Otto rushed back to his dorm. His previous good mood was replaced by a sore one. In his mind he cursed that bastard of everything he could think of.
'Thank god I tied my hair this morning.'
Back in his room, he didn't even glance at Silk's web that somehow grew larger, and hurried to the bathroom.
"I have to do something about this hair."
People only knew him through his long hair so logically he needed to cut it, to avoid being recognized.
He looked through every drawer he could find, searching for something he could cut his hair with. Eventually, he found a small pair of scissors. They weren't sharp, almost dull, but they would have to do it.
It took almost an hour. The scissors kept snagging and stopping halfway through each cut, forcing him to tug and try again. By the end of it, his hand was tired, the floor was covered in uneven strands of hair, and the scissors felt even duller than before.
He wasn't bad…but definitely wasn't good.
Some parts were jagged, shorter than he intended. A few longer strands stuck out in odd angles. His bangs were uneven enough that Silk, watching from her web, clicked her mandibles in something between disbelief and disappointment.
"This," Otto pointed at the mirror, "is modern art. The world isn't ready."
Silk disagreed with a sharp tap of her leg.
"Well, sorry. You try cutting hair with a weapon from the Stone Age."
He ruffled what remained of his hair. At least now it wouldn't fall into his eyes and no one would be able to recognize him. It was perfect, in a way.
He swept the loose strands into a pile and tossed them into the trash bin. Then he left the bathroom, sitting on his bed.
"Good enough," he said, stretching his neck. "People have survived worse haircuts."
Silk tilted her head.
"What? Don't look at me like that. I only need that no one recognizes me." He paused. "...Although, to be fair, it really is weird. Perhaps I should visit the barber next time."
Silk looked at him like he was an idiot. Otto sighed, brushing it off.
"It's fine. Now…I have to decide which class I am going to take. What do you think?"
Silk shrugged; she didn't even know what class meant.
"You're right," he said, nodding his head. "What I lack is experience. Even though I've read a lot about fighting, I myself have almost never fought before."
Never was an exaggeration.
He had fought before to survive on the outskirts…Well, Sylas had. Otto though truly never fought before. Of course, fighting kids on the outskirts was nothing compared with fighting Nightmare Creatures, that much was obvious.
"I guess that's it, then. I have to go to the combat course." He sighed. "I just hope I don't end up interacting with Nephis or Caster." He got up. "Are you coming?"
Silk didn't even glance at him.
'Is she mad or something?' He sighed, turning around and leaving.
***
The combat class would only take place in the evening, so Otto had the entire afternoon to relax, walk in the park, maybe even make a friend.
But, to no one's surprise, he was in the library instead.
He sat in the same spot he had used when he'd invaded the place yesterday. A book about the Dream Realm and its regions lay open in front of him. It was fascinating… and boring at the same time. Boring because it didn't say anything he didn't already know, and fascinating simply because he was actually reading a book like this in real life.
Then, someone sat down across from him. It didn't bother him. He wouldn't have even looked up if not for—
"Otto?!"…that.
Because of his Flaw, he couldn't possibly fail to recognize that voice. He looked up at Luke, raising an eyebrow.
"You really recognized me with this hair?" Honestly, it was impressive.
"So it is you. Gods, I almost didn't recognize you. What happened? Someone try to kill you?"
"Why would anyone try to kill me?"
"I don't know." Luke shrugged, then lowered his voice. "Actually… I heard some of the Sleepers talking about you. They said they were going to look for you. Challenge you to a fight, to see if you really are the Second Strongest."
'...What kind of cliche is that?'
"But don't worry." he continued, putting an encouraging smile "If I almost didn't recognize you with that hair, I am sure no one else will."
Not knowing if that was a compliment or an insult Otto could only nod.
"So, what are you reading?"
"Just a book about the Dream Realm and its regions." Otto said, showing him the cover.
"Oh, that looks interesting."
"What about you? What are you doing here?"
"I am here to meet a friend. For some reason she wanted to meet here. Pretty weird, right?"
'Another girl? What was this man—a playboy?'
"What are you, a playboy?" he asked aloud, his inner thoughts slipping out before he could stop them.
Luke giggled and brushed it off.
"Of course not. She's just a friend. I don't have anyone like that."
"Good for you… I guess." What a weird fellow.
They fell into silence after that. Otto went back to reading his book, and Luke grabbed one for himself. Otto managed to catch a glimpse of its cover: Free Fall. He had to use all his willpower not to laugh. What were the odds of him picking that book over all the others?
Time flew as they read. From time to time, Otto glanced at Luke. In his mind, he couldn't stop thinking:
'No wonder he dies in the Forgotten Shore.'
It was a dark thought, but he couldn't stop himself. It was… frustrating. Not that he was developing a liking for that woman-magnetic idiot, but because Luke didn't seem to be worried at all about raising his survival chances. Sure, it was only the first day after they entered the academy, but still…
"Hey, shouldn't you be… I don't know… Training?" he finally asked.
"And you? Shouldn't it be as well?" Luke answered, not even raising his eyes.
"Touché." Otto said, leaning back on his chair.
"What is that?"
"What is what?"
"What you said."
Right, French was a dead language in this world.
'Thank Gods.'
"Nothing," Otto said, closing his book. "You're right. Perhaps I should train a little."
As he was about to get up, a terrible idea crept into his mind.
What if he made Luke survive? How would Fate react?
The idea was absurd, utterly insane. Yet… if it was so completely mad…Why did he have a wicked grin spreading across his face?
"Say, why don't we train together?" he asked, unable to hold himself back.
"No, thank you." Luke replied immediately after seeing Otto's grin.
"Come on, it'll be fun," Otto persisted. "I can show you the ropes. Don't you want to train with the second strongest in the Academy?"
"I'd prefer to train with the strongest… She's beautiful," he said innocently.
Otto's smile disappeared.
"...Trust me, you don't want to get too close to that one," Otto said with a serious tone. "Come on. How about this: if you agree right now, you won't have to call me Master."
"Would I have had to call you Master if I agreed earlier?"
"Of course. That's obvious, no?" he said, as casually as if stating the sky was blue. "Also, when the time comes, I'll tell you two little secrets that will help you survive in the Dream Realm, totally guaranteed. So? What do you say?"
Luke sighed. Somehow he knew that if he kept refusing, Otto would still insist. Not wanting to deal with that, he nodded.
"Okay," he said simply.
"Great." Otto stood up from his chair. "Trust me, I am the second most honest person in the world. If I say I'll help you survive, then I will."
He extended his hand. Luke stared at it for a moment, then finally shook it.
While looking into Otto's eyes, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had just made a deal with the devil.