Chapter 2

Dressed once again, Rasmus sat with his eyes half-closed as he picked at the acoustic guitar he'd bought two years ago but hardly got the time to play. The songs he played were a mix of Zelgadis's songs from David's world and classical songs from his world. Currently, he was working through a slow ballad that had words, but Rasmus didn't feel like singing them. His hair was clean once again, he was wearing clean clothes, a pair of pants and loose shirt with no socks or shoes as he lounged on the couch.

The phone rang.

"IEEEE! I'm going to fucking rip their throats out if they've fucked something else up!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. Rasmus had a feeling that his downstairs neighbors hated him. He caught his breath and picked up the phone on the second ring, "Yes?" he asked calmly.

The voice on the other end of the phone startled him, "Hey, there Rasmus!"

He blinked a few times. "Lina? How did you get a phone?"

She laughed. "The director of artifact studies was kind enough to lend it to me." He doubted that. "I must say, this thing's pretty handy! Ever thought of selling service to other people?"

Rasmus flopped back on the couch and sighed. "Yes, but not before I've got the numerical code system fixed. What we have works for the small number of people. What do you want that you felt you had to harass poor Dr. Gasp?"

Laughing lightly, Lina replied, "They wouldn't tell me where you lived now, so I couldn't drop by. Finally moved out of the dorm, eh? Well, glad to hear it. Anyway. Wanna take me out to lunch?"

"It's evening," Rasmus pointed out.

"So? I've got room for seconds! Whatcha say?"

Scowling, Rasmus stared up at the ceiling and sighed. "Fine, if that'll make you stop harassing my teachers." He got to his feet and hung up, laid the guitar on the couch and went to change into one of his other robes. He removed his shirt for this, but left the pants, as it was a bit chilly outside, pulled on some socks and his boots beneath the long white creation of fabric that was nearly a dress. Belting it around his waist with a double wrap of small chain links, Rasmus pulled his clothes straight and stepped through his teleport spell and into Gasp's office, belatedly realizing that his hair was still wet and unbraided. Oh well. Lina was attempting to redial his number still, an arm around Gasp's balding head. Gourry stood nearby, looking confused as ever and Rasmus sighed, folding his arms in his sleeves. "Miss. Lina," he stated to draw her attention.

Blinking, she turned to look at him. "Woah! When did you get here?" Gourry asked in shock, beating Lina to the same comment. The redhead let Gasp go and the man rescued the phone from her.

Placing her hands on her hips, Lina jerked her chin up, "Well, you sure look different from the last time I saw you."

Taking a breath, Rasmus ignored the tone of her voice and replied, "My position in this university requires a certain amount of dressing for the part. Otherwise, people would not send their children to study here. Nor would they send their money." Turning away abruptly, Rasmus breezed from Gasp's office and into the hall, where he stopped, looking back towards Lina and her bodyguard. "I thought you were hungry," he pointed out blandly as Lina gaped at him.

Finally shaking herself awake, Lina jogged to catch up with him, Gourry having an easier time of matching Rasmus's pace. "So, hey, how're you and Sylphiel getting along?" Lina asked.

He sighed, "Somehow, I knew that would be one of the reasons for your visit." Rasmus refrained from looking down at her, knowing that she was giving him a dark look. "To answer your question. I haven't spoken to her in three years. Though I do believe she has been training shrine maidens at the Holy Flagoon Hospital on the east side of town. You would be more likely to find her there, or at Flagoon, or home."

"Gee," Gourry commented, "I thought you two had the hots for each other? Did you have a fight?"

Lina scowled even more darkly, but couldn't catch up to him to give him a smack. Instead, she folded her arms, "And after the trouble Amelia and I went through to approve you!"

Finally, they reached the front hall of the university, and Rasmus opened the front door, and pulled an umbrella from his sleeve, popping it open as he stepped out into the light drizzle the rain had turned into. Lina frowned and followed, simply pulling her cloak up to protect her hair. Gourry didn't even seem to notice the rain. "I never asked you to," Rasmus stated, "and it was a bit presumptive of you to assume that it was a given that simply because she loves David that the one from this world would love me. David didn't destroy half of Sairaag."

Growling, Lina jogged to catch up with him as he passed through the front gate of the university and entered the city. "Hey!" she shouted, "You're still harping on yourself about that?"

