WARNINGS FOR CHAPTER: (DON'T READ IF NOT A FAN) Mentions of mental illness, abuse, aggravated assault, ptsd.
Sorry that the chapter is late guys. Life has been difficult the past few weeks but I finally managed to get another chapter done! I hope the wait was worth it, as I put a lot of effort into this chapter. Hope you guys like it, and let me know what you think. Comments help this story go forward.
Chapter 6: New discoveries make an interesting day for everyone
In the early morning of Pomefiore's ballroom, a particular music filled the hall as a lone figure swayed and shimmied her hips to the music that was being provided as her arms gracefully moved in time with the vocals. The soft sound of ballet flats were overpowered by the trumpets, violins and drums coming from the music of the phone speaker which echoed through the room, not too loud but not too soft either. Tanza woke up early this morning to try and get some dancing in before heading off to class, feeling the need to get some good vibes before the next test in Magic History. Closing her eyes and letting the music guide her steps, both simple and complex, picking up the sides of her navy blue and royal purple bindi sari skirt and moving her arms in tune to the music, a smile gracing her features the whole time, this was Tanza in her element, where she shown brightest. As the music came to an end, Tanza wrapped up her dance with a singular pose and a trill of her tongue with a 'yah!'. A moment of silence passed before she panted ever so slightly, coming down out of her pose to go and stop the music, but not before stopping at the sound of clapping. She tensed and turned with a jerk and a gasp to see both Vil and Rook standing in the doorway with smiles upon their faces.
"Well well, I was hoping to see what your dance skills were like at some point, but it seems that I got a good view of your caliber just now. Truly a magnificent performance, Tanza" Vil said happily.
"Oui, looking at you dance like that, seeing you shine more beautifully than any jewel, it makes my heart flutter seeing you like this. Vraiment magnifique! (Truly magnificent!)" Rook said with glee.
Tanza just stood there in shock before finally getting the strength to speak, "U-Um…h-h-h-h-how long were you watching?" she asked, her voice full of embarrassment and panic at the notion of being caught in the act, her face growing red.
"Only for a few minutes. I had just returned from a jog at the school when I heard music, so I decided to see who was up and moving at this time, and so I find you, Lemon Drop" Vil said, a small smirk on his face as he called his nickname for her.
Tanza gave an embarrassed chuckle, "You know it's wrong to look in on a lady like that, Vil-san" she said back to him.
"Forgive us for the intrusion, Tanza. If you had plans to continue, do not let us stop you" Rook said with a smile, "However, with that dancing, I'm sure you would become a big hit on Magicam" he added.
Tanza eyes widened with fright at the thought of that and immediately put up her hands in protest, "No no no no, I can't do that! I don't want 'him' to find me!" she said in a panic.
Vil and Rook both raised an eyebrow, "Him?" they both asked.
Tanza gave a sad sigh, "My father. He's still out and about. Yes, I said that he was dead to me, but I never said that he was actually dead. And from what I heard recently, it sounds like he thinks my mother is alive…" she said.
"How can you be so sure?" Rook asked.
Tanza then went over to her phone and did a bit of maginet searching before handing her phone to both men in the room. "Because of this" she said.
Vil took her phone and saw what appeared to be an article from one of the local newspapers. Vil started to do a quick read of the article while Rook looked at the header.
"'Over 15 mentally deranged Inmates escape from Isle Pleasure Insane Asylum'" he read out loud. He then gave a gasp as his eyes widened a bit, "Wait, Isle Pleasure?! That's one of the most secure facilities in the world…for inmates to escape…" Rook said worryingly.
"I know, it does raise a lot of concern. However, this article is from a month ago, and since then, of the 15 that escaped, 12 were recaptured, and one fell off a cliff while on the run from the cops. As for the remaining two, they're still out and about, and one of the two is my father, former Frallen Bro's Circus owner and manager, Lester Frallen. I've been keeping up with the news to see if any more sightings have been found, but so far, there has been nothing" Tanza explained.
"But wait, why was he in the asylum in the first place?" Vil asked uneasily.
