roof for the rooftop. It was impossible for anyone to climb it up.

However, she stopped when someone held her hands. "Please help me, teacher!'