Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ １１-𝓐𝓷𝓸𝓶𝓸𝓵𝔂

​All day, Flora can't help but notice Erica being more on edge. She would avoid her gaze, tensing up when she noticed Flora staring. But each time she tried to approach the girl, she would avoid her or not talk to her

​‘I should probably leave her alone…for now. Maybe there was a reason for what she did’

​She couldn't help but feel worried about the rest of the day, not knowing what to expect. They were now in class doing their assignments. Flora doesn't mind the work too much, given that it was an open book. She can easily answer the questions by finding them in the book. It was one of the kinder assignments Serif gave them.

​But then there was a question that hinted the answer was on page 134. But…

​She noticed the page was missing. She flips back and forth to see if she was imagining it. She looks closer and notices there look like there seem to be remains that look like they belong to a page.

​‘Someone….rip my book.’ she realizes. She looks back to where Erica was sitting. Once again, the girl avoided her gaze.

​She looks to the desks left and right. The simple solution is to ask if anyone can lend her their book. However, it seems they are still in need of the book. And Serif would never allow anyone to copy off others. She doesn't talk to them either, so it felt more unnerving to ask even the simplest questions.

​Serif: You all have 5 minutes left before I will collect those papers

​She hesitantly raised her hand

“Teacher… I, um, borrowed something from Erica. May I get it back?”

​Serif: “Make it quick and hurry to your desk after.”

​Flora saw Erica widen her eyes as she approached her desk.

​

Flora feels her body move, but she struggles when to begin. She doesn't want to sound like she was accusing, but there weren't any other suspects she can think of at the moment. As if thinking Flora was being silent too long, the girl with glasses spoke up.

​Erica: “What do you want?” The tone sounded rather wary and cold.

​Flora: “I um… so um… early… I mean no. My page from my textbook has been ripped. Do you perhaps…” she cuts off, not wanting to offend Erica.

​Erica: “You think I did it…”

​Flora: “No! I mean, yes. I mean, no… I just-”

​Erica: “Well, you guessed wrong. It wasn't me,” the girl sounded dismissive

​Flora: “Then perhaps do you know-”

​Erica: “No, I don't. Please leave me alone…”

​The girl went back to her work, turning the pages. That left Flora speechless. There wasn't even a second to argue or explain. Turning back to her desk, she walked slowly. Perhaps she can guess some of the answers and hope for the best.

​What she didn't see was the princess smirking with a crumpled paper.

​Tara whispers to the princess.

​Tara: “Wow… your familiar is terrifying. I wouldn't want to get on your bad side,” she chuckles nervously.

​Princess: “Oh, trust me, this is just the beginning.“

​She had other plans in mind

​

​When it was time to leave class, she packed her things and walked Mochi out. But in the hallways, the princess stops her with a smile. Flora couldn't help but feel there was something off-putting about her smile, like it was fabricated.

​Penny: “Could I talk to you for a bit?”

​Flora: “Um… Sure, Your Highness.” She felt dread in her stomach for some reason.

​She followed the princess as she led her to an isolated room

​Flora looks around

​Flora: “Oh… this is a nice, spacious room.”

​The princess nodded, still smiling.

​Penny: “I know. It took me some time to find it.”

​Penny pulls her wand and sticks it up in the air with a light glowing.

​“Silenes.”

​A purple color covers the air for a second before it disperses.

​The princess didn't stop there.

​She sings a high note that sounds like it was from a soap opera.

​Flora widens her eyes and slowly claps.

​Flora: “That's… impressive, your Highness.”

​Penny: “Is it now? But I'm also not disrupting anyone from outside. Usually, this spell covers a small space to silence, but since I have huge amounts of mana, it multiplies.”

​Flora looks impressed, while Mochi eyes the princess curiously.

​Penny continues.

​Penny: I can feel you have a lot of mana, too. Definitely a huge amount.

​She walks closer to Flora with a thoughtful look. And she stares down at Mochi.

​“And you have such a cute familiar, too. I can sense some mana in him.”

​The dread only grows from here, as Flora could no longer read Penny's objective.

​As if switching like a light, the princess's face twists into a more serious expression. Even going as far as glaring at her.

​Princess: “That being said. You should leave this academy.”

​Flora felt a sudden chill as the room grew colder. There seems to be a strange pressure in the air that she couldn't explain, but it feels like it's pulling down a little. She was sure it was coming from the princess.

​Flora: “A-ah yes…school is over. I should leave now…”

​She then heard a click behind the door, confirming her worst fears.

