You Like Her?

These few days, Clare rested to relax her stiff muscles. Clare had already spoken to Marine to stay in the dormitory under Professor Armstrong's orders plus the two handsome men who had arrived a few days ago. For that reason, Clare was approved. Not because of a handsome man, but an order. Professor Armstrong is the oldest person in the world, Clare still doesn't know his age, which he certainly has great respect for. Therefore, his words are very heavy and obeyed, even the stubborn Marine can obey. Very powerful as a shield even if just mentioning his name. If only Clare had spoken about the Professor's orders back then, she wouldn't have been snared for more than a week.

Marine calls the punishment purification. Since the cold energy released through the trap can make Clare think more clearly and her mind and heart be neutralized indirectly, Clare will not notice.. As painful as it was, Clare at least went back to being plain paper again. Don't know what Marine's goal is to just want Clare to be an innocent and naive child, Clare can only accept it with open arms.

Today Clare has prepared her things in a bag. Her friends have been living in the dorm for the past few days, only she doesn't. No one even dared to visit for fear of the Marines. Of course it was Louis who told them about how Clare had been tortured for more than 24 hours non-stop.

Thanks to Marine's purification, Clare's anxiety decreased. She no longer feels guilty about the disappearance of Vrochis as if she had never done anything wrong. Since refining, Clare's character has become like it used to be, like before entering the academy. Because of this too Clare never questioned Marine's actions as if those thoughts had been locked. Even though Clare had wanted to ask when she was still a living doll. After being released, Clare staggered and fainted for a moment, less than 5 minutes she regained consciousness and everything seemed new. For ordinary people, purification is the most severe and torturous punishment. Because apart from cleansing the heart completely and being as heartless as a naive child, all things related to refining won't come to mind either to ask or to find out directly. Everything is exactly as it was when you were born. The benefits given, the power became purer without any flaws, but during the process it was so painful.

Marine has that ability and is very rare. Since Clare was used to it, she wouldn't find it painful unless her friends saw her being a doll. In his mind, the punishment was to make him a living statue, not a purification of the heart.

Clare arrives at the Neuvrost base protected by the Pine forest. She entered using her fingerprints, dragging her bag towards the elevator. She arrived at the door of the dormitory. She entered where there was a living room with minimalist shades of gray. Clare sighed then lifted her bag towards the room. There's no one here, maybe her friends are out.

Clare put down all her belongings then grabbed the control tablet in the bag and opened it. These few days she didn't open it and saw a message about their schedule of activities while in the dorm. It's much stricter than in the academy. Today's schedule is weapons training. Clare hesitated, she looked at the sword hanging on the wall carefully in every detail. Clare was reluctant to pick it up but she fought the reluctance. Clare raised the longsword then quickly hid its true form into a smaller size like an ordinary stick.

Suddenly the door opened, Clare flinched slightly and turned towards the door to find Jules standing in the doorway. Jules happily approached Clare and immediately hugged her and Clare replied no less happily.

"Clare, are you all right? I heard what Louis said about refining, is that true?"

Clare was grinning like a dazed person. "Refining? I'm just being punished."

Jules sighed then led Clare to sit on the sofa and facing each other. "Louis said you looked like a living, tortured statue. Did it hurt that much?"

Clare thought for a moment. Just numbness, nothing else. About me being tormented, actually just feeling embarrassed. Imagine two people coming to see my state like a living statue, it feels like my blood is boiling. Louis laughed at me and made my punishment increase, he really sucks. Good thing my mouth didn't stay sealed." Clare pouted.

"Is Luke laughing at you?"

Clare shook her head. "Same as usual. Only Louis I really want to hit." Mentioning Louis, Clare's voice sounded very annoyed.

Jules heaved a sigh of relief. Shee's thankful that Clare is okay. From what Jules remembers, anyone who undergoes body purification will feel stiff for a few days or even months, the worst is being paralyzed. But if you look at it, Clare doesn't know anything about refining.

"Wait, you don't know refining at all?"

"I told you. I'm just a living statue, I'm used to it." Clare replied casually.

Jules hesitated even more. It was clear that Louis said that Clare was in the process of refining, even Luke confirmed that it was true. There's no way they would lie together. Even though they always lie, they will never agree to make a lie together.

"Marine didn't tell you about refining at all?" Jules knew mom Clare's name and was used to calling her by name.

"There's nothing to know. Why do you look worried? I'm fine, let's practice. I see the schedule has been set." Clare changed the subject. Clare didn't want to go on and on about things she didn't understand. Normally Clare was really curious about everything, but regarding refining, it had an effect.

Hearing Clare's words, Jules understood. Marine didn't say that Clare was going through a refining process at all. The question is, why? Clare says she is used to it and sees it as punishment. Why did Marine punish her with such punishment? Jules can't guess what Marine really thinks, Marine wants her daughter to remain pure like a child for whatever reason behind it.

They went to the practice room after Jules picked up the things that were left behind. There Clare was greeted by her friends cheerfully and started her training with weapons. The training was carried out smoothly, however, in the corner Jules still had questions. Based on her intelligence, she always dug things from the roots. Apart from Blaire, she was the most sensitive to the situation.

Jules was leaving the training room when he saw Luke out on a call. Jules followed Luke's direction and saw him receiving a letter. When Luke turned to return to the practice room, he found Jules standing questioningly. Jules immediately approached him and stood right in front of him.

Glancing at the letter that said Orlane, Jules didn't dare ask questions about Orlane's family. She just wanted to ask about Clare, all along she had the feeling Luke knew something about Clare.

