Chapter 26: Holydays part 2

The next morning, I find a letter addressed to the door. I look at the calendar. Sunday, March the 23th. Why do I have mail? I curiously open the letter.

Dear Elise,

Don't forget to spend some time with Hieronymus.

Kind regards,

Petunia Potsdam

I use the letter for incineration practice. This time I manage not to burn my fingers. It's unlike Potsdam to meddle so much, isn't it? In the game she wouldn't listen to you about Minnie and Kyo's abusive relationship. But then again, the player was AGAINST the romance, maybe that was the problem. Since Potsdam was happily married for fifteen years to a person, who would divorce her for not informing em about her visiting her home, her own relationships probably can't be described as healthy.
Apart from practicing gymnastics in the gym and reading the books, I also practice my magic a bit. I strengthen my body, while in gym, cast Awareness while roaming the campus and teleport myself sometimes. I don't talk much to the other students, who stayed, since I'm not close to any of them. I feel a bit lonely, to be honest.
On Monday I try out sewing, partly to interact with other people. There are just six other students beside me, who also attend Potsdam's sewing class, but I manage to do a bit small talk with them. As to my sewing… there is room for improvement.
After class Potsdam reminds me AGAIN, that I should spend some time with Hieronymus. How should I do that anyways?
This man doesn't leave his room, unless it's time to eat or switch books! And since he wouldn't appreciate me visiting him for no reason, I don't know, how I could possibly spend more time with him. However, I don't bother to tell Potsdam about that, because I fear that she might come up with a plan to force Grabiner out of his room.
In the evening, I try to learn a bit German, by repeating some vocabulary. For some reason I sleep really badly that night and wake up early.
As I come back to my room, after taking a shower in the morning, I find just another letter for me on the floor. Seriously Potsdam, what are you even trying to achieve with that? I sigh and grab the letter before heading to the library to bring the book about romantic painters back. The book gave me a lot of information about the painters and their paintings, in addition to showing me the paintings. Caspar David Friedrich is still my favorite, but I also liked a few paintings from J. M. W. Turner.
I didn't read the whole book, I only read the passages, which interested me. I may be studious, but I'm not studious enough to turn myself into an art expert in my free time. It's still early, so no one else is in the library yet. I return the book and sit down at a table to read my letter. I still have the courtesy to read my letters, unlike certain other people, but if Potsdam continues with her stupid notes, I may start incinerating them without reading as well.
With a sigh I open the envelope. I hear the door open, looks like I'm not alone here anymore. I don't pay any attention to the other person and start to read.

Dear Elise,

Ok, the handwriting is different. Is the letter from someone else? It looks familiar though.

I noticed, that you didn't return home, which is a pity. I was sure for some reason, that you would want to see your parents.

I yawn. I'm really tired, such a pity I couldn't sleep anymore.

I wanted to visit you, but it seems I have to use other means, to contact you. Thus I decided to write this letter to you.

I'm feeling so sleepy, maybe I should try to go to bed again, after heading back to my room.

Do you still remember, then I wrote to you, that I would gift you a palace?

… Damien?

Well, I want to see you, so I decided to take action. I'm not really patient, to be honest, so I don't want to wait for you anymore.

Sleep well and don't forget to dream about me!

Yours truly,

Damien

'The heck?', is the last thing, which goes through my mind, as I slump down and fall asleep.