​‘Someone locked us in!’

​She looks back at the princess, and this time she was sure her eyes had some sort of malicious intentions

​Penny came closer

​Penny: “I don't mean leave for today. I mean, leave forever. But your familiar can stay, though. He seems competent enough.“

​Flora backs away, and even this time, Mochi was barking. Even he was feeling the same dread.

​Penny glares at the dog.

​Penny: “Your familiar needs to shut up. He's being very loud. Does he even know how to talk?”

​When Mochi doesn't stop barking, the princess hardens her gaze.

​Penny: “I guess I was wrong. It's a familiar as incompetent as its owner!”

​But she smirks.

​“But it's okay. You are cute, so I'll keep you. And I'll be a better master. “

​She raised her wand, and suddenly something unseen moved between the chairs, and Mochi immediately bolted, making Flora let go of the leash.

​+----------------------------------------------------Mochi----------------------------------------------------------+

System detected you are in danger

Speed increases

Attack increases

Sight increases

Smell increases

​Activating skill

Super Zoomies

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

​The creature seems to be invisible, but it wasn't a problem for Mochi, as he can smell and see it compared to the Flora.

​Flora: “What! An invincible creature?!”

​Penny: “Oh, do you like him? He is called Tecana, my familiar! He is invisible to everyone but me!”

​Flora quickly draws out her wand and points it at the princess.

​“Trap her! Bauberis Aqua!” As soon as big bubbles formed, it was snapped by something invisible.

​The princess laughs.

​Penny: “You didn't hesitate against your princess? This is treason!”

​Flora: “I can't let you get Mochi! And how did you do that? Was that your familiar?”

​Penny: “No. My familiar may come from the same magic, but this is my family's special magic. An incredible invisible force of power. It is called void! One of the rarest elements in this world,” she grins.

​Penny: “I don't even need to say any incantation. I've already mastered most of it. But I can't say you can relate, you damn weakling.“

​She raises her wand up and something invisible knocks Flora to the desks nearby.

​Flora slowly got up, feeling there was blood on her forehead

​Flora touched it and saw blood smear up half of her hand.

​“ … Eh?”

​‘ This is my blood’

​The princess looks at her mocking

​Penny: “This is a level 100 spell. Meaning, it's all maxed out. So even if I hold myself back, it doesn't mean it hurts less. How does it feel to be hit by such a powerful spell?”

​Flora: ”Why…are you doing this…what did I do to you?”

​Penny turns serious.

​Penny: It's not what you did to me, but what you did to this academy. They only accept students who pass the trials and tests. But you… You can't possibly. You can't even cast a single damn spell, right? So why do they have to choose a loser like you?”

​Flora: ’That's no… I…” she struggles to speak, feeling light-headed.

​Penny: “I knew it. You couldn't even answer. You're guilty, as they say!”

​And then Flora heard a cry. Mochi got caught as the invisible creature held him in the air.

​Flora: ”Mochi!! Nooo! You let go of him!”

​Penny: “Very good, Tecana. I will keep him hostage.”

​Flora struggles to get up off the floor. All of her limbs hurt, but she didn't care.

​‘DO NOT TAKE MOCHI AWAY!. DO NOT TAKE MOCHI AWAY!!!’

​For a long time, she hadn't felt such intense anger in her. She was used to holding back. Perhaps she held back too much to the point where she's ready to explode now.

​Soon she felt she was standing. Knuckles were white from gripping her wand too hard. If she were to look closer at it, she would have noticed it was glitching out. She didn't even notice her eyes, now red, glitching between silver and red. Red is the color of the Moon. Red is the color of blood. And red was the color of her mother's crimson eyes.

​She felt her lungs straining. Yet she shouted louder than she ever did with her wand pointed towards the princess.

​‘I never truly wanted something so bad before, but—’

​“I WON'T LET YOU TAKE MOCHI EVER!”

​An intense energy emerges from Flora. Whether she is consciously aware of it or not, she was too fixated to care. But even the princess could feel something was different. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

​Penny checked the status and couldn't believe what she saw.

​+------------------------------------------------------Penny--------------------------------------------------------+

WARNING

​ANOMALY DETECTED

​YOU ARE IN GREAT DANGER

CHANCES OF SURVIVAL ARE LOW

​UNABLE TO RETRIEVE DATA FOR SURVIVAL

BACKING UP FILES

DATA CORRUPTED

​DATA CORRUPTED

DATA CORRUPTED

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+