Support in Unusual Times

The sun rises as it illuminates its rays over the Elite Luxeria Spell Academy. Shining through her windows, Lila wakes up and stretches from the blinding light. Haruto opens his eyes as he too wakes up.

“Morning Haruto.” Lila says groggy.

Haruto wiggles on the table as his eyes adjust too.

Lila gets up and heads to her bathroom. Haruto glances around the room, waiting for his wielder.

“Can’t believe how much stuff I’ve seen over the past week. No one will ever believe me back home.” Haruto says to himself.

Whish

Haruto leers over to the direction of the sound, surprised to see the wall once again glowing. Blue energy seeps through the bricks of the walls as a piece of paper appears through. Floating in midair, its appearance looks similar to what Lila grabbed earlier.

“Okay Haruto, I’m ready to practice our…” Lila stops as she exits the bathroom, noticing the glowing wall and paper.

“Great, I’m guessing this is another emergency notice. I hope my mom doesn’t remove me from school for my safety.” Lila adds.

Stepping forward, her assumptions are true as she grabs the paper. In a quick motion, the paper turns into an orb of pure light energy and shoots itself up to the ceiling. Looking out her window, numerous spires of the school shine brightly as they erupt orbs in all directions.

“That’s definitely a notice for what happened yesterday.” Haruto says, unheard.

Whish

Haruto and Lila look at the wall again as another paper enters the room. Although, this one is more scroll-like. Lila grabs the paper and sees what's written on it.

“Attention all students, the lockdown has been lifted and classes will resume in the afternoon. We will be working alongside the Elite Hope Guardians to stop all despair from being used in the school again. You all may socialize again but we must encourage that no one should panic or cause any more trouble amongst each other.”

Lila finishes reading, looking astonished.

“They lifted the lockdown?” Lila says.

Haruto looks over and wiggles, getting her attention.

“Show me what the paper says too, Lila.” Haruto mutters his unheard words.

Lila picks him up by his jagged tip as he reads the words.

“They’re bringing in the Elite Hope Guardians into this as well? I hope Merlin knows what he’s doing.” He says to himself.

“Let’s go find Taro and Mia, I want to see if they’re okay.” Lila expresses.

Haruto wiggles with Lila putting him on her waist again. However, the paper begins to change words, rearranging letters and others disappearing to make out a new message.

“Lila and Haruto, please be safe and don’t do anything dangerous. I will be back as soon as possible to get Hope Protectors here. If you need anything, talk to Azrael.

Sincerely, Merlin”

Lila is speechless as the paper fully disappears into thin air. Haruto sees her idle and wiggles.

“What’s wrong Lila?” Haruto expresses his silent words.

Lila looks down and notices Haruto wiggling.

“Merlin left a hidden message for us both. He wants us to be safe while he’s gone. Also, if we need anything, we need to speak to Azrael.”

Haruto turns surprised, his eyes glancing to the floor to take in this info.

“Merlin actually left us a hidden message in the announcement. I have only seen this in films, this feels so strange.” Haruto says to himself.

“Let’s go find Taro and Mia.” Lila says as she brushes it off for now.

Heading out the door, numerous students exit their room as well. Some chat by their dorm room doors, while others walk into the main hallway and discuss recent events.

“What do you think is happening?” A female fairy says.

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if our parents began taking us out of this school.” A male Myconid responds.

“You think someone with despair is corrupting us here?” One random male lamia blurts out.

“Could be that, but it wouldn’t make sense. The entire school is literally fueled by hope.” Exclaimed by a fellow human male.

As Lila walks down, some eyes quickly glance over her.

“You think whoever is behind this is after her?” The male human asks.

“That makes even less sense, why would they attack her?” His lamia friend replies.

“I don’t know, maybe she has tremendous amounts of hope like that day she took out that guy and all of his despair?” Rebutted by the male human.

Lila ignores anything mentioned about her as she makes it to the main hallway. She heads down a few paces to reach a nearby corridor for more dorm rooms. A sign shown marks the dorms numbered 40-80 located here.

The two travel down the corridor as they see a familiar face by Mia’s door.

“Taro?” Lila asks.

Taro turns around and sees his fellow friends.

“Hey, Lila, I'm so glad to see you. As well as Stickman on your waist.” Taro laughs as Haruto rolls his eyes.

“Is Mia in her room?” Lila says.

“I was about to knock before you guys came. Let’s hope she is.” Taro responds as he knocks on her door.

Knock Knock

On the other side of the door, Mia gets up to answer the noise. Upon opening it she sees her friends, and Taro in front of her.

“Hey Mia, are you doing okay?” Taro asks politely.

“Yes, much better now that you’re here.” Mia grins while staring at Taro and her other friends.

“I’m so glad we’re all here, we need to tell you guys something.” Lila announces.

