The party formed of Balam, Kalego, Momonoki and I. Balam searched with Balam, while Momonoki and I searched elsewhere. Covering the whole school was going to prove to be an all-night affair. With us double checking each other's work during the second half. Kalego did not trust me, and I did not trust him.

Momonoki looked off, distracted by something in her mind. I wanted to ask, but the note was probably it. She was disappointed that even if she tried, he may reject the notion to go on a date. The words I brought back from him were not promising. I hope this is not too much of a letdown.

"You really think he will choose to be alone forever." Her words came out as his image, and she covered her mouth.

"I have no clue. Like I said, you must ask for yourself. He could have said those things because it was me."

"It seemed in general, and he is not one to say something and not mean it."

She was thinking too hard. "Don't put so much thought into it, it leads to unnecessary stress and anxiety."

There was nothing throughout the whole school. The objective was not destruction, it was merely gathering forces. Poro was a weak one for Derkila, her fantasy of having him the turning point. How could anyone be this infatuated, and for one man? Then again, Momonoki was standing next to me.

The Harvest Festival was a chance to gather information. I ruined that for them. Now I know two names and faces following Baal. I had no face for that one yet. I walked home opposed to flying, afraid I might fall asleep while flying and crash landing again was not on my agenda.

The sun was coming up, Opera was asking where I was. Iruma was dressed and ready for breakfast. I walked past all of them, one goal on my mind. To crawl in bed and die. Feet dragged the ground, every step heavier than the last. I flopped down on the bed and passed out feet dangling over the side of the bed.

The birds were screaming outside my window for the second morning, waking me from my sleep. Plugging my ears, I searched from my earbuds. I shoved them in and turned the noise canceling feature on. A blissful quiet, taking a deep breath of relaxation I prepared myself for class. How would I get through the year if the sound gets any louder? It feels like my eardrums might explode.

Ever since my sleepless night and full slumber day it has worsened. Noise cancelling off, I fed Zve a rat. A handsome boy he was. His spikes came in, the pretty reds giving away his gender. Green for girls, red for boys. Picking a gender-neutral name came in handy. I hummed to him as he chirped and danced. His soft chirps bring a smile to my face every time.

The textbook did not say anywhere what these plants liked, but they were much like demons with feelings, likes and interests. Eli stayed away from him, one prick of the finger and nighty night for the next two hours. The venom in the spikes is not as potent as the mucus on the outside. I could still pet the top of his head, a thing he much enjoyed. One day soon it will be just as prickly.

"I will be back little guy." Zve nodded his head, as I slipped the glove off. Dressing for school I gazed in the mirror. The little tiara I had been ignoring had two more black gems. When I woke up after scavenger hunt in the school, it had increased in size, height, and gems. It was not too noticeable, but it was odd. There was no book on this either, leaving me in the dark.

I walked down to Eli's room, gently stroking his hair. "Hey Lil man. It's time to wake up."

For this moment everything felt right. It was as if it should be. I woke him up, helping him get dressed. Smiles around as I combed water through his hair to smooth down the cow licks, he had. Brushed teeth together and made a minty mustache with a goatee. None of It felt enough to make up for my absence.

I had all I needed, but whatever this world was heading to was in the back of my mind. The cult of two, the six fingers. Baal the leader of both. At least that is what I gathered. The six fingers were either under someone or the leader. My money betting on under Baal. I had no clear evidence other than a small confession.

School was at a slower pace with all the excitement dying down. They learned from lessons; I moved my translating pen a-crossed the pages. Leaving it set to the quietest noise level. It had become easier to use it, and it beat the alternative; dependence on others. Home room was almost over, a piece of paper was slid into my view by Kalego.

'Do you need any help?'

'No, if I do, I will ask.' I slid it back.

'Were you married or with anyone before you came here?'

'No, why do you ask?' I gladded over to his hand.

'You asked me not too long ago. Merely curious. Has anyone caught your eye?'

I glared from the side, then wrote: 'Possibly, but I would never tell.' The bell rang and I left the paper on the table with him.

I found Momonoki, in her classroom. When she was done teaching, I spoke to her. "Have you tried talking to that person?"

