True to Rin's words, the lower levels of the library were filled with danger. Certain rooms could only be travelled through on a certain path. Others simply had sections of the floor that had crumbled away or fallen through on several floors, leaving deadly pits for any unlucky adventurer or student that happened across them. By far, the worst rooms were the ones that appeared to just hold rows and rows of bookshelves.

With rare books.

Marten had almost grabbed a tome he had only heard stories about. One he had been told was lost to the ages. Rin's warning only echoed out as his fingers touched the spine of the leather bound book and an arrow thudded into the shelf next to his head.

Chieko scolded him for being so careless. Junko snapped at her for berating him.

The fights between these two girls slowed them down even more that navigating these rooms.

But rivaling these trap filled rooms were the natural caverns that connected some of them. A few were actually part of the rooms themselves. The girls and Marten actually stopped to marvel at a roaring waterfall in one room. Anastasia practically had to claw the back of Marten's neck to get him to get the group moving again.

"And here we are." Rin finally announced.

The entrance to this newly discovered section was no more than a hole in the wall that was about three feet across. It was pitch black beyond that.

Chieko frowned. "Did anyone thing to bring a flashlight?"

Junko and Rin groaned in unison. Marten took that as a sign for no. Chieko's gaze travelled to him, her arms in their natural position, crossed over her chest.

"And you, Sensei?"

Marten gave a sheepish smile. The idea of a flashlight would have never crossed his mind. Why would he need one? If he needed light, he could simply create it. The boy rubbed the back of his neck as he avoided looking at Chieko.

The glass representative shook her head and slung the back off her back. She dug through it and produced three small flashlights. She tossed one to Rin and another to Marten.

"Hey. What about me?" Junko demanded.

"What about you?" Chieko shot back. She slung the bag over her back again and clicked her light on. Junko growled as she walked past her and into the dark.

Marten handed the girl his flashlight. "Here. I'll be fine."

"You sure?" Junko asked.

"Yeah."

"You two are too cute." Rin giggled. She turned her flashlight on and headed after Chieko.

"So we need to keep those two safe, huh? Still haven't figured out the whole using magic thing?" Junko asked, her gaze glued to the darkness.

"Yes and no." Marten muttered. He was glad she wasn't looking at him. Rin's comment had turned his face a bright red.

"Would it be so bad if they know about it?" Junko asked. "I mean, you already let me in on this whole crazy world of yours." She pulled the long cloth bundle from the side of her bag.

The color drained from Marten's face.

"The punishment for revealing the existence of magic is permanent transfiguration into an ermine." Marten stated, almost robotically. His body quivered once at the thought. "I would prefer as little as possible of my students to know about my abilities."

"Oh." Junko unraveled her cloth bundle to reveal a thing sword, still in its sheath. "Fair enough."

The girl snapped the sword on her belt. She glanced at Marten, who was staring at it. "It's just a practice blade, so it's a bit dull. Best I could get on short notice. But, we're not looking to kill anyone, right?"

"That would depend on what the dark one's test is, child." Anastasia purred from Marten's hood.

"You brought your cat?" Junko frowned.

"She insisted." Marten muttered before frowning.

"But this… it's dangerous." Junko gripped the hilt of her sword. "I mean I brought a sword. We're fighting a damn vampire."

"Girl." Anastasia poked her head out of her hiding spot. "I will be fine. You are the young master should worry about the two girls who you let wander off alone in the general direction of a vampire."

Marten Junko exchanged looks before taking off down the corridor after Rin and Chieko.

The girls were waiting for them at the end of the hall. Rin was studying the map by her flashlight while Chieko pointed her own down the staircase ahead of them.

"What did we miss?" Junko asked as they jogged up to the pair.

"Nothing." Rin muttered. "We still have a few floors to go until the end of this section. Where were we headed Sensei?"

"Evangeline said she'd be in the last room." Marten replied without thinking.

It didn't hit him how idiotic his previous statement was until Chieko's flashlight blinded him.

"McDowell-san is down here?"

Rin looked up from her map. "Wait… the shrimp in the back row?"

Marten glanced at Junko.

Chieko turned her flashlight on her. "Did you know about…" The class representative trailed off into stunned silence as she spotted her sword.

"Junko, why do you have a sword?" Rin quietly asked.

The awkward silence trailed on for what seemed eons.

"We're going to fight McDowell." Junko finally answered.

"Fight her? Why? She's like… ten!" Chieko demanded.

Marten gave Junko his best "shut-up" look he could muster.

