Its early morning on a weekend and I already have a visitor. It's the young Professor Ursula. She kept mostly to herself, telling me briefly that I'm needed in the headmistress's office for reasons even she didn't know herself.

Along the way, we didn't share any words except simple pleasantries proper between a student and a teacher. The ensuing silence makes my mind drift to other places, prominently what I'm going to do in my weekend.

Just when I'm thinking of it, we come across a window that overlooks the school field. Down there, a particular group of three troublemakers in green ribbons are relaxing under the shade of a tall tree.

I instinctively sigh looking at them, my face contorting to one of annoyance. The professor picks up on this, asking worriedly, "Something the matter?"

Naturally, I tell her nothing.

It's just one night ago that the green team decided to have their movie night, and it's just one night ago I was spectacularly humiliated by Amanda. The memories of how she made me so embarrassed back then with so little effort ruin my good mood. Thankfully, the professor wasn't looking at my direction when a blush forms on my cheeks, red like a tomato.

I'm really, really not looking forward to seeing her anytime near.

I follow Professor Ursula without another look to the three outside, hoping to get them out of my mind and refocus, but I couldn't, because at the back of my mind there's another thought, another feeling, that forces me not to forget what happened last night. It was one of regret—something I very rarely feel.

I got distracted last night wasn't I? I hung out with them in an attempt to confront them and find out how they really felt after the race, but I couldn't even get myself to bring the topic up.

It's just that they seem happy then, I don't want to ruin the good mood by bringing up the race and risk making things go south between us four.

But at the same time, I feel the obligation to tell the truth of what happened that day, of how I'm responsible for their disqualification.

I need to tell them, somehow, so I could know how they feel about it. Not knowing feels really terrifying.

But how could I hope to bring the race up again? They were happy that night weren't they? They were enjoying themselves, breaking rules and having fun, not a care about what happened days ago. Who am I to ruin their fun?

That's right, 'their' fun. As far as I'm concerned, I'm not friends with them for that long. Who knows that in their eyes I'm still an outsider, someone that doesn't genuinely belong in their little group.

And that brings me to a second point of my worry: I'm worried that the reason they don't bring up the race again is because they don't see me as a part of their group—that I'm not someone close enough to discuss touchy subjects like the race.

I breathe in deeply through my mouth, trying to calm myself and supress the more negative thoughts that keep brewing in my mind if left unchecked.

I briefly stop on my steps as I'm reminded of something. Finally I allow myself to look back outside a window, the three girls still there outside.

Yesterday was the first time I've seen them after the race and the three seemed happy. Amanda didn't convince me when she said she wasn't upset after her trophy and glory was abruptly taken, but last night, the moment she laughs made me sure that she's at least in a good enough mood to have fun, even if that fun stems from my misfortune.

I really hope Amanda's happiness that night was genuine.

And, if possible, I really hope she stops being a royal prick towards me.

Not long after, the professor and I arrive in front of the Headmistress's office. Professor Ursula continues to knock on the door, she doesn't need long to wait to receive her invitation to come inside.

"Ah, you're finally here Mr. Franklin". miss Holbrooke greets me once she sees me, she's sitting on her chair behind a wooden desk, behind her, the 9 silly hats of the Nine Olde Witches sits on display.

I notice Michelle's silence, she has her back on us, staring outside the window at the back of the room. Miss Holbrooke leaves her chair and walks towards the door.

"I think we're needed somewhere else professor Ursula". miss Holbrooke says as she walks past us. The young professor tilts her head for a moment before following the Headmistress outside, closing the door behind me.

It's now just me and Michelle, none of us yet to say a thing.

I gulp as the silent tension begins to sink in, myself unsure why I even feel nervous.

"Jericho". Michelle suddenly speaks, turning towards me.

"Y-yes?". I stutter. "I heard you were searching for me".

"I was", Michelle nods. "Just wanted to give you an update of the search Miss Holbrooke requested me to do down in the labyrinth"

Before I knew it, I gulp, "There isn't any problem, is it?"

A smile made its way to Michelle's lips, though it still doesn't ease me, makes me more unease, even.

