One Thing After Another

  It was already the second day after Lotus finished treating Silver that the nurse helped him write a note to the other teachers. She yawned after finishing class before swiftly returning to her room to rest. She had told Sebek to help wake him up since he was more reliable than an alarm clock and decided to quietly read her books. She had searched online for a few books she had hoped to find in town this following weekend. After a while, Sebek finally banged on her door, spewed the usual words of irritation at her and then the two left to check on Silver. He was doing a lot better and was insisting on joining them for the club, however she was against it and let Malleus know that he needed to stay in bed. When Silver hesitated, Lotus sighed as she smiled and raised a fist, "The only reason why I'm not punching you in the guts right now is because you are Malleus's retainer. However, if you do not rest, I will have to act in response to the patient trying to do something equivalent to suicide. However, I'd rather not enact actual violence... If you understand what I'm saying." 

  "Y-yes..." Silver backed off nervously as she raised the first closer to his face. 

  Sebek also shuddered as well as he watched Lotus leave the room slamming the door behind her, "That guy has such a real nasty temper..."

  Silver hesitated before opening his mouth, "Has he always been like that since he returned with father?"

  Sebek shrugged, "How would I know? He wasn't there when his liege and Lilia returned."

  "Sebek..." Silver shook his head in dismay before finally speaking in his hoarse voice, "After this, tell Father and Malleus that I have found some information regarding the empress of plantae faes... However, the source is still very vague and I can't pinpoint where it is... Ugh..." 

  "What?!" Sebek shouted in shock upon hearing this. However, he quickly shut his mouth as soon as Silver groaned in pain as Sebek grumbled in defeat, "Fine! I'll go let them know. Just wait here till we come back from club."

  As much as he would want to poke fun at Silver in his weak state, Sebek was not in the mood to do so knowing that Silver has information that they were desperately searching for. It was annoying that he couldn't boast about it now, but there was nothing he could do. With that, he sent a text message to Lilia before hurrying back to the club. 

.....

  After spending time in equestrian club, Lotus then made her way back to the Hall of Mirrors when she noticed Yuu and Grim nearby chatting happily with Epel. Surprised, she reached out with a wide smile, but she quickly froze in bewilderment! 

  Vil stood there glaring at Epel who seemed to have slipped his facial expression once again. Lotus frowned and held back hesitantly. Knowing that Vil was actually her old childhood friend came as quite a shock to her. Whenever she sees him now, she becomes nervous. She was worried that any great impact that resembles her child self could send that guy into a spiral and she'd be imprisoned in that room again. To think such a strong and kind little girl would become a tall and annoying man! 

  She sighed in disdain before turning back to the path to the Diasomnia dorm. However, before she could take a step into the mirror, a hand grabbed her arm. Lotus was surprised as she turned around and saw that Rook was actually stopping her! Why was this happening? Originally, Rook only pays attention to Vil and Epel, so why would he suddenly come for her? 

  "Rook-senpai?" She questioned him curiously. 

  However, this was a bad time. She knew of Rook's heightened senses and understood that this time of the month was the worst time to associate with him. Likewise, she had avoided Jack as well. 

  "Monsieur Snow Fox, are you all right?" Rook questioned her with the same old mysterious smile to which she responded with a dry smile after a sudden surprise. 

  "Yes..." Lotus smiled back as she turned to her side hiding her left leg, "I'm just on my way back from the nurse office and need to go check on a patient." 

  Her words were full of lies once again, however, Rook didn't seem displeased by this and released her, "I see. Then, I won't bother you any further. I hope they recover soon." 

  Hearing his words, Lotus chuckled with a sneer and responded, "I'll keep that in mind..."

  Saying that, she turned around and entered the mirror. 

  Seeing her leave left Vil feeling rather hesitant and unusual. He approached Rook with a frown, "What was that about? Did he get injured again?"

  "Perhaps." Rook replied calmly, "It seems the poor fox have suffered an injury." 

  Vil sighed in dismay, "And, he's being quiet about it again..."

  He glanced over to the group of freshmen and was met with Yuu's gaze as he sighed, "It's a pity that the one person he wanted to keep in the dark is the same one who has already seen his injuries. 

.....

  Upon returning, Lotus sighed as she slumped back into her seat. Once again, it was that time every month. Whenever she is like this, she becomes irritated by everything around her. So much so that she'd rather go lock herself in the library and read books from dusk to dawn, but she can't do that here at this school. She grumbled in dismay as she listens in on the coversation between Malleus and his retainers. After Silver suddenly fell under a severe allergic reaction, the lad was up and about acting as if it was just a minor incident in the past. However, that event came as a shock to Lotus. Even though the soul can enter her dimension, what they consume there can be brought out into the natural world and the last thing Silver had was the fungi she coated with her poison. the poison wasn't extremely harmful and it would only act in sealing the memories away. This was