Maybe for once, I can live in a world where I belong. Or at least feel happy.

???

"I JUST FORGOT HOW MY powers worked, that's all."

"You were only living with these humans for half a century," she's pissed. "How could you have forgotten your true self?"

I shrug my shoulders with my eyes on the ground, feeling her anger would rise if we make eye contact. I pretend to count the needle-like grass guarding her legs. It was then I noticed she was barefoot and had probably the cleanest legs I'd seen in a while.

"You're hiding something," she claims.

"And you're overthinking everything."

She takes a few steps closer while maintaining eye contact.

"You may have forgotten much, but let me remind you that I'm never wrong, especially when it comes to you, little brother," she grins wickedly. I wonder what Zelus has done in the past that Nike could tell when he's lying. Or maybe it's because she's a God, and these beings know everything.

Her wings lift her into the air, and her body glows as she gazes into the distance. I follow her visions and notice the sunset by the horizon.

"Right then," she darts back down. "We will begin your training at dawn."

"Training?!" I blurt, my tone sounding louder and more aggressive than intended.

"Unlike mom and dad, I understand your decision to move to the mortal realm. I disagree with it, but I understand," she said. "However, it is vital that your powers remain intact for your safety. I try to see the good in people, but many have nothing good in them. And those are the people you should look out for. They're not kind towards other beings, especially to those superior to them."

Even in this timeline, humans remain the world's most dangerous animals. In the twenty-first century, people tend to imprison exotic beings once caught. They would perform experiments and go beyond the limits to see the creature's capabilities rather than letting it go. As a kid, I wondered why certain fairytale creatures do not reveal themselves to us. But as I aged, I realized that nothing good happens when they're in the hands of humans, and therefore, hiding is their safest option. Wherever they are, or even if they exist.

"I understand," I do. Another reason is that I'm eager to soar through the clouds and give my legs a break from walking. They're beginning to hurt as every night in the shower, I'd feel new blisters under my feet. "But I have classes during the day."

"Of course, the daimon had joined regular school too," she said sarcastically, and it was the first time I saw her wearing a genuine smile. "Then when do you propose the training should take place?"

The schools here are different—no shit—as they run over nine hours daily, including training and studying. I'd always leave the school before sunset and return home before dark. And there's no such thing as weekends, only a day off. One day off.

"Let's say during sunset?" I suggest. "It's when my classes are over."

"There goes my wing treatment," she mutters, thinking I couldn't hear her.

"Wing treatment?"

"Forget I mentioned that." She cuts me off. "And yes, sunset it is."

"Perfect," my legs are throbbing from all the walking. My body has gained new training scars, and my mind is exhausted from adjusting to this new lifestyle. Yet, I'm excited to begin this training. Just the thought of powers flowing out of my hands and flying anytime and anywhere I wanted made me grin like an idiot.

"Don't be late."

And with that, the wind catches her wings as she soars high in the sky where she belongs. I've yet to experience a different world where the view is different and the air is fresh. I watch as she disappears from my sight, and only then do I turn around and start making my way home. It's a long way back, but the journey was worth it. I saw my elder sister, but she wasn't Victoria, but the Goddess Nike. However, just seeing a familiar face was reassuring enough that I could live a normal life in this timeline.

Maybe for once, I can live in a world where I belong. Or at least feel happy.

...

Somehow walking at night feels more serene. Or, as we'd say in the twenty-first century, chill. I'd take a moment to raise my chin to the sky where a crescent moon shines, the ultimate light source. The sky was like a dark canvas freckled with million, if not billion, droplets of white paint.

I began overthinking everything as I departed from Gold Vine forest and continued on the path leading to the city. It's a routine by now as I wonder about the minor things of this city, like how I can't tell the time because there aren't any clocks or watches. I'd sometimes giggle at the fact that there is no perfume here. At least, there aren't any spraying kinds, just the ones where the ingredients are combined with oil. Sometimes I'd even wonder about the acquaintances I've made in this school and how they're more interested to know about Zelus's back story than in actually knowing about him.

