Celeste and Grim followed Jack to the Savanaclaw dorm and it was after midnight when they entered the Savanaclaw lounge. This was the first time Celeste had been inside the dorm, and she was surprised to see that the lounge was partially outdoors. A large waterfall flowed into a waterhole built into the rocky outcrop that was encompassed by lounge chairs. The only source of light came from pool lights and the moon overhead.
"It's unlike you to be out so late, Jack. What have you been-" Leona stepped out from the shadows of the rocky overhang and paused, his emerald eyes widening when he noticed Celeste and Grim.
"So that's what you were up to. Tryin' to sneak the princess in here in the middle of the night." Ruggie emerged next to Leona with a smirk on his face.
"N-no! That's not what this is! It's not like that!" Jack's fur stood on end as he hastily denied the accusation, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment.
"Leona, I apologize for the intrusion but Grim and I need a place to stay for a few days…" Celeste said before she and Jack explained the situation to Leona as he stood scowling in front of them.
"… And so you came here? What about your Heartslabyul buddies? Shouldn't they be jumping at the chance to host a princess for a few days?" Leona snorted, lashing his tail irritably.
"They did offer, however, they're full, I'm afraid. Leona, Grim is really the only one who requires a bed for tonight. I only need somewhere to change and keep my things. I promise to keep Grim under control if you allow us to stay." Celeste bowed her head to Leona slightly, as she would do to someone of equal rank, and she saw his ear twitch.
Leona pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a sigh. "… Fine. I won't turn away a lady but don't whine about how dirty the dorm is. Ruggie take them to a spare room that's clean." He grumbled waving his hand dismissively before turning away.
"Right this way, princess." Ruggie gave her an exaggerated bow, the teasing smirk never leaving his face. "Jack, bring some spare bedding to their room, would ya?" Ruggie called over his shoulder before leading them across a boardwalk to an empty room.
All the dorm rooms appeared to be carved out of stone and had a rather simple design that matched the rugged theme that came with the Savanaclaw dorm. It was dusty, but she wasn't in a position to complain. Jack arrived shortly afterward and gave them fresh bedding before bidding them goodnight.
Celeste waited about an hour for Grim to fall asleep. After checking that he was truly sleeping she crept back out to the lounge and listened carefully for any Savanaclaw students before unfurling her wings.
She sighed as she examined her feathers. They weren't in the best condition due to her not being able to expose them to sunlight. She ran her fingers through her silky white feathers before moving to the waterfall to let the water pour over them.
The cool water was soothing on her wings as she preened. Plucking out the loose feathers, she wondered briefly where she'd lost the feather Azul had. Why did he have it in a glass case? It was almost as if it held some sort of special meaning to him.
She paused as she caught sight of her reflection in the pool. A pained expression crossed her face, as she hardly recognized herself. She looked tired, her wings not shining as bright as they used to. Her clothes were rather drab compared to what she usually wore in the Celestial realm. She raised her hands up, so her shackles were reflected in the moonlit pool, and she felt as if her heart clenched in despair.
"Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know?
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?"
She sang out in an attempt to comfort herself, her voice echoing off the rocky landscape. Stepping away from the pool, she shook the excess water from her feathers and wiped a tear from her eye before leaping into the air, flying into the warm Savannah night.
The next morning, Celeste and Grim joined Jack, Ruggie, and Leona for breakfast. Grim scarfed down his bacon and eggs, while she carefully cut hers with a knife and fork. "Grim, please, at least use a napkin. You're not the only one at the table." She sighed, handing him a napkin to wipe the egg from his face.
"Are you even tasting that food, Grim? Slow down." Ruggie snickered from across the table.
"I have to say, I'm surprised you even made a deal with that cephalo-punk," Leona remarked, watching her set down her knife and fork.
"Well, I was in a bit of a bind, I'm afraid. Grim can't participate in class without his magic, and since we are considered one student… I had to do SOMETHING." She sighed, shaking her head.
"Sounds like he used Grim to get to you. He enjoys being one step ahead of everyone else. He's a real swindler. All his deals include a steep catch." Leona snorted, swishing his tail.
"Yeah, he ain't the kinda guy you wanna turn to as your first resort. He's a capable magician, though. He can grant some real tall orders just like that." Ruggie added, twisting his ears nervously at the mention of Azul.
"If anybody can beat 'em, it's Celeste. You always have a trick up your sleeve, don't ya Celeste?" Grim's big blue eyes looked up at her expectantly, and she let out a nervous laugh.
"Grim, you talk as if I'm a conniving trickster. It just so happens that it's in everyone's best interest that I win this deal." She huffed before glancing away.
Yes, it really was in everyone's best interest, including Azul's. If he acquired the power to control her and the celestial realm discovered a mortal was in possession of an angel's magic… She feared that his life could be in danger. She absolutely HAD to win this bet, even if it meant taking drastic measures.
Leona's green gaze burned into her, seeming to notice her apprehension. "Y'know what? Let's hear it. What were your terms, exactly?" He asked after a moment, setting down his knife and fork as he raised an eyebrow at her. Celeste let out a small sigh and repeated the terms she'd agreed to in Azul's contract.
"He gave you until sunset on the third day, huh…" Leona exchanged a knowing glance with Ruggie.
"Isn't the Atlantica Memorial Museum underwater?" Ruggie's ears twitched as he frowned.
