ೃ༄ "my my, we meet again, l/n."
✧──────✧
f/n hugged her books to her chest as she walked alongside her classmates and jack. it was time for lunch and they were discussing about ways on how to break the contract, but she paid no mind to it and zoned out. 'i wonder what will we have for dinner today... maybe i should try asking sebek to cook this time,' thought f/n as she continued walking.
'maybe i should have my favorite food for lunch... but i already had the same meal yesterday... can i have some pie for lunch then? oh, i heard ace likes cherry pie... maybe i should try that out and see why he likes it so much.' while the diasomnia first year was occupied with her own thoughts, yuu grabbed her wrist and walked with the group towards the hall of mirrors.
f/n snapped out of her trance and realized they were standing in front of octavinelle's mirror, "woah, woah, woah, why are we here? i thought we're getting lunch?" ace looked at the first year and grinned, "we're visiting the vip room. don't worry, f/n~ i'll treat you to lunch, hehehehe..." f/n grew suspicious at how much ace giggled as he said those words, but decided to brush it off and entered octavinelle with them.
they snuck into the vip room and to their luck, somehow, azul wasn't there. jack looked around as he entered, "it's true... looks like no one is here yet." deuce glanced at the safe and said, "the safe has a lock and needs a key... this will be tough..." jack's eyes widened as he warned the group, "someone's coming!" ace looked at the door and said, "oh shit! hide!"
the first years then hid under the table, and it was not comfortable in the slightest. "it's cramped... you're too big, jack!" complained ace. "what'd ya say?" asked jack. "ack! don't move, man!" f/n sighed as she was pressed against the side of the table and yuu. yuu then apologized to the first year, "sorry for the uncomfortable position, n/n." she hushed him and said, "hush, yuu. it's not that important." the group stayed silent as soon as the door creaked opened with a familiar voice saying, "let's see..."
'he knew we would be here... no, wait... seeing as we're cramped and jack's tail is out, he noticed us... what will this man do...' thought f/n. the sounds of keys clanking and a safe opening was heard as azul took out the contracts and counted them one by one. he was grinning ear to ear as he counted them, sending shivers down their spines.
'that was kinda creepy... what the fuck...' thought f/n. "ah, those are the contracts we signed!" whispered deuce. "so he really does keep them in a safe," replied ace. azul continued counting the contracts with a grin on his face as grim whispered, "that guy's grinning ear to ear while he counts the contracts..." jack replied, "what a tasteless hobby..." before they could continue their oh-so-obvious whispering, azul placed the contracts back in the safe and locked it as he said, "it's time i head back."
the sound of azul's footsteps disappeared as everyone sighed in relief. however, none of them noticed that they had not heard the sound of the door closing on azul's way out. jack landed his eyes on the golden paper laying on the table, "...wait! there's a contract on the table." ace's eyes lit up as he glanced at the table, "for real~? lucky! let's try to destroy it, then~" grim let out a triumphant laugh as he said, "azul's pretty forgetful, huh~ let's see here..."
"wait, grim! don't touch it! it might be a trap—" before f/n could finish her sentence, grim landed his paws on the contract and electrocuted all of them. the group screamed in pain and shock before someone let out a laugh. the three octavinelle residents came out of their hiding spot as floyd laughed at the group's reaction. "oh my, you're shaking as if you got hit by lightning, guys. how unsightly, everyone." commented azul before letting out a soft laugh.
his eyes landed on the diasomnia first year and smirked, "oh? what a shame, you even brought the lady with you and involved her in your shenanigans. my my, we meet again, l/n." f/n glared at azul as she fixed her uniform, "you knew we were here all along, you bastard." azul chuckled to himself and replied, "but of course... that fluffy tail of your friend is quite visible from under the table. it looks like you were trying to steal the contracts. to be completely honest, the contract sends out electric shocks if someone other than me touches them. how unfortunate, isn't it? i told you, did i not? the contract can never be broken."
f/n held eye contact with the dorm head and said, "who are you trying to fool here, ashengrotto? 'honest'? pfft, that's such an obvious lie." azul glared at the first year and said, "shut your mouth, l/n. this has nothing to do with you, so back off." f/n glared back at azul and said, "you've involved yuuken in your shady deals, so this absolutely has something to do with me." azul raised a brow at the first year and said, "why are you all over him? are you that desperate to have a friend that you couldn't let him be because he approached you first? what a pitiful soul."
