"Stheno... It's Stheno."

I could feel a large grin spreading on my face, while Rán just stared at me with a raised eyebrow and a blush on her cheeks.

"Judging by the look on your face I'm going to regret ever telling you this." Rán said with a heavy sigh as she placed her forehead to her palm.

"No, no. It's just hard to believe the straight-faced, no nonsense, snake tamer from Mistral fell for the genetic mess from Menagerie."

Rán's expression shifted from embarrassed to shocked to rage. I realized what I said and countered before she could speak.

"I know I will suffer a slow, painful death if I ever call her that again, so stop glaring at me. I would like to hear more about this little crush though." I leaned forward, one leg over the other, with my hands clasped together resting on my knees.

She cleared her throat and opened up the top two buttons of her uniform. I could see her blush has spread to her chest.

"What more do you want to know?"

"When did this all start?"

"I don't know exactly when she first spoke to me, but we have been talking telepathically from just before the second semester, by which time her voice in my head sounded natural."

Uneas built in the pit of my stomach, the idea that she feels comfortable having her mind invaded unnerved me.

"I hope this adoration you have of her is your own." I stated hesitantly.

What I was met with was the most frightening display I have ever seen. Rán had a slight smile on a blank face made scarier by a twitching eye slightly hidden by her long black bangs.

"Are you... Suggesting... I am being manipulated." her voice had an airy quality that only frightened me more.

I immediately raised my hands to hide behind two small star-scapes. "I didn't mean to imply anything, it's just concerning that you find her telepathic interaction natural."

She let out a cute little giggle before visibly lighting up slightly. "I guess your right, it is kind of weird."

I slowly unfolded from my defensive ball to straighten out. I adjusted my seating on the fountain to turn to Rán, crossing my legs and resting my elbows on my knees. I placed my head in my palms and smiled at her.

I focused on the feeling of my scales on my skin as thought of what else I could ask her. My small smile grew into a evil grin when I stumbled upon the perfect question.

"Do you plan on asking her to the dance at the end of the semester?" She stiffened, stammering wildly I could only make out a "Ho.. Hopefully." before she clasped her lips shut and took several deep breaths.

She caught me off guard when her face formed into a sly grin. "Tell you what, I'll ask Stheno out if you do the same with that blonde you adore so much."

Now it was my turn to turn beet-red. "Is it that obvious?" I asked sheepishly as I tried to hide behind a curtain of purple.

She deadpaned and stared at me with a raised eyebrow "It wouldn't have been more obvious if you wrote 'I like Aurel Candor' on your forehead."

I pouted as adorably as I could "Don't change the subject."

"She feels the same ya know. And before you even question the validity of my info know that it's information taken straight from her mind."

I felt my jaw drop but not for the reason Rán wanted. "I wasn't going to question you initially, but know I'm going to question your girlfriend using her telepathy immorally."

Rán hit me on my shoulder nearly knocking me into the fountain. "She's not my girlfriend." I steadied myself just in time to hear her muter a "Yet."

"I think we should head back before they start wondering where we are."

As I stood a strange slithering sensation made its way up my arm. I turned to Rán just in time to see one of her ghostly taijitu's spring from my sleeve. It loosely wrapped itself around my neck, not enough to hurt me but enough to do so easily and to add the cherry on top of the cake two pin-pricks to my neck just barely broke the surface of my skin.

"This conversation stays between you and me. Got that." she said in a low voice.

I had no choice but to nod vigorously, relieve washing over me when the snake disentigrated and I was free to breathe.

When I finally regained my composure with several deep breaths Rán had already disappeared in the direction of the dorms. As I made my way back I rubbed at my neck, hoping to relieve the dull throb from my encounter with Rán's taijitu. A strange wetness covered my hand. Turns out the snake had pierced just enough of my skin to make me bleed. With a sigh I opened up my top two buttons and folded down the collar of my uniform as to not have it stained.

Content with my handiwork I made my way to our dorm with a bright smile and a bleeding wound.

An*

Thank you for reading this shorter chapter. I hope you enjoy and if you did consider liking and following if you haven't already. Any and all criticism is welcome and appreciated. Sorry these hadn't come out in a while, IRL stuff had me busy. Hope to return to the status quo soon.

Once again thanks for reading, you are awesome and see you soon.