Poor Damselfly Tried Her Best...

Arguably... I did my best, and I at least managed to save some people.

Honestly, my only regret is... that I didn’t spend enough time... Hey! Don’t grab me there! I’m-

Wait a second... Something ain’t right!

Shocked to feel someone’s hands caressing me, my eyes shot wide open.

Lucian!?

There he was... my knight in shining... butler uniform... holding me like a princess?

His arm stretched forward, casting a barrier to shield us.

Am I dreaming, or did he really save me? Yet again...

Isn’t this like straight out of one of those fairy tales?

He comes in... saves me... then we marry... have kids, and enjoy the happily ever after.

“You did great, Miss. I’m glad I made it in time.”

Lucian smiled at me with a relieved expression.

He... looks so... handsome... Why is it always...

Smooth in one elegant motion, he brushed my hair back before starting to gently wipe away the dirt from my face.

I could feel my cheeks heating up... except for... it was my blood boiling out of anger!

How... dare... he!?

Gathering my last strength, I bit his hand!

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! What did I do, Miss!?”

Shows up late! Steals my show! And then takes advantage of the situation to touch me!? Lucian, you fiend! Grrrrrrrowl!

“Count... yourself...”

... lucky... that I don’t have any strength... left.

With that, I passed out, unable to even finish telling him off.

Next thing I knew, I gained consciousness on something warm and bouncy, covered by what felt like a blanket.

Quite a familiar sensation... Hehe.

Slowly opening my eyes, I confirmed my surroundings.

Knew it, our dorm room! So it was just a dream?

“Kurenai!”

A familiar voice echoed, just slightly too loud, for my liking.

I guess not... Just you wait, Lucian!

“Sob. You finally woke up! Sniffle.”

Dropping a cloth towel, she ran over to me, hugging me tightly and sobbing into my shoulder.

“Of course, Asako. Watch out, if you cry like that, you’ll drench my hair.”

In before she just uses my hair as a handkerchief to blow her nose! You better not, Asako!

I screamed internally.

“Kurenai...”

“That’s my name, I know. Hehe.”

Gently caressing her head, I tried to comfort her.

“... Hikari... and Akira...”

She stammered through her sobs.

“Oh yeah, where are they? I’m surprised they-”

“...they are gone!”

Interrupting me, she shouted.

Eh?

What is she talking about? Did they go somewhere? Maybe... Tomoko called them home, or maybe my parents asked them to visit!

“Where did they go, Asako?”

“They disappeared! Right after that incident with Gideon! When we arrived, everyone was accounted for... except for Hikari and Akira.”

Without wasting another second, I got up and ran outside searching.

First, I headed for the courtyard.

According to Asako, they disappeared without leaving any trace, and in the following days that I was passed out, she searched everywhere but found absolutely nothing.

“Empty... Classroom next!”

At first, I thought it might be just a joke... but she was dead serious. They would have never just up and left me... right? Right?

“Not here either? Maybe... the dining hall!”

Checking the classroom, I didn’t find them there either, only surprised and shocked faces from our classmates.

What worries me even more is what Asako told me afterward...

“Saki also disappeared... but she at least left a note for me, telling me that she’ll be back soon.”

All three disappeared at the same time... but only one of them left a note? Suspicious!

Rushing into the dining hall, I slammed the door wide open, startling everyone inside.

“Not here either...”

My worries rising further, I gnashed my teeth.

“Miss, should you really be out of bed already?”

Lucian approached me from the side.

“Have you seen Hikari or Akira?”

“Your charming friends? Not since last time, why do you ask?”

“They’ve gone missing...”

I responded, my face contorted with worry.

“I’ll keep my ears and eyes peeled, maybe I’ll find a clue...”

Smiling graciously, he leaned in.

“Thank you.”

Sharply responding, I rushed out to continue my search.

“... about the incident... Huh? Where did she go?”

Hours passed, and I ended up searching every nook and cranny... finding absolutely nothing.

I even tried asking around, but most just avoided me like the plague... I guess that’s my own fault for showing off that much against Gideon.

Haaaaaaaah.

Though, I doubt they know anything either... even Olar didn’t notice anything, despite having all those familiars spread out everywhere.

Defeated, I made my way back to our dorm room once the sun started setting.

The only place left that I can think of is... back home. Yet, would they leave without at least leaving a note?

With my body drooping, I staggered into our room.

Could it be...

My vision blurred as a burning sting strangled my throat.

... they hate me now?

Trying to swallow just made it worse, and tears followed right after, streaming uncontrollably down my face.

Dropping onto my bed, I was on the brink of despair.

Thud. Crunch!

Mmmm?

Propping myself up, I wiped away the tears and reached for whatever I had just fallen onto.

“A letter?”

Checking both sides, it had no information on it, not even a seal.

“How odd. Sniffle.”

Intrigued, I quickly opened it and unfolded the paper inside.

Reading its content drained the blood from my face, turning me pale like a ghost.

“Hereby you are also invited to my humble tea party.”

Written in blood, with a small hand-drawn map on the backside.

Is this some twisted joke?

“...”

‘Are also invited...’ Meaning... there are others... Hikari and Akira?

Shaking my head violently, I just truly wished for this to be a joke... or that I’m misunderstanding something.

Though...

Pondering, I held my chin.

... what are the odds that someone knows about what happened at our tea party and they decided to play a joke like this?

The blood and tea party mention really points towards them knowing...

Yet... wasn’t the culprit... Gideon!?

Argh!

Frustrated, I ruffled up my hair.

So there is a chance that it wasn’t him!? Then how did he know about what happened!? Grrrrr!

Should I just believe the letter and go to this tea party? Or maybe I should visit home first and check whether Tomoko, the Chieftain, or Mom and Dad know anything?

Getting up, I started walking around in circles, debating.

Don!

Instinctively I swung my arm towards the source, closing my hand and forming a fist.

Hah! Not this time!

Proudly, I made my way outside to the other side of our window.

Should be around here...

Scanning the area, something shimmered in the grass, right below a tree branch.

Ah! There.

Quickly picking it up, I inspected it.

A damselfly? Hmm... I could have sworn that I hit it...

Staring more at the frozen-solid damselfly, I made up my mind.

I’m going to that weird tea party first! That ominous aura watching over me just as I got that letter seems too convenient! Nonetheless... poor damselfly... I’m sorry.

Placing it down, I knelt down praying for it before setting out for the marked location.

As I walked away, the damselfly turned to blue sand and disappeared.

Somewhere in a dark place, faintly lit by flickering torches.

“Ugh. Ouch, ouch, ouch. That was way too close for comfort...”

That same eerie being that spied on me before stood there breathing heavily.

A chunk of her cheek frozen, covered in ice.

Ripping the frozen chunk off, it swiftly started to regenerate as she forced a wide grin.

“... my dear... Kurenai...”

Turning around, she strutted towards a set table, prepared for a tea party.

“...Oh, how much I wonder...”

Her eyes glistening, she licked her lips, two long, sharp fangs protruding.

“...how you taste!”

Squirming in her seat, she could barely contain the ecstasy.

Settling down, she grabbed a teapot and poured two cups.

“I’m sure you both agree with me... Akira and Hikari. MuaHahaha!”

Across from her were Hikari and Akira, unconscious, chained to their seats.

“Oh don’t you two worry... She’ll be here with us... soon.”