Ping!*
Sensei received a notification on his phone early in the morning.
"I wonder who it is?" Sensei muttered as he opened his phone.
It was Ibuki.
Ibuki: [SenSei! Can I visit Schale today?]
Sensei: [Of course! You can visit any time.]
Ibuki: [Yay! Then I'll bE there soon!]
A cup of coffee was placed beside him by a floating hand.
"Thanks," Sensei said as he picked up the cup. "Still haven't gotten the hang of it, Yume?"
"This is—" Yume's body flickered into view, but now it was her hand that went missing. Parts of her body kept flickering in and out of view until she eventually managed to completely manifest a physical form "This is so hard! I really don't want to scare Hoshino like last time!"
"Ahhh, yeah…That could have gone south real fast…" Sensei said as he remembered how badly Hoshino took it when Yume suddenly disappeared in front of her while they were talking. Thankfully Yume, who managed to materialize again, managed to get Hoshino to calm down by hugging her.
After that, they explained to Hoshino regarding Yume's current status as a spirit, on how she had been watching her all this time while being unable to reach out, and how Sensei eventually noticed Yume thanks to his supernaturally attuned senses and made a familiar contract with her to sustain her fading existence and allowed her to materialize.
"Still, I'm surprised that you still need to practice materialization," Sensei said.
"I don't really have the knowledge that those 'Servants' as you call them were given knowledge on these things when they were summoned so…"
"Fair point," Sensei said. "With that said, my former Servant—Saber—couldn't even go into Spirit Form due to her circumstances."
Yume pressed a finger to the side of her temple. "I kinda get it, but I don't really get it either."
"Don't worry, hers was a special case. Yours is due to a lack of knowledge, which makes sense considering the basis of our contract has elements from my world," Sensei said. "If I was a better mage I could have shared the relevant knowledge with you via our mental link, but unfortunately that is beyond my capabilities, so we're stuck with me teaching you the old fashioned way."
"It's alright, Sensei! At least I get to spend time and help you this way!" Yume said with a smile. "Besides, Hoshino knows now that she can just see me by looking for you!"
Yume can technically move around even without Sensei being nearby so she could attend school again, but until she gets a better hang of her current state of being it would be better for her to stay by his side for the foreseeable future.
This meant that she would need to come with him whenever he had business in other schools, though it shouldn't be a big issue with her ability to enter a Spirit form.
At least I wouldn't have to think of an excuse like I did the time I brought Saber to school, Sensei thought with a chuckle.
"Hey, I heard your thoughts, Sensei!" Yume said as she pouted a little.
"Sorry, sorry."
"You make some really rude remarks on your mind. Well, I guess you do let that side of you slip out sometimes with Hoshino," Yume said with a smile. "Still, it's really strange to be able to know another side of you, what with the dream last night…"
"!" Sensei quickly sent a look of worry her way. He warned her beforehand that this might happen, but learning that the Dream Cycle started made him concerned for Yume. "What did you see?"
"Huh? Oh, it was you sitting on a porch with an older man under a full moon," Yume said. "Was that man your father, Sensei?"
Shirou was inwardly relieved that it was one of his more peaceful memories that Yume saw.
"Yeah," Sensei said.
"It was a beautiful dream but, you father he…" Yume said, but she couldn't help but make a sad smile. "Did your father…?"
Yume's words trailed off. Sensei knew what she was trying to say.
"Yeah…That was the very last conversation I ever had with him," Sensei said as he looked out of the window.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Sensei," Yume teared up a little.
"It's alright. It's been a long time since then," Sensei said with a smile. "I'm more worried about you. I was hoping the Dream Cycle wouldn't happen, but I guess that's out of the question now."
"Why?" Yume tilted her head in confusion. "It's your own memories, Sensei. I'm actually excited to know more about you."
