Five Consecutive Days

"He laughed." She responded bluntly. Whatever comes next, it is best that these guys don't make their princess anymore angry than she already is.

Lotus huffed in dismay as she miserably turned her head away from her and dismissed her to return to her work, "He didn't keep his promise. Hmph, why are so many men like this?"

As she pouted this, she turned around and began to fiddle with books again as she grumbled miserably while feeling strangely warm at the cheeks, "I know it was a really, really bad mistake, but did they really need to laugh at it? No doubt Lilia laughed after saying how naive I was and Malleus is probably just waiting to see a new form of the ring anyway. I bet he'll also just mention that I dug my own grave if I asked him about his apology. Hmph! All men are so typical! Of all people to see me mess this up, it had to be my benefactor's beloved grandson! Give me a break..."

As she muttered in despair, she can't help but also wish to rewind time to before she left the fairy kingdom to correct her mistake. Unfortunately, that magic was extremely hard to accomplish and she also didn't have enough knowledge to achieve this either. In the end, she could only wallow in her own shame and sadness while the others from the floor above her was probably chuckling over her creation.

Hearing her rant, the others in her ring simply returned to their work ignoring her ranting as though it was part of a daily routine, which it surely wasn't. Just typical day.

.....

"He'll be working five consecutive days?" Malleus noted in surprise after having heard about the princess's contract familiar and everything else, "Will this really be all right, though? I recall hearing how frail humans were."

"We'll have to wait and see." Lilia responded, "I'm more interested about the fact that Lotus can actually has possession of a magic stone that can be used without magic and that ring... That would explain the mistake the young princess made."

Malleus shook his head, "This still does not ease the fact that she made a very big mistake. In the end, we even covered the cost of fixing it."

"She wouldn't be this foolish, could she?" Lilia questioned curiously, "The timing of the demise of the old dorm and this problem... It looks like she knew that we would be able to cover up the problem for her. Then, she will have to pick the payment when we go see the fairy gala. Speaking of that, it would be your first fairy gala, isn't it? I wonder how we should dress when we arrive. The princess only managed to give us an invitation, but she wasn't able to convince the queen to let me out of dressing up for the event. So, I will have to dress up too."

"It would be on the last day of the fairy gala." Malleus noted with a frown.

"The princess even got the queen's approval. I wonder since when did they start contacting one another." Lilia added curiously.

Malleus shook his head, "I shall ask her when we return. For now, she is probably too busy to write a letter to me."

Lilia sighed, "It is at times like these that electronics can be rather convenient in Briar Valley. Did the princess say anything about her Majesty?"

Malleus nodded, "She said that grandmother misses me a lot. Sometimes, she had mistaken the princess for me. So, from her meaning, the princess is worried over grandmother's health and urges me to return quickly once I graduate to see the queen when the opportunity arises."

Lilia nodded, "The princess should've tried to invite the queen to the gala, then. However, if it is work..."

Malleus frowned, "I'll only know for sure once I return. When I left, grandmother was still in good health too. Suddenly, she starts to put herself in such a situation. She was never a reckless person, even now. Once I return to Briar Valley, I'll go visit her."

Looking to the prince, Lilia sighed silently. There was really very little that he could do to help them with this situation.

.....

For the next two days, she continued to work on the accessories with all of her might and the stone securely tied onto her palm as she transferred her spiritual power into her work. Working with the small Pheonix, she continued to strike at the iron to deplete it of its impurities.

Having seen her working for a long time without having touched her food and water left the sophomore and freshman of the Diasomnia group she knew of rather hesitant and surprised. In the past, they've only known about her mischief from the students but it never quite hit them why she was able to do it till now.

After five days, she appeared in the sweltering dorm with Lilia and brought out the box, "This is accessories that I've completed."

With that, she handed the box to Malleus who opened the box and examined the ornaments with a look of surprise.

"This..."

.....

Lotus did not say anything as she took a quick shower and then fell asleep for the next three days before she finally got up and appeared from the room. Seeing the entire dorm empty, Lotus raised a brow in confusion before turning to Silver who was passing by with a curious expression on her face, "Why is the dorm so empty today?"

Swiping away a drip of sweat from his chin as he carried the books, he responded, "You can't feel it?"

Lotus raised a brow to which Silver widened his eyes in surprise, "You're not even sweating at all too!"

Hearing this, Lotus grew irritated, "Are you willing to tell me or not?"

Silver shook his head dismissing his thoughts before responding, "The magic stone that controls the weather in the school has been stolen by the fairies for the fairy gala."

Seeing that he had shook his head annoyed Lotus even more thinking that he was looking down on her as she frowned, "I see. So, that is why the princess told me not to move from here..."

"The princess... So, you seem to be acquainted with her." Silver noted curiously.

"What do you want to know?" Lotus frowned again, "Since you shared a piece of information, I wouldn't mind trading. Of course, it can't be something personal."

"Information? Then... Why would the fairies pick the magic stone for the accessory?" Silver questioned her after some thought, "I had thought that they would know the significant meaning of the stone since the principal said that protected by the fairies and the dark mirror."

"Hmph. You added the value by adding more information too. You should know to control the words you speak with sometimes..." She sighed before responding, "Because it's pretty."

"Huh?" Silver's eyes widen in surprise upon hearing this.

"It's probably because they thought that the humans wanted to protect this stone before its value came from its appearance. Hence they do the favor of protecting the stone. In their eyes, taking the stone is no different from 'borrowing' the gem." Lotus responded, "I suspect someone had already came to talk to the dorm leader about this, but, like the dorm leader who is more powerful than a simple magic stone, it is the same in their eyes. In the eyes of the fairies, they can control nature and create objects with ease. A small magic crystal is insignificant in their eyes, but the appearance is too striking to be left alone. Hence, they deemed it appropriate to take the stone and borrow it for accessories. As long as it is not damaged, it is all right."

"That does fit with their nature." Silver nodded.

Lotus sighed, "Living in Briar Valley too, I thought you'd know of this as well."

"I thought the same. However, the magic crystal was guarded by the fairies, so I assumed they'd know the importance of the stone to the school, but if that was the case." Silver hesitated.

Lotus thought for a bit before she responded, "I can contact the princess, but, since she's invited the prince, I suspect that she knew about this."

"Father told me that the princess is greatly cherished by the king and queen of faeland. But, why would they suddenly start entrusting her with political duties?" Silver frowned.

"The princess is a thaumaturge by blood." Lotus sighed, "In our language, she's a cultivator. As a cultivator, knowledge is the most important thing to them—politics, government, alchemy, science. Knowledge is power in their hands as long as they use it correctly, just as it is in people of power. The princess is good in the art of politics, alchemy, and cultivation. However, it was a surprise to hear that she also became the contract master of a phoenix familiar. The fact that she lent her to me shows that she is also confident in her own ability to defend herself without her familiar."

"How strong is she?" Silver questioned her curiously.

"Well, aren't you being direct?" Lotus huffed in dismay.

Silver recalled her words and shook his head, "Sorry. Pretend that I did not ask."

With that, he walked away as she grumbled in dismay, "Well, as expected. Can't expect him to be calculative like those in Scarabia."