Verse Sixteen

Winslow looked up when a cup of coffee was placed in front of him with a clink. "One cup of espresso con panna for you, and a marocchino for me," CK said and sat across him with a pleased smile, "Good stuff, good stuff."

Winslow looked into his cup skeptically. "I asked for an espresso. What is this?" he asked. "'Espresso with whipped cream' if I need to put into layman's term. So unclassy," CK scrunched her nose at him, "I decided to put a little something in the drink. Otherwise, it would look a little too identical to your brooding soul."

Winslow scoffed. He intended to stay up for a meditation with the help of pure caffeine, but it seems his plans were ruined. He shook his head and made no more comments. CK tapped her lip as she hummed, "If only they had some snacks at this time. The kitchen staff said they were restocking…"

Curfews at the Nonaphrontistery take place from 10 in the evening until 5 in the morning. Facilities like the faculty, the classrooms, and other crowded places were closed down to prevent overtime. However, places like the training fields, the library, and the cafeteria remain open for the students who trained and studied harder. 

There were very few students in the cafeteria when the pair arrived. But still wanting to avoid attention, Winslow used his credit points to get the most exclusive and isolated area in the cafeteria. The area resembled like the royal box in the amphitheater, except that it oversaw the entire cafeteria from a floating, enclosed platform.

CK snuck a glance at Winslow while stirring her coffee. She didn't expect Winslow to just agree to an impulsive decision of hers. Is he beginning to break out of his shell? How miraculous!

"What do you intend to do with the [Maiden's Manuscript], CK?" Winslow suddenly asked. CK sighed. Of course, he's just there to question her. What an uptight man.

"Since you helped me this much, I guess I should tell you. Putting it simply, the [Manuscript] is proof of my innocence. Something as great as the [Maiden of Prayer]'s artifact cannot be tampered with just anyone, making it the purest form of evidence," CK tilted her head with a smile, "There are other things, but that's one of the reasons I'm sure you can understand."

"What are those 'other things', then?" Winslow asked. "That's something I can't tell you. If you knew, you'd be forcing me to give back the artifact," CK said, "I'm surprised you're not snitching me after everything so far. How surprising, given that you're not benefitting from keeping your silence."

"That's where you're wrong. You're still my classmate, CK. Your welfare and everybody else's is part of my job as the valedictorian. If something happened to any of you, it would reflect poorly on my abilities," Winslow sipped his cup, "I…also know that the trial has grave consequences for you if you lose. So even if your methods are questionable, I know you're trying to ensure that the school won't have anything against you."

"This is the least I can do for you," he said seriously, "You are a talented wordsmith, CK. Everyone could see that. It'd be a shame to waste your potential like that." 

"You think highly of me," CK shook her head. "I say things as they are," Winslow said, "Since you showed up at the training field, everyone's curious about how you were doing. You've been silent since the commotion at the amphitheater."

"Were they?" CK mused, "That's something." "Have your friends not checked on you?" Winslow frowned. CK giggled lightly in response.

"I don't remember getting any visits. But this is expected. If one of your friends is being treated like a criminal by the school, would you really risk being around them and damage your reputation?" CK placed the stirring spoon on the saucer with a clink, "It's simply not worth it."

CK ignored Winslow's stare and took several gulps of her coffee. CK was constantly by herself due to the recent incidents, but hasn't it also been that way for a long time? Despite the years together, CK and her batchmates have been nothing but be on friendly terms. Acquaintances. 

But that was ruined after news of CK's trial spread like wildfire. It was a good thing CK kept herself busy. Truthfully, even if she stayed around her class, there'd be nothing but awkwardness. CK hasn't heard much from her classmates, but let's just credit that to their busy schedules for the upcoming rites.

Winslow said nothing. He always thought CK would get along better with everybody else. Compared to him, she was more sociable. She was the first person their classmates would approach for help. Even those from other classes would rather go to her first than him.

CK was heavily criticized for not being able to beat him, but Winslow was the one placed atop a glory pedestal. After being treated like an upstanding model of talent, it inevitably placed a large gap between him and his classmates. He was on another level, not like them. 

"I expected you had it better," Winslow said. "Which? The treatment?" CK laughed lightly, "Winnie… In the end, you and I are the same. We're the 'special ones'. We can't afford to be like the rest. Besides, this is the Nonaphrontistery we belong to. Every single person here belongs to a world far away from the rest. There's no way we can make any 'friends' that will last."

