Why Talk to Her?

“Are you sure this is her classroom?” Zoe whispered.

“I think so.”

She sighed. “So, you’re not fully sure.”

“A friend told me she might be here.”

“I said that she might be here, not that it was true,” Bastion spoke from behind her.

The orange sun lit the academy’s long hallways through the windows. Those hallways grew increasingly silent as the classes ended.

“Miss Charlotte, we’ve searched everywhere. Can we continue tomorrow?”

“She might be in the library. She loves to read,” he said quickly.

“Please, let’s search in one more place.”

“Why do you insist? I’ve already told you we don’t need that girl.”

“But we need more members.”

“I know, but we can find someone else. What’s so special about her?”

Charlotte ignored that question and continued walking.

Not wanting to leave her alone, Zoe followed her friend through different hallways until she came to a stop.

“I’m sorry, Zoe, but where’s the library?”

“It’s on the opposite side. Why didn’t you ask before?”

With no other option, they retraced their steps. This time Zoe guided Charlotte.

When they finally reached the library, the sun was almost gone.

They both peered through the door. After a quick scan, they found her. All alone, Alysia was sitting at a table near the corner.

“We found her. Now what should we do?”

“I don’t know.”

Charlotte started nervously tapping the fingers of her right arm against her left arm. Unconsciously, she took a small step backwards.

“You don’t need to do this if you don’t want to, Miss Charlotte.”

“I need to.”

A deep feeling inside her forced her to try.

“Who are we watching?” whispered a voice behind them.

Charlotte gave a little jump out of fright, bumping into Zoe’s head.

“Ouch!” they said in unison.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to scare you both,” said the voice.

“Great, just who we needed,” Bastion complained.

“Prince Arthur? Is there something you need?” There was a hint of sarcasm in Zoe’s words.

“Not really. I see you’re trying to approach Miss Alysia.”

“Actually, we're not. In fact, we don’t need her.”

“Really?”

Charlotte ignored their conversation and focused her eyes on Alysia, who was calmly reading a book.

She turned the pages of her book slowly.

At that moment, she looked like a completely different person.

“Now is your chance, Charlotte,” suggested Bastion.

“I’m not sure.”

“Trust me, she won’t harm you.”

“You said that last time!”

Suddenly a hand tapped her on the shoulder.

“Miss Charlotte?”

“Sorry, Zoe, I got distracted.”

“Don’t worry, but could you please stop talking alone? It creeps me out.”

She couldn’t say anything but let out an awkward smile.

“I’ll go and talk to her.” Charlotte finally mustered the courage to approach her.

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, I need to do it myself.”

“What if she goes crazy again?”

“Please trust me.”

“Sure, the foundation of a team is trust. We will be right here.” The Prince spoke up first, almost on behalf of both.

The library had a pleasant scent. The smell of the wood mingled with the subtle aromas of vanilla, old paper, and ink.

The soft, warm lighting made that place extremely cozy. Charlotte even thought of sleeping there, but she continued her way to Alysia.

Before arriving at her table, she hid behind a nearby bookshelf. She had to take several breaths to calm down.

“You got this, Charlotte.” Bastion encouraged her.

She tiptoed over to her and finally was standing right in front of her.

“H-Hello.”

“—Shh—” A collective hiss went through the room.

“I’m sorry.” She awkwardly apologized.

Alysia didn’t care.

“H-hello. Miss Alysia?” Her voice was lower than before.

“What do you want?”

“Could we talk?”

“No.”

She kept her eyes on her book.

“Please.”

A sigh escaped her. “I don’t care anymore. I won’t do anything to you anymore. Just stay away from me.”

“But I—”

“Are you deaf? I can’t stand the sight of you.”

“It’s about Bastion.”

Alysia finally looked up.

“Don’t push it, Armelier.”

“Let’s meet this Saturday. I’ll explain everything to you. Please."

She remained silent.

“Saturday morning at the Cat’s Caffe.”

“So you agree? Thank—”

“Don’t get confused, you curse. I want to hear about him, that’s it. But if you’re messing with me…I won’t hesitate.”

“H-hesitate about what?”

Ignoring her, Alysia left the library.

A chill ran down her spine.

“Are you alright?” Zoe hurried to ask.

“I’m fine, thanks.”

“So how did it go?” asked the prince.

“Good, I guess. I will meet her this Saturday.”

“What? Why? I’ll go with you.”

“It’s not necessary—”

“I don’t care. I won’t leave you alone with that maniac.”

“I have to agree with Miss Zoe. Why don’t we both come with you?”

Charlotte couldn’t say no.

After saying goodbye to both of them, she returned to her room, dragging her feet after a tiresome day.

She turned off the Magica light. The pale moonlight streamed through the window.

She rested on one of the couches in her room.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Honestly…no.”

“I see.”

“That’s it? I thought you’d be happy seeing her again.”

“You’re right!” His voice became more animated. “We should buy a suit for me.”

“A suit? For a staff?”

“Oh, you’re right.”

“Besides, Prince Arthur is joining us, remember?”

“Of course I remember. That idiot invited himself.”

“Calm down, Zoe is also coming.”

“Fine. What's your plan anyway?”

“I’ll be honest.”

“That’s good, she likes honesty.”

“If you say so.”

She immediately went silent and turned her head towards him, her eyes sparkling. An idea suddenly came to her.

“Wait, you know her. You can tell me what to say!”

“I suppose, but—”

“What is she like?”

“I would describe her as a tsundere.”

“Tsun—what?”

“Never mind.”

She placed Bastion on the couch in front of her. She leaned forward, resting her arms on her thighs.

“Please tell me.”

“I mean, she hides so much inside her.”

“Hides?”

“Yeah, she’s vulnerable, but tries to look strong. She’s afraid.”

“Afraid? About what?”

He was about to say something, but in the end he changed his mind.

Outside their voices and the ticking clock, everything was completely silent.

“I cannot tell you that.”

“Come on, please.”

“Things haven’t been easy for her, but—”

“But?”

“She’s someone who’s kind.”

“Really? That’s all? I want to believe you, but it’s hard.”

She leaned back on the couch and lifted her head. She let out a sigh of frustration.

“It’s hard to believe after everything she has done to you, right?”

“Yes…”

“Telling her everything that happened might not be enough, you know?”

Resigned, Charlotte finally lay down on the couch and fixed her gaze on the window.

Some stars shone brightly, but she couldn’t see the moon.

“I know. That’s why I need your help.”

“I-I…don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I know Alysia is suffering because of me, but I don’t know what to say…”

Another silence filled the room.

“Do you miss her?”

“Every day.”

“I need to understand her.”

“You will.”

Feeling lost, she went to her bed.

Even though her eyes closed, her mind was full of loud questions.

She opened her eyes again and stared at the ceiling. She could hear her own breathing.

“Hey, Bastion.”

“Yeah?”

“If Alysia does attack me…would you defend me?”

He didn’t answer.

“I thought so.”

“Charlotte…I—I…”

“It’s alright, I understand.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. She is someone special to you.”

“I could never harm her…I-I’m not that strong.”

“I see.”

Her attitude didn’t change. Somewhere deep inside, she knew what was in his heart.

The room went from a dark blue to complete darkness. The moonlight had dimmed even more.

“So, please, Charlotte, help her.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“I’m sorry, but I can only trust you.”

“We should rest.”

She rolled over in bed.

“Good night, Bastion.”

“I’m sorry, Charlotte.”