Shaken [1]

Shiki soon left the arena and moved in the direction of the oval as Lucas had instructed. Alone.

Lucas rarely calls him for a talk—and especially not when there are so many people around. As far as Shiki is aware, Lucas either has a significant subject to discuss with him.

And he was uncomfortable about this.

As soon as he got into the oval, he noticed Lucas in the corner leaning against a pole with one hand in his pocket and the other raised, inspecting his wristwatch.

Shiki sighed and made his way over to Lucas.

"Oh, Shiki!" Lucas exclaimed as soon as he saw Shiki coming toward him, Shiki simply offered him his usual disinterested smile.

The next moment, Shiki exclaimed, "So, what's the deal?"

Lucas made an implicit remark, "Yes, yes, you really are hasty. But first, let's go somewhere where there are fewer people"

Shiki calmly followed Lucas without even asking him a question, and they quickly found the cherry blossom tree where Luna and the others had congregated for lunch.

Lucas turned to Shiki and said, "Listen Shiki," wearing a neutral expression. Perhaps now isn't the greatest time to tell you this, but..." he faltered.

"...But?"

As he continued, Lucas took a long breath. "That person... she's back."

──────!!!!

Shiki, who has always been seen and thought of as an aloof and distant person who doesn't let his emotions affect him personally, was now blatantly displaying his hostility in front of Lucas.

Rage was apparent on his eye; and his face was seem to likely being shadowed.

Lucas, felt Shiki's unwavering hostility—That news had to be conveyed, one way of another, but was telling Shiki about it first the best course of action?

'I wonder whether I shouldn't have told him first...'

***

Rinalyn, who had actually slept off, awoke and sat up in bed, stretching and rubbing her eyes.

When she regained focus, she cast a glance around before calling out to Rei.

However, nobody responded.

"Rei? Rei, where are you?" She repeatedly called, anxiously.

She dislikes the idea of being by herself in a room with a strong metal and medication odor. She despised it.

Rinalyn despises anything that could bring up that "event" in her mind. It always gave her anxiety and a little bit of fear.

She started to clench into the white sheet of blanket, sweating cold and as she started to feel her breath being heavy.

Click.

—!!

"Rei! Where in the world did—!!!"

It seems as though time has stood still and everything around her has stopped rotating. Her surroundings are growing threatening. Breathing is growing more difficult.

As soon as the person who entered the vehicle stood in front of her, wearing a terrifying smile that made her entire body tremble in terror, she was paralyzed and unable to move. The traumatic event that had happened to her flashed before her eyes.

Rinalyn felt like choking just by the person's presence, no words came out of her mouth—no, rather she couldn't get any word out of her mouth. She was in great horror.

'Eloise!'

"How are you doing, Rinalyn?"

Just from her voice made Rinalyn tremble more. She was disgusted; how dare she call her name with such an endearing tone, disgusting, disgusting, disgusting!!

Eloise smile grew wider as she had gotten a better look at Rinalyn's expression.

'Ah~ what a delightful sight.' 

Rinalyn flinched and her eyes darted away as Eloise abruptly leaned in and lifted her chin. Eloise took great pleasure in Rinalyn's misery.

Eloise felt a great power emitting through Rinalyn; she could tell that the core she had implanted had increased in strength.

Her experiment seemed to be succeeding.

Rinalyn was undoubtedly just an ordinary ginue pig for Eloise, despite the fact that she saw Rinalyn as a daughter figure.

Eloise said, holding Rinalyn's chin, "I want to take you now, but I think that can wait; that man would blow me off if I were to ignore his commands. But it doesn't matter because I can now keep an eye on you whenever I want since I've already snuck into your class as a student."

—!!!

'S... she had been disguising herself as a student in class A? Since when?! This is... this is dangerous— I need to do something, if only my body can move!'

No matter how hard Rinalyn struggled, she was unable to escape Eloise's magic since their powers were so drastically different.

Click.

"Ah, it looks like your friend is here. Rinalyn, I'll see you in class."

Once Eloise released her, she disappeared while still sporting that horrible smirk.

"Are you awake, Rinalyn? I'm sorry, I just had to take a bathroom break."

Rei, who had just returned from the restroom next door, noticed Rinalyn looking scared.

She hurriedly approached her friend, panicking as she could see that she was panting heavily. "Rinalyn! What's wrong? Did something happen?!" she exclaimed.

"I- I'm fine..." Rinalyn replied.

"A...are you sure?" Rei wanted to affirm, to her Rinalyn looked really pale, which just risen her worries.

But it seems as though Rinalyn persist to be fine and Rei couldn't help but just go along with it.

'Could it be? Did Eloise visited her? Argh! Shouldn't have left—I shouldn't have gone out at all!!'  Rei thought, but it was no use feeling the sense of regret for it already happened.

"Ah, thank you."

Rei handed Rinalyn a glass of water to cool her down.

None of them brought up any conversation; Rei thought that, it wouldn't do any good to say things. She doubt it'll make the atmosphere lighter.

She had known Rinalyn since they were approximately 3 years old; it was also the fact that their parents were friends. They were inseparable.

Although, despite her saying that they're inseparable. Rinalyn had more closure towards her brother, Shiki; they were the type of kids that no matter where the other go, the other will follow them. Rei remember how Rinalyn would just run off and play with her brother instead; but it didn't really concern her, after all there's always an annoying prick who would annoy her after.

'Hmmmm... I shouldn't probably let Shiki know about Eloise being present in the academy.'

***

The forty minute break was once again over, yet for some reason, Marvin and Zelde hadn't come back; to be precise, the break had been over a long time ago, presumably an hour ago.

Chatters of students filled the arena, wondering why hadn't the two proctor came yet; their excitement was changed to bewilderment.

Even class A, was baffled about the whole situation. They couldn't really say that the two proctor does not know their time, that's just BS. If there was someone who's sensitive about time, it would be those two.

'Did something happen? Why aren't they here yet?' Luna thought.

'Who knows, probably got distracted by something.' Replied Agapius, nonchalantly.

Luna then glance at the yawning beasts beside her. 'You...you two did something, didn't you?'

'Wow, I didn't know you accuse people just like that, Dizian.' Aella said. 'Bold of you to assume I'm joining Agapius with his crazy ideas. Humph!'

'A notification would pop up any moment now.' Implied suddenly by Agapius.

"Wha—"

Just as she was about to comment on what Agapius said, as if on cue, the blue translucent screen appeared in front of her.

[ Task

   Find the 'Double-crosser' and be rewarded!

Reward: Holographic Copy of The secluded book -Pages from 1 to ???-

Remaining time: No limit  ]

—!!!