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Meeting New Faces Among Familiar Ones
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Our first destination is the school infirmary. Just like Crowley had said, the infirmary is packed. Among them is the Heartslabyul student who hurt his leg yesterday. He was accompanied by his friend sitting near his temporary bed.
"Excuse us," I said when Grim and I approached.
The uninjured student recognized us. Well, who else is the only female walking with a familiar? "You're those guys from Ramshackle Dorm that were at the Unbirthday Party." And that, too.
"Ooh, look how famous we are!" Grim said. Actually all the patients in the infirmary are staring at us, probably having nothing better to do after sitting in bed for who knows how long.
I ignore the stares and whispers and asked, "We'd like to hear how you got injured."
The student frowned. "I don't really get it either. He and I were just talking... Before I knew it, I'd fallen down the stairs."
"Yeah. It wasn't like he stumbled or slipped or anything." His friend said.
"Almost like my body just kinda left forward... I can't really put it into words well." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
Grim bobbed his head. "I see. I see."
It doesn't sound like there's any clues behind it, though, I thought to myself.
"Thank you for your cooperation." I bowed before leaving to talk to the next person on the list of victims.
Upon entering a classroom, we spot our next target and approached during their conversation.
"Hey hey. You got hurt pretty bad not too long ago, right? Tell us about it." Grim said.
A Pomefiore student looks at us with a scowl. "And who are you two exactly?"
I held my hands up meaning no harm. Damn, someone's sorely upset.
His friend explained to us, "His feelings are hurt right now because he trained so hard for the Magift tournament but can't participate in top condition!"
"How could you be so tactless, throwing salt onto someone's wound like that. I challenge you! Pick up the glove!" The other student suddenly declared.
"Eh?! Right now?!" Grim exclaimed. We are in a classroom setting.
I walk towards the victim who is watching me with tense shoulders. He was surprised I wasn't backing down.
"We're sorry. I understand your frustration, but we don't have time to be your human stress ball. We're busy." I lift my index finger to touch the wrinkled folds between his furrowed brows. "Calm down and tell us what happened to you."
I closed my eyes and call upon the aid of the dream eaters. 'Please grant this student sweet dreams for tonight.'
A soft pink ripple effect emanates from my fingertip and spreads to the student's conscience. Both Grim and the other Pomefiore resident watched in awe at the sight as the victim's expression loosens up. He was now looking ahead in a daze, under the harmless spell of the dream eaters working their magic as we speak.
After I let my hand fall limp to my side, I glance to his buddy who flinched slightly under my neutral blue gaze. "You also, fill us in on the details."
"I-It happened in the laboratory. Out of nowhere he grasped a pot of boiling potion with his bare hands and threw the whole class into an uproar! Then he went and knocked over the pot all over the counter. I was so surprised!"
"Are you going to tell them everything?!" Having returned to reality, the victim retorts to his classmate in embarrassment.
I was pondering about what his friend told me until I bowed my head, "Thank you. Please take care." and head back to the dorm.
When we left the classroom the student looked to his friend, "What did she do to you?"
"I don't know. My mind just relaxed and I got a bit sleepy... In a good way."
"What do you mean by 'good way'?! Damn, I want to know now!"
Meanwhile, I stepped into the foyer of Ramshackle when Grim spoke, "I can't see anyone we talked to as anything other than clumsy. Do you still think these weren't accidents?"
Before I could reply, the intercom buzzed.
Grim looks at the entrance curiously. "Hm? Who's there?"
I open the door. It was Ace.
He waved. "Yo. Oh, Grim, you look better." The orange-haired male remarks upon seeing the familiar not being so sulky since the last time. Did he come to check on Grim because he was worried?
Grim's eyelids flatten at the all too familiar face. "Ugh, it's just you. Listen, I'm pretty busy right now so I don't have time to hang out."
"Busy? You're not gonna finish the homework?"
"Actually..."
We relocated to the lounge and fill Ace in on our mission personally requested (read: ordered) by Crowley.
After we finished, Ace crossed his arms. "Hmm. People getting injured suspiciously, huh."
"But while we were listening to them, it just sounded like they were being clumsy or getting caught up in the excitement for the tournament." Grim said.
Suddenly clicking footsteps run into the lounge to reveal a frantic-looking Deuce. "Ace! This is bad!"
"Huh? What're you panicking about..."
"Clover-senpai got hurt falling down the stairs...!"
