Peony worked into the night before hearing the bell tow. She sighed and got up from her seat. Confused as to what her master was doing, Zhang Li spoke up in confusion, "Master?"
"Prepare some food." She sighed, "We're going to be working throughout the entire night."
She began walking through the halls as she made her way through the school to the bell tower. Just as they arrive, they saw Rollo exit the building. Rollo looked up in confusion, "Headmage?"
"Tomorrow morning, you will accompany me to the city with a few students." She continued, "The new teachers will not arrive till another week. Due to lack of staff in city hall, the school will volunteer in preparing for the next incident."
"The next incident?" Rollo looked to her in confusion.
Peony snapped her fingers and the three of them found themselves on the top floor of the bell tower again. She examined the bell much to his confusion as he frowned, "Is something the matter with the bell?"
"The output of mana this time is weaker." Peony stated calmly, "It's almost time."
"Almost time?"
"When an artifact undergoes a transformation, it will conserve its mana in preparations for it. That's where the problem lies." She stated calmly, "The source of the bell's mana comes from the emotions of those who surrounds it. As long as the people are happy, the bell will be able to store just as much mana. Each time the bell is rung, it will release twice as much mana as it originally had absorbed from the earth. Whenever there is a risk of overblot, it will push the blot out and replenish the mana of the person. That's why there is no record of an overblot within the city. However, once you leave the city..."
"The chance of overblot becomes more likely to occur." Rollo frowned.
She nodded, "So, here's the question. Blot does not simply dissipate over time the way it does inside mages. So, where do they go if they are pushed out by the bell?"
Rollo raised a brow but thought for a bit before his eyes widen in disbelief. Peony nodded and handed him a small telescope as he took it and quickly looked towards the outskirts of the city boundaries. In the forest surrounding the city, he noticed dark shadows and masses moving within the forest's boundaries. He muttered in horror, "If the blot is pushed out from the city, then there could only be one place where it can go. Outside of the city boundaries! But, why..."
"Because the bell is only strong enough to repel blot. It does not yet have the ability to dissipate it." Peony explained, "Each year, the bell will experience a moment where it is at its weakest and in that year, it requires more positive emotions to replenish its mana reserve. Hence, Topsy Turvy is not just a day of festivities but also the perfect time for it to replenish its mana reserve through the festivities and release it throughout that day. However, due to the current situation with a belated Topsy Turvy and the incident from last night has disturbed it's natural course. This time, I provided it enough energy to last for the next two days. However, it may take a while for its growth into its new stage to be completed."
"Just what sort of change will it be?" He hesitated.
She shrugged, "I don't know. We will just have to wait and see. I'll have my sources keep an eye on it. However, the morning is not topsy turvy day."
"What will you do?" He frowned.
"Hatch a lockdown procedure." She responded, "While the prey are out hiding, the predator will come out to play. We take this chance tomorrow and start making sure everyone is safe at home. Then, my people will start the play. You, on the otherhand, will stay with the old man tonight."
Hearing this, Rollo raised a brow, "Why are you telling me all this? Wait..."
"I may have passed down my sentence, but I have not revoked your right of candidacy. From today, you shall start from scratch. Whether you choose to discard the candidacy or continue it, you can determine this on your next trial."
"However, I am still just a student." Rollo frowned looking rather annoyed.
"For now, you are." She explained, "However, that will not be the case in another decade."
As she teleported them back from the top of the bell tower, Rollo frowned, "Why are you doing this?"
She smiled, "Of course, I want you to give it another try. This time work hard..."
With that, she vanished from sight as Rollo watched with skepticism. By giving him back his right, just what does she plan to do?
The next day came as Peony left the room and made her way down to the entrance where a few students were waiting.
"Everyone is present, M- Ahem, headmage." The vice-president announced with a look of confusion.
She nodded, "Today, we're heading down to the residential area."
"Why not the town square?" One of the students spoke up in confusion.
"That area will remain under authority inspection till afternoon." She responded bluntly, "The school has received support from the city after the incident with the flowers. Fluercity thrives on its cooperation with the city and the bell. Hm... Now, that I think about it, this may be a good experience. There is people of different ideas and perspectives out there. Take this chance to interact with other people. Today, we will be assisting the adults with the volunteering work."
"However, I thought that the flowers didn't do a lot of damage."
She frowned, "Well, if flowers didn't create a hole in the floor of our lecture hall. Does anyone care to explain who did?"
There was a moment of silence before Peony shook her head and explained, "Listen well. For some, plants may seem too weak and vulnerable to create any real damage. However, vines are capable of growing into bricks and, if strong enough, they can even tear down an entire wall or make you tear it down accidentally when all you wanted to do is removed the vines off the wall. Then there are those who are sensitive to pollen and mana. Luckily, the cases are not common, so the situation is not serious. However, the main problem is the lack of staff."
