It was no wonder why Aediva’s face went completely pale like the colour of the bedsheet apparitions that haunt the Aval Dorm. It was a wonder of how Aediva managed to successfully make the charm of that level in the first place but the more pressing question is that, how on earth can a high-tier protective charm broke?

Honestly, Aediva’s fear was justified. Having one life protection charm broke means you escaped from the death’s jaw once. In that case, it is wise for them to go straight and check on the two boys and hopefully find them both, still alive and well.

The cold night winds prick into their skin as they both fly on their magic broom over the thick forests that are always abundant within the large campus grounds - acting as a natural wall that separates the main school area and the dormitories area. Aediva hugged Zielle’s waist, minding to not overdo it or she might accidentally snap Zielle in half.

She hates the cold. So the whole ride, she was miserable and thus why, landing to the edge of the forest right beside Efren dorm-castle was such a relief to the girls. At least, for a few seconds of their arrival. With dark hoodies on their bodies, hoods up to obscure their hair and make it less easy to recognize their face in a group, both Aediva and Zielle peeked from the periphery of the forest.

Upon initial inspection, both were definitely not impressed.

“Wow…” Zielle said with a rather unimpressed tone.

“Their students are dropping like flies and yet this place looked… tacky” for the lack of better words herself, she repeated the comment she had heard early evening.

Truly, it looked like some children’s decorations - fittingly so when she remembered that their funds for the events had mostly been a problem she heard most common the hallways of the school.

Balloons being so out of place. Some rather cheap-looking ribbons and gods, don’t tell her that’s plastic flowers? The only good thing at that place would definitely be the well-cared gardens.. and thank goodness for the pleasing sights of the flowers that looked like gemstones growing on the carefully trimmed hedges.

“... Every year, Orbelesia Grace would always be one of the grandest opening events. Usually, the dorm leader and his high committees wouldn’t bat an eye at how much they spent on everything in order to get the best decorations and performances for the people to see” Zielle commented. Aediva looked at Zielle.

“I guess it is odd when most of the students here are practically loaded with money they brought from their homes. What I’m seeing here is definitely handiwork of some spoiled brats who barely know how to do things…” Aediva said when she suddenly went completely silent.

“Wait, did you say people? I thought this is a closed event” she asked with a visibly bewildered face.

“Yeah. Apparently this year’s Orbelesia Grace is combined with their Open Day so it’s open to the public. Usually, it’s just selected guests and students from the other six Grand Schools but it seems that their House Lecturers all agree to accept Senior Astathier’s suggestion to combine the two events this year” Zielle said with a subtle frown on her forehead.

“... And I know it might sound a little conceited but I’ve been here before I even enrolled in the school and the last two years, I’ve never truly seen an event where the students themselves do the decorations themselves. Some performances maybe, but most of the time they just hire professionals or bring in their servants to take care of the setups of the events. Even my own master…” Zielle said, hushing at her last statement. Aediva let out a sigh.

“Right. First thing’s first. Silence your phone” she said, pointing at Zielle’s pocket which the latter looked at and quickly rummaged to take out her phone.

“Of course. So right into the building?” Zielle said right after making sure her phone is all silent including her camera shutter as Aediva instructed. Aediva looked around, Cath who was also with them imitating her as they poked their head from behind the tree to a group of students practicing their marching at the field right in front of them. It was then when they spotted a familiar woman with the detestable dorm leader, Daniel.

“Seems like Ms. Rachel is definitely around. We can’t get caught” Zielle said as Aediva nodded, agreeing with what she heard.

“Let’s go nearer to the building and find a way in. Through the gardens” Aediva said, sneakily passing through the side of the forest into the area surrounded by high hedges with Zielle close by.

The further they went into the rabbit hole, it was almost as if they were in a prison camp. Not anymore a peaceful dorm. For a month, that place probably has been turned into a living hell for its dorm residents.

“Oi! Stop breaking things! How many times do I have to tell you that we have no more money to even replace all this shit!”

“Shut your mouth! If only I bring my servants here…”

“Quit it you guys! We have to do this on our own. If the tyrant hears what you’re saying, we’ll all be sent to the Gallows. Keep your hands moving!”

“What’s the damn point? Look at this place, it’s a damn humiliation! Are you expecting people would actually be impressed by some ribbons and balloons? And plastic flowers? Bwergh… I want to puke. If only that asshole dorm leader isn’t that strong, I would’ve topple him down and take over the dorm myself”

As the two infiltrators hid in the shadows, they heard the students’ complaints left and right - most are in a hushed voice. Until that one noisy young man kept going on and on about how Daniel turned into a maniacal tyrant that terrorized their live over some event.

