Artifact [3]

LUNA

Everything seems to be in shambles right now, making me left bewildered. Aella and Agapius seems to be going in and out of the academy, they still have not updated me of they were able to find things that can lead us to where the two were.

As long as we are in the academy, unable to go out, we're loss for hope on finding any leads. Can we even prepare a plan in 2 days?

Three hours had passed since Shiki got his artificial eye done. It took him almost two hours to finish the procedure. But you know what's weird? He went back to wearing his eyepatch.

Is he that attached to it that he uses it still, even after having an artificial eye? Or was it because he felt awkward suddenly showing up with two eyes to the others? Gah! I don't know, I have better things to do than deduced him.

"Hey Rinalyn, how are you?"

I almost ignored Arlo who approached me and almost slipped my mind I'm disguising as Rinalyn.

Why do I feel like, it's been so long since the last time I saw this man?

And as I expected, just like Shiki, he has floating heart above his head. Honestly, I thought the hearts are colored coded base on their profile, but Arlo' color was a darker blue. Both him and Shiki has blue palettes their hair, their eyes. The only difference was that, Arlo has a lighter blue hue while Shiki has a darker one.

"Oh, Arlo I'm doing fine, what about you?" I tried to be as casual and more refined sounding like Rinalyn.

It's hard. Why? Because I never saw these two interact with each other before, maybe there are couple of side glances, but that was it. Moreover, Arlo usually talks to Rei or Daryll when he's in our group. But commonly, he's with the twins.

"I'm fine as well, um, have you guys know any leads about Luna?" He asked with concern.

I stared at him for a couple of second, thinking of what needed to be said. Then, I shook my head.

"There's not much lead around the academy, if only we could have gone out then. . .perhaps we might get something. But the professors are truly strict about students planning to leave."

Arlo seem to be pondering of something after my statement. He seem to be hesitant to say something, for he keeps on glancing at me back and forth.

My brows knitted in bewilderment. Is there something he has to say? Why is he hesitating?

Arlo then stood straight and stared at me directly with earnest eyes. It's kind of made me uncomfortable, for someone once had looked at me earnestly, and saw a hint of gold in my eyes— I'm afraid of getting exposed, like how Shiki saw through me that day.

"I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say this but. . ." He trailed off, glancing around, checking if someone was with us in the hallway. "The SC president had called me out last week, and threatened me."

"T. . . threatened you?! Dion did?!" I repeated perplexed.

Arlo nodded, he then took a deep breath before continuing. "Don't you find him pretty suspicious? I always see him lurking around wherever Luna was. If anything, he can be the main suspect for the abduction."

It's bound to happen, that jerk wasn't that low-key in following me each day. He stands out like a sore thumb. But wait, what is it that made Dion threaten Arlo?

"You said he threaten you, how so?" I asked.

"I approached him one time last week, asking on why does he kept track on Luna every single day. But all he did was called me out at night in the oval and told me that, if I were to pick my nose into his business one more time— he won't hesitate to kill me."

Ah, a pretty cliche way of threatening someone. Well, Arlo wasn't wise on the part where he went and approached Dion all so suddenly and ask that sort of question.

But, I can agree to the former part. If anything or anyone, Dion is on top of the suspect list.

"So, you were here."

My head abruptly turn towards my left where I heard the cold mellow voice of Shiki. And he was indeed wearing his eyepatch. Shall I give him a dumber nickname than a human freezer? What about Mr. Eyepatch, since he's so fond with that thing.

"Oh hey Shiki." Arlo greeted, and Shiki only nodded as a response.

"Dion's the number one prime suspect?" He suddenly asked me.

"Most likely." I nodded.

I was about to speak more to Shiki when I felt Arlo's gaze. Bewilderment was written all over his face, as his eyes was going back and forth to Shiki and I. He did thought of Rinalyn and Shiki to be on 'not-so-good-terms' with each other. Perhaps seeing me (who happened to be Rinalyn at the moment) and Shiki starting to be talking so causally, must've confused him.

"Ah, I'll get going now." I uttered in a panic. I can't be found out in the open, it will be weird to see Rinalyn and Shiki talking casually after all those things that had happened to them.

I expected Shiki to follow me, but I did not expect him to appear in front of me so suddenly. Ugh, him and his teleportation. Is he this lazy to walk on his own feet?

I too can use teleportation, but come on, to use it in small distance places is cumbersome. I'll just waste mana, on doing so.

"Where are your beasts?" He immediately asked. Straight to the point I see? Well I don't like to bury myself in small talk anyway. "They're doing rounds, aren't they?"

I simply nodded as a response. I couldn't really get through them, but I'll try once again if my telepathy can reach them this time.

Shiki and I walked out of the academy as we went to the usual bench. We sat down, not speaking to each other— which is fine. I have to concentrate my mind into reaching the two.

[Agapius? Aella? Can you two hear me?]

I glance to Shiki, waiting for the two to respond back. But I wasn't getting anything. Just where in the world are they?

[Boy? What's the matter?]

Ah! It's Aella!

[Where's Agapius? Is he not with you?]

[Don't bother worrying about him, he's gone off to search something. He left me behind to 'guard' you brats.]

I sighed. Sometimes I don't understand her, she's more like a cat than a fox. She's warm to you, then the next cold. Reminds me of a cat we had back in my parents' home.

[Have you two found anything?] I asked, they should at least update me on what's going on.

[Luckily, we did. We just needed to confirm it, that's where Agapius is to right now. We'll update you later on.]

The sound of a 'beep' was heard as the telepathy between me and Aella was cut off.

"Huh? Shiki and Rinalyn?"

I jolted when I heard a familiar tone. Perhaps I'm too immersed that I didn't realized nor heard Ezryn approaching us. He has the same baffled expression as Arlo when he saw us both.

"Oh Ezra, good. . . Uh, noon? Are you in an errand?" I asked, it's not like it's impossible to see students scattered still, but usually they're a lot in the afternoon. And Ezryn seem to have been inside the premise.

"Uhh, good. It's unusual for you two to. . ." He trailed off looking at me and Shiki back and forth, same reaction as Arlo, indeed.

"You should tell him," Shiki said. I glance at him, confused. Tell him what? "He seems trustworthy to know."

Oh.

Is he telling me to reveal that I'm Luna, but really, out in the open? Here?

I heaved a deep breath. "Teleport us in the shack." I suggested, he didn't seem to mind as stood up and offered his hand to me and Ezryn, unlike me who immediately grabbed onto Shiki, Ezryn seem to hesitate, but in the end he grabbed Shiki's other hand.

Well, I guess this makes us a trio now?