I walked around the dorm courtyard at night. I wanted to calm my mind about everything that happened today and what I should do during the "Soul Unification" tomorrow. My parents will be attending the ceremony, and I have no idea how I'm supposed to explain anything to them.
"Ren? What are you doing out here?" Resa asked.
I ran into Resa and Efan in the courtyard. It seemed like they always took nightly walks around here.
"I just needed some fresh air. I can't sleep." I smiled at them.
"In that case, we'll head back to the dorm first," Efan said.
I nodded and let them walk past me. I continued strolling until I found a stone bench near the garden. I sat down and watching the flowers that grow around the garden.
After a moment, I heard someone approaching me from behind.
"Not with Resa?" I asked without looking. I knew he would come.
"No, he already went back to his room," Efan replied.
"Seems like your detective instincts are activated right now." I let out a small laugh, still not looking his way.
He stayed quiet and walked over to sit beside me. Efan was always sensitive to changes in people—especially when something felt off. He always cared about his friends and understood what others were going through. But that side of him rarely showed because of his quiet, indifferent attitude. He was one of those friends who could keep someone's secret very well.
"Rene! So you're here." Fyna ran up to me. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere."
"Ah… sorry, I just needed some fresh air. I couldn't sleep."
"Efan? What are you doing here?" Fyna asked him.
Efan stayed silent again, not answering.
"What happened, Ren?" Fyna asked softly. "Did something happen?"
I fell silent for a moment, unsure whether I should say it or not. I took a deep breath, calming my mind and steadying my heart.
"I don't know how to say this. I know I can't hide it from you two."
I closed my eyes, gathering the strength to speak.
"This morning, when all of us were looking for our guardians…"
I inhaled shakily, holding back the sadness.
"I… I don't have one. I didn't find my guardian at all in the hall today."
Both Fyna and Efan showed the same disbelief I had felt earlier. They looked like they couldn't process what they had just heard—just like me, who still couldn't understand what was happening.
"Are you sure, Ren? Maybe you just didn't see them because it was too crowded," Fyna tried to comfort me.
"I searched over and over. I even waited until every student had already taken their seat, but there wasn't a single empty chair left for me."
My voice cracked as my heart felt like it was breaking even more.
"But… aren't humans born without guardians supposed to become future Headmasters?" Fyna asked.
"That only applies to men. And as far as I know, the Guardian Headmaster would immediately know if someone is born without a guardian," Efan explained.
He was right—Guardian Headmasters would always know if a human was born guardianless, because they were the Supreme Council members who maintained the balance of each nation.
"Have you asked the Headmaster yet, Ren?" Fyna asked.
I shook my head. "Maybe tomorrow I'll try talking to my parents first, then ask the Headmaster," I told them.
"That's the best thing to do," Efan replied.
Fyna pulled me into a tight hug. I knew she was really worried—she could see how crushed I was. She knew how much I had been looking forward to the day I would finally meet my guardian and perform the 'Soul Unification' in the hall with everyone else.
But that was no longer possible.
"I want to ask the two of you for one thing. I… I want you to keep this from Vyne and Resa until after they finish their 'Soul Unification' first," I pleaded. "I don't want them to worry about me and lose focus. I don't want to ruin their ceremony just because they're concerned about me." I looked at both of them.
They both agree with me.
---
The day I had always looked forward to with so much excitement had turned into the most disappointing day of my life.
I didn't know how I was supposed to face what would happen next.
The other students would definitely laugh at me if they found out I had no guardian and was completely alone.
"Are you ready, Ren?" Fyna asked with a worried look.
"Yes. I'm ready. Let's go." I forced a smile.
She hugged me again, her eyes filled with sadness. "I'm worried about you, Ren."
"I'll be fine, Fyn. I still have to get through today. That's why I need to face it bravely," I replied, returning her hug.
"Sorry… I'm sorry I can't witness or perform the 'Soul Unification' with you all."
I tried holding back the tears that were threatening to fall.
"It's okay. Right now, you're more important. I'm sorry I can't stay by your side today."
"No. What's more important is your Soul Unification later. You need to focus on that," I told her.
We both end up laughing because of our conversation just now.
"Come on, they're already waiting for us." I said.
I had no intention of going to the altar building to watch the ceremony. That would only make me even sadder. I only pretended to follow them so Vyne and Resa wouldn't get suspicious. Besides, I also had to meet my parents.
-----
As we reached the altar building located in the southern wing of the school, I separated from them with the excuse that I wanted to meet my parents first before the "soul unification." I walked into the courtyard of the altar building. It was already crowded with people from various towns who had come to witness their children perform the "soul unification" at the Altar. This was the only Altar in the Southern Nation. An altar normally used for certain ceremonies like weddings, coronations, and other special rites. But today, this Altar had transformed into the "Unification Altar," just like when I witnessed it last year. The "Unification Altar" is only active for a full day on the second week of the month of Okta. By the next day, the "Unification Altar" will return to being an ordinary altar until the following year.
I slipped through the crowd and tried to look for my parents. After walking around for a while, I finally saw them near the entrance of the altar building. I ran to catch up to them before they entered the building. I managed to reach them right at the doorway and stopped them from going inside.
"Rene?" Mother looked shocked because I grabbed her hand.
"Rene? Why are you here? The 'soul unification' is about to begin," Father said.
"I know. I just want both of you to follow me for a moment," I pleaded.
Hearing my request, they looked a little confused. But they followed me and walked away from the altar building.
I walked out of the school gate and down the hill along a footpath. Even though Father and Mother followed me, they kept calling out to me, but I didn't answer them at all. I didn't want to stay anywhere near the school or the dorms, because people would get suspicious. And the only safe place to tell them everything was under the bridge.
"Rene? Why are we here? We need to go back now. You're supposed to perform the 'soul unification' at the altar, not here!" Father said, grabbing my hand.
"Father, wait." I pulled my hand away from him. "Please listen to me first! Please, Father… Mother…" I begged for their understanding.
They finally stopped and listened to me.
"I can't perform the 'soul unification.'" I looked at them with a bit of fear.
"What do you mean, child?" Mother asked.
"I… I don't have a guardian, Mom." I answered while turning my face away, unable to look at them.
"What do you mean you don't have a guardian? That's impossible! Don't joke around, Rene!" Father looked angry with me.
"That's why I told you—listen to me until I finish speaking!" I raised my voice slightly at Father.
I got emotional because of his words, and both of them fell silent after hearing me shout.
"I'm not joking. Please… try to understand." I begged them. "During the guidance session, I…" I told Father and Mother everything. What happened, what I experienced, and what I felt. I told them as tears fell down my face, and then I broke down crying in front of them.
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End of Chapter twelve