Chapter 82: Much-Needed Fuel
"Here I thought it had only been two days since you'd all been captured. Did seven or eight decades pass without my noticing? I knew humans were short-lived, but surely not to this extent…" Malleus says.
This upsets Vil, "Don't you dare jinx me. I'm not in the mood for fae humor right now…" causing him to dob.
"Ah, I can surmise what happened," Lilia says, "Vil, you stepped into the Underworld that's sealed within the Island of Woe, didn't you? When the living set foot in there, their vitality and magic is sapped within minutes before they ultimately perish.
"Why yes, actually," Rook says. "You see, last evening the gate to the Underworld opened. We were on the brink of a worldwide Phantom invasion and blot outbreak."
"My word!" Lilia says, shocked.
Then Rook says, "Vil plunged into the Underworld to stop it, regardless of the danger to himself."
"...It was an utterly boneheaded move," Vil says, "I strove so hard to get back to my old life, and look at me now. Talk about defeating the purpose. I was too preoccupied at the time, though…" And sobs again.
"Now I see. Well, I really must congratulate you on making it out alive," Lilia says.
Then Malleus says, "So Schoenheit didn't age due to time passing… He did so because he was drained, both magically and in terms of life force."
"Indeed," Rook says, "They couldn't treat him on the Island of Woe, which is why we rushed back here."
"What a pitiful fate for a youth still fresh in bloom…" Lilia says.
He then turns to Mallues, "You know, Malleus. Had the pandemonium within the Underworld been unleashed upon us… Our homeland of Briar Valley would not have escaped unscathed. As the heir apparent, wouldn't you consider it fitting to reward these people for their travails?"
Malleus calmly smiles, "Heh. I see where you're going with this, Lilia." He thinks for a minute and says, "When I fixed the SDC stage, I told Schoenheit that he owed me… But his deeds on this occasion have returned the favor and left me in his debt instead." Then says to Vil, "Very well. I shall bestow a reward upon you."
"Huh? What reward…?" Vil asks, confused.
"Not even I can turn back time. But sharing a bit of magic is certainly within my power," Malleus says.
"What?" Vil questions.
Soon, Malleus begins to cast his magic, "Schoenheit, I grant you my blessing. Now return to your rightful form!"
Malleus then casts his magic and bestows it towards Vil. After a flash of light, Vil has changed back from an old man to an 18 year old student.
Vil is left confused, "Huh? What? Am I...?" He soon notices his voice has changed to its original state, "No way! I'm back to normal?!"
"Yes, you're back to your regular 18-year-old self!" Rook says.
"Nice going, Vil!" Epel says.
Suddenly, Vil screams with glee, "EEEEEE HEE HEE! YEEESSS!" and soon falls over.
"Vil?!" Rook and Epel exclaim in shock.
"You fell backwards! Are you still feeling out of sorts?" Rook asks, worried.
"No, I just collapsed with relief," Vil says and lets out a scream of joy, "Ahaha… Ahahahaha!"
"You really had me goin'! Don't scare me like that!" Epel says.
Soon, the three begin laughing, "Ahahahahahahahaha!
Grim crosses his arms and says, "First he's bawlin' his eyes out, then he's squealin' with joy. Vil's got range, all right."
"Well, that ties up that loose end," Briar says.
"Yeah. But you and Riddle still need to be treated from what you've been through. Same as the rest of us," Jasper says.
"I'm very tired right now," Sereia says.
"Me too," Grim adds.
Soon, Malleus sees Briar, "Ah, Briar, you're back…" And notices about Briar's condition, "Mm, it appears you have been drained a bit yourself."
"Um yes, I kind of jumped in there with Vil. Oddly enough, Vil suffered a lot more damage than Riddle and I did," Briar says, and smiles.
Briar soon becomes embarrassed and says, "But um, there's something I need to tell you…"
"What is it?" Malleus questions.
Suddenly, he notices Briar's eyes have changed to a vivid yellow color and practically sparkle like gemstones.
"Those eyes… Those vivid golden yellow eyes… Can it be…" Malleus says to himself in thought.
But before Briar can say anything, she hears Deuce calling out, "Briar! Trinket! Griiim!"
And Ace calls out, "Tanzanite! Jasper! Sereiiia!"
The group turns to see Deuce and Ace arriving on the scene.
"It's Ace!" Tanzanite says.
"And Deuce!" Jasper says.
Grim happily says, "Heya, Ace! Deuce!"
"Hey guys, we're back!" Briar says.
"Hi guys!" Sereia says.
Suddenly, Ace shouts, "DON'T "HI GUYS" ME, YOU ABSOLUTE BLOCKHEADS."
And with that, Ace ends up smacking each of the Ramshackle Dorm students on the head. Except for Trinket who is too small.
"OW!" The twins yelp.
The girls react, "EEP!"
Grim also yelp, "OW! Why'd you smack me too?!"
"Shaddup! Be grateful I'm lettin' you off easy!" Ace shouts.
"Huh?!" Grim questions.
Then Decue explains, "When we woke up, everyone was freaking out about Sereia, Tanzanite, Jasper, Trinket, Rook, and Epel being gone."
"We figured you were with them….." Ace says, "But all anyone told us was that your phones were off, and that the teachers' tracking spells couldn't find you!"
"Do you have ANY IDEA what we've been through the past two days?!" Deuce questions with a frown.
"We're sorry we scared you," Sereia apologizes.
"Sorry about that, but we were on a rescue mission," Jasper says.
Ace sighs, "Maaan! Between this and what happened over winter vacation, you guys gotta cut us a break."
