Chapter 28: April fools!

On Tuesday Potsdam distributed potted plants to us in my green magic class and told us to communicate with the spirit of the plants, since today would be a special lesson. I glance at the calendar. It's April the 1st, as expected. I suppress my giggle, as I watch the other students trying to speak with plants.
Some of them are even stroking their plants, apparently believing the plant spirits would just ignore them. I'm amazed at how long it takes them to see through Potsdam's prank. You're too naïve! Professor Bodkin also distributed special material today, dummies, which we should attack with our spells.
After having witnessed Potsdam's April prank, I was suspicious about these special props, so I waited for the others to attack their dummies first, but nothing seemed to happen. With a shrug I also started attacking my dummy, when I suddenly heard a shriek.
Apparently, you get splashed with water, if you attack a dummy, however the effect is triggered with a delay. I have to admit, that it was a hilarious prank, the stupid faces of the other students, after being splashed, were simply too funny. My last class is one of Grabiner's classes and I can relax.
He's not really the type to prank his class, he's too serious for that.

After class is finished, he approaches me. "If I might have a word?" He is really polite towards me lately. "Of course, Sir.", I reply. "After you." He points to his classroom and I follow him back in. "As you are unfamiliar with the local customs, and I have been unable to locate Miss Cochran, I should inform you about an upcoming event. The first storm in the month of April is celebrated with a Thunder Call. As soon as a storm picks up sufficient strength, no matter the time of day, all students must gather in the gym. As officers, it falls to you to ensure that the members of your class are notified and rounded up.", he informs me.
I wonder, if celebrating this ritual will be fun? It only seemed tiring to the player unfortunately, since it will be late. I continue silently listening.
"The purpose of the rite is to cause exhaustion and headaches through drumming, wild gyrations and screaming at the top of one's lungs.", he sarcastically continues explaining. "I take it's not your favorite rite?", I tease him a bit. "Custom is king of all. I am, however, grateful that a few minutes of applause is considered sufficient contribution on my part.", he answers with a small smile. "As a class officer, particularly one under the sign of Horse Hall, you will be expected to make a much more public showing." Just because Horses are 'adventurous'? I won't mind a bit of yelling and stomping though, sounds easy enough.
"There is no formalized pattern. Leap and stomp as you wish; that will suffice. It is also important, that you maintain order among the underclassmen. Freshman are not, under any circumstances, to attempt fire-spinning.", he further informs me. "Pity.", I comment. "YOU do NOT.", he emphasizes. Is he worried about me?
Danger may look for me, but I'm not looking for danger! "Of course I won't.", I pout. "If you have no further questions, you may be on your way."
I take a moment to think about it. Is there something left to discuss? I still don't have enough evidence to talk about Kyo, mentioning Minnie's troubles would only be misunderstood as 'meddling'. "This Thunder Call, it's also a rite to please spirits?", I inquire. I don't exactly remember this part of the game, but I think it was similar to the Dark Dance in this way. He proceeds to explain to me, how it celebrates some existing force and affirming kinship with our magic and this power, and mentions dragons and the school of California. So dragons are the spirits responsible for thunderstorms or something?
"Oh, before I leave, I'd like to thank you for accompanying me, Sir.", I politely thank him for playing bodyguard at the mall. "May I ask, why you didn't want to go home for the holydays?", he asks. I'm surprised, that he shows so much interest in me lately. Is there a reason? "Apart from Damien? Being with my family feels too strange. I don't feel very close to them, which makes me feel unfilially, on top of being weirded out.", I reply honestly.
"It is a common difficulty for students of wild seed origin.", he comments. I think my case is a bit special though…
"Which is why students like yourself are often given the option of living at the school fulltime. You might consider it. It can be for the best." I nod.
"I will. For now, I can't leave this place anyways. Even visiting the mall would already result in troubling you, after all. It seems, my very existence is fated to annoy you.", I answer with an apologetic smile. "You're not entirely troublesome.", he replies. His voice is quite soft, compared to his usual tone of voice.
I can feel my face heating up a bit. I'm blushing?! Again?! Get a grip, Elise! I can even feel my heartbeat fasten… I'm really hopeless, getting all nervous from a compliment. A compliment, which barely counts as a compliment, which wouldn't count if someone – anyone – else would be saying this.
A compliment from my Professor! From someone nearly twice my current age! What's wrong with me? I look away and compose myself, before facing him again.
Is that a small smile on his lips? It's always so hard to tell with his poker face. "Besides, thanks to this, I found this interesting series about a group of school girls fighting the evil. I bought three volumes.", he tells me with a straight face. I look at him perplexed. Like Sailor Moon, or something?
"April fools." …I'm an idiot. I can't help but chuckle. "Such a pity, I was about to recommend you this series of a school girl, hunting demons as a thief in her spare time.", I tease him back. 'Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne', for those, who don't get the reference. "Well then, I shall take my leave." We bid goodbye and I spent the rest of the day reading. I finish my German book the same day. The rest of the week proceeds without any further incidents.

On Saturday, I do my treasurer duties and Grabiner drops by to burn another letter from his dad. After that he holds the door open for me, so that I can push the cart outside without problems. He has done that a few time already, how surprisingly considerate of him. After returning to my room, Virginia tries to persuade me to go to the mall with her, but I decline. I wouldn't trouble him so soon again… Ellen decides to stay with me, and we study together in the library.