"They gave us water-breathin' potions." Grim shrugged nonchalantly as he chugged down a glass of milk.
"No idea how well they work, though." Jack grimaced as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"If Azul gave 'em to you, they probably work just fine. He's got his pride. I doubt he'd ever give someone a wonky potion." Ruggie quelled Jack's fears. However, Celeste remained uneasy. The potion was made for mortals, after all, not angels. While she couldn't drown, she would fall unconscious if cut off from air for too long.
Leona glanced up at the clock in the cafeteria as more students filed in. "I'd get moving if I were you. You don't know what it'll be like in the ocean." He remarked, looking back at her.
"Good idea! Celeste, let's go get Ace and Deuce!" Grim jumped up enthusiastically as she felt dread wash over her.
"Good call. With only three days, we don't have much leeway here." Jack nodded as he gathered their trays.
Celeste spotted Ace and Deuce from across the cafeteria, already heading in their direction. She could only hope that everything went smoothly.
A short while later, they were gathered in the mirror room. Celeste eyed the mirror cautiously as they stopped in front of it.
"You're not wearing your uniform, Celeste?" Ace asked, seeing that she was wearing her blue tank top and white capris.
"No, I would rather not get it wet. I didn't have a swimsuit, so this is the next best thing." She answered, glancing down at her attire as Jack handed everyone a potion.
"We'll have to chug 'em to see if they work." He said, eyeing the potion wearily.
Celeste made a face as she uncorked the bottle and sniffed the glowing green liquid. "Ugh, I certainly hope it tastes better than it smells." She muttered as she brought the bottle to her lips.
The foul-tasting liquid poured down her throat, making her cough. Everyone else gagged and choked as they chugged the potion, pulling disgusted faces.
"NASTY! It tastes like dried frog and rotten mushrooms!" Grim exclaimed, flattening his ears and screwing up his face.
"How would you know what that tastes like? It's a… Powerful flavor, all right…" Jack choked, holding a hand over his mouth to hide the face he was making.
"Wait a minute… It's getting hard to breathe…" Deuce's voice sounded as if he was winded. Celeste realized that with each breath she took, the heavier her chest felt. It seemed like the potion DID work on her.
"Aw, geez… This is gettin' bad. Let's get in the water quick!" Ace gasped, clutching his chest.
"Mirror of Darkness! Guide us to the Coral Sea!" Jack wheezed, and the mirror rippled in response. They all quickly dove inside, trying to relieve the building pressure on their chests. Celeste followed last, hesitating slightly before she was forced to go through.
-flashback 300 years ago-
"Hey, Celeste! Look, I think I found some sort of human cup!" Uriel was standing on the beach, holding a large seashell in his hands.
Their father had brought the two of them to the human world for what he called educational purposes. They were standing on the edge of what appeared to be the largest lake in the world. She took a step back as the water roared forward, crashing into the sand.
"Are all the lakes in the human world this large?" She asked, looking up at her father standing next to her. His wavy black hair was pushed back by a strong breeze, while his blue eyes seemed to reflect the vast body of water.
"It's not a lake, it's the ocean, Celeste. In the human world, the sea surrounds the land instead of clouds." He smirked as he watched Uriel fill the shell with water.
"They must never go thirsty then," Uriel remarked before taking a drink of the ocean water only to immediately make a face and spit it out. "Ugh! What?! It's SALTY!" He cried, spitting onto the sand.
Their father let out a laugh. "Yes, the ocean water is salty. You can't drink it."
"What's the point of it, then?!" Uriel grumbled, wiping his mouth as Celeste let out a giggle. He stopped to glare at her before creating a large wave with magic to splash her in the face.
She let out a cry as she frantically wiped the salty water out of her eyes. "Uriel! You got me wet! And you messed up my braid!" She wailed, seeing her long black hair coming loose from her braid.
She started to use her wind magic to create a small water spout, drawing up the water and sending it spinning towards Uriel, who frantically tried to scramble out of the way as the tower of water headed towards the shore.
"Celeste! That's enough!" Her father ordered, and she immediately froze, the water falling back into the ocean. Her father sighed and shook his head. "You two… It's been decided that you both will be virtues. Controlling forces of nature is an important responsibility. Both of you need to learn to respect the elements you will be working with, not to use them in your childish pranks." He gave the two of them a stern look and they looked down guilty.
He let out a sigh. "I also want you to consider the effect your powers will have on mortals." He gazed out over the ocean, and Uriel and Celeste both frowned and exchanged confused looks.
"But father, mortals are on land, aren't they?" Celeste asked, tilting her head as she used wind magic to dry herself.
"There are also mortals that dwell under the sea." He responded, and they gawked at him.
"Under the sea? How do they breathe?" Uriel gasped, looking back out over the ocean in amazement.
"They are called Merfolk. They share characteristics with sea life that enable them to live in the water." He explained, and Celeste followed her brother's gaze out over the ocean, wondering how far down it went.
-end of flashback-
Celeste was met with a shock as cold water surrounded her. She let out a scream, panicking as salt water filled her mouth and lungs. Two hands grabbed her wrists, snapping her out of it. Her eyes flew open to see Deuce staring back at her, his blue eyes filled with concern.
"Celeste! What's wrong?!" the water slightly garbled his voice.
She took a few deep breaths as she calmed down, realizing she could breathe just fine. Glancing around, she realized everyone was giving her worried looks.
