The Anti-Party

Back at the infirmary, aside from playing nurses and tending to their recovering underclassman's needs, Hal and Allen also turned into these inquisitive, full-blown journalists.

"You actually look better than what you make yourself appear to be, Noah. Has Eli been that good of a caretaker?" Hal inquired while sitting on the stool and peering at the blonde who's quietly eating his soup.

"It seems like both of you are finally getting along. Did something happen?" Allen asked, standing beside his bed.

Noah just sighed at this in exhaustion. They're acting more and more like his nagging mother-in-laws in each passing second that he couldn't even eat in peace. But then again, they probably didn't expect this level of change in his relationship with his upperclassman. They always used to see him as a tough nut to crack when it came to how he perceived her, which was exactly why they're this dubious. What they didn't recall was how a barking dog like him could turn into such a meek puppy once he'd been tamed.

"That soup..." Hal trailed off, narrowing his eyes at his food suspiciously.

"For some reason, I could tell that it's eerily similar to the tea yesterday... Don't tell me..."

"Oh, she made it for me~" Noah enthused, appalling him.

"Eli did?! S-So then... How is it? It probably tastes better, does it? You look like you're enjoying it after al-"

"Not really~ Just the same as last time."

Hal then finally shut his mouth, extremely baffled as to why Noah was able to say that with an elated smile. He still couldn't forget how his classmate's tea almost made him choke to death. Although he wants to hold delicacy like a fragile piece of glass and doesn't mean to poke fun on her flaws, he isn't going to deny how bad it is - both for the sake of those who'll try her cooking in the future and for Eli who should really start sharpening her womanly skills.

"For someone who has a sweet tooth, you sure are fond of such an odd flavor," Allen remarked with an amused look.

"Nope~ Not all the time. I'm only able to enjoy it since she and Mother have similar cooking, and I... I've kinda grown with that weird of a taste bud..." Noah answered a bit timidly, expression as soft as fluff.

At this, Hal and Allen only exchanged looks before smiling in evident relief and contentment. That velvety face was already a straight giveaway of Noah's one hundred eighty turn - one they'd been secretly hoping for. It's not only because he decided to see Eli in a whole different light, but also for the reason that he finally started unshackling the chains of his ineffectual yearning in the past. This time, he's really beginning to move forward.

"Glad to see you opening up like this," Hal commented, stretching out his hand and patting his head.

"I always do, though?" Noah retorted with a brow lifted.

"This one's regarding your mother, idiot... You seem to have come to terms with your feelings at last."

"Right... I guess I did."

While the two continued smiling and staring at each other in understanding, Allen just silently shared this pleasantly congenial atmosphere from the side. A short while after, the three eventually moved on to a serious subject. Hal filled Noah in and explained everything that went down earlier as well as their discussion during the meeting. It took quite some time before he finished elucidating the entire situation, but the genius tactician was still able to get the gist of it in a matter of seconds.

"That Lord Caspar... It's only an appropriate response to mark him at the top of our list. I believe that escaping was his utmost priority from the very start even though he did make it look like he's really coming after our heads by inflicting this much damage. That said, he probably had another goal in mind - one that I assume could make up for their failure to flip us over," Noah pondered out loud.

"Information," Allen muttered, face grimly contorting.

"That's right. He probably took this opportunity to make another observation. It could be that we're just overestimating him, but it's better than doing otherwise and getting caught into his trap."

"Knowledge is indeed one of the most powerful weapons there is... To get a propitious hand on the battle, one must have it as an armor," Hal voiced out, deep in thought.

Now that he said that, Noah felt like regretting doing something back then. When he found out that Hal let Eli use the Chamber of the Forbidden Books, he remembered how he got really riled up. But now, it turned out that having her collect data on the enemies was actually this handy. Not only her, though. The Champions also have Lance who possesses the widest range of sources and means when it comes to information gathering as he is the Broadcasting Club's President.

"Come to think of it, where is Lance?" Noah questioned, eyeing the two quizzically.

"Went straight to the dorm..." Allen trailed off before suddenly coming up with something.

"He had a rough day today, erasing over a hundred's memories and all... With that said, seeing that you're probably feeling well now, I think you shouldn't be too surprised when you find a mountain of paperwork on your desk tomorrow."

