AN: Hello everybody! Be it a super late night, or early morning for some, I hope you're all doing well. Been a way for a while, sorry, but I had to finalise the kinks in this work, as well as plan out where everything is going to go. Happy February to you all as well! (Man time flies by fast... seems like it was only yesterday that it was New Year's...) To make up for the absence I have prepared a super long chappy for you guys to enjoy. Without further do, let us begin the new arc!

Normal font is English, Italics is Halkeginia's language, Underline is Japanese, Underline and italics is hand signals.

Chapter 14 -Breaking Ground-

The soft chittering of the morning birds gently woke the sleepy Japanese teen. His eyes fluttered open like the wings of a small bird, and his blue-grey pupils peaked from beneath his eyelids. He yawned and rubbed the sleep from his vision, pushing himself upright in the guest bed after he did. He took a slow glance around the room, spotting the other beds already made, and not a single person other than himself dwelled within. He stretched his arms over his head, noting that the others had already awoken far before he did. He tensed his drowsy muscles and let them relax, pleasantly stretching them. He let out a satisfied breath before he contemplated over the previous day's revelations, and today's future activities.

A gentle knocking on the door stopped his thoughts, and was followed by the breathy voice of his older companion.

"Yo, you awake?" Dante asked.

Saito nodded, and mentally slapped himself for such a meaningless gesture.

"Yes," he replied.

"You dressed?" He asked, "Cuz I don't wanna walk in on ya in your briefs."

"Ah, I'm dressed, don't worry."

The door opened with a click, and the old hunter stepped through the doorway.

"Morning kid," Dante greeted with a smile.

Saito returned his gesture with one of his own.

"Good morning, Dante-san."

"Hope you're hungry. The old chef's got somethin' for us downstairs. Smells pretty good too," he commented to the young man, "Freshen up and I'll head down with ya."

Saito nodded.

"Ano… Dante-san," the boy called out.

"Hmm? Need somethin'?"

"I'm just… curious. About what we're gonna do now."

Dante shot him a sombre look. The old hunter crossed his arms and folded his hands over his chest.

"You mean about what ol' Osmond said? Yeah, that stuff's a little too much to throw on our plate like that… 'specially since we've only been guests 'round here for two days."

"Hai…" the teen said as he grasped his sheets.

"Do you really think that opening up your old shop will change anything?" The teen asked.

"Maybe," Dante said as he cast another sombre smile.

Saito looked down with a depressed look on his face.

"Well, no use thinking about all this on an empty stomach," Dante called out to break his silence. "Go get yourself changed, we'll talk more after we get something good to eat."

Saito stared for a moment before nodding.

–o0o–

Vergil sat with a startled look on their face.

"Is this not a bit much? It was only a small victory in hindsight," he said to the head chef.

"It may be small to you, but to us it was a momentous occasion. It showed us that we don't have to be afraid of the cruelty the nobles give us," replied the head chef.

Another plate of eggs was set down before him and his son, adding to the growing spread of breakfast treats placed just for the foreigners.

"So this many dishes is merely a small portion of the gratitude we have for you all."

"I am a bit concerned as to where we will put this all. There are limits on what we can do, and eating a feast all by ourselves is one of them. Not to mention that the feast you threw us last night was more than a welcome thanks."

"Hah! This just shows how much we appreciate what you did for us out there. So just eat what you can, and save the rest for when you get back from whatever business you have in town today."

Vergil nodded, grateful for his gift and understanding. He turned to eye the staff door when it opened, spotting his twin brother walk into the room with Saito in tow. The boy still wore his blue and white tracksuit, but Dante had changed his clothes to more suit his colour taste. He had a freshly new set on, courtesy of the servants: a faded red shirt that almost looked pink, adorned with three buttons near the neck; brown trousers that were dyed into a muddy red from wear; and light brown boots with laces almost too short to tie; finally a dark red, worn out coat was dropped on his shoulders, the colour a bit too heavy from several re-dyings of the article of clothing.

The younger twin raised a hand in greeting, and a casual "Yo!" escaped his lips.

"Good morning brother," Vergil stated a bit dryly.

"Mornin' bro! Mornin' kid!" Dante said as he took a seat, but not before giving a nod to his nephew.

Nero returned his uncle's greeting in kind before offering one to Saito. The japanese teen gave a curt response and took his seat at the breakfast table.

Dante then turned his attention to the food placed before them. He whistled at the sight.

"That is the many dishes you made for us. Are you sure we can eat this all?" Dante asked.

Blaise let out a hearty laugh.

"Your brother said the same thing! Don't think too much about it. Just eat what you can and whatever is left you can eat when you get back."

"That is very nice of you, but will not the food be cold by then?"

"Ah… well we'll eat it then. Either way just dig in, it's our treat!"

Dante flashed the man a smile.

"Well if you insist."

The man in red picked up a fork and knife and began to eat his breakfast. His actions were soon mimicked by Vergil and Nero. Saito however, put his attention elsewhere.

"Hmm? Something the matter?" the head chef asked.

"Eh? Ah, ano… Uh… I was just… looking for Siesta…" the teen replied.

"Hm? Siesta? Ah, she's in the back helping set up for the day. Give me a moment."

As the head chef left to find the raven haired girl, the trio of hunters gave the teen a curious look.

"I'm impressed Saito, since when did you learn their language?" Vergil asked.

"Ah… I… didn't actually. I just thought that since I wasn't eating he was calling me out," the teen replied.

"Oho, a very astute deduction."

"It's nothing," the young man said as she scratched the back of his head, "I still don't know a word of their language, so it's really just me guessing."

"But you were able to interpret his message simply by his actions and demeanour, that itself is an admirable trait," Vergil said, as he wiped a bit of egg yolk from the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "You're closer to learning a foreign language than you think. Deciphering the other party's intentions is the first step in translating words from one spoken tongue to another."

The group of foreigners then had their attention drawn to the head chef as he approached their table with the raven haired maid by his side.

"And here is our maiden of honour. Don't know what else you said, but you probably wanted to see how she was doing, right?"

"Ah…" the young woman spoke with a tint of red in her cheeks, "Um… good morning Saito, sir."

While still dressed in her maid outfit, Siesta was clearly dishevelled. Her hair was a bit of a mess and her headpiece was not centred. There were also a few creases in her dress.

"G-gub murming…" Saito attempted to repeat back to the girl. "I… just wanted to see if you were ok… um…you are good?" he asked, saying the last part with his hands.

"Y-yes! Umm… I am well."