"If I had to guess, I think it had to do with what happened to my mother. You see, after the circus fell to bankruptcy, not long after my Aunts left to find my mother, Lester divorced his wife, but his wife didn't want to divorce him, so they had to go to court for that, which he won. After being let go, he saw a woman who looked exactly like my mother did and he was arrested for aggravated assault on a mistaken identity case. He was let go with restrictions the first time, but when he was taken to the courts after getting away with it 4 times after that, he was deemed mentally ill and taken to Isle Pleasure, and for many years, he was kept there. But after his escape, I've grown a bit more weary about going outside of Hollytinne, thinking that if I went out there or made myself known, then fate would lead him to me and I would…well, lets not go down that path, but you know what I mean, right?" Tanza asked, worry lacing her tones.
Vil's gaze got dark at that. He said nothing, but he alternated his gaze from the article to Tanza, now understanding where the beginning of her distrust of men rose, from the stories about her father's disgusting criminal history.
"I understand for sure, but I certainly hope that your time at school has helped you see better than that, as I can see that you're improving, albeit slower than what I would say, but every step of progress helps, and I hope you recognize that" Vil said, concerned that she might fall backwards.
Tanza looked down and thought about all she has been through the past 3 weeks. Making friends with Yuu, Grim, Ace and Deuce, becoming friendly speed rivals with Jack in club practice, speaking Insectia with both Malleus and Lilia at lunch, even helping Epel in learning Capoeira during her free time. Though she still feels timid around men she doesn't know, she does feel less scared about a possible attack, though she still prefers to meet them with her friends around her just in case something happens. But overall, compared to when she first left Hollytinne, her outlook of the outside world has improved greatly, seeing how everyone has their own struggles and pains, how everyone views life differently, and more. Though it's a small step, it's enough to make her realize that life beyond Hollytinne is worth a chance to try it out and see what happens.
"Honestly, this life at school has blown my expectations of what I thought this was going to be about. Sure, the first impressions of 'a girl in an all boys school' hasn't changed, but compared to before, I feel better about being around people here…but….I still feel nervous around people I don't know…not to mention I still have reoccurrences of that time before I had my coma…but…" she paused, putting her arms behind her back.
"But what?" Vil asked, a stern look upon his face.
Tanza gave a sigh, her hands taking fists of her skirt in her grim as a slight shaking could be seen from them, indicating slight anger, "I'm tired of this fear holding me back from having fun and just being a teen at school. Mother wouldn't want me to be afraid like this about living life, even if I were to outlive her, she would want me to just live life to the fullest, something she never got to do. Yet, this nervousness makes it hard for me to get that goal accomplished...well, that and because of stubbornness from my mother about wanting to prove others wrong, but that's unrelated. Anyway,…I'm sick of holding back and being on guard all the time...I just wanna have a regular school life and not worry about these things…" she said sadly. Though she wanted to explain more, she feared what both Vil and Rook might say if they find out about Judith and about her being from the Baldlands, so she kept quiet about that. "However, no fear is conquered in a day and I know this takes time, but maybe I'm getting impatient and I need to slow down…" she said, mostly to herself
Vil heard her words and immediately relaxed at hearing them. Here he thought she was moving backwards, but instead she was taking another step forward, and a big one at that, acknowledging what is holding her back and knowing what she wants out of school life, despite it being put on her like this.
"Nothing is good when it is rushed, be it beauty or anything, and for you to acknowledge that is a big step in improvement. Yes, though many people wish that the final result would come sooner, the smallest victories can often lead to the biggest finale. Perhaps, if you feel a bit impatient about your progress, then maybe you just need an event that would allow you to interact with more people in a common setting, such as a party" Vil suggested.
Tanza looked at him for a moment but then the look of a lightbulb going off shown on her face and she gently took her phone back, checking about the texts that she got from Ace. Earlier this week she received an invitation to go to an Unbirthday Party but she had yet to respond due to her uncertainty.
"Maybe this is the chance I need…" she said as she looked at the message. She then put 'Yes I'll come' in the message box, but paused for a moment. She took a glance at Vil, who gave her a confused look before she gave a smile and wrote, 'but on the condition that something on the healthier lines be offered at the party. Gotta follow the Pomefiore style after all. Hopefully it's not too much, and I'd be willing to help you if needed be' and sent the message to Ace. "Done" she said happily.
Rook gave the biggest of smiles, "To see you become this open so fast, I'm blown away by how far you've come! Truly a beautiful sight, and I know there is still more of you to come, Dame au trésor. Just a few more barriers and we can see more of you, like breaking through a clam to see the pearl within" he said. "I can't hold back my delight anymore, let me give you the hug of admiration" he said as he went and hugged Tanza.
