The Little Push.

After consoling Frank, Lia walked to the garden with him. They had spent most of their time together there. Walking up to the tree under which they always played, Lia sat down and looked up at its branches.

"I know you don't remember it but meeting you was like a dream, Frank," Lia said waving at Frank to come closer to her. What happened after the class had made Frank somewhat reluctant to touch Lia.

He edged closer to her. Looking at her face, he said," How?"

"That day, I had a big fight with my brother and I ran away from home in anger to the library. And then, at the library, even Lucifer began to piss me off. And then I saw someone," Lia chuckled. "She was a girl of my age with blazing red hair and I found her staring at me. She had this peculiar look of surprise all over her face after being caught. It made me curious. But when I tried to talk to her, she ran away right out of the building. And it was while chasing her, that I bumped into you."

"Is that so?" Frank said, looking at his feet.

"Yes. When I saw your blushing face, I completely forgot about her," Lia said, smiling. "That was so strange. I just had this feeling that I had to take you with me, no matter what. It was magical."

Frank closed his eyes and leaned against the tree.

"I want to lock you up," he said.

Lia looked at him in surprise.

"How has it been?" Lucas said merrily to Hannah, who was sitting in front of him at the table. "You must have been enjoying your life at the Marquis' seeing how quiet you had been. "

Hannah looked at him with dead eyes.

"Why? Did they not treat you well?" Lucas said as he lifted the cup of tea to his mouth. "You didn't do anything, did you?"

"The marquis knows I'm a witch," Hannah said.

The tea that Lucas just sipped, was sprayed out back into the cup with the sudden shock he had just received. Coughing and slightly soothing his throat, he asked in the lowest scream he could," What?!? How?!? What did you do?!?"

"I didn't do anything. He knew me before my oblivion," Hannah said looking into Lucas' eyes. "So, how did you miss such a big thing?"

"What big thing?" Lucas asked, confused. "He knows you!!"

Hannah leaned forward and sighed.

"Given your reaction, it seems you were fooled too," Hannah said while continuing. "He must've hidden his identity."

She gritted her teeth as she stabbed the croissant with the fork on the table.

"Well, since it's my fault for being careless, let's move you somewhere else," Lucas said while scratching his head.

"No," Hannah said while looking down. "I need to stay. There is something strange at the Marquis' house."

"What? Why?! He knows you're a witch. Who knows what he might do?" (Lucas)

"He won't. At least for now. And I cannot leave that place yet. There is this strange child there. I cannot tell why but he seemed dangerous. I need to be there in case something happens." (Hannah)

"Jennifer, for god's sake, why do you care? What happens to that house is their own problem, not yours!!"

Hannah paused for a moment. Lucas was indeed right. What was happening wasn't her own problem. It was the problem of those people in that house. Then, why was she so worried for their safety? It hadn't been long since she had come to the Shuzar estate. She also wasn't particularly attached to anyone in the house. Then why? Why did she care?

"It's nothing like that, Lucas. I don't care if all those people drop dead right now. I just don't like this feeling I get from leaving that brat alone."

"You know, that ain't an excuse, right?" Lucas said after contemplating for some time.

"So what?" Hannah said with an indifferent expression, at which Lucas sighed.

"Fine, but the moment you feel something is wrong, you run away and come to me at this address," Lucas said while passing a piece of paper to Hannah. "Promise me, one step towards danger, you run."

Hannah took the paper and put it into her pocket and nodded.

After catching up on what had happened the two months they were apart, they separated at Capital Square and Lucas went off to his address on the paper. Hannah after seeing Lucas off returned back to the Shuzar estate.

When she opened the main door, standing in front of her was the Marquis, grinning ear to ear.

"What?" Hannah snapped.

"How was your meeting with him?" Lloyd asked merrily.

"Who? I met nobody. I went to eat some croissants, that's all," Hannah said walking in.

"But you didn't take a single bite of that poor croissant," Lloyd said hanging onto her shoulders as she walked inside.

"You know that stalking is illegal in Alkezar, right?" Hannah muttered pushing Lloyd's hands off her shoulders.

"So are witches," Lloyd chuckled as he said that, and Hannah's string of patience snapped as well as Lloyd's hand that was going for her waist.

"Disgusting," Hannah said with a cold look and went inside the manor.

Lloyd pouted and stood there like an abandoned puppy.