"It doesn't look like either of you are too hurt at least. That's a relief," Deuce says.
But Ace says, "But Briar, what the heck happened to your hair, and your eyes. Did you become blind in one of them?"
"It's kind of a long story," Briar says.
"A very long story," Tanzanite says.
Soon, Grim begins giggling, "Myahah…. Myahahah!
"What are you gigglin' about? This ain't funny!" Ace asks with a frown.
"I know what's goin' on. You guys MISSED me," Grim says.
The two boys react, "Bwha?!"
"You guys are just lost little lambs without your boss, eh? Well why didn't ya just say so?" Grim adds with confidence.
"I swear, every little thing goes to your head…" Deuce says, annoyed, but notices something off about Grim, "Hm?"
Grim has tears coming down from her face, "I… I'm really back…" And begins sobbing, "I was so scared I'd never see you guys again… I just…" And soon begins to cry in relief,, "WAAAH!" and soon jumps into Ace and Deuce, giving them a hug.
Ace yelps, "Whoa, geez! What's with the waterworks?!"
"Watch it, Grim! Don't get snot on my uniform!" Deuce says.
Ace smiles and says, "Who missed who again? Sheesh."
"Professor Crewel's gonna give you all the dressing-down of a lifetime, you know," Deuce says.
"I figured as much," Briar says.
Soon, Briar and the others join in on the hug and laughs.
Lilia giggles, "Khee hee hee. This is what being young's all about."
"...Lilia," Mallues says.
"Yes?" Lilia questions.
"The way Schoenheit looked earlier…. That happened because his magic and vitality were drained when he got close to the Underworld. Which is why I was able to restore him by simply sharing my magical energy. But all humans grow withered like that in less than a century, even when no harm befalls them. How frail they are….." Malleus says.
"It's true," Lilia says, and looks at the different groups.
He then explains, "Human lives are as ethereal as silk thread on a spinning wheel-and just as easily cut short. But their fragility can be a boon. Interweaving and layering those threads creates the strong, resilient tapestry of their history. Such is the creature called man— neighbor to we creatures of the night."
Malleus remains silent after hearing it and has his arms crossed.
Suddenly Malleus hears a voice, "Um… Uh… Ma… Mal…?"
"Yes Briar…?" Malleus questions.
Briar begins to have trouble having the words leave her mouth as tears begin to fall from her face. Those who have returned know what Briar is going to do. Everyone else is very confused.
"Mal… It… I-it's me… Briar Rosetta… Little Rose…" Briar says.
Malleus and Lilia are shocked to hear what Briar says Excluding Sereia, Riddle, and some of the others, Ace, Deuce, and the rest are confused. Malleus looks at Briar carefully and slowly approaches her with signs of hope and relief in his eyes. He gently places his hand on Briar's cheek and looks at her black hair, yellow eyes, and her tan skin. However, he is more focused on her vivid yellow eyes. Soon, the realization hits him, and begins to smile. Briar soon smiles as well. And finally, Mallues pulls Briar into a hug, and Briar happily hugs back. Lilia is surprised, but can't help but smile.
"Uh, okay, what exactly is going on?" Ace asks.
"I'm kind of confused. Did Briar just call Malleus, Mal?" Deuce asks, stunned and confused.
Kalim however smiles, "I don't know, but it's very nice to see that Briar and Malleus are getting along so well."
"More than you realized," Jasper says.
"What do you mean?" Ruggie questions.
"Well, I'm happy to let you know that I have a royal princess as a minion, and Briar is it," Grim says.
"Stop calling her your minion!" Jasper says, annoyed.
The students who don't know that fact are shocked to hear it.
"Wait, Briar is a princess?!" Trey asks, shocked.
"Yeah. Briar regains a lot of her memories from this experience. Briar's real name is Briar Rosetta Seerwood, the last of the royal family of Hollow Fae, and the last of her species," Sereia says.
Then Tanzanite says, "You remember the species of fae Professor Trein told us about, and that he and Crowley suspected it. Well, it's actually true."
Jade asks, surprised, "So it's true."
"Yeah. Our little shrimp is really a lost little yellow fish," Floyd says.
"That's right. And it also turns out that Briar and Malleus knew each other when Briar was little. And that both their families were allies," Sereia says.
"Huh. No wonder those two seem to get along," Ace says.
"So then, why didn't Briar remember?" Floyd questions.
"As it turns out, Briar had an older sister, Aura, and the eldest of the Seerwood Family. She was the one who transported Briar to that other world, and also changed her appearance to that of a human. Although, upon further explanation from Briar, she is partly fae because her mother was half human. Sadly, it took all her strength and magic to do so because she was already dying from the illness that struck her family and kingdom," Azul says.
"That's a lot to take in. Our little girl at school was a royal, and a very rare fae as well," Cater says.
"True, but in a way, I'm glad that Briar is able to have a special reunion with Malleus, since they've been old friends," Vil says.
Everyone looks to see Malleus and Briar are still in the embrace. They remain silent as the two release each other.
Malleus then brings out Briar's medallion, which used to belong to her sister.
"Here Briar, I believe this belongs to you," Malleus says.
"My sister's medallion," Briar says, relieved to see it.
Malleus gives it to Briar, and the girls places it back around her neck.
"Thank you, Mal," Briar says.
"You're welcome, Little Rose," Mal says.
The pair then take each other's hand and soon lean together for an embrace.
Sereia smiles, "Aww, that's so sweet."
"Yes. It's very sweet," Epel says.
"Indeed. Who knows, maybe someday, the two will rekindle their friendship, and might become something more," Vil says.