Prize? Or Prison?

"Scarlett."

Clover felt her presence...

He never saw her—she was blocked out by Sarah's figure in the doorway. Yet her very existence would be the only thing the boy expected to be there.

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Scarlett walked in with her gaze landing on the woman in maid uniform; Sarah.

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A disconnect rested in the room, courtesy of Scarlett's unwillingness to ease her tense mein. It took deep consideration on Sarah's part to understand Scarlett's uncommon expressions. However Clover knew why this was...she's currently like this because of him after all.

A woman like Sarah had a hard time fathoming situations. In these times, she would look to what she could comprehend. And right now, Clover was the only person she could read.

Her glance flicked towards him...like a child wordlessly pleading for protection from their parents. She held an arm to her chest with her mouth barely hanging open.

Clover needed time...time to realize the begging in Sarah's eyes. He was too occupied giving Scarlett his eyes which said 'I understand. You're not here because you're worried for my health. It's for something more important'.

Eventually, the lad's awareness dispersed from his focus, granting Sarah the attention she desperately desired.

Only now did he see her needy portrayal...so with a smile...he let her know, just with a single smile...he said it all.

'I'm sorry, Sarah. I need you to excuse the both of us. There is something important we must discuss.'

A woman's intuition was powerful, and Sarah...a woman herself, understood what Clover wanted to say. Thus she left obediently without any form of resistance.

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"It's best if you stop trying so hard in the tournament."

Scarlett sat where Sarah had before—beside Clover on the bed. Her face exuded concern, much like her voice as she breathed her sentence in gaps of anticipation.

"Is this because of what I told you? That I'd leave this academy."

Clover would do almost anything Scarlett asked of him—he had faith in her, though he had to know her reasons before hand.

"You really haven't thought about it haven't you?" she took her eyes from him to the floor. Her conscience couldn't handle the pitiful look of confusion he gave her. "What do you believe happens when a tournament is won?"

Clover considered Scarlett for a moment. Most likely she required only one answer, so he chose the obvious of them all. "I guess...the winner gets a prize."

"Exactly." her eyes grew more concerned at this word. "So for this tournament, what do you think the prize is?"

"Well I uhh..." this turned into a guessing game for the long haired boy. A definitive answer?...he had not.

'I don't believe they told us what the prize of this tournament is.' he thought.

"I don't know. What is it?" giving up was the only course of action left. This game isn't in his favour.

"The Guardian Tournament, it's called that because...those who win it become potential candidates for the next Veil Guardians."

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Becoming a Veil Guardian? No, Clover wasn't interested in that, and even if he was...there still remained something more important for him to do; the whole reason he stayed at this academy in the first place.

"But that isn't all. You see, this tournament isn't really a tournament at all. It's more like a selection." Scarlett's arm muscles contracted towards her fingertips.

"A selection?" Clover's confusion grew three folds.

"Yes. All pupils participating in the tournament are ignorant of it's prize. Well, everyone except you of course. This way they can justify their reasons for not granting the winners the prize of potentially being a Veil Guardian."

"Huh? Why would they do that? Aren't the winners the ones who receive the prize?"

Scarlett flicked her index. "That's why it's really a selection. Even if you win, depending on how you complete the tournament's challenges...you'll either be able to become a Veil Guardian, or receive some other prize. The same for those who lose."

"But why would they...?"

She didn't allow him to finish asking that question, the answers he wanted were all in what she would say...Scarlett knew that...thus she continued...

"Have you ever wondered why the scores from your first challenge suddenly increased, even though you did nothing for it to happen?"

"Yes, I have...but I thought it had no significance since it didn't change the ordinal standings."

"It is significant. And it happened because there are more people participating in the tournament than what you were led to believe. The Gi Template requires every student with any potential of being a Veil Guardian to participate in the selection. That includes students who aren't the Veil Guardian's pupils."

"I see." Clover was starting to understand. Scarlett told him all this because she was concerned he would be forced into becoming a Veil Guardian. He didn't think there was much chance of that happening...but the possibility was there, no matter how weak he thought he was.

His fingers curled above the sheets, he had made his choice the moment everything became clear. It was time to end it...

"Right. I'll forfeit the next challenge of the tournament."

This was his answer, it will all be solved by giving up. If they forced him to continue, he'd just act like he was too battered up from the last challenge to go on...

Scarlett had other plans however...

"Oh heavens no. That's not what I'm asking of you. I just wanted you to be prepared."

A neuronic beat...that's the time it took for Clover to place it all together. Scarlett wanted him to be prepared, for what exactly? There was only one thing he could think of...

"So you're telling me...?"

"Mhm. I've finished all the preparations. We just need to find the right time to retrieve Hara...then we can leave."

How could she...? Scarlett had him waiting for days. It's about damn time for this process of her's to be over.

