Chapter 65
"Oww. Who in tarnation shot outta the mirror and bum rushed me? You coulda really hurt someone." Epel snapped taking a step back away from the person who practically knocked him to the ground as they come through the mirror.
"My apologizes Monsieur Pomette I was in a great hurry, are you all right?" Rook asked as he stopped in his tracks.
"Oh it's you Rook? Goodness I've never seen you in such a rush. That's a big suitcase you got there, and you're carrying a broom are you going somewhere?" Epel asked as he looked Rook over who had a broom in one hand, a bag in the other and backpack on.
"That I am. I might not be back for some time but do keep you chin up." Rook answered as he put his bag down and patting Epel's shoulder.
"Wait what? What do you mean? Where are you going?" Epel asked.
"The Island of Woe." Rook answered as he picked his bag back up.
"What!? Now just hold yer horses you ain't really going after Vil and the others by yourself are you?" Epel exclaimed.
"Oui, I am. And I am aware it is dangerous but I implore you do not try and stop me. I came to a horrifying realization when I returned to the dorm you see." Rook said as he made his way to the exit.
"Really? What was it?" Epel asked following.
"When Vil was captured he wasn't carrying a single skincare product." Rook replied with a dramatic flare as he looked back at Epel.
"Huh?" Epel and Odette asked in unison.
"The charging of the seasons can have a tremendous impact on one's skin. Dryness is the natural enemy of a healthy complexion. If one is derelict in their skincare routine the forbidden red fruit will swiftly bloom on their forehead and chin." Rook stated.
"What's the forbidden red fruit?" Epel asked looking confused.
"Don't you have more important things to worry about then acne?" Odette asked raising an eyebrow. 'He can't be serious.' She thought as she fought the urgent to roll her eyes.
"Ah acne, a symbol of youth they do have their own charm, but Vil has a photo shoot for a magazine cover next week. And he is a firm believer in showing up to shoots in top form." Rook informed them.
"Phooey to his photo shoot! We don't know if he's ever coming back, and ain't you the acting Housewardn you can't leave our dome unsupervised." Epel reminded him.
"Epel has a good point there." Odette pointed. 'A better one than Rook.' She thought.
"I am le Chasseur d'Amour first and Vice Housewarden second. I've dedicated my life to the purist and defense of beauty. I can't sit idly by when beauty is in danger like this, and so I now depart to safeguard my friend's exquisite face." Rook said turning away from them.
"Wait, you can't just go." Epel snapped.
"We have no idea where the Island of Woe is." Odette added.
"The island of woe precise location is shrouded in mystery it's true but worry not for I can envision where Vil and the others are." Rook explained.
"Envision Whaddaya mean by that?" Epel asked.
"Alas, the sun sets lower with every passing second as much as it pains me I must depart. I bid you good day Adieu." Rook said and run out of the chamber and away from the dorms.
"Wait! Hold on Rook! He left." Epel called after him then sighed. "The Island of Woe's probably crawling with those solider who took Vil and the others."
I don't think even Rook can handle those guys by himself. He's flying straight into danger What do we do?" Odette sighed.
"Should we tell a teachers? Or maybe we could follow him and stop him. Wait no professor Crewel told us to stay put but urgh…" Epel groaned.
"I know right!" Odette huffed.
"Forget it! We can't spend all day hemmin and hawin I ain't gonna sit back on the sidelines. I'm going after Rook I can't stand the idea of sitting pretty while someone else does all the work." Epel explained as he turned to Odette.
Odette stared back at him and the unspoken question between them. Odette closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she thought of Mickey's words. 'I wish I could help I really do but I can't cross over to your side. Go on and find your friend'. Grim's cry echo through her head. 'Lemme me out! I don't wanna go. Odette!'. She then thought back to Ace and Deuce in the infirmary. "I want to go with you." She said.
"Then lets go get some brooms." Epel said leaving the hall of mirrors.
"Wait, Epel!" She chased after him.
"I know what you're thinking there's a chance we'd just be dead weight but you can't stand it either right? I mean they got your partner and our friends. NRC students don't take this sorta thing lying down. Come on Odette let's do this." Epel said looking very serious.
"Yeah!" Odette agreed with a nod.
In the clouds, high above the ocean west of Sage Island. Rook was trying concentrating as he flew at a steady speed. "The traces head north with a broom and teleporter I can reach them, in a day maybe half a day if I push it. I wonder if Moneiur Pommette is angry with me for leaving as I did." Rook wondered.
In the wind he swore he heard Epel's voice calling his name.
"Heh, yes he would undoubtedly yell my name in that energetic tone of his and what?" Rook mused then realized the calling was getting louder.
"We finally caught up to you! Now git on back here!" Epel snapped.
"Pull that broom over right now!" Odette shouted over the wind.
"Epel! Odette!" Rook gasped. "You came after me?"
"Why wouldn't we? Yer outta yer apple pickin mind if you thought we'd just sit around. Like I'd ever let you go alone. We're comin with ya." Epel stated.