"Not all of my memories are as peaceful as that," Sensei said with a complicated smile. He had no regrets about his past actions, but he was well aware that they might be too much for a normal girl like Yume. "Some of them are things that I'd rather you don't see at all."
"It couldn't be that bad!" Yume said with a cheerful smile. "Besides, you get to see mine too!"
"Yume, I'm being serious. They're—"
"Sensei~!" Ibuki's voice was heard outside the door. "Can Ibuki come in?"
"We'll continue this conversation later," Sensei said before he greeted Ibuki with a smile. "Please do, Ibuki!"
…
…
…
As Sensei promised to Ibuki during their first meeting, he had been teaching her how to better control her Mystic when they're both free. This is another of those days. Right now, they were in SCHALE's gymnasium.
"So you're the President of the Abydos Student Council and Miss Hoshino's senior? Wow~! You're like Makoto!" Ibuki said in excitement.
"Makoto? Who is she?" Yume asked with a tilt of her head.
"Ah, Makoto is the leader of Pandemonium Society and Gehenna Academy's Student Council President! You didn't know?"
"Well, you see…I've been…sick for two years so my junior Hoshino had to cover for me this entire time!" Yume made an excuse before quickly glancing at Sensei. Sensei, help me out here!
"Yume's circumstances are a little complicated, so I'm currently helping her so she can re-adjust to school life," Sensei replied. "I would appreciate it if you keep her circumstances to yourself, even if just for a little bit."
"You mean like how to walk on the ground again?" Ibuki said with excitement as she noticed that Yume wasn't quite walking on the ground. "Sensei, is Miss Yume's sickness magical in nature?"
"...Yup! You got it right, Ibuki!" Sensei said while scratching his cheek.
"So you're also teaching her magic like you teach me!" Ibuki said with a smile. "Then that means Miss Yume is my junior in Mystic studies!"
"That's right!" Yume said as she patted Ibuki on the head. "You're a really smart girl, aren't you?"
"Miss Yume, can you show me how you fly?" Ibuki asked.
"Hmmm? Oh, it's like this!" Yume said as she slowly flew around while still materialized. "It actually took me a while to figure out how to do it, but it's really convenient once you get the hang of it."
Out of curiosity, Shirou once asked how Yume was capable of floating, assuming it was due to her status as a spirit, but she replied that it was something she learned to do over time. And it seemed gaining the ability to materialize a physical form didn't hamper said ability.
It really feels different to be flying while materialized…I can feel the air while I move, he heard Yume's thoughts. It's a nice feeling though.
Ibuki watched Yume fly in the air with fascination in her eyes, but it was slowly replaced by one of curiosity.
"Ibuki…Ibuki doesn't really get how Miss Yume is flying but…" Ibuki muttered.
Sensei raised an eyebrow as he felt Ibuki's Mystic became more active. Yume seemed to have noticed this change too as she stopped to stare at Ibuki.
"Ibuki," Sensei called out. "Are you trying to see if you can also fly?"
"That's right, Sensei!" Ibuki nodded. "Ibuki doesn't understand how Miss Yume is doing it because she doesn't have wings, but I do…So, can I…?"
"Trying it here is…" Sensei looked up at the ceiling. There was enough vertical clearance for an attempt.
"I'll allow it, but be careful, okay?" Sensei said as he asked Yume to position herself on top of Ibuki to catch her just in case she launched herself too fast. Though he wasn't entirely sure how she was going to use her small bat-like wings to do so. Perhaps if she—
"Um…I'm pretty sure Miss Hina does it like this…" Ibuki's wings twitched a little before it started to grow in size until it was bigger than her entire body. Ibuki momentarily lost balance with the change in weight, but quickly regained it. "Waah…! That was close."
"So you managed to change the size of her wings," Sensei said as Ibuki flapped her now bigger wings a few times, sending a gust of wind his way. "Good job, Ibuki."