"We found nothing! Not a trace of human intrusion physically nor magically. Maybe the one that triggered young Diana's alarm was one of the labyrinth's resident creatures after all. Regardless, during my search, I found some weaknesses on the labyrinth's entrances and have proposed a few suggestions to improve them alongside other security aspects of the school in general. The headmistress thankfully approved most of them".

Michelle's smile only widens as she goes on, but she soon notices my contrasting blank expression. She renews her smile into a smug one as she explains, "That means I get more in my pay check, Jerry",

My blank look turns to a deadpan stare. "So that's… it? You called me here just to tell me that?"

Michelle blinks. "W-well, aside from that, you're here because I feel like I should thank you. My pay check wouldn't have been increased if it wasn't for you and your overly paranoid suggestions about some treasure hunters".

"Yes, my suggestions, mine…" I say, eyes trailing off. It's sort of bizarre for me to keep forgetting which treasure hunters are which; I keep getting mixed up between the treasure hunters I presumed to exist, lurking around our vulnerable labyrinth, or the one that actually exists and pulled off a heist on a millionaire's mansion.

Michelle speaks again, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Anyway, I'm glad I'm here and able to help the school. And my superiors at the ministry grows to enjoy the idea of me teaching and at the same time keeping watch of Luna Nova. We can safely say I'll get comfortable here for awhile".

"It almost sounds like they've always wanted to have an inside eye on the school", I muse out loud.

Michelle responds to my outspoken thoughts with a laugh. "That's one way to say it. All in all, I think there won't be any troubles with the school's security for now. So don't worry too much about this okay?"

Hearing that from her means a lot—I've been in constant need for affirmations on the safety of this school ever since the responsibility of keeping the White Stone safe falls to my hands.

While Michelle goes on to her more personal rants about her personal life, my mind is already elsewhere.

It's been on my mind for a while: to not listen to Mr Wright and tell Michelle about the stone. I've never come to a conclusion every time I think of it, and now it's no different.

Michelle caught notice of my drifting eyes. She stops her ramblings and asks in a tone close to serious, "Something wrong?"

"N-nothing".

Michelle watches me with an unreadable expression for a moment. I try hard not to falter under her unrelenting gaze.

Surprisingly, she didn't see through my lie, or just didn't bother to. She shrugs and continues, "Aaaanyway, as I was saying, so my partner was out trying to find…"

I shouldn't do or say anything rash. I'm not wise enough to make my own decisions in this matter—a matter I sorely lack knowledge of while Mr Wright has more knowledge of. Perhaps the best course of action for me now is to trust Mr Wright and his decision as equally as he trusts in me to keep such a valuable artefact. Hopefully, I put my trust on the right person, and Mr Wright as well.

Michelle suddenly claps her hands twice, surprising me entirely. It also seems that she didn't realize I've been ignoring her ramblings for the past minutes. "I just remembered, I've a bonus news for you! There's news, well, rumours among the Guardians. Ready to hear it?"

I furrow my brows. "Michelle you know I don't like gossips".

Ignoring my words, Michelle continues. "There's a Guardian, a high ranking one, that's on trial as we speak. It appears that he's accused of withholding some crucial information from the Guardians".

"Its treason then?"

"I suppose you can call it that. Anyway, he appears to be hiding an information of a new type of magic, or so they say…"

Ah, the famous 'or so they say', it marks that the next following words that comes out of Michelle's mouth should be taken with a grain of salt.

"… So this Guardian is apparently a theurgist of some sort, a master of the spirit, able to manipulate his own and others, you know the drill. But apparently he's also able to move his spirit through his past and future consciousness! How cool is that?"

My silence signals that Michelle had completely lost me. Clearing her throat, Michelle tries again, stumbling—a rare sight of her. "H-he can move his soul through time".

I narrow my eyes. "Is there any relevant information for me to learn from this… fact of yours?"

Michelle nods. "Y-yeah, you know how the ministry is, they're seriously unable to take a joke so they treat this whole rumour face-value and actually investigated that Guardian".

I give Michelle a flat look and reply dryly, "Well, I'm sure the Ministry's will be pleased with what they'll find. But I still believe that whatever what they'll find won't have any connection to that dreadfully fake rumour".

Michelle shrugs, apparently enjoying the outlandish rumour. "Whatever you say".