We widen our eyes. "Eh?!"
Grim squeaked, "You can't mean that unflappable Trey?"
"I can't really picture him being clumsy." I mutter. The responsible, diligent vice dorm head of Heartslabyul...tripping down the stairs?
"You're right, Trey-senpai isn't the kind of guy to just trip over nothing." Said Ace.
"Let's go ask him what happened!" Grim said.
We head to Heartslabyul and to Trey's room where he was in.
Ace knocked on the door. "Pardon the intrusion."
We then filed inside to see the third year resting in bed. Cater was also there.
"Clover-senpai, are you all right?" Deuce asked.
"Yo, Glasses! We came here to check on you!" Grim said.
"Oh, it's the A-Deuce combo. Plus Grim and Strix in tow." Cater waved to us.
I lifted a brow. "A-Deuce"?
"Hello... Wait, Cater-senpai, what's with the 'A-Deuce' thing?" Ace asked a second too late.
"Eh? It's 'cause both of your names end in '-ce' so I put them together." Cater explained.
I subconsciously placed the bottom of my fist to my palm. "Oh, I like that." I threw a a rather amused smile at A-Deuce's way. "Like two peas in a pod."
"Just call us by our complete names!" Deuce exclaimed.
"More importantly, how is Trey-senpai's injury?" Ace asked.
"Ah. I misstepped going down the stairs. I did my best to catch myself but my right foot is toast. I'll be on crutches for a while." Trey said, the crutches propped by his bed.
"Eh! That's a pretty bad injury." Deuce creased his brows in concern.
"I'm probably completely out of this year's Magift games." Trey said as a matter of fact.
I crestfallen. "That's horrible..."
"Geez, give me a break. Our star player, Trey, being out makes everything harder, and we have to have tryouts again." Cater sunk his shoulders.
A-Deuce suddenly seemed attentive and excited for some reason. "Tryouts?"
Someone knocked on the door.
"What are you all doing. Taking over an injured person's room..."
Grim looks at the new presence entering. "Hot-headed Riddle!"
Gray eyes narrowed. "Hot-headed, huh. I won't get angry if you all don't break the rules." Riddle approached the vice dorm leader. "Trey, how are you? Is there anything you want to eat or drink?"
"Didn't I tell you to not worry about me so much?" Trey quirked a sheepish smile at Riddle fretting over him. Usually it was the other way around.
Riddle frowned. "But, it's my fault you got hurt..."
"What do you mean?" Ace asked.
The redhead said, "I had something to take care of so I went to the third year classrooms during lunch. Then..."
Apparently Riddle also tripped on the stairs but was saved by Trey the last second and had protected him from a royal fall.
"Trey went out of his way to keep me from falling down the stairs and got injured..." Riddle finishes.
"I think you'd have been able to break your fall, you know. I sprained my ankle, that's nobody's fault." Trey assured.
It was apparent the guilt is still eating at Riddle. "But..."
Ace whispers to me, "Strix, is this..."
My eyes narrowed. "This is getting suspicious..."
"Now now! Riddle. No need to be so gloomy." Cater assures. "It sucks what happened to Trey, but you'll just have to do your best in his place~"
"Y-yeah. You're right."
"Now, let's give the injured person a chance to rest. Disperse, disperse~" Cater ushered all of us to leave Trey's room and we moved to Heartslabyul's lounge.
"So, Cater. Is there something you don't want to talk about in front of Trey?" Riddle looks at the ginger.
"As expected, Riddle. You catch on quick. Strix, do you know anything about how Trey got hurt?" Cater then asked me. He must have heard Ace and I whisper to each other back then. It does rouse suspicion.
"Well..."
...
"I see, so that's what the headmaster thinks..." Riddle mumbled.
"Thought so. I knew Grimmy wouldn't be visiting without a reason." Said Cater.
"Actually, I thought something strange was going on so I had Cater start gathering information." Riddle said.
"It was obvious pretty quick that all the people getting injured were starting candidates for their teams like Riddle and Trey." Cater stated.
"At that time I didn't trip over anything or feel someone push me from behind." Riddle informed before continuing albeit uncertainly, "But... how should I put this, it felt like my body moved on its own."
"Everyone else was saying something like that!" Grim said.
"I think it's safe to say someone is intentionally targeting Magift candidates." Riddle concludes.
"They're targeting their rivals to up their standing in the Magical Shift Tournament?" Ace questioned.