He looked down at her with a blank look, "I'm not the only one. Sylphiel hasn't forgiven me either, and I doubt she will, as I'll never forgive Xelloss for sending me back here." Running through his mental list of restaurants in the area, Rasmus chose one that specialized in pasta, having a taste for that in his mouth.

Gourry shook his head, "I don't understand... Sylphiel said she wouldn't talk to you till you lost your uh... what was it... attitude!"

Rasmus didn't even twitch. "So. Is that her excuse." Turning, he stepped up to a door, having reached his destination, and flipped his umbrella closed and shook water from it before entering. Lina and Gourry following close behind.

"Ah! Dean Rasmus," the host brimmed with enthusiasm, rubbing his hands together. "This way, sir!"

Pointing back, Rasmus stated, "They're with me."

The man smiled at Lina and Gourry as well, taking his cue. "This way!" turning, he breezed across the room to an alcove table where he placed three menus from the pocket of his apron, followed by three rolls of silverware. "So glad to see you made it through the rain, sir," the man continued, speaking to Rasmus. "It's a pleasure to serve you again."

Giving a polite nod, Rasmus set his umbrella against the wall and took a seat. Gourry and Lina took seats across from him. "Thank you," Rasmus murmured politely, "I'll have a bottle of your house red wine," he ordered and the man flipped out his pad to write it down swiftly.

"Hm," Lina murmured, looking over the menu, "Hey, Ras, were you planning on sharing that?"

Giving her a bland look, Rasmus blinked once, "That was the intention."

Lina nodded, "Alright, guess we're having that."

Bowing, the host accepted that answer, "I'll be right back with your drinks, sirs, madam." With that, he disappeared.

Gourry stared after the man, "Wow. You sure get fast service!"

"They like my money," Rasmus stated. "Their theory is that if I'm pleased with their service, my students will dine here as well." Abruptly, their waiter returned, setting the bottle of chilled wine in a bucket of ice on the table, then took it in a towel to open and poured a glass into the three wineglasses he brought. Sliding the menu towards the waiter, Rasmus stated, "I'll have my usual."

Quickly turning her attention to the menu, Lina pointed at the top of the list, "I'll have this, through this," she pointed, "Triple portions!"

"Same here," Gourry took Lina's menu and handed them both over to the waiter who stared at them, then looked towards Rasmus, who gave a slight nod and sipped his wine, then turned his bi-colored eyes to stare out the window at the rain.

Bowing, the man bowed and retreated with the menus. Lina folded her arms, "You know, maybe its not just your money they like?" she offered.

This caught Rasmus's attention and he turned his eyes towards her once more, quirking a brow. "We've actually been here all day, trying to catch you, but you're one slippery guy. But then, we got a lot of information about you with how much we had to ask around," Lina continued. Rasmus looked stoic as ever, and sipped his wine. "All the girls in the university have a crush on you," Lina pointed out, lifting a finger to number, "As do a lot of the ladies around town. You've really gotten a lot of people's respect with how you've been handling disputes between students and people in town. I also heard that you've attracted the attention of nobles in other countries as well, and they've started sending their children here for educations in the non-magic related subjects you've started classes on."

He set his glass down, "The children who have crushes on me are merely deluding themselves," he informed her, "They merely see my connections, income, and prestige as the Dean and assume that since I am apparently unattached, that I am available. The way they fling themselves at my feet is disturbing, and for the most part, I ignore them as I do not want the political ramifications of getting involved with a student. Some of them have powerful parents I would prefer not to annoy. As for dealing with problems in town, I only interfere when one of my students is involved, as it does fall under my jurisdiction, but only then." Rasmus lifted his glass again and sipped his wine.

Lina sighed, "You're missing my point. It's because of that approach that everyone respects you! I've been all over the place in the last few years, and I've not heard one inkling of anything bad going on here. All I've ever heard was 'the C&CRU is the best school ever' and I've heard kings talk of sending their offspring here!"

Flicking his gaze aside, Rasmus admitted, "We do have young Zoemel of Zoma attending. He's an intelligent young man, enough that he is bored by normal classes."

Pointing at him, Lina slapped the table, rattling the wine bottle in its bucket. "See!"