"I-I'm sorry! I was just startled, is all…" She blushed with embarrassment as Deuce let her go.
"Geez Celeste, you nearly gave us a heart attack. I've never seen you freak out like that before." Ace let out a relieved sigh as they all relaxed.
"It all feels so… Strange." She murmured, watching how her clothes and hair moved in the water. The thickness of the water felt odd to her, both lifting her up and weighing her down at the same time.
"Whoa, check out this coral reef!" Ace shouted, swimming over to a coral-encrusted rock. Celeste blinked as she took in her surroundings which were completely alien to her. Seaweed lined the sandy ocean floor, and schools of colorful fish darted between the coral outcroppings. A school of silverfish swam up to her, swirling around her curiously. She giggled as they swam through her hair like it was seagrass.
"Oh, hello!" She smiled as one stopped to look her in the face.
"Come on, we'd better get a move on," Jack said, swimming forward with ease. Grim grumbled as he followed him, paddling his short legs furiously to keep up. She tried to copy their movements only to wind up flailing about, tumbling onto the sand. Ace turned back when he saw she wasn't with them and frowned. Jack and Deuce stopped as well, noticing that she hadn't followed.
"What are you doing, Celeste? Swim!" Ace waved at her to hurry as she attempted to walk along the bottom. The sand shifted and pulled at her feet slowing her down.
"Wait… Don't tell me…" Jack's golden eyes went wide as the realization hit him. She let out a sigh, shoulders slumped as she looked up at him as he circled back.
"I'm afraid I have a confession to make… I can't swim." She mumbled looking down at the sand as he reached her side.
"YOU MADE THIS BET KNOWING YOU COULDN'T SWIM?!" Jack shouted in alarm as she stared down at the ground in shame.
"Swimming isn't really a common thing back at home. It's not really taught." She explained sheepishly as Jack pinched the bridge of his nose.
He let out a sigh and grabbed her wrist. "Come on." He muttered, pulling her along as he swam forward.
They swam like this for a few minutes before spotting a large building up ahead. It was carved into the coral reef. Tall stone spires reached towards the sun-dappled water above them.
"Is that the Atlantica Memorial Museum?" Ace asked as they stopped, sinking back onto the sand.
"Myah! Look at those guys with fishtails instead of legs!" Grim exclaimed, pointing to a couple of mermen swimming by the entrance. They had strong, fishlike tails covered in green scales that they used to swim through the water.
"Mermen?" Celeste had only seen a merperson once before, very briefly, though it had looked quite different from the ones swimming in front of them.
Suddenly, two large shadows moved over them. A familiar voice called out to her. "Heeey! There you are Angelfish and co.!"
"Good day everyone. How are you liking it under the sea?" Another voice asked, and she looked up to see two mermen swimming down to them. They looked different from the others they had just seen. Both of them had long green bodies with no scales, webbed hands, and fins where their ears had been. Despite their new appearance, their voices and faces remained the same.
"Jade? Floyd? Your mermen?" Celeste blinked as they swam over to her.
"That's right Angelfish!" Floyd smiled at her and her friends gasped.
"We use potions to change our forms on land," Jade explained to them with a smile.
"Are you some kind of sea serpent?" Deuce gawked as they leisurely swam circles around them.
"Solid guess, but nope. We're morays." Floyd answered, twirling around Celeste. She took a step back, failing her arms as she lost her balance. Jade reached out and steadied her. His cold webbed hand seemed to linger on her golden shackles.
"What's the matter, Angelfish? Can't swim?" Floyd chuckled as she flushed with embarrassment, jerking her hand away from Jade.
"What are you guys doing here, anyway?" Grim piped up, glaring up at the two eels.
Floyd let out another laugh. "To get in your way, of course!"
"We can't have you completing the challenge so easily," Jade smirked at her as she glared at the two of them. They positioned themselves so that they blocked their path to the museum.
"I see… So, this is the catch." Celeste hissed at them as Deuce and Ace pulled out their pens. Deuce cast an ice spell at Floyd, but completely missed.
Floyd snickered at him as Deuce clenched his teeth. "Might wanna try upping the ante there, bud."
"Here's a thought: how about actually aiming?" Ace sneered at Deuce as he hurled a water spell at Jade. However, his spell missed as well and Jade let out a laugh as he taunted them.
"No way, how could I miss like that?!" Ace gasped, shocked, as Jack pushed him aside and cast a light spell.
He flattened his ears as his light spell abruptly swerved away from the twins. "I see what's going on…" He growled, narrowing his eyes.
"At least sea urchin knows how to pay attention." Floyd smirked. "Since I'm a nice guy, I'll do you a solid and explain why none of your spells are hitting us. I've got this signature spell, Bind the Heart, see? It's a handy little number that interferes with your magic to ensure it fails! Ain't that just neato?" Floyd laughed as they exchanged glances.
Ace scowled before turning to her. "Alright then, since magic won't work… Celeste, use your sword!" he pointed over at the two mermen as if he were signaling her to attack.
Celeste crossed her arms and glared at him for having the audacity to try and order her around. "I don't have it."
"What?! Are you serious? Of all the times not to have it…!" Ace exclaimed, waving his hands about before grasping his orange hair in frustration.
"Aside from the fact that I can't move properly in the water, it's a flaming sword, Ace. I'm uncertain if it'll even work underwater. Plus, the water might damage it." She huffed as she explained to him.