"The whole world will be watching. One's performance in their matches can lead to a career in the future. It's not strange that some will do whatever it takes." Riddle stated.
Putting people at a disadvantage by harming them is too extreme then, whether indirectly or not.
Cater hummed. "Still, it's weird. You didn't feel any wind magic coming from behind you, right?"
"Yeah, it didn't feel like an impact." Riddle replied.
"There were some who were injured during class. I really wonder what's going on?" Cater wonders.
"We will just have the culprit spill everything when we catch them. To that end, I will assist you in the search." Riddle declared as he looked at Grim and I.
We look at the dorm leader in surprise. I uttered, "Really?" All the more the better!
"Huh? You're gonna help? What're you scheming? Especially you, Cater!" Grim then shoots a pointed look at the third year.
"Wow, rude much. This is what you do when your fellow dorm mates are targeted." Cater simply replied.
"If that's the case, we'll help out too." Ace spoke.
"We gotta get payback for Clover-senpai!" Deuce said.
"You guys are all fired up." Riddle remarks at the duo.
"Oh, I got it. You're after those open spots on the team?" Cater suggested.
Ace sheepishly grinned. "Hehe, was it obvious?"
In comparison, Deuce denies, "N-No, I wasn't thinking that! We do want revenge!"
Riddle looks at them dubiously. "Good grief. Well, I'll take it into consideration if you manage to apprehend the culprit."
A-Deuce cheered, "All right!"
I rolled my eyes. I guess I'm the only one out of the freshmen that genuinely cares for Trey's safety.
Riddle then said, "Back to what we were talking about, if we're going to catch them we need to anticipate their next move."
"Anticipate them, how?" Grim asked.
"For example, put a bodyguard on students that seem like likely targets. When something happens, we promptly get the student safety. Then we hunt down the culprit in that immediate area."
"The stakeout strategy, is it." I said, to which Cater beamed.
"Strix, that's exactly it! Actually, among the starting candidates there's already a bunch that I've got my eye on that seem like they'd be next. I'll make a private group on Magicam so we can message each other. Take a look at the group's album, okay."
Everyone except Grim and I, who don't have phones, checked their group chat.
"Diamond-senpai, this is a huge amount of info." Deuce looks at him in surprise.
I looked over his phone screen and deadpanned. We're really going to narrow down this list?!
"Well, yeah." Caster shrugged it off (how??). "Then, let's go figure out the next target."
"Off we go!" Grim announced.
...
Beyond the mirror to the Pomefiore Dorm is a castle-like stone brick building with pointy blue tiled roofs and gold apple motifs. Upon entering the lounge, I was almost blinded by the extravagant interior of royal blue and gold. Is that a gold peacock throne chair I see past the red curtains?
"First up is here. Pomefiore Dorm. I've marked third year Rook Hunt in my 'Cater Check'. His trademarks are his blond bob and hat." Cater informed.
"Last year, Rook-senpai was a stand out player. But, there's something off about him..." Riddle trails in the end.
We were searching the room until Deuce spotted him, "Ah. Isn't that him sitting over there?"
Upon seeing Rook sit with two other Pomefiore students, we almost saw anime sparkle effects surrounding them.
"Wow. They all look like they're sparkling..." Ace remarks in disbelief. They're brighter than my future...
We watch from a safe distance and try to listen in.
"Non non, little Epel. It is not elegant to put your fingers through the handle when you drink tea." Rook lightly chides a feminine pretty boy who is really small compared to his circle of three. I remember him from the cafeteria when Grim and Deuce mistook him for a girl.
"Eh... ah, yes. I'm so sorry." The boy named Epel softly muttered out.
"I'm still undecided about the makeup for the tournament. I'm very curious about the new foundation from Felicite Cosmetics." The third member said. He has shoulder-length platinum blond hair tinted with lilac purple. For a moment I thought he was a woman at first glance. A real pretty boy.
"Hahaha! My lovely Vil, our Rois de Poisson!" Rook cried (was that French in the end?) almost theatrically, "Your brilliance is not determined by the quality of cosmetics, is it?"
"I am aware, my dear. But if I want to aim one rank higher, I can't hold back." Vil replied in all his seriousness.
"Wonderful! That spirit of yours. It is truly marvelous!" Rook admires. Isn't he chipper.
Grim squints at our suspected target dubiously. "That guy doesn't seem strong at all. If I was the culprit, I wouldn't go after him."