"See what?" Rasmus asked her, his calm veneer cracking as he got a hard tone in his voice. "There is nothing to 'see', Miss. Lina. I merely endeavor to conduct myself appropriately when in public as anything I do will reflect upon my school. Was there a point to this conversation, or what?"

Laughing softly, Lina smirked at him. "My point was, Rasmus, you're a better person than you give yourself credit for. You're certainly not acting like Rezo, so all of this," she waved vaguely, "is your doing on your own."

He sighed at her and emptied his wineglass. "I suppose that was a compliment," Rasmus stated blandly, "In that case, thank you, but I still don't see the reason why you've made such an effort to point it out."

She sighed and rested her forehead on the table as Gourry spoke up finally, "I think, what Lina's trying to say is that... uh you should talk to Sylphiel, because... um..." he looked off towards the ceiling, unable to come up with the right words to say what he thought, but finally finished, "Because you're a good person."

Lina sat up again, "Exactly," she agreed. "You're avoiding her-"

Rasmus slapped his glass down onto the table hard enough to shatter it. "Lina Inverse, I suggest you relinquish your interests in my personal life," he hissed, aware that people had fallen silent and were looking his direction. Sitting back, he time-reversed the glass and closed his eyes, taking a few breaths to put his mask back on. "I have not been avoiding her," he added, "If she wished to speak to me, then she would, as there are more than enough times in the day that we have crossed paths."

Talk started up in the restaurant softly, curious glances cast his direction, Rasmus would have just left if he hadn't already ordered, and if it wouldn't have caused more talk than his losing his temper already had. Thankfully their food began arriving and Rasmus blinked into awareness of the waiter and his troop of helpers as his silverware was unrolled from its napkin and the cloth placed into his lap. His dinner was set in front of him, meatballs with marinara sauce and wheat noodles. His silverware was set out and wineglass refilled. Lina didn't even wait, otherwise, she would have gotten the same treatment, and the table filled with dishes.

Stoically, Rasmus picked at his dinner, somewhat put off his appetite by Lina and Gourry's table manners as well as the fact that their previous topic of conversation had sent his stomach rolling sourly. He'd need more of that chalky stomach potion soon, or he was going to reopen his ulcer. His eyes slid over the other diners, finding that they were staring in shock and awe at Rasmus and his dining companions. Sighing, he eyed Lina, set his fork down and pushed his plate over towards her. "You're not gonna eat that? Okay!" she swiped the plate and downed it in nearly one gulp. Rasmus found something else to look at.

Belching, Lina announced her completion of the meal and moved a stack of plates so she could see Rasmus. "Now! Back to our conversation," she stated as Rasmus dropped his napkin to the table.

Placing his hands flat on the table Rasmus pushed himself to his feet, "No, Lina. That topic is closed," he said firmly, "and if you intend to continue to prod me about it, I'll make sure that you are never welcome in my school, or anywhere near it, ever again." Straightening after he'd been looming over Lina, Rasmus dusted his hands and picked up his umbrella.

Surging to her feet, Lina slammed her fist on the table, "Now wait just a minute! You can't treat me like that!"

Turning away, Rasmus reached into his sleeve for his cash, mentally tallying up the total of dinner.

Slapping the table again, Lina launched over Gourry, "Is this how you treat all your friends? No wonder Sylphiel's mad at you!"

Stopping in his tracks, Rasmus took a breath and turned to face Lina. "I'm buying you dinner," he pointed out, "And even if she is angry with me, it is not your business, or anyone else's for that matter," he shot a glare around the restaurant at the gawkers who hid behind their dinners and menus quickly. "My personal life is of no one's concern but my own." Again, he turned away and simply slapped the small bag of coins onto the front desk without bothering to count it, he knew there was enough in there for them to keep their mouths shut- he just wished he could pay off the other people in the restaurant as easily. He triggered his teleport spell as he got to the door and stepped through, into his apartment.

Fuming, Rasmus struggled with his belt and threw it across the room, where it dented the wall from the force and made a satisfyingly loud crash. His umbrella followed, and just missed the window. Struggling with his robes, he pulled them off once more and put his lounging shirt back on, kicked off his shoes, and fell onto the couch to pick up and cradle his guitar. Why was it that Lina could crawl under his skin like that? Maybe it was because she knew exactly what buttons to push to really piss him off.

