After discussing the matter, Azul instructed the Leech twins to escort Eurus to her bedroom. The bedroom had been prepared in advance by the Octavinelle members, as Eurus had fainted in the VIP room. Jade and Floyd guided her to a room that was exclusively hers and not shared with the boys. They explained that it had been abandoned for quite some time before it was allocated to Eurus. Azul, having remembered the room, had decided to maintain it as her personal space during her stay. The twins also took the opportunity to inform Eurus about the school uniform they had prepared for her and the rules she must adhere to while in Octavinelle.
After the explanations, Jade and Floyd bid Eurus farewell and left her to rest. It was her first day of school the following day, so they wanted her to be well-rested. Shortly after their departure, Eurus took a moment to explore her new surroundings. Her bedroom was equipped with a single bed, a clothing closet, a study desk filled with textbooks and notes specifically provided for her, and a private bathroom for her personal use.
Feeling a bit tired from her previous work at the Moustro Lounge, Eurus decided to lie down on the bed. It reminded her of her time there, and she couldn't help but say to herself, "I'm getting used to work at that restaurant." Lost in her thoughts, she gazed at the ceiling, pondering over the inexplicable enjoyment she felt in working with the eccentric individuals at Octavinelle. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and she drifted off to sleep after taking a refreshing bath and changing into the pajamas she found in the closet.
The next morning, Eurus woke up at two o'clock, promptly prepared herself, bathed, dressed in her academy uniform, and gathered her supplies. With only four hours of sleep and a tendency to wake up early, she had ample time to study the textbooks she had been provided. Remarkably, she managed to grasp the content and understand the material. By six o'clock, as the sun began to rise, Eurus packed her backpack and left her room to have breakfast.
Upon arriving at the Mostro Lounge, she spotted Jade pouring tea into Azul's cup, while Floyd was busy preparing breakfast. Eurus observed them from a distance until Azul suddenly caught sight of her. "Good morning, Eurus," he greeted her, breaking the silence. Eurus managed a response, "Good morning," and Jade kindly invited her to join them. Taking a seat at a round table that could comfortably accommodate four people, she placed her backpack beside her. Jade graciously poured a cup of tea for Eurus, who gratefully accepted it.
"Enjoy your tea," Jade said with a warm smile.
Eurus graciously accepted the cup of tea and expressed her gratitude to the person who served it. As she took a sip, she noticed a unique blend of sweetness and a hint of bitterness. The flavor was unlike any tea she had ever tasted in her world, and it had a calming effect on her. She indulged in the warmth of the tea, savoring each sip, and allowing her thoughts to wander.
Just then, Floyd appeared with four plates of pancakes, announcing that breakfast was ready. He placed a plate of a towering stack of pancakes in front of Eurus and playfully referred to her as the "blue shark". Eurus acknowledged his gesture with a polite but emotionless thank you. Floyd took his seat and encouraged everyone to enjoy their meal, but reminded Eurus not to eat too slowly as they still had to prepare for her upcoming classes. Eurus nodded in response and proceeded to devour her breakfast.
With breakfast finished, Eurus was escorted to her classroom at Night Raven College by the Octavinelle trio. Azul led the way and pointed out the location of her B class. He reminded her to remember the excuse he had given her to explain her unique appearance to the teachers. Floyd took a moment to advise her to be a good student, while Jade offered her words of encouragement for a fun and fulfilling learning experience.
Responding with a nod, Eurus adjusted her smiley mask and made her way into the classroom. All eyes turned towards her as she entered, captivated by the mysterious student with her face fully concealed. Whispers filled the room, but one student stood out from the rest by refraining from joining in. Eurus deliberately chose a seat at the back, hoping to avoid drawing further attention.
As she settled into her seat and retrieved a textbook for the first period, a group of students approached her.
"Hello, are you okay?"
Eurus set her book aside and glanced at them, curiously. "Yes, why?" she calmly responded. Suddenly, the students burst into laughter.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because you look awfully creepy with that mask on."
"Yeah, are you some kind of freak?"
They taunted her due to the mask that concealed her entire face. Eurus observed them laughing at her but chose not to reveal her anger. Instead, she calmly clarified that their words didn't bother her. "I simply cannot show my face to anyone. That's all."
"Why? Is your face ugly?"
"Perhaps you should let us judge before you worry about your own appearance."
"Hey, don't be so cruel. Maybe he just can't bear the sight of his own repulsive face, and we would all faint from disgust."
Then, one brave soul attempted to remove Eurus's mask. "Let us see your face," he boldly declared as he gradually extended his hand towards her mask. Unfortunately for him, Eurus swiftly intervened, gripping his wrist firmly to prevent him from reaching her mask. The student was taken aback. "Touch my mask, and I'll snap your wrist," she warned him, squeezing his wrist with considerable strength. "Ouch!" The student yelped in pain, struggling to free his hand from her grasp.