Tanza tensed at first, but then she relaxed and hugged Rook back, grip tightening lightly as she took in more warmth. After a moment, the hug separated and a smile still stayed on her face. But in that moment, a sound was heard on her phone. She pulled it out and saw 'Get ready for school day' on her phone notifications.
"Gah! It is really that time?! I gotta go and get ready! That test in Magic History isn't going to take itself you know" she said. She then gathered her phone speaker and was about to head off when she stopped and looked at Vil, "Oh, by the way, I heard that there was a Spelldrive tournament coming up. Since I came in a month late to the school year, do I need to participate?" she asked Vil.
Vil looked to the side, "Hmmm….let me talk to the headmaster about that. Traditionally it is required, but since you are a month late into the school year, maybe you won't need to, but let me see about that and I'll get back with you" he said.
"Ok, also, I'll need some help in figuring out an outfit for the Unbirthday Party that is coming up soon. Mind if I ask you for advice? I would go in my dorm uniform, but I think the outfit would clash too much with the setting they have…" Tanza asked.
Vil smiled, "Of course. And you're right, the dorm uniform would clash badly with the Unbirthday ideal. I'll help you come up with something suitable. But for now, best you get going" he said.
Tanza smiled, "Yes sir! Thanks again, Vil-san" she said happily as she left the room.
Vil gave an amused huff as he watched her go, "She knows herself better than anyone, and that is an important part of maintaining beauty. She's getting a bit more confident with each passing day, but something clearly is holding her back…if only I knew what that was…" he said, that last part spoken on the quiet side.
However, Rook was able to pick up that last part and smiled, "Oui, finding out what is holding people back and what stops them from becoming their best is another important step. However, I believe she knows what is holding her back, and I do have an idea of what that may be" he said.
"Hm? And what may that be?" Vil asked him.
Rook's gaze then turned serious, "Do you remember after she left when we first got to know her? How she said 'I know all too well' when you told her to talk to you to prevent overblot?" he asked.
"Yes, I recall..." Vil said, unsure of what that had to do with the conversation at hand.
"Well, I got a little curious so I did some digging, and what I found out might help solve a few mysterious about our dear Dame au trésor. Starting with her hometown of Hollytinne…" Rook then went on to explain what he discovered.
Vil listened closely and looks of shock, amazement and worry filled his face as he took in all the information. He knew he would have to talk to Tanza about all this, at least to see if there was something he could do to help her. For now, he went to prepare for the day, trying not to let these thoughts keep him from his focus on his classes.
-*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*-
The period ended for Magic History and Tanza walked out with a sigh of relief, glad that the test was over. As she walked out, Epel walked along with her.
"Eh? Vil-san caught you dancing earlier today? That must've been embarrassing" he said, laughing nervously.
"Yeah, but truth be told, I'm glad that it was that dance instead of one that I'm still learning" Tanza said with a sigh of relief and a shared nervous laugh.
"If you dance as good as you do Capoeira, then I bet you would be amazing on stage" Epel said with a smile.
"Uhh, I'd rather not…at least here I wouldn't want to do that….not with many people who know me…" Tanza replied with a sweatdrop on her cheek. She then recalled something, "Aw shoot. Speaking of people who know me, I wanted to ask Jack if he wanted some venison, but I forgot" she said as she snapped her fingers. "I'll have to ask him at club practice tonight" she added.
"Eh? You're not going to keep the meat?" Epel asked, "Sounds like that could be a waste to just give it away…" he added.
"It's not like that, rather, I'm not the best when it comes to cooking meat. I do better with vegetables and mushrooms, but meat is not my strongest point. Sure, I've done stews with meat, but when it comes to other forms of cooking meat, it gets…complicated for me" Tanza said embarrassingly.
"I see, so better to give the meat to someone who will know how to cook it properly" Epel said. He then went quiet for a bit.
"Well, maybe I'll ask if Yuu and Grim want some meat, though I'm not sure how good they can cook" Tanza said while thinking out loud.
"Now that I think about it, how can venison be cooked? I mean, I've heard of venison roast and I hear it's good as a jerky, but are there other ways?" Epel asked as they walked along the hall open to the courtyard below.