The phone rang.

"My GOD! Can't you people ever leave me the hell alone!" he nearly hurled his guitar across the room, but reigned in his temper and let the phone ring twice more while he hung his guitar on the wall, then picked up the receiver. "Yes?" He would have been proud of himself on any other day for the mild tone of his voice.

"Sir, there's been a magical incident-" Rasmus clutched the edge of the couch. Not Lina, oh god, please don't tell me Lina Dragon Slaved the restaurant! "-at a tavern in the west side of town. Two students got drunk and began dueling. Everyone injured is being taken to the Holy Flagoon Hospital."

Grinding his teeth Rasmus silently punched the arm of the couch a few times. If he could have, he would have been blowing fire out his nose and ears. "I'll be there," is all he said and hung up, went and got his belt and robes and put them back on over his lounging shirt, it was starting to get rather chilly out there, so the extra layering helped. Pain jabbed his stomach, and he detoured to grab his bottle of stomach potion and swallowed a few mouthfuls then plugged the bottle and started to set it down again. "Damn it, if this day keeps going like it has, I'm gonna need more." He stuffed the bottle into his physical sleeve pocket and got his shoes on, then stepped through his teleport to the hospital.

"Dean Rasmus!" the man who ran the front desk of the hospital shouted as Ras stalked towards him. This had been the man who'd called. "This way," the man said as Rasmus caught up to him. Kyle Smith was the young man's name. He was a good kid, but annoying sometimes and Rasmus knew Kyle had that crush on Sylphiel. His stomach gave a lurch, and the mage clenched his teeth on it, glancing around quickly before he pulled out his bottle and took another swig from it, hastily plugging it and palming it as Kyle looked back. Rasmus gave a curdled smile and swallowed and touched the edge of his sleeve to his mouth to make sure he wasn't caught. His problems were his personal business, no one else's.

They entered the emergency room, where healers were working on the group of fifteen who'd been injured in the drunken duel. Rasmus's eyes scanned the people in the room, unerringly spotting Sylphiel, working with one of the two most critically wounded. Unfortunately, those two were his students. Instead of immediately going to them, he moved through the rest of the crowd, finding minor burns and concussions, a broken bone here and there, nothing too serious in his opinion. He'd bounced back from worse. Finally, he could find no other reason to stall, and took another swig of his potion, stalked over to his students, firmly ignoring the scent that was Sylphiel amidst everything else in the room. He could pick her smell out anywhere, even for minutes after she'd left the room.

Coming to stand over the two where they sat on a bench against the wall, one nursing an arm in a makeshift sling, the other with his shirt removed and some bad burns on his chest. They were both conscious, so Rasmus supposed that was a good sign. He folded his arms in his sleeves. Slowly, the two looked up, their eyes widened. "Dean Rasmus," one started, beginning some excuse or apology or another.

"No," Rasmus snapped, interrupting, "I'll have no excuses. You both know the rules, and you know better. You've been at this school for how many years? Five? Almost six?" he eyed the two, recognizing the two from their entrance files. It wasn't that he had an excellent memory, but that he had ways of recalling things quickly when he needed them. "Almost graduated, and you pull a stunt like this." They hung their heads and remained silent as he continued. "Honestly, boys, I'm inclined to throw you out." Removing a hand, he gestured at the rest of the room, "Considering the amount of casualties you took with you in your drunken duel. Look at them!" he snapped, a hint of his temper creeping out into his voice. This caught their attention and they peeked up at his face and shied away, then looked in the direction he was pointing. "Once you're bandaged up, you will assist Lady Sylphiel in whatever capacity she assigns you to after classes for the rest of the semester." Looking down at her, he felt as if cold water had been splashed across his temper. "If that is alright with you, Lady Sylphiel."

Slowly, she stood and brushed her hands on the tail of her shirt, smearing some burn cream on her clothes. "It's fine," she said shortly. "I won't go easy on them."

Bowing gravely, Rasmus replied, "I'd hoped you wouldn't. You may detain them till whatever hour pleases you. Getting to classes on time is their problem. Good evening." With that, Rasmus turned, unable to bear the weight of her cold gaze any longer, and left the room. Pulling his bottle out, he drained it, gagging on the taste and dabbed his mouth with his sleeve as he walked past Kyle once more and out the door, deciding to just not go home for a while, since doing so meant he would have to answer his phone.

