[21.6] Not a Baseball Pro

I slept peacefully under the sun while everyone excavated around me.

Zephyr stretched out in his fox form next to me as we both lazily lounged around.

Priscilla handed Felix another bouquet, "How's this, big brother? Or maybe these? I also can make tulips! Look, look! Aren't I getting better?"

Felix let out a sigh and wiped his sweaty brow, "Yes, yes… They are very beautiful."

Her eyes lit up, "I can make more!"

Felix: "..."

Cyrus stepped over to me and kicked my shoe in annoyance, "Oi. Get up and help us. Stop lying around!"

I pointed lazily at Hazel, "She's not doing anything either. She's just standing there with her tiny shovel."

Hazel clutched it closer to her chest and whimpered tearfully, "I don't want to hurt the ground…"

Cyrus frowned and returned back to kicking my shoe, "You're the one who wanted to come on this trip so bad! Yet you've only been laying around all week doing nothing!"

I yawned, "Isn't that the point of camping?"

"NO!!" He ruffled his hair with a sigh, "Also, we aren't camping. We are looking for a relic. So stop lazing around and help!"

I groaned and pulled my wand out from my sock, "Fine. I will help."

His eyes shrank back, "Wait! That's not what I meant-"

*BOOOOM*

The explosion caused the ground to break apart, creating a large crater. A barrier quickly formed around the explosion to protect the students from the impact of the rubble.

I motioned to the crater, "There. Excavated."

The Headmaster, who had created the barrier, stomped over to me. He shouted, "You said you would behave!!"

I pouted, "I have been. But he said I needed to help, so I helped."

The Headmaster's expression darkened, "How is that helping!?!"

I pointed to the center of the crater, "I found that creepy rock."

The rock in question had ominous designs on it and was emanating a strange color. In fact, it looked a bit like the rock I swallowed, but this one was a different color. It was almost opaque with an odd white smoke circling inside of it.

The Headmaster's expression lightened immediately as he rushed into the crater. Even though he still wore his frosty expression, I could almost see a tail wagging.

He bent down to the rock, studying it carefully. "It's the relic."

Cyrus threw down his shovel, "You actually found it just like that!?!"

Felix whimpered and lay on the ground in defeat, "We've been excavating for days… And it was found by her at her first attempt…"

I ignored them and walked to the edge of the crater. I watched the Headmaster as he paced around it. I called out to him, "Why is it so special?"

He explained as he kept his eyes on it, "It's a relic that is nearly a thousand years old. I've been studying them for a while and after years I finally found this one's location. The one you swallowed is able to seal any living creature inside of it. However, if I'm right… This one should-"

He picked it up and held it out on his palm. The colors inside the rock started to swirl and combine until an icy blue color stayed.

A man of ice suddenly appeared from the rock.

The Headmaster showed it off, "This relic will show a person's attribute. It will be extremely helpful in placing students based on their ability."

Zephyr jumped behind me and clung to the back of my dress. I could feel him shivering as he held on. I raised an eyebrow and spoke to him telepathically: <>

He gulped: <>

<>

<>

My eyes widened as I looked at the crowd. Everyone was eyeing the stone with a different expression.

Cyrus didn't seem to care.

Felix looked far too excited.

Priscilla was staring at Felix.

Caldwell looked a bit anxious.

Hazel seemed extremely uncomfortable.

And I was a bit interested.

I held out my hand, "Can I see it?"

The Headmaster nodded and walked over. Zephyr abruptly turned into a fox and hopped into the bushes.

As soon as he placed it into my hands, odd colors started to swirl inside.

I watched as an ominous smoke fought with an icy blue smoke as if both wanted to win, but neither could.

Finally, a form appeared.

An icy blue girl with smoke evaporating off of her stood firm. However, the form was erratic as if it couldn't make up its mind as it shifted between the two colors.

I frowned and mumbled to myself, "Why does she look like she's on fire?"

Suddenly, the rock was snatched out of my hand.

Cyrus held it away from me, "You can't let her have it! She will swallow it again!!"

I placed my hands on my hips, "Oi! I only swallowed it because you were bothering me! So give it back!"

As he held it out of my reach, a purple-colored boy poked his head out of Cyrus's fingers and watched as I frantically tried to grab the stone back.

I stood on my tip-toes as I stretched, "Oi! Give it back! I want to see my form again!!!"

D*mmit! Why is he taller than me!? AHH!

The Headmaster frowned, "Stop fighting or else you'll break it."

Cyrus held it out toward Felix, "Take it, Felix!"

Felix ran forward with an excited expression. He was so distracted by the relic that his foot caught a stone.

What happened next seemed to take place in slow motion.

He tumbled forward, panicking as he tried to catch himself by flailing his arms. His shoulder smashed into Cyrus's arm, sending the stone flying in the air.

We all watched as it flew in an arc.

Hazel ran forward, "I can catch it!"

The rock missed her outstretched hands and landed on the ground…

...Right beneath her foot.

It was too late for her to avoid stepping on the defenseless stone.

*CRACK*

Hazel froze, "I… I think it's fine…"

She hesitantly moved her foot to reveal a rock shattered into powder.

The Headmaster fell to his knees with a miserable expression, "All… All that work…"

I noticed a depressed hush over the crowd as they realized all their work had been useless.

I rubbed my nose with a chuckle, "Heh. I wasn't the one who destroyed it this time."

Cyrus turned to glare at me.