After a short ride, they once again stood in front of the Ailanthus gates. The sun was still shining bright in the sky, and they had plenty of time left to this day.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with Alvin. At least I hope there isn't. He is a really good healer, one of the best," Myra said as they stood at the entrance.
Cyril didn't reply, only petting the tiger on his shoulder. Her words of admiration were somewhat uncomfortable to hear.
Silence lasted for a few seconds between them before Myra hesitantly peeked at his face.
"I'll go practice Dragon Art right now," she said with obvious intent.
Cyril nodded, understanding completely. "I'll join you in a bit. I need to do something first."
Myra eagerly saluted him and began marching towards the academy field as if a loyal soldier.
Okay.
Cyril observed her back for a few moments, then walked in the direction of his dorm.
Why do I feel this way towards Alvin? Myra saw the future, and, since she thinks so highly of Alvin, he should be fine…
"But you can't trust that girl's visions. They have only proved themselves wrong so far."
"You are just being reasonably suspicious. A human like Alvin simply can't exist." Rhamn nodded up and down in approval.
As Cyril contemplated, he slowly stopped. The path forward was suddenly blocked by two people emerging from the bushes. He heard their racing heartbeats as he approached but thought it was just some degenerates seeking thrills.
"You aren't wrong."
It was Cedric, a popular student despite being a commoner, and Emily, a regular forgettable commoner student.
Cedric stood with a friendly smile, hands on his hips. From behind him, as if hiding with a parent from a monster, cowered Emily, nervously peeking at Cyril.
"Hey, Cyril! Glad we found you. How is your schedule recently?" Cedric said with his teeth visible.
Cyril looked at him without backing down, his eyes narrowing.
"Busy."
"You know, tomorrow we have a free day. Could you possibly find the time to help Emily find her brother? She really needs that," Cedric continued, undeterred by Cyril's cold reply.
Emily, still hiding behind Cedric, subtly nodded her head, as if to confirm his words.
I see.
"Tch. You told Emily to wait. What's so hard to understand?"
Cyril observed the two commoner students in front of him for a moment, settling on Cedric's face.
"This goody-two-shoes… He simply has to shove his nose in everyone's business. What a hero."
Under his scrutinizing gaze, Cedric smiled wider, making his expression even more sunny than it was.
Though instead of warmth, that smile only evoked a sense of repulsion in Cyril.
It's the same…
Suddenly a realization hit Cyril: to a varying degree, the uncomfortable feeling he got when facing Alvin was similar to the one he felt from Cedric. Somehow he just didn't like either of them too much.
"...Maybe you can tell me where to find Emily's brother, and I'll handle it from here?" Cedric awkwardly scratched his cheek, glancing at the plain-looking girl hiding behind him.
"Makes sense actually. They are kind of similar. Cedric even fawned all over Alvin when he met him."
Right. Cedric knows Alvin…
As the two commoner students awkwardly waited in silence, Cyril finally answered, but with something completely unrelated.
"Cedric, what do you know of Alvin?"
Cedric's mouth opened in an 'o' shape, not expecting the question, but then he seriously contemplated it.
"…Alvin is a seriously good guy! He visited us in the orphanage, bringing supplies, healing, and even money! I know he may seem unapproachable to some, but I honestly-"
Cyril calmly ignored the ensuing speech about the respect of one person for another, focusing instead on a single fact he learned.
So Alvin frequents an orphanage... Need to investigate that too.
Among the people of the city center, a rather common topic for horror stories is the numerous orphanages scattered near the edges of the city. In fact, Cyril heard almost too many stories about them: everything from money laundering to performing experiments on the kids in the basement.
"We'll definitely find something there! Nothing good ever happens in an orphanage!"
"Where is it? That orphanage," Cyril interrupted the passionate speech before it went on for too long.
Cedric cleared his throat before tilting his head in confusion.
"Do you want to go there? Indeed, tomorrow would be a good time! Let's-"
Just as Cedric gained more and more enthusiasm, the plain girl behind him not-so-lightly nudged him with an elbow, making him stumble a step.
Emily sent him a look filled with complaint, to which Cedric awkwardly scratched his cheek and whispered a 'sorry.'
With that, Cedric looked back at Cyril with an expression that almost seemed shrewd.
"I'll tell you… If you agree to find the time for Emily tomorrow."
"No need." Cyril immediately walked past them, not giving it any thought.
He was actually quite busy. He wanted to settle the matter with Alvin as quickly as possible, before Myra had the time to interact with him more.
"We can find out where it is on our own! …Though Ophelia!"
As he passed by Emily, her face unwilling, Cyril leaned over to her.
"I'll help you. Just wait. Jack will not go anywhere," he whispered.
Emily froze, shakily staring at the snake on his shoulder.
With that, Cyril walked away without looking back. With her curiosity satisfied, Morpho flew off his shoulder to the academy field to train and maybe to help someone train.
Cedric patted Emily on the shoulder, giving her a helpless look.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't do it."
"I am sure Cyril will keep his word. But in the meantime, let's try investigating on our own!"
Emily weakly nodded, observing Cyril's departing back.
...
"If we meet them again… Let's teach them a lesson!"
Calm down. It's not a big deal. I am sure it won't happen again.
Without any more interruptions, Cyril finally reached his dormitory, where he luckily found the maid with facial paralysis casually sweeping the floor with a broom.
She stood by his window, a cute black cat at her feet.
Noticing Cyril, she bowed, her back perfectly straight.
"Ophelia, I have a mission for you," Cyril said, not wasting any time.
The moment he uttered those words, a small flame lit up in her pitch-black eyes. The maid stopped, snapped in his direction, and went down on one knee.
"Your words are my command."
He endured the uncomfortable feeling these words gave him, staring at her with narrowed eyes.
"There is a healer named Alvin. He has a shop in the mall not far from here and a clinic in the slums. Investigate all you can about him, including the whereabouts of the orphanage he frequents."
"...Don't use any risky methods."
Ophelia nodded, the hands holding the broom tightening.
"I'll begin now." With a bow she retreated fast. The atmosphere around her appeared almost joyful, as if happy to finally be able to do something.
I must be imagining things...
Cyril shook his head, trying to get rid of the impression. Ever since he found out about his heritage, it's become awkward to stare Ophelia in the eyes.
He could no longer view her as the same expressionless maid from before.
Cyril sighed, then walked away. He told Myra he would join her soon.
But, as he neared the place he was ambushed by Cedric and Emily, he slowly stopped.
Are you kidding me?
Now there stood a small crowd of first-year students, all curiously staring at Cyril as soon as he appeared.
At the center of the crowd awkwardly stood Cedric, waving at him with a stiff smile.
"Hey, Cyril."