Muttering to himself as he stalked through the rain down the road, Rasmus decided, "I'm not making cell phones, cause they'll think it imperative that I have one," he hissed under his breath. "And then, I'd never get any rest."

"Rasmus!"

A chill ran down his back as he stopped, turning partially to look back at Sylphiel as she walked through the rain to catch up with him. Her eyes were blazing. His stomach rolled. "Yes, Lady Sylphiel?" he asked politely, keeping his face neutral.

Reaching out, she grabbed his arm, reached into his sleeve and found his bottle. "What is this?" she asked him sharply and unplugged it, taking a sniff.

"Something for my stomach and nothing more," Rasmus replied evenly, though the back of his mind wondered at her confronting him about it.

Sticking a finger in, Sylphiel took a taste, "Kyle saw you chugging this like water," she told him.

Plucking the bottle from her hand, Rasmus replied blandly, "And you thought it was alcohol. My position is stressful, but not that stressful. Thank you for your concern, but I would not be so stupid as to become an alcoholic."

Her eyes blazed again, Rasmus could have kicked himself. "There you go again," she hissed, "playing high and mighty, as if you were better than everyone else!"

There was no temper for Rasmus to hold, he simply couldn't get angry at Sylphiel, no matter how many hateful things she said to him, and he simply gazed at her, "Hardly," he told her, "Personally, I think I'm the scum of the universe. Just ask those two boys I just dressed down whether I'm Mr. Perfect, they'd probably gladly tell you I'm an asshole. But the truth of it is, I am- I have to be- because I'm responsible for those fools in there, and the rest of those young hotheads in my school. I have no choice."

Sylphiel shook her head, "Maybe not with them, but not everyone is your student! You treat everyone like that!"

"What the hell do you want me to do, Sylphiel? If I got any more polite to you I'd choke!" Rasmus demanded and stuffed his bottle back into his sleeve. "I'm tired of this. Really, truly tired of it. I'm not telepathic, I can't tell what you want out of me. Either tell me what you want and I'll do my best, or don't and just put up with what I'm already doing. It's your choice."

Taking a breath, her cheeks growing hot, Sylphiel shouted, "I want you to quit being a bastard to everyone you meet! But that's too hard for you, isn't it?" She spun around and stalked back towards the door of her hospital.

Losing his temper, Rasmus raised his voice far above anything he normally used, "You think this world is so wonderful and great to be in- well I think its hell!" She didn't answer his shout, didn't even look back. 'Now you know how I felt' was what she'd told him when she'd offered her hand to him. He'd thought that would make them even. He was sorry for what he did, he would never do it again, nor would he harm another person by magic ever again- her other self had made him promise that, and he'd sworn by Bless Blade.

Turning away in a flurry of wet robes, Rasmus continued stalking down the street. Thankfully there were few people on it at this time of the evening in such inclement weather and so he didn't have to speak to anyone or look at anyone, and just walk off his fury. Once he had, though, Rasmus was left with that gut-eating depression he'd had to find some way to live with, though he wasn't so sure why he bothered anymore. Soggy, he walked up the steps to the building he lived in, nausea overwhelming him, and he staggered against the door, hand to his mouth as he tried to hold it down. It was little use, the potion, what little he'd eaten of dinner, the wine, and mostly blood dripped between his fingers as he leaned against the wall beside the door, eyes squeezed shut.

"Dean Rasmus! Cephied-" Someone had spotted him. Blindly, he flailed other hand at them, getting them to let go, and triggered his teleport spell, falling through it and into his apartment where he dashed for the sink and barely made it in time.

Sobbing for breath between spasms of his stomach, Rasmus cursed himself, cursed Sylphiel, cursed Lina and Gourry and Zelgadis and Amelia, and he cursed Cephied, and most of all, he cursed Xelloss. Slowly, he sank down to the floor, wiping his hands on his soiled robes, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, coming away with blood. "It opened again," he whispered the obvious, tasting that metallic tang that he'd gotten rather familiar with lately mixed with stomach acid.