"Ibuki can do this!" Ibuki said in excitement before she crouched a little and started flapping her wings at a higher speed before she timed her jump with the next flap of her wings and quickly blasted herself to a head-on collision with the roof. "Waaah! Help!"
Thankfully, Yume was there to catch her, though she was dragged with Ibuki for a moment before they eventually stopped a few meters before they hit the ceiling before slowly bringing her back to the ground. "T-That was close! Are you okay, Ibuki?"
"Ahaha! That was fun! I wanna try again!" Ibuki exclaimed.
…
…
Sensei smiled as he watched Ibuki attempt it again with better success this time.
Though she couldn't quite achieve true flight yet, she quickly managed to learn how to glide around the gym, with Yume following her.
"So the rumors regarding SCHALE's ghost are true," Sensei heard a familiar voice as he heard footsteps approaching him. Sensei looked over his shoulder and saw that it was Hina. "That student seems familiar…"
"Hey, Hina!" Sensei greeted her as she stopped beside him. "I received your message earlier."
"Good day, Sensei," Hina said with a small smile. "I hope I'm not disturbing your lesson."
"It's fine. I'm really just supervising at the moment. Flying is a bit beyond my capabilities," Sensei admitted.
"Still, it's impressive that you managed to teach Ibuki how to control the flow of Mystic even when you don't have a halo yourself, Sensei."
"From my perspective, the Mystic powering your halo is a type of magical energy in your body, after all," Sensei said. "And Magecraft developed by making efficient use of magical energy, whether it be in our bodies or the environment."
"Are you sure you should be telling this to me?" Hina asked.
"It's fine, I'm sure you already have a theory on my abilities anyway," Sensei said. "Besides, I believe I can trust you. It's a pity we don't meet that often."
"Like you, my schedule is incredibly busy. The Eden Treaty is taking up my time among other things," Hina said with a smile. "Still, if it's alright with you, then I'll try to find some time."
"Send me your schedule. I'll try to match my schedule with yours," Sensei said.
"Understood," Hina said with a smile before she turned her attention back to Ibuki and Yume. "I know I've seen that Abydos student before, but when…?"
"That's Kuchinashi Yume, the Abydos Student Council President," Sensei said.
"Wha—?!" Hina widened her eyes in surprise. "But that's not—! Does Takanashi Hoshino know?"
"Yes," Sensei said. "Hoshino and I found a comatosed Yume being cared for by a kind-hearted doctor in the Black Market district. It was only recently that she woke up…That's the official story, anyway."
"Sensei, it's one thing to use your magic to revitalize a dried out oasis," Hina said. "But reviving a deceased student…?"
"I never actually confirmed that the oasis was my work."
"Don't underestimate Gehenna's ability to gather information, Sensei," Hina said with a smile. "You haven't answered the situation with Kuchinashi Yume."
"You're right that it involves my 'magic'," Sensei admitted with a smile. "All I really did was give her a helping hand after a chance meeting with her spirit."
"Her spirit? What do you—"
"Miss Hina!" Ibuki called out to her. "Come and join us!"
"You should probably join them," Sensei said. "Maybe you can ask Yume herself."
Is that fine, Yume? Sensei asked Yume through their mental link.
You trust her so it's fine, Yume replied. So that's the current Head Prefect of Gehenna Academy huh…She somehow reminds me of Hoshino during her first year.
"She said it's fine," Sensei replied.
"...More of your 'magecraft', Sensei?" Hina said with a resigned smile as she expanded her wings. "Very well, I'll take you up on your suggestion."
As Hina joined Ibuki and Yume, Sensei cupped a hand on his chin.
"The Eden Treaty, huh…" Sensei muttered. "Speaking of which, I have a scheduled meeting with the Tea Party next week."
He should probably prepare some pastries as gifts. Seeing as he was supposed to meet with Himari in the afternoon to get an update on Hod, perhaps he could go earlier and ask for Kei's help with baking. Maybe I can also check if she and Aris have managed to come to an understanding while I'm at it.