"Sure whatever… Princess." He grumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Jade tilted his head as he watched their exchange before he turned to his brother with a sigh. "Floyd, do you really have to spell out your signature spell?"
Floyd shrugged. "What's the big deal? Knowing ain't gonna help 'em any."
"Fair enough. At least your magic is in suitable form today. If only you could be more consistent. When you're not in the mood, it never works. It's rather hard to plan around you know." Floyd ignored his brother's quip as he grinned at Ace and Deuce, circling them excitedly.
"Better run kiddos! If I catch you, my tailfins gonna wring you out like an old dishrag! Who should I squeeze first…?"
Jack pulled her back as Ace and Deuce frantically swam away from Floyd. "This is nothin' but a game to them. We need to get outta here!"
"Agreed. We will have to retreat for now." Celeste nodded as Ace and Deuce swam up to them, with Floyd not far behind.
"Aww, leaving already Angelfish? We wanted to hang out some more. I was only gonna squeeze ya a little." Floyd whined as Jack grabbed her wrist.
"Come back anytime, Angelfish. We will be waiting." Jade waved to them as they swam back to the mirror.
She staggered as her feet hit solid ground on the other side of the mirror. They all coughed violently as their lungs readjusted to breathing air.
"Is everyone ok?" Deuce wheezed as he caught his breath. He gave her a concerned look as she pulled her wet hair out of her eyes. She was glad that she had cut her long braid off years ago in exchange for her current wavy bob cut. The long braid would've taken forever to dry without magic.
"Ugh… I need a shower." She groaned as she felt the saltwater dry on her skin, causing her to feel slightly sticky. She stood awkwardly in her now soaking-wet clothes.
"I wasn't expecting them to actually be mermen…" Jack muttered with a frown as he glanced back at the mirror.
"I wasn't expecting Celeste to be totally useless underwater! She can't even swim!" Grim shot her a glare as he shook the water from his fur, splashing seawater everywhere.
"I never claimed to be perfect." She said defensively as she tried to wring out her clothes and hair. "I could always leave you to clean up your mess on your own, you know." Celeste shot him a pointed look.
"Whoa hey, don't forget about us, Celeste! We still need your help!" Ace said quickly, hissing at Grim to shut up.
"Yeah, we just need to rework our plan, is all! It'll still work out." Deuce tried to reassure her as she let out an exhausted sigh.
"Any ideas?" She looked up at the three boys as they exchanged glances.
"Cater likes to say he's got his finger on the pulse of the community, so why don't we get some input from him?" Ace suggested after a moment of thought. Deuce nodded in agreement.
"It'd also be a good idea to go back to Savanaclaw and see what Ruggie and the others have to share." Jack said, looking down at her.
"It's decided then. Jack and I will ask around Savanaclaw and you two will speak with Cater. They've all known Azul and the twins longer, after all." Celeste announced their strategy before they left to prepare for class.
That night, Celeste and Jack met with Ruggie and Leona in the Savanaclaw Lounge. The light of the full moon danced across the pool as they distanced themselves from the waterfall, so they could hear themselves talk.
"The Leech brothers are Azul's top men. They're known for collecting all collateral and compensation from his contracts. Rumor has it that they run interference to make sure the terms aren't met." Ruggie explained to them as they gathered in the seating area.
"This would've been nice to know beforehand." Jack growled and Ruggie shrugged, letting out a laugh.
"Ugh… If Celeste loses, am I gonna be stuck workin' for Azul forever?" Grim groaned, his shoulders slumping.
"I have no intention of losing Grim… Leona, you've known Azul since he was a freshman. Do you know anything that could help us?" Celeste looked up at Leona and his ear twitched as he eyed her thoughtfully.
"… Azul's signature spell is a golden contract called It's a deal. It enables the caster to take one power from a target if that target signs the scroll. In addition, if the contract is breached, the signer must obey Azul's every command. When the power gets taken, it's sealed inside the contract and made available for Azul to use as it suits him."
"That's an incredibly high-level and complex spell…" Celeste was starting to become nervous. If Azul's signature spell was powerful enough to trap her, would it also be strong enough to control her? Usually, spells that had the ability to manipulate others against their will didn't have an effect on Angels. Mortal magic simply wasn't strong enough to contain such a powerful being, however, with her magic sealed, it might be a very different story.
"Contracts with him will last as long as that special scroll is around. Which is why Azul makes such carefully worded offers." Leona continued, interrupting her thoughts.
"And then he gets suckers to sign on with terms they can't possibly meet." Ruggie added, his grey eyes flickered over her and Grim.
"The only way to win against Azul is to not make a contract at all." Leona smirked at her as she grimaced at his words.
"What are we gonna do?!" Grim wailed in despair, his eyes tearing up. He grabbed onto her clothes with his paws and she patted his head to comfort him.
"He claimed the contract was indestructible, but that can't possibly be true, can it? He wouldn't be able to produce so many of them if that was the case. The cost of magic would be too high." Celeste thought out loud, and Leona grinned.
"Exactly why would you take Azul for his word when he claimed the contract was unbreakable?" Ruggie smirked, and Jack's eyes widened.
"So he was bluffing…" Jack muttered, putting his hand to his chin thoughtfully.
"Celeste hit the nail on the head. All magic has a loophole. Even the best magicians can't sling spells willy-nilly. So, the idea that Azul's contract is indestructible is preposterous." Leona snorted, flicking his tail.