"Well, I did actually." She frowned.

"How did it go?"

She looked at the floor. "Well, we went out on Saturday night."

"And?" I leaned in.

"He said it was fun, but he was not interested any further than friends."

"I'm sorry Momonoki, so no second outing?"

She looked down rubbing her arm. "Nope, I have hope for maybe later if we are both still single at the time. Is there anyone here you like?" That's twice in one day.

Her question caught me off guard. "Well, not particularly. It was Dali for a minute, but I don't think he's into me."

She tilted her head. "Did you talk to him."

"Ah, no."

She put her fists on her hips. "Girl, talk to him. How can you go around and give me advise and not use it yourself?"

"I don't chase, I wish to feel pursued. Makes me feel wanted. Robin tried, but I was not interested in him."

"Why not, he's a good guy."

"He's too much energy for me. Someone calmer like Dali is more my speed."

She laughed. "Maybe we should go out and mingle with other singles at the bar."

"No, I have Eli. I don't like leaving him longer than I have too."

"Where is his dad?"

"He's no longer of this world."

She covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"Don't be, it is the past."

I had no idea if he was alive or not, but it was better safe than sorry for Eli's safety. In my world, it was a one-night stand built on a year of pent up frustration. I ran out the next morning, and eight weeks later I found I was pregnant. I did not bother to track the nameless, and faceless man down. I was drunk, it was dark. I did not bother.

I Kept him despite my mother and father's dislike of the situation. They said I ruined my future. I proved them all wrong. I worked hard, not because of them, but for Eli's future. His constant smile as a baby taught me real love. I never wanted him to want for anything. To grow up happy and loved, ending the cold cycle.

Sometimes I catch myself being hardened to his words and do my best to correct this. My biggest fear is losing him, my little lifeline that brings joy to my life, color to my world and warmth like the sun. I was whole again and not in need of anything else, let alone, a partner.

The bell rang, and Momonoki took my hand. "Come on, it's lunch time. Dali always eats in the teacher's lounge."

"Yes, but he is also the one who grades my tests. It might look like cheating of I try to buddy up or date him."

"Nonsense. Balam could take over." Dragged against my will, she picked our food and went to the teachers' lounge. I followed her lead to the table he was sitting at. "Mind if we sit with you?"

"Not at all. Please sit." Momonoki sat right next to him and I, a-crossed from her. She nodded her head I could almost hear the 'scoot down' in her mind.

I did not like the thought of this. I was not in the date someone phase of joining the demon world.

I was hugged from behind. "When will you come assist me and my students again?" Raim asked, she scooted me over and I was sitting in front of Dali. I was tag teamed.

"Well, you are so capable already, but I do wish, I could come by."

"Oh goodie, two is better than one."

The seat next to me was taken, and by Momonoki's expression it was not a favorable person. "She is my teacher aid, I let her help you."

"Kalego, you cannot keep her all to yourself." Balam sat next to Dali.

"I do not think my table has been this full in a while. Seems you have found a place here, Violetta."

"You can call me Viola, and Yes, it seems so."

Robin came up to the side of the table, moving a chair so he could sit backwards. "Hey everyone." A boyish smile as he looked towards me. "I heard you had a youngling. I adore little ones; We should hang out some time and I could meet him."

My hand slammed on the table. "Absolutely not." I hissed. His shocked face pulled me back. This was too much. "I need to step away, please excuse me."

I stood stepping out the best I could without bumping into anyone. I rolled my eyes as I walked away. Suffocating and annoying. I had no chance at lunch time, and I exploded in anger, what was she thinking? Besides, I do not chase, if he was interested, he should engage in a conversation longer than 'how are you?' Outside I took a deep breath.

I called Eli, reading him a story over video chat. He pointed to all the pictures he liked, getting excited. He had adapted to here so well. He was a little demon from the start, and I was struggling to fit in with those my age. Opera called for him, giving him his lunch and a bag of cookies.