"how about you shut your mouth? you talk as if you know something. you annoy me," replied f/n. "hmph, bad boys who steal things that do not belong to them should be punished." stated azul. "we have to teach them thoroughly so they won't do the same mistake again," said jade. "i'll squeeze your necks, okay~?" cooed floyd as the group prepared themselves for a battle. before they could start, azul spoke, "except you, l/n. you heard me specifically say boys, so this doesn't involve you."
"what? are you scared i'll cast my unique magic on you all? or are you actually following mal's orders on not allowing me to use magic for the meantime?" taunted f/n. "i could care less if you used your unique magic on us, but it would be troublesome to have diasomnia's dorm leader barge in here and have a talk with me about how i let you be careless with your abilities." replied azul. f/n's eyes glowed subtly and tried to read his aura, 'there's a little bit of truth in what he said, but he's lying about not caring whether i'd cast my unique magic on them or not. is lying the only thing this man is capable of?'
she placed a hand on yuu's shoulder and whispered, "i'll make sure you won't get hit by any of their attacks. do your best." yuu nodded as f/n walked away from him and stood at the corner of the room.
...
the group panted as the battle ended. "damn it... prefects are this strong?!" exclaimed jack. "if you can't do this much, then stealing the contracts is out of the question." replied azul. "maybe it'd be better if you hurried to the museum~" cooed floyd. "the time ends until the sun sets tomorrow. you do not have much time." added jade. "if you rested in the infirmary, your time will run out faster~" finished floyd. deuce gritted his teeth as he said, "get ready!"
"damn it... i'm not good with summoning magic, but... come forth, cauldron!" chanted ace as a cauldron appeared out of thin air. "oi, don't copy me!" exclaimed deuce. "i told you already, that won't work!" yelled floyd.
— ❝bind the heart!❞
the cauldron went to the opposite direction and scratched the safe's door. "floyd! watch where you aim your magic! remember not to hit the safe, will you?!" exclaimed azul as he ran towards the safe. "oopsie~ sorry," said floyd. "ah, the door is scratched...!! i hope the dials are not jammed... thank goodness. i keep telling you not to use your unique magic mindlessly! how many times must i repeat myself?!" scolded azul. "i said sorry already! you don't have to be so mad over a scratch!" argued floyd.
"run, everyone. this is our chance," whispered f/n as she listened to their conversation. 'he panicked... it's obvious he's lying about its invulnerability,' thought f/n. "it will be too late if it's broken!" yelled azul. "you two, calm down. if you don't... they'll run away." said jade. "eh?" the three turned to look at where the first years are standing, only to see them run out of the room and are on their way to leave the dormitory.
the group jumped out of octavinelle and landed in the hall of mirrors. "we barely escaped that one..." said deuce. "it's 'cause jack is too big," complained ace. "what?! it's because you were too assuming! plus, wolves have always been big, you know?" retorted jack. "enough, all of you. we wasted a day because we had not anticipated that attack. it's time we work together with leona and ruggie, i know how they can help." commanded the diasomnia first year.
the first year turned to look at yuu, "yuu. i want you to threaten leona that if he won't help, you and grim will be making noises outside his room every night." yuu nodded as he saluted at the first year, "roger that, n/n!" the rest had a clueless look on their faces as ace asked, "what does leona-senpai and ruggie-senpai have to do with this?" f/n looked ace and answered, "leona's unique magic will help us destroy the contracts. i will elaborate on it tomorrow once you understand what i mean."
"um... n/n, i still don't understand why we have to involve our seniors here though...?" asked yuu. "like i said, you'll figure it out soon, yuu. now, back to our classes, all of you." f/n left the hall of mirrors with the rest trailing behind her and are on their way back to their classrooms to continue their afternoon class.
...
it was already late at night. f/n sat with lilia, sebek, and silver in the dormitory's lounge, as usual. this time, malleus was nowhere to be found. 'he must be on his stroll in ramshackle... he'll meet yuu and they'll talk a little,' thought f/n. "what's the news for today, n/n?" asked sebek as he glanced at the first year. f/n explained all the things that happened up to the point where she had ordered them to do such tasks.
lilia had a proud smile on his face as he said, "aww~ my beastie's growing up so well!" f/n had a sour look on her face as she said, "you talk as if i'm so young, lil." lilia still had a smile on his face as he said, "what can i say? i tend to act like a parent to all of you. anyway, head to bed, children. malleus will be back in three..." three seconds have passed and malleus appeared by the fireplace, just as lilia had expected.
malleus stared at the group before he said, "... yes, head to bed, everyone. it will be a big day for octavinelle tomorrow."