They are beautiful, right? The woods here; teeming with life instead of hosting a creeping feeling of something wrong in their depths. Fruit sprouting on so many limbs—life is bright. I think this is the end of summer? I'm not sure on the season in this strange world, or what it might be called. Perhaps these trees produce fruit all year round? Are they fueled by magic? It's not something… none of these things—I have answers to nothing.

Grim almost prances around, looking at the amazing growth around him. "Wow! There's enough chestnuts here for all-you-can-eat marron tarts!" I think they're also called Mont Blanc? I swear I remember that from a baking competition I saw clips from, but who cares? It sounds absolutely delicious and I really would like some.

Unfortunately, Grim was about to learn the cruelty of chestnuts when he tries to grab one and has the unfortunate experience of getting stuck in the paw. He rears back and shouts. "Ow! The thorns stabbed my paw!" I feel bad, maybe, but it's also a little bit funny.

Deuce sighs. "We can't carry these with our bare hands."

I honestly forgot about this, or I would've said something. Chestnuts aren't my ingredient of choice.

Ace frowns, and shrugs. "Maybe there's some in the gardens we can borrow?"

"All we can do is look." Deuce finishes the thought.

They're basically sharing brain cells at this point, already—and I hope they can keep what little they have, this troublesome two.

We head into the Botanical Gardens, as far as I'm aware there's several zones to this greenhouse that all have magically stimulated environments for students and teachers to grow different plants—some are only grown here in captivity in the entire world. There's also a caution notice to not touch anything you don't know. Probably because poisons and all that.

We head in to what is known as the Temperate Zone—it's gorgeous, and looks a little tropical, maybe? It's warm, with beautiful sunshine streaming in, lighting up the greenery. I could nap here.

"Woah—I think it's a lot bigger inside." Ace is also sharing in my amazement.

Deuce assess, "I think we should split up and look for baskets."

"I'll go right." Ace volunteers.

"-I'll take West. No, Grim, please check the center."

We split up, and Grim is almost immediately distracted by fruits. "Wow—look at all of these fruits! And they smell delicious!"

"We are not touching them, Grim—you saw the sign." Unless he can't read? I haven't figured out if he can or can't read yet and I'm not sure how to ask a question like that. It's a pretty insulting one, after all. "But there's… so many plants I don't recognize. This feels even more like a different world to me." And…

Of course that's when I hear an ouch from a mysterious voice and jump because I think I stepped on something!

I'm afraid to look down.

Out of the bushes rises eyes I recognize—piercing, green, and cat-like. It's the same one from the ceremony! He's got a scar over his eye, I notice now that we're up close and persona. And more-so, that there's ears on his head… cat ears? Some sort of big cat—maybe a… lion? Puma? Something of the sort? And now I see what I stepped on. A thrashing tail with the tuft on the end that tells me lion was right.

iI want to touch those ears so bad right now./i

"Hey—brave of you to step on someone's tail and not apologize." He seems fairly irritated with his hands on his hips.

He still has nice braids.

I'm stammering an apology, or trying to as he crosses his arms, giving an annoyed look to Grim who is… talking.

"Are you the caretaker? Scary-faced caretaker…" Grim stop.

"Oh, I'm sor-" No, no one listens to you.

"I thought I was going to have a good nap, but you had to come and step on my tail. It's the worst." THAT'S A GLARE. With those fangs I am appropriately frightened.

"I—I am sorry. I didn't see it on the path, and I didn't see you in the bushes either. Are you okay?" I don't think he's in much pain with how it's trashing around like that. Oh boy. I don't want another fight either… it's been a difficult few days already.

Of course his expression turns to a smirk as he tilts his head up and to the side a little—looking down at me. Oh no. Not again.

"Ah, wait… you're that little herbivore from the Opening Ceremony—the Mirror said you can't use magic." A ihmph/i comes from his lips. He's a little imperious. Not. Again.

Then he leans forward, sniffing me. "Uh—um—what? Are you… sniffing me?" My voice squeaks.

"I don't smell power at all—I smell that, though." He gestures to Grim.

Please not another fight.

"I apologize for hurting an already weak opponent." The lion man continues.

"Can we not?" I ask weakly.

I move a bit in front of Grim on instinct.

"I—his look is sending shivers down my spine-!" Oh, that's not good.