She turned away, breaking away from looking into the teen's blue-grey eyes. She raised a hand with her thumb pointing up to signal her health.

"Your outfit is a bit messy," Dante pointed out.

In a flustered hurry, the young maid quickly attempted to brush away the creases and straighten her hair, but to no avail. She did, however, manage to fix the crooked headdress that she wore.

"Is she alright?" Vergil asked the head chef.

"Hmm… she was fine earlier… it might be because of our guests later today."

"Guests?" Vergil asked with a crooked brow. "You're expecting to have visitors today?"

"No, at least not what you would normally think of when you say 'guests'."

Vergil narrowed his eyes. "The students."

The head chef nodded, and Vergil furrowed his brows.

"You are worried about the… balance of power?"

Blaise shook his head.

"No, not quite. There is not much power to balance. We are still but commoners and they are nobles with magic, that line has always been made clear. Though my concern does lie in a similar line of thought."

He then took one look at Vergil's puzzled face and quickly came to a startled conclusion.

"Oh, you probably meant something else, didn't you? My apologies. You speak our language so well that I forget that you're still a foreigner."

The head chef awkwardly coughed into his fist.

"You probably meant the 'dynamics' of power, right? If so then yes. Many of the staff have been a bit nervous as of this morning when that thought loomed over our heads. Many wonder if it will lead to the nobles revolting against the school."

"Do you believe such a thing is possible?" Vergil asked.

He shrugged. "Perhaps… I've never known a noble to not be petty or angered over a loss… and to lose to a commoner in such a way… even if it was not they themselves who partook in the duel, the parents of many families will wish for retribution."

"Even if it comes at your expense and not ours?" Vergil asked.

"In their eyes, we might be as much of a problem as you are."

The chef then shook his head.

"But enough of such a dour conversation, eat. Leave our problems until after you have filled your bellies."

The four passed solemn glances over to each other, each worried about the kitchen staff but slowly began to eat their meal to honour their host's wishes. Their looks of concern did not go past the head chef unnoticed, but he let it slide in hopes that the food may swallow their worries.

-o-

A short while later, the group had finished their feast, or at the very least, as much of the feast as they could. Plates were still piled high with eggs, sausages, and other assortments, but a small dent was placed into them now that the four had finished eating.

Vergil wiped his mouth with a napkin just as Dante spoke up.

"So we're all in agreement then?" he asked.

Vergil eyed his brother and gave a nod. "Of course."

Nero did the same. "Don't need to ask twice."

Only Saito whipped his head around the table in confusion.

"Ano… What exactly did we agree on? I'm sorry, but maybe I didn't hear it properly."

"That we do all we can for the staff," Vergil said as he rose from the table. "Apologies, Saito-kun. It was more of a shared mentality than a spoken agreement."

He reached for his draped coat, and elegantly slipped it over his shoulders.

"If they are to be targets due to our actions," Vergil continued, "then of course we will do all we can to force the attention towards ourselves rather than them."

Dante let out a small chuckle.

"In all the years I've known you Verg, I never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth."

The older twin gave a small smirk and replied, "You and the boy can take the blame for this. Now then, Nero," he said as he turned to his nephew.

"Let us make haste to the headmaster's office. We need to procure a wagon and directions to the building that will be our new shop, and I do not wish to offer up more golden coins to an impudent merchant."

"Well if you put it like that," Nero said as he stood up from his seat.

The two then proceeded to give their farewells to the kitchen staff as they left, and told their remaining group members to await them near the gates to the school grounds.

"I'll head to the gate then, Dante-san," Saito said as he left the table. He made sure to give his farewells to the head chef for the meal, as well as the nervous Siesta.

"Are you a bit nervous?" Dante asked the raven haired maid as he watched the teen leave, "You were not this messy yesterday."

"Ah… it's just… I wasn't expecting him to look for me specifically… Especially since I hadn't had a chance to freshen up before work today since the staff celebrated last night."

She placed a clenched hand to her chest, and another blush crept up her face.

"So I was a bit surprised when the head chef called me out saying that sir Saito wanted to see me. It felt a bit nerve wracking for some reason…"

Dante flashed an impish smile.

"I wonder why. How do you feel about him?"

"How do I feel…?" she asked with a puzzled look. A small but warm smile then appeared on her face as she talked.

"I feel happy. After putting up with being treated so poorly by the nobles for so long… Even though the staff has always been kind to me, such treatment has always brought down my spirits. Seeing you and he stand up for us is extremely heartwarming. And even though he is a commoner himself, one without any knowledge of fighting, he still stood his ground and fought for the honour of the staff and myself. Someone like that… I can't help but get a happy and warm feeling in my chest when I think about it."

"Mmm…" Dante said, nodding with a finger gun tucked beneath his chin, comically looking like a character out of an anime, "So… would you say you may have… feelings for him, maybe even romantic in nature?"

"Maybe… it's possible," she said as she pressed a hand to her warm cheek, "I can't say for sure yet… but it'd be embarrassing to admit something like this so soon. Oh and I definitely don't let the staff or the other hunters know-"

She then quickly stiffened, her mind snapping to reality. She quickly looked over to see the man in red grinning madly at the table.

"Y…y-y-y-you…" she stammered.

"Something you wish to tell me, Juliet?"

Her face flushed red, now fully aware that the man had gently nudged her to reveal her intimate feelings for the teen, ones even she was not sure of until now. She quickly closed the gap between them, her eyes practically swirling as he exclaimed in an embarrassed hysteria.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU FORCED ME TO CONFESS LIKE THIS! DO NOT TELL HIM! DO NOT TELL ANYONE, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? I WON'T BE ABLE TO FACE HIM OR THE OTHER STAFF IF THEY FOUND OUT, SO YOU BETTER PROMISE ME THAT YOUR LIPS ARE SEALED OR ELSE I'LL-"

"Waoh!" Dante interrupted and pushed her back, "Take it calmly. I swear on the grave of my grandpa on my dad's side of the family that I will not speak a word of this to anyone."

"Y-y-y-y-you better… or I'll- I'll…"

Dante raised a brow in impish amusement.

"Die from embarrassment?"

"Yes!" she said and then stuck her head into her hands.

"Well I do not want you to go to the grave while you are young, so do not worry," he said as he rose from his chair, "can you tell Blaise 'thank you' again for the food?"

"Uhh… sure…" she said with her red face still buried in her hands.

Dante nodded and set off, a smirk on his face as he left behind the embarrassed raven haired maid.

