"Say, I don't see Professor Trein. Where is he?" Yuu looked around in confusion.
After the situation was taken care of, Yuu and Grim aided the professor in escorting the residents back to their homes and cleaning up any remaining flowers. When they returned, they also had to sort out the mess that was left unattended by the absence of the teachers. Peony, having taken pity on the group, sent the professor back to his room to rest while the three of them worked on the school throughout the night. However, since then, he has not seen the professor the entire morning and afternoon of the next day. They had decided to meet under the statue of the righteous judge this night as they heard Malleus and the other two dorm leaders who dragged Rollo back got him to still prepare the Masquerade banquet in the end. When they arrived, the had already found the others waiting for them. All except for the three who persistently pestered Rollo to continue with the plans for a banquet party.
"He stayed up for quite a while taking care of things in the aftermath, and I'm certain his back still hurts. We can let him sleep." Malleus recounted as he walked over to them with Azul and Idia in tow.
"Man, I wish that were me..." Idia groaned.
"Oh, are we the last to arrive? Sorry if we kept you." Azul looked around curiously.
"My liege!" Sebek hurried over with a relieved smile, "Did you rest well?"
"Yes. I'm feeling fully recovered. Both my stamina and my magical reserves are restored." Malleus nodded feeling rather relieved to have his mana restored.
"You recovered fully in a DAY? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised someone with your massive reserves can replenish them quickly..." Jamil was taken aback in shock upon hearing this. He knew that Malleus held a lot of magic, but he didn't take into consideration that, if his mana pool was not normal, then his speed to replenish it can't have been either.
"Azul! I hope you kept your promise and got Rollo good!" Deuce called out to Azul much to Riddle's confusion and concern.
"Of course. I upheld my end of the deal with a superb blow. I hope you enjoy this evening as much as I plan to. I'll just be on my way, then..." Azul smiled as he slowly turned his back and took a step away.
"Huh?! Wait, hold up, Azul! Give me back my magic!" Deuce cried out in horror upon seeing this and quickly hurried to stop him.
Azul laughed, "Haha! That was a joke, I assure you."
He pulled out a paper contract, "Here's your contract. I hereby dissolve it."
He tore the paper apart as Deuce breathed a sigh of relief, "Whew... I was kinda worried you might just keep it."
"'Kinda' worried? You should be VERY worried." Azul sighed and shook his head in disappointment, "You need to start thinking before you act, or you're going to make a terrible mistake one day. Not everyone out there is as benevolent as I am. The next time you sign a contract, do your due diligence and make sure you're not getting taken for a ride."
Slightly surprised, Deuce nodded his head obediently, "Yes, sir. I'll be more careful."
"As you should be. You could stand to be a little less trusting." Azul lectured him before presenting a friendly business smile, "Of course, I'm ENTIRELY trustworthy. You may sign indiscriminately when it's one of my contracts."
"Oh, really?" Deuce looked to him in surprise, "Well, I guess you DID just give me back my spell without any fuss..."
"Deuce!" Riddle scolded him, "You're letting Azul swindle you already!"
"Idia. I knew someone with your boundless kindness and courage would manage to ring the Bell of Solace." Rook put his arm around Idia's neck with a bright smile, "Let us enjoy the ball to its fullest!"
Shrinking away from him, Idia grumbled seemingly out of fear, "Actually, uh, I think I'm good... I've said my hellos, so I'm just gonna head back to my room now..."
"WAIT, HUMAN!" Sebek stopped him before he could leave, "Malleus told me of your deeds. You thwarted Rollo with superior logic and soundly chastised him, yes? You may be a twisted, irksome human, but I suppose even a broken clock is right twice a day!"
"Way to start with a compliment before going straight for the dunk..." Idia grumbled as he slowly retreated, "Look, I don't need this. Just leave me alone."
However, he was stopped by Sebek who blocked his way with a bright smile probably due to his feeling of the oh-so-little respect for Idia, "We aren't so rude as to ignore those deserving of proper credit."
"Yeah." Silver nodded innocently in agreement, "Modesty is a virtue and all, but you can take it too far. You deserve to celebrate your accomplishments."
"Ooh, sounds like this calls for an air toss, huh?" Ruggie joined in with a mischevious grin.
Ignoring Idia's look of horror, Sebek nodded in agreement, "You know... I think you're onto something, human!"
Surrounded by his juniors, Idia stepped back with horror, "T-Tossing me into the air?! On another school's Main Street?! Nope, the hardest possible nope!"
Ignoring his cries, Silver instructed, "Let's do it, Sebek. You get his legs."
