[85.17] Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

Felix and Moni were traveling to the excavation site with the rest of the chosen few people. On the outside, he was smiling and appreciating the scenery. On the inside, there was an argument raging on inside.

Felix cried: <<Moni! I don't want to sleep alone!!>>

Moni tried to soothe him: <<You're not alone. You'll be rooming with Alora's brat.>>

<<I meant I don't want to sleep without you!!! You can't possibly be thinking of leaving me all alone!>>

<<Felix, it will be okay. I may not in your body but nearby. just can't stand to alone with that boy for long.>>

<<Can't we ask to switch tents!?>>

<<That would hurt your friend's feelings.>>

<<He's not my friend! He's yours!!>>

Moni felt his smile twitch: <<He's not my friend.>>

Felix ignored this: <<Can't you at least stay until I fall asleep?>>

Moni knew he couldn't win against him and gave in: <<Fine. >>

<<And be there when I wake up?>>

<<...We will see.>>

<<You have to! I can't be alone! can't!!!>>

Moni mentally let out a sigh of exhaustion: <<Very well. Just don't cry.>>

That night, not only did Reika get little to no sleep, but Moni was also struggling to sleep. Without Reika around, his wound made his abdomen feel like it was being stabbed and ripped open. The screams grew louder and louder before he couldn't even hear himself groaning.

"That's it." He used the shadows to disappear, leaving behind a sleeping Felix. He appeared at the outskirts of the camp in a place he knew the Headmaster couldn't sense anything amiss. He created a black portal which one woman in red stepped through. With exhaustion clearly on his face, he spoke harshly to her, "You'd better do a good job this time if you want to redeem yourself."

She kneeled, "I will do anything you ask, Master."

After discussing their plans, Moni slipped back into Felix's body just in time for him to wake up. Moni was used to being exhausted, but for some reason, this time he was far more irritable than usual.

Priscilla handed him another bouquet, "How's this, big brother? Or maybe these? I also can make tulips! Look, look! Aren't I getting better?"

He let out a sigh and wiped his sweaty brow, "Yes… They are very beautiful."

Her eyes lit up, "I can make more!"

"..."

Cyrus went over to wake up Reika who was sleeping peacefully in the sunlight, "Oi. Get up and help us. Stop lying around!"

She motioned to Hazel, "She's not doing anything either. She's just standing there with her tiny shovel."

Hazel clutched it closer to her chest and whimpered tearfully, "I don't want to hurt the ground…"

Moni rolled his eyes.

Cyrus frowned, "You're the one who wanted to come on this trip so bad! Yet you've only been lying around all week doing nothing!"

"Isn't that the point of camping?"

"NO!!" He ruffled his hair with a sigh, "Also, we aren't camping. We are looking for a relic. So stop lazing around and help!"

She took her wand out, "Fine. I will help."

His eyes shrank back, "Wait! That's not what I meant-"

*BOOOOM*

The explosion caused the ground to break apart, creating a large crater. Moni covered his mouth to refrain from breaking out into malicious laughter.

Reika sat up proudly, "There. Excavated."

The Headmaster shouted, "You said you would behave!!"

She defended herself, "I have been. But he said I needed to help, so I helped."

"How is that helping!?!"

She pointed to the crater, "I found that creepy rock."

Moni followed her finger and saw a familiar-looking rock. Without even needing to check it out, he already knew the creator of that rock. He mumbled under his breath, "Are all relics made by her?"

Cyrus threw down his shovel, "You found it just like that!?!"

Reika glanced at the rock, "Why is it so special?"

Moni felt his hands clench into a fist.

"It's a relic that is nearly a thousand years old. I've been studying them for a while and after years I finally found this one's location. The one you swallowed is able to seal any living creature inside of it. However, if I'm right… This one should-"

He picked it up and held it out on his palm. The colors inside the rock started to swirl and combine until an icy blue color stayed.

A man of ice suddenly appeared from the rock.

The Headmaster showed it off, "This relic will show a person's attribute. It will be extremely helpful in placing students based on their ability."

Moni kept his eyes on it.

That's not all it does.

If it was made by Lovi, it could only mean trouble.

Moni laughed under his breath as he recalled the nostalgic memories. Lovi loved to make objects with curses. For everything good, it would have something bad and she never cared to try to change it. His Master had forbidden her from making cursed objects, but Lovi would hide in her room and do it anyway. Whenever she was caught, their Master would throw it far away.

Reika held out her hand, "Can I see it?"

As Reika's true form was shown, Cyrus snatched it away, "You can't let her have it! She will swallow it again!!"

"Oi! I only swallowed it because you were bothering me! So give it back!"

Cyrus and Reika started wrestling over the rock, "Take it, Felix!"

Moni realized that if he took the stone, it would show that he was a demon. However, if he avoided touching it, he would attract attention to himself. In one split second, he destroyed any emotion he had for the rock and made a calculated plan. Acting as if his life depended on it, he pretended to trip over a rock and slam into Cyrus, knocking the stone out of his hands.

Hazel ran forward, "I can catch it!"

Hazel, who also couldn't allow her identity to be given away, purposely crushed the defenseless stone under her foot.