She ignored it.

"She's a vampire." Junko said, matter-of-factly. Marten shut his eyes and let out a small groan.

Rin giggled. "Funny."

Chieko was scowling as she stomped forward and grabbed Junko by her coat collar. Junko growled at her.

"Let me go, Yoshida."

"Not until you tell me why you dragged Sato-san and I down here with you!"

"I just did! Besides, I don't remember asking you to come with us, dumbass."

Chieko shook her. "Well someone had to keep your fat ass out of trouble!"

"You really want to call the girl holding a sword fat?"

"Well if the shoe fits! Or I guess in your case, doesn't fit!"

"BE QUIET!"

Chieko and Junko both fell silent at the same time. In unison, they turned towards Marten.

More specifically, to the black cat perched on his shoulder.

Anastasia glared at the two of them. "You are both acting like children! Stop it this instant!"

Chieko let go of Junko automatically as she stumbled back. The girl raised a finger slowly at Anastasia as her bottom lip quivered. "Wh-Wh-What did th-tha-"

Marten groaned.

"D-D-Did you c-cat just t-t-talk, Sensei?" Rin asked quietly, staring wide-eyed at Anastasia.

"Yes. And I was trying to keep that secret." He prodded the cat in the side with a finger. She batted it away, not breaking eye contact with Junko.

"That is a talking cat. That cat is talking." Chieko babbled. The girl seized the ends of her braids and pulled on them before making a low pitched whine.

Anastasia ignored her. "Miss Arai, I expect better of the Ministra Magi of Master Marten."

Junko looked down at the floor and shuffled her feet awkwardly. She did this often during their practice sessions, when Anastasia barked something at her that was along the lines of disappointment. "Sorry, Anna." She muttered.

"Do not say sorry. Just do not let it happen again." She finished. The cat turned to Chieko, who was now hiding behind Rin.

"And you, Miss Yoshida. Behave yourself or you will find yourself on the trek back out of these catacombs alone." The cat's eyes narrowed. "Do I make myself clear?"

Chieko just stared in horror at the cat.

Rin, on the other hand, looked absolutely giddy. She strode forward, leaving Chieko cringing alone, and started petting Anastasia again. "I knew you were lying about something, Junko!" She turned to the girl, grinning as wide as humanly possible. "I just never thought it would be such a whopper of a lie!"

"Yes. I was lying. Are you happy now?" Junko rolled her eyes.

"Oh, you have no idea." Rin scratched Anastasia under the chin, causing the cat to purr in appreciation. "I was just sort of hoping you were hiding that you had kissed Sensei or something, but a talking cat? This is like Christmas came on my birthday and it gave me the ability to make candy with my mind!"

Marten and Junko exchanged looks again. Luckily it was dark and Rin was too focused on Anastasia to notice that they were both blushing.

"S-S-Sensei… What Arai s-said earlier… M-McDowell is actually a v-v-vampire?" Chieko suddenly chimed in. She took a step closer to the group, still nervously watching Anastasia.

Marten nodded, frowning. "Unfortunately, yes. That is true, Yoshida-san."

Chieko bit her bottom lip. "So… you're… going to kill her?"

Junko groaned. "No. He's going to fight her to prove that he's worth training. The shrimp is not only a vampire but like the greatest dark mage like… ever." Junko scratched her nose as she explained it. "Sensei is a mage. He can use magic. He wants her to train him so he can defend the school or something. I wasn't really listening too much when he explained. The whole talking cat thing just got dropped on me too."

All eyes were on Marten again. Rin eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her skull. Chieko looked at Marten as if he were on fire.

He sighed and held a palm out.

"Ab aeterno, posse ad esse. Ardescat." He flatly recited.

A small ball of flame flickered to life and hovered over his open palm. Rin and Chieko stared at it in wonder. Rin let out a low, long whistle.

"See? Magic." Junko sniffed.

"And I was worried this year would be boring." Rin laughed. "And I get a magical teacher."

"Yes. I believe these two girls believe us now, Miss Arai. Now, time is wasting. Young one." Anastasia purred, before climbing back into Marten's hood. "You three listen to Master Marten and do everything he says. He will keep you save."

The three girls nodded and stepped to the side so that Marten could lead now. The boy took a deep breath and held his palm out, using the fire in his hand to guide them through the darkened catacombs.

He really wished Anastasia was right about keeping them safe. That was one parent teacher conference he hoped to avoid.

And with that, the group set off into the darkness, towards the Vampire.