After listening to them engage in beauty talk (I noticed Epel looking uncomfortable and disinterested behind his seemly polite demeanor), we decided Rook was most likely not the culprit. What is this talk about "foundation" and all that makeup chit chat?
Cater crossed his name off the list and said, "Then let's go check the next one out."
We return to the school and found our next target(s) in the courtyard. We were hiding behind the bushes and may or may not be attracting attention from students passerby.
"Next is Octavinelle Dorm. For my Cater Check, I marked the second year brothers Jade and Floyd Leech as high probability. According to my info, they're known for their combo attacks and using them to wipe the floor with any opponent." Cater reports.
"Wah! There's two dudes with the same face." Grim remarks.
Both have short teal blue hair and a long black strand of hair for a peculiar hairstyle. Despite being near identical, their mannerisms and attire contrast the other; one loose and carefree, the other neat and composed. This is my first time seeing twins in person.
Ace pales a shade. "And, uh... those two, they're so tall, don't they make all the other students around them look tiny?"
"I thought it was the perspective but now I can see it..." I mutter almost dreadfully. Their legs look pretty longer than I thought. Scary...
"They look lanky but they look like they aren't ones to mess with." Grim remarks.
"Then should we mark those two?" Deuce asked.
Riddle hummed. "If I was the culprit, I'd go after them last. Those two... Especially Floyd, aren't people I want to get anywhere near to."
"Ah~ It's Goldfish~~!"
Riddle gave a start. "He saw me!" Our location was exposed.
"Goldfish, what're you doing? Hide and seek? That looks fun." One of the two brothers, the loosely dressed male, smiled like an innocent child eager to find a playmate. A really odd weed sticking out in the yard along with his brother.
"F-Floyd. How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that weird nickname?"
"I mean, you're small and red, like a goldfish right?"
I took another glance at Riddle. Floyd is actually not wrong. He does look like one that I can't really think of anything else.
Upon acknowledging my stare, Riddle shot a look. "Don't you dare agree."
I feigned ignorance and look the other way. At least not out loud I will admit it in front of the boy.
"This guy's a weirdo." Grim whispered to me while looking at Floyd. He looks really carefree.
Floyd noticed Grim and looks at him with wide heterochromatic eyes of one dull and one brightly colored yellow. "Wow, a talking cat! So funny. Hey hey, can I give you a squeeze?"
As he spoke, I noticed he has a set of sharp teeth like a shark. Or maybe some other aquatic sea creature I can't exactly put my finger on. Regardless, I'd hate to be bitten by him.
"S-Squeeze?! Stop it!" Grim hides behind my neck and under my midnight blue hair, cowering slightly. I had to support his body with a hand.
I flinched slightly as Floyd's droopy eyes landed on me yet still stood my ground. I think I stand up to his chin. He's a head taller than me!
A mysterious expression crossed his visage as he stared. "Hm?"
It was then the other brother, Jade, approached. "Oh my, Heartslabyul is all together. Are you perhaps doing reconnaissance for the Magical Shift Tournament?" Compared to his brother, this one is mild-mannered and polite. His eye color is also heterochromatic, but the bright yellow is on his left; the opposite of Floyd.
"Um, we actually have a lot of reasons so..." Cater sweated nervously.
"We simply cannot overlook your attempts at spying now can we. Can we hear in detail the reasons why you were observing us?" Jade asked.
"This guy's demeanor says calm and collected but his eyes aren't smiling at all..." Ace mutters.
"Anyways, pardon the intrusion~!" Cater quickly bids before we flee the courtyard.
Deuce looks back, only to widen his eyes. "Uwah, they're coming after us!"
"Hey hey, wait up~" With Floyd's long legs, it looks like he's skipping in a flower garden while we're genuinely running for our lives. Such is the nightmares brought by tall people.
"As if we'd wait just because you said so!" Riddle retorts before ordering, "Everyone, retreat!"
As the twins watch us scurry out, Floyd drawled a disappointed sigh. "There they go."
Jade chuckled. "It was an enjoyable game of tag."
"Hey, Jade, did you see that girl? Doesn't she look like a mermaid?" Floyd remarked as he looked to his brother with a gleeful smile. "Almost like a princess."
