Caught

Kael adjusts his sight, focusing intently on Lúthien. 'Hmmm... She's the source, the mist is coming from her body,' he deduces with a hint of intrigue. He stands up and approaches her, stating firmly, "Stay still." Reaching out, he gently sifts through her hair, ignoring her bewildered protests. "H-huh, hey w-what are you doing?" Lúthien stammers, confusion and a trace of panic lacing her voice.

Kael continues his search undisturbed, his fingers deft and precise. 'It should be right around here... found it,' he thinks with a sense of accomplishment, pulling out a silver hair accessory. "This is the source," he declares, holding the item for her to see. Despite the removal, the light purple mist lingers around her, unyielding and pervasive.

Lúthien snatches the accessory from him, fury mixed with embarrassment coloring her expression. "Damn that man!" she exclaims, storming out with a flushed face and clenched fists, leaving Kael in her wake, who follows with a leisurely yawn. 'This is going to be interesting,' he muses, curious yet detached.

Internally, Lúthien seethes, 'That damn bastard! How dare he embarrass me like this in front of V. No wonder I've been feeling off, that man did something to me.' Her anger is palpable as she slams the library door behind her, leaving an echo of her fury.

Meanwhile, Kael remains nonchalant, pondering his own plans. 'Should I check on Eira today?' he wonders, stretching languidly, indifferent to the drama unfolding.

Elsewhere, in a club room within the academy, a group of students is immersed in laughter and casual conversation. Ardalo, poised by the open window, holds out his hand as two birds chirp contentedly upon it. He speaks in a soothing voice, hinting at the forthcoming storm, "She's going to be mad at you."

The laughter intensifies as one of the guys, with short brown curly hair and golden eyes, finds humor in the situation. Despite his small stature, his presence is unmistakable. "Pfffhahahaha!" he guffaws, reveling in the chaos he's instigated. "I know, but I'm going to run away as soon as I see her~ This is what she gets for hanging out with that human instead of us," he declares, stretching nonchalantly after his fit of laughter.

A girl with long orange wavy hair and red-orange eyes responds with a yawn, her voice tinged with indifference and a hint of caution. She rubs her eyes tiredly and mumbles, "Um... sure, it's fine if you have a death wish, but don't bring me into it." Disinterested in the brewing conflict, she wraps herself in her blanket, seeking solace in her own world, detached from the impending drama.

Another girl, standing a bit taller than most with long hair that blends shades of green and blue mirroring the color of her eyes, smirks mischievously. She cups her cheek and tilts her head, a playful yet foreboding look in her eyes. "She's going to torture you," she says, her voice a mix of wariness and humor, "What were you thinking, Caelir?"

Caelir, the guy with the curly hair, leans back on the sofa, an air of defiance surrounding him. "If she wants to be with that human so badly, she might as well fall in love~" he states, a sly grin spreading across his face.

The taller girl smirks wider, amusement dancing in her eyes. She strolls over to the other girl on the couch and wraps her arms around her from behind. "Hmm~ That's not how it works~" She gently tilts the head of the girl with orange hair towards her and whispers, "Isn't that right, baby~" before planting a soft peck on her lips.

She merely shrugs, her eyelids heavy with sleep. "I don't know..." she groans, her voice muffled and half-asleep, showing her indifference to the ongoing conversation.

Caelir makes a gagging motion, his tolerance reaching its limit. "Leave Taelia alone for once, Saelin," he retorts, rolling his eyes at the display between the two girls.

Saelin casually lays her head on top of Taelia's, her smirk widening as she teases, "Oh~ are you jealous~" Her hand gently caresses Taelia's cheek in a mockingly tender gesture. "You said you would find love before me, but look at us. Here I am with my lazy little bear, and you... all alone," she says, her tone dripping with humor. "We even have similar names~" She can't help but smirk at the irony of their situation.

Caelir, meanwhile, rolls his eyes at the display, his patience wearing thin. "Oh, give me a break," he retorts, trying to hide his laughter behind his hand. "I gave up on that childish dream years ago. Plus, didn't you practically bother Taelia to the point she gave up rejecting you?" His words are pointed, cutting through the playful atmosphere with a hint of truth.

Saelin's smirk falters as she prepares to respond, her tongue clicking in irritation, "Tsk—". But before she can formulate her comeback, Ardalo interrupts the brewing storm from his serene spot by the window. "She's here," he states, his voice maintaining its soothing quality despite the imminent chaos.

The room's atmosphere shifts dramatically as the door slams open, revealing a fuming Lúthien. Her face is flushed red, her breaths heavy with indignation. "I swear to Mother Earth, I will beat your ass, Caelir!" she yells, her fury directed squarely at the source of her current embarrassment.

Caelir, realizing the gravity of the situation, jumps back, his earlier confidence evaporating. "Hehe, I guess it's time for me to dip~," he stammers, eyeing the nearest exit. But before he can make his escape, Ardalo interjects, his calm voice belying the sternness of his words, "I'm sorry, my friend, there is no escape."

"D-don't mess with me today Ardalo. Please!" Caelir pleads, his usual bravado replaced with a desperate plea for leniency.