“Everyone come in, we’ll discuss what you have to say Lila.” Mia says as she moves to the side to let everyone in her dorm room.

Lila Taro and Haruto are surprised at Mia’s bed, being more reminiscent of a grass bed, but with bed sheet fibers taking the shape of grass.

“I can see you took my advice well Mia.” Taro says to her.

“I haven’t messaged my mother yet on buying me one so I decided to alter my bed using some mimicry spells on my sheets.” Mia shyly mutters as she rubs her hair.

Lila and Taro feel the bed, impressed by the feel.

“While it’s not grass, it definitely feels comfy. You did a wonderful job Mia.” Says Taro.

“Thank you, I promise to get a grass bed one day Taro.” Mia responds.

Lila sits on a nearby chair and clears her throat.

“There’s something important I need to tell you two.”

“No problem Lila.” Taro answers.

“What is it that you want to tell us? “ Mia says.

“Remember those announcement papers about the lockdown? Merlin gave me and Haruto a hidden message about us to be safe as he goes away.”

Both Taro and Mia are shocked by what she said.

“Merlin really left you a hidden message like that? He must really care for you two.”

“I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. First there was the guy I had to stop from hurting you Taro, then that lamia was caught also using despair and caused a lockdown.” An exhausted Lila mutters.

“There’s something bigger going on guys. When I was in my room during the lockdown, the floor just rumbled so much that my bed shook. Did you guys feel it too?” Taro says.

Everyone looked at each other with blank faces.

“No, I didn’t feel anything like that, Taro. But something weird happened when I was here though.”

“What happened?” Lila asks.

“For some reason, hope began seeping through the cracks of the wall here, and it disappeared. Nothing came through but it was like something was trying to get my attention.”

Haruto blinks in astonishment from his friends' stories. Haruto hurriedly wiggles to gain Lila’s attention.

“Yeah Haruto?” Lila says as she holds him, still wiggling.

“Hey guys, I think Haruto wants to talk to us. Let me prepare a spell I think I got right.”

Lila clears her throat as she wields Haruto steadily.

“Telepathia Inter Quinque Homines.” Recited by Lila.

Haruto begins to shine bright blue, his body begins to emit a dome like structure all around them. Taro and Mia are speechless with her spell.

“Hello? Haruto, can you hear me?” Lila asks.

“Yes! So glad I can talk to you Lila.”

Taro and Mia stare at Haruto, hearing his voice in their eardrums.

“Haruto, I can hear you.” Mia adds.

“Awesome, this will be way easier for us to finally talk as a group Stickman.” Taro gleefully says.

“Funny Taro. Look, I wanted to tell you all that this could be an evil conspiracy.”

“What do you mean?” A curious Mia asks.

“Back where I’m from, there’s stories where someone from the inside is corrupting people and brings down an establishment easily. I keep thinking, what if the building is trying to warn us something is happening like that?”

The rest of his friends look with confusion and surprise at his claims.

“This building is technically alive since it helps guide us to where we need to be. What if something is trying to harm it to freely use despair?” Haruto tells his friends.

“I mean, it could make sense if all of that weird stuff that happened to us were its warnings. The thing is, how can we prove something is harming the building? We need massive proof.” Taro adds.

“I’m not sure but we can bring it to Azrael if we do find something. The thing is, I have a bad feeling it’s connected to me somehow. Like some force is trying to get me”

Lila hugs Haruto.

“Nothing will let me stop protecting you Haruto, I promise that. We need to keep practicing and make sure we are ready against anything.” Lila adds.

“I can easily practice my spells and improve my health regimen to be faster for you man.” Taro says as she looks at him.

“I can better master healing potions and cures in case you all need something. Especially for amazing friends like you.” Mia proceeds to hug Taro first before bringing in Lila.

Haruto expresses his eyes happily.

“Thank you all. I couldn’t get anything like this in my world, it’s too gloomy. But you all definitely remind me of all of the best stories and games I have seen.”

Taro chuckles.

“Your world definitely sounds gloomy if you consider me something that reminds you of an amazing story from your world. I mean, just how many kitsune stories are there in your world?”

Taro smiles on the inside.

“A lot surprisingly. Same for any elf or human like you all. I do promise to use what I know to help us even further, it’s certainly helped like with the troll in midterms.”

“Hehe, strange how that seemed like yesterday. Time goes by so fast when we don’t pay attention to it. But I do appreciate you man, same for the rest of you.” Taro says, gaining a nod from Lila and Mia. While the latter slightly blushes.

“Let’s do our best to protect ourselves from now on. I feel like this school will see more surprises now.” Haruto asserts.

The entire group nods as they support one another. With surprises now expected for them all, they can prepare in case of any emergency or attack, even if despair is in use.