Jade held a fist to his chin thoughtfully. "True, her eyes remind us merfolk of the ocean. However, she is most certainly human with no magic. I'm sure Azul would be interested to hear this. Now, it's almost time to get ready at Mostro Lounge. We'll have to save playing with them for another time."
"Fine." Floyd replied.
Meanwhile we had hightailed it out of the courtyard and continued until we wound up in the Main Street. It looks like they gave up chasing us once we were out of the courtyard.
Grim pants for his breath. "...That was scary. What's their deal?"
"Don't ask me. They've been that way since last year and I just can't handle them." Riddle told the cat.
"I'd be afraid of their revenge if I went after them." I said. They look capable of repaying the favor tenfold and I'd rather not be on the receiving end of that.
"I wouldn't even try." Ace shivered.
Cater glanced to the sky. "The sun's gonna start going down soon so let's get to our last Cater Check for today. Jack Howl from Savanaclaw. First year. He's super good at anything involving physical activity, and I heard a rumor that he got a flood of invitations from every sports club."
"It's late enough that he might already be back at his dorm." Deuce said.
"Aah, it's already 5:00. Laws of the Queen of Hearts, Number 346: 'One must not play croquet in the garden after 5PM'." Riddle stated before saying, "I'm going back to the dorm. There are those who break the rules if I take my eyes off them."
"I thought you'd loosen up a bit but you're the same as ever." Grim said.
Riddle choked, having been reminded of his pre-Overblot self and his tyrannical ways. "I-I think I'm being a little lenient on the rules lately, though..."
Cater nods in agreement. "You are much more lenient than before. Your seriousness is one of your good points, Riddle."
"I think so, too," I tell the redhead with a reassuring smile. "Don't mind Grim."
Riddle tentatively nodded. "Thank you..."
"All right then, good luck, Riddle." Cater waves him farewell as he left.
"Okay, we should get over to Savanaclaw." Ace spoke up.
...
Through the Savanaclaw mirror, we arrived at the entrance. It has a tribal African theme to it, unsurprisingly.
"Whoa... So this is the Savanaclaw Dorm." Deuce looks up at the dorm.
"It's rugged and looks like it's made from rocks! What animal did that big skeleton come from?" Grim wonders aloud as he glanced at the skull by the entrance.
"An elephant, maybe?" I suggested. It has large and long tusks. I wonder if there's an elephant graveyard here like in the movie.
"It's got a totally different vibe from our dorm." Ace remarked. Unlike the sweet scent of roses, this place is earthy.
"Right. It's, like, rough and tumble? Just the air feels wild, y'know." Cater replied. So like we're in the wilderness. I like the charm to that, though.
"So, Jack, was it? What's he look like?" Ace asked.
"Tan skin with silver hair. His wolf-like ears and bushy tail are his trademarks, apparently." The ginger reported.
"Bushy tail... Oh. Isn't that him? The one jogging by himself over there!" Grim points his paw over. A tall muscular young man in his PE uniform is seen by the yard.
"Bingo! Grimmy wins this one. He fits the description perfectly. That's him, no doubt." Cater confirmed.
"First the tall twins, and now we've got another dude who's macho!" Ace exclaimed upon seeing him. Even from here we can see how ripped he is.
"That's why all the clubs were trying to scout him." Cater said.
"He's probably good at martial arts too with that brawn." Deuce noted. Jack would be a literal beast and I would not be surprised.
"Let's go talk to him." I said, sweating a little. Or maybe that was the weather of the savanna getting to me.
Cater notices this. "Are you nervous, Strixy? It's okay, you're fine, relax! If he tries to bite you I'll protect you, okay." He winks in the end.
I smile, appreciative of his support, before we approached Jack.
"Hey, prickly guy!" Grim called out.
The wolf-human stopped jogging before our group and glowered at us with golden yellow eyes. Damn, he's like the same height as the twins, but bulky like Professor Vargas and more massive plus intimidating now. "...Hah?"
"Some bad guys might be coming after you so we have decided to protect you! How 'bout it, aren't you happy!"
I almost let out a shaky stammer before harshly whispering to the cat, "That's the worst thing you could say to a Savanaclaw student! Or anyone!"
Jack's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you? Don't get in the way of my running."
From behind, Ace drawled out a sigh. Here we go again.
"Wait a sec, Grim, your way of confronting him has way too many problems!" Cater clamps a hand over Grim's mouth before he could spout anything more. He smiles amiably albeit nervous. "Sorry about that. Can you listen to what we have to say for a bit?"