The phone rang.

Unexpectedly, Rasmus burst into tears and put his face against his sleeve. The phone continued to ring. Slowly, he dragged himself to his feet, feeling weak, but rinsed out his mouth anyway and went to the phone, catching it on the sixth ring. "Yes?" he asked softly.

"Dean Rasmus! A new student has come in, it's Prince Ja'harad from the outlands. You told me to call you when he arrived."

Closing his eyes, Rasmus sank to his knees, "Yes, I did. Thank you. I'll be there in a moment." He hung up and put his face against his arm, then staggered up again, heading to the bathroom to wash his hands and face, then time-reversed his robes to remove the water and spillage he'd accumulated. He rinsed out his mouth a few more times and took a cautious drink of water, only to throw up pink-tinted water. That answered that question. Rinsing out his mouth again, he combed his hair, but it was too dry now to braid, so he left it as it was.

Walking through his teleport, Rasmus stepped into his office, to the surprise of the young man seated in the chair opposite Rasmus's desk. Taking a seat, Ras found the strength to smile, "Forgive me, I've had several emergencies to deal with today and required a moment to refresh myself."

The young man wasn't terrible to look at, but he wouldn't have won in a contest against Gourry for looks or brawn. Ja'harad smiled, eyes bright and eager- yes, he'd have given Gourry a run for his money in the Charming department, Rasmus decided. "It's not a problem, Dean Rasmus, I thank you for coming to greet me personally. It's an honor to be accepted into this school!"

Rasmus nodded slightly, "It is an honor to have you here. There are a few other royalty among the students, but my policy is that you're all here to learn. You're aware of the dress code and student rules?"

"Yes sir! I have studied them. I don't mind wearing a uniform, I think it is a wonderful idea, Dean," Ja'harad replied. Rasmus placed his hand over the file on his desk, reading it with his fingers while he kept eye contact with the young prince. Ja'harad was fifteen, not too old to start classes but he had arrived in the middle of the semester. Rasmus supposed he could extend the placement testing till the winter break and start the boy in with that class. Yes, that seemed best.

Giving a nod, Rasmus managed another smile, "Then welcome, Ja'harad." He lifted his hand from the file, dismayed to find it shaking as he took the young man's hand. The boy didn't have much of a grip, but it was firm and determined. Rezo had always said he could tell a man by his handshake, and Rasmus had fallen back on that in his dealings. He doubted Ja'harad would be a problem unless pushed. Unfortunately, there were a few who were more than willing to do a little pushing. "My aid will show you to your dorm room," Rasmus said, releasing the boy's hand and stood, moving around the desk to walk the boy to the door. "We're in the middle of a semester right now, so it won't be possible for you to begin taking classes just yet- officially. There are some placement tests we would like you to take, to determine what level of courses you should start with, my aid will tell you who you need to talk to about that. Otherwise, you're free to sit in on classes, so long as you don't make a fuss and you'll start classes in the beginning of the spring semester."

Ja'harad nodded, "Yes, that sounds wonderful!" he replied, "I fear I'm not sure what to expect here, so thank you for letting me watch classes before I have to take them. I promise not to be a bother to the teachers."

Glancing up at his aid who sat in the room that lead to the Dean's office, Rasmus made sure his aid had heard what was required of him, and with that, he left the boy in his aid's careful hands, closing the door to his office once again.

"He's rather ill," Rasmus heard Ja'harad's voice on the other side of the door

"What do you mean?" Ras's aid asked curiously.

"He's pale and his hands were shaking," was the answer, "And... I have a knack for sensing when something is wrong with someone."

Rasmus pulled away from the door. He didn't want to hear any more, didn't want to be confronted over it, and so, he turned and stepped into his teleport spell, appearing in his apartment again. The phone was ringing.

"Yes?" he asked, weary to the bone of the whole thing. It was like some terrible cosmic joke. What else could go wrong today, he wondered.

"Dean Rasmus, I'm so glad I got hold of you! A few students went out into the ruins this morning and they're not back yet."

Leaning heavily on the back of the couch, Rasmus tried to stay on his feet, but it was getting harder by the second. "They probably took shelter when it started raining," he said levelly.

"But Dean! There've been rumors of something savage out there!"

