11 Little Tyke's Disappearance

"Now, tell us what exactly happened earlier," Chloe seriously asked as she closed the door of their room.

"Hey, shouldn't we let Iris rest first atleast for a bit? She's injured and even her wounds are visible." Vanessa worriedly said as she pointed the small wounds on Eirlys' body that could be seen with a naked eye.

"It's alright. I'll treat my wounds first then change my clothes. I'll answer whatever your questions are later," Eirlys waved her hand then she went to the bathroom without waiting for their reply.

***

"Headmaster," Instructor Darren respectfully saluted to the Waltridge Academy's headmaster, Franklin.

"What are your thoughts about that girl?" Franklin said as he leaned on the chair.

"Headmaster, based on what I've witnessed earlier, this young lady is probably worthy to be trusted," Darren replied.

"Hmm? Is that so? What made you think like that?" Franklin raised his eyebrow as he looked at Darren.

"Earlier, when she sneak attacked Xander with her strange technique, instead of letting Xander be blasted together with that huge fireball, she actually saved him that caused her to suffer some injuries. I believe that the young lady's heart isn't that dark at the very least." Darren voiced out his own thoughts.

Franklin nodded slightly and said, "Right. To tell you the truth, I was actually there. I saw everything with my own eyes."

"Then.. have you made your mind already, Headmaster?

"No, not yet. We should continue observing," Franklin said as he supported his chin and tapped the table with his fingertips.

"Uh, right. Headmaster, I found something in the platform earlier. It's strange, although the platform was completely destroyed, this thing isn't damaged at all." Darren took out a small sack and handed it over to Franklin.

"This... how come this thing is here? Do you know who owns this?" Franklin's eyes lit up as he observed the small sack in his hands.

"Replying to headmaster, I think the owner of this is that young lady Iris. It just laid on the location where she used a strange technique as she suddenly disappeared." Darren honestly replied.

"Un, I can also remember that there's another thing which came out from her storage ring as she took the sword. Seems like she has not noticed it earlier." Franklin paused for a moment then added, "Something's inside but I can't take it out. There's a magic spell set up in this. But one thing's for sure, it's a living creature. Probably a magical beast."

"Then.. headmaster, what do we do with that?"

***

No one knew what Franklin has instructed Darren aside from their ownselves. Meanwhile...

As Eirlys was in the bathroom, she touched her face mask and pulled it. The true appearance of Eirlys eventually appeared.

She then took out a healing potion from her storage ring and applied it on her wounds. After seeing the wounds closing without leaving any scars, she sighed in relief. Although she knew that small wounds like these would not leave any scar, she was still not that certain if her potions' effects would be enough to heal her wounds completely.

After washing herself, she looked for something within her storage ring. Before, when she was checking the things that her father had put on the storage ring that was given to her, she found a small sack.

She discovered that the small sack was like a storage ring which could also store things within it, however, the small sack was somewhat unique. The small sack could actually store a living creature within it, be it a human or magical beast.

She searched for who-knows how much time but still, she couldn't find the small sack within her storage ring.

Her forehead was sweating in nervous as she looked around the bathroom. (This is bad!) She couldn't find it! The small sack that she put in the storage ring ealier was gone! And she also remembered that she put it in the storage ring and didn't left it in the bathroom.

Suddenly, she heard a voice from outside.

"Iris, are you not done yet? I can help you treat your wounds if you want me to," Chloe offered.

"Ah, no thanks. I'm almost finish treating it. Don't worry," Eirlys said as she continued looking around while thinking deeply. (It isn't here. Did I put it somewhere? No, it can't be... I clearly put it in the storage ring earlier.)

.....

"Sorry for keeping you wait for me," Eirlys walked from the bathroom. Her appearance was now back to 'Iris'.

"Nah, you should've kept your time more. We wouldn't really mind waiting for you until midnight," Vanessa jokingly said as she covered her mouth and laughed softly.

"Heh," Eirlys just scratched her head and thought, (Did I really take too much time in the bathroom. Probably because I haven't noticed the time as I was focus in searching the small sack. Little Tyke must be okay, right? Sigh.)

"What's the matter, Iris?" Chloe asked as she felt that Eirlys seemed to be down for a moment.

"Actually.. er.. I couldn't find my.. pet.. So I am so worried if anything has happened to it."

"Huh? A pet? I can't seem remember a pet with you since you came here though." Vanessa spoke and she looked up as if she was remembering something.

"Right, me too. Maybe you haven't really brought it and you're just missing its presence now." Chloe voiced out her thoughts.

"No, no. It wasn't like that," Eirlys immediately waved her hands. "Actually, earlier before I came out from our room and fought with Xander, I left my pet in the bathroom. I was originally planning to get it after the fight but.. when I came in there just now, I couldn't find him at all."