"Oh certainly. For one, you can grill the long back strip like how you would a fine steak and it works great as a substitute for beef in Beef Wellington, you can take ground venison to make some delicious burgers and meatballs, you can use chuncks of meat to make pot pies and stews…the options are kinda various. And if the meat is raised by a good farmer, it's great on its own with a simple salad as the side dish" Tanza explained, thinking of the various dishes back at home.
"Wow, that's amazing. Do you have a favorite way of eating venison, Tanza?" Epel asked.
"Hmmm…my favorite way of eating venison…well, I'm open to any way that venison is cooked as long as there is no horseradish or wasabi paste in the meat mixture. However, I think my favorite way would have to be Venison Vindaloo" Tanza explained.
"What's that?" Epel asked.
"It's a type of curry dish. At home, there is an inn owner who has a chef that specializes in world cuisine, and there was a time when he made me a version of Vindaloo where it was more runny than the original dish and it was perfect for dipping naan in. The spices were so well balanced and the meat was the start of the dish for sure. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it" Tanza said as she brought a hand to her lips.
"Hmmm, I wonder how Venision would taste in a marinade made of apples? Maybe it would make the meat sweeter" Epel said, thinking out loud.
"Oooh, that sounds like a good idea. I would have to find someone who is good with cooking to make that happen. Hmm…" Tanza said as she tried to think of people she knew who were good cooks.
"Honestly, I didn't take you as the type to like spicy food" Epel said with a smile.
"Well, I'm kinda 50-50 about it. I like food that has spices in them, and curry is certainly something I like to eat from time to time, but anything that is overpoweringly spicy is not my forte. Plus…well, lets just say that anything mixed with horseradish or wasabi brings back bad memories" Tanza said with an embarrassed smile.
Just as they rounded the corner of the hall, Tanza bumped into something or somone and stepped back a bit.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" She said. She then saw a figure picking up a book that he was carrying.
The person in question was on the short side, about the same height as Epel, but with wine red short hair, with two strands that form the shape of a heart. Slate grey eyes opened after rubbing his face and he looked up at Tanza. "N-No, I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going" he said.
"Ah, Riddle-san, are you ok?" Epel asked as he offered a hand to his senior.
Riddle then took the hand and stood up, "Yes, I'm fine, but I supposed I spaced out so much that I wasn't looking where I was going. I'm sorry for bumping into you" he said as he looked to Tanza.
"I guess we're both sorry cause I was caught up in conversation that I didn't pay attention either" Tanza said with a sweatdrop and an embarrassed smile. However, as she looked at Riddle's uniform, she saw the Heartslabyul band on his arm as well as the crown on his tie. She then recalled what Epel said and immediately tensed, "Oh, you're Riddle Rosehearts, aren't you? Ah, forgive me, I didn't do a proper greeting" Tanza said as she studdered a little. "U-Um…how did it go again? Point out the toes…curtsy-" she said but then Riddle raised a hand.
"Oh, that only applies to Heartslabyul dorm students, those not in the dorm don't have to do that" Riddle explained, "But I do appreciate you making the effort. And now that I've looked at you…yes, Tanza Frallen if memory serves me correctly. I remember you from the unusual entrance ceremony a few weeks back" he said. He then gave a smile, "I'm glad that I finally have a chance to meet you face to face. I've heard about you from Ace and Deuce" he said.
Tanza paused a moment as she thought back to her entrance ceremony and recalled the leaders reactions, especially Riddle's and how he almost blew his head off after finding out a girl was coming to the school.
"Nice to meet you at last as well. I'm sorry I never properly introduced myself at the ceremony. I really should've done something about that" she said. "But then again, I don't think you were very happy about the rules of NRC being broken at the time…I think you said something along the lines of…" she trailed off and cleared her throat before taking a deep breath and reaching to her diaphragm.
"I refuse to allow this school to break any more rules so long as I am here!" Tanza said in a voice that was scarily same to Riddle, her face trying to pull off his extreme anger face, but sadly failing.
Epel and Riddle flinched at hearing her voice impression, shock clearly showing on their faces.
"Wha-what the?! You sound just like Riddle-san!" Epel said.
"Wait, did I really say that?" Riddle asked, thinking back to that day. However, the more he thought about it, the more he believed it, considering that not too long after that was the whole incident that he wished he could forget.
