Class ended an hour early so to pass some time we decided to get some lunch as our next class wasn't for a few hours, and the five of us—me, Ark, Orin, Zek, and Araki—were heading toward the cafeteria.
Aaron had disappeared at some point between the end of class and now, and no one had seen him since.
'Is the shadow forcing him to leave, or is it something else?' I thought to myself about the matter.
"So that class was interesting. I didn't expect it to go over other kingdoms so soon," Orin said.
"Agreed. I think Amanda might be teaching above what HS is supposed to," Zek said.
I turned to him in confusion but didn't show it. I was from Earth, so my perception of what classes should be is a little skewed, so I listened.
"Was that not normal?" Ark asked.
Zek looked to me but saw I wasn't saying anything, so he explained.
"No. I noticed she was teaching more advanced stuff not meant for beginners. I think she might be teaching us more advanced stuff to help prove nobles aren't superior to commoners," he said.
That made more sense than what I was thinking, so I said, "I'm with Zek about that. I didn't know what wasn't standard, so I didn't question it, but he is right—that could help remove the discrimination they have."
Everyone turned to me in surprise after I said I didn't know the standard of teaching material.
I laughed and said, "What? I'm an abnormality, no matter what people ask. I have learned advanced stuff for years, so I have no idea what beginner stuff should be for normal people."
Everyone paused before we all laughed. The sheer oddity I was was hilarious, especially considering I was someone who knew secrets of the world, yet didn't know what level of education was normal.
But the amusement cut short as I felt a familiar and incredibly annoying presence ahead. I looked up and noticed the bratty noble boy from earlier—the one who thought he was important enough to insult people like a walking badge of entitlement.
The same one we beat up and froze in a block of ice a few hours ago.
'What was his name... Alphonse, I think.'
He was storming toward us, face red and eyes locked on us like he was about to throw another tantrum.
Zek calmly stepped around Orin and raised his ice wand, pointing it at the kid.
He froze.
He blinked a few times, then, with a startled gulp, turned sharply down another hall and disappeared without a word.
There was a pause, then—
We all once again burst into laughter.
"Nice aim," Orin grinned, patting Zek on the head. "You might've just saved his life."
"I didn't even cast anything," Zek said, proud regardless.
We resumed walking, finally getting close to the cafeteria. That's when I felt it.
A chill that wasn't cold. Like static behind my eyes.
I paused mid-step.
"Why does she have to be here at all times?" I mumbled under my breath.
Ark looked over at me. "Jack? What's wrong?"
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "My stalker's in the cafeteria."
Everything stopped.
"…Your what?" Orin asked, stunned.
"What do they look like?" Araki asked, peering toward the cafeteria entrance, noting he couldn't even see inside.
Zek looked up at me in pure confusion. "How do you know she is in there?"
I sighed again. "It's a girl from one of the Rondo branch families. Agatha. we have never met so I have no idea what she looks like but I do know she is the same age as Terra, so a third year. She's been trying to find me ever since I moved into the Rondo estate.
Her father—Michael—was banned from the place after he tried to attack me, and she doesn't live there and can only enter with permission from the head of the house." I paused and whispered, "Plus mine, as she is just creepy and scary, and they don't want me to feel like I'm in danger."
The others stared at me like I'd grown a second head.
"She… tried to find you? For what?" Ark asked, ears twitching with tension.
"Yeah. Several times. But she never got close. I don't really know what she wants, but I can guess. Her emotional aura is… intense. Obsessive. You can think bloodlust, but instead of wanting to kill me, it's—well, the opposite. It's not love. It's an obsession. Unhinged obsession. And it's so strong that I can sense it from far away."
"That's possible?" Zek asked in surprise
I nodded and looked toward the cafeteria.
"She's probably been trying to 'accidentally' bump into me lately, as I have sensed her wandering around areas I might go to, but I've been dodging her like the plague. It's why I sometimes lead us down random hallways rather than taking a direct route—it's to avoid her.
