By next morning, all Nevers and Evers have heard of Cairo's death. Many had different theories, but even the Evers couldn't deny that it was an Ever who probably staged the attack.
"I thought Evers were supposed to be loving and kind!" Raven wailed during breakfast. "Murdering is what we do!"
"Oh please," Scarlet scoffed. "All Evers ever learn is makeup, sword fighting, and how to faint for your prince. No wonder they're so useless."
"If they're useless, how are they still winning the Circus of Talents and the Trial by Tale?" Astrophel asked, finally succumbing to her tasteless gray mash ("Well I can't possibly starve!" she had exclaimed).
"Because they're cheaters," Scarlet answered. "But we'll win this year, I'm sure."
"Doubt it," Astrophel muttered, shooting Harvey a dark look.
The Nevers weren't too worried about a potential killer on the loose. Even so, Yuba decided the students should unlock their powers earlier than usual this year, just in case.
"Line up students," Yuba said. "And hold out your fingers."
One by one, Yuba walked up to each student and plunged a key deep into their finger, through skin and bone. Yet, they felt no pain.
"Remember, magic follows emotion. Anger, happiness, sadness, any emotion. Summon your feelings, and your magic will glow. Everyone will have a unique magic color of their own, depending on your personality. Of course, you'll have to learn magic first. This magic training is all preparation for your Trial by Tale."
In Professor August Sader's History of Heroism class, Huntley eagerly snatched his chance to talk to Indigo. Lately, she had been in either different classes or was busy talking to Stella.
"It's so horrible how Cairo died, isn't it? Even if he's a Never," Huntley said to Indigo as he sat down next to her.
"Nice to see you again too, Huntley," Indigo replied dryly.
"Oh, sorry. But it's so strange. Who would want to waste their time and energy killing Nevers? Sure, they're insufferable, but not that insufferable." Then Huntley paused. "Who found Cairo's body again? What's his name—Viscar?"
"Vesper. The one in our group in Yuba's class. The black-haired one."
"Oh. Do you think he might've killed Cairo—"
"An Ever killed Cairo," Indigo interrupted glumly.
"—And then blamed it on a stymph?" Huntley finished. "He did come to class with blood on his shoes."
"He found the body! He probably accidentally stepped into a bloody puddle or something!" Indigo exclaimed, exasperated.
"There's still a chance we're working on a group project with a murderer," Huntley said with a shudder.
"Huntley!" Indigo snapped.
"Alright! What's up with you?" Huntley sat back in his chair as the bell bing-bonged, signaling the start of class. Then Huntley added in a quieter voice, "you're on your period right now, aren't you?"
Indigo gaped at Huntley for a moment before standing up and angrily switching seats.
In Henchmen Training, Castor barreled in with his head off-centered on his dog body again. The group of Nevers waiting for him immediately silenced without Castor having to say anything, but being Castor, he did anyway.
"ATTENTION, YOU PIG-FACED BUMS!"
Castor had the students throw darts at a target, for practice. Only, they quickly discovered the darts were bewitched to only obey the wickedest of the Nevers.
Scarlet deliberately threw her dart at the floor. She would've missed, except the dart curved upwards when it approached the ground and flew straight into the center of the target. "Score," Scarlet smirked.
Vesper wrapped his fingers tightly around his misbehaving dart. "Why—won't—you—listen?" he muttered under his breath. The dart bucked in his grip and slipped out from between his fingers.
A different dart narrowly missed Vesper's head.
"Oops," Harvey said with an innocent frown. "That was an accident. Naughty dart." When Vesper kept staring, Harvey delivered him a vile smile.
On the floor, Harvey's dart twitched.
No, Vesper thought. Harvey couldn't have changed so quickly in less than twenty-four hours…
So when lunch came, Vesper scanned the Clearing for Harvey. Spotting him sitting alone in the shade of a willow tree, Vesper marched up and sat down beside him.
Harvey looked up and glowered at Vesper. This time, he didn't bother trying to hide his deliberate rudeness behind sardonic smirks. "You're unwanted here," Harvey said, pushing his pile of mush away.
"Tell me about your traumatizing experience in the Doom Room," Vesper said calmly.
"Hmm, let's see. Well, a wolf locked me in a room. And guess what covered every inch of the room?"
"What?" Vesper asked.
"Pictures of your ghastly face, that's what." Harvey chuckled humorlessly.
Vesper stared silently. It seems Harvey's time in the Doom Room had hardened his heart.