Tanza then cleared her throat before speaking in her normal voice, "That's what I remember at least. Sorry if I freaked you out there. I tend to do voice impressions when I try to remember what other people say. If I don't do a voice, it's because I don't remember the tone itself, but I do remember the words. However, Riddle-senpai, your voice was very memorable from the ceremony…and not in the best way" Tanza said as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Eh?" Riddle thought about what he said before, as the voice impression did make him remember that day, and he did recall seeing Tanza's face, with tears forming as she tried to hold them back in. Riddle's face lowered a bit in sadness, "Oh…I remember now. I was not at my best at that time, please forgive me. But now that you are here, it's clear that you are better than what I thought you would be, so I take back what I said about you not belonging here" he said, giving an apologetic smile.
Tanza returned his smile, giving him a forgiving gaze, "I appreciate that. After all, I think I'm slowly getting into the hang of things around here" she said. "And speaking of which, I received an invitation to the next Unbirthday Party and accepted it. I hope you don't mind" she added.
Riddle smiled, "No not at all. In fact, I'm glad that you're coming. However, if you have time, I'd like to talk to you about something important in private, if I may" he asked.
Tanza tensed a bit, as she had a feeling she knew what was coming. If she knew Ace and Deuce, they probably mentioned something about her being from Hollytinne and he wanted to talk to her about that. However, she also thought of the worst that could happen, but thankfully she recalled her crystal and anti-harrassment magic and relaxed, but she hid her unease with a smile, "Sure, I think I should have enough time before the next class" she said. Tanza then looked at Epel, "Sorry Epel, I hope you don't mind" she said apologetically.
Epel smiled and shook his head, "No no, you go ahead. Shall we meet up for lunch later?" he asked her.
Tanza smiled, "Sure! I can do that. Just gotta make sure we get there before the best goods are taken" she said. She then took out her phone, "I have your number, right?" she asked.
Epel looked at his phone and scrolled through, "Ummm I don't see it…" he said.
Tanza then turned to Riddle, "Pardon us for a quick second, Riddle-senpai. It won't take long, I promise" she said.
Riddle smiled, "It's fine. I'll wait" he said.
After a quick exchange of numbers and test texts, Tanza then went with Riddle down the halls to an area close to the library. The two of them entered an empty classroom and Tanza immediately took a seat in the nearest chair, hoping that it would provide some sort of barrier in case of attacks. Riddle then took a seat near her and cleared his throat.
"Forgive me for pulling you into someplace private, but I assure you, this is not an attack of any sorts. Rather, I just want to confirm a few things I heard from both Ace and Deuce, and I'd rather not raise alarms out of respect" Riddle said sincerely.
Tanza listened then gave a sigh, "Depending on what they said, they're both going to get a good kick in the pants from me" she said irritably, as she told them not to share the information from what she told them that night. She then looked at Riddle, "What is it that you wished to know, Riddle-senpai?" she said as she relaxed in the chair.
Riddle sweatdropped a bit as he cleared his throat, "I heard that you're from Hollytinne, also known as the Baldlands. If that is true, then you're aware of how to handle overblot, correct?" he asked.
Tanza said nothing at first, but gave a silent sigh through her nose, "Yes, that is true. But the term 'handle' is a bit off par. We don't see overblot as something to destroy, like that of an illness or something to kill like an infected animal. Rather, we see it as a psychological concept, something that is a part of us regardless of what we go through in life" she explained. She then recalled what both boys said that night, "Ace and Deuce told me that you had overblotted, is that true?" she asked him, earning a nod as an answer along with a guilty face. Tanza gave a hum, "I presume you wish to ask me on how to increase the chances of not overblotting again? For the sake of not wanting to return to that stage?" she asked.
Riddle nodded, "I've been trying to be less strict about people following the rules, but…" he trailed off, the hand that was currently on his lap balling up a bit of his pants, fist shaking slightly. "I fear that I can't change that part of me…and that it'll cause me to overblot again…I…I don't want that…" he said, eyes clearly showing the fear he harbors at the whole ordeal while his face tries to remain calm, but it's evident that he's holding it all back.