CK looked at the foam at the bottom of her cup. "The skills we learn in this place may last, but the bonds here are just another set of lessons we need to learn," she said, "Once everything is over, we're going back to where we belong...to worlds far apart from one another."

"We might even forget each other after a long while," CK smiled at Winslow, "When you think about it, there's nothing to get sentimental about after we graduate. We'll all go about our lives, and the Nonaphrontistery will just be a segment in our lives. In that sense, isn't it good that we have no friends to say goodbye to?"

Winslow thought for a while. "For those who have a wonderful life to look forward to, yes. But everyone's got a story to tell," he said and looked out, "There may be some students who entered the Nonaphrontistery to escape their lives. Once they leave, it's like waking from a dream to face reality. The moments they make in this school will be nothing more than a memory."

"Are you…one of those people?" CK asked. "I entered the Nonaphrontistery out of obligation. Also because I was the only one who could," Winslow replied and closed his eyes, "It's just like a job that needs to be finished."

He looked at CK. "I heard you entered the Nonaphrontistery because of an invitation. You must be well-connected," he said. CK shook her head.

"My family's standing is not that sophisticated compared to the others, really," CK said and frowned, "I still don't know who sent that invitation, though. Master said it was someone from the Nonaphrontistery, but even he didn't know who it was. Either way, their efforts clearly did not go to waste, hehe. I was such an amazing student."

Winslow deadpanned as CK raised her chin with a smug smile. CK hummed thoughtfully as she leaned back on her seat, "This might be the only time we ever got to know each other after I blackmailed you. Isn't that something?"

Winslow snorted. "You're full of whimsical ideas, I'll give you that," he said and looked away, "But you're right. A little indulgence doesn't hurt."

The coffee cups were emptied over time, and it was time to go before the sun began to rise. CK yawned as they left the cafeteria, which was baffling. Was the coffee not enough to keep her awake?

"Thanks for the help, Winslow. I owe you one. I don't think I could've accessed the databank without the professors knowing a thing," CK said. "I don't think I'll ever need a favor from you, but I'll take it," Winslow replied.

"You never know," CK shrugged. "Just be sure to put the information to good use. I'll cover for you to the best of my capabilities. Just…" Winslow sighed, "Win the trial, CK. I don't want to see anyone going to jail right before everyone's graduation."

CK was silent. Then, she grinned and patted his shoulder, "You're an aspiring paladin, Winslow. You of all people should know how to have a little faith."

No other words were said, and CK was the first to return to her dormitories. Winslow, too, headed for his own, feeling the restlessness and caffeine surging in his mind with a groan. Maybe he shouldn't have had coffee…

<Ooh, what a touching hangout. Be careful, little mistress~ You might catch feelings for the boy just before you graduate…<em>if you graduate, haha.> Malphas teased. CK shuddered in disgust as she retired to her bedroom.

"What in the rivals-to-lovers nonsense are you talking about? Eugh," she scrunched her nose in horror, "I don't want to be involved romantically with my competitors. That shit only happens in books."

Heh.

<Yes, yes. I know what kind of men suits your taste. Dare say, they're rather unholy up in this pretty head yours.> Malphas teased. "Shut up," CK hissed, "Don't say anything about it!"

Only then did CK realize it was going to be hectic having Malphas in her unfiltered consciousness. But in her defense, she was a hormone-driven teenager. Is it really bad to explore the kind of men she'd like to date? 

CK dressed into her pajamas to catch some sleep. But sleep was not coming to her that easily. Surrounded by her pillows and blanket, CK stared into the canopy ceiling immersed in thought. 

The dormitory was almost silent. But CK could hear giggles and light-hearted conversations from beyond her walls, among girls that were up for girl talk. She smiled to herself. If it wasn't for the mess she was in, she would be spending the days happily like they were. But alas, there was something else in store for her.

CK sighed and summoned her glass pen, creating random doodles in the air. Tiny sketches of bunnies and puppies hovered in the air above CK's bed, where they would come to life momentarily in a spark of Syntaxis. 

'If I had only chosen a different topic for my thesis, things might have turned differently,' CK thought. Admittedly, it was an ambitious topic she chose to pursue just to prove something to herself. Had she went for something like an analysis of some literary texts of forgotten civilizations, it would have been easier.

If she didn't study the nature of sifts, she wouldn't have to enter Malphas' dungeon. She might not have made a discovery, but at least she'll graduate as a harmless wallflower: an achiever past her prime.

CK closed her eyes. Yes, it would have been an uneventful ending to her rollercoaster ride. But if she never studied the nature of sifts, then that mystery from eight years ago would never be answered. The very first time she encountered a sift would be nothing but a dream.