'Wait...she actually brought this up at a very bad time.' water got splashed on his fire before it started burning.

"However, we can't do anything with you're current state. It would only slow us down. So for now stay here and heal." and this was the moisture which killed the fire.

'So that's why she didn't want me to try so hard in the tournament. She was worried I'd be unable to go through with our plan to save Hara and get out of here.'

The best of smiles crept it's way towards Clover's cheeks as he thought this. Really...he was glad he told Scarlett about this...about his problems. She helped him shoulder the weight of his responsibilities, and most of all...she cared for him, even if it was only because she wanted to leave with him for some reason she wouldn't tell.

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'The scores...this academy...the Gi Template...even Sir. Frederick himself, it's all just a facade to cover up how they really connect with each other.'

At this time, Clover lied alone on his bed. He felt satisfied...only because disregarding the troubles of his life gave him comfort...for now at least.

He knew, minutes ago when Scarlett left his room there was something which came to his understanding...

'By the looks of it, Scarlett went out on a limb telling me the truth about the tournament.'

If even Edward kept hush to the real reasons of the tournament, then Scarlett would have had reasons to keep it on the down-low as well. But she didn't—for Clover's sake...why?

'Maybe she has as much faith in me...as I do in her...'

Wether it be simple speculations...or an accurate conclusion, time and time again, he felt like he understood Scarlett just a bit more.

Other than this, there were more things for him to consider...things he had to leave for later.

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The sheets beside him started rustling—something was under there, moving with an aim to escape.

Clover flipped the sheets, he already knew what existed underneath...who existed underneath.

"If you think acting like you've just awoken would make it seem you weren't listening to everything just now, you'd be wrong."

A furry creature it was which lifted it's head to look at the boy's face. From under the covers, it reined it's innocence. But the reality was far from that...this feline could not be more guilty as she waited for her and Clover to be alone before revealing herself...Aera is her name, and espionage is her game.

"Meow."

It made it's signature sound. A sound which Clover found to be annoying at the moment...it signified mockery towards him, jesting in a sense of childish rebellion.

Clover sighed. "Could you not? I can't understand you without casting [Soul Tongue]. And in case you forgot, I'm a little low on Soul Energy right now."

"meow...

Meow...

MEEEEEOOOOOWWWWW!!!"

Aera provoked him without mercy. Yet still, Clover's tolerance for her nagging held out till the end...

Though only one thing made it worse...

There was no end...

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A cat...what would she want?

"You hungry?"

He asked...she kept annoying him.

"You could've at least transformed before going all crazy like this. I can't understand what you want from me..."

His pleads were like background sounds to Aera's ears. She persisted, letting up for not even a second.

"Why don't you transform already? We're not getting anywhere with this incoherent yapping."

Aera was playing dirty...or so Clover thought. And since this was so, he realized that to beat a cheater...you just have to be a better one.

It wasn't hard for him to take control of things. Aera's cat form had alot of weaknesses—ones which aren't limited to strength.

Grinning till his premolars were showing, Clover crackled in a onimous tone. He was starting to have just about enough, causing his evil side to leak through the way he acted.

Aera felt terror at the sight of Clover. The fangs she had were indeed fierce...but they were nothing compared to his.

A feline versus a human. Who would win?

The little cat shriveled its tail while retracting to a submissive posture. Now she was the one begging for mercy—it was currently too late, Clover already made up his mind to teach this spoiled child a lesson she'd never forget.

Grim, in the sight of possible death, the kitten who toyed with the calm bull suddenly had the tables turn on her. However humble the strong might be, there was always a limit to where they would use their strength to overpower the weak, and make them know their place...

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'I'm sorry.'

'Yes, and you'll be even sorrier when I'm finished with you.'

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Aera's eyes squeezed shut as she accepted her punishment. Then when she felt the first touch of her punisher's hand, chills and shivers made her fur stand on end. It took great control for her to not pee right where she stood—she did though, just a little.

The boy lifted his hand from the submissive one, soon after placing it again on it's head to which he travelled it down to the base of her tail.

He was...

...petting her...

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Aera squinted her eyes open, just in case she had to prepare herself once more for well deserved dread. Yet, she didn't feel the need to be afraid anymore, in fact she felt...comfortable.

Her tail flipped up with every arching of her back. She couldn't help it, Clover's hand gained experience over the years. His power was unmatched.

"Did you forget. I have to rest or I won't heal properly. You'll have to bother me some other time."

Clover spoke. Of course, Aera didn't listen. Nevertheless, his pats said all which needed to be said. She would calm down for now, he could deal with that.

Thinking back now, the boy subconsciously knew what his little friend wanted to say. It was something which always got her riled up for some reason. Knowing that, he should have figured it out easily.

"I know. We just need to wait a bit more. Then we'll save her and get out of here..."