"What, you think I'm going to let you off scot-free after you stepped on ithe/i Leona's tail?" So his name is Leona and he's an ass.

"It was an accident, and I apologized. I'm not sure why you can't leave it at that." I've got my hands up, trying to de-escalate the situation.

"Sorry doesn't get me un-pissed after being woken up from a good nap. Start gritting your teeth." He's a sadist too.

"Great." I reply, tired.

Grim's tugging on my pant leg. "No! Let's make a break for it!"

I am ducking to get Grim to run even though I have a feeling that's not going to work out when-!

"Oh, Leona!" Another voice calls.

Appearing is maybe the hero of this current saga, a smaller boy with larger ears and ruffled blond hair. He's got downward slanted, light eyes that I can't tell if they're blue or grey. He's from—Savanaclaw. They both are, with those yellow vests.

"What?" Well, his attention is diverted for the moment.

"I knew I'd find you here. Hey, you've got supplementary lessons today." While our hero talks, I'm leaning down to scoop up Grim very slowly.

"You just had to come and be annoying, huh?" Oh—someone doesn't like that.

"Shh…" I tell Grim as I gently start to lift him in my arms for our daring escape.

"Leona, you've already repeated—if this keeps going, we'll be classmates next year. Do you really want that?"

"Shut up. Stop nagging me, Ruggie."

Our hero is Ruggie. I owe him.

"I don't want to nag you!" Ruggie is pouting a little, his ears are down and it's pretty cute—or is he annoyed? I also want to touch. "You can do anything you put your mind to, but you put zero effort into anything. Come on, let's go. I'm not getting lectured on your behalf." Ruggie fusses.

I'm backing away as Leona sends a glare to us. "You better keep an eye open, herbivores."

The two leave, and I slowly set Grim down.

"That was so crazy! What's with that guy? What a weirdo!" Grim and I share relief, too.

But—I know what held-back troublemaker to avoid in the future. Boy, I am over this. I just want to pick chestnuts and eat tarts.

"We avoid the lion-guy, and that's what matters here, Grim." Even though he is literally an anime fangirls wet dream in the flesh. Cat-boys are still all the rage, right? I could be wrong.

"We found a big basket and some tongs, you two!" Ace shouts, Deuce with him as they enter the scene again.

I am so happy to see the dumb ass duo right now. I'd prefer their bullshit and nonsense any day over that guy. I need to find Ruggie another time and give him my thanks for that. I do not need another fight right now.

Deuce looks concerned at us. "Did… something happen to you two…?"

"It's fine—don't worry about it." We don't need any more delays, we need to make a tart and we need to do it quickly to kick Ace out of our dorm.

"Right! Chestnut picking! We need to get so many or we won't get to eat tarts!" Yes, Grim, that is the right course of action here. Tarts are tasty and I want treats too. "Let's tell them the story while we work."

If we get any. I'm having a sinking suspicion it will be all work and no food after how these past few days have gone… "Sure."

We head back, with tongs in hand and ready to go—I know Deuce and Grim can use magic, which is fine with me, of course—but Ace and I are on tong pick-up duty.

The two of us explain our encounter with the not-attendant Leona and Ruggie, it was another incident in the trouble that I keep somehow, magically, getting into. It really is magical considering I have no magic at all.

I'm wondering if my special power is getting into problems. Hm.

The boys come to the conclusion that this guy was a student, and from Savanaclaw as I'm putting spiky little chestnuts into the basket. They're not great multitaskers.

"Maybe Night Raven College has a lot of delinquents." Deuce comments as we continue to work. Finally.

"Considering the four of us…" We are the troublesome four at this point. "You're right."

It isn't that hard, these things are everywhere—and with the pick-up magic abilities of those of us actually graced with magic (sucks to be Ace right now), we do have probably more than enough to take to Trey.

"I think that's enough for Trey!" Ace exclaims excitedly—he should be, we're helping him unfuck his situation.

"Making these tarts is going to be so fun!" Grim jumps for joy.

The baskets come with us, and we head off to where Trey said to meet. Us, the heroes of this story (obviously), are one step closer to being done with it and going to a regular school life.

I comment as we walk. "...Something tells me this school life is going to be nothing but shenanigans."

Ace laughs, patting my shoulder. "Yeah, right."

I am, usually, right.