"Oh la la. That must not do Monsieur Pommette, it's much too dangerous." Rook replied.
"Ain't it the same for you?! You couldn't do diddly squat against those armored varmints." Epel retorted.
"Well,…" Rook winced.
"If you ain't gonna stop I'll smack you offa that broom myself. I'll light yer whole broomstick on fire! Eat this!" Epel said pulling out his pen and flying a shot at Rook but missing. "Confound it! I can't control the broom and cast at the same time."
"We're tilting." Odette gasped trying to tilt the other way to counter balance.
"Non! Stop this Epel!" Rook urged.
"I'll stop when you do! Hrah!" Epel countered as he tried to fired another shot. "Urgh! I can keep going one more shot"
"Je me rends alright! I surrender! Epel let us find some place to land." Rook sighed.
"No way, I ain't going back and that's that." Epel snapped.
"That's not what I'm suggesting. We should take a moment to calm down and talk and if I might add you'll freeze into an apple-sicle if you keep flying in those clothes. Really, now you're not even using a wind blocker spell you lips are as blue as the sky. Rest assured I won't try to send you back just follow me." Rook said as he began to descend.
They landed in a clearing in some woods.
"Brrrrr, I'm freezin my fingers off." Epel confessed as he blew on his hands.
"Your hand and cheeks are cold as ice I'll get a fire going." Rook said as he pulled out his pen and lit a fire on some nearby piled up wood. "Good thing I brought a thermos of hot tea now go on both of you drink up It should help you get warm."
"This isn't cursed right? You're not going to put us to sleep and leave us here are you?" Epel asked as Rook handed the thermos to Odette.
"Hardly unless you're Vil one can't simply conjure up a course without an incantation and special equipment." Rook informed them.
"I'll have some thanks, mh nice and warm." Odette said as she took a sip of the tea then handed the thermos to Epel.
"Ah that's better I feel alive again." Epel sighed as he slurped his tea.
"I admit I'm rather shocked, I didn't except you two to come after me." Rook confessed.
"Yeah, I know we might only slow you down. I won't ask you to take us along but I'm going to follow you either way. Those people hurt our Housewarden and our friends I'm not gonna take that." Epel informed him.
Rook scowled but remained silent.
"Why are you scowling? You left without permission too you know. I don't see how you're any better than me. You can scold me all you want but I'm not going back." Epel pointed out.
"Non, you have it wrong I'm not angry with the two of you." Rook sighed.
"Huh?" Epel and Odette asked in unison.
"I'm angry with myself for failing to give your tenacious spirits due credit," Rook informed them with a smile. "I said at the SDC that people are powerful when they truly believe in themselves and each other and yet I set off alone without nary a word leaving you both behind. Epel you always stay true to your heart and that makes you strong and beautiful. I'm ashamed to have lied to myself for such a specious reasons."
"What do you mean by that?" Epel asked.
"I feel just the same as you the truth was that I couldn't stand by while my boon companion came to harm. I'd convinced myself that it would be wrong to involve teachers or friends my self centered quest." Rook explained.
"Well it's a little late for that we've been wrapped up in this for a while now." Epel shrugged.
"D'accord very well Epel, Odette shall we undertake this journey together?" Rook asked. "My, only condition is that you do exactly as I tell you. Can you promise me that?"
"Sure can do! I mean yes sir. Heh heh we did it Odette!" Epel cheered.
"Epel and I both have a tendency to charge in headfirst and lose sight of what's around us. You however never failed to see a big picture. I'm sure your presence will be a real boon to us." Rook complimented her.
"Thanks for having me along, I'll do everything I can do to help." Odette smiled at him.
"I've never seen you lose sight of what's around you Rook. I mean the charging in headfirst part sure." Epel said.
"Ah, but you have. I smacked right into you in the Hall of Mirrors because I failed to notice my surroundings." Rook pointed out.
"I guess you did. You know now that I think about it a lot of people in Pomefiore pull reckless stunts despite seeming calm and collected Vil included." Epel chuckled.
"Heh, 'Tenacity' is our dorm's credo after all, and that could arguably mean mustering one's determination to face what must be faced. The Fairest Queen usually depicted as aloof and statuesque in art and literature, but personally I suspect she may have been rather active and energetic." Rook smirked.
"I have a hard time imagining her flying off the handle and storming out on her own like we did. Surely she never wouldn't done that." Epel continued to chuckled.
"I must agree with you there." Rook chuckled as well.
'You guys have no idea.' Odette thought as she smiled and shook her head.
Suddenly the a loud growl ripped through the air.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will be traveling again and won't be able to post those days and after that I will be going to convention so this will probably be the last chapter for about a week. I might post in the next week but I don't want to get anyone's hopes up. After this week I will be returning to my daily upload schedule. I hope you all come back next week. I know my timing is a little terrible since we're finally getting to the 'real' part of this Arc but most of this is outside my control, except the convention but I've been planning that for 6 months.