Mia set her hands on the round table, fingertips pressed together.
Mia: "We're proposing an alliance with us."
Liza barked comically.
Liza: "What?!"
Zhenzhen crossed his arms.
Akira: "Why the sudden change from our previous encounter in Dreamscape, Mia?"
Akira gently lowered his hands from the table and placed them on his legs.
Igor leaned forward, almost tilting the little round table.
Igor: "What's it to you, pretty boy? You need to be happy. I'm stronger than any of you combined..."
Mia turned to him, adjusting her glasses with a sharp, mad glint in her eyes.
Mia: "Be silent!"
Igor leaned back.
Igor: "Shoosh..."
Liza shot him a look.
Liza: "Don't know what's better—seeing you on a leash, or the Prez crawling back to us after pretending she was superior the whole time!"
Cleo gently caught her hand.
Cleo: "Liza!"
Liza narrowed her eyes at her.
Liza: "Alright, alright, I'll shut up..."
Mia rolled her eyes twice, more than usual, then turned to Akira.
Mia: "So what do you say, Yamauchi?"
She crossed her arms, locking eyes with him, waiting for an answer.
Zhenzhen watched him closely.
Akira: "It is..."
He paused, observing his friends. Liza gave him a smirk, ready to hear anything, but not expecting him to say yes. Cleo and Zhenzhen just stared, quietly waiting.
Zhenzhen faced Mia, his voice young but firm as steel.
Zhenzhen: "I've already given you my answer, girl. We're not aligned with you."
Igor: "She asked the uchigatana-man, gnome. Not you."
Mia gently rested her hand on Igor's leg.
Mia: "You don't have to defend me every time... I can handle matters myself sometimes."
He exhaled, irritated, and looked off toward the distance.
As they waited for Akira's answer, a thundercloud drifted closer to RIU. The wind picked up. The flowers surrounding the glass room seemed alive as they whispered to one another. Akira felt the answer should be 'no', but still hesitated. Leadership was never his aim. Now, three people looked up to him for the ultimate choice.
Akira: "What do you guys think?"
Out of the blue, he monitored every single one of them. Igor stared at Akira, who was supposed to shoot a bottle standing on a box, but instead pulled out a rocket launcher and blew everything up.
Igor: "You're the leader, pretty boy. Time to stop pulling a raccoon by the tail and choose—"
Zhenzhen cut in, raising his finger.
Zhenzhen: "He's asking us. Not you, graverobber."
Mia turned toward Igor, but he had already looked away, darting between the window and them.
Igor: "You either take the offer or refuse it. It's simple."
Mia: "Very diplomatic. You know, we need them more than they need us. It's about numbers."
Igor waved her off.
Igor: "Like I give a damn about any of them..."
Cleo stepped in suddenly.
Cleo: "How about we vote? Everyone?"
Liza widened her eyes.
Liza: "Angels have mercy, Cleo, do you seriously think uniting with these guys is a good idea?!"
Cleo returned her look, calm and wise.
Cleo: "We won't know until we try!"
Liza grimaced, raising her hand goofily.
Liza: "Okay, I'll go first—refuse!"
Zhenzhen nodded in agreement. Akira was still watching his friends, reading their reactions.
Zhenzhen raised his hand.
Zhenzhen: "I agree with Lizaveta. My answer is still no. No deal with the likes of you."
He glanced at Igor.
Igor smirked and raised his hands faintly.
Igor: "Expected anything but that from you, holy gnome."
Zhenzhen didn't reply. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes, in a sign of peaceful meditation over further quarrel.
Mia raised her hand shyly.
Mia: "Since it was my proposal, obviously, I will vote for us to unite our strength as Ars Goetians."
Liza: "Ha! She's voting for herself!"
Cleo: "Liza!"
They stared at each other—Liza still fox-smiling, Cleo glaring like someone about to lose the last piece of bread.
Mia rolled her eyes, annoyed.
Mia: "Whatever you say, Pavlenko."
Igor: "You're all gonna die out there without me and Mia. And I'll enjoy watching you perish. So since almost all of you said no, I—"
He was cut off by Cleo, who politely nodded and raised her palm.
Cleo: "I vote to unite, friends!"
Liza: "Cleo, are you serious?!"
