The Guidance Counselor

The fight was over in an instant. Devin won.

Team Lea cheered for their representative until the coat that Devin wore jittered before disappearing. He smiled at his teammates before succumbing to the wounds and fell.

Two figures emerged from nowhere and caught the boy. Andrew and Andrei's presence erupted a series of gasps and whispers.

"Why are they here?"

"I feel like they're around Devin too much."

"Are they his guards or something?"

"What? Now way. He's an orphan, remember?"

…

Professor Maltoise shushed the commotion as the medical team tend to Devin's wounds. Margaux wasn't badly injured. She yielded right after the first strike she got on her arm.

"What brings you two here?" Professor Maltoise asked.

"A report from Mr. Zhang himself," Andrew said.

"Report?"

Andrei nodded, "A certain Margaux Chan bribed three boys from her team to beat up someone."

The entire room was filled with gasps for the second time.

Margaux, who was well conscious glared at the twins. Professor Maltoise looked at her in disbelief.

"If it wasn't for the protection of one of your classmates, the victim wouldn't make it to class today," Andrew said with a serious tone.

"Margaux Chan," Andrei glared at Margaux. "We invite you – and the three boys from your group namely Bon, Elvis, and Mohammed."

Jessica couldn't believe it. Three of the four boys in her team were accomplices in Margaux's scheme. Sure, she was upset about Team Lea but she could never did what they would have wanted to do.

The three boys from her group walked towards the twins and was led outside the gymnasium along with Margaux. Devin was sent to the clinic to take a rest.

"This seems to be worse than I thought," Professor Maltoise said and used his Sanctity. "Everyone! Let's open up and talk about your grudges. I don't want another incident to happen again, is that clear?!"

The students were shocked at the sudden outburst of their gentle professor. Little did they know, he was a top Exorcist before he retired and became a professor.

A former S-rank Exorcist that was known to hunt Echelon 4 and above Stained Souls like a treasure hunt.

The Pirate King, Reginald Maltoise.

While the students settled their resentment towards the other, a woman was using her Sanctity on Devin. Her palm lit up like a flashlight and instantly healed Devin's wounds.

"Light cuts but there're a lot of them," she examined. "You're lucky, young man." She looked at the suit jacket of Devin's uniform. The protection on their uniforms mainly focused on the vital organs. And looking at the small holes that were directed to his heart.

"If it wasn't for your uniform…" she chuckled before continuing, "You would've been 'heart-less'."

The woman was no other than the Institute doctor, Xia Chan. She was famous for having a rare Sanctity that can heal. Although Xia was capable of fighting inside the Purgatory, a traumatic incident made her isolate herself inside the Institute.

"Ms. Chang, is he okay?" A man asked from nowhere that made Dr. Xia jump in shock.

"You scared me," she said. "You're too fond of the boy. Does he look like your son?"

"Shut up," the man rolled his eyes and snatched the clipboard from Dr. Xia. "Margaux Chan? Your little sister?"

"The one and only," Dr. Xia said sarcastically. "She made a lot of conflicts at home. I couldn't believe she would do it here."

The man removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I'll handle her."

"You seem tired. You should rest," Dr. Xia said, pointing her palm at the man's face and using her Sanctity to heal him. She was used to doing this to the man. He was always overworking ever since they were little.

"Thank you, Ms. Chan I–"

"You're still so formal. Stop it."

"I just–"

Dr. Xia placed her finger on the man's lips to stop him. "Stop. It. It's not like we weren't friends since we were kids."

"Ah, friends," he said with a bitter smile.

"Go to your office. I think I'll be seeing you later," she said and went to her desk.

"Goodbye, Dr. Xia."

"Goodbye…" she smiled and chuckled. "Franco."

Devin woke up after hearing a familiar voice.

Was that Mr. Franco just now? He asked himself.