Tanza couldn't help but feel a form of sympathy, as she can recall when she first overblotted and her reaction to not wanting to go back to that. But she couldn't just tell him something and hope that it would stop, she knew that wouldn't do much good if the person didn't have the will to maintain it. Yet she couldn't give him proper advice since she is not as skilled as the more advanced Blot Warlocks in her village. But surely, there were those in her village who could. But she would need more information about that.
"Hmmm…Riddle-senpai, could you tell me all that happened that lead up to the day it occurred? Ace and Deuce gave me a quick rundown, but I need more information about what lead to the incident, the more information I have the better" she said. She then reached into her bag and pulled out a notebook with a thick cover and a pen, wanting to take down all she could.
Riddle hesitated at first, but then he went on to explain in detail what lead to it. He also told her about how his mother has treated him all his life and how that played into everything. Tanza worked to keep up with him, but though she struggled a bit, she managed to get the whole picture of both Riddle's personality and what lead to the overblot. From what she could tell, the answer of how to work with his overblot was rather simple, but as what the warlocks have taught her, she couldn't tell him the answer, for he would have to figure that out for himself. Otherwise, how could he grow as a human being if he always asked others for how he should live? After a good 30 minutes, Tanza had all the notes she needed to at least tell the warlocks what they would need to know.
"…and that's it, at least from what I can recall…" Riddle said as he took a deep breath, "So, do you think something can be done?" he asked.
Tanza finished up her notes and set the pen down, "Well, as far as what I can do…" Tanza then took her notebook and gave it a single hand shut, which made a sound that echoed in the room, "…there isn't much. But if you give me a couple of days, I'll talk with my elders who specialize in blot magic to see if there is something that can be done. If there is, I'll let you know, but… for the time being, the best advice I can give is to think back on all that has happened to you and find the 'if's' to the 'then's', if you get my drift" she explained.
"The 'if's' to the 'then's'?" Riddle said. But just when he said that, the sound of a clock bell was going off throughout the school. Riddle then pulled out his pocket watch and saw that it was time to head to the next class. "Is it that time already? Well, I'm glad that we could have a good conversation about this. It did help me at least get some things off my chest. I'm sorry if any of it was unsettling to you…" he said apologetically.
"Well, compared to what I've seen, this isn't too out of the ordinary" Tanza said as she gathered her things. "Anyway, hopefully something can be done, but I can't guarantee that the elders would want to have their secrets spilled to the public. I will do my best, but don't set expectations too high. After all, my people have seen more than enough failed cases, and I'd hate to have one of my fellow classmen at NRC be with that group. Alright?" she added.
Riddle nodded, "Any form of help would be appreciated. Thank you for your time and I'll see you at the next Unbirthday Party" he said, but then he paused, "Oh, are there any allergies we should take into account?" he asked her, wanting to make sure no accidents occur.
Tanza shook her head, "None that I'm aware of when it comes to sweets. However, when I texted Ace, I said that I would come if there was something on the healthier side served at the party, as a Pomefiore dorm member, I can't have too much sugar, so something with fresh fruit would be more suitable" she explained.
"Ahh, alright, I'll talk to Trey about that. I'm sure we can come up with something" Riddle said as he smiled and tried to think of possible ideas.
"If there is a need for extra hands, I'd be willing to help out" Tanza said with a smile back to him.
"I'll have Ace and Deuce contact you if something comes up" Riddle said as he bid her goodbye for the day, shaking her hand as a means of bidding her well.
Tanza then went off to her next class, sending a simple prayer to the great spirits of her home that something could be done about Riddle's overblot. If not, she would never forgive herself for making a promise she couldn't keep. She then went on to her next class, but as she walked, she summoned her tattoo in the form of a dim light on her arm, not enough to notice but enough to connect to Judith within her.
'Judith, did you find out anything when you touched his shadow?' Tanza thought, speaking to her dark twin.
'Yes, I discovered a lot after being there for a time. The clear exhaustion from overthinking about the incident along with the lack of proper rest from nightmares of that day. The anger and frustration from the struggle of trying to find a cure but ending up short as well as the feeling of hope he felt after being told about you and your homeland. In short, he's desperate and losing faith. He's determined to find a way to fix this and he's seeking out all possible options' Judith explained.
'And his blot form? Is it contained?' Tanza asked.