"Oh, so it's like that..." Vanessa blurted out.

"How did you hide your pet from us then?" The girl who was just silently listening asked. Obviously, it's Kracie.

"Hmm, that.. just keeping it with me? I mean, by covering it and keeping your attentions away so you wouldn't notice it.." Eirlys answered as her back was covered with sweat. (Oh God, that excuse was so damned lame. I can't believe myself for saying those words.) Probably, her mind was not properly functiong because she was so worried about Little Tyke. That was why she came up with an obvious lie.

The two girls' eyes were full of doubts while Kracie's face didn't show any reaction at all and thought: (This girl is really hiding many things.)

After a while, the atmosphere become awkward as no one replied to Eirlys 'explanation'. Eirlys of course was completely aware of this so she spoke out once again.

"Uh, so.. Have you guys seen a puppy.. yeah, a puppy, somewhere? Its color is blue, then if you touch it, you'd feel it's kinda fluffy.. and er.. also its fur is really soft," Eirlys describe Little Tyke with her own words without realizing that her description was rather... unique.

After hearing this, the two girls' eyes widened in shocked. After processing the words of Eirlys, they suddenly laughed, so hard that their hands were on their stomachs and their bodies were already bent.

"Hahaha! Iris, I didn't know that this cute side of yours actually exists!" Vanessa said as her eyes were already moist from laughing.

"Right! Although your face looks so worried about something that it looks so pitiful, we can't stop ourselves from laughing at all. The way you describe your pet is really~ funny!"

"Huh? Hey! Stop laughing. Uh.. seriously? It's okay if you don't want to help me, but atleast don't make fun of me," Eirlys sternly said as her face showed an unpleasant expression.

"Alright, alright. We will help you find your pet. Are you sure you really left it there in the bathroom?" Chloe asked as she wipe the small tears in her eyes.

Eirlys hesitated for a moment and replied, "Un. Just help me find here in this room. Maybe it is just here." She couldn't say that she put it in a sack then store it in the storage ring and she even brought it with her when she fought Xander, could she?

"Alright," the two replied and they started searching. Kracie also got up and walk to the other side to search for it. Eirlys followed the areas that they checked as they were only searching for a 'puppy', as for her, she's searching for a small sack.

Because of Eirlys' anxiousness that was clearly written on her face, the three completely forgot to ask questions about the battle earlier.

.....

"Oh god, we already turned everything upside down here but we still can't find your pet," Vanessa wiped the sweats on her forehead as she breathed out deeply.

"Ya, that's right. I tried to use my light magic but I really can't find that Little Tyke you've been looking for," Chloe also said.

"Seems like it isn't really here," Kracie took a chair and sat on it. She helped searching but her face didn't seem like she was tired at all.

"Mn, thank you, everyone. Perhaps it just.. left me and didn't want to go back anymore," Eirlys' heart ached as she thought of being abandoned by her own magical beast.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The three didn't know what to say. The atmosphere became heavier but fortunately, the quick mouthed Vanessa broke it as she thought of something.

"My, my, Iris. Don't worry. Maybe it was just hanging somewhere. Didn't you say earlier that you kept it in the shadows for us not to notice it? Maybe it was just bored. Come on, everyone! Let's go outside! We're going to search for Little Tyke!"

Hearing this, Chloe had a sudden urge of giving Vanessa two thumbs up. Although she found Vanessa's talkativeness to be so annoying that it is beyond the normal level of socializing, it's still a good thing that it helped them in this kind situation.

Vanessa then ran towards the door and as she opened it, a hand knocked her forehead.

"Wha-what the..!" Vanessa was just about to beat that person up who knocked her forehead as if her face was a door but her hands halted on the air after knowing who that person was.

"Y-you..bastard! why are you here?!"

When the three saw the person, they instantly went to Vanessa's side.

"Xander, what are you doing here?" Chloe calmly asked.

"Uh.. sorry for knocking your forehead accidentally, Miss." Xander apologized to Vanessa. "Right, I'm here to give my points that Miss Iris won earlier in our bet." He handed over a card.

"Hmph!" Vanessa snorted coldly. She really didn't like Xander since the very beginning.

"Can I use this now?" Eirlys asked as she took the card and stared at it.

"Yes. Just put an ownership spell in it then it's all yours. You can do whatever you want with it." Xander nodded and smiled widely.

"Hey, what are you smiling at? Since you're done giving it, then get your ass away from here already." Vanessa said with hostility.

Seeing that no one rebutted her, Xander didn't have any reason to stay anymore so he could only reply, "Alright, I'm going now."

"Hmph!" Vanessa snorted once again.