The walk to class was…interesting.

Dinner with the Storm Spirits, the Venti, was…also interesting.

The first being they didn't actually eat human food to survive, but rather energy, like electricity, or other forms of that substance. I know it was kind of obvious to think they ate electricity, but to see someone who looked human grab a tendril of power and bite it like a banana kinda bombed my brain. They probably just snacked on the city's main generators for a few days or something, I don't know, but since Aella rolled in that huge storm, they have enough energy in the sky to subsist passively for the time being, the air more charged than usual.

Of course, the storm would have to leave eventually, but since I'm at school, they can just eat the school's electricity. I don't know how much they eat, but having them all start snacking on my own house was enough to make the lights flicker.

The cost of that might be pretty bad.

But they still eat human food, they had some of it when I made it, though it was clear they didn't actually need it. They tasted it, but that was it.

But the talk during our meal was…fulfilling, and enlightening.

Venti are storm spirits, obviously, but they have a unique property of combining with each other to temporarily merge power. More aggressive spirits can actually assimilate a spirits being, and dominate its core, allowing them to increase their own power and essentially boost themselves. Aella had done this apparently during their imprisonment, so that the remaining three spirits could live.

When Wrath left, the spirits began to consume each other to survive and grow more powerful…dreams of grandeur I suppose. Aella came out on top, and thus why she is so powerful. She consumed a hell of a lot of spirits. Lite, Raine, and Tempest consumed little from what I could tell, but were already fairly powerful in their own right…I do wonder how Aella and them met, and what kind of trust you would have to have in another Venti so they didn't eat you.

I blinked, a click bringing me back to the crosswalk I was at, and the light urging me forward. I quickly moved across, not really needing too, but I just didn't like to be in the middle of the road. Lot of people stare.

And with my new personal wind current, it's even easier to cross quickly.

The spirits essentially have chosen to follow me quite literally. They have hidden themselves in the air around me, an interesting thing to observe, as it's like their stepping behind the curtain of this world, and simply observing.

Aella was hiding on my actual person, it was a strange feeling. You ever just sit in front of a fan, and feel a constant breeze? Or when you pull up your shirt, and it inflates? It's kind of like that. I always wore my jacket open, but it was like I could feel her arms wrapped around my neck as she hugged me from behind. Her own personal pull tugged at my clothing, like I was always walking into the wind. It wasn't really noticeable, but it was…interesting.

You could almost see her shadow if you knew what to look for, like a faint distortion.

I wondered how Eve, or Lust didn't see them the first time around? Was it because they were in my clothes back then? I don't really know...god that's weird to think about.

In fact, let's not think about that at all.

I entered the school building through the main gate, and I stopped in the courtyard. The sun was still rising, not even fully in the sky yet. The year was coming to a close, and the sun was rising earlier and earlier. I honestly wasn't too concerned with it, but it was rare mornings like these in between seasons. A fog, it was light, but wispy, and it flowed throughout the entire schoolyard. It seemed to flow towards me though, sensing Aella's currents I suppose, and it lightly circled me like my own little force field. The early morning sun barely peeking out with its cheerful yellow and golden hues, the tree's outlining that precious glow as warmth permeated the chilled lands.

I allowed myself to be absorbed in the scenery for a bit. I knew I wouldn't see something like this for another year to come, and might not even come again like this.

I felt like cherishing it for some reason.

I shook myself off, before I quickly headed inside, I had prep work to do.

I headed through the empty halls, turning on the lights as I went. Someone must have left them off for some reason…hope it isn't too important. I'm usually the last to arrive since I'm not a faculty member.

I found myself back in the kitchen…where it all started in a sense. I gazed out at the spotless countertops, the shined stainless steel surfaces, the utensils and polished pots and pans. The cockers, ovens, refrigerators, and freezers, they were all spotless, entombed in status in the darkened kitchen.

I found myself stationary again, looking at it as if gazing into a memory.

"To think this whole thing kicked off…right here."

I heard a whisper to the side of my ear, it was faint, but completely understandable, "In this building?"

"Yeah…I was attacked here, and I managed to defeat them before it got too out of hand. Made quit a mess of the place." I said with a small chuckle, deciding to take a small detour and opened the little door, stepping inside and taking a reminiscent lap about the room.