Cleo didn't flinch. Mia smiled, pleased.
Mia: "Good choice, Cleo."
Liza pointed at her.
Liza: "Hey!"
Mia shrugged.
Mia: "That was her call, Pavlenko—not mine. I had nothing to do with it."
Igor mock-choked behind her.
Igor: "Since the paladin girl interrupted me, I'll go last. No suspense needed—everyone already knows what I'll say. This alliance? It'd be a farce."
Mia gave him a glare that said: "What the hell are you doing?"
Igor raised his hand.
Igor: "I genuinely don't care, Mia. No matter what your mother tells me, we can still reach the citadel—just the two of us."
Mia shook her head, whispering.
Mia: "Bonehead..."
Liza cackled.
Liza: "Ha-ha!"
Igor glanced her way.
Igor: "Shut it... Cinderfella..."
Akira tilted his head slightly, unsure whether to stay diplomatic or say something witty to defend Liza against Igor's barbs.
Akira: "So it's tied—if we both vote yes, the alliance happens, then we're agreeing to unite—in the Dreamscape."
Merlina reached out from the Dream world, still holding the connection.
Merlina: "Bad idea, freshman. I'd advise you to hold your horses. We don't know—what if those two are working with your father? Better not to tell them anything for now and don't reveal your position!"
Akira grimaced again.
Igor looked at him suspiciously.
Igor: "What's with you, uchigatana-man? Do you space out often? What exactly did we see earlier? Do your friends even know what's going on with you?"
He looked at them, but no one answered.
Liza stood up for Akira.
Liza: "None of your business, Toasty!"
Akira gestured for her to stay calm as he continued.
Akira: "We... left our bodies there. In the icy realm..."
Igor waved his white hair.
Igor: "Figures. We are trapped there, too, as you may reckon. The only question is how far you are from the entrance."
Zhenzhen opened his eyes from his short meditation, sitting with crossed arms.
Zhenzhen: "...And no one of us is going to give you an answer, graverobber."
Igor: "Wasn't asking you, gnome. You're sitting in silence—best keep it that way."
His tone darkened near the end.
Cleo: "No need to be rude, guys..."
Mia raised her hand.
Mia: "Agreed. We're here to decide—together."
Liza: "More like make a huge mistake listening to those two. I don't trust a word they say."
Mia rolled her eyes. Zhenzhen nodded.
Akira: "My turn then..."
He looked around at his friends, then back at Mia.
Akira let out a tired breath.
Akira: "Sadly, my answer is no, Mia..."
Igor chuckled grimly.
Igor: "Just as I thought."
Liza lit up beside Zhenzhen, her smile radiant.
Liza: "Ha! So much for the last vote! Nobody cares now, Toasty! We're never teaming up with you two!"
Mia responded in her usual composed tone.
Mia: "Three votes against three then—"
Igor: "Didn't say my part yet!"
He looked up.
Igor: "That's called a draw, stupid Cinderfella. If I vote yes, your pretty boy has to break the tie... or we pull sticks, flip a coin, whatever. But I don't want to join either of you. My answer's the same as the uchigatana-man's: No."
Mia sighed, disappointed.
Mia: "Gods have mercy..."
Igor: "There's only one god we need to face, that one in Dreamscape, Mia. Well, ok, maybe a couple of them. And they got nothing to do with mercy."
He stood.
Igor: "Good riddance out there without us. I don't know what luck saved you last time, but judging by the holy one's wound, you've already paid a price. I hope that when you regret this, I'll be there to watch you all perish under the snow. Adieu."
He slung his black bag over his shoulder.
Mia stood too, desperate.
Mia: "We can't just leave it like this..."
Igor looked back, loud enough for all to hear.
Igor: "You heard them. Too good for us. I promised I'd lead you to the citadel, and I will. I just need more... Well, you know what I mean. Me and Koshchei won't fail you, Mia."
He leaned in, whispering only for her.
Igor: "Don't be afraid, Mia. I told your mother I'd bring results, and I will. Everything I've done so far...I did it only because of you. I want to stay with you forever."
She looked angry, then blushed, looking down like a spoiled princess.
Igor turned to the others.
Igor: "Scram, I don't care. No one's gonna regret your dumb choices. Bye-bye."
