Shade Cromwell sat in the center of the laboratory, the very room he’d once demolished with his bare hands. His wary gaze tracked the young professor who had summoned him.
"What do you want?" he demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.
Ms. Rebecca Bozzelli, the young female professor of magic and crafts, clutched a flask, her hand trembling. The air in the room felt thick with her nervousness, a stark contrast to Shade’s simring irritation. "I know you’re angry with , but I want to help you."
Shade scoffed, a bitter sound. "What? Don’t tell you’re believing that ’true love’s kiss’ garbage too? You want to kiss ? You?" He rolled his eyes, a gesture of intense weariness. "Just like you said before, you’re a teacher and I’m just one of your students. Let’s not cross that line, shall we?"
He pushed off the stool. Normally, he’d rise to his full, imposing height, but now, being no taller than an elentary school boy, the indignity of the situation chafed him even more.
Ms. Bozzelli’s erald green eyes followed Shade’s every move. Before he could reach the door, she placed the flask on the long table with a soft clink and rushed to block his escape. Her long wavy dark green hair fanned out around her as her pale face flushed a deep crimson, drawing Shade’s attention.
It was the exact appearance Shade fell for, before.
The miniaturized boy crossed his arms, rolling his eyes once more. "I don’t understand why you’re doing this. What’s the difference? I’m still the monster you saw before. Wasn’t it you? The one who called with that despicable nickna?"
Ms. Bozzelli bit her lower lip, her gaze pleading. "I didn’t an that, Shade. I—You know I love you, right?" The words, sweet from her mouth, caused a wave of disgust to ripple through Shade. "I was young back then, but now I understand. I only want to help lift the curse."
Shade let out another derisive scoff. "Love? You? Love ?" He winced, a mory surfacing. "As far as I can rember, the only one you loved was yourself."
The teenage boy pushed past her, the action sharp and dismissive. "I was young back then too, and know I understood," he said before storming out of the room, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. ’Love? Such bullshit. This is all that stupid Luxfield’s fault!’ he seethed, infuriated.
"Well, that was anticlimactic."
Shade, already weary, turned at the voice. "You, this ti?" he sighed, the sound heavy with exhaustion. "What do you want? What is wrong with all of you people?" The constant attention from girls since his "secret" got out was suffocating.
The teenage girl, Naya Oswin, flipper her long, straight ebony hair over her shoulder with a dramatic flourish. She blew at her wispy bangs, a gesture of bored superiority, before her erald, cat-slit eyes rolled skyward. "You certainly do think highly of yourself, don’t you?"
Shade shook his head, dismissing her with a wave of his hand, and started to walk away. But Naya simply followed, her steps light and persistent behind him.
"If you have nothing better to say, then leave alone," Shade growled, his tiny legs pumping in what he hoped was a dignified stride. He heard her soft, amused chuckle behind him, and it grated on his last nerve.
"So this is how you looked before I t you."
Shade froze mid-step. He pivoted, his gaze snapping to Naya. Her eyes, those sparkling erald slits, were fixed on him, a strange, possessive intensity in their depths that sent a shiver, not entirely of revulsion, down his miniature spine. He recognized the feeling – a subtle creep of goosebumps.
"Stop it, Anaya."
Naya’s lips curved into a slow smile. She rubbed her arms, though the air wasn’t cold, as if warming herself against an inner chill or a delicious mory. "You know, you’re the only one I allow to call by that na, right?" Her voice was a low, almost purring murmur.
"I don’t care," Shade retorted, his tone flat. He resud walking, his jaw clenched, but Naya continued to trail him. It was as if she were in a trance, unable to tear her gaze from his shrunken form.
This was her mont, a fleeting window of opportunity. With him so small, so vulnerable, it felt like the only ti she could truly have him to herself, and she wouldn’t let anyone, especially not his own protests, snatch it away.
"Go away already!" Shade said. ’If I see that Luxfield girl again, I swear I’ll make her pay for this!’ he seethed internally, his tiny fists clenching at his sides.
anwhile...
Eirin felt her face heating up even more, a burning blush spreading across her cheeks, receiving such effusive complints from a man she had just t, let alone one of the students in the Senerra Academy. Unable to bear the attention any longer, Eirin bolted, rushing towards the inner door in the office, the one that led directly to Queen Regina’s private room, ignoring Trix and the others entirely.