"About Claire, aren't you surprised?"

"What?" Luke frowned.

"How can a mother cripple her own child's heart? Clare had absolutely no idea what had happened to her, but I did. I'm worried about her."

"Then her mother had a special reason for doing it." Luke understood what Jules had just said.

"Heartless people like you just don't understand. I think of Clare as my only sister, I have to worry about her. What do you really know about her?"

"If you want to know, why not ask directly? I have no reason to know."

"Luke! You forgot something? The professor sent us on this mission, not to kill monsters."

Luke narrowed his eyes. How did Jules know that? while the only ones who knew about it were Professor Armstrong.

"You want to ask how do I know? If this mission is really to kill Vrochis, then you can do it yourself then. Even though Vrochis is too strong, you can block his attacks and kill him instead of placing a tracer."

Luke regained his composure, so calm that Jules felt depressed. Jules felt she was dealing with his boss during an interview, even though she had never done an interview before.

"You overestimate me. I can block his attacks, but can't kill him. You've underestimated that monster."

"But... I said right(?)"

"If not to kill Vrochis, then what are we being gathered for? Vrochis is too strong to be eliminated singly, Professor gathered us all on the basis of individual merit."

Jules was stunned for a moment then looked back at Luke again. "What about Clare? I have a feeling you're hiding something about her. You pay too much attention to it. There was no way a heartless Luke Orlane would like childish Clare. Moreover, Clare has just finished going through the refining process, even if you like her, it's impossible."

Luke remained as calm as ever as if untouched by Jules' words. As if everything Jules said was wrong. "It's got nothing to do with Clare's refining. You're taking it too far"

"really? You say that makes me even more convinced. Keep one thing in mind, I'm very sensitive to situations. Even though I'm not like your cousin, I'm still learning from him." Jules smiled faintly to cover her tension. She felt tense when he saw Luke who was too calm, as if his suppressive energy was suffocating him. Anyway Jules must win the debate. "Don't think I'm someone who can't keep secrets. You and the Professor are both keeping a secret from all of us. I know, there are other things besides killing Vrochis. What about Clare?" Jules' eyes showed a question mark again.

Luke covered his tension by being flat and serious. If he showed how tense he was, Jules would feel one step ahead. "Why should I tell you?"

Jules let out a long hiss and mumbled, "Apparently I really—"

Quickly Luke interrupted. "If that's true what are you going to do? ... You can't do anything. Stay where you are."

Jules huffed in annoyance as Luke walked past her. Jules turned to look at Luke's back. She screamed in anger. "Mr ice! If you don't tell, I'll tell her you like her!!"

Jules' threat did not work. Luke knew Jules was still doubting what he said so it wasn't that easy to obey Jules' threats. Jules herself wasn't sure what she was saying. Luke is hard hearted and that's impossible! Luke was very unpredictable, as inhuman as his family. Moreover, Clare had just finished refining, her heart would freeze because of the cold air that was channeled during refining. Clare will not waver and take it for granted, just as Clare likes all her friends as friends as well as siblings.

Luke continued walking as usual and decided to head back to the dorms. On the way, he met Clare who had just come out of the practice room.

"Luke, where are you going? Practice isn't over yet." Clare scolds him, she was actually looking for Jules but happened to run into Luke who wanted to go the other way.

"I have other business to attend to." Luke replied flatly and walked away.

Clare watched Luke leave. Her mind was wondering, did something happen? Luke's face looked even, flatter, almost dark. Unlike when he came out of the practice room, it made her curious. Then Jules came from the same direction Luke had come. It can be concluded, that Jules had met with Luke. Clare saw Jules look darkened and couldn't help but ask.

"What's wrong?" Clare rebuked her, interrupting Jules' thoughts.

"It is nothing." Jules shook her head slowly then together went with Clare to the practice room.

Feeling Jules' answer was uncertain, Clare reached the peak of curiosity. She couldn't hold on to her curiosity, just as she was curious about Vrochis back then. "Don't hide anything from me. If it's a secret, I promise I'll keep it a secret."

Jules glanced at Clare. Her naughty brain started to work and she glanced at Luke's direction with a sharp grin. "Clare, do you want to know a secret?" Jules' eyes brightened. Clare nodded enthusiastically making Jules grin even sharper. "Louis likes you!" Realizing her own words, Jules smacked her mouth which was wrong to speak. Clare looked squinted and put her hand on Jules' forehead to check her temperature.

"Are you okay?" Clare pulled her hand back not feeling the heat on Jules' forehead.

Jules sighed. "Gavin playing dirt! ... No! ... Vrochis peed! ... No! That's not it... Zoya eats the fridge! ... No! ... Birds can fly!...." Jules is getting feel furious. In her heart she screamed out of anger. Luke wouldn't let her say anything unsavory, so had sealed the sentence beforehand.

"Luke! I'll get back at you!" Jules roared in anger, she already knew this was Luke's doing. Just wanted to make a rumor to get Luke to open her voice, but her sentence was sealed. How did Luke do it?

"Jules, calm down. I understand." Clare smiled softly as she rubbed Jules' back.

"Really? Apparently you're not that innocent." Jules chuckled. For a moment she felt triumphant over Luke.

"But I figured, Luke couldn't possibly get you in trouble. If it's true, I'll get back at it." Clare continued.

Hearing Clare's words, Jules felt like being stabbed with a knife a hundred times. She sighed holding back her burning anger. Clare is still the same! This time Luke will not be forgiven!