"Ah, I see light at the end of the tunnel. I believe it leads outside," Azul pointed into the distance.
"I'd like to find out where we are. Let us step outside and see," Malleus said as he pushed open the doors. They found themselves at the entrance of the waterway near the edge of the city.
"Mrah! The moon's so bright," Grim shielded his eyes.
"Oh, this is..." Riddle muttered.
"The same waterway we visited earlier today!" Sebek exclaimed.
"So we dropped from the Noble Bell lecture hall into the underground waterways," Malleus observed.
"Waterways?" Azul blinked. "Oh, yes, I read that there's a network of underground channels across the whole city. So this is one of them. Noble Bell College looks to be right above us. If I were to hazard a guess... I would say Rollo kept the firelotuses prepared for his plan in this very waterway."
"Mmm. He would have needed ample time and resources to revive an extinct flower," Malleus said with narrowed eyes. "This area is concealed from view and close to the school. It would have been easy to hide the plants here. If this was where the flowers started growing, it would make sense that the waterway is teeming with them."
"IDK where Rollo got his hands on the seeds of an extinct plant..." Idia scowled. "But boy, talk about a classic villain move! That guy does not disappoint."
Suddenly, cries rang out from the city above.
"What's with these flowers?! They just popped up outta nowhere!"
"Someone, help! My family's covered in red flowers and they won't wake up!"
"No, stay back! Aaah... AAAHHH!"
Rook grimaced. "I can hear the townsfolk screaming."
"It's late. Most people would be winding down for the night. They were probably caught completely unawares," Jamil said grimly.
"All the mages in town must be getting attacked... Argh, this is so frustrating!" Deuce pounded the wall.
"...I don't get it." Silver frowned. "Why is Rollo so angry with mages? Or maybe I should ask what happened to make him feel this way?"
"How should we know? And why should we care?!" Sebek snapped. "Since he views mages with such disdain, doesn't that mean he hates himself? He's one of us too. Of course the logic of such a twisted human being would elude us!"
"Given the depths of his hatred, I suppose the social was all a part of his diabolical scheme as well," Azul muttered.
"...What?" Malleus turned sharply.
"It only makes sense. While we don't know the reason why, Rollo clearly despises mages. He must've planned to use the firelotuses to disempower students from every arcane academy in one fell swoop," Azul continued.
"And we walked right into his trap, blissfully ignorant all the while," Idia growled.
"Like moths to the flame, huh? From where Rollo was standing, we must've looked like a bunch of brainless worms."
"Yes. As much as it chagrins me to admit..." Azul gritted his teeth. "He was right. We were complete and utter fools."
"Okay, but, like..." Idia eyed Malleus. "I kinda think... he was targeting Malleus from the start."
Azul nodded. "It's entirely possible. Malleus is foremost among the mages at our school... and the rest of the world, really. It wouldn't surprise me if the social was a smokescreen, orchestrated for the sole purpose of bringing down Malleus."
"Malleus did tell me how he received the invitation separately from everyone else," Peony interjected, calm but pointed.
Riddle blinked. "So that's why you've been telling him 'I told you so'..."
"So this whole time, the social was just bait..." Idia concluded, "To catch the biggest fish of all: Malleus!"
"I believe you've both made your point abundantly clear. You can stop hammering it home now," Trein scolded with a sigh.
"Um... Malleus? Are you okay?" Deuce looked to him in concern.
"He's been frowning this whole time..." Jamil murmured.
"I can't blame him. I mean, you could say that we were all dragged into this mess because of him. Maybe he feels responsible..." Epel offered.
"This whole discussion about Rollo's intentions is pure speculation on our part," Riddle added. "Even if it was true, Malleus has broken no rules. He has no reason to feel guilty."
"I know how that sounds, but for Mr. Zero EQ—er, I mean, Taskmaster Riddle..." Idia muttered, "It's not just empty consolation. He'd probs say the same thing if he were in Malleus's shoes."
"True. Though, I don't get the sense Riddle or Malleus are THAT upstanding," Azul said dryly.
Peony exhaled slowly. "...Guilty? Him?" she murmured. "I doubt it."
Then she narrowed her eyes. "Malleus, your mana is rising."
"Huh?!"
"Oh! There are flowers behind Malleus!" Sebek cried.
"More of them?!" Trein grimaced.
"Malleus, get away!" Silver called. "Malleus?!"
But he did not move.
"Now I see." Malleus's voice darkened. "Everything he said was a lie."
"Oh no..." Silver breathed.
"Malleus is... angry!" Sebek shouted.
"Angry? I thought he was sad..." Deuce said, stunned.
"The social, the personal invitation to me... It was all pure deception. A ploy to lure me into a trap." Malleus's voice crackled with lightning. "You'll pay for this... YOU WILL PAY, ROLLO FLAMME!!!"
Lightning cracked violently.
"There, you see?! Remind me who said he felt guilty?!" Azul snapped.
"Oh, Roi des Dragons... What an anguished cry he has," Rook whispered.
"Uh, I don't think that's your heart trembling. It's literally the ground!" Ruggie whimpered from the floor.
"Malleus was overjoyed to be personally invited to the social," Silver said quickly.
"He insisted on making extra preparations and reading everything he could about Fleur City," Sebek added tearfully.
"He even marked the days until our trip on his calendar..."
"Now that all his hopes have been dashed, his sorrow must be unfathomable."
"Oh, what a heartrending sight..." Sebek sobbed.
"We're in mortal danger and THAT'S what he's mad about?!" Jamil yelled.
"I THOUGHT I'D BEEN ISSUED A GENUINE INVITATION!" Malleus roared. "YOU SHALL PAY DEARLY FOR THIS!!!"
"Eeeep!"
Peony narrowed her eyes and reached into her robes. She crushed a small black pebble in her hand—
CRACK
A glowing seal burst beneath her feet, spreading into a sturdy barrier that enveloped the group in shimmering blue light.
"Everyone, behind me!" she shouted.
The group huddled behind her as static raged in the air.
"All my fur's standin' on end! It's static-city over here!" Grim wailed.
"He's radiating so much power I can't move..." Deuce grit his teeth.
"It feels as though anyone who took a step toward him would get sent flying..." Riddle winced.
"Cease this at once, Draconia! All this power will draw in more flowers!" Trein barked.
"Let's just take a deep breath!" Yuu called out. "Keep cool, Hornton!"
"Look, more flowers! Scores of them!" Sebek cried.
"Malleus, please stop!" Silver shouted. "You're putting all of us in danger!"
"THESE WEEDS. THAT BOY. THEY WILL ALL RUE THE DAY THEY MOCKED ME!" Malleus's voice thundered.
A bolt of lightning struck the ground—and everything went white with dust and wind.
Grim coughed, "That kicked up so much dirt I got a bunch in my mouth! Mrah, I can't see with all this dust!"
"What incredible power..." Riddle muttered. "Deuce? Everyone? Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I think so..." Deuce called. "But what about Malleus?!"
"After that burst of power, the flowers must've devoured him..." Jamil said, unsure.
Silver gasped. "No..."
"MALLEUUUS!" Sebek wailed.
But as the dust cleared...
"What?"
"You're safe?!"
"I'm perfectly fine, as you can see," Malleus replied, brushing his cape aside.
Peony crossed her arms. "...Are you done with your tantrum?"
"Geez, don't scare us like that!" Grim collapsed.
"How could you be fine after all those flowers swarmed you...?" Trein blinked—then noticed the ground. "My word! Everyone, look around Malleus."
"What's this now...?" Azul muttered.
"The firelotuses are..." Idia stared. "...Wilted?!"