Jack twisted his ear in uncertainty. "I dunno, though. That sounds an awful lot like playing dirty."
"I'm afraid we don't have a choice. Too much is on the line here. We must fight fire with fire, as they say." Celeste pointed out, and Jack sighed.
"To win against a scoundrel, you gotta think like one." Ruggie added with a snicker.
"Why should you play fair when they don't? As long as the contract is annulled, you win. End of story." Leona shrugged dismissively as he leaned back in his chair.
"While I generally disagree with playing dirty, in this instance, it's in everyone's best interest. Though Leona… You have learned nothing from last time, have you?" Celeste sighed in disappointment.
Leona let out a small laugh, folding his arms behind his head. "Hey, it's like I said. I'll do whatever it takes to win."
"I guess we don't have a choice, then." Jack sighed before determination flashed in his eyes. "Fine. Then we'll have to find an opportunity to sneak in and destroy his contract."
"Good luck with that, princess." Leona got out of his chair and started to head towards his room.
"Wait, aren't you gonna help?!" Grim cried out after him, and he turned back around with an irritated look.
"Why should I? I just gave you the answer, so you can figure out the rest for yourselves. Later." He huffed before leaving, with Ruggie following close behind, bidding them good luck before ducking into the dorm.
"Yes, this would be the best area for seating, though a few walls will have to come down." Azul was with Jade and Floyd inspecting Ramshackle dorm. Sure, floor plans at this stage might be a little premature, but with the information Floyd had just told him, Ramshackle was sure to be his in two days. He had especially wanted to see the dorm for himself after Jade had shown him the other feather.
"And you say she couldn't swim at all?" Azul chuckled in amusement as he turned back to the twins.
"Nope! Sea urchin had to tow her around!" Floyd laughed as he leaned against the fireplace in Celeste's bedroom.
"Poor Angelfish… I even had to help her stand upright." Jade recalled, almost seeming sympathetic.
"I must say, though, her going to Savanaclaw was… Unexpected." Azul muttered, frowning. It frustrated him that he couldn't keep a closer eye on her. Especially now that it seemed like she had some sort of connection with the Angel.
"Should I give Sea lion the squeeze?" Floyd asked, looking hopeful, but Azul shook his head.
"No, we can let the Leona matter go. He's a lazy lion at heart. He doesn't stick his neck out for others. He wouldn't make an enemy of me by choice." Azul smirked confidently, with a dismissive wave.
"I also did some digging on Celeste, and it seems the rumors are true – there is no record of her before she came to Night Raven. So, it appears she was telling the truth when she claimed she was from a different world." Jade reported. His eyes glinted with curiosity as he placed a gloved hand on his chin.
"And I squeezed some anemones from Heartslabyul… They said she's from some place called Eden. "Floyd shrugged, and Azul looked up at him abruptly. He was sure he'd heard that word somewhere before…
"They also never heard of Uriel, that guy she was with. It's almost like… Ah!" Floyd raised his voice as he straightened up, his odd-colored eyes going wide. "The apple pie salesman! It was him!"
"What? The one the Headmaster chased off?" Azul looked at Floyd intently, knowing he rarely forgot a face.
"Yeah! It was totally him! Man, he almost had me fooled with that uniform… He just seemed to blend in... like a cuttlefish." Floyd let out a high-pitched laugh that echoed off the walls.
"So then, Uriel isn't a student of Night Raven College at all… What business does he have with Celeste, I wonder?" Azul narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"They seemed to know each other quite well- I'm certain they have some sort of history together." Jade added, the moonlight shining through the window, hitting his eyes and causing them to flash ominously in the dim light.
"Which is strange considering she's from a different world… We'll have to keep an eye out for him." Azul murmured as he gazed thoughtfully out the window.
The next morning, a knock at the door awoke Celeste. Throwing on her robe, she slipped out of bed. Grim grumbled as he sat up, still groggy.
"Hey, there's some guy here to see you." On the other side of the door was Sabu, the bear beastman. His gray hair was messy as if he hadn't brushed it yet that morning, and his brown eyes looked down at her as he munched on a golden apple.
"Sabu? Did he give you that apple?" She blinked, recognizing the apple he was loudly eating.
"Yeamh." He said with his mouth full, leading her out to the dorm lounge. Uriel was there, surrounded by Savanaclaw students who were giving him threatening looks. Despite this, Uriel seemed unfazed, waving at her as she entered the lounge.
"Hello, Celeste! This dorm's got a bit more security than Ramshackle." He let out a carefree laugh, causing Leona to scowl.
"Well, look who decided to come crawlin' back. Who do you think you are runnin' out on us like that?!" Grim glared at Uriel, putting his paws on his hips.
"Sabu, why did you let this herbivore in here?" Leona growled, shooting Sabu a glare.
"He said I could have this special apple if I took him to Celeste." Sabu shrugged, holding up the half-eaten apple.
Leona groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "There isn't much you wouldn't do for food…" He shook his head before turning to Celeste. "Who is he? He smells kinda like you." He sniffed the air around Uriel with interest, causing Uriel to draw back.
"It's alright Leona. He's a friend of mine." Celeste reassured him as she walked over to them. "He's helping me with my current predicament. Now, if you'll allow me to get dressed… We'll head to the cafeteria when I get back."
