Chapter 48
The night before the SDC Odette had another nightmare. The evil queen who had turned herself into the old hag was dripping a red apple into a boiling green liquid. A skull appear on the apple but faded away. The evil queen put the apple in a basket with some other apples.
"I better look up the antidote." The queen said stopping at her book. "True love's kiss? Ha!" She laughed then closed the book. "She's look dead and those stupid dwarf won't know the difference. They'll just bury her. Bury her alive!" She laughed as she got into her nearby boat and pushed herself away.
"Oh, that does bode well." Odette groaned as she sat up. She dragged herself out of bed and began to get dressed. 'I never did figure out who is going to overblot. I don't think it'll be Epel anymore. I don't think it'll be Rook but I didn't think Jamil would overblot.' Odette thought as she pulled her hair back into a ribbon.
No sooner was she done when there a knock on the door. She opened the door to see Epel.
"Good morning, you're already ready?" He asked.
"Hi Epel, today's the day! The SDC! You better take home the gold. My tuna bonanza riding on it." Grim cheered as he laid on Odette's shoulder.
"Absolutely! I'm ready to win this thing, but it's kinda sad to think that this will be the last day of our training camp. Thank you for accommodating us this long." Epel said.
"It has been fun. I think I might miss all this." Odette agreed as they stepped out into the hallway and ran into Jamil and Kalim.
"Morning everyone. Did you sleep well? I didn't I was too excited. Jamil even yelled at me to go to sleep. Aha." Kalim greeted them.
"Seriously, You're not a child on a field trip." Jamil sighed.
"Bonjour, I hope this day finds you well. Vil has some words for everyone before the show would you mind coming to the lounge," Rook announced as he came up the stairs.
They all went downstairs to the lounge where Vil waited.
"I see everyone is here. The time is 3 pm, the place will be the purple stage set up in the coliseum. Then and there the SDC will finally kick off. The competition will be streamed live worldwide. This is our moment to reap the beauteous seeds we've sown and take the entire world by storm. I trust all of you are ready?" Vil asked looking at all them in turn.
"Yes sir!" Everyone answered.
"Rehearsals start at noon. I except each of you to be ready to take the stage before then." Vil informed them his gazed still moving between each of them.
"Oh! It's killing me that all we can do is watch." Grim said.
"Correct, you and the manager will be of no use simply lurking around and twiddling your thumbs. Your fidgeting will only distract us. Go see the sights at the festival instead. I'll give you a staff pass. Wear it when you go in. But I except you to be present for the rehearsal in the coliseum at noon. Is that clear?" Vil asked as he handed a lanyard and pass to Odette and a mini one to Grim.
"Yes Vil. We'll get out of your hair then. Break a leg everyone." Odette said as took the lander and headed for the door with Grim.
"Aw, man I wanna check out the festival." She could hear Ace whine.
"Me too." Kalim echoed.
"Out of the question for you. Have you been listening to a word I've said? The festival lasts for two days, so you'll have your chance to cavort on day two. Today you'll focus on the SDC show. Now let's start our final checks." Vil informed them all.
Odette and Grim headed to the Main Street where most of the food stalls were stand up just beyond the seven's statues.
"Look at the all these food stalls." Grim exclaimed happily as he floated away from Odette.
"Let's go check on the stage first." Odette said.
"Boo. Why ya gotta start caring about being a manager now of all times. Vil gave a break until noon, let's enjoy it. Look! They got funnel cake, hot dogs, corn dogs, you name it. They fry it and serve it." Grim said as he continued to float from booth to booth.
"That can wait. It won't take long." Odette reassured him pulling him away from the booths and towards the coliseum.
"Whoa! It looks even better than that night." Grim gasped.
"Yeah." Odette agreed.
"Keep going, keep going, stop okay Jack put the pole down right here." Ruggie ordered.
"Got it. Precise Levitation magic makes this so much easier." Jack said as he put a light pole down where Ruggie had told him.
"Hey, I told you to put the colored labels on the affiliate seats. Get it done." Leon ordered a different Savanaclaw student.
"Yes sir." Several students replied to him.
"Isn't that the Savanaclaw crew over there? Hey!" Grim yelled out as they got closer to the group of students.