-o-

If there is one thing Saito appreciates more about Tristin than Japan, it would have to be how clean and refreshing the afternoon breeze feels. Even in the harsh light of the sun, Saito can not help but feel relaxed and soothed by the gentle wind. Another gust blew by mid-way on his walk to the gate. In such a relaxing breeze, he began to stretch and take in a deep breath of air, when the sound of talk and laughter then caught his ear. He turned his head to spot several round white tables set out on the grass, adorned by white chairs, and large parasols. A couple remained underneath one of them, a girl with brown hair and a boy with golden locks. The girl wore an equally brown cape, and happily laughed while gazing at her blonde date. The boy in question silently sipped his tea, and gave a smile to the girl as he commented on her looks. He leaned back in his seat and crossed his legs, his actions showing off his chest as he had undone a few buttons on his school uniform.

The boy, noticing Saito out of the corner of his eye, turned to the Japanese teen. Blue eyes met grey as he stifled a chuckle.

"Hmm? Is there something wrong, Guiche?" the girl asked.

"Nothing, just saw something a tad unsightly," he said as he sipped his tea. He then leaned in close, catching her chin with his thumb and index finger.

"But your beauty is just what I need to cure myself of this horror. These sparkling eyes of yours are gems that cleanse away all my troubles."

"O-oh you…" the girl replied blushing.

Yet despite this display of affection, the blonde boy still kept Saito within the corner of his eye.

"Yo!" Called Dante as he walked up to the Japanese teen, "Something up kid?"

Startled, the teen jumped, but relaxed a moment later.

"N-no… it's… nothing really."

Dante raised a brow at that, then turned his attention towards the couple sitting at the shaded table.

"Oho… 'nothing' you say. Are you sure it isn't because you're thinking of going on a date with someone yourself? I don't blame ya for thinking about love, kid, you're at that age after all," the old hunter said with mirth.

He placed his chin between his thumb and index finger, once more taking up a pose seen in anime "In fact when I was a young man myself, I was quite the casanova. You wouldn't believe all the women I had to beat off with a stick. If you want I can even give you some pointers on how to woo the ladies."

Blushing and extremely flustered, Saito frantically waved his hands in front of the old hunter.

"N-no no! It's not like that at all Dante-san! Besides, getting a harem is something that only happens in anime, it's not like I could get one!"

Dante flashed an impish grin.

"You're right. I guess I'll wait until I can find a true student who can inherit my techniques. Besides, you've already managed to get a beautiful admirer, despite only knowing her for a day."

"Eh? What's that supposed to mean?"

Dante flashed another grin.

"It's nothing. So tell me, why've you got your eye on those two if you're not interested in romance?"

"Ah… Ano…" Saito began as he stole a glance at the blonde boy.

"The truth is… last night, after we left the headmaster's office and the head chef threw us a feast, I was pretty sure I saw that boy with another girl. It was pretty dark, but I could have sworn I saw him kissing her in a room when I went to find the bathroom."

Dante furrowed his brows and stole a glance over at the couple. The girl cutely laughed at another one of the boy's remarks.

"Seriously? Two timing on a girl even though it looks like he's already in a pretty deep relationship with another? I can't believe it," Dante said as he shook his head.

"Un. That's why I was pretty surprised when I saw him here."

"Well in the face of such a crime there's only one thing we can do."

"D-Dante-san? Wait! Where are you going?" The teen yelled.

The man in red sauntered over to the two, leaving sputtering Saito behind.

Guiche took immediate notice when the hunter in red stood off to the side of the table. Katie too, turned her attention to the man when she noticed that Guiche had stopped talking.

"Morning. Lovely day, is it not?"

Guiche took a sip of his tea, closing his eyes as he did.

"It was, until you decided to appear next to us."

"Shouldn't you kids be in class?" he asked them.

"We have no class today," the blonde boy replied, "Even if we did. I would much rather spend my time with her than listening to lectures in the study hall."

"Oh you…" the brunette replied.

Guiche then stared at the older man with half closed eyes.

"Is there something you need?" Guiche asked.

"Mmm… I just want to know why all the girls seem to like you a lot, that's all," Dante replied.

"Well I am a noble, but there are other qualities that garner such attention," the blonde said as he sat the teacup down, "but it would not be anything that someone like you will ever understand."

Dante eyed the blonde as he spoke, noticing his gaze.

"Excuse me," the girl called out, "but you are ruining a private moment between the two of us. And you have yet to introduce yourselves either."

"We can make other moments, my dear Katie. As for this rude gentleman…" the blonde said as he glanced over at the hunter, "such manners can only belong to the commoners summoned by Louise. I believe this man calls himself 'Dante'."

A look of disgust plastered itself onto Katie's face.

"You mean the same gross smelling filth that attacked Sìmon? Hmph, no wonder such cretins are mannerless."

"Now, now my dear Katie, such words are unbecoming of a beauty such as yourself," Guiche interrupted.

With a sigh, Katie lamented.

"You're right, I shouldn't let such disgusting creatures ruin our day any more than they already have."

"Perhaps you can use some more pleasant words to describe them?" Guiche asked, "For their sake."

"Hmph. Fine, but only because you asked."

The brown haired girl then took her glass and sipped her tea, letting out a small sigh when she was done.

She then gazed over at Dante.

"Oh? Are you still here? I thought you would have already returned to the waste piles you spawned from," Katie remarked.

The older man eyed her with a frown on his face. He let out a sigh a moment later and crossed his arms.

"And to think I had come here hoping to help do you a favour," Dante replied with a sigh, "Nevermind. Enjoy your date. Just try to end it quickly. Your boyfriend was up very late last night with a private tutor."

Guiche nearly choked on his tea when he heard those words.

"Private tutor?" The brunette asked, "what do you mean, a 'private tutor'?"

"You mean he did not tell you?" Dante said with a smirk. "He had someone help teach him how to kiss properly, by using very… physical teachings."

"WE DID NO SUCH THING!" The blonde yelled.

"We? So you WERE with someone last night?"

"N-no, I mean- you…" the boy stammered, twisting his attention to Dante, then Katie.

The man in red merely smirked and walked away, giving the students their just deserts.

"Ano… Dante-san…" the Japanese teen spoke up as the hunter approached, "should you really have done that?"

"While I may joke around about being a lady magnet, I take relationships seriously, that's something you should always remember. Toying around with different girls isn't something a person should do."

"Eh… that's amazingly honourable Dante-San. But… isn't the line usually 'something a man wouldn't do'?"

"Kid, in our day and age, it doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman, or none of the above, you don't fool around with someone's heart," he said as he eyed the Japanese teen, "That goes for you too, alright?"

