...Mr. Abrams is a tired man. So very tired.

Earlier, he entrusted his mischievous students over to the brand new head of security, Blair Ericson. Furthermore, he held extreme confidence in this idea of his because of this powerful woman’s last name: Ericson. Somebody named ‘Ericson’ would always dutifully keep their ‘word and vow’. And one of these two students he wanted her in charge of, harbored the secret last name of Malierano – though not many really knew of it. But she did! Not only was she made fully aware before entering this high school, but Mr. Abrams was extremely certain that Blair Ericson had been briefed about the ‘other’ 4 children in their school that hailed from the 10 families aside from Noel Malierano and Nathan Ericson. Including his own son, Rhys Abrams.

And besides the inherent trust he holds with the Ericsons, he also knows that the ‘Ericsons’ absolutely despise the ‘Malieranos’! They hold a similar anti-synergistic relationship to the ‘Mabras’ and ‘Korpela’ families; If they’re ever trapped in the same area together, then both sides, regardless of status and strength, will immediately begin fighting! Well, adults would never begin physically harming children. That would be immoral and shameful to their family name. But not ‘harming’ them doesn’t mean they won’t indirectly give that child a hard time! An Ericson wouldn’t let go of the opportunity to drive the mysterious Malierano brat away, and thwart their plans, would she? It doesn’t seem likely, considering she wouldn’t even need any sort of excuse to get the job done.

Yet, here she was, an Ericson in charge of security… not even bothering to stop the Malierano brat from wandering! She, an Ericson, actually looked the other way for a Malierano!!! What kind of situation brought this sort of thing up…?

In fact, Mr. Abrams was currently in the midst of learning about said reason, right now. To be more precise, he was receiving a report from her about the situation outside of the Dome, as well as inside when he was in the back room with his son, and her little ‘deal’ with Aeron regarding Noel’s desire to go out on a ‘stroll’.

As it turns out; it was because of him! DAMMIT, that walking miscalculation…! He always has to get in someone else’s way, regardless of what he’s supposed to be doing at the time of trouble, or where he should be going! Really, this man- no… it’s a lot better to say ‘this family’… they can certainly get under one’s skin if one isn’t careful enough. To prove this statement, just look at what the younger Malierano has done!

Although there is no evidence connecting the two, Mr. Abrams discovered from the new head of security that shortly after Noel went for his walk, a notification to all nearby hero and security personnel was transmitted outward, claiming that in a certain area of the School campus, there was a massive Gargoyle creature wreaking mayhem onto the experimental trees their Botanists and plant – related hero in training students were attempting to grow. It can be said that the next incident he learned about, this gargoyle thing, strangely enough, fell directly in line with the time Noel left for a stroll. Blair even mentioned the boy returning shortly after that piece of news spread around – and he was full of dust and dirt! He even carried a book of sorts under one of his arms.

...Just what did he do?

Eventually, Blair wound up in a situation that could be closely described as resembling the saying: ‘Trying to catch two hares, but winding up with none.’

She to keep Noel in check, but Aeron tempted her ego and after stroking it a few times, convinced her to make a bet with his little brother… a bet she lost in. But she did indeed, still keep a speck of her awareness on his actions. Such a thing isn’t that difficult for her. But this slight distraction magnified even more when she caught sight of that mysterious magic user. And such an attention - grabbing scene stole her sight from the match she’d promised to personally watch over.

Her attention didn’t fully return until she ‘felt’ a fluctuating clash of energy that belonged to neither participant, down in the arena. One was protecting Luxor Al Amin, while the other targeted him with sinister drive and ambition.

She knew then, that something, or someONE had taken liberties under her watch – and another guardian had to get involved in her stead. This was a massive loss of face for her…

Well, she did earn a handful of brownie points with Noel, after he learned that Blair had no intention to follow him. Was a kind Ericson she turned out to be!

...Is basically what he thought, when he found she hadn’t ratted him out, or lay in ambush for him by the stadium’s front entrance.

.

.

.

But that was besides the point! Even if she knew how he felt, who would want a disgusting Malierano’s affection??

Eugh!

Luxor Al Amin is unconscious – and will most likely remain that way for a few weeks towards a month. The descent of Anubis’s ‘command’ imbued inside of the divine energy that aided the conspired - against King really took its toll on his under-developed body.

Mr. Abrams had a lot of intel to take in, but generally speaking... verifying that elusive thread of energy was clearly easy task, so long as one remembers who exactly went ‘missing’ during the event in that match. Blair also knows this, so nothing more needs to be said on that matter. What’s worrisome is the probability of ‘death’ that had loomed over Luxor’s head that match. Nobody could sense that thread of energy except for High Priestess Ishzaa, so how did Luxor know about his match facing possible interference? did he overhear something? Mr. Abrams left Blair with this question to mull over, for when the child awakens. Or she could try asking his friend, Wea, who’d been nearby him at the time and contacted Ishzaa about Luxor’s dangerous predicament.

During the match between Gabby and Nilia, Rhys showed a slightly bored expression on his face, as he constantly yawned. Mr. Abrams took this chance after witnessing nothing abnormal from beginning until the match’s end, to consider how he could make up his earlier negligence with the class of Non - Combatants he’d been assigned to. Knowing the threat that now followed them, he decidedly quit his other classes and worked out deals with some teachers that were suitable to replace him.

All so he could remain watching over the Non - Combatants a lot more.

Those teachers would take over his classes that focused on the Hero and Sidekick Divisions, until matters in the school were thoroughly cleaned up properly. For the school’s cleaning to happen, he will most likely need Jaanvi’s specialized help. Jaanvi should be finishing her special mission in about 2 weeks towards a month, according to Alebard, at least.

All that’s left… is finding out from Noel where exactly he ran off to, and what he brought back.

…

Noel: “Hm? What are you talking about Mr. Abrams? I was here the entire time.”

...Noel appears as a head, with his whole entire body tucked deep within the comfort of his … hospital blanket.

Mr. Abrams glances at the boy with a discerning eye. Nobody accompanied the Magician – turned – teacher back to visiting Noel and Rise. He didn’t even bother notifying them as they were all distracted by the upcoming match between Savannah and a purple skinned man named Starbound.

Well, all but one. Rhys decisively… fell asleep.

He walks towards Noel with an unhurried series of steps.

Mr. Abrams: “(This boy… haah. Patience is needed with the runaways. I mustn’t keep forgetting this lone fact. Zpatience, patience...)”

Houdini grabs the blanket and pulls it off, only to find a spotless outfit and already cleaned Noel. Before his teacher arrived, and before reentering back inside the shared room with Rise, Noel used his Destructive touch and destructive combination chain to eliminate the soil smudges and dirty stains that were all over his outfit. From that, the prodigal youth surmised that his destructive chain could effectively destroy things that his mind personally considered as the same thing, even if things weren’t truly that simple. Take that ‘dirt’ for example – it obviously wasn’t only one specific type of dirt, but various particles from that forest/field location. This was an important discovery he needed to explore more of, in the future.

Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t ‘eliminate the burn marks that the stingy book left behind. Mr. Abrams noticed this immediately, and smirked.

Mr. Abrams: “Oh? Tell me then, Noel: where exactly did you get those *points at burn marks* singed markings from? I’m sure you could never have received the uniform from the school containing such markings. That would be serious incompetence from our side.”

Noel: “………Ri--

…Rise burned me after you left.”

Mr. Abrams: “…”

Rise: “...(This brat. I’ll kill him!)”

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