Once Eurus had heard enough of the student's cries, she released his hand. The student withdrew, clutching his injured wrist. "You...! Are you insane? Breaking my wrist!" he yelled at Eurus, seething with anger. "It's better than breaking your jaw," Eurus retorted, her tone icy cold. Enraged, the student threw a punch. "You bastard!"
Eurus turned her gaze towards him, prepared to seize his wrist and retaliate with a punch of her own. However, her intended strike was thwarted by another student who had suddenly emerged nearby.
He had tanned skin and appeared to be the tallest among the students in the classroom. Along with his tan complexion, he had white pointed wolf ears and a lone wolf tail that matched his hair, which fell between his golden-brown eyes. His muscular physique portrayed strength, and he wore the academy uniform with a yellow and black armband, indicating that he belonged to Savanaclaw. Eurus noticed a distinct wolf-like scent emanating from him as she sniffed the air.
As Eurus attempted to engage with him, he grabbed his wrist, causing the student to yell in protest, "Hey! Why are you holding my punch!?" The wolf-eared student furrowed his brows and glared intensely at the student, instilling terror in him. Sensing the tension, the student snapped at his two companions, "That masked boy warned you not to bother him. But you three still laughed at him and disturbed him when he wasn't bothering you guys."
Realizing the fear he had instilled, the wolf-eared student released his grip on the student's wrist, allowing him to flee with the other two. He then turned his attention to Eurus, showing concern for her well-being, "Are you alright?"
Eurus reassured him, "I'm fine." The wolf-eared student scratched the back of his head while questioning her, "I know it may seem rude, but why do you wear a mask? It looks creepy despite the smiley expression." He expressed his discomfort.
Eurus had prepared a fabricated explanation, "I have a skin disease that makes me sensitive to sunlight. This mask is the only way I can protect myself." She justified her choice. The wolf-eared student sympathetically responded, "Oh... I see. I'm sorry to hear about your condition. It must be challenging for you to live without exposure to sunlight."
Eurus confidently dismissed his concerns, "It's not as problematic as you think. I've grown accustomed to it." She assured him. He nodded in understanding and proceeded to ask her name. Eurus responded with her second name, "Artemis Eurus."
"I'm Jack Howl. Your name sounds really cool," Jack praised Eurus's name. Eurus simply replied, "Thanks." Suddenly, the bell for the first period rang, signaling the start of class. Jack pointed to his seat, situated some distance away, and suggested, "Let's hang out together in class."
"Alright," Eurus agreed. Jack headed back to his seat while Eurus remained seated. Soon after, their history teacher, Mr. Mozus Trein, entered the classroom. "Good morning, freshmen. I am Mozus Trein, and I will be your history teacher. This is my familiar, Lucius," he introduced himself and his feline companion.
He is an elderly man of tall stature who introduced himself. With his small grey eyes and neatly combed-back hair, he presents himself in a standard black suit underneath a long maroon robe. Attached to his collar is a white jabot, tastefully adorned with a turquoise-colored pendant. His appearance exudes a stern and unapproachable demeanor. In his arms rests a chubby, long-haired black cat with a white muzzle and golden eyes. This feline companion showcases white patches of fur on its chest and at the tip of its tail. "Meow!" exclaimed Lucius in response to Trein's introduction.
"Meow!, ~"
"You will delve into the rich history of magic, a force that has brought abundance and prosperity to our world."
"Class participation will hold weight in your final grade, not just reports. I expect full engagement from all students and will not tolerate sleeping in class. Please turn to page 15 in your textbooks. We shall commence with the discovery of magic crystals in the Dwarf's Mines..."
As everyone retrieved their history textbooks, so did Eurus. Despite her mask covering her eyes, it boasted a transparent design that allowed her to read her textbook effortlessly. Lucius, noticing her presence, lifted its head, leapt from Trein's embrace, and settled onto Eurus's desk, playfully placing a paw on her mask. Both Eurus and Trein were taken aback by this unexpected interaction.
"The student with the mask, kindly share your name and the reason behind your distinctive mask," Trein beckoned. Eurus rose from her seat, introducing herself. "I am Artemis Eurus. I was born with a skin condition that renders my face extremely sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, I must wear this mask for protection, as it is my only means of safeguarding my skin." All eyes in the classroom were fixed upon her, observing her gruff voice, distorted by the mask. Upon hearing her explanation, Trein let out a sigh and permitted her to resume her seat. Lucius, having fulfilled its momentary curiosity, gracefully retreated back to Trein's side. "Let us now continue with our primary subject of study," declared Trein, resuming his lecture on the captivating history of the Dwarf's Mines.
The subsequent subject for the following period was Athletics. A muscular man in his thirties, donning a sportswear ensemble and accompanied by a weasel wrapped around his neck, oversaw the B class at the sports field. "My name is Vargas Ashton, and I am your Athletics teacher for both class A and B. I was informed by Mr. Trein that there is a student in this class who suffers from a sunlight sensitivity skin condition. Please raise your hand," Vargas introduced himself and instructed.