"Hai!" The boy replied.

–o0o–

"Then please reiterate the message to the entire faculty," Osmond spoke to his assistant. She nodded in response, moving to a smaller desk to gather some papers. The old mage then faced the student before him, a fourth year with blue hair.

"Thank you for speaking to me about your concern. While you may be the first voice who stated their opinion on the matter, I no doubt believe that there will be others. You may spread word to your fellow classmates that classes will be cancelled for the day."

"Thank you headmaster," the student said with a bow. The young mage then turned and left, passing by two hunters as he swiftly departed through the door.

"You seem to be busy," Vergil said as he walked into the room. "I hope he was not here to be disciplined."

The old mage shook his head.

"No, no. If their attitude needed correcting I would have sent them to Colbert. But tell me, what brings you here this morning?"

"I wish to talk about our discussions from last night," the old hunter said as he cast a glance at Longueville.

The old man interlaced his fingers.

"I see…"

He then addressed his assistant.

"Longueville, I have a private matter to discuss with our guests. Can you please carry out your assignment while we talk?"

"Of course, sir," she said as she grabbed a stack of papers.

"Pardon me."

She deftly moved between the two hunters, and left through the open door, closing it behind her as she went.

The old mage let out a sigh.

"Very well, what do you wish to discuss?"

"I was hoping to procure a carriage to take us to the town," Vergil replied, "As well as a map or perhaps directions as to where to go?"

"Ah, of course. I believe there is a small wagon in the storage shed that the servants use from time to time. You may borrow it for the day. As for a horse to pull it… we do not have any on the campus, but you may ask the servants if they have a donkey you can use. And for directions, you may need to speak to Colbert about the specifics. He should be in one of the classrooms on the floor below us. Try room number 30, or 31."

"Thank you," Vergil said with a bow, "you've done us a great service."

"No, allow me to thank you. If your son's idea works, I may be able to accomplish something I never had the chance to do before."

"Then I will take my leave. Farewell."

"Good luck, Sir Vergil. May fortune follow you."

–o0o–

The balding man in question scribbled away at the blackboard, a piece of chalk in his hands. He glanced down at the clipboard in his left arm before resuming his writings on the board. He stepped back as he finished drawing the last few one last look at his clipboard he compared it to the drawing before him, nodding in satisfaction as they matched.

A quiet knock at his door caught his attention, and he turned just in time to see a pink haired student poke her head into the classroom.

"Pardon me," she spoke.

"Ah, Louise, early as usual," he said as he glanced at a nearby clock, "take your seat, we'll start soon."

The young girl nodded and sat in the corner of the room, just like she had done in all of her previous classes.

She quietly opened up her notebook, already copying down the formulas written on the blackboard.

Colbert noticed, but paid no mind to the diligence she showed in her studies, despite the shortcomings in her grades. Instead he smiled, and took his position at the nearby podium, taking a once over on his notes.

Another round of knocking caught his attention once more. This time, Osmond's familiar green haired secretary stood within the doorway.

"Excuse me," she said. She then eyed the room, spotting the pink haired Louise stare at the newcomer. The young student casually returned her gaze to the chalkboard in front once she took in the secretary's presence.

"Filth…" the older woman muttered under her breath.

"Longuevuille," the teacher spoke up, "is there something the headmaster needs from me?"

She nodded her head.

"There is, in fact. Classes shall be cancelled for the day."

The pink haired student froze in her note taking, turning to stare at the older woman.

"Cancelled?" Colbert asked, "is there some kind of an emergency?"

"Yes. It is more accurate to say that this matter concerns the relations between our students and staff," Longuevuille replied, "A fourth year has brought to our attention that due to the actions of Dante and Saito, many nobles may hold grudges against the faculty, including those of the kitchen staff. To ease the tension, the headmaster has decided to cancel classes and hold a meeting to address any concerns and our behaviour going forth. A formal announcement will be made after hearing any concerns from any related parties."

"Parents. After any complaints are made by any of the parents," Colbert added.

"I offer no corrections. If you'll excuse me."

The green haired woman then spared a moment's glance at Louise, a shadow of a sneer appearing on her face before she walked through the door.

"And the headmaster asked for you to stop by his office later."

With that, she left to seek other faculty members to inform.

"I see…" the man said among the quiet silence. "It seems you do not have to write in your notes any more today, Louise. You are excused."

"What about my detention sir?" she asked.

That question surprised the old teacher.

"Ah, with what has happened recently I had already forgotten… Well, you're a good student Louise. We can say you already served your time today."

She nodded.

"Thank you, but I sincerely wish to make up for my mistakes, and that includes seeing my punishments through to the end."

The bespectacled man looked at the young girl in surprise.

"That is very admirable Louise… not many are willing to proceed with their tribulations if they are excused from it. Very well, come back here in the afternoon for your detention."

She nodded again.

"Can I have another moment to finish what I started?" she asked, gesturing to her notebook.

Colbert looked at the nearby clock, then nodded.

"You may."

"Thank you sir."

The petite teen then returned to scribbling away in her notebook. Sighing, Colbert took a sheet of paper from his bag, quickly writing down a few words on it. He then walked through the door, and closed it behind him. With a nail in hand, he attached the parchment to the outside.

"All classes are cancelled for the day," it read.

Satisfied with the posted warning, Colbert attempted to return to the room, only for it to open and bring forth Louise.

"Ah, my apologies, sir," she said as she nearly collided with the man.

"The fault is mine, I should have been a bit more aware. Hmmm?"

From the corner of his eye, he caught the sight of two figures sauntering towards them.

The older gentleman wore a black waistcoat over a faded blue shirt. Dark blue pants that stained through the ages led into faded brown boots, the laces frayed from time. The second wore black as well, but with a now signature grey bomber jacket draped over his shoulders. A pair of tan trousers snaked their way into a pair of muddy brown boots.

"Ah, if it isn't Sir Vergil and Sir Nero. How are you two doing today?"

"Quite well. How fares yourself, and Louise?" the older man asked.

"Splendid, thank you."

"Doing well," the pink haired girl said with a small bow. "Good morning."

"Good morning to you too Louise," Vergil said, then turned his attention to the spectacled gentleman. "Can we have a word with you, if you don't mind?"

"You can. Shall we head to my office before…"

The sound of encroaching footsteps caught the teacher's attention. A group of second year students walked toward them, satchels filled with notebooks, chipped feathers, and partially filled inkwells. They paused as they caught sight of their teacher in the hallway.