"NOOO!"
As Idia's scream echoed across the room, Malleus interrupted their little fun, "The aerial toss can wait. Let us head for the ball before Trein wakes up. A teacher would be loath to condone holding a ball directly after a major incident. But Trein values etiquette. He wouldn't interrupt everyone's fun once the ball was underway."
"But, wait, the ball's supposed to be in the lecture hall, right?" Deuce was shocked upon hearing this as he continued, "A chandelier fell down in there, and there are bound to be wilted flowers all over the place... I'm not sure we're gonna be able to have it there."
"Don't mew worry about that."
Surprised by the voice of a new person, they turned to find Che'nya leading a small group of Royal Sword Academy students over to them with a wide smile. But, of course, as it was Che'nya, the first thing that greeted them was just his head.
"WHOA!!!" Deuce cried out as the others were simply stunned speechless.
Used to this, Riddle scolded him seemingly disgruntled by his antics, "Chenya, you know better than to scare people like that."
"Hey, I make my entrances how I want." Che'nya laughed as the rest of his body soon reappeared.
"Good evening, everyone!" Neige appeared much to their surprise.
"Ah, Roi des Neiges, you're here as well! I see the glow has returned to your cheeks. I'm truly relieved that you're hale and hearty." Rook exclaimed with a bright expression at having met his idol.
"I'm so glad you're all okay! I was incredibly worried about you.
Here's hoping we all have fun at the ball tonight. Heh heh, we'd better go get changed!" Neige smiled innocently.
Hearing this, Epel became uncertain again. Neige noticed his change of expression and tilted his head with a mix of confusion and concern, "Hey... Why the long faces? Is something wrong? Oh no, are you hurt?"
"Hardly." Azul explained in confusion, "We know the lecture hall is in shambles, so we were just questioning if it's in any shape for a ball."
"Yeah, and I said not to worry about it! After all..." Che'nya chuckled, "He cleaned the whole place from floor to ceiling."
"Who are you referring to?" Riddle tilted his head in confusion.
"He's him, of course! Not us or them, but him!" Che'nya smirked shamelessly.
Elbowing him, Neige sighed, "Come on, Chenya, do you have to tease them? Rollo cleaned the whole place up."
"Yeah, that's the guy! I saw him cleaning here, there, and everywhere the last time I took a little looksie in the hall." Che'nya continued.
"We offered to help, but he insisted that the guests of honor should rest." Neige added seemingly embarrassed and awkward.
"Was Flamme alone?" Malleus noted in surprise.
"Sure was! Big room, one guy! Who signs up for that?" Che'nya nodded his head affirmative.
"He told his schoolmates to rest, seeing as they were exhausted. It's just great how he banded together with you all to save us. What a swell guy." Neige smiled.
"Oh, yes. And for my part, I'm quite amazed at how guileless you Royal Sword Academy boys are." Azul quickly adapted to their story nodding his head.
"Gosh, that's so nice. Thank you!" Neige exclaimed much to NRC's dismay.
"That was clearly a backhanded compliment, but he's acting all happy about it... Yep, just went right over his head..." Idia sighed in defeat.
As Neige and the others turned around to leave, Neige waved, "I'll see you guys at the ball. I'm so glad we were able to help one another during that whole ordeal."
"Yeah, um... You really saved us." Epel waved back awkwardly.
"Heh heh, you did just the same for us." Neige chuckled, "Let's keep doing our part as representatives of Sage's Island arcane academies."
As the others left, Che'nya chuckled and whispered, "A little birdy showed up and told mew that he might not be able to feel relief if he didn't get everything ready by himself."
Surprised, Riddle raised a brow, "So, you..."
"Duh. Even if I can't see, my ears still works purrfectly fine." Che'nya wore a big smile.
"Che'nya! Come on! We're going to be late!" Neige's voiced called out to him from afar.
"Cat-ch you on the flip side!" He hummed before quickly disappearing, "Hum hum huuum huuum..."
"Rollo fixed up the whole venue by himself? Nobody asked him to do that." Idia tilted his head in confusion, "Geez, why'd he go and do a thing like that..."
"Why would he take such toil upon himself? Is it his idea of atonement?" Malleus muttered in confusion.
"Who can say? It's possible he just didn't want to accept help from mages..." Azul sighed, "But also, after that battle, I imagine just walking would be a feat for him. And he cares quite a bit about appearances."
As he said this, they could hear the bell ring and Malleus smiled, "Ah... There's the nighttime bell. It's time for the ball to begin. Let us head to the venue."