"What do you want out of the blue?" Jack asked, "You're going to protect me, you say?"
"Recently there have been a large number of accidents around campus involving students likely to be playing in the upcoming Magical Shift Tournament." Deuce began.
"And we're looking for the culprit." Ace told him.
"What's that got to do with me?"
"Put bluntly, we think you're likely to be targeted next so our plan is to put a mark on you and catch them in the act." Cater explained. "How 'bout it? Will you cooperate with us for a bit?"
Jack was silent until he answered, "I refuse. I'll figure something out on my own so there's no need for you to protect me."
"It might be more dangerous by yourself." I spoke. It's not that I doubt his strength, it's more that the culprit could go to the extreme and harm Jack worse than what Trey has suffered.
His voice almost broke into a growl as he said, "... I said I don't need it. And..." He speaks rather softly under his breath, but as I strained to listen I heard, "Me being targeted...probably, won't happen. See ya."
"And there he goes." Cater sighed as we watched the first year (that dude is a freshman?! He looks like a third year!) jog away.
"A lone wolf, huh..." I mumble. His muffled words struck me as something peculiar, though. It didn't sound like he was confident he won't be in danger by his own strength. In fact, it sounded more like he was indefinitely guaranteed to be safe. By what? Or by who?
"He sure was a rude jerk, huh." Grim frowned.
"The way you talked to him would rub anyone the wrong way." Ace told him.
"Gaaah! Having to pick a different way to talk to everyone makes humans such a pain!" Grim complains.
"Oi, what are you guys doing over there?" A gruff voice from behind called out.
We look to see a small group of Savanaclaw students sizing us up. They look very friendly.
"Ah, they're from Heartslabyul." Another student pointed out.
"Hehehe! They're that red brat's grunts!"
"Did you really think we'd let you come into our territory and just leave like that?"
Deuce's eyes widen. "This pattern is..." Ah, he's a former delinquent, he definitely had this kind of moment numerous times before.
"Ah, we're leaving! Sorry about the intrusion~" Ace tried to smile nonchalantly as we crept away.
However, they surround us.
"Don't be like that, come hang with us!"
"Hehehe! Let's play a hunting game! 'Course, ya guys will be the prey!"
As I was trying to hide behind Cater, the Savanaclaw students and their keener senses did not let me go unnoticed.
"Oh, it's the girl freshman everyone's talkin' about!"
"She's actually not half bad."
"Hey missy, ditch these herbivores and we'll show you how us carnivores know real fun."
Over Cater's shoulder, I glare at the student who was stepping closer. The third year remains my loyal shield and stared him down. A-Deuce huddle closer to us and follow their senior.
"Knock it off you all."
Everyone looks to see a rather familiar face with a jagged scar and lion ears and tail.
For a split second the image of Aura Lion from my dream flashed in my mind. Then I remembered: It's that guy whose tail I stepped on from the botanical garden!
The students stand straighter upon his presence. "Dorm Head Leona!"
"These guys are the ones who thoughtlessly encroached on our territory." One of the residents said.
"We were just gonna rough'em up a bit!" One of the students cackled.
Accompanying the Scar-look alike was the boy with the large animal ears. He noticed us, particularly Grim, and said, "Ah, aren't y'all the guys I met in the cafeteria?"
Grim recognizes him as well and points. "Aah, you! Deluxe minced meat sandwich!"
"Whoa whoa whoa. Don't go around giving people delicious sounding names. I've got a very manly name, Ruggie Bucchi, y'know." The boy named Ruggie told him.
Savanaclaw's dorm leader Leona glanced to me. "...You're the woman who stepped on my tail in the botanical garden."
"What?! Dorm Head Leona's tail?!"
"No forgiving that!" That was a 180 they did.
"I said I was sorry about that!" I tell Leona. Grudges are hard to forget, though I do deserve at least some of the blame.
"Wouldn't need police if 'sorry' fixed everything!" A resident retorts.
"Leona, Ruggie, let's show'em who's boss!"
"Stop yapping, you idiots. What're you gonna do if your little fit of violence interferes with the Magift tournament?" Leona casts his half-lidded green gaze over them.
"You're sayin we should ignore these trespassers? But they're such tasty looking prey."
"Nobody said anything about ignoring them. We'll solve this 'peacefully' with a game of Magical Shift." Leona suggested with a lazy smirk.
