Chapter 39

"…Pain?" I gasped.

"I'm digging into this with Rei, and we may have figured something out." Kyle answered seriously.

"What did you figure out?" I inquired, fidgeting with my skirt.

"…You'll see. Rei does a better job of explaining these things than I do." Kyle explained apologetically.

"Okay." I nodded nervously, hurrying the driver to go quicker.

***

Luke sat on the edge of bed clutching his chest,

"What seems to be hurting?" Kyle asked, taking off his cloak.

"It feels like something's stabbing my heart." Luke wheezed out, doubling over in pain.

"Why is Luke like this?!" I shook Rei frantically, "He was fine last time I saw him!"

"Ivory…" Rei glanced at Luke, "Do you remember the story I read to you as a child (Chapter 9: Fairy tale)?"

"Do you expect her to remember a story when she was a little kid?" Luke chuckled weakly before grunting in pain.

"The story was called, 'The Curse of Sorrow'." Rei recited and Kyle's eyes lit up in recognition,

"I'm sure every child has heard of that story at least once." Kyle nodded.

"The one with the curse of raspberry children?" I asked and Rei nodded.

(Please reread Chapter 9: Fairytale to understand what's going to happen)

"All the evidence is here. Luke has the power of ice; he feels like he's body is freezing even more every time her uses it." Rei ranted, "And, I'm pretty sure he has a raspberry heart."

"So… is he unable to use his ice enchantments ever again?" I asked with hesitation.

"Well, he can, but it'll only increase his current pain." Rei shrugged, "I really don't recommend it."

"Then he'll be feeling this amount of pain forever?!" I waved my hand at Luke.

"I'll be fine, Ivory." Luke smiled with a carefree tone before wincing in pain slightly.

No, he won't be.

"I can get someone with the element fire to make something for you, so maybe it can help melt the ice surrounding your raspberry heart a little." Rei suggested.

"That's a great idea." Luke nodded, "Thanks Rei."

***

KYLE:

Raspberry heart…

I glanced up at Ivory. I may know who it was, but I had to discover more.

***

[ERROR]

"I want to go home!" A young child wept, sitting on the ground while dirt and dust coated his knees, "I want to live!"

A clock ticked over his head, the seconds glowing a pure white.

"I want to go home." The child's body shifted into a middle-aged man and he stood up and stared into space.

The clock's hand glowed a dull grey.

"I want to live…" The man's body shifted into an old man and he crumpled onto the ground as the clock's handle stopped glowing…

The clock's handle turned anticlockwise, and the old man stood up to the ground, changed into a man and then turned into a child.

"I want to go home!" the child wailed.

***

Next day…

IVORY:

"FIREWORRRKSSSS!" Easton roared, pumping his fist into the air, jumping up on the ground in the joy, "Yahooooo!"

"It's too early in the morning to be happy." Rei grumbled, holding his morning coffee.

"It's nice to have a happy occasion for a change." Luke smiled peacefully, ruffling Rei's hair, "Cheer up Grumpy."

"You're not helping." Rei frowned, swatting Luke's hand away before taking a long sip of his coffee.

"…Prickly hedgehog." I mumbled.

"What was that?" Rei raised an eyebrow.

"Nottthiinng." I smiled sheepishly.

"WE HAVE FIREWORKS TONIGGGHHTTT!" Easton ran around the courtyard, ignoring the wary glances of his fellow classmates.

"I'm going to study, see you guys later at night. We can watch the fireworks together." I smiled, waving as I walked away.

This would be a good idea to think about who the murderer was.

"Imma go to sleep." Easton yawned loudly, dragging his feet away.

"You just woke up!" Rei argued with exasperation, waving his coffee mug around.

"I'm going to take a quick nap too…" Luke smiled serenely, walking quietly away.

"Not you too!" Rei groaned.

"I don't know what's wrong with the weather today but I'm getting a little tired." Kyle headed towards his bedroom.

"I give up." Rei sighed, ambling towards his dorm.

***

"I don't know who it is…" I murmured into the empty library.

"Know who is?" Emilia asked, walking into the library.

I took not of her dark eyebags and skeleton frame. Her elegant air about her was reduced and she seemed like a normal girl. A young, girl whose closest friend had been brutally friend.

"How are you holding together?" I queried, patting the seat next to me.

"Whenever I'm walking, I half expect Sardonna to be next to me, teasing me about something dumb I did." Emilia grinned wistfully, "I just hope her death wasn't painful."

Emilia… She kept her façade of being fine flawless, but I noticed her hand slightly trembling/

"I think the murderer's plan is extremely clever." Emilia changed the topic suddenly, wiping her sparkling tears quickly, "They seem to know how to play with emotions. They first killed the former Headmaster, who was known as the one of the most powerful people. Obviously, the killer became known, and panic spread quickly.

And then they killed… a student. They're sending a message that they're not afraid of slaughtering a child. Look how strong the murderer is! Clearly everyone was going to be terrified."

Thanks Emilia.

"I've got it now!" I jumped up, "I'll talk to you later!"

"Um… okay?" Emilia smiled in confusion.

***

"FIREWORKS!" Easton cackled maniacally, hanging from the balcony upside down.

I smiled slightly at his antics before I frowned and bit my lip anxiously. I touched the dual daggers at my waist, I had sneaked them out of the training room earlier.

"Be careful. No one's going to bother saving you if you fall." Luke shrugged, smirking at Easton's outraged expression.

"OI!" Easton wailed, lighting a firebomb in his hand threateningly.

Kyle leaned against the balcony wall, chuckling at their antics.

I stalked off, unable to fight off the nervousness and unease. I entered a new balcony, shielded in complete darkness as I leaned on the railing, watching the dark sky.

"Hey." A voice behind me echoed.

I jumped, ready to unsheathe my daggers.

"It's just me." Rei raised an eyebrow, "You okay? You seem to be on edge today."

"Yeah… I'm fine." I averted my eyes away.

"You don't seem fine." Rei smirked, walking up beside me, "What's up? You can tell me anything, after all, I'm your trusty butler.

Rei smiled genuinely, pure sweetness and kindness.

I turned around and face him, taking a deep breathe,

"You're the murderer, aren't you?"