CK could see it from the back of her mind. The mirror at her forebearers' manor and the way it swirled, taking her to an entirely different place, showing her things that she cannot tell anyone…

Was it possible for a sift to lead to a different time? This was CK's true goal upon studying sifts. But this question was something only she could keep to herself…and to the nosy daemon housed in her consciousness. 

CK's mind began drifting in the sea of sleep until Malphas' voice filtered through, rocking the boat upon the sleepy waves.

<Little mistress? I know you need your sleep badly, but the sift housing the, erm, Pillow Palace… It's beginning to behave unnaturally.> Malphas said. CK groaned sleepily, "Is it that bad?"

<The scenario outside the palace morphed and grounds gave out. The Palace is still standing, fortunately. But sandstorms are only becoming harsher.> Malphas paused, <Ah… The morphing stopped.>

'That's not good,' CK frowned with her eyes closed. If the sift collapses, there's no telling what will happen to the dungeon. There's a chance it may manifest physically, and there's a chance that the energy used to build the Pillow Palace may surge after collapse. Both don't sound very dreamy.

"We need to do something about that," CK said, forcing herself to sit up with an annoyed grumble. But her knowledge on sifts were still lacking. She can't deal with a collapsing sift with ignorance. They are basically spaces of separate dimensions she could tamper with. It might cost her life!

CK held her forehead as she thought. Her eyes fluttered open. Professor Erzem! He's made countless of research on many things, sifts included. There should be something in his office that she hasn't seen yet.

"Wasn't master's doctoral thesis about sifts, too?" CK muttered. She stayed still for a few moments before forcing herself out of bed with a sigh. She scooped the flipflops with her feet lazily before preparing the incantation to phase away.

"I can't believe you're putting me to work right before I'm about to sleep," CK muttered. Malphas chuckled apologetically, <My bad, mistress. To be fair, I do not wish to destroyed while overseeing this pillow-infested dungeon.>

"Yeah, whatever," CK said and arrived at the library. She blinked in surprise, finding herself surrounded by bookshelves. 

She intended to arrive directly in Erzem's office. CK sighed and patted herself on the cheek. The sleepiness is rubbing on her focus.

CK climbed the stairs to the office on the next floor. But her groggy stare warped with confusion to see the door's lock undone. She always locks the door after visiting. Was someone in the office?

CK's sleepiness disappeared like steam, and she summoned her glass pen. Her footsteps silenced as she pushed the door open to see who was inside. Was it a student? The professors should have completed their investigation into the office a long time already.

CK peered through the gap of the door. Her eyes widened to see a cloaked figure standing by the shelves displaying Professor Erzem's books. She was alert to see the book in the figure's dark, clawed hands.

'That's the master's latest thesis, and that's not a wanted visitor to the library,' CK thought with a frown. She inscribed into the air, causing a surge of Syntax energy to sneak into the floor beneath her and slither into the room.

The cloaked entity just confirmed the book in its hands. However, they paused after sensing a sudden burst of energy. They made a growl of surprise. Someone was nearby!

"Incapacitate!"

The cloaked figure jumped at the tingle of their senses. Several chains erupted from small portals around the office that targeted his previous spot, and they landed a few meters away vigilantly. Several books were tossed at them, and they swatted each book away as if they were flies.

"Hah!" CK gestured with her pen, causing the pages that flew out of the destroyed books to turn razor-sharp, flying back at the cloaked entity. The entity growled angrily and pounded a fist on the ground, causing a large surge of flames to eat the barrage of sharpened pages.

The cloaked entity stood in alert once they saw through the rain of burning papers. CK staring coldly as her glass pen weaved with tendrils of active energy.

"Sorry. My master is not fond of handing out autographs or limited-edition copies of his books," she said and gestured at the book in the cloaked figure's hands, "Hand that over."

CK could see a flash of reptilian slits underneath the hood, glaring at her arrogantly as if she were a bug. However, the cloaked entity did not respond and merely dashed away, disappearing from sight.

CK frowned. He's fast.

The figure disappeared through the door, causing CK to give chase. Looking over their shoulder, the cloaked entity growled irritatingly to see CK following. They pounced through the glass windows, making a splintering crash as they exited mid-air.

CK looked out the broken windows without touching the edges. "A game of tag, huh?" she snorted as she stared at the fleeing figure gaining distance, "Run. Keep running until I catch you."

She stretched her arms quickly before jumping out the window.