Kael, having just entered the room, observes the scene with a detached curiosity. 'She won't kill him by accident, right?' he ponders, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

Lúthien steps forward, her eyes blazing with fury, as she demands, "Why on Mother Earth would you do this to me!?" She whirls to face the others in the room. Taelia, in the midst of a lengthy yawn, lazily gestures with her thumb upward, stating, "I had nothing to do with it. She did though." Her voice is weary but accusatory.

Saelin gasps, taken aback, "B-babe what are you talking about? I-I never—" However, her defense is cut off by Ardalo's calm, yet accusing tone, "She helped by putting it on your hair."

Caelir can't help but erupt into laughter, holding his stomach. "Pffhahahaha! Betrayed by your 'love'~" he manages between chuckles. They both step back, and he proposes, "H-hey, we might stand a chance if we fight her together."

Taelia, indifferent to the unfolding drama, mutters from the couch, "Good luck with that," clearly washing her hands of the situation.

Lúthien, taking a deep breath to collect herself, unexpectedly softens, "You know what? I think I overreacted." A smile tugs at her lips as she advances towards the pair.

Caelir, seizing the moment, nods eagerly, "Y-yeah, see, you get it," while Saelin, trying to salvage the situation, adds, "W-we're all good friends after all."

As Lúthien extends her hand for a handshake, Caelir, relieved, reaches out. However, in a swift move, Lúthien grabs his hand and twists it harshly. Before Saelin can react, Lúthien grabs Caelir's head and slams it against Saelin's. "Did you think I was going to let it slide!?" she snarls, her teeth gritted in anger.

"You went overboard!" she exclaims, slamming their heads together again. Before they can struggle, she knees them to the ground.

Caelir groans, the pain evident in his voice, "Ugh... my head. I-It's your fault! How can you abandon us for a human?" His accusation is filled with pain and betrayal.

Saelin grunts from the floor, her voice strained, "T-that's right, h-how can you abandon your friends for a human." She struggles under Lúthien's grip, pain and betrayal mixing in her tone.

Lúthien's face turns from a shade of anger to one of pure embarrassment. "We saw each other this morning! What are you talking about!?" she roars, pressing their heads against the floor with more force. "What type of friends are you? You put a damn spell on me!?" The anger in her voice is palpable, her frustration with their betrayal bursting forth.

Caelir, his arm twisted uncomfortably behind his back, hisses in pain, "I-It's not a spell, just an item dipped in a potion." Despite the pain, he manages to smirk, a hint of his usual mischief returning. "I-if you don't let me go, I won't reverse it~"

Meanwhile, Kael, seemingly indifferent to the escalating drama, yawns and settles himself more comfortably on an adjacent chair. As Lúthien ponders her next move, Kael interjects nonchalantly, "Don't worry, I know someone that can get rid of the effects it left on you."

Seizing on Kael's intervention, Lúthien smirks down at her captives. "Looks like I get to give you a beating," she declares, a wicked glee replacing the embarrassment in her eyes.

While the punishment continues, Kael's thoughts drift. He observes Taelia's relaxed demeanor amidst the chaos, thinking, 'She's like a chill version of Biana.' He nods to himself, appreciating the calm in the storm.

His gaze then shifts back to the unfolding scene, his mind contemplating the situation. 'Oliver should be able to reverse the effects of whatever potion it is. I agree with Lúthien on this one. Messing with someone's pheromones is overkill for a prank.'

Ardalo, unshaken by the ongoing turmoil, seats himself next to Kael, his voice as serene as always. "You don't look bothered by this," he remarks, nodding towards Lúthien as she continues to mete out punishment to the duo.

Kael, letting out a sigh, responds with a nod, "Yeah... I've seen worse. My class back at The Great Empire is... insane." He exhales heavily, his mind wandering. 'The amount of times I've walked out of my dorm to see Rai all beaten up after hitting on Luna all day. Or Isabella yelling at other students for simply being commoners. Liam and Aira fighting with words, Mira bothering me every turn demanding I duel with her. It's a mess, and I haven't even thought about Biana and Lysandra...'

Ardalo, seemingly unfazed by Kael's recounting, leans in slightly. "I have heard humans tend to be more aggressive. I wanted to ask you for a favor."

Kael raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "A favor?" he inquires.

Ardalo nods, his expression serious yet calm. "That's right, I was told your classmate Isabella is a mage. I wish to spar with her."

Kael taps his chin thoughtfully, his mind racing. 'He wants to spar with Isabella? Hmm... he's a beast summoner, I do recall him being a talented mage. Isabella is not a monster yet, but even so, I don't think he can beat her.' Despite his internal skepticism, Kael responds, "I can make her if you'd like, but I promise you it won't be easy."

Ardalo's eyes spark with a hint of excitement. "I enjoy the struggle," he states, his tone unwavering.

Kael's gaze drifts to the window, his thoughts drifting along with it. 'Now that I think about it, it's almost time for the hunt. An elvish tradition where students are tested by hunting criminals in the forest,' he contemplates, the realization sparking a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. He turns to Ardalo, his curiosity evident. "Do you know when the hunt will begin?" 

Ardalo responds, his soothing voice cutting through the tension of the room. "The hunt... It will start in a couple of days. Most students are afraid, since this is the first time they'll kill someone so they might extend the wait for a couple more days." His calmness seems almost out of place in the context of their conversation.

Kael nods, his expression thoughtful. 'He's right, this test is meant to push the students past their comfort zone and kill for the first time. Kill or be killed, the law of nature,' he muses silently.