Crimson Flower

"Oh, good child!" Uncle Fern sighed in relief, "I was wondering what took you so long! You've already grown up!"

"My apologies for not visiting you sooner, Uncle." Peony smiled before looking around with a frown, "To be honest, this is actually my second visit to these mines. During my first visit, the area was so disturbed that there was not one single fairy that could be sensed by me. Although it seems to have been slightly better this time, it's clear that nobody feels calm during this time. Had it not been for this second time, I would have never reunited with you. Tell me, Uncle. Did some suspicious people come back again? Are the people here and in the lake safe?"

"We're all unharmed and, from our last visit to the lake, the selkies there also look to be all right. However, I can't see if they are fairing as well as we are. You know how Chieftain Ripple is when things aren't doing well for her people."

Peony nodded softly, "It can't be helped as she treats the selkies as closely as you do, Uncle."

"Worthy of the chieftain title for better or worse." Her uncle joked before glancing over to the children behind her, "It seems that you've brought company along with you today."

"Not exactly." She replied and explained the camping event to them.

"Oh, so that is what is going on." The chieftain nodded in deep thoughts, "Then shall we provide them some food and shelter during your trip?"

"That's very kind of you, Uncle." Peony wore a small smile, "Though I would like nothing more than that for them, this is a camping trip and they need to learn how to survive out here and what to expect on their own. So, treating them as though you had just met them is better or else, our teacher would feel disappointed if they learned nothing on survival in this trip. Though some may look capable, many are still rather inexperienced or even over-confident in their own abilities. So, this activity is actually the right call for the teachers to make this time. Besides, though I know of the crimson flower's horrific event, the students here are still unable to make use from learning this in their books and imply it to reality. To them, the crimson flower is like a small historical event that impacted the mines. However, they did not take into account what this would mean when they try to light a campfire themselves. Knowing this, the teacher purposefully brought them here to educate them and give them a chance to exercise their knowledge. Because there are so many students, the teachers will be splitting the groups into two. So, the other half of the students are still on campus."

The Crimson flower was a huge raging flame that had destroyed nearly half of the forest in the mines many years ago and scarred many fairies deep in their hearts. Nymphs and Selkies could never forget what had happened during those days as it left a horrible impression in their minds. All the damage began from one out-of-control campfire that was not properly put out.

"If it was the princess, then I would not mind." The chieftain nodded, "You have always been a responsible child. Perhaps a little too responsible. Hah... But, you are right. If that's how the students should be taught, then our kind will not hesitate to assist in educating these rascals!"

Lotus wore a dry smile, "Try not to go too rough on them please, Uncle. Your display of power back home has left an imprint on some people to this day."

"Hmph!" The cheiftain huffed in disdain, "They dare disrespect an innocent child in such a devious manner! Why, younglings are born with an innocent mind that can easily stray off the correct path. If I didn't educate those black hearted fairies for not taking your studies seriously but trying to harm a child, I would not be your Uncle Fern at all! Besides, your mother was simply too kind and your father needed time to create a proper balance to care for both you, the queen and the entire kingdom. Something like those black hearted fiends can't be ignored or the ones ruling the kingdom wouldn't be the royal family but those villains. Then, our kingdom will never know peace. Even had Chieftain Ripple and I not been there, our people will not sit by to watch an infant abused in such an unfair manner."

"Thank you, Uncle Fern." She smiled wide as Uncle Fern patted her head and she finally calmed down a little.

"Since you're on a time limit, I won't waste more of your time. Aren't those rascals still in need of your help? Heck! One of them looks as though the wind could just sweep them off their feet!" Uncle Fern criticized them as he noticed Riddle struggling to set up the tent with Silver and Sebek.

Curious about who exactly he was talking about, Lotus turned around and saw Riddle examining the frame of the tent and the ropes laid out in the corners.

"Okay, now we only have to pull the four ropes to balance the tent." Riddle noted before grabbing a hold on one of the ropes, "Sebek, can you pull the ones opposite of mine?"

"Leave it to me… hmph!!" Sebek yanked the rope with all his might.

"H-Hey! You're pulling it too strong!" Riddle cried out as he was nearly dragged off the ground by Sebek's tremendous strength.

"Then you should just pull it stronger?" Sebek suggested in confusion.

"I AM pulling it strongly! Gosh, those inhuman power…" Riddle grumbled in disdain as Grim began laughing in the far back.

"Nyahaha! Riddle is troubled! "He's so different from when he's ruling Heartslabyul" She could hear him speak without restraint.

"15 minutes remaining~!"

Hearing the ghost cry out and the giggles of some of the fairies behind her, Lotus shook her head and sighed as she stepped out, "Just this once..."

"TIME'S UP!!"

With fifteen minutes up, Vargas's voice echoed in the air around them as Lotus had just calmed Riddle who was angered by Sebek's comment about his weak strength and finished checking that all the tents were up and ready.

"I see some crooked ones but…" Vargas noted hesitantly as he looked around before nodding his head with slight satisfaction, "I think the tents are fine. I'd say all clubs passed this one, although by not so much."

"Hmph, leaving the Horse-Riding Club aside, isn't Vargas-sensei too easy for the other clubs?" Sebek huffed in dismay.

"The only problem for you is that everything that's not involved by us is not good enough, Sebek." Lotus sighed, "Come on. At least, our club has passed and our tents won't collapse so easily."

She turned to their group and muttered, "If anyone has any grievances or grudges, either go by the camp or sit it out by the fire. Don't go huddling in the tents. The last we need is someone arguing over where one another should go mope and collapse the tent in the middle of the struggle. No one wants to get caught in the rubble and embarrass themselves, do we?"

"Yes, sir..."

They nodded quickly and quietly knowing that what she saw was right and worried of missing out on dinner should they argue with her or obviously try to curry favor with her. Unlike Riddle who was more chilled when not acting as the dorm leader, Lotus was more horrifying and intimidating when angered just a little bit making others walk on egg shells when in a terrible mood. However, nobody complained as she proved to be very insightful and genuine when teaching or advising them as proven when their campus was under attack a few weeks ago.

"The Magift Club is going smoothly… I think." Epel noted hesitantly as he doubled checked their tents.

"Phew…" Deuce breathed a deep sigh of relief, "All the Track and Field members built their tents successfully."

"Haa… haa…" Jamil panted as he wearily emerged from the Basketball club's area of tents completely covered in sweat and taking deep breaths, "Finally Basketball Club finished… in time…"

"Is Jamil all right?" Lotus spoke up curiously.

"Don't ask more..." Ace muttered in disappointment as he sighed.

"Um... Okay?"

"Now that your muscles are warmed up… I'll explain the camp's tasks." Vargas announced unfazed by their conditions, "Listen properly!! An important thing to clear the tasks is this… "Vargas Badge"!"

He displayed a round, red badge with a bulky stag's head depicted on it.

"If you're done with the task, report it to the Ghost near you. They'll give you 1 of these if they say you passed. You have a total of 7 tasks you will face for these 3 days. So if you get the "Vargas Badge" from each task you've done, then your club has passed and able to get the prize, And the club that couldn't collect all 7… you know what'll happen."

"Disband… huh?" Ruggie muttered with a grimace as reality began to set in for everyone.