The Blinding Light

"I need to get the intruders taken care of so that I can ensure to close their gates and block future gates around the school." Lotus continued, "Those intruders are difficult to be taken care of in a short amount of time and my previous plan would require months to achieve. It would only mean months of danger lurking around the children."

The coral was silent for a short while in deep thought. It was true that it currently isn't able to defend itself against the oncoming cultivators at once if they try anything funny. The current body is powerful enough for him to have achieved his human form long ago, but it would not be enough to ensure the safety of the entire school population when the danger as already dove in the midst of the young souls. Not to mention, he also want to preserve this space free of human contact. It has been a long time since that last human arrived before it, but, to it, it was no more than a blink of an eye. Yes... it has been a long time since they've last seen that child. Since then, it has kept close watch over the children with the souls of the ocean in them. Each one coming with excitement and resolve and either leaving disappointed or with confidence. Every year is like every day to it as it receives news of interesting individuals each year from its subordinate.

It recalled the day the year before the last. Its small part of itself hidden in that dorm have received the news from the subordinate willing to give its body to home these children.

.....

"Master, this one hast received an interesting piece of news." The whale told the part that day, "It would seem that the heir to the Valley of Thorns have received the Dark Mirror's acceptance into the academy."

"We see..." The coral responded with slight curiosity, "It hast been many years and, now, the Little Prince has received the Letter of Acceptance..."

"Also," the subordinate added, "the dorm leader of Diasomnia has made his decision. The child would become the next dorm leader after him."

The coral nodded in thought absently as it noted bluntly, "His next course of action would display whether he has such talent..."

"Excuse this one, but what dost master think?"

The coral had easily dismissed its rudeness to probe its thoughts and answered, "What is there to think? This is the matters of Diasmonia, not of Octavinelle. However, we believe his years in the position would aid him in the future in some manner..."

The subordinate did not probe further and only agreed with him.

.....

"Master, this year's batch of new students have a couple of peculiarities amongst them." The subordinate notified him the next year, "Amongst them are the merfolk children. It is the children serpent had caught his eyes on, Master."

The coral nodded, "The Octavinelle dorm would choose the octopus child as their leader..."

"However, why now?" The subordinate raised a brow, "These children hast always been exceptional since birth but have not made any movements."

"The opportunity can only be the present." The coral responded shaking its fan like limbs, "The day those stars shone over the waters shown their destiny to be not ordinary but not destined for the greatness of a ruler... Yet, the movement they shall bring... is immense... Yes... Just like those days..."

"You can't mean..." The subordinate hesitated, "The day that mischievous child earned her title of the Sea Witch... Her mistake costed her much regret. The loss of her only companions..."

"It is unknown if his fate would be the same." The coral responded softly as it recalled those hectic days, "She had become spoiled from her fame and greed consumed her for the trident that day. The loss of her companions taught her the errs of her reckless behavior by her own hands. The guilt and loneliness she bore the days after haunted her of the loss of her closest bonds."

"Dost Master think..." the subordinate hesitated, "That it is destined these children and the royal family's Prince Rielle..."

.....

Another year had passed and the coral's prediction was right. The octopus child had dominated the school's students to their knees at his bidding leading the headmaster to come to beg for an exchange leading to the founding of the Mostro Lounge while the prince of Coral Sea had made his own achievements at another academy.

"Master." The subordinate notified him again, "There hast been news about the new batch of students this year. Aside from the Dorm Leader of the Savanaclaw dorm withholding another year and the octopus child holding the reigns as dorm leader, there are two humans brought into the school with no magic and a beast spirit cat capable of powerful magic."

The coral nodded, "It would seem so."

"The master knew?" The subordinate questioned curiously.

The coral responded, "A change to destiny is coming together... the fate of the people residing in Night Raven College will soon change..."

.....

The coral looked to Lotus having confirmed his thoughts. The person partly in reason for the change is no doubt her. Since then, there had been many fates that had been deviated by her path shooting across the academy with a visible light enough to blind those around her path. Now, people have come into this world to snuff it out. If it aids this star, it could help the other children, but, on the other hand, it is unknown if it could also potentially snuff them out instead. Quietly, the Coral weighed its possibilities in mind having forgotten about the compensation and thinking more about her words and actions.

Minutes passed before the coral finally responded.

"This one will aid her majesty however they can." The coral said courteously.

Lotus cupped her hand gratefully with a wide relieved smile, "Thank you. This one won't forget your aid. As promised..."

She handed the plant the pill that she brought out to it then said, "In this life, I am called by many under the name my foster mother had given me, but I have to ask that you call me by my alias, Lotus Xue. I look forward to working with you, sir."

"Young master Lotus," The coral responded courteously, "Thou my refer to me as Black Tourmaline Coral. After I make my breakthrough later, you may call me Black Opal Coral."

"This one understand." She said and cupped her hands respectfully, "This one shall take their leave and leave you be."

Just as the snake was about to escort her back out, the coral stopped them, "Please take this with you."

She showed her palm and watched as a branch of a black coral drifted before her much to her bewilderment, "This! But-!"

"Our branch is a way of communication while also notifying us in the fastest way. Replant this." The coral responded with a sigh, "It has been some time since we became responsible for the safety of Octavinelle. We would like to see what has become of the school of the students we are tasked to watch over now."

"I understand..." Lotus responded hesitantly and nodded before taking her leave once more.

.....

With this, she left the Coral Sea with minor problems and made her way back to the school. Once there, she made some small talk with the mirror before noticing the ripple as her companions returned with wide smile and recounted their day at the museum.

"Phew! Oxygen on land definitely tastes better!" Grim breathed deeply with a wide smile after the trip.

"The Atlantica Memorial Museum was quite fun." Deuce nodded with satisfaction.

"I thought it was boring when we went there the first time, but it's pretty fun, huh~" Floyd agreed with a wide smile.

"Once we've gotten used to being on land, it is kinda funny to think of how misguided the old mermaid kingdom was about the surface world." Jade noted as he recalled the history between the sea and the land.

"The fork…" Ace snickered as he struggled to hold back his laughter, "Ah, no… The golden comb was quite the story."

"It's common for people to make assumptions of something they have never seen before, but I find it interesting how they imagine a single object to be according to their own perspective and upbringing." Lotus smiled, "Sometimes it can be quite amusing such as this case. Looks like you guys had fun for the rest of the trip, huh?"

"Yup!" Yuu smiled wide as he heard this.

"I am happy that you seemed to enjoy yourselves. You must be quite tired after spending that much time in the sea." Azul said with a wide smile, "It is almost time for Mostro Lounge to open. How about enjoying a cup of tea?"

"Yahoo!! I was getting thirsty, y'know!" Grim cheered.

Lotus continued to watch with a smile as they talked about the rest of their day as they followed Azul to the Mostro Lounge.