Everything is so different here. And I wonder if this is what it feels like to move to another country and begin anew. That was my goal; to leave Seattle and never come back. I wanted to find myself in places I thought I might be hiding. I wanted to discover new things, people, and environments, but now that I'm actually experiencing a similar goal... I don't know. It makes me feel like my old life was better because I'm familiar with everything. Like, knowing the routines of every day reduces my anxiety about not knowing what the future holds.

Change is scary; maybe that's why I do not fit in here.

Maybe not yet because within my darkened, damaged heart lies hope. Like everything, there are two sides. Good and bad. The good part of this new world is that I'm free from my alcoholic father, the pressures of the modern world, the standards of society, and especially the grieving for lost love. Though, I'm not doing a good job at that.

I don't have a calendar to keep track of the days I've spent as Zelus, but I know it has been over a month, maybe longer. And that is still a very short time. It's only a matter of time before this alternate reality becomes my new home sweet home, and honestly, I'm looking forward to it.

...

If only I had my phone, a watch, or even a sundial to tell the time.

I stroll through the streets that are usually crowded during the day, stray dogs by the sidelines begging for food, children playing tag, and occasionally bumping into strangers. It's definitely past bedtime now that the streets are deserted. The citizens of Seriphus obey the curfew, and it's always light out after dinner. Even with Bethany. Usually, after dinner, she'd prepare my bath. The moment I stepped out of the bathroom, she'd have my bed all set up with my night tunic neatly folded over the covers. I'd sometimes want to express my gratitude for her unnecessary yet very much appreciated work, but when I approach her room, she's fast asleep.

Maybe she could doze off in a few seconds.

I can't.

Every night I'd lie in bed, properly adjusting my position to ensure I didn't sleep on my wings. It's a hassle as if I'm resting on a large boulder. Once that was done, I'd try to sleep, but my mind refused to shut down. Even when I counted the cracks on the walls or the aged stains on the floor, my mind was on full alert. Or it's mostly daydreaming of my present life. About Jon, his family, Ryan, his college... Alex.

Ultimately, those visions would carry on in my dreams, where everything would feel surreal and like I was actually home. In the dream, I would feel the comforts of my bed, the soft pillow supporting my head, or the hot water in the bathroom raining over my body, and the taste of burgers. After days of eating stale bread and tasteless meats, fatty meats from McDonald's don't sound bad. And I don't like fast food.

The triple knocking on my door before Bethany stepped into my room reminded me that I'm a permanent prisoner in this century. And eventually, I'll have to accept that I'm never returning.

As I pass through the castle grounds, I pause as my eyes perceive a familiar silhouette standing by the west wing tower. The tower was tall, but my eyes knew it was Perseus. He was sitting by the windowsill with his back leaning on the side of the window.

I wonder what's on his mind. Does he have sleepless nights too? Perhaps he's just stressed from all the work and activity the school has been throwing at him.

Impossible. He doesn't seem like the person to stress over minor things.

Unlike me.

I've made some friends in this school, but when it comes to Perseus, I don't know what to think of him. We spoke sometimes, but it was only during training. We've never sat together during lunch or partnered up for geography class. Though, I couldn't help but feel agitated whenever he'd catch me staring at him. Maybe it's the way he wore his tunic where his back muscles are exposed, or perhaps it's the way his hair carefully lined against his forehead with the ends interrupting his visions or his soft yet raspy voice.

I don't know.

I couldn't tell if he was there for school purposes or if the royal family wanted to see him as someone else was in the room with him.

A female. And that got my interest up as this was an all-boy institution.

At first, I assumed it was his friend. Until I noticed her wearing jewelry that no ordinary citizen could get their hands on. It was as if she was made of treasures found in the depths of the sea, glittering and shimmering with the candlelight dancing in the room. A veil made from golden silk hid her face, making her seem like a goddess.

Perseus was facing her as she stepped closer and placed her hand on his cheeks.

That was my cue to get the fuck out of there because I'm not a peeping tom, especially when one of them is my classmate. I just hoped he didn't see me because if he did, I could kiss our friendship goodbye. And I do want to be his friend.

"You're only nineteen once," is what people say. Well, it's my second time being nineteen, and I shall not waste this opportunity as I did in my present life.