"Well if it isn't the Ramshackle cubs. Here to chip in with the setup?" Ruggie asked.
"I thought you two were managers for our SDC group." Jack said.
"They're doing their last big SDC push now, so they kicked us out before we could get underfoot. So did you guys put up this whole stage together?" Grim asked.
"Yeah, the arts club had to do all the maintenance and mangement work during the Spelldrive event. So now we're trading off the sports club get all the grunt work this time around." Leona explained looking annoyed.
"The track club and Spelldrive club are in charge of constructing the Purple stage." Jack explained looking a bit proud.
"I didn't know it Was student build." Odette said.
"It's a big event but the culture fair is still a school function. Some parts we do leave to professionals but these things are meant to be put together by students. You can think of it as hands on learning." Ruggie informed her.
"Chatting on the clock? You must be quite confident in your progress setting up. I trust work is proceeding on schedule?" Riddle asked as he and Trey walked up to the group.
"Riddle sir hello." Jack beamed.
"Well, well, a visit from the management committee chairman himself surprised you'd deign to roll around in the dirt with us peons." Leona smirked.
"We know how hard you've been working all morning here have some warm drinks courtesy of the committee." Trey said as he opened a grocery bag he was carrying that was full of cans of hot teas.
"Oh, you couldn't have timed that any better doing all this setup outdoors has me freezing form my head to the tip of my tail. I'll gladly take you up on that offer." Ruggie said as he took one of the cans.
"Leona, how goes the construction?" Riddle asked looking straight at him.
"Right on schedule with nothing to report as you can see. We'll run through some basic lighting and sound checks then we'll be standing by for the noon rehearsal." Leona said.
"Excellent. The purple stage will be where the SDC takes place the whole world will be watching. I want a full check with a through eye for detail the safety of every entrant is paramount." Riddle informed him.
"Yeah yeah I hear ya." Leona sighed walking off.
"For sure, we're getting easy marks uh I mean guests from all over the world. Your committee better keep a close eye on the things to make sure there's no trouble." Ruggie grinned.
"You're one to speak of trouble." Riddle remarked.
"I'm being very careful to make sure there are no backstage slip ups. There will be no other problems." Jack said.
"Glad to hear it. I'm counting on you." Trey smiled at Jack. "That takes care of the last leg of our three stage tour right Riddle." He said turning to Riddle.
"Yes, all that's left is to check on is the exhibit booths and break rooms. The festival will open to the general public at 11am. I'll have to be on a constant lookout for fights and violations. Odette, Grim, we're going to take a walk around the campus. If you're curious about the exhibits you's be welcome to join us." Riddle said turning to them.
"I be happy to." Odette smiled at him.
"Then I'll let the rest of you get back to work." Riddle said dismissing the other workers still hanging around them.
"Yes sir! Oh Odette, Epel gave me a ticket so I'll be there today. Tell him not to embarrassed himself in front of me when you see him." Jack grinned.
"Sure, can do." Grim grinned back.
"I have to be back here by noon." Odette informed Riddle and Trey as they left the stage.
"No problem." Trey said.
Odette walked around the campus with Riddle and Trey. First they went to the Botanical Zone where the Science Club was setting up a restaurant.
"Hello Sempai Trey. Have you come to check on us?" Asked a fellow Heartsbyul student who was wearing his school uniform under a lab coat.
"Just doing some rounds. It's looking good." Trey praised them.
They then headed to the classrooms that were mostly empty. "Whoa look at this display." Grim gasped as they came up to a large poster board.
"That's Malleus's display for the Gargoyle Appreciation Club. He's the only member." Riddle explained.
'Gargoyle Appreciation Club? Tsunotaro likes gargoyle. So his first name is Malleus but what is his last name?' Odette thought as she looked over his impressive display.
"Malleus is a strong mage but being punctual isn't his strong suit." Riddle sighed.
"Lilia says time passes different for fae and some just never master the skill of adjusting to our timing." Odette explained looking up from the display.
"I can't imagine him not mastering anything." Trey muttered. "It seems you're to close to them." Trey teased making her blush.
"Malleus better show up before the campus opens up, leaving his display like this is just asking for trouble." Riddle said as they moved on.
"I don't think anyone would do anything to Malleus's display that would be asking for trouble." Trey chuckled.