"Good morning sir. Is there something the matter this morning?" the apparent head of the group asked. His eyes then drifted toward the sight of the young mage. "Maybe something to do with the pig?" He then spotted Vergil and Nero standing behind the man. "Or the cheating dishonourable filth?"

"Classes are cancelled for the day," the pink haired girl interjected.

The boy turned his gaze towards the young mage, sneering at her in disdain.

"I was not talking to YOU, swine."

A loud 'clack', echoed through the hallway, making the second years jump in surprise.

"Xander," said the teacher coldly, "You seem to forget where you are. There is no slander to be uttered in these halls."

The young boy tutted under his breath before putting on a fake smile.

"You're right. My apologies. I seem to be a bit… forgetful recently," he said.

Colbert narrowed his eyes.

"Very well… but Louise is correct. All classes are cancelled for the day, ordered by the headmaster."

"That's the first bit of good news I have heard all day. I won't have to be lugging around my satchel," the student replied.

His gaze then turned to Louise.

"Nor will I have to stare into the void that is the Zero…" he spoke beneath his breath.

He then turned around and swiftly left with his cohorts.

The teacher let out a tired sigh, turning around to face the hunters again.

"My apologies, you should not have had to witness that so early in the day."

"We are already accustomed to it, despite our short stay."

Colbert shook his head.

"That itself is concerning… but it is an inevitable event." The teacher quickly shifted out from his sombre mood as he continued. "What is it you wish to discuss with me?"

"We were hoping you could provide some directions to the building you mentioned last night," Vergil responded.

"Ah, you mean when your son proposed you reopen your old workshop, yes? That's right I never gave you proper directions to the old warehouse of mine."

"Granting us somewhere we can sleep and work is already a great gift. In time, we will repay this act of kindness."

"If your son's plan pays off, you may be able to do so and more."

Colbert then placed a hand to his chin, now deep in thought.

"Hmm… I cannot remember where it is exactly… but I do have the old records and the deed for the land in my office. And a map of the town. If you can come with me for a moment I can supply you with them."

"We are very much…" Vergil trailed off for a moment, his mind lost in thought. "Indebted."

Colbert nodded.

"If you would please follow me."

The two hunters proceeded to trail behind the professor, but their company was joined by the pink haired student.

"Pardon, but what is this about initiating a new line of work?"

"We were thinking about re-opening our old workshop," Vergil replied to the girl.

"During our meeting with the headmaster, before Blaise called us down to the mess hall to express his gratitude, Nero suggested we reopen our old line of work."

"And you all thought of this yesterday?"

Vergil nodded.

"During our outing into the nearby town, yes."

"I see… and this work of yours, what is it exactly?"

Vergil gave a small smile.

"Hunting, of course."

Louise blinked before a sheeping blush crept up her face. In embarrassment, the girl turned away, eyeing the stone floor as they continued walking.

"Of course… I… seem to have forgotten about that…" she squeaked.

Vergil let out a small laugh, one that gave Nero a small smile. He eyed the pink haired girl as he put his arms behind his head, walking towards Colbert's office in a good mood.

His body soon collided with something, and he was taken aback. The figure in question landed on the ground, catching Colbert and the others unawares.

"Oh, sorry about that," he said in reflex before offering a hand to the figure that crashed into him in the four-way intersection.

The figure on the floor, reached up in a slight daze, their possession lying next to them. They grabbed their staff with one hand, and Nero's in the other. Only when they returned to full height, did Nero piece their identity.

"Tabitha?"

The bespectacled girl glanced at the hunter, before giving him a half lidded look.

"Ah, it's you."

She then turned towards Vergil.

"And you as well."

"The keen one," Vergil replied as he stared her down, "Good morning."

She blinked once before returning his greeting in kind.

She then noticed the addition of two others.

"Louise. Good morning."

"Good morning to you too," the pinkette replied.

The blue haired mage then turned to Colebrt.

"Good morning to you as well ."

"And a good morning to you, ."

She nodded in kind.

"Where are you all going this morning?" the bespectacled girl asked.

"Simply a small meeting between the faculty and us," Vergil replied.

"I see," she then turned to Louise, "are you involved as well?"

The pinkette shook her head.

"No. I just happened to be going their way."

"I see," the blunette replied.

An awkward silence passed for a moment between the group, before the newcomer spoke up.

"Have a nice day then."

Nero blinked in slight confusion, his thoughts in sync with his father.

"You are leaving already?" Vergil asked for the two of them.

"I see no reason to stay. I have other matters to attend to," she replied.

Louise quickly spoke up.

"If you are going to attend your classes, then I must inform you that they are cancelled today, per the headmaster's orders."

The bespeckled girl stared at the pink haired student for a moment, before nodding in appreciation.

"Ah. Thank you, Louise. I wasn't aware."

"Of course. Though if I may ask, where is Zerbst? She is almost always with you."

"Ah," the blue haired mage said as she clasped her free hand around her wand. "She is… running a bit late this morning."

"She is out on another date, you mean."

Tabitha tutted as Louise saw through her bluff. The pinkette sighed, as she moved a hand to her head.

"I should not be surprised that she was occupied with such matters at this point."

"She… has been dating quite often recently," Tabitha replied.

Glancing between them, Vergil spoke up.

"We'll be on our way then," he said as he nodded to Colbert.

"It was good to see you again, Louise, Tabitha."

The three older gentlemen then kindly left the two to their own devices, one that was soon filled with awkward silence.

—o0o—

Lazily lying down by the gate, Dante peacefully obtained a few more minutes of shut-eye. While he was not sleepy by any means, he had nothing better to do while waiting for his family members to return. Meanwhile Saito busied himself building a small tower out of pebbles, carefully stacking each stone on top of the other. A small clacking and the shout of "Darn it!" cued Dante into another collapse.

"Still not holding up?" He asked.

"No… I think the pebble I used as the base is too uneven. The rest of them aren't much better I think, and all the uneven flaws keep making it unstable."

"A collapsing tower built on a shaky foundation, huh?"

"It seems so. I'll try to find a flatter pebble."

Placing his head closer to the ground, the teen began turning over the sediment in the grass. A shadow loomed over him a few moments later, just as he reached for what might have been a solid foundation..

"Well well, take a good look everyone. We just found a worm digging around his natural habitat."

Saito stared up at the owner of the voice, a teen roughly his age with orange hair. He wore the same uniform all the others had, and a brown satchel full of school supplies that hung off his shoulder.

"But alas! He meets his natural predator! The king of birds swoops down to pluck this nasty little s*** stain from the ground!"