"Oh, you're awake," Dr. Xia cheerfully said and walked towards Devin. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't seem to see my wounds?" Devin said, examining his healed arms. Not even scars seemed to remain.

"Oh," Dr. Xia said. "Would you like to see them again?"

Devin shook his head, "No, thank you."

Dr. Xia smiled before saying they should go somewhere. She led Devin towards the North building and an office that says 'Guidance Counselor' was displayed on top of the door.

"Excuse me Miss, but why are we here?"

Dr. Xia only smiled before knocking and opening the door.

Devin's eyes widen after seeing Margaux and her teammates sitting on the sofa. There were two sofas in the long room and a table was in the end where a chair was turned away from them.

"We're here," Dr. Xia announced.

The chair turned making Devin gasp.

"M-Mr. Franco?!"

Mr. Franco smiled and nodded, "Have a seat."

Devin couldn't believe his eyes. All this time, Mr. Franco was here in the institute and he didn't even bother greeting him.

Margaux glared at Devin who was at the opposite sofa along with Dr. Xia. The three boys were looking down after receiving a scolding from Mr. Franco.

"I think you scared them," Dr. Xia chuckled.

Three students were trembling in fear, one student was glaring at everyone, while another was clueless. You could see the question marks floating on Devin's head.

"We're here to discuss the attempted assault on Mr. Devin Lewis," Mr. Franco started. "The said attempted assault was administered by his classmate Ms. Margaux Chan with accomplices, Mr. Bon, Mr. Elvis, and Mr. Mohammed."

The room felt like a trial court. The intense pressure was choking everyone inside. Along with the calm but intimidating aura of Mr. Franco, they all felt like one wrong move and they're dead.

"The attempted attack was stopped by a student coming from your class who…" he stopped and felt the air. "Is here now. Come in!"

It was Orlando.

He was limping while he walked inside. Margaux indeed wasn't lying when she said that her teammates couldn't fight. All of the boys in her team were injured, Jessica wouldn't injure Devin like she would, and she couldn't even remember the other one.

For her plan to take revenge on Devin was in her grasp. If it wasn't for Devin's hidden Reverence, she would've succeeded.

"Mr. Orlando, please take a seat," Dr. Xia said, gesturing at the empty spot next to Devin.

"Now, let us hear your reasons," Mr. Franco said and stared at the four students.

Margaux gritted her teeth and spoke, "Devin Lewis is such a b*tch. I couldn't help but think why the twins – 11 &12 – were always following him around."

The room went silent before Mr. Franco and Dr. Xia erupted in laughter.

"That was it?" Mr. Franco asked and held his stomach, Dr. Xia was the same.

"What a pathetic excuse!" Dr. Xia yelled. "You are a shame to our family! A disgrace! A petty excuse for a little sister!"

Margaux was silent. She knew her sister was strong. She couldn't even look at her in the eye.

"Now, let us calm down," Mr. Franco said. "Mr. Devin, what punishment would be appropriate for these students?"

"No," Devin shook his head that made Mr. Franco's eyes widen. "I mean, Orlando should decide. He was the one who helped me and got beaten up because of it."

Mr. Franco sighed. "Okay, let's settle this."

Since they cannot suspend students, the four were 'Grounded'. They were not allowed to leave their rooms unless it was time for class. A third-year was also assigned to watch over them.

Orlando left the office for a session of healing with Dr. Xia. He broke his ribs when one of the students kicked his chest. He couldn't block in time, resulting in three broken ribs.

"I know you're going to ask what I am doing here," Mr. Franco said before Devin could say it. "But I'm actually watching over you."

"You are my 'guardian'," Devin joked that made Mr. Franco chuckle.

"Silly little kid," Mr. Franco said and sighed.

Devin excused himself and exited Mr. Franco's office when two pairs of faces greeted him when he got outside.

"Let's go home, Little Curls," Andrew said.

Andrei disheveled his hair to which he pouted at.

"Okay, big brothers."