Journey In A Fantasy World
Ragu

If Jian had previously rejected Neo inside his room, now Jian himself had drawn Neo in. They gather and shut up with each other.

"Why do I think the world isn't as good as we think it is, Neo," Jian opened the conversation.

"What do you mean, Jian?" Neo looked at Jian better.

"They're really asking us to stay here. Do you really think we should stay here, Neo, Rui? Take the monthly exam, then circle around Pubu City for those things? At risk of life? What if one of us dies in the middle of the road?" Jian let out all his worries.

Rui and Neo stared at each other, they looked down deeply. "But what if there really was no other way? I noticed it just like you, Jian. And everyone doesn't know there's another world in this universe, only the Queen knows it. Maybe your worries are right, he's tricking us. But is it really possible? At least we should try this only way," Neo gave his advice to Jian. Rui was busy listening to the two arguing, because in this case, she could not decide anything and chose to rely on these two people.

"I know, Neo. I'm just talking about the bad possibilities that will befall us if we go on that trip. What if one of us is really gonna die?" Jian repeated his question.

"You can't talk like that, Jian! The queen didn't let a naive boy like us go on that trip without any preparation. Therefore, he let us enroll in his magic academy, teaching us how to protect ourselves using the magical power within us that he willingly grants. If you're worried about life, I can promise you I'll protect you both until the end. I will not let you in the slightest danger. If you're really worried about lives, I won't let you die even if I have to!" Neo stood up with a number of his wise sentences.

As the only man in this friendship circle, Neo really has to protect his friends. Rui was worried by Neo's selfless decision, "Jian. Can you not think about it? Let's find our future in the middle of the road. If this is fate, we can only follow its course. It's not good to let Neo sacrifice for us. In that case, we should trust and protect each other," Rui touched Jian's hand, trying to calm him down.

"Why don't we try to find our own way out without involving people here? We don't know anyone, how can we know those we meet are really good or just pretend? You're right, Rui. We need to protect and trust each other. But that doesn't mean trusting the people we just met along the way. This world is not where we live, we have to—"

"Therefore, Jian. Don't be stubborn and choose to find your own way. Our path is already determined through this magic academy. You think it's safe out there? You even know this is not our residence, how are you so sure you will leave this place without any preparation? Without knowing the way?" Neo did not approve of Jian's sentence and cut it off just like that.

"You guys, please don't fight. To whom would I side with if you were to contradict each other like this?" Rui looked down annoyed.

"In that case, why don't we just have a vote?" Jian looked at the lowered Rui.

"Rui, do you think his words make sense?" Neo asks Rui without further ado, "You agree with him that we should leave the academy and all our magical powers? Tracing every corner without bringing anything, and ignoring the only way we've got?" Neo looked at Rui very seriously.

Rui let out a long breath, she looked at Jian who was also looking at her expectantly. All this time Rui thought Jian was very fond of this world, very enthusiastic about the magic lessons. Rui was happy if Jian's dream of wanting to be in a fantasy world finally materialized in this very unlikely condition.

Rui had no idea that Jian had also harbored his suspicions on Pubu City which seemed to deliberately want to lock them up and make them die in this world. Jian did not want to travel to the Forest of Curious Spirit and the Ice Mountain of Eternity. Rui understood that, anyone would not be willing to take this life-challenging extreme journey. Moreover, they are only second-graders of High School who were accidentally trapped here. Rui understood it very well, she did not want to do it either.

But Neo's words are clearly more plausible and should be considered, leaving a world that likely has many of these dangers must have preparation. There are no humans who do not understand magic here, at a minimum, they have to adjust to the habits of the people here.

"Sorry, Jian. But it seems you know it too, Neo is right, the sentence makes sense. It's not that I don't defend you anymore, but I just don't want to harm each of us. It is better that we do those monthly exams and practice magic earnestly, when the time comes, we should still try this one and only way. No need to fear losing lives, promise us we will protect each other's lives. We will be fine," Rui smiled meaningfully, she hugged Jian who was shedding tears.

"Rui, I miss my parents," Jian returned Rui's embrace.

"You're not angry, are you, Jian? Let's practice magic and find our way home. After that, we will meet our parents again," Rui continued to try to calm Jian down.

Neo left Jian and Rui's room without saying anything more. This meeting is emotionally draining. Rui asked Jian to rest immediately.

At midnight, Rui looked at Jian who was already sound asleep, he smiled faintly, "I also miss our normal life, Jian. Eating meatballs in the cafeteria, watching you explain in front of class, bothering you about reading comics, and everything we've always done together. You take it easy, we just need a little time to get back home. I hope, you can use that bit of time well in this world. In the middle of the road that is still far from this goal, we still have to have fun first."

...----------------...

All the first-grade students had already gathered in the field. This is a lesson flying over a magic wand. After seeing one by one the faces of the disciples present, Rui did not see that glaring Neo face.

"Could Neo be upset about arguing with Jian last night?" he asked in his heart. Rui looked at Jian who was already not as excited as those days yesterday.

"Jian, have you seen Neo?" Rui decided to ask Jian.

Jian just shrugged his shoulders.

"Jian, are you still upset about last night?" Rui touched Jian's shoulder.

"I'm not upset. Just don't want to deal with that bastard just yet." Jian answered flatly.

See Sue and Tomu approaching them, "Morning, buddy. You guys aren't coming with Neo?" greet Sue.

"Where is Neo?" Rui asked because Jian chose not to make a sound.

"Eh, so you're not with him?" Tomu asked in surprise, "We saw Neo meeting Master Hudie last night. I saw he was taking a special extra class with Master Hudie."

"Then he was back at three in the morning" Sue added.

"Master Hudie called him again early in the morning. Now they were training in the Palace Hall. I heard Class A will be split into three and put into each of the other first classes" Tomu continued Sue's story.

"Why?" Jian asked.

"If it's that bad, what else? Master must have accepted Neo as his only student. He's so lucky." Sue folded her arms in front of her chest.

Jian and Rui looked at each other, "He really studied seriously, Jian. He did it to protect us." Rui whispered, "You don't have to be upset with her anymore, Jian."