"Good point." Riddle conceded.
"Yeah, I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to mess with Diasomnia, not after the SpellDrive Tournament." Odette added.
In the lecture hall they ran into a tall guy with flaming blue hair wearing a blue and gray hoodie over his uniform pants. He was sitting in the corner muttering to himself.
"Is he okay?" Odette asked as she walked towards him.
"Iida are you okay?" Riddle asked as he followed her.
'Iida? So is this the housewarden of Ignihyde? He doesn't seem like the others.' Odette thought as Riddle gave Iida a prep talk.
"Riddle Rosehearts, Trey Clover, Odette and Grim. Greetings, have you come to check out the Board Game Club display? It's a virtual reality head set my big brother designed." Ortho said as he appeared next to the group.
"We really don't have the time right now, maybe later in the day." Trey said as they were about to leave when Azul entered the room.
"Not running the lounge today?" Riddle asked as he approached the group.
"It's closed today but I do have several stands running all over the campus, quiet a few near the coliseum of course. I highly recommend you stop by." Azul smiled.
"We'll try, is Jade and Floyd running these in your absent?" Riddle asked.
"No they have they're own clubs. Jade was thrilled when you approved his Mountain Lover Club." Azul replied.
"Aw yes I remember now, maybe we should go check on your buddy." Riddle said as they left and went back to the classrooms where Jade was next to a table with a display board and a few different types of terrariums.
"Good morning, making your rounds? Thank you for checking on me." Jade said with his usually customer service smile.
"It's Shrimpy and Goldfishy!" Floyd cheered appearing beside his twin.
"Floyd?! Shouldn't you be with the basketball club? And didn't I say quit calling me by that ridiculous nickname!" Riddle scolded him.
"I got bored so I left." Floyd shrugged.
"I didn't know you enjoyed hiking." Odette commented as she looked over his board and at his cute displays.
"Oh yes it's become quiet the hobby in my free time. You should join me sometime if you like." Jade invited her.
"That sounds like fun, once it warms up. I'm not a big fan of the cold." She replied.
"I can't wait for spring then." Jade smiled.
"If Shrimpy goes I want to go." Floyd pouted.
"Attention students, it is 10:50. We will be officially opening in just ten minutes." Crowley announced over the PA system.
"That's our cue. Have a good day." Riddle said as he ushered his group away and towards the main street where a crowd had already gathered waited.
"Look at this crowd." Grim whistled as he floated above their heads to get a better view. "It goes pass the main gates already."
"Goodness." Odette gasped.
"It is now 11 am. The campus is now officially open!" Crowley announced over the PA system.
The docile crowd began to shout, cheer and some began to push.
"Everyone please be patience and waited in an orderly manner." Silver called out as he Sebek tried to think the crowd in order.
"Hi Silver! Hi Sebek." Odette smiled as she waved at them.
"Hello Odette." Silver smiled back.
"These humans are so rambunctious over a silly actor." Sebek complained.
"Sebek that's out of line." Riddle reprimanded him.
"Riddle is right. You seem to forget your half human as well." Silver remained him.
"Oh you're half? That must be interesting." Odette commented.
"I don't follow." Sebek grumbled.
"This might be a conversation for later, at our next tea time." Odette said.
"Remember Sebek you represent NRC, Diasomnia and Briar Valley today. Any mistakes would reflect badly on Lilia and Malleus." Silver reminded him.
"I won't make another misstep then." Sebek vowed.
"We'll see you later Odette, Malleus shared those tickets with us. I look forward to seeing your group perform." Silver whispered to Odette who smiled back to him.
"I'll send more students over when they're done with their current tasks. I need to go back to making my rounds. I know as fellow Equitation Club members you won't let me down." Riddle informed them and they left.
"We have to keep moving to make sure none of our hot headed students get ahead of themselves and pick fights with the guests." Trey explained to Odette and Grim.
No sooner had those words left his mouth when they had to break up between some students and three small Royal Sword Academy students.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. This chapter is longer than the last few chapters. I original didn't think it was going to be this long when I started it. Once I finished it I was going to cut it but we did get some Diasomnia scenes because of it so I kept it in. So more filler but official filler. There is another Diasomnia scene in the next chapter then we finally get to the climax of this arc. I hope you stick around.