Leona narrowed his eyes as glanced back and forth between her and Uriel. After a moment, he let out a snort. "Fine. Just keep him outta my mane, would you?" He tossed a braided lock of hair over his shoulder before sauntering off. Seeing their Housewarden approve of Uriel's presence, the Savanaclaw students backed off, but still shot him suspicious looks.
Celeste quickly went back to her room to change onto her school uniform. When she returned to the lounge, Jack and Grim were speaking with Uriel, bringing him up to date on the situation.
"So they're merpeople? Well, that certainly complicates things…" Uriel frowned as he looked over at the waterfall nearby.
"Yes, it was rather unexpected… Now let's get going, and perhaps you can fill me in on the urgent matter that you had to be called away for." Celeste remarked, walking up to them.
"Yeah, I thought you said you'd be here for 3 days." Jack glanced over at Uriel as they headed to the mirror chamber.
"So, um, Celeste, I've got some good news and some bad news." Uriel scratched the back of his head hesitantly, eyeing Jack and Grim.
"Hey, if it involves Celeste, then I should be in on it. We're one student, remember?!" Grim stopped to glare at her and Uriel.
"This doesn't really involve any school stuff, Grim. It's about politics from back home." Uriel's plan to make Grim lose interest backfired as his blue-flamed ears pricked.
"Back home? What does politics where you're from have to do with Celeste? Wait, how exactly do you two know each other again?" Grim narrowed his eyes suspiciously, and Celeste shot Uriel a glare.
"Sorry, Celeste… But come on. Don't you think you're being a little too cautious? It's not like they can tell anyone back home I'm here." Uriel smiled nervously and she let out a sigh.
"I suppose I don't have a choice now… Grim, Uriel's my twin brother." Celeste confessed as Grim's gaze shifted back and forth between her and her brother.
"Wh-! Now that you mention it… You two do look a lot alike… Aside from the height difference." Grim looked up at Uriel, who was considerably taller than her, not much shorter than Jack. She let out an angry huff at his remark.
"Anyway, Celeste, Dad called a meeting about another Seraphim- the Seraphim of Avalon, Tatiana. She's apparently fallen ill." Uriel said after Grim quieted down, causing Celeste to gasp. A Seraphim falling ill was unheard of. Especially to the extent that other kingdoms felt the need to get involved. "He wanted me to act as a delegate for Eden, but I convinced him Zaphiel was a better choice." He continued, seeming uneasy as he watched her out of the corner of his eye.
"It must be grave if Father felt the need to send someone… "Celeste murmured. Usually, she was the one who acted as a delegate for Eden under such circumstances. Uriel had never taken an interest in politics, instead, he used his talents to improve magical devices in the celestial realm.
"Since Tatiana can't govern in her condition, a lot of her duties have been taken over by Prince Silas." Celeste grimaced at Silas's name, recalling her unpleasant history with him. He was the son of Avalon's late Seraphim, Oberon. Oberon had raised Silas with the belief that he would be chosen to be Seraphim after him, so when Tatiana was appointed by the elders instead, Silas became bitter. Since then, he had constantly been searching for opportunities to gain a large following—including attempting to court Celeste to earn support from angels who sympathized with mortals. He had tried to propose multiple times, but his attempts had been thwarted thanks to Uriel and Zaphiel creating a distraction before he could ask properly.
"Silas is the LAST person who should govern Avalon." Celeste hissed, crossing her arms.
"I agree but… Well, he is advocating for you to be reinstated to your former position." Uriel said carefully, his blue eyes were full of uncertainty.
"Wait, isn't that a good thing? I mean, your goal is to go home, right?" Jack, who had been listening to their conversation politely until now, finally spoke up. He gave them a confused look, picking up on their apprehension.
"No, it ain't a good thing! Celeste is supposed to help me graduate!" Grim piped up, giving her an accusing look.
"I sincerely doubt he's doing it out of the kindness of his heart. He always has an ulterior motive." Celeste narrowed her eyes in anger as they took their seats in the cafeteria.
"Oh, hey Celeste! "They turned to see Ace and Deuce approaching them with their breakfast trays. Ace scowled at Uriel as they sat down across from them. "Well, look who decided to show up."
"Sorry, got called away for a bit, but I promise I'll stick around this time." Uriel rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Ace! Deuce! Just wait until ya hear our latest plan!" Grim exclaimed excitedly, standing up in his seat and earning a scowl from Celeste before she and Jack relayed their discussion with Leona and Ruggie.
"I have to say… I'm kinda surprised that you and Jack agreed to this." Ace appeared taken aback after they told them the plan.
"Leona may play dirty, but he's a brilliant playmaker. I think his ideas worth a shot." Jack admitted, averting his gaze.
"I'm afraid I don't have much of a choice in this instance…" Celeste admitted, shaking her head.
"Yeah, and let's not forget, they were playing dirty from the start." Deuce scowled, crossing his arms.
"So they're mermen, huh? What'd they look like in their merforms?" Uriel asked, his blue eyes glimmering with curiosity. He had never seen a merperson before.
"They looked like sea monsters! Those two morays are seriously scary!" Grim cried, his fur standing on end.
"Wait, so Azul wasn't with them? Is he even a merman?" Uriel asked with a confused look.
"No, but Leona refers to him as Cephalo-punk." Jack replied, and Deuce's eyes went wide.
"As in, Cephalopod? So, he's like an octomerman?" He gasped, going slightly pale.