I frowned at the connotation. I see where this is going from a mile away.
"With Magift?" A student repeated.
"Using magic all we want during a practice match isn't against the rules." Leona explained.
Ruggie snickers. It was then it suddenly clicked to me a little too late: he's a hyena. "Leona, you're such a bully. These guys don't look like they could handle more than one game."
Grim grits his sharp and pointy teeth. "We won't back down after hearing that, y'know!"
Deuce sighed. "Doesn't look like we can refuse and go home." With Savanaclaw, it seems talking it out is never the solution. And Grim already took the challenge before we could say otherwise.
"All right, let's do this. Cater-senpai! Don't forget about the tryouts." Ace reminds.
"Eeh~ Seriously? You're all hopeless~" The third year drawled before looking to me, "Strix, watch from somewhere safe. Watch the other team and help us figure out their plays."
I nodded albeit uncertainly. "Good luck, you guys, and be careful."
We moved to the Magift stadium situated atop a cliff in front of the dorm. I stood by the spectator seats and watch as both sides meet at the center. They exchanged a few words before assuming formation. The sparkling disk flies across the field in an attempt to reach the goal. However, elemental magic would stop its path. So this is a real game of Magift... It makes Ramshackle's mock game look like a kid's playground.
While Heartslabyul plus Grim fling the disk and their magic with their efforts, Savanaclaw looks too confident all the while. They've barely broke a sweat. The boys haven't even scored a point yet!
It was then I realized: they were just playing with their prey. The game itself is not what they're determined about. It was taunting the opposing team at their expense. After seeing Leona's long shot, I made the dreaded conclusion that they could have easily won the game within a short time.
This is no longer a match. This is purely harassment.
Team Heartslabyul was heaving breaths, caked in dirt and sweat. They could barely move after expending their magic and energy to no avail in winning. Meanwhile Savanaclaw was watching them with cruel, triumphant smirks.
Despite the dorm leader's lethargic demeanor, his intellect rivals a tactician. Their formation is impenetrable.
I had enough of this one-sided match.
I took long strides to the center and face Savanaclaw. I frowned. "Enough! This is the same as violence."
Leona stared. Before anyone would move, another voice spoke.
"What're you all doing." It was Jack, the wolf boy we had confronted earlier, and he does not look pleased.
"Hah? We're just messing around with some trespassers." Leona replied nonchalantly.
Jack frowned deeply. "What's fun about kicking newbies around?"
"What's this? Jack, you're so cool. Like a hero of justice. Shishishi!" Ruggie mocks with a cynical snicker.
"I can't just stand by while something heinous is in front of me." Jack simply told him.
Leona stared him down until he clicked his tongue. "Ha, listen to yourself."
"Hey, Jack! You're sure cheeky for a first year!" A resident said.
"...I could say the same for you, you're not doing something befitting of an upperclassman." Jack coolly shot back.
"Come again?! Ya wanna end up like them, huh?!"
However, Leona smirked. "Ha. Fresh-baby, being assertive is splendid." His smirk then disappeared. The fire in his eyes dimmed. He had returned to his neutral expression. "Whatever, I'm bored already. There's no point in going up against you guys. Let's go, Ruggie."
"Yessir~" The hyena drawled and follows the dorm leader suit as they leave the field.
"We won't let you off so easy next time you trespass on our turf!" A resident warned us before he and the others take their leave as well.
When they disappeared under the stairs, I look to the boys, "Are you guys okay?"
Cater chuckled sheepishly. "You sure saw us look uncool, huh."
I frowned. They did took a beating from the match, and I could only watch.
"Jack, was it? You saved us." Deuce looks to the first year.
I bobbed my head and bowed once. "Yeah, thank you so much." I wasn't sure if my presence was enough to persuade Savanaclaw to back off like Jack's, and I'm really grateful he came just in time. I wouldn't know what to do if Jack didn't come sooner.
Jack rubbed the back of his neck and glanced elsewhere. "No need. It wasn't like I was trying to help you or anything."
I blanked. Eh? Did he say the classic tsundere line? Or am I just being paranoid from the wind up above a cliff?
Ace groaned. "Ugh, I'm so gross. Let's just go straight back to the dorm."
"I'm getting hungry, too." Grim uttered weakly.
My lips pull into a small smile. "Before that, let's get you cleaned up, okay?" I lift the little monster and pat the dirt off his fur before holding him in my arms. Grim falls limp in my hold and relaxes, too tuckered out to move around.
