"Demons!? How is that even possible?"
Cyril's eyes widened for a moment before his face returned to its usual stillness.
Both he and Myra remained silent. She grabbed a strand of her hair and began twirling it.
"When and how will the attack happen?" He snapped back to reality and walked up to a table in front of Myra, taking a seat on the other chair.
Myra's face twitched, and then she slowly lowered her head.
"I don't know."
Cyril blankly stared at her turtle tactics.
"...How do you know about this in the first place?"
Her head was lowered a little bit lower.
"I can't say."
What a headache...
"I don't see why you should trust her. She is the most suspicious person you've ever met!"
Cyril sighed, his eyes growing complicated.
It is unlike me...
"I see. I hope you have a good reason for not saying it."
Myra froze, then sharply turned to look at him with widened eyes.
"You believe me!?"
"Lower your voice, Morpho is sleeping."
"Sorry..."
Cyri met her gaze and nodded, "I trust you."
"Why shouldn't I? You've shown yourself to be competent so far."
Myra grew quiet. "You trust me...?" she mumbled to herself.
Then, quickly regaining spirit, she almost jumped up in her seat, her eyes gaining a shine. Even the dark circles under them didn't hold back their brightness.
"So, what should we do now?"
Why are you asking me that? You know more than I do...
"In theory we don't have to do anything at all. The Tower is a place where the knights are stationed, any demon trying to invade this place is simply having a death wish."
"In theory."
Seeing her expression, Cyril contemplated for a second.
"Then just to be careful, let's stay together."
"That would be great." Myra slumped her shoulders. "...Thank you."
As if some weight was lifted off from her, she melted into the chair, her head slightly drooping.
"I don't know the precise time, but it should be at one point during your stay here."
What?
"...Is this somehow related to me?"
"No, no, no! It was just how I memorized the event! I mean... No relation at all."
Cyril observed her black eyes for a few long seconds.
"Should we go get Rose?" Myra asked after a delay, glancing to the side.
"She will not believe us." Cyril shook his head.
"These rooms are very secure, you don't have to worry. They were designed with protection in mind."
"Alright then."
As Myra leaned back into the chair, she yawned, her head dropping a little.
"..."
"No matter what your choice is, I am always on your side." Rhamn whispered, taking a seat atop the table.
Cyril glanced at her for a few seconds, then back at Myra, observing the dark circles under her eyes.
Let's do a quick test.
"You should get some sleep."
"Right now?" Myra pointed to the ground with a question mark over her head.
"Yes, go to the bedroom. Be careful not to wake up Morpho, she is tired too."
Myra closed her mouth, on her face hesitation.
After contemplating for a minute, she got up from the chair and slowly walked towards the bedroom.
"Okay... I have been having insomnia though, I might not be able to..."
She soon reached the bed and carefully lay down, observing the butterfly on the other pillow.
"Just try it. You need the strength." Cyril walked with her and then leaned on the bedroom wall.
"Then, good night!" Myra whispered, her gradually narrowing eyes looking at Cyril all the while.
The moment her eyes were closed, her head immediately dropped limp, and a snoring sound came from her mouth.
Cyril silently observed.
"What insomnia? She is knocked out cold already."
Rhamn scoffed, appearing on the other side of the bed, her eyes narrowing in contempt.
"How can she be such a naive idiot? To be so defenseless in front of someone she has only known for a month."
Does she like me? Even if so, it's a bit too much.
"Maybe she is acting?"
There is no faking such a sleeping habit.
Cyril observed her gradually changing posture, as if each arm and leg were a separate organism needing a specific position. She spread upon the bed as some tangled mess, and from her mouth a bit of drool was seen.
How could she trust me so much? ...Why do I trust her?
...
After a few hours the sun rose completely.
Cyril sat on the chair in the living room, calmly glancing at the time.
I haven't heard anything suspicious so far.
"So she was lying."
We'll see.
It's about time to wake up.
He walked inside the bedroom, the sight there giving him a headache.
The quilts and both pillows were now lying on the floor.
The culprits behind the mess were plastered in the middle. Morpho somehow ended up lying on top of Myra's forehead, her wings gently swaying as Myra snored, her insect legs reaching towards the sky.
They are a bit similar...
"Don't say that!"
Cyril slowly walked up to them and leaned closer.
He gently grabbed Morpho and raised her. The insect woke up in the process and carefully steadied herself.
Then, in a jolt, she flew up and landed on Cyril's shoulder.
"Good morning."
Morpho returned a twitch of her antennae.
Cyril glanced at the still sleeping Myra, then at the time. It was approaching 9.
"She is sleeping like a log." Rhamn sent him a glance. "Just kick her or something."
"Myra," Cyril sternly said out loud.
Instantly, the pile sleeping on the bed moved, and Myra practically jumped up, standing on top of the bed.
"I am not slacking!" She quickly looked around, battle-ready.
Noticing Cyril with a blank face staring at her, Myra froze.
Soon a subtle blush appeared on her face, and she slowly stood straight.
"How is the situation? Were there any accidents?"
"There has been none. Get off the bed and let's go eat."
Cyril turned around and walked out of the bedroom.
As he almost left, a flash of light went off behind him, and he glanced back with a frown.
Myra was already on the floor, her previously crumpled-up uniform clean and neat.
"It's a cleaning spell. Want me to teach you? it's quite easy."
"…Sure."
...
The two students in fresh uniforms walked down the white corridor, trying to follow the signs and reach the cafeteria.
"We have about 15 minutes. The auditorium is not far, it's fine to take it slow." Cyril said on the way, having used his earlier free time to find a map of the floor.
Myra quietly walked by his side, occasionally glancing at his face.
"What?"
"Are you really not tired?"
"This pretender! First she sleeps like a corpse, then acts all shy..."
"I am fine. I can handle a night without sleep."
Rhamn, walking at his other side, raised her head just a little bit higher.
"Sorry for being a burden." Myra sighed, the dark circles under her eyes no longer quite as obvious.
Just as Cyril was contemplating a response, one of the doors along the corridor opened, through it, Rose exited.
"Hey, Rose!" Myra waved and ran up to her.
"You are still here?" Rose greeted Myra with a frown, "You'll be late."
"Same to you. Don't worry, it will be fine, Cyril calculated the time."
Rose shot him a look, to which Cyril calmly nodded.
"Thank goodness. I was too engrossed in my notes."
With her joining, Myra continued walking forward, asking about her experiences so far.
Cyril walked a step behind them, paying attention to his surroundings.
The more time passed, the heavier he felt.
I've never faced demons before.
"Are you scared?" Rhamn asked with a knowing smile.
Cyril sent her a glance, then subtly shook his head. The butterfly on his shoulder energetically fluttered her wings.
More excited.