'It's contained deep within him, but he does have his ptsd memories coming back every now and then. By the looks of things, he tries to write what he feels in a journal to not keep things in. However, when he sleeps, his blot increases and seeps into his mind. Riddle seems to always be on guard during his time awake, but when he sleeps, his blot comes out to try and get their own time" Judith explained, "It has yet to gain a consciousness of it's own as it seems to be fairly recent when he transformed, about two weeks in if I read that part of his shadow correctly" she added.
'Anything else?' Tanza asked again.
'Not much else. I did leave a small essence of my shadow in his. I should get better results after tonight' Judith said as Tanza reached a certain area of the hallway.
Since coming to NRC, one of the conditions that Tanza asked for was something that allowed her a bathroom of her own since she would be in an all boys school, and thankfully one of the ghosts had a special magical lock and key that when placed into a blank wall area, a door would appear for Tanza's own personal bathroom and locker room. Pulling the key out from a special place in her bag, she placed the lock against the wall and turned the key within it. After a moment, a door appeared and key was removed. She then opened the door and went in.
The interior of the bathroom was elegant to say the least. The walls were ivory with an elegant pattern set in gold where a stained glass window of a lake scene was among the first things that people see when entering the room. Below the window was a large ivory drop in bath that wasn't anything too fancy, but it was deep enough for her to let her whole body sink in without any issue. There was also a stand in shower with a glass door off to the right back corner and a bench was inside, possibly for the sake of scrubbing herself without issue. One the left hand side of the bathroom was a large vanity area, the bottom made of dark walnut and the top made of gold and white granite, big enough for two sinks but only one was installed while the rest of the counter was covered with soaps, lotions, perfumes, hair products and tools and more. To the front left corner was a closed in toilet along with a closet of towels and more. There was also a small dark walnut wall cabinet that contained many emergency kit products and medicines as well as girl products for when her time of the month comes around, something very important to consider during these times. To the right, parallel to the medicine cabinet was a large cabinet the size of a ceiling tall dresser, also in dark walnut with dark gold handles and finishes, that had many surprises within. From a washer and dryer for laundry combo to an area that was for all her towels, linens and more. It was built for luxury, even though she didn't request it being so over the top, but also built to provide for her since many of the restrooms in both the school and the dorms weren't suitable for a lady. Thankfully the headmage was so kind to provide her with this, even going so far as to give her a separate futon and pillows in case something happened to her outside of her dorm.
Once she was inside, she made sure that the door was locked before setting her bag on the nearby wall rack and heading for the toilet. Judith took a moment to get out of Tanza's shadow and stretch a little so that she wasn't so tense for the day. Once they were both finished, they both looked at the clock and saw they had a few minutes, so they took this time to discuss things privately without the interruptions of boys from both her dorm and the school. After all, some things were just meant to be kept in private, and the last thing that Tanza needed was boys listening in on her personal interests.
Author Notes
Alrighty, another chapter up and done. I hope you guys liked this one, but if something is confusing, please let me know.
Now for some fun facts
-The skirt that Tanza wears during her dance practice looks like this skirt here: 23236680/r/il/dca9c0/2671187345/il_794xN.2671187345_
- Isle Pleasure Insane Asylum is a spin on the concept of Pleasure Island from Pinocchio. Though the residents don't turn into donkeys, the real story of Pinocchio is very dark and enough to make a person mad, so I thought it was suitable as an insane asylum name.
- Venison Vindaloo is considered to be one of the spiciest curry dishes out there, but I have seen recipes about a Vindaloo that is more rich and tangy than spicy, so that was where the inspiration came from. Also, spicy food is one of my weaknesses so I doubt that I will like the original version.
- Tanza does do voice impressions and she does them often back at home where she tells stories to the kids and makes voices for the different characters.
- Tanza and Judith have a bond like that of Yugi Moto and Yami Yugi, but unlike them, both girls are the same person, just separate entities of that said person. Also, since blot is an accumulation of negative emotions after using magic, then it makes sense to me to give Judith at least some form of emotion detection magic. She uses this by using her shadow form to slip into another person's shadow and test their mental state and such by 'walking a mile in their shoes' for a short time. It seems like it makes sense to me, but if this is confusing, please ask me in the comments and I'll try to explain without too many spoilers.
I think that's it. But if I skipped out on something, point it out and I'll update it. Anyway, once again, I hope you guys like this chapter and I hope it was worth the wait. Let me know down below. Thanks again for your support and your patience!