"Huh?" The assistant looked to her in bewilderment.
Rollo sighed, "During the incident, the council of magic discovered the disappearance of a number of important staff members. The only survivor, the mayor, testified that they were attacked by a gang. Luckily, the flowers thwarted their plans and revealed the truth. However..."
"Some were injured, but most had gone missing." Peony nodded, "Last night, they've caught the majority of the gang members. However, some of them were in places we least expected them to be in. The magic council and board of education agreed to a collaboration to help the city. However, due to the situation, the people struggle to trust one another."
"It's not wonder." The vice-president hesitated, "However, we will be all right, right?"
Peony yawned, "Naturally, or I would have already rejected their idea. Remember to stay in groups of four and never stray too far from your group. If you are still too hesitant to find an authority. Look for someone you can trust, like a family member or an adult. We will do a roll call before lunch. Everyone's assignment will be to write down what you've done today and reflect on your day. After three days, you will hand them in to me, my assistant, or your student council. It doesn't have to be an essay. It can even be three sentences. Draw or doodle if you want. Simple, right?"
As they arrived in the residential area, they were met with a shocking sight. There was a few small tents where workers rested covered in sweat while patients struggling to breathe were sent to another white tent. In another, police and the mayor were discussing over plans before one of the staff noticed them and approached them, "Ah, is this Nobel Bell College?"
"That's right." She responded bluntly, "It was a last minute announcement, so there are not many volunteers as we had hoped for."
"It's fine." He sighed in relief, "We're so low on people, we'd even started accepting help from the goats!"
She nodded, "Goats aside. I'll send my familiar to help too."
"Oh! You're a beast tamer too?! They are so rare these days!" The man responded as though jumping with joy, "Let's hurry. We've already prepared tasks that even the students can partake in."
Rollo had the students split into groups of four with one of the students being from the student council before she instructed them, "Right now, your task is to assist the adults, check on residents in the homes and ensure that there are no more remnants of the flower. If you find the flower, call for help from an adult. Never take on the flowers on your own. Tomorrow, everyone will switch their roles with another group and there may be more people. Also, bring these along."
She brought out a few of her butterflies and had them perched on each group leader's shoulder, "If there's an emergency alert the butterfly. Think of it like a living cellphone that don't require battery to run. Just don't use it to make calls."
Amazed by the beauty of the creature, one of the students wanted to touch it to which the butterfly avoided his hand and Peony warned, "Don't touch them. They have a powder that can freeze you in place."
They quickly pulled back their hands. Rollo raised a brow, "What are these?"
"Diamond Wraith Butterflies. They're from the far east. Didn't think I'd find them." She shrugged, "They travel in parades. I trust none of you will create any trouble. Once you're done meet me at this address."
"Understood." Rollo nodded and turned around to guide the rest of the student.
Ying Hui whispered into her mind, "Will these boys really listen to you? I sense that some are doubting you."
"He will be a little too busy to start doubting anyway." She responded bluntly, "For now, let's let them get used to it."
"But what if that guy really can't do the job?"
Peony shrugged, "If he can't, then he can't. I'll just have him become an acting one publicly."
Ying Hui sighed. They knew she just want to throw aside more work onto someone else.
Entering the tent, the mayor straightened himself as the other looked to her in confusion.
"Ah, good morning headmage!" The mayor greeted her warmly.
"Greetings, mayor. Apologies for the lack of students. It was a last minute announcement on their part." She replied.
"No matter." He shook his head, "Some help is better than none."
They looked to her in disbelief as the mayor continued, "Right now, we're planning to reconstruct new buildings. However, there are some who refuse to leave their homes on evacuation orders."
She frowned, "Why is that?"
"They've lived here their whole lives and don't wish to leave." They replied.
"All of them?" She raised a brow and pointed to a specific house labeled as one of those residents, "What of this one?"
They wore a dry smile and continued, "They refuse to leave because they claim that house is their home, thus they refuse to leave the land."
Peony hummed, "Is that so? What of their family members?"
"Huh?" They looked to her dumbfounded.
"Are they with child? Or are there elderlies in the home?" She frowned.
"Aren't those a little too personal?"
She sighed, "Are these questions too personal when someone suddenly goes missing? You should remember that the evacuations should be completed by early evening. Come."
She led them away from the tent leaving behind only a couple of people whom the mayor trusts. Confused the group followed her to the house. It was the same house of the boy whom she just treated the day before! Rollo was there as he approached her in confusion upon seeing the mayor and everyone present, "Headmage?"
"Today, you're going to be helping me evacuate the residents. Even if you cannot evacuate them, you need to think of ways to protect them. For now, watch."
Rollo reluctantly remained silent as she approached the door. However, instead of knocking on the door, she reached out and grabbed an outstretched hand with a scowl, "What are you doing?"