"Bye, mom. Learn lots of things to teach me later. I love you." He made a kissy noise, and I did one back as he hung up. I learned now for him, to show him the new world we were in. I still had a half hour of lunch left. Suppose I could go eat now. A soft heartbeat, I whipped my head. Dali stood smiling with his hands behind his back almost thirty feet away.

"This is where you ran off too." He closed the distance and sat next to me.

"Yeah. I was calling my son."

"Must be difficult. Finally finding him and now you spend almost half your time here." He was not wrong.

"I make time for him the second I am home. Momonoki wants me to go out with her, but I just cannot bring myself to tear myself away from him. I have all I could ever want now, but no direction."

"Yes, she mentioned you wanted to see more of the world."

"I do, but not without Eli."

"I can show you around more, and you can bring him along."

I curled up. "Sorry, but I trust no one. This might sound bad, but Opera and Grandpa are the only ones I half trust."

He put a hand on his chest gently. "You can trust me."

"That's what they all say before you get betrayed. Do not get me wrong, but too much has already happened to me to make me question everyone and their intent."

"There are plenty of good demons out there. Most who would not wish harm on another. You just need to open yourself up and trust them."

"In time, maybe."

He handed me a small speaker. "Do not let the size fool you. It is loud. It will allow your hands to be free to let you mold with your power or you can use it alongside your own. Think of it as an amplifier." He placed it in my hands.

"But, why?"

"It is sound you manipulate." He pulled out his phone. "Watch." The video from the harvest festival played. It was not my shining moment being under the trauma spell. I screamed Eli's name, the trees splintering and bursting around me. I bit my lip, his smile with a face as cool as a cucumber.

"I dug a little deeper when Poro questioned you. She asked those things because it was a stronger form of her blood line magic. She has musical sound only. You heard me walk up, did you not?"

"Your food steps."

"I took no footsteps, I teleported."

I huffed. "Your heart. Sounds keep getting louder. It is overwhelming at times, and I like to be alone because of it." I pulled my hair back, showing him my ear buds. "They are for my reader pen, but now I wear them constantly to muffle the world."

"How long?"

"A few days, I am not sure what exactly to do."

"You will need to learn to control how much sound to let in. Maybe move the sound away or create a barrier."

"I feel like if I do that then I will lose the thing that lets me know when someone sneaks up on me." I tilted my head. I heard someone. "Now I hear footsteps, another heartbeat. Sounds like Professor Kalego; its calm, rhythmic and strong."

"You spend too much time next to him, because you were right."

I turned my head, our eyes meeting. His heart quickened, then paced itself. "Maybe." I looked back. "It makes it easier to distinguish people. It is like listening the song of the person's heart."

Kalego stood in front of us. "That is an interesting way to put it. How are your studies coming along for the third-year exams."

"Slower, but I'm getting through them."

"You should stay after class; I can help more than that pen thing you bought." His eyes traced to my ears.

"I promised Eli I would be straight home." He rolled his eyes to Dali.

"She needs help controlling how much sound is let in. She lives in a louder world than us."

"Think of Eli, how will you protect him?"

I looked down too my phone. "For Eli." I sent Opera a text. I only hope Eli is not upset with me.

School let out and I watched all the others leave. They all had their friends and peers. A bond stronger than mere classmates. I did not have many in my past life, but I still longed for something like it. Kalego saw all the students out, reminding them of his assignment that would be done at the start of the following day.

"Now that is just us, you can take the ear plugs out."

I shook my head. "Show me how first." The ear plugs popped from my ears, noise flooding in. If it were not for how quiet the room was, I might have cried.

"Shielding." His voice boomed, and I covered my ears. "You need to not let the noise control you; you are it's master." My hands did not cover as much sound as the ear plugs. "I will start at a whisper, and gradually get louder. Focus on blocking the sound from intruding."

He whispered the lessons, sounding like a shout rather than a voice. I saw all the sounds around me, twisting, and twirling gently. I tried to pretend the sound was not there, but I was no use. This was not an issue until I was focused on finding small noises of ticking and humming. I closed my eyes, focusing on the voice in the room.

The world was quieter, his whisper the level of a voice. The louder his voice got, the more I had to focus. He would read off the information in the textbook, asking questions. I would answer, losing focus. My own voice did not bother me, his did. The ticking of the clock, the janitor walking by the outside door.