Taken aback, the teen is lifted off the ground by his collar, now eye to eye with the student.

"But the king does not eat the worm. No, it is far too disgusting, even amongst other worms! Instead he will enjoy ripping it apart with his talons!"

Confused, but sensing the danger, Saito raised his leg to kick himself away from the boy. The stranger's grip on his collar was gone, and the japanese teen was safe, but he could still feel the anger surging from the newcomer.

"Uhh… Dante-san…"

"Yesh, and I thought I was always a magnet trouble. At least we're doing this after breakfast," he said as he rose to his feet, "Can I help you gentle men?"

"Ah, and the worm's best friend has arrived. The conniving rat," the student spat, "So accustomed to living in the dirt, he cannot even speak properly. It is 'gentlemen' by the way, fool."

"Come on, we can all get along. At least your friends and us can. Going by your thinning hair colour and use of words, I am guessing you are related to the boy we fought yesterday," Dante remarked.

"Well, the commoner has a brain after all. Yeah, that was my younger brother you cheated yesterday, filth. Today, I'm going to settle the score."

The boy reached into his bag, pulling forth his wand. It was shaped like a talon of a great bird, and coloured in a golden amber hue. He aimed it at the duo as he let his bag slid onto the floor, the glass vial of ink inside softly clattering.

Saito instinctively backed up, while Dante took a defensive stance. The orange haired student narrowed his almond eyes, his glare growing harsher as he studied his opponents.

"I don't know what tricks you pulled in my brother's duel," he spoke as he nodded to his companions, "but I doubt you can handle all of our spells at once."

His small cable of cohorts aimed their weapons at the two.

Dante eyed each mage as Saito gulped.

"Lèonard," a voice called from behind, "I suggest you put your weapon down."

The leader of the pack turned around.

"Alexander."

A bespectacled blue haired mage stepped forward, a small group behind him. He was flanked by two people: a girl with yellow marking beneath her eye, and purple hair tied into twin braids; and a dark skinned teen with white locks, holding a yellow staff and a brown satchel over his shoulder.

"School rules forbid unsanctioned magic being cast on the grounds. Unless you challenged this commoner to a duel."

The orange haired student tutted in response. He quickly reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a white handkerchief. Tapping it with his wand, it folded itself into a makeshift glove.

"Here," the boy said as he threw it down, "pick it up."

Dante stared at the "glove" as it lay on the floor, and gave a look to Saito. The old hunter gave a nod, which Saito returned in kind. Dante turned back to the noble.

"I think a man should be responsible for his own things, especially if he throws a small tantrum."

The boy tutted once more.

"Cocky son of a b-," the orange haired boy said as he aimed his wand.

"Lèonard," Alexander called out, "Must I repeat myself about school rules?"

The boy looked feral as he glared at the other student. In frustration, he put away his wand and picked up his supplies, grumbling the words "Stupid f***ng prefects," as he did. He gave one last glare towards Saito and Dante before leaving the field, heading back inside the school.

Dante sported a grin as he watched him leave, before turning his attention to the blue haired mage.

"Thanks for the saving. But I thought you mages did not like commoners very much."

"Personal preference and ideals," the student said, "are separate from enforcing and adhering to rules."

The student then fixed his glasses, pushing them up with his ring finger.

"Having said that, I believe introductions are in order. I am a fourth year student at Tristain Academy, my name is-"

"Alexander! You still trying to order my boys around?"

The group turned to see the same group of bullies, only joined by a few more members. The one who spoke was a redhead mage. He wore the same outfit as the others, except the top buttons of his white shirt remained loose. He too carried a satchel filled to the brim with notebooks and other supplies. He walked towards Dante's group, fists tightly clenched as he stared down the blue haired boy.

"Marion," the fourth year prefect said.

"The morning has just started, and already you want to pick a fight?" the redhead said.

The prefect stared the boy down, his eyes not moving a inch away from the antagonising student.

"I was merely reminding our junior about the rules."

"What's that? So you're trying to protect these loser commoners, is that right?"

Alexander narrowed his eyes.

"I never said that."

"Actions," the redhead said as he jabbed a finger into his chest, "speak louder than words. And your actions make you stand on the wrong side of the line, loser."

"Marion!" the purple haired girl called out from behind, "That's enough. Remember who you are and who you are speaking to!"

"And the cheerleader stands up for the nerd. Tch, what, just cuz he's the Student Council President he gets authority over me?" Marion quipped back.

"He is the face of our year," she replied.

"Oh yeah? So tell me, what does that make you, Mauve?"

A bright red flashed across her cheeks as she reached into her coat, grasping the tip of her wand. A hand reached around to stop her, belonging to Alexander, as he gave her a look of disapproval. However, Marion was not left to his own devices.

"Hey hey, what do you think you're doing Johnathan?" the redhead asked as Johnathan's staff was pressed into his neck.

"Reminding you of your place."

The white haired boy glared at the redhead, who held up his hands in surrender.

"Sheesh, and ya need to do that by threatenin' him?" a somewhat high pitched voice called from behind Marion. "Let 'em off already, and don't be such a tight **s."

Eyes turned to a somewhat small teen with dirty blonde hair. He carried nothing but a wooden rod tied to his belt, and his hands were folded behind his back as he unenthusiastically spoke to the staff wielding mage.

"Your 'friend' is badmouthing the president and the vice-president," Johnathan said as he pushed his staff a bit more, "exactly why should I be lenient on him, Rochette?"

"Because he did no such thing," Alexander said as he placed a hand on Johnathan's shoulder. "And regardless of your reasoning, do not break school rules. Violence against others is also prohibited."

Lèonard tutted from the back as he heard those words. The gazes of Johnathan and Alexander flew to him, and the boy looked away. Alexander gave Johnathan a stern glare and the boy retracted his weapon, freeing the redhead.

"Here," Alexander said as he reached down and grabbed Johnathan's fallen book bag. A few papers and his half filled inkwell and used feather nearly spilled out as the president handed them over.

"Thank you," the boy replied, "and I apologise for my behaviour."

"Be better, not sorry," Alexander replied.

"Sheesh, it's like I'm watching a high school drama," Dante whispered to Saito after he finished translating.

The Japanese nodded in agreement.

"I feel like I watched an anime that was just like this before I crossed over," he replied, "Student relations are really something in this world I guess."

"Hmph, honestly what are meatheads like you thinking?" a pink haired girl called out from behind Mauve. Her hair freely draped down to her shoulders, unkempt and wavy. While she wore the same uniform as the others, she too left the top few buttons of her shirt open, revealing the valley of her generous bust. She carried nothing else but a belt with copious pockets strung around.