"Then, Jack, we're going back now, but be careful not to get hurt, all right." Cater bids.
Jack glanced over the boys as they stalked to the staircase. "You guys aren't in a position to worry about me. Go home already."
I cast a quick look to the wolf and nodded gratefully again before climbing down the stairs to leave Savanaclaw.
When we were gone, Jack remained at the Magift stadium and was silent until he ran a hand over his face and rubbed his nose. His hand then hovers over his mouth. He released a breath he had been holding.
"That woman's scent is really sweet... It's dangerous for her to be here..."
...
That same night, Grim sleep-talks rather loudly. He was mumbling about his super play, most likely about the Magift game back then.
Being the night owl I am, I was already wide awake at midnight. I should take a walk outside to relieve my muscles a bit. And also spare my ears from the obnoxious snoring.
I slipped on a black cardigan over my white flowing nightgown and put on strapped outdoor sandals before exiting the bedroom.
A cold breeze hits my skin as I stepped out of the dorm. The autumn season is getting chillier by the month.
October, huh. The month when my brother's wedding was held. The same month before I wound up in Twisted Wonderland. At the time, I had wanted the wedding to be over so I could return to my home where Sidney and I live. His birthday was right around the corner, too.
I crestfallen as I gazed at the night sky. I grazed my thumb over the face of my wristwatch and feel the worn scratches beneath. I wonder if I'll ever get home...
The sound of rustling disturbed the night silence.
I flinched and look from the sky to the forest where the source was heard. The tall figure steps into the moonlight. A naturally pale man with black curved horns akin to Maleficent's protrude from his dark midnight hair whose long locks draped over his chest are tinted blue. His features are graced by the subtle moonlight hue, making him all the more majestic and noble like.
In that moment, I thought he was really beautiful.
"Hm? Who goes there?" His deep voice penetrated the still darkest night and snapped me out of my reverie.
I should be asking the same! ...Is what I wanted to quip, but I've been robbed speechless by his rather overwhelming presence. I feel like I should be bowing before his grace or something.
Acidic green eyes with a yellow ring surrounding black slit pupils examined me.
"Well, now this is a surprise. You are a child of man."
I was puzzled by his peculiar word phrasing and glanced to the green vest and armband. Isn't that from the Diasomnia Dorm?
"Do you live here? This building had been abandoned for a long while. I'd been quite fond of it as a place I could be quietly left alone." The man continued.
I found the words clogged in my throat and instead asked him, "Who are you?"
"Who am... You don't know who I am? Truly?" His eyes widen astonishingly as he absorbed the confusion swirling in my doe blue eyes. He then smiles amusingly. "...Hmmm. Is that so? That is...exceedingly rare. What name do you go by?"
"What name do I go by"? Did he have to phrase it like that?
I couldn't suppress a knowing smile. If only he knew...
"I'm the prefect of this dorm, Strix Noctowl. Isn't it polite to give your name in return?" I say with all given respect.
The man with horns' eyes mirthfully smiled. "My name, you say? Fufu, it will be better for you not to know. The moment you hear it you'll feel a frost spread over your skin. For your ignorance, as an exception, I'll allow you to call me whatever you'd like. Though, you may come to regret that someday..."
I wonder if I'd really feel the terror behind his name. I don't know why he avoids giving me his name, since names are harmless, right? I would have been okay with a nickname or even a fake name. I did it. The fact that he gives a roundabout way to hide it is peculiar.
I suppose I should be wondering why people at this school, both students and staff, are weirdos, but I guess pre-Disney knowledge is keeping my head on my shoulders (or maybe the opposite?). It's better to numb your mind to the world's strangeness as soon as possible, as someone who is a certified alien is speaking.
"Hm, even so... Now that people are living here, that means this abandoned building is no longer abandoned. That's too bad. I have to find another abandoned place for my nightly strolls. I shall excuse myself now."
He disappears, leaving sparkles from where he once stood. It was now just me by my lonesome.
Once I was sure no other passerby would wander here, I mutter to myself in resignation.
"I live in a Disney world where all the men are good-looking and handsome." I dryly chuckled, "I'm in danger..."
~~~~~~~
If you haven't known, it's said in fae lore that when you give your real name, they have the ability to control you. The same goes vice versa. What's really peculiar is that "Strix Noctowl" is not remotely close to her real name. Hmm...