"What was that?" Trix wondered aloud, still stunned by Eirin’s abrupt departure. "Is the angelic Eirin Luxfield an actual snob?" Pierre, reacting instantly, slapped his arm, a sharp, audible crack. "Hey! What was—oh?"
Trix’s baby blue eyes, ever observant despite his eccentricities, landed on soone standing patiently in front of the door, just outside in the hallway. "Isn’t that my baby girl? Coco!" he shrieked, his voice filled with renewed delight. He rushed out of the office and into the hallway, enveloping Coleen in a tight, bear-like hug while patting her head vigorously.
"Did you miss your big brother?" he cooed, completely oblivious to Coleen’s stunned, rigid posture.
Pierre and Calixta only watched the young man, a mixture of exasperation and resignation on their faces, as he began practically cuddling with Coleen, who was too surprised and mortified to do a thing, her face rapidly turning a deep shade of crimson.
On the other hand, Eirin having made her escape, entered directly into Queen Regina’s office. The Queen, a figure of serene authority, greeted her with such a warm welco, her smile gentle and understanding. She thanked Eirin profusely for successfully finishing her mission along with Shade Cromwell, her words filled with genuine gratitude.
"I apologize for always telling you to et here, Eirin," the Queen said, her soft gaze eting the teenage girl’s eyes directly. She smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes, "Scarlett also said to et her after school, she has sothing important to discuss with you."
Eirin nodded, the Queen’s words a blur as her mind was still reeling from the unexpected encounter outside. It didn’t take her long to leave, the eting brief and to the point. As soon as she got out and stepped back into the hallway, her forehead imdiately creased in confusion and a fresh wave of embarrassnt.
"Heya~! I didn’t know you were friends with my Coconut!" Trix greeted her loudly, his arm already wrapped protectively around Coleen’s shoulder, who still looked mortified but was now managing a weak, strained smile.
The teenage girl’s confused eyes landed on Coleen, whose entire face had turned a deep alarming flush, almost matching her own earlier blush. A thought, a sudden, blinding realization imdiately ran through Eirin’s head, putting all the pieces together.
’I now know why she was nervous,’ Eirin thought, a knowing smirk touching her lips, as she cleared her throat, trying to compose herself.
"I’m sorry I couldn’t introduce myself properly earlier," Eirin said, extending a hand to Trix, trying to sound as composed and polite as possible, knowing that this man, being Coleen’s friend and apparently her brother, ant he must be soone kind, despite his overwhelming personality. "I am Eirin Luxfield."
Trix finally removed his arm from around Coleen, much to her obvious relief, and giggled, a surprisingly high-pitched sound. "I’m Trixtan Laxford, but everyone just calls Trix," he said, offering his hand readily to the teenage girl, his grin wide. But as Eirin’s eyes widened in recognition, her hand froze.
Trixtan Laxford. The na echoed in her mind. This overly enthusiastic, flamboyant boy with the vibrant blue hair was none other than the son of the Duke and Duchess of Laxford, the very people who had provided them with the carriage and offered their hospitality.
’How co his parents were so calm and he’s like... this?’ Eirin was lost in thought.
"Hello?" the young man waved his hand, adorned with sparkling rings, in front of Eirin’s stunned face. "Are you still there?"
Eirin swallowed hard, pulling herself back to the present. "R-Right," she stamred, shaking Trix’s outstretched hand, forcing a smile that felt fake. "Your parents... they helped Shade and I a lot during our last mission. They were incredibly kind."
Trix pouted, a childlike expression. "Oh, I see. You’re friends with Shade Cromwell too, huh? That Shade Cromwell?" There was sothing uncanny, sothing almost calculating, in his tone now, a shift from his earlier enthusiasm. It was as if he was planning sothing, a mischievous glint in his baby blue eyes that made Eirin look at him warily, a prickle of unease running down her spine.
"Anyway, I learned from Coco here that you are our classmate, Eirin," Trix said, his cheerful deanor returning. He took Eirin’s hand in one of his, and Coleen’s in the other, linking them together with surprising strength. "Let’s go now, shall we? We’ll be late for class!" His eyes sparkled, and Eirin couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just stumbled into a new, elaborate plot.
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