"Is that what that nickname means? I've heard others call him that as well. So, he's part octopus?" Celeste tried to imagine him with tentacles, recalling how the other merpeople she'd seen looked.
Grim looked horrified at this revelation. "You mean he's got like eight legs in the water?! He might be even more dangerous than the eels!"
Jack let out a snort. "No kiddin'. That's why we're tryin' an approach that doesn't involve fighting them on their turf."
"Yeah, especially since SOMEONE can't even swim." Ace shot her a pointed look, which she ignored.
"Our first task is to locate the scrolls. I'm guessing that he keeps them in the safe in his office. Which means we'll have to find a way to sneak in…" she trailed off in thought.
"Nobody should be there during lunch break before the lounge opens. I say we meet during lunch and sneak in then." Deuce said, and everyone nodded in agreement.
A few hours later, they all met in the mirror hall and gathered in front of the Octavinelle mirror. Celeste glanced down at Grim.
"Grim, since you're the smallest and can hide easily, you should scout ahead to make sure no one's inside." Grim nodded and hopped into the mirror. After a moment, he reappeared and waved them through. They all crept quietly down the tunnel and into the Mostro Lounge. Contrary to their last visit, the small café was empty.
"The coast is clear!" Grim hissed at them from over by the office door as he waved them inside the VIP room. Deuce went up to the vault behind Azul's desk and inspected it before letting out a groan.
"The vault's double locked. It needs a passcode and a key." He shook his head in defeat as Jack let out a frustrated growl.
"Why, of course it is. What did you expect?" Celeste's light chuckle caused everyone to give her a surprised look. She simply smiled as she turned to Uriel. "Uriel, how long do you think it'll take you to open it?"
Uriel sauntered over to the large safe and cracked his knuckles. "A minute. Two tops." He placed his palm on the safe and opened his mouth to recite a spell.
"Someone's coming!" Jack hissed, his ears pricking as he looked at the door in a panic.
"Quick hide!" Ace hissed as he, Jack, Grim, and Deuce dove under the large desk. Celeste and Uriel looked about wildly for a moment before diving behind one of the couches. They both did their best to make themselves as small as possible as the door opened and Azul walked inside.
There was a click and creak as he opened the vault and began thumbing over the contracts inside. He chuckled to himself as he counted them under his breath. It was rather odd, Celeste thought to herself, that he'd chosen to come in and count them seemingly out of the blue. She listened intently and could hear the boys shuffling under his desk. She held her breath, hoping Azul wouldn't walk around his desk in her and Uriel's direction.
"Ah, that's that. I'd better be getting back now." Azul spoke out loud as he closed and locked the safe again. There was a slight rustle as he set a paper on his desk and turned and walked back out the way he'd come.
A collective sigh of relief echoed through the office as everyone crawled out of their hiding spots. Celeste and Uriel stood up and stepped back over to the desk.
"Man, he almost caught us!" Grim glanced at the door, his shoulders slumped in relief.
"It was rather odd that he choose to come in here to count his contracts in the middle of the day…" Celeste frowned, sensing that something was amiss.
"Pfft. The dude is weird, what can I say." Ace shrugged dismissively at her suspicious remark.
Jack looked down at Azul's desk and his ears perked. " Wait look! He left a contract out on the table!" On the desk was a familiar golden scroll. She narrowed her eyes, spotting her signature at the bottom.
"That's MY contract! Why would he just leave it out?" Celeste gasped, growing even more apprehensive. She glanced nervously at the door. It was too easy. Someone as clever as Azul would never be so careless.
"Lucky us! Let's swipe it and see if we can tear it up!" Ace said excitedly as the three boys started reaching for the scroll.
"Wait! Something's not right here! This feels like a trap!" Celeste raised her voice, and they all halted to stare at her.
"Seriously, Celeste, you need to relax. This is a prime opportun- AAAHHH!" Grim let out a yowl as he grabbed the scroll, his fur standing on end as an electric current zapped through his body.
A high-pitched laugh sounded as the door flew open, revealing Azul, Jade, and Floyd, who was still laughing as Grim shot away from the scroll.
"Dear me, what have we here? It seems you should have listened to Celeste, Grim." Azul smirked cruelly at Grim, who was rubbing his paws painfully.
"That was incredibly cruel! Even for you, Azul!" Celeste glared at Azul as she went over to check on Grim.
"He was the one who was trying to steal one of my contracts. Unfortunately for him, they're rigged to jolt anyone who touches them, aside from me. Besides, he wouldn't have been hurt had he listened to you." Azul adjusted his glasses as he took the contract off the desk and slipped it inside his blazer.
"You didn't say anything about that before!" Uriel hissed at him, and Azul glanced up at him sharply.
"Of course not. Why would I reveal information that would help you steal it?" Azul chuckled before giving Uriel a cold look. "This was an awful bold move for you—especially since you're not even a student, Uriel."
"Wait, what?" Ace and Deuce gaped over at Uriel, confused.
Celeste and Uriel stiffened, while Jack flattened his ears. Azul smiled as he continued. "Yes, we've done some digging on you. There is no record of you attending this school. So, who exactly are you? And why are you helping Celeste?"
Uriel gazed coldly back at Azul. "That's none of your business."
Azul scowled slightly for a second before swiftly recovering his usual cunning grin. "Well then, I'm certain the headmage will be interested to know that an intruder is on campus." He reached for his phone, which was tucked into his blazer pocket.
