Alicia came to class 5 minutes before class started. She sat on her usual seat at the front. Greetings and 'morning' whenever a classmate passed by.
Kael came in with an aloof expression, his back straight as always and nonchalantly went to sit next to her.
Alicia no longer felt that repulsed regarding him after understanding what kind of person he was. Besides, seeing Kael caring for his familiar made her feel a little more welcoming to him. As for Kael's feelings for her?
She knew. But the past few years, except the first year, Kael had never mentioned it boldly and stopped embarrassing her too much. She could say Kael was a bit tame about it nowadays.
She already let the past go and welcomed him as a friend.
"Morning Kael. Morning White." Alicia smiled at the rabbit, and went to pat its head.
"Morning Alicia." Kael's expression was as usual, trying to appear cool in front of her. Maybe it was Alicia's imagination, but she felt Kael unusually seemed to act aloof and cool more than usual today.
"Can I hold him?" Alicia felt anticipation as always. The rabbit had such soft fur, nice to the touch fatty body, and just super cute she would have bit him if Kael would have let her.
"Sure." An evil smile almost escaped from his lips but it was controlled before Alicia could notice.
Shou pretended to be reluctant as usual and was held under her hands. The professor eventually came in right on time and began his lecture.
As Alicia absent-mindedly patted the rabbit, the rabbit suddenly slipped from her hand and climbed onto her shoulder. Alicia let him be, thinking he just wanted a more comfortable spot.
Kael was shaking slightly, but no one noticed.
Shou leaned his face closer to Alicia's ear. And then…
"Alicia…" He whispered.
Alicia's grip on the pen she held tightened, her eyes widened in shock, her body frozen as she heard a whisper.
Before Alicia could react, the rabbit came down to her laps, acting innocent.
Alicia's heart racing wildly. She felt she heard something unbelievable. No… No no no…
Alicia turned her head back, whispering to the girl sitting behind her.
"Did you call me…?"
"Huh? No…?"
"Nevermind…" Alicia turned her head back to focus on the board.
The rabbit sat quietly, innocently on her lap. Maybe it was the wind, she thought.
As she put it at the back of her mind, the rabbit hopped down her lap and onto the table. She only glanced for a second before turning her focus back to class. But in the corner of her eyes, she saw it.
She turned to look again, this time her heart stopped beating for a second. The rabbit stretched its paw, grabbing a box cutter from Kael's pencil case. Then it hopped back on their seat. Kael didn't seem to notice it.
Alicia opened her lips, wanting to say something. But seeing the rabbit just sat there quietly, holding the box cutter and not doing anything, Alicia thought it was fine. The rabbit shouldn't know how to bring the blade out. But then she heard it.
Click…click… click…
His paw slid the blade out carefully. Alicia snapped her attention to the rabbit hearing the imperceptible sound. Her lips trembled as she saw the rabbit grab the sharp blade with both of his paws, pointing it to Kael.
Then, the rabbit turned his head to Alicia. A smile carved on his lips. A smile that looked human, that looked evil and taunting.
"NO!"
Alicia's shout echoed in the classroom bringing everyone's attention to her in an instant.
"Alicia, what's the matter?" The teacher at the front frowned, displeased at the disturbance.
"He… The rabbit…-" She pointed to the rabbit, who was just sitting there, not disturbing anyone. The box cutter was nowhere to be seen and it was as if the critter was doing nothing.
"Alicia, what's the matter?" Kael frowned, his voice carrying a tinge of worry.
"I…" Alicia looked at the rabbit, then at Kael. She didn't know how to explain.
"Alicia, pay attention to class." The professor said with irritation and continued his lecture.
Alicia felt her heart racing. She swore she saw it. Then, as if taunting her, the rabbit raised his body slightly, revealing the hidden cutter he hid. His eyes looking straight into her eyes, a smile, a human smile carved on the rabbit's lips, his white teeth visible.
"K-Kael… Kael…" Alicia's breathing became irregular, her heart beating out of her chest. She whispered in fear.
"Hm?" Kael turned to her.
"Y-your rabbit… he had a box cutter…" She spoke in a whisper, as if afraid of something. The rabbit's smile already disappeared into a normal innocent rabbit face.
"Huh? Oh. I guess it fell out of my pencil case." Kael just took it back, not aware of the reality at all.