"Sarah," Johntahtan began as he stepped towards her.

"That's enough," Alexander called out, a hand catching the mage. "Marion, I suggest you go back inside and take the others with you, lest we add more fuel to the fire."

"Tch. Typical. Always gotta be the perfect student, don't ya? Gotta let no incidents happen on your watch, right president?" Marion spat. "A true senior would stand up and fight for his juniors, be it in revenge for their first-years, or in place of their second-year brothers. But a guy like you doesn't want to get his hands dirty, right?"

"You are on thin ice, Marion," Alexander replied.

"Yeah, yeah," the redhead replied. The rest of Marion's group then began to grumble as they walked away, agreeing with the redhead for the most part.

"And before I forget to mention, classes are cancelled today."

"Are they now?" Marion asked, "I don't remember there being a holiday today."

"It was done at the president's request," Johnathan replied, "Although the timing of the announcement was quite sudden he was concerned that students may act as you do towards the commoners, so he arranged for a day off to address these concerns."

"Tch. 'Address our concerns'? You mean give a whole spiel for an hour and a half in the auditorium? Count me out," he spoke, and the rest of his cohorts agreed.

"At least I don't have to lug anything around today. I'll see you losers later."

"The meeting is MANDATORY," Johnathan replied.

"Whatever," he said with a wave of his hand. A moment before he reached the doorway, however, he turned to speak to the blue haired student.

"Remember where you stand, ," Marion said as he approached the doorway, "Or you might find yourself at the other end of MY staff in a duel."

"I will take your words into consideration," Alexander replied.

As his hand reached for the door, it opened from the inside. A raven haired teen walked out, colliding straight into the redhead.

"Argh! Who in the-?"

Both figures recoiled and dropped their things, all clattering between the grass and stone floor. Both of their notebooks, inkwells, and feathers all fled from their book bags and toppled to the floor. As Marion took note of the mage sprawled on the floor, he sneered.

"Ah, the king of losers, Ivan, has graced us with his presence."

The redhead peeked behind his shoulder, noticing Alexander glaring at him with a stern look on his face.

"I'd give you a proper welcome, your majesty, but I think I'll just leave you be today. But I'll remember to pay you back double the next time."

He then reached down for his things, taking his dropped belongings alongside his cohorts.

"Here you are, sir," Lèonard said as he handed Marion his inkwell. "Luckily yours was empty, unlike his."

The orange haired student pointed towards the floor with his chin, noticing the growing spot of black ink that spread towards Marion's other belongings.

"Got them!" yelled another cohort as he snatched up the notebooks and pristine feather.

"Wouldn't want the failure's ink to get on your brand new feather, sir! Or your books!"

"See, now this is how you be a team player. Take note Alexander, this is how you should treat your seniors, and in turn, your seniors help you," Marion yelled over his shoulder.

As Marion placed his belongings back, he laughed, and the rest of the group joined in. They walked past the boy on the ground, taking extra care to step on all of the notebooks strewn on the floor as they did.

-o-

"Guess mages aren't immune to getting bullied themselves," Dante said to Saito.

Mauve instantly whipped her head towards them.

"You, what are you whispering?"

The two foreigners instantly snapped to attention.

"Just noticing how bad he is being treated. Are not mages supposed to like other mages?"

"Tch. Ignorant fools. But I will educate you. You see, there is something in an institution called a 'social ladder'. I doubt you peasants have ever heard of such a notion, but those such as Ivan, who perform poorly, are at the bottom of the ladder. Despite being a fourth year, he is still far behind his peers in terms of magical talents. It is almost shameful, really," the purple haired vice-president replied.

Dante took a moment to whisper the words in Japanese to Saito, then asked his question "If that is so… then why is your president helping him?"

Eyes then turned to see Alexander on his knees, picking up the books and handing them to the fallen raven haired boy.

-o-

"Th-thank you, Alexander."

"Please, it is the least I can do for you," the blue haired boy replied as they both stood.

-o-

Mauve sighed.

"It is due to his… ever so generous good heart," she said to the man in red, "always assisting others no matter the circumstance. Despite being at the top of our year in magical studies, he always makes time to meet and assist the failures. It is the only reason why such a bottom feeder is still able to attend this school."

-o-

Alexander then handed over the last of the notebooks to the raven haired boy.

"I shall meet you later at the usual spot, yes?"

"Of course," he replied with a smile, "I look forward to studying with you."

"As am I," he replied, "I look forward to what other… guidance you can give me on my work."

"Oh, do not flatter me. I am not that much help."

Alexander closed his eyes and smiled.

"Very well. Until we meet later."

"Until we meet later," Ivan repeated.

The raven haired boy then scurried off, leaving the group behind.

-o-

"I guess mages can be nice."

Mauve scoffed.

"Kindness is of course a virtue, although that may be a word that you may not understand."

"One that doesn't seem to extend to you apparently…" Dante mumbled.

"Pardon?"

"Just taking notice of how much of virtue he has," Dante replied.

"Of course. As our dear leader and student council president, such a thing would come naturally for him. And the word is 'virtuous'."

Dante gave a forced smile. "I see, thank you for your correction."

"Mauve," Alexander called out as he approached them, "Is everything alright? You are not trying to start something as well are you?"

"Of course I would not. It is against school rules and ones' wishes. I was merely teaching them proper vocabulary," she replied with a hand on her chest.

"I see… very well then. We have dawdled long enough."

The prefect then reached into one of his pockets, pulling out a gold pocket watch on a chain.

"I have a prior engagement that merits my attention. Meet me in the council room in fifteen minutes, understand?"

A chorus of "Yes sir," echoed from the group before they dispersed.

"As for you two," Alexander said as he turned to them, "Hopefully we may meet again under better circumstances. Until then."

Returning his watch to his pocket, he swiftly left, leaving the foreigners alone once more.

"Huh… the kids in this school are more colourful than I thought. In more ways than one."

Saito nodded. "But at least there's one nice person among the bunch."

"You mean Alexander?" Dante asked as he turned to his companion. "He seems alright, if you ignore a few of his bad bedside manners."

Dante folded his arms behind his head.

"That Mauve is definitely a cheerleader for the president though. Or… what is that other word they use? Something-imp?"

The Japanese teen shrugged.

"I'm a bit concerned with the other group though. Those guys… they really seem to have it out for us."

"Yeah… not to mention The Elites that are hiding away in the background."

"Dante-san… do you think maybe, that the people in Marion's group are members of The Elites?"