"Idiot!" Mhhm? "Wake up, right now!" Someone's yelling at me? "Elise, if you don't open your eyes RIGHT NOW, I will give you demerits!" I blink and stare into the face of… Hieronymus? "Wha?", I mumble confused. What is happening? Am I still dreaming? I had a really strange dream just a minute ago. I rub my eyes and take a look around. I'm in the library? Why am I in the library? And why… why is Hieronymus holding me?! I sit straight up in shock, bumping heads with him. "Ouch...", I complain while rubbing my head. Grabiner also rubs his, while hissing at me, "Detention on Saturday, Miss… Elise!" What? Detention? Why? That's unfair!
I haven't done anything, have I? "Why? I don't understand… what happened?", I ask him, still confused.
"What happened? You nearly managed to get yourself abducted, Miss… by Mr. Ramsay! Would you be so kind and explain to me, why you touched his letter without any precaution whatsoever, even though you KNEW, that he is dangerous and aiming for you!", Grabiner scolds me. Sh*t, he sounds super-pissed.
Anyways, I got nearly abducted? "I… I thought it was a letter from Potsdam… She, she wrote me a note before… So I didn't think that it could be enchanted…", I stutter. "… didn't think…", Grabiner repeats angrily. He sounds a bit tired… "But I just fell asleep, right? How could Damien abduct me? The academy grounds are safe, aren't they?", I inquire, still confused about the situation. Grabiner sighs. "After making you fall asleep, the enchantment was meant to teleport you, probably to his hideout, or something. You're lucky, that I had to return a book, otherwise…", Hieronymus pauses, unwilling to continue.
Well, I can see what might've been the end of the story, and it wouldn't have been a happy end for me.
Anyways, an enchanted letter, which gets triggered by being read and makes me fall asleep, and in addition to that even teleport me?
"That is some next-level enchantment.", I comment bitterly. Grabiner stands up. "Indeed, he even combined it with white magic, so that it would only be triggered by you. Someone must've helped him with that, Mr. Ramsay shouldn't be able to do such a complicated enchantment on his own.", Grabiner responds coldly.
Damien had help? I hug my knees. Suddenly I feel really unsafe. Really, really unsafe. To think I nearly got abducted while on campus…
Good thing, that I didn't return home! But as long as Damien runs free… Suddenly my eyes sting. I'm afraid! So afraid! Why is he so obsessed with me?
It doesn't make sense! What have I done wrong? Grabiner clears his throat. "The council has already been informed about Damien's expulsion… and his potential danger. He will be dealt with soon enough, don't waste your time worrying. Just don't do something foolish, and check your mail before opening it, that should suffice." Is… is he trying to comfort me, or something? "May I ask you something, Sir? Why would Damien try to abduct me, even though I'm married? Shouldn't I be safe?", I ask him nervously, still on the floor, hugging my knees. "There are ways to sever our… arrangement after the year and day is over, without us meeting directly.
But it's more complicated and would still require your cooperation. I can only speculate how he planned to achieve it.", Grabiner answers me calmly.
Something about his voice is really soothing. I compose myself and stand up. "Thank you very much for saving me, Sir.", I properly thank him.
"You really have a talent for getting yourself in danger.", he angrily remarks. I can't argue with that, unfortunately. "Well then…", he begins, but stops. I fidget a bit. "What is it?", he asks me annoyed. "I just… I really don't want to be alone right now.", I quietly confess. What am I saying? More importantly to whom!
Like he would care about such things... Grabiner might worry a lot about the physical well-being of his students, but he doesn't concern himself with their mental well-being after all. Silence unfolds, as he just stares at me, while I avoid his gaze. I already regret saying it.
"You may join me for breakfast. But only this time.", he finally replies. He… lets me join him for breakfast? He really is unusually nice to me lately.
I quietly follow him to the canteen, which has just opened. We're the first to eat. Otherwise he probably would've abandoned me right now. We both get us a tea and something to eat and sit down near to a window. He has some cereal and I have pancakes. Yei, pancakes. I finally get to eat some, they cheer me up a bit.
Grabiner starts eating, while reading his book and sipping his tea from time to time. He totally ignores me, as expected. When I have finished my pancakes, Grabiner also stopped eating, being completely engrossed in his book. Is that some kind of ritual for him? His food isn't finished… Wasting food is not ok!
I enjoy my tea while I silently observe him. He absent-mindedly sips his tea – an Earl Grey, like mine – without looking up from his book. He's really handsome…
I direct my gaze towards the window. We're still the only ones in the canteen, unless the kitchen stuff is invisible or something. I have actually never seen them, everything is self-service. It's actually pretty magical, maybe they're brownies or something? I take another sip, when another student arrives in the canteen.
A butterfly girl with brown hair, which turns violet towards the hair-ends. A Junior, if I'm correct. She stops as she passes by us and stares at us questioningly.
Grabiner doesn't notice of course, since he is still engrossed in his book. "Is something the matter?", I ask her politely.
"No, just… why are you sitting with Grab- Professor Grabiner?", she aks me. Nosy. "I'm class treasurer." Which is the truth. "We had business to discuss."
Not too long ago, we were discussing about Damien's attempt of kidnapping me, which is serious business, though it has nothing to do with being treasurer.
"In the holydays…?", she probes further. Grabiner finally looks up, annoyed. She starts to fidget a bit due to this.
"There was a problem with a letter, but it's not your business.", I reply to her. Which is also the truth. "Is there a reason you're so interested in my duties? You want to run for class treasurer next year?", I ask her nonchalantly. I don't want her to start any weird gossips about Grabiner and me.
"Oh. No, I'm not interested.", she excuses herself and fetches her breakfast. Looks like I managed to avoid strange rumors. Grabiner glances at me and then turns back to his book. Was that approval? He seems satisfied with my handling of the situation. I finish my tea and stand up. "Thank you for breakfast, Sir.", I whisper. "Well then, I'll excuse myself now. Good day, Sir.", I add in normal volume. I visit another handicraft lesson; this time it's weaving.
Apparently the school owns a few weaving frames. I'm better at it, then at sewing. Anyways, these activities are a bit… feminine, aren't they?
The boy-girl ration is about 1:1 though. At the end Potsdam informs us, that the next handicraft session will be building bird houses.
So we will do less 'feminine' things as well. I spend the rest of the day in the gym and in my room.