"Attacked? What fool decided to?"

"Just a stray." I said calmly, "It probably thought I was big enough to make a good meal."

"Dead?"

"Definitely." I said with a nod, remembering the spattered remains of a skull that used to be embedded in the wall. I turned on my heel, running a hand along the central table that was responsible for my near death and saved life.

Maybe that's why everything looked so clean, because it was replaced after I thrashed this little haven. I pondered that for a bit, wondering how much money I would owe if I was applicable to pay for damages.

You know, I shouldn't think about that either.

I chuckled to myself, turning and deciding to leave. I had a few errands to run for the faculty afterall. Nothing hard, do this, carry that, swap these. Most of the heavy work was already done.

I opened the door, and let it click behind me as I glanced at the cafeteria. I blinked once, then twice.

Who is that?

I squinted, but I couldn't really make it out, maybe I didn't know them? They were wearing a long trench coat, but it was most definitely a male from their back and overall stature. It did look formal though, maybe a new teacher?

I walked over, might as well introduce myself, when I felt a subtle energy arise from them…one I was familiar with.

"Fallen." I heard Aella hiss, and the hairs on the back of my neck started to stand up as small amounts of electricity seemed to spark along my back.

I stopped a small ways away, a comfortable, safe, but somewhat close position to place myself at the ready in case things go wrong.

"Hello, are you new here?"

The person looked over, unsurprised at my presence, and smiled, golden eyes flashing at me as an easy going smile etched its way onto his features. He had black hair, golden bangs, and a solid black goatee that didn't actually seem alien on his somewhat young face. Not a lot of people in these parts could pull of facial hair successfully.

"Ah, Gray was it? I was told about you."

"Ah, well, the faculty are quick to praise, I only do what's asked." I said with a smile, though on the inside, I was wondering just what exactly he wanted. I wasn't a hidden existence, did he perhaps want to chat about the state of things? An alliance? A death feud? Could be anything really. Fallen were a middle ground between loving and hating God. Some loved and continued to follow him, others were like 'imma do what I want.'

"Oh, I'm sure, though I hear your grades arent too spectacular."

"I'm a B student." I said with a shrug. I didn't try too hard in school, I shot for an A, got a B, and was ok with it. B is a good grade to be at. It isn't bad, and it could be better, but it's still good.

"Maybe, but I bet you have a lot of potential." He said with a heavy hint, and I just rose a brow.

"Well, maybe. Every teacher says that, are you a new teacher here?"

"Oh! No, I wouldn't be allowed here yet, it's a working project."

"Oh? Waiting for approval then?" I said cautiously.

"More like Peace." He said with a suddenly serious air about him, though his smile was still in place.

"Some people don't want peace." I said, leaning against a table a small distance away from him, "There are some people here already that are threatening it if I'm honest."

And that is you, dumbass.

He looked at me curiously, a tad bit of mirth in his eyes, but he kept to the theme, "Hmm, there will always be people who are against you."

"So what? We let them run about undoing the work we've already laid down? I find that to be a gigantic waste." I said seriously, my fists balling.

Leave you prick, your in Devil territory.

"Do you plan to fight then? Combat fire with fire?"

"It's a crude way of doing it." I admitted, "But some people just want to watch the world vomit. They need to be taught the dangers of flame before playing with it."

"And you think you can do it? That you yourself won't be burned? Fire is quite dangerous after all."

"I think It'll be ok." I said with a shrug, standing back up fully and straightening my jacket, "It would be better though if others helped me…it would remind us that not everyone is against peace."

He looked at me in interest, and I shoved my hands in my pockets, "Though it's no biggie. This will be an excellent hurdle for me. Life lessons are valuable after all, and I only have one life to live."

"Don't throw it away now!" the stranger said cheerfully, and I just looked back over my shoulder and smiled.

"I won't be letting go of it any time soon. Take care of yourself stranger, keep your head on your shoulders…a lot of people would love to take it off."

"I hear you." He called after me with laughter, and I just waved, heading back inside. I got sidetracked, I gotta go fix those filing cabinets in the gym teachers office. He seemed strong enough to run, hopefully he does so.