"Eeeehhhhhhhh...?"

While the Champions were about to retire for the day, one girl in particular was far from putting her unease to rest. Treading a soulless, dim hallway, her figure bathed in the coruscant glow of the moon while her mind's currently immersed in a burrowing hole of thoughts and mulling. Her eyebrows were scrunched so tightly together as if suppressing a certain emotion from surfacing. That's until a company popped out from behind her, making her halt on her tracks as soon as she heard the footsteps.

"It seemed like the Lord wasn't quite satisfied with the aftermath, though he did try to lighten the mood by bringing up a new scheme..." he coolly started, hands in his pocket.

"Wes..." Cosette muttered, turning to face him.

"Then again, he did sacrifice his Realm and identity, considering how he'd always been careful with keeping his existence a secret for over a year now. Not to mention, this ploy was supposed to be his first time stepping onto the spotlight and causing an uproar... But then, it all just ended with him still taking down notes. It's a shame how he spent all his strength investigating but only to find out he's still profoundly lacking when it's finally time to test it out."

"It's quite an accomplishment when the Lord gathered that much energy from the guests, though. A hundred's life force is already worth half a year of using up his power... Unlike you who achieved nothing but a measly amount of information on Angelica Claes."

Wes only returned an enigmatic smirk at this.

Earlier in the library, it was Cosette who tried to barge in the office when he was about to retreat. She's been tasked to aid him in dealing with the Champions' new and inscrutable addition, but it turned out that the villainess possessing Eli was able to overwhelm him, stole the antidote and even resorted to a fellow summoned creature's healing magic to save the poisoned victims - or that's what Wes told them, at least. He lied about almost everything, in short. Therefore, aside from Lance's hypnotism and Calliope's healing power, he's basically the third extraneous variable at their plan, which ultimately caused it to collapse like that.

"We may be data brokers, but we still couldn't figure out what the future had in store... Just like when we learned that there wasn't just only one summoned creature working with the Champions. There's actually two... I also hadn't fathomed how powerful that villainess was. She completely threw me off," Wes reasoned, feigning innocence.

"Which is so unlike you, Wes. You also just went ahead and faced them on your own. Why didn't you follow my instructions?! I told you to wait for me!" Cosette suddenly bolted out in frustration, tears pooling her eyelids.

Then, her dam broke.

That once placid and refined lady who used to be the perfect epitome of composure, elegance and mellowness has now turned into this feeble crybaby.

"Waaaahhhh...! Why won't you ever listen to me?! I even got scolded! I hate being scolded...! I hate you, Wes! I hate you!" she wailed like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

"Your true colors are showing again, Lady Cosette," he deadpanned, sarcasm painted on his face.

"D-Doesn't matter huhuhu... We're childhood friends, anyway... I can do anything I want with you!"

"You spoiled brat..."

All Wes could do at that moment was heave a defeated sigh. He then sauntered to the howling girl and reached out to pat her head as if pacifying an infant. Cosette only cried even more at his solacing hand, the tears streaming down her cheeks gleaming when streaked by the moonlight. Slowly, his lips curled into a faint smile as he eyed her with warmth and affection. The two just stayed in that position for a while until Cosette sensed someone else's presence from behind them.

"Cosette? What's wrong?"

At that voice, she immediately stopped crying and wiped her tears away before swerving around. A boy with ghastly white hair, ruby red irises and a very pale complexion greeted her. He appeared to be merely a year younger than them, dressed in what seemed like a public school uniform which was made of a plain polo and a pair of black pants. Then, in a matter of milliseconds, Cosette turned back to her usual, collected self. Wes just watched the exchange indifferently, unappalled by the sudden appearance of their new company.

"Lucas, why are you here?" the blonde asked, walking towards him.

"I want to see you. But you took too long and I thought you weren't coming," he answered in a hushed tone, evading her gaze.

"I'm about to head there actually. Shall we go?"

"Yes!"

Ecstatic, Lucas tugged on her arm and started pulling her away. Cosette then began chiding him for wandering outside. All the while, Wes just quietly followed suit from behind the two, peering at the younger boy with an enigmatic look.