He kissed the top of her head—not something she expected in front of everyone. She jolted, but didn't move.
Igor: "Later, my queen."
Mia clenched her fists as she watched him go away in the opposite direction, leaving the glass room and the conservatory.
Mia: "Idiot..."
She turned back to Akira and the others.
Zhenzhen stood.
Zhenzhen: "I'm off as well, time wasting. We all need to be prepared for the fights to come in the Dreamscape. Later, everyone."
He tried to give his friends a polite bow, but Cleo stood too, trying to stop him.
Cleo: "Was there no other way? Friends... President... I'm sorry. I tried my best."
Mia shook off her mood, smiling at her while Cleo stood like a soldier who had failed her mission.
Mia: "You truly did your best, Cleo. You're the only one who wasn't rude to me, besides Yamauchi."
Liza pouted, crossing her arms.
Liza: "Guess whose fault that is."
Mia glanced at her, but let it go.
Mia: "Thanks for coming, even if nothing came of it. Still wondering what that vision was... a shadow surrounding you, Yamauchi..."
Liza pointed at her as she stood.
Liza: "None of your business, girlie—"
Akira mumbled an interruption.
Akira: "I... I don't know what any of you saw. I didn't expect things to turn out this way either. I'm sorry, Mia. I know Zhenzhen will never agree to this — not while we're still trapped in the frozen realm. And the way things stand... there's still an abyss between us, you, and your friend."
Liza: "More than a friend, that's for sure, heh."
She nudged Akira playfully.
Cleo: "Liza..."
Liza straightened up.
Liza: "What? We all knew this would never work! I can't even imagine being on one team with Prez... It is physically impossible!"
Mia stared at her while Liza darted her eyes between her and Cleo, clearly bored.
Mia: "Thanks for your honesty, Pavlenko. I expected nothing less."
Liza giggled like a troll.
Akira: "Still... one last question, Mia."
He stood, meeting her gaze.
Akira: "How was your journey so far? You know Cleo was wounded, but you said the tunnels weren't a simple trip for you, either. What happened?"
Mia paused, watching him.
Mia: "You care so much to know, Yamauchi?"
Liza: "I don't!"
She blurted it out.
Cleo shook her head—every time Liza spoke, Cleo felt like she had to answer for it.
Mia gave a sly grin.
Mia: "...And nobody asked you, Pavlenko."
Liza grimaced at her.
Akira: "Okay, guys, lunch break's almost over. Let's go. I just need a word with Mia in private."
Liza: "No way, Senpa—"
Akira looked at her with a strained expression.
Akira: "Liza. Please."
Liza froze, suddenly nervous. She looked between Cleo and Zhenzhen. Zhenzhen didn't seem to mind. Cleo gently took her hand.
Cleo: "Let's go, Liza. We need to check the schedule desk."
Liza: "But Akira—"
Cleo: "Let's go... Mister Zhenzhen?"
Zhenzhen gave Akira one last glance.
Zhenzhen: "Be well, Akira. Let's meet after classes and discuss our next move."
Akira nodded.
The three left—Liza still looking back. As Cleo gently pulled her away, she muttered through clenched teeth.
Liza: "Stupid Senpai..."
Akira turned back to Mia. He sat again in the middle seat, sipping tea, looking exhausted. The absurdity of the "tea party" was that no one had touched the tiny cups she'd prepared.
Mia let out a weary sigh, smiled faintly, and joined him.
Mia: "You surprised me once again, Yamauchi."
Akira put the little cup back on the table with a sigh.
Akira: "I... didn't know what to do, Mia. I was never a leader... I mean... never been in that role before. You need to make decisions—"
Mia grinned, cutting him gently.
Mia: "...Which nobody likes. A shared plight, Yamauchi."
She smiled and took a small sip from her cup.
Mia: "You know, I was kinda terrified. I thought that shadow was your manifestation..."
Akira raised his eyes at her.
Akira: "Yeah... sorry about that. Like I said, I don't know what it was. I thought it was just another burst of my bravery."
Mia made a surprised face, raising a brow.
Mia: "Bravery?"
Akira startled, faintly clasping his palms against his legs.
