True Colors Surfaced

"He's been poisoned, and only that person has the antidote."

Bewildered, Eli was speechless and unmoving. Standing in front of her at the moment was a student in a gray varsity jacket. He's a slim boy of average height with spiky short black hair, parted to the right so that the longer clumps on his left obscure much of his face, and sharp forest green irises. With his emo-like appearance, Eli somewhat sensed the aura of a fellow introvert.

"W-What are you talking about? Who are you?" she managed to voice out despite how confounded she was right now.

"I'm an upperclassman. My name's Wes... I'll also just cut to the chase since this is all damn annoying. I know about the Champions and summoned creatures..." he trailed off, expression aloof, much to her flummox.

"...And I'm here to deliver something. Sunshine boy over there had been poisoned by a villain named Lord Caspar... Did that ring a bell?"

At this, her eyes bulged in horror and surprise. She recalled hearing that name when she was forcefully taken to a Realm. Though she had a feeling that they'd come after her again, she didn't expect this turn of events. Since Wes knew about that encounter, she also couldn't help but take his confession about knowing the Champions and summoned creatures as truth.

"It seemed like you managed to relieve him, though. I say, that's one superb magic," he remarked coolly, hands inside his pocket.

"Bad news is, all you did was suppress the pain. Lord Caspar's poisonous spells aren't just any other ordinary toxins out there. Finishing them off wasn't his goal, after all... Well, for now, at least."

There's something about this guy that baffled Eli more than what he's babbling about. That is, the real motive behind exposing himself and coming here. The fact that he was trespassing already screamed suspicions. Though she didn't find any deceit, she also couldn't point out even one factor that's trustworthy. After all, she wasn't that naive, and thanks to Venus's sharp senses, she's able to brace herself whenever this kind of unexpected confrontations happen.

"What are you here for exactly? And just how do you know all of that?" Eli inquired, steeling her gaze at him.

"Negotiation," he simply answered.

"About what?"

"I'll give you the antidote, and you'll do me a favor. I can't tell you anything about myself but you'd still have no choice to believe me. After all, more than satisfying your own curiosity, I bet you want to save that person's life first."

Eli felt like getting backed into a corner. Wes was clearly patronizing her, aiming to make her dance on the palm of his hand. Even when she retorted that she's not even sure if that antidote he's talking about would really save Noah, or whether his life was in jeopardy at all, he'd only repeat the same answer. What's even more infuriating was that he'd say it with utmost confidence and an indifferent expression.

"No matter how shady I look, you'll have no choice but to believe me."

"Ugh...! You're only making yourself more suspicious by saying that!"

"Even so, you'll believe me."

"You can't just say that to a stranger, much less convince them."

"You still have to."

"Stop it!"

That's until Noah suddenly rose up from the couch, catching both of them off guard. Head stooped so low that his bangs were covering his eyes, he just sat there silently and didn't even spare them a glance. It's as if he's in the middle of a heavy pondering.

"Noah, are you feeling better now?" Eli asked, a bit hesitant to approach him without his permission.

Ominous quietude sprawled between the three. For some reason, there's something palpably portentous arising. Eli couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she could sense that there's really nothing that can be trusted at this point. While she's in the middle of contemplating, Noah finally turned to look at her.

"Noah, I'm glad you're-"

Then, she paused. His eyes were searing with a heavy emotion, brows scrunched tightly together, and expression tremendously spine-chilling. Perplexed, she just stepped backward out of reflex. She recalled how he'd usually show this intimidating front to tell her to back off. But then, instead of shooing her away like he used to do, he just moved his gaze at Wes all of the sudden.

"Is he the one, Mother?"

At this, Eli froze.

Then, with the speed of lightning, Noah pulled out a razor-edged dagger from thin air before lunging it towards Wes. Unfazed, he was able to dodge the blonde's attack and steered away. They engaged in combat for a while after that before the situation finally sank in Eli's head.

"Noah-!"

Yet, she found herself gaping in flummox again as Noah suddenly toppled Wes over. He trapped him on the floor, wrestling him with brute force that he can no longer resist him. Then, the blonde burst into mocking laughter, one that's filled with scorn and derision, before placing his dagger just under his neck and threatening Wes with it.

"Look at yourself now~ This is what you get for fighting back. Now, if you move even for an inch, who knows how deep this blade can go through. You don't have to trouble yourself by moving your head, though. If you want, I'll be more than honored to push it further for you~"

For unknown reasons, Noah's playful and childish facade suddenly emerged along with his dark and violent nature.

Back at the school gallery, things appeared to be just as dumbfounding.

As soon as Lance appeared, Allen's monstrous assault resumed, yet this time, he was the new target. He assailed the new contender with merciless thrusts to which he immediately eluded. In an inexhaustible momentum, the two tussled in a sequence of attack-and-dodge while Hal and Zeke remained stupefied from the sideline. That's until Hal noticed how Lance struggled not to make a counterattack, giving him the impression that he was avoiding to inflict so much a scratch on Allen.

"Ezekiel, restrain Allen with your chain for now. We need Lance to explain the situation."

"Got it."

With that, Zeke made a dash for it, his golden chain clattering. He then waited for Lance to pave him an opening before flinging his weapon towards Allen. The chain wrapped itself around his body, trapping him as Zeke forcefully tugged on its end and hauled him backward. Flummoxed, the knight had little time to make a comeback, and before he knew it, the heir's chain already fit him like a glove.

"Thank you, Sir Canaan. I'll take things from here," Lance voiced out before pacing towards the imprisoned knight, expression solemn.

"S-Sir?" Zeke stuttered, a bit surprised at his formal tone.

Hal, on the other hand, was starting to get the whole picture. He just silently watched as Lance raised his hand at Allen, mouthed a cryptic enchantment, and cast a certain spell he had a good idea about. As soon as he finished, the knight instantly lost consciousness. Hal then sauntered to them and peered at Lance with a grim look.

"You used hypnotism, didn't you? Was the situation that bad for you to pull that trick out?" he started to which he just sadly nodded in reply.

"I have no choice. He'd been going berserk for a while now, and we can only get the cure if we defeat that creature. We have to do it fast since I only cast a sleeping spell on him. He's probably suffering a lot from within," Lance replied wearily, glancing at Allen who's visibly sweatdropping.

"I'll have Ezekiel take him to Calliope for now. It might relieve some of the pain."

"Calliope...? You mean that other summoned creature you spared? It heals?"

"You're really missing out, Marquess. Try visiting the library sometimes."

At this, Lance only scowled and remained motionless. Hal didn't get to see his reaction as he already swerved around and asked Zeke to have Calliope heal Allen. For the meantime, he planned to hunt the villain down with Lance while the young heir helped Allen to recuperate. Turning back to him, Hal then began his interrogation.

"Mind telling me how it went down like this?"