Uriel suddenly let out a roar of laughter, causing Azul to stop and stare at him wide-eyed along with everyone else. "You mean that weird guy with the mask? Go ahead. Tell him. He can't do anything to ME." Uriel ran his hands through his hair as he smirked at the three mermen.
"Someone's got a big ego." Ace huffed, giving Uriel a skeptical look.
Azul recovered from his surprise and glared at Uriel. "Well, regardless of your situation… Celeste is still under contract, and her time is running out." This remark stopped Uriel's chuckling abruptly, and his face grew serious as he looked down at Azul.
"Yeah Angelfish, shouldn't you be heading over to the museum? You still gotta grab that picture?" Floyd smirked as he crept closer to her.
"Would you like for us to give you some swimming lessons? They won't be free, of course, but…" Jade moved towards her as well, with a teasing grin on his face. Celeste took a step back, bumping into Azul's desk as the eels advanced.
"That's enough of that! I summon thee cauldron!" Ace stepped forward and sent a cauldron sailing in the twin's direction.
Floyd smirked as he used his signature spell to redirect it, sending it flying over her head and crashing into the safe with a loud clang.
"Floyd! Watch where you're directing that spell! You hit the vault, you fool!" Azul yelled, rushing over to inspect the safe for damage. Celeste took the opportunity to move away from the eels while they were distracted.
"Whoops. My bad." Floyd shrugged, unconcernedly, as Azul grimaced at the dent in the vault door. He let out a sigh of relief as he checked over the dial and hinges, seeing that they remained undamaged. Azul looked back over the desk to glare at Floyd.
"How many times have I told you not to be so careless?! You could have damaged the lock, or even Celeste for that matter!" He hissed, glancing over at her, now standing next to Uriel.
"I said I was sorry. You don't have to get all bent outta shape over a little ding, and Angelfish is small, so it went right over her head, anyway." Floyd frowned as he started growing irritated at being scolded. Azul continued to argue with Floyd while Jade tried to defuse the situation.
"Hey c'mon you guys, let's scram while they're distracted." Grim hissed as he darted out the door, Ace, Deuce and Jack close behind him.
"Hey wait!" Azul called after them, and Celeste paused briefly to meet his gaze before being dragged out of the room by Uriel.
The brief moment when Celeste's sapphire gaze met his, Azul felt a strange sensation. Like a school of fish swimming in his chest. He quickly snapped out of it and groaned in frustration as Celeste disappeared out the door. Another information-gathering opportunity lost thanks to Floyd. Azul sent him a sharp glare, but Floyd ignored him and slumped over on one of the sofas.
"Damn it! How does she always slip through my fingers?!" Azul spat in frustration, running his hand through his silvery hair.
"If it's any consolation… I remembered something I noticed the other day outside the museum." Jade said with his usual teasing grin.
Azul sighed and turned to him. "Well? What was it?"
Jade put his hand to his chin and tilted his head thoughtfully. "I got a good look at the design on her bracelets. There was a rather odd symbol on them, an eye with seven wings."
Azul's eyes widened, he was certain he'd seen that symbol somewhere before. He rushed over to his desk and started rummaging around in one of the drawers.
"Oh? Did that ring a bell?" Jade raised his eyebrows at him as he pulled out a small notebook.
The notebook contained all the information he had been able to obtain about angels. He frantically flipped through the pages until he spotted the tracing he'd done of the symbol he'd found in a book he'd borrowed from the library. His hands shook slightly as he held it up for Jade to see.
"Did it look like this?" Azul's voice almost sounded hoarse because of his throat going dry.
Jade's mismatched eyes widened when he saw the picture. "Why… Yes, that's definitely it."
The shift in atmosphere in the room got Floyd's attention. "Hold up. Azul, what's the big deal?" He sat up with a slight frown.
"It's… A Celestial seal… Used by angels." Azul spoke slowly, setting the notebook back on his desk.
"What? Aren't they like fake and stuff?" Floyd gave him a skeptical look while Jade tilted his head curiously.
"That's what I always believed… Until…" Azul's mind was racing as he recalled the fateful night he'd glimpsed the winged woman by the fountain. His eyes flickered over to the feather on his desk, sitting next to the identical feather Jade had found.
"Until?" Jade raised his eyebrow at him, prompting him to continue.
Azul took a deep breath, he felt slightly nervous telling them about his encounter, but it was too late to back out now."Until I saw one… Or at least something that looked like one." He gazed down at the softly glowing feather as he remembered the song she'd sung. Hadn't she mentioned a place called Eden? Where Celeste had said she was from? Her voice echoed in his head: "Flying is the only way to get around where I'm from." He sat down in his chair, feeling the blood drain from his face.
"You saw one?! When?" Jade looked taken aback but seemed to believe him, which gave him some relief.
"One night, not long after the semester started. She left behind a single feather before flying off." Azul said as the puzzle pieces started rapidly falling into place. They had found an identical feather right inside Ramshackle dorm…
"No way?! What'd it look like? Was it like all weird lookin'?!" Floyd was on the edge of his seat as Azul tried to process everything.
"No… She was beautiful… It was dark, and I couldn't see her face but… She had four white wings that glowed in the moonlight." Azul had only glimpsed a bit of black hair around the wings. He could now imagine Celeste's face hiding behind the wings perfectly. He pulled her contract out and stared down at her signature and wondered what he'd just gotten himself into.