Akira: "I thought you already knew—every inner self or manifestation, our powers, I mean, they demand a certain amount of our mental force, which is not infinite. You can call it whatever, but there are actual names for that kind of resource. Mine is called Bravery. Or Adrenaline-Bravery, if I use it in combination with Devilish..."
Mia raised her second brow. Eyes wide, she lifted one hand in surprise, the other gently supporting it.
Mia: "Devilish?"
Akira shook his head, eyes filled with regret.
Akira: "Letting all this slip without even being interrogated... truly a talent."
Mia giggled and nearly choked on her tea.
Mia: "I'm not here for that, Yamauchi. All I understand is that this 'Devilish' is the entity you can summon in the Dreamscape."
Akira nodded in surrender.
Akira: "I'm a blabbermouth..."
Mia giggled again, setting her cup down.
Mia: "You gonna tell me or not, Yamauchi? Just like you mentioned back in Dreamscape. You and Igor—how did you call it? An information trade, huh?"
She smiled and raised her hand in a royal gesture.
Akira looked at her like a wounded goat.
Akira: "You mean I give you info about my inner self, and you tell me what happened in the tunnels?"
Mia shuddered.
Mia: "Don't even remind me of that, Yamauchi. It was a total disaster... I don't remember if I mentioned it, but I utterly hate cold weather."
Akira shook his head with a knowing grin.
Akira: "Never said that. But I thought it was obvious for someone like you..."
Mia smirked ominously.
Mia: "Someone like me, huh, Yamauchi?"
She added the last part with a devious hiss.
Akira: "I didn't mean it that way. I just know you love plants, greenery... all that stuff..."
Mia gave him a coy look.
Mia: "Uh-huh..."
Akira clasped his hands with a slap, looked at the floor, then back at her.
Akira: "Sorry, Mia. I really didn't mean anything by it."
Mia: "Understandable, Yamauchi. So... what was that shadow floating behind you? Did you tell me or not?"
Akira: "I wonder what you all saw?"
Mia raised a brow.
Mia: "You're saying you didn't summon it on purpose? To scare me and Igor?"
Akira looked tired, shaking his head.
Akira: "I'm telling the truth. Whatever it was, I didn't intend to spook you or anything. Something just... burst inside me. I don't know what. As for the Devilish—it's a dark spirit I can summon in the Dreamscape. Just like your Deianira. Sooner or later, we'll meet each other there again, and you'll see what it looks like."
Mia blinked, slightly annoyed.
Mia: "Already saw it, Yamauchi. No need to buy a second ticket to the house of horrors..."
Akira blinked back.
Akira: "Please... can you tell me what you saw?"
Mia gave him a long look behind her glasses.
Mia: "A vision, a bizarre one. Grey skies above, grey sand, grey everything. A black tree. A person hanged on a tree, in a black costume, who looked just like you. Don't want to see it again, ever..."
Akira narrowed his eyes, staring at the floor.
Akira: "Wonder what Merlina would say about that..."
He muttered under his breath. Funny enough, Merlina was still in his thoughts, whistling somewhere nearby in the Dreamscape.
Mia: "Didn't catch the last part, Yamauchi. Hope you're not silently cursing me or anything — I've already got my hands full..."
Akira looked up again.
Akira: "Nothing like that, Mia. Just like you said, a bizarre vision. Now I need to know what it's supposed to mean..."
Mia: "...Or you can just ignore it."
Akira chuckled nervously.
Akira: "...And if you just ignore it, it will go away, huh?"
Mia was mid-sip but choked faintly, covering her mouth with her little fist.
Mia: "Thanks, Yamauchi."
Akira straightened up.
Akira: "Sorry, Mia. Should I—"
Mia cut him off.
Mia: "Sit, Yamauchi. I can handle it. So far, you've given me nothing of value. One riddle after another. But... if you want to hear about me and Igor's little tunnel adventure, I can share."
Akira nodded.
Akira: "Only if you're willing."
Mia shrugged, setting down her already cooled-off tea.
Mia: "Not much to tell, really. A couple of Wendigos. Ground shaking. White worms crawling in the tunnels..."
Akira raised a brow.
Akira: "White worms?"
Mia: "Aye. Nasty, horrible things. Absolute terror. I hated them. Igor was fine—until we ran into their mother..."
Akira: "I thought our journey was tough."
Mia chuckled.
Mia: "Tell me about it, Yamauchi. We found a chamber in the tunnels. Strange construction inside, like small ruins. I don't know how to describe it."
Akira: "A stone wreckage, perhaps?"
Mia giggled.
Mia: "Perhaps, Yamauchi..."
She paused, sipped again.
Mia: "Anyway, the big one crawled out from a hole in the wall. The unbelievable part is that I never imagined you'd smell anything in Dreamscape. It was horrible. The smell of shi—"
Akira cackled briefly while Mia looked at him, embarrassed.
Mia: "Sorry... almost lost it. Long story short, the creature was terrifying. The smaller ones acted like they were protecting their parent. Deianira and I barely made it out."
Akira: "Igor didn't help you?"
Mia: "Oh, he did. He stood right in front of me, swinging that enormous sword of his. The problem was, they were swarming us, coming from all sides; there were three holes aside from that one in the wall. Thanks to Deianira—she covered me with her plants and lianas, making a natural cage. I never screamed like that in my life!"
Akira shook his head.
Akira: "Glad to know we're not the only ones surviving a horror movie. Liza would love to hear this..."
Mia narrowed her eyes.
Mia: "Don't you dare, Yamauchi."
Akira raised his hands in surrender.
Akira: "I'm sorry, Mia, bad jokes on me this day. And not only that..."
He looked down again.
Akira: "I mean... I've never led anyone before, unlike your boyf—"
Looking up, he met Mia's intense, threatening stare; one more word, and he'd be sorry.
Akira: "Sorry again... I mean—it comes naturally to Igor, always so full of himself..."
Mia chuckled nervously.
Mia: "You'd be surprised if you knew him better, Yamauchi."
They sat in silence, knowing time was slipping away. The lunch break was almost over.
Mia: "We need to go, Yamauchi. Let's hope we don't perish after we're re-summoned to that Frozen Citadel realm. Since your crew was so happy not to unite our forces... We'll survive on our own. Though I understand your chances are far better than ours..."
Akira: "I don't know, Mia. A large group draws attention. I just hoped you were safe in those tunnels, and Igor knew the hidden paths—but I was wrong."
Mia stood.
Mia: "We all were, Yamauchi. We still need your help. Consider this a 'hidden' offering. Try to convince your allies, and I will try to do the same."
She glanced behind, as if expecting Igor to be eavesdropping.
Mia: "...Try to reach your friends. You and Cleo have the wisdom to understand that this place is deadly. We don't even know the half of it. So... let's go for now. Back to classes. We'll meet again, in Dreamscape or otherwise."
Akira: "Last question, Mia, if I may."
She was already leaving, but turned back with a questioning glance.
Akira: "How do you leave your spiritual bodies behind? We had to create a whole circle using Merli... I mean Sir Arthur's power."
Mia raised a brow.
Mia: "Sir Arthur's?"
Akira: "Yes... He's Cleo's warden."
She didn't buy it. It was only half the truth.
Mia: "You're hiding something."
Akira: "I am."
Surprisingly, he admitted it.
Mia laughed.
Mia: "Can't believe you, Yamauchi. Truthful as always, like we're just kids again. Your honesty is something I find... remarkable. And even if you're hiding something, anybody could read you like an open book..."
She paused. A gray cloud covered part of the RIU, and rain began to fall. Akira saw Igor's silhouette far behind Mia, entering the conservatory.
Akira: "I can't share everything, Mia. Not now, at least... I'm sorry."
Mia: "Suit yourself. To your question, Igor knows things about the Dreamscape. Inside his pocket plane, he's gathering knowledge about it; he surprisingly got a gigantic library! I... I said too much. He's going to kill me..."
Akira stood up from his stool as Igor reached the glass room.
Akira's acting was terrible, yet he sensed this was his last chance to improve.
Akira: "So yeah, that's how we handled that giant Wendigo... ha ha..."
Mia looked at him, both with the approaching Igor, as he was a mental hospital regular.
Igor: "I see you guys didn't waste time."
Akira: "I was just filling her in on our Wendigo fight. In exchange, she told me part of your tunnel story."
Igor replied flatly.
Igor: "Whatever, pretty boy. I came to pick you up, Mia. Do you see it's raining? Let's go. I'll cover you with my jacket."
Mia blushed as she looked up at him—he was a head taller.
Mia: "Thanks... Like I said—Later, Yamauchi. I hope you all survive out there. Remember what I told you. We can be useful to each other. Farewell, for now."
Akira: "Farewell to you too, Mia... and you, Igor. I'm sorry about what happened today. But every time you try to piss Liza off, I end up angry instead."
Igor snickered, covering Mia with his RIU jacket uniform. Under it, he wore a white shirt, half-unbuttoned, fake tan glowing on his chest.
Igor: "Yeah, yeah, pretty boy. Whatever. Let's go, Mia."
Mia hissed at him as they walked toward the exit.
Mia: "You'll be late for your own class, idiot! We're not even in the same group, and you came to escort me—unbelievable!"
Igor: "I thought you'd be happy I rescued you from this chert!"
Mia: "Don't call him that! Yamauchi's not that bad. You two should at least try to get to know each other!"
Igor: "Like hell I will..."
That was the last thing Akira overheard, still standing alone in the glass room. He checked the time on his phone and headed for the opposite exit to find his next lecture.
He walked as fast as he could; surprisingly, Liza was waiting for him just behind the glass door of the 'conservatory'.
He stepped out and blinked at her, not expecting to see her there.
Liza: "Sup, Senpai!"
He faced her right away.
Liza: "So... how did it go?"
Akira: "Liza, it's raining. We're late for class—do you know which lecture hall or classroom we're supposed to be in?!"
He took off his black RIU uniform jacket and held it over her to shield her from the rain.
Akira: "Where did I leave that plastic umbrella..."
Liza suddenly leaned toward him, getting closer, holding him by his white shirt.
Liza: "You're not cheating on me or anything, right?"
The rain fell heavily, her voice almost drowned out by the sound, but Akira heard it anyway, pretending not to, trying not to make the moment even more awkward.
Akira: "Liza, what are you saying? Do you know where we're supposed to go or not?"
Liza raised her eyes to him.
Liza: "We need to go to the chemistry lab, stupid Senpai!"
Akira chuckled uneasily.
Akira: "Then... let's go. The archway's not far—come on."
Liza, still wrapped in his uniform jacket, tugged slightly at his shirt and followed him through the rain.
Just like Liza mentioned, it was a chemistry lab lecture—a very boring one. Joshua giggled like mad, seeing how soaked Akira was as he entered the same vanilla-white lab, nearly identical to the lecture hall from yesterday.
But Liza was anything but ungrateful, trying to defend Akira. She plopped down behind Joshua, with Akira, as they both made their excuses to the old professor Anastas—the same man Mia had scolded at one of many RIU corridors on day one.
Liza: "Stop your laughing, Joshy! Senpai and I were... just a little late."
Ironically, some nearby people were already pointing at them. A couple of girls were giggling as they'd come up with a new story about the two—previously it was Sleeping Prince and the Luminous Girl. Now it was Wet Prince and the Shy Damsel.
Joshua: "Sorry, guys. I told the professor you were meeting the council president. Anastas-Sensei, surprisingly, exalts her."
Liza: "Thanks, Josh."
Liza sat behind him with her arms crossed, clearly annoyed by the surrounding whispers.
Professor Anastas: "You there, young man—Abelman, was it? Stop your giggling at once. I can't believe we're from the same country..."
Joshua blushed, clearly embarrassed.
Joshua: "Pardon my manners, Anastas-Sensei."
Professor Anastas was an old man, covered in grey hair, who could barely open his eyes behind his glasses. He walked half-hunched back and forth, seemingly unsure whether he was heading toward the board or trying to face Joshua again.
Professor Anastas: "Pardoned you are, my boy... for now at least."
He delivered the words in his usual stern tone and began the lab lecture.
Akira felt an elbow nudge him — it was none other than Liza, glancing back and forth between him and the window. She looked like she wanted to say something, but couldn't open her mouth. It was the weather again.
Akira turned to the window and couldn't believe his eyes. Heavy rain mixed with falling snowflakes, drifting down from above... all while the professor droned on in the background, delivering a mournful speech about chemical reactions.