The doors flung open; I lost focus. "Lady Violetta?" The voice shattered through the room, and I winced, covering my ears. Sharp pains turned to throbbing.

"Mommy! I miss!" I felt a pop in both ears, gritting my teeth through the pain.

Another pair of hands moved mine out of the way. The room was silent, and I felt something in my ears. The air felt cooler around my ears and face. I dabbed my face of the tears that escaped. Kalego handed me a handkerchief. His mouth moved as he pointed to me then to his ear. What was Eli doing here? It's not safe.

I felt a warm sticky dribble, Eli hugged my waist. I looked down at his mouth moving, I could see the sound but not hear it. I wiped the sides of my face of the blood, feeling a different kind of earplugs. I looked too Kalego. He was talking, but there was nothing. No ticking, no words, no heart beats. The whole world was silent and yet full of color. Kalego in shades of red to yellow. Opera in orange and yellow.

"I can't hear anything." The things I spoke out were a vibration and a little bit of yellow color.

Kalego turned to Opera, talking to him. He looked angry or annoyed as he scrolled through his phone putting it to his ear. I was being tugged on. Eli made a heart with his hands and pointed to me. He mouthed 'I'm sorry.' Shades of blue to accompany it. He was too cute, my eyes teared up.

I picked him up, nudging his head. "I love you too, it is not your fault, baby." I kept the vibration in my throat low. Eli tilted his head, was that too low? I took out my phone, typing with one hand on it and showing Opera.

'Please take him home.'

He typed back. 'Kalego called Blushenko to fix your eardrums. I did not know you were going through this. Why did you not tell me?'

I shook my head, handing Eli to him. 'It was not this bothersome till today.' I lied, but I did not want him to feel bad.

Opera left with Eli and Kalego guided me to his desk. My feet not taking the right steps I fumbled, Kalego catching me, and sitting me in his chair. It felt like I was trying to walk on a ship during a storm. Professor Blushenko, an expert in healing showed up, their voices low but colors there. Blushenko was green and Yellow, Kalego Yellow and Orange.

They conversed like this, and the color of Blushenko changed to yellow and orange. I did not know they changed like that. It must be the emotion they are conveying in speech, but what was the emotion behind it? Green is known as a calming color, red: anger. Blue must be sadness. So, what was yellow and orange?

Blushenko words were green when he looked at me, I shook my head. He wrote. "Can you hear anything at all?"

"No." I said.

He wrote. "I am going to place my hands over your ears, I need you to stay still." The pen gave off yellow colors of vibrations as it scratched on paper.

I removed the earplugs, a stream of blood dripped down the sides. Pressure was gone, and it felt different. Blushenko cupped my ears. A warm sensation tingled through my ears. He pulled back but he shook his head as he wiped the sides of my head and face from blood. I cleaned and put the ear plugs back in my ears. No ticking of the clock, or heart beat.

Kalego lowered his head, the words were low tints of blue I had never seen come from him with a little bit of yellow. Blushenko's greenish yellow mixing in with it. Was he sad over what happened? Blushenko bowed to him and left as Kalego waved me forward. My stuff, I packed my things grabbing the now useless pen off the table.

I light turn on in my head, Kalego can summon things. Maybe he could change this to be useful again. I showed it to him pointing to my mouth and then the pen. He wasn't understanding. So, I wrote: 'can you make this interpret words on the screen.' He held it in his hand, and it transformed.

Words popped up as he spoke. Letters typed. "Like this."

I grinned. "Yes, thank you."

Every step felt different, was I that off balanced from not being able to hear? I was veering left then right like a drunken sailor. I bumped into him, grabbing his arm. We had not left the room yet; how would I make it home? His fingers curled around mine, my heart skipped a beat in my chest, my face felt warm.

He guided me home, hand in hand. It was dark out, had we been there that long? Is that why Opera had come with Eli? I had more concerning questions than those, would I ever hear anything again? Would I be able to play music again? How could you play if you could not hear what you were doing? I had seen it before, but now I had this hurdle to get over again.