Eurus, positioned at the back of the B class, raised her hand. Vargas observed her wearing the mask, placing his hands on his waist. "That mask may seem eerie to some, but given your sensitivity to sunlight, I will exempt you from any sports activities that may expose you to the sun. Alright, for those of you with unaffected skin, run 30 laps for me!"
The students let out a collective sigh, although a few of them remained unfazed. They all obediently ran laps, except for Eurus, who chose to sit on the sidelines. Following the Athletics subject, the third period of the day was Potion class. The entire B class made their way to the lab, where they were greeted by a male teacher patiently waiting for their arrival. This teacher, known as Divus Crewel, had a unique appearance. His hair was neatly parted on the side, with one side colored white and the other black. He had narrow, grey eyes and adorned his ears with silver studs. His attire consisted of a tuxedo, complete with black dress pants, black dress shoes, and a black belt adorned with silver buckle studs and spiky sections. He also wore a thick, black and white furry coat. His hands were cloaked in red gloves, and he had several tail-like appendages hanging from the bottom of his coat. Additionally, he frequently carried a teaching pointer with a red collar and jewel charm attached to the end.
After introducing himself as Divus Crewel, he proceeded to direct the same question to Eurus as the other teachers had. Eurus responded simply, sticking to her original answer. Divus Crewel, however, seemed less than impressed. "That's unfortunate for you, poor puppy. But don't let that discourage or slow you down in my class, because today, I intend to be quite strict with all of you puppies. Prepare yourselves, as we will be challenging your intellect by memorizing a staggering 100 different poisons and herbs. Listen attentively, so I won't have to punish any of you."
The Potion period progressed with the students learning about various herbs and poisons found both in the lab and at the botanical garden. During the lesson, Crewel suddenly noticed that a crucial ingredient, lavender Rosemary, was out of stock. He muttered to himself, pondering the situation. "Hmm... It seems we are out of stock on lavender Rosemary. It's a shame I won't be able to show you puppies its physical characteristics."
In response, he singled out a student and ordered them to retrieve a Lavender Rosemary from the botanical garden. The students fell into silence, unable to offer themselves for the task since they were unfamiliar with the appearance of the herb. Crewel expressed his dissatisfaction with their lack of initiative. "Alright! If none of you volunteers, then I'll simply assign one of you to the task."
He proceeded to consult his list of student names, his eyes scanning over the students as he chose a candidate to volunteer. After a moment, he called out the name "Artemis Eurus!" having randomly selected the number 25. Eurus promptly responded to his call, acknowledging her selection. "Yes."
Crewel glared at her, his gaze stern and demanding, as he emphatically slapped his pointer against his right palm. "Although you have skin that is sensitive to sunlight, I am confident that your mask will effectively shield your face from harmful rays. Therefore, obtaining the Lavender Rosemary should not pose a problem for you. Now, consult your textbook and turn to page 78 to locate this herb within the botanical garden. I expect you to do this quickly!" He demanded with authority, pushing her to act promptly.
Eurus nodded, acknowledging Crewel's instructions, and swiftly made her way towards the botanical garden. Despite it being her first time on the school premises, she skillfully sensed the presence of the botanical garden as soon as she stepped out of Night Raven College. The alluring aroma of the blooming flowers guided her towards her destination, reinforcing her instinctual navigation.
Upon entering the botanical garden, Eurus's senses were captivated by the stunning array of vibrant colors emanating from the flowers, herbs, and trees contained within the glass emporium garden. The sheer beauty of the surroundings left her in awe, complimented by an orchestra of delightful fragrances that harmoniously perfumed the air. However, her time constraints prevented her from fully immersing herself in this picturesque scene, as her primary purpose was to locate the elusive Lavender Rosemary.
Referring back to her textbook, Eurus carefully examined the image of the Lavender Rosemary, ensuring she would recognize it upon sight. The herb possessed a regal shade of purple, reminiscent of lavender, intertwined with a touch of deep blue. Its shape was akin to that of a Rosemary plant, with delicately formed lavender-hued pollen emanating from its petals.
After diligently committing the visual representation of the Lavender Rosemary to memory, Eurus closed her textbook and embarked on her quest within the garden. She wandered through the various sections, her determined footsteps resonating against the paved pathways. It wasn't long before her keen sense of smell detected a faint but distinct fusion of lavender and rosemary. Following her olfactory instincts, she rounded a corner and found herself face-to-face with a cluster of Lavender Rosemary plants, their blooms enchantingly accentuating the surrounding landscape.
Eager to gather the required herbs, Eurus was about to proceed towards the plants when a series of soft snoring sounds reached her ears, hints of a somnolent presence nearby.