The older hunter turned to glance at his younger companion.

"Nah. It'd be too easy for others to figure out if they did. No one's supposed to know who these guys are, so- walkin' around in a group like that would be a pretty easy way to figure out the members."

"Then… how would you tell if they're a member?"

Dante shrugged.

"If I had to guess, I'd start by looking at those who belong to different factions. Going by what old Osmond said, they probably have a big pull in whatever group they're in, so it'd make more sense if the members are parts of different groups. That way, they have influence over the entire student year. So maybe one or two are part of the same group if it's really big, but for the most part, they'd be part of different cliques and probably do their best to stay out of each other's way to avoid conflict."

"I see… so, then… Do you think any of the people we met are members of The Elites?"

"As a matter of fact kid, I do."

"E-eh?! Really?"

"Yep."

"Who?"

"Our good ol' StuCo prez, Alexander."

—o0o—

Footsteps signalled the approach of a newcomer, sauntering over to a neatly made outdoor table. Fresh tea and a few pastries adorning the white tablecloth, and a blonde student sat drinking tea. The morning rays lightly dipped across the school roof, but a white parasol helped to block out the sun's rays.

"So…" said the visitor, "I've done what you asked. We have our day off."

"Good," came the blonde.

"Still, it's quite the big request coming from a second year student. To try and appease the entire school into cease fire?"

"It is only temporary," the blonde said as he set his cup down, "Having them cause a commotion will interfere with our interests. And my plans require them to act in a certain manner. Targeting the commoners will only complicate matters."

The blonde then reached for a small sugar cookie, popping it into his mouth. A moment of silence passed as the boy chewed and swallowed his pastry.

"Besides… are you not president of the student council? Surely you have some pull to quell the others for a short while. Even more so since you are the first voice."

"The crucial key being for a 'short while'. Sìmon's brothers are out for blood, as are their friends. I can only keep such fury docile for a small period of time. Speaking of the first year, though he is no longer a member, he is still doing his part to keep the noise down to a minimum. Yet whether that is due to fear of the commoners or otherwise remains to be seen."

The blonde raised an eyebrow.

"And why would he 'fear the commoners?'"

"Well… from what I have heard, he has been having visions of a nightmarish creature, one dyed a blood red and wreathed in orange flames. Where he envisioned such a beast he would not tell, but I have heard from many that the commoner had something to do with it at the end of the duel. At least, that's how many concluded the reason as to why he begged at the end."

The blonde scoffed.

"I have heard those rumours too. Insanity. If that commoner had such a power, why would he hide it? I've never known any person to shy away from exerting their strength if they had it."

"Hmmm… then perhaps you do not know enough."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing," the blue haired student said as he got up from his seat. "I've done my part, now it is time for you to do yours. Be swift, their anger will not subside forever."

"I do not need to be reminded," the blonde said as he sipped his tea.

"I do not need to be reminded…" he repeated again as he took another sip.

—o0o—

"Osmond, what is the meaning of cancelling classes?" Colbert asked as he entered Osmond's office. Longuevuille was nowhere to be seen, still informing the staff of the current day's new schedule.

"I know you," the bespectacled teacher continued, "you would not make such a decision so impulsively."

The old mage glanced at the man with a gleam in his eye.

"I had hoped you would be clever enough to realise my other motivations. Take a seat Colbert."

The teacher glanced at the wooden chair before the headmaster's desk, pulling it a bit closer before sinking into it.

"What is so private about this matter that you wished for my ears alone to hear?"

"Allow me to explain in a moment. First, I trust you supplied Sir Vergil with the information he required?"

"Yes. They should have left already."

"Excellent," the old mage said as he leaned back into his chair.

"Now, Longuevuille has told you that a student has voiced his concerns over the past day's duel, yes?"

"Indeed, and that you accepted his proposal very easily," Colbert said with a stern look. "Headmaster, surely you are aware that that student-"

"Could very well be a member of The Elites? Absolutely. That is why I granted such a request."

Colbert widened his eyes.

"That is why…?"

Osmond closed his eyes and nodded.

"Allow me to explain my reasoning. When the fourth year student, Alexander, came to us with concerns about the faculty, he said that he was worried that a rift may form between the commoners and the nobles. In fear that the students may very well take action against the kitchen staff, he offered the idea of the school cancelling classes for the day. His words were that he would meet with the students and ease their frustrations in a manner that would ensure peace."

Colbert then narrowed his eyes.

"Osmond, you know as well as I that the nobles will not take such words at face value. Unless someone has sufficient pull within the student body, they would never sit quietly."

"Precisely why I allowed him to do so."

Osmond sat forward, a cunning glare in his eyes.

"Because only a member of The Elites may have such a pull. Though they are anonymous, if word were to be sent by the head of The Elites…"

"Then even the rest of the body might follow," the man said in recognition.

Osmond nodded.

"In our world, above all else, power commands the ultimate respect, and The Elites represent the greatest of power within the student body. Even if they speak through flyers, coded messages, or otherwise, none of the other students would make a move if they told them to be quiet."

"So the reason you accepted…"

"Is to see which students would quiet down, and which ones would have no change."

Osmond lay back in his seat.

"No doubt they will use this moment to try to strike at the Hunters. Such a quiet most likely comes due to an attempt at revenge, one that requires no outside interference. This will give us time to plan and observe their actions. None of them should be aware that they are leaving for the day, giving us a great opportunity to see how they respond."

"And the one who came forward, Alexander…?"

"I already have my eye on him. No doubt he is a member."

Osmond closed his eyes, and turned to look at the white clouds and golden sun among the clear blue sky.

"A storm is approaching, Colbert. A storm that may change everything about Tristan. We are breaking ground on a new era. And it seems that the first to be weathered by this storm is our school. And I will do all I can to ensure that we emerge stronger because of it."

Osmond tightly clenched his staff.

"For them… and their vision… The Elites must be swept away. Only then can we usher in a great change."

-End of Chapter 14-

AN: "I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING! PROVOOOOOKING! BLACK CLOUDS IN I~SO-LA-TION!" Ahem. Hope you all enjoyed that chapter. The next one will be here within the month, I promise, so look forward to it! I also went back and revised a few parts in Chapter 13 so if you hadn't read it, now is the time! After breaking ground on this arc, the dust and rocks create many shadows on the foreground. As the group begins to settle into their new lives, the antagonist waits for the perfect moment to strike! Next time on My Familiar Cries Not the Devil's Tears: Hunter's New Grounds.

See ya then, and keep up that Smokin' Sexy Style y'all!