“... That’s some loudmouth, right there…” Zielle sighed - knowing that such an attitude would only bring him troubles if anything. Meanwhile, Aediva only stared.

“And that loudmouth might be our ticket in” she suddenly said, eyes never taking off from the blue-haired kid who had taken off from his station after his peers shooed him away before he dragged them to the Gallows.

“Do you think he’s going to the Gallows? Are you sure we’ll find your two friends down there?” the green-haired girl asked. Aediva went silent and looked at Zielle, deadpanning, “Make him talk?”

Zielle nodded.

“Make him talk, it is” she agrees with a smile.

Unfortunate was the random Efren Dorm student that evening as he found himself alone to cool off after another tiring day of working to progress the event’s preparation. He stretched and suddenly found his arms unable to move as something or rather, someone held him by the pointy end of what felt like something sharp. His adrenaline kicked in yet under the surprisingly strong grip locking his neck and arm together, he was unable to do anything.

“W-What are you guys doing?! Is this some kind of a joke?” asked the poor little victim of the assailant in dark clothing.

“No. We just don’t want you to immediately scream for the nearby students on watch duties. Remind me again, is this supposed to be a dorm or a prison?” one of his assailants asked.

“Wha-- It’s a dorm of course?! Wait, what are you doing?” the student started to panic when he was forced to kneel down.

“Where’s the Gallows?” the assailant asked the students stuck in confusion. Initially, he was about too confused to even utter the answer to that question but after a harsh tug at his arm, he snapped out of his stupor and answered.

“Wait wait wait! It’s the left wing of the dormitories! The first floor at the end of the hallway! The room faces the Orbelesia Magic Tower!” the student asked, fearing that his arm might be broken if his assailants started to force more pressure into it. To his relief, they let him go but before he could rejoice the unexpected event, he was knocked out by the shock from a blow to the head.

“Hey, you aren’t supposed to hurt these students!” the assailant, a female voice said to her partner.

“Who cares? These kids are like expendables for whatever the hell they’re doing inside. Let’s go” the accomplice assailant said and the two dark figures went away.

With the sound of their footsteps disappearing from their unseen spectators from the cover of the high hedges, finally, both Aediva and Zielle went out to reveal themselves. Immediately, Zielle went towards the unconscious boy and inspected his head - breathing sigh of relief when seeing him still breathing and not exactly in a worrying condition albeit the apparent mana drain sickness she had seen as she walked around earlier.

“Looks like we’re not alone” Zielle said, dragging the pitiful victim of the assailants to the hedges.

“Those people don't exactly look like students. They’re using some really dangerous weapon just now” Aediva said, meaning an actual combat knife they saw the unknown people used to make the boy speak. She let out a sigh when seeing Zielle’s nervous look. It was then when Cath’s paw poke at her cheek - gaining her attention.

“I have a bad feeling about this. I kept hearing something moving around us” Cath whispered to Aediva’s ears as the one listening looked at Zielle who also seemed to have noticed the movements from around them. With a short look to each other, they ran towards where the assailants went despite knowing the dangers.

Their speedy escape to the bushes and trees nearby only served to make their unseen watchers reveal themselves - not knowing Aediva and Zielle are already rounding them and Aediva’s surprise attack that rendered the three masked individuals in black hooded cloaks. Ziele went out with Cath on her shoulders - blinking at the end result of Aediva stupidly efficient take-downs.

Aediva dropped one unconscious body from her grip, looking at Zielle with an impassive look.

“What?” she asked.

“You’re surprisingly good at this. Thank goodness for you” Zielle commented, her voice hushed. Aediva fell silent and squatted down on one of the unconscious individuals before unmasking them. Inspecting the people with Zielle who had one comment similar to Aediva’s thoughts.

“These people definitely don’t actually look like students…” Zielle said, catching the red mask Aediva throw at her.

“And these getups reeked like cult stuff to me” Aediva said.

Both of the student infiltrators looked at each with thoughts they could see in each other’s minds.

“Let’s hide this people somewhere and find those boys quick” Zielle suggested, to which Aediva nodded with a mixed-feeling look on her face. Especially when she saw the symbol behind the mask.

A symbol of a dragon and an intricate knot.

“We need to hide these people and tie them up. I’m going to make some rattan for us to use. We might need the mask and cloak though” Zielle said, noticing Aediva merely staring at the back of the mask before snapping back to her senses when Zielle called for her.

“Aediva”

“Ah… right. I’ll take off the cloaks and carry them behind those bushes” Aediva said, sounding rather absent-minded as she gets to work. The troubled look in her eyes didn’t go amiss in Zielle’s aware sight.