A Secret Cellar in the Chamber

After getting an invitation from Gilbert, Eli treads the path to the library as soon as classes dismiss that day with the plan to ask Hal for permission to excuse herself from their afternoon undertaking for now. 

But then, she finds no one in the librarian's office the moment she arrives. There's no sign of her classmate there who also just happened to be absent in class again for the entire day.

"Seriously, that guy... He might not make it to ninth grade at this rate, and though his grades are mediocre, he's still a lazy bump when it comes to studying..." Eli thought out loud before heaving a sigh, concern layering over her face and voice.

"More than anything, he's probably overworking himself again."