The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Chapter 3: Phantoms, Prelude Part 2


The fourth year students in the canteen were surprisingly energetic despite with the knowledge of unavoidable parting – thought the Headmaster of Haven Academy. He heard them behind the clear windows, along with his employees despite a loud jazz music was played by an old stereo.

The Headmaster of Haven Academy has an appearance of a man in his forties. He chose to forgo his casual attire for the day, and instead, wore a formal suit. His fedora, its strip cobalt blue, was placed on his head smartly.

On the other hand, his polka dot tie was hung loosely around his neck, his jacket, discarded on one of the coat racks in the room. He would have given out an image of a smart, handsome man if it weren't for his unkempt long blue hair, with a hint of gray due to his age, and his wrinkled long-sleeved shirt with a spot of tea stained on his collar.

The wrinkles at the edge of his dull eyes indicated he smiled plenty of times.

However, for now, he wasn't smiling, instead glaring at the papers in front of him with clear disdain, not caring if his secretary is annoyed.

His empty breakfast plate was pushed aside for his graduation certificates of his students.

Not for the first time, he was considering incinerating the goddamn papers. Graduation or not – paperwork is the most time consuming jobs ever created in the World of Remnant.

Only one thing stopped him.

He sipped his coffee, feeling slightly calmer than before. "I hate you for threatening to chase the supplier away."

His secretary, a woman not much younger than him only stared blankly at him, and sipped her cup of coffee casually.

"32 students – a two digit number, and," Two sugar cubes plopped in her coffee mug. "you're procrastinating."

Begrudgingly, the headmaster picked up his pen and signed his name on those goddamn papers.

XXX

At 10 a.m. sharp, the graduation ceremony began. It started off with a speech from the Headmaster of Haven Academy, and later, the rest of the lecturers of the Academy.

Some of the speeches were brief much to the students' relief.

And to his relief.

Only the fourth year students, the going-to-be Huntsmen and Huntresses, for once, were allowed to bring their weapons and wear their combat attire for the special day of their life.

He let out a yawn when his secretary spoke, earning snickers from the students.

Finally, her speech ended. The Headmaster sighed inwardly before approaching the podium a second time.

He stared down at them, waiting with infinite patience for the noise and chatters to die down. Gradually, like a slow tune entering its softer state, it stalled to its end.

Once there was total silence, he rapped his knuckle twice on the podium, the sound echoed throughout the hall, frightening those who were half-awake. He gazed at the teary fourth year students with a small smile.

"To our fourth year students, in my employees' stead, we thank you for being part of our academy."

There were cries and cheers. Once again, the Headmaster waited for the students' excitement to die down. It lasted for a few more minutes, before every student body directed their attention to their Headmaster.

"This is your first step into the real world. This will not be your last time to work as a team, whether in pairs, or quartets," The Headmaster paused, letting the reality sink into the fourth years. They need to know this; that the world is a cruel one – even if it's a Remnant. "The keyword in order to survive is: adapt. This is an advice I can give to everyone, and 'tis," He placed a hand over his left breast and closed his eyes.

He felt his involuntary beating of his heart, pulsing with energy under his hand – sending millions of red blood cell throughout his body.

"Is how we, Huntsmen, Huntresses survive and protect."

He didn't elaborate what they should protect – it was an answer that differs from each individual. One might choose to protect the Huntsmen's pride, and another family.

One by one, he announced each fourth year team and its members. When they were called, they climbed onto the stage, with the wooden steps on its right. They held their head high, chest puffed out proudly before stepping beside him. The Headmaster in turn, nodded as he faced them.

They shook hands before the certificate was given and the Headmaster congratulated them under his breath – whether they heard it or not, it wasn't his business. Some took it with a smile, others with teary eyes and quavering lips.

Half of them looked unsure, doubtful of themselves, and even hesitant.

The Headmaster inwardly smiled. It is a normal…occurrence in graduation.

All he had to do was wait, until they come to the terms themselves – only when their mind is prepared, can they only proceed.

And an hour later, the graduation ceremony, came to an end.

"Well done," was all the Headmaster said before the bell rang.


The way back to their dorm was silent, only the metal clacks and soft pit-pats of their footsteps accompanied the quartet.

The normal buzzing of students became nothing in her ears, her brain must have tuned them out.

Tara didn't even know she has arrived at the door of their dorm. She stared at the whiteness of it, and felt her back of her hand tingled when Wobi brushed his fingers against it, to reassure her.

She fought tears in her eyes as she smiled at him.

A quick scan of her Scroll and they entered the room, one by one.

They admired the clean room. It was clean as they first entered as a newly formed team in Haven Academy. The only difference is, their packed set of belonging on their respective beds, and the now bared window, its curtains were folded in, and placed inside of one of the two wardrobes.

Tara pouted a bit. The curtains did cost a fortune…even with the entire team pitching in. The Huntresses glanced at the floral patterned walls.

There were telltale signs of yellow rectangular markings on the wall, where the masking tape once held them. The contents were the only normal thing among them – especially when you are multitasking...tasks from Day 1.

"Have you wrote what you need?" asked Tara, turning towards them. They looked at her evenly in the eyes and nodded as one.

"Good," Tara said as she walked to her bed and shouldered her bag. "Let's go."

This time, Tara didn't look back.

Once team TWIL were gone, a gentle breeze aired the room, which, unfortunately, caused the four carefully folded paper to flutter down from its place, its content revealed to the phantoms that once lived in the room.

.

Welcome to your new dorm, new team. Let me make this short. Curtains in one of the wardrobes (I don't care what you do with it, you may burn it) and if you do find notes (which some of us may have forgotten), you can burn them or keep them. This is really awkward.

-From Tara

.

HEY~ Here's my scroll number! Call me if you need help in your studies.
(100-XXX-XXXX)

-XOXO, Irisviel Zisa

.

Don't belittle others, nor yourself. Prove them wrong when they think you have the disadvantage – whether off or on the battlefield.

-Wobi Garen

.

Have fun! Mess around with the people here, especially your team leader.

-Leon Huang

Like memories that will never fade away, the new phantoms laughed as they joined the older ones, and walked to the window as one and vanished into thin air.


A/N: The next chapter will be the last Prelude. A little warning, I will put short stories between the chapters (separate from the main, there will be .5 behind the number). They are important.

P.S.

Updates will vary from weeks to months. Real life takes priority.