The day after returning from Rigved, Iris called aside before the morning classes.
We stood facing each other in an empty hallway, where the lack of people matched her expression and the tense atmosphereit was clear that this wouldnt be a pleasant conversation.
When a group leader pulls you aside for a quiet talk, it typically only ant one thing. I had already co to terms with the inevitable.
Iris seed unused to this kind of confrontation, hesitating for a long while.
Feel free to say anything, its okay.
Ah, yes Last night, after dinner, Polson, Lysander, and I had a discussion. It seems our group might need a spirit mage after all.
Go on.
We have two from the Combat Departnt, so we decided to let one go and invite a spirit mage instead.
You an to kick out and free up a slot?
Yes.
Iris must have known the importance of having a spirit mage. Until yesterday, she acted as if she would lead us all, but her sudden change of heart made it obvious that Polsonor whoever he washad coerced her.
Full of guilt yet without uttering an apology, she stood before .
I understood. Shuffling group mbers was part of the lesson. Theres no moral obligation involved, and I had no intention of holding a grudge or casting bla.
However, my impression of Iris changed slightly. I needed to build a circle of dependable colleagues, and for a brief mont, I thought Iris could be one of them. But upon seeing her easily swayed, that sentint evaporated.
You can follow the plan I suggested and you should be able to get a good grade. And
Is that all you wanted to say? May I leave now?
Ah, yes! Take care.
I left the spot.
Had I been expelled yesterday, joining another group would have been easy, but now that most groups were at full capacity, my situation beca awkward.
Maybe this was for the best. Id rather decline participating in a group than go through the complex process of aligning opinions. Applying Zverevs theories in the practicum is a gamble. Who would want to follow an uncertain path, toil in hunting, and stomach things theyre not used to?
There was only one day left to prepare. I planned to spend the remaining ti poring over books to morize the traits of the plants and animals inhabiting the circulatory system. Since Id be preparing alone, Id have to put in twice the effort.
***
The second circulatory system class was scheduled for the morning. The grouped students were easy to spot, huddled in fours around the lecture hall.
Then Trisha and her group entered and glanced back and forth between and Iriss group. Noticing I was sitting alone at the back, she silently took her seat, presumably guessing the situation.
A while later when Professor Rakam entered the classroom, the previously lively atmosphere quieted down imdiately.
But it wasnt just the professor and assistants who arriveda girl followed close behind him, causing students to gape in surprise.
It was Luna, who we thought would be absent from this lesson.
She appeared to be in better health, fortunately.
Professor Rakam prefaced the class with a brief introduction.
Ah, this student was delayed joining us due to an external mission. If anyones group is still incomplete, take note of her. She is the top student from the Magic Departnt, so I trust shell do well. Go ahead and take a seat.
He implied more than just paying attention to Luna. Every student eyed her intensely as she nodded to Rakam and crossed the amphitheater-style classroom.
Several students murmured to each other as they watched her. So girls who knew Luna greeted her as she passed by.
Watching this scene unfold, a chill went down my spine.
Luna was avoiding her friends and coming towards the back row where I sat.
Must be my imagination, I thought, repeating it to myself, but when Luna stopped right at my row, I turned my head pretending not to see her.
Luna moved past several seats and settled three spots away from .
Neither of us exchanged greetings, though I couldnt shake the feeling that, perhaps it was her way of showing delight to sit near .
The surrounding students began to gossip. Thankfully, they were more interested in Sions na than mine.
Is it because shes with Sion?
Probably the tops are sticking together
Gale seed likely
With Sion sitting alone at the opposite end of our row and other students lacking groups, they didnt suspect anything between Luna and , assuming she had simply chosen an empty spot.
Trisha, however, appeared to be brooding over sothing different.
While other students were looking towards the lecturers podium, Trisha turned in her seat to stare at .
Her gaze seed fierce, flas practically burning in her eyes, a look Id never seen before. What her anger could be about, especially when she had nothing to do with Luna, I couldnt grasp at all.
At Cecils signal, Trisha finally turned back around.
After the disturbance settled, the class resud.
This class covered a basic introduction to the geography of the Sodderton circulatory system, so cautionary advice, and a few clues for entry.
The first hint involved the spirits, and the second was using a herb called Blue Spirit Grass.