Calmly, Rasmus replied, "Rumors only, I assure you. I've been in the ruins, looking for any sign of this beast twice already and have found nothing."

"But Dean-"

"If it pleases you," Rasmus snapped, then moderated his tone, "you may form a search party." His gut rolled, "Alright," he added softly, "I'll go hunt them down. No need for more than one person to get sopping wet out there." He hung up the phone, and couldn't find the strength to get up. Tears streamed down his face as someone knocked on his door, at the same time the phone rang.

"Dean Rasmus!" someone shouted from outside the door. "There's been an attack- something came out of the ruins!"

Somehow, he dragged himself across the floor to the door, and up to his feet by the frame before he opened the door slightly, impeded by the bloody chain on it. Fumbling with the lock, he finally got the damn thing open and stepped out, leaving his phone ringing. They could call back later. "Where?" he asked.

Turning, the man at the door headed for the stairs and ran down them, Rasmus staggered along behind at a much slower pace. The rain had increased again and it was sunset. Wonderful. Simply wonderful. That was all Rasmus could say about the situation, really. At least this and the search for the missing students could be done at the same time. He hoped nothing had happened to them, really he did. The stairs were a blur he didn't remember, and the jolting ride in the carriage the man had brought was something Rasmus wished he could forget, his stomach revolting against him, but he managed to quell the rebellion. At the edge of town, the man stopped the cart and Rasmus gladly got out, somehow managing to keep his dignity. Somehow managing to keep his feet under him as he walked towards the ruins with his eyes half-lidded, a trick he'd figured out with David. This way, he could see beyond the stones, but also avoid tripping on them.

There was indeed something out there, and it was fast. Rasmus barely managed to get his shield up in time as whatever it was charged him. At least, he didn't have to hunt it down. Pulling out his staff, Rasmus turned and moved further into the ruins, getting the thing away from town- and to a place where if he did lose his dignity, no one but he and the monster would see it. The creature chased him, moving from this side to that, herding him, it seemed, and Rasmus let it. If the bloody thing wanted to think it could kill him that easily- Skidding to a slimy halt in the mud, Rasmus realized his mistake too late. There wasn't just one monster, but fifteen of the low-slung hyena-looking creatures with tails like a cat's and the speed of a greyhound.

And they looked hungry. "Dean!" a whimper from above, and Rasmus risked a look up, spotting the students that had apparently gone missing. Well, that answered that. They were perched on a tall stone, and looked like they'd been there for a while, one of them had been bitten on the leg, but the other three had bandaged it. None of them were taking white magic classes, apparently.

Though it relieved him to know where they were, Rasmus was now unable to simply sit back and blast the bloody things. Instead, he swung his staff, connecting with the head of one of the creatures as it attacked. The beast collapsed back and didn't move again, though Rasmus didn't wait to see the damage he'd done, just jumped aside as the pack attacked. "Fireball!" he cast, catching three on fire, and they ran in panicked circles. Leaping up and using a brief levitation, Rasmus came to stand on a tall piece of wall, then flung his next spell down at the snarling pack, "Demona Crystal!" The ice spell struck the ground hard and spread, freezing over the pack and creeping up the wall. The students scrambled back as the ice crept up towards their bit of safety, but breathed a sigh of relief when the spread stopped. None of the animals survived- Rasmus closed his eyes to make sure of this, then glided over to his students, taking the wounded one onto his back, the other three clinging to him and each other, and he glided out of the area of the spell and landed. He didn't have the energy left to cast a teleport, or he would have. Instead, the wounded young man limped along, his friends helping him as Rasmus walked in front, keeping an eye out for anything else that might be in the area.

He was wheezing, he realized and paused for a second, leaning his hand on a block of stone that was slightly higher than was comfortable, but it gave him more to lean against covertly, "Go on ahead," he told the students. They were all sopping wet and muddy. "Town is just beyond that building." He gestured.

Nodding, they hurried ahead.

Turning away, he tried to keep his retching quiet and hoped to god that they wouldn't look back.

His grip on the stone slipped.

Rasmus never recalled hitting the ground.

...

AN: I'd originally intended to only upload once a week. but whatever. :3 You guys get 2 chaps in close proximity. But you'll have to wait until next Sat for ch3. ...I need to write more of the story.