I knew she was here the moment I got near the academy... She probably knew I would attend here as my parents did, so she enrolled at this academy, despite all her older sisters going to the Fourth Academy."
"…You can sense her aura?" Zek asked.
I nodded. "Only me, far as I know. It's the only upside of her insanity—I always know where she is, as its sole focus is me."
Zek nodded and asked, "What do you think she wants?"
I sighed and said, "I don't really know. My best guess is that she is crazy in love with someone she has never met and wants me all to herself... I don't doubt she will try something to get rid of... obstacles."
Ark paled slightly, and I couldn't blame him.
If Agatha learned we were dating, who knows what would have happened?
(Yes, I knew about Agatha when I agreed to date Ark. I'm not the kind of person to hide from problems. I find ways to fix them while hiding them in the dark and only tell people I think could help, when they are ready to hear or when circumstances don't allow secrecy.)
"So what do we do?" Orin asked, glancing toward the cafeteria.
"I'll wait in the courtyard," I said. "You guys get your food and meet me out there."
They nodded, and Ark asked hesitantly, "Do you want anything?"
I smiled and said, "Could you grab me a cheeseburger with ketchup, pickles, and tomato? Here—" I handed him a few silver coins.
Ark nodded and took the coins, but he looked concerned. His tail twitched slightly behind him.
I gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. She's never seen me with you guys. She won't know who you are."
"Are you sure?" Ark asked softly, glancing toward the doors.
"I've been watching her aura this whole time. She's never gotten close. Even during the entrance exam or when I was in the infirmary. I had precautions."
He hesitated, then nodded slowly and walked into the cafeteria with Zek and Araki.
Orin stepped up as Ark walked inside. "Did something happen between you two?"
I looked at him and smiled faintly. "You'll know when Ark's ready to tell you."
Orin blinked, then his eyes widened just slightly.
He smiled and nodded once before heading in with the others.
I watched them go, then turned and headed out toward the courtyard.
~~~~~~~
Twenty minutes later, I was sitting on a branch of a large oak tree. My back was leaned against the trunk, and my eyes were closed, letting the wind dance across my face.
Agatha's aura was still in the building. Growing more agitated.
*'Glad my aura works for this stuff… I really hope the books help me expand this soon. It's annoying only having limited lightning spells, yet near infinite non-attributed spells to work with.'* I thought to myself.
After a few more minutes, a familiar presence entered the courtyard—Ark's.
I opened my eyes, parted the branches slightly, and looked through the leaves.
Sure enough, they were stepping out with trays in hand, looking around.
"Over here, in the tree!" I shouted, pulling my spear from my storage ring and lowering the head beneath the branches like a signal.
They spotted it and headed over, laughing.
"Fun way of doing that," Araki said as they got closer.
I smiled. "I got comfortable and didn't want to get up."
They chuckled, and Ark asked, "Are you going to come down?"
"How about we eat up here?" I gestured to the other wide, sturdy branches around me.
They all glanced at each other and shrugged.
"Why not," Orin said.
Araki took a step back, ran, then practically sprinted up the trunk, grabbing a branch and swinging himself up. His tail wrapped around it for balance as he shifted to the side to make room.
Ark looked a little hesitant, ears tilted back slightly.
Orin was about to jump up on his own before pausing and looking down at Zek.
"You want help up first?" he asked.
Zek looked up at the branches, then down at his ice wand. "Might be a good idea. We've got spellcasting after this. I should conserve mana."
Before Orin could lift him, I spoke up. "I have a better idea."
I snapped my fingers. "Willow, help them, please."
A small, playful laugh echoed around us as the ground shifted underfoot.
Roots twisted and moved, bending upward, and within seconds, a staircase of thick roots had grown up the side of the tree.
Everyone stared.
"Please meet one of my spirits—Willow, a Nature Fairy," I said, pointing toward a flower blooming out of the trunk.
Sitting on the petals was a tiny woman, barely larger than my palm, wearing a dress of leaves with glowing green eyes and translucent wings.
"Hello~" she said, giggling at their stunned expressions.