Circulatory systems wild animals might get hostile if they feel their territory is invaded. However, not all beings will act aggressively. Keep that in mind. The spirits there are quite curious about humans.
One thing was clearthis statent elevated the value of the spirit mage Luna.
As for the second clue, it was explained that:
Blue Spirit Grass is a peculiar herb that sprouts from the blood of dead animals. It can be quite useful in finding the entrance.
This option was provided for groups without a spirit mage.
Details on where to find it or how to use it were not sharedseemingly leaving it for us to resolve as part of the task.
Professor Rakam also made a quick note on group composition.
Ah, and note that the revised group roster is confidential. Maybe your faces arent known to each other yet, so theres no wariness, but beware, every year there are so who prey on the weaker groups to pillage supplies. I advise not to openly expose your group composition.
He cautioned us rather than forbidding pilferage outright. Students closely seated at the front flinched at the words.
There were just over sixty students sitting aloneoddly high in number, but understandable if so were pretenders.
Now I noticed Sion, seated across from , looking down at the others like prey. Even from my perspective, it was chilling. So noticed her glance and muttered about her potentially resolving food supplies through plundering.
Before the class, they had regarded those without a group as dropouts, but with Sion, Varianne, and now Luna joining the back, we seed more like dangerous individuals harboring ulterior motives.
When class ended, Luna rose silently and left the classroom, following the professor.
So trailed her like they were fans, including Iriss group.
The leftover groups buzzed about the Blue Spirit Grass. Leaders hurried them, suggesting it was a cultivated product in Rigved and advising them to secure it before it was too late.
When one group departed, the others, as if caught by herd ntality, quickly left the classroom.
I had no intention to visit Rigved, but I thought it best to feign having a group and followed the crowd outside.
As I headed for the library to discover the accurate usage of Blue Spirit Grass, a familiar bird caught my eye.
It was the ethereal spirit I had contracted with. I hadnt summoned it, so how had it found ?
The spirit fluttered in front of my face, a note pecked in its beak.
This spirit is supposed to serve why was it delivering soone elses ssages?
I had a hunch who might be behind this.
As expected, when I unfolded the note, I found a ssage from Luna.
[Wait for near the Guardian Tree.]
***
The Guardian Tree of Eternia looked different from when I had last seen it.
The leaves that were withering away had fallen, turning to mulch on the ground, replaced by gray buds sprouting from the branches.
Beneath the trees shade, a girl with golden hair stood with her back to .
Luna had fixed her gaze on the Guardian Tree and hadnt turned around once, but her awareness was sharp enough to detect my presence. She spoke without looking my way.
The curse is finally lifted. The Guardian Tree is recovering quickly.
There was a buoyancy in her voice.
Thats a relief the efforts werent in vain.
Knowing my efforts hadnt been wasted brought ease to my mind.
But there are still remnants.
Are the psychic entities still bothering you?
Yes
Blood rushed to my head, but I cald myself and spoke evenly.
Just wait. Forget the practicum or whatever, today we need to uproot them completely
As I reached for my sword, Luna quickly corrected herself.
No, not those. Um its similar beingskeen on forming a working group, constantly following around.
She seed tense and a touch of cunning lined her words, likely preditated.
I was expelled this morning.
Finding courage, Luna suddenly turned and extended her hand for a shake, forcing out the words.
So, will you join forces with ?
I observed Lunas hand. Her face was calm but her arm tensely rigid and her fingertips tremble slightly. An awkward silence hung in the air.
If you team up with , you might have to half give up on the grades, is that okay?
It doesnt matter.
Camping is going to be uncomfortable too.
Thats fine.
That settled it. Curiosity tempted to jokingly refuse just once to see her reaction, but if I did, she might hate n forever, so I resisted.
There was no reason to decline the best spirit mage. The fact she offered help in a way that implied it was for my sake felt considerate and agreeable.
I reached out and accepted her handshake.
But as our hands t, Luna squeezed her eyes shut and grimaced.
Sensing sothing unusual, I narrowed my eyes.
This expression, I had seen it often in childhoodthe one girls made when they lost a bet and were forced to touch a frog.
Unable to endure it, Luna withdrew her handshake and turned her back to .
With a sense of impending worry, I asked.
Did soone from above make you form this group with ?
Luna denied it flatly.
Absolutely not.
Though I remained suspicious, it might just be her uneasiness around n I decided to believe that, for now.
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