"No… no no…" Alicia muttered to herself. Then, to her horror, the rabbit hopped closer to her. She could hear the whisper, the rabbit's mouth moving, muttering human words barely audible to her.
"No one will believe you."
"Ah-!" Alicia stood up suddenly, her hand slammed on the table as she pushed herself away from the creature. Sweat broke from her back, her body trembling in fear of the unknown.
"Alicia. What is going on?" The professor had to stop her lecture again. Her hands on her hips, clearly dissatisfied.
"I… I…!" She pointed at the rabbit that was just sitting there innocently.
"Alicia, I think you need some rest." Kael stood and took over.
"Professor, I will bring her to the infirmary."
"Go then." She gave permission and let Kael lead Alicia to the infirmary. She was shaky, both her hands trembled.
"Alicia, what's wrong?" Kael asked again.
She first turned to look at the rabbit sitting quietly on Kael's shoulder, then back at Kael.
"Kael… your rabbit… he…"
"Hm?"
Then she saw it. The rabbit faced her, and that smile carved on his lips and he was just staring at her.
"THERE! LOOK!"
Kael turned to look at the rabbit, not doing anything.
"Hm? What?" Kael didn't seem to understand.
"NO! You don't understand! He's- he's-!" Alicia grabbed Kael's hand, holding his hand tight wanting to convince him.
Kael was screaming inside, his heart racing feeling the soft hand holding his. But he pretended to be cool.
"Alicia… you need some rest. Come on."
Kael led the way to the infirmary, his hand holding hers never breaking. Alicia was tethering on the edge, her eyes constantly observing the rabbit, wanting to catch it in action. But the rabbit remained innocent, pretending.
Sister Junais checked on her quickly, and in her words, "You are experiencing overwhelming stress. You just need some rest. I can give you MC if you need it."
"I… I… yes, please…" Alicia kept looking at the rabbit. Her eyes were already red constantly on the lookout.
"Alicia, take it easy." Kael's words were gentle and filled with care.
"I… Kael… please believe me… the rabbit… he… he's… not normal." Alicia whispered with fear. She looked at the rabbit with trepidation.
"Hm? Alicia, he's just a rabbit. What do you mean?"
Kael petted the rabbit's head, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the innocent cute rabbit.
"I…" Alicia lost her words.
"You should rest in your dorm." Kael suggested.
"Okay… yeah…" Alicia fiddled with her hands, nervous, scared. Kael accompanied her to the girl's dormitories before telling her to rest well. Kael turned and walked away. Her eyes were not leaving the rabbit. And as she expected, the rabbit turned its head to look Alicia back straight in the eyes.
An evil, human grin appeared on his lips, clearly taunting her.
And just then, from his paw, a piece of paper dropped to the floor. Alicia stood frozen as he watched Kael and the evil rabbit disappeared from her vision. Her heartbeats slowed down seeing the rabbit finally gone from her view. She looked at the paper dropped on the cement floor in front of her, tens of steps away. She knew she shouldn't have looked, but she still couldn't help but need to understand, need to confirm.
She took shaky steps forward, crouched down and picked it up.
She opened the folded paper, and she saw the words, written in crooked words.
No one will believe you.
At the end of the sentence, a bloody paw print was like blood, the red soaked and left a long trail of red until the bottom.
"Oh God…" Alicia felt her heart tightened. Her eyes were teary. She wanted to scream, she wanted to rush back to Kael to stop the creature, but Kael wouldn't believe her.
She felt her knees become jelly. She went back to her room, locked the door and covered herself with a thick quilt.
The note with bloody paw print remained on her desk, the evidence that her nightmare was real.
She closed her eyes, hoping it was all a nightmare. But she knew it wasn't. As she closed her eyes, the happenings today replayed in her mind.
No, I can't just let it be. Kael is in danger…!
"Arthur… Only Arthur can help me. He would believe me…" She took a deep breath, calming herself. She gathered her strength and removed her cover. Her eyes turned red as she decided to take matters into her own hands.
She went out to search for Arthur in the commoners class. "Arthur. I need to talk to Arthur!"
The teacher just let Arthur go, given Alicia was a daughter of a noble of high status.
Arthur was perplexed at Alicia calling out to him out of nowhere. "What's the matter?"
"Arthur… Please believe me. Please…" She held onto his hand, her hands shaky and as if afraid.
"Tell me what's wrong." Arthur remained calm despite his worry.
"Kael's rabbit… it's… it's evil. I swear, it can smile… like a human. And it… it keeps threatening me. Look at this…!"
Alicia showed him the proof. A small piece of paper, with the sentence 'no one will believe you' with a bloody paw print at the end.
Arthur took the note, and then sniffed it with his nose.
Tomato juice…?
"This… who wrote this?"
"It's the rabbit! We need to stop it! He wanted to harm Kael! I know it!" Alicia's grip on his hand tightened, her voice almost shrieking.
"I… See…" Arthur was thinking. He knew the rabbit could, indeed, talk like a human. And writing was not far fetched. But he couldn't understand what was the point of scaring Alicia… unless…
"Let's talk to Kael later." Arthur reassured her.
"Yes… yes, thank you… Thank you for believing me." Alicia broke down in tears and hugged him tight. She felt relieved that someone believed her.
"Hey, it's fine…" A blush appeared on his cheeks, though he maintained his composure. Despite their liking for each other, they never crossed this line for reasons. But now…
I guess I need to thank the rabbit. He said to himself in amusement.
After class, Arthur brought Alicia to the training ground where Kael would usually be. And there he was, swinging his sword. While his rabbit was at his side, practicing magic.
"Kael." Arthur called out.
"Hm?" He turned. Seeing it's Arthur, he was annoyed. But then he saw Alicia hiding behind him. "Alicia, you are here." He completely ignored Arthur.
"Kael…" Alicia turned to him, then at the rabbit now standing still, his eyes looking at her unblinking. It was creepy enough for her.
"She said your rabbit threatened her. Look." Arthur hands over the evidence.
He just looked at it, and dismissed it. "What's this? There's no way my rabbit can write." Kael shook his head.
"Kael. Your rabbit is evil!" Alicia gritted her teeth before saying the words loudly, pointing her fingers at the rabbit.
"Alicia, calm down. He is harmless. He's just a cute rabbit, see?"
Shou rolled on the grass cutely, licking his paw innocently.
"He's pretending! I know what you are! Show me your true self!" Alicia was losing it, her hair already messy and disheveled as if she really had gone insane.
"Whoa… Alicia, calm down…" Kael wondered if the prank had gone too far.
Shou, seeing Kael looking away, let out an evil grin. Then, with his paw, he made the classic gesture. He dragged his paw slowly over his neck, and turned his head in the other direction.
His smile curved even more as he locked his eyes with Alicia. Arthur figured out what was going on as he saw the rabbit making the gesture. He almost let out an amused chuckle. In his view it looked funny. But to Alicia…
"AHH! EVIL! IT'S EVIL!" Alicia pushed Kael away and rushed towards the rabbit. Her eyes bloodshot as she lost it. She waved her wand, water balls gathered around her as she channelled her mana.
"Show your true self! You devil!" Alicia launched them all towards the evil creature!
"AH?!" Shou was shocked, and he quickly turned around and fled. Balls of high pressure water balls constantly bombarded towards him, missing each time.
"STOP! ALICIA! STOPPPP!" Kael chased her.
"HELP!!! HELLLPPPP!" Shou screamed for help as he ran away, dodging the madwoman's attack.
"I AM SORRY! I AM SORRY! DON'T KILL ME!" Shou cried out in tears.
"It's a prank! Alicia, it's a prank! Stoppp!" Kael shouted in panic.
The training field was riddled with holes from the bombardment of water balls. Kael had to tackle Alicia down like he was playing football and managed to calm her down.
After a confession and an apology, Kael was seen kneeling on the ground, with the rabbit at the side. Their heads turned down in shame and apology.
"I hate you! I hate you two…!" Alicia bit her leaps, her eyes in tears.
"It's his idea." Shou spoke and pointed his paw towards Kael, defending himself.
"Hey!" Kael glared at Shou.
"Hmph! Don't talk to me!" Alicia turned her head away in indignation.
"Pfft…" Arthur almost laughed seeing Alicia and the two.
"You! It's not funny!" Alicia slapped Arthur's back, almost sending him tumbling forward.
"Ouch. That hurts ya know." Arthur rubbed his back. His expression turned into an apology.
"I hate all of you!" Alicia turned away and ran off.
***
It took some time for Alicia to even greet Kael in the morning since that day. But at least, eventually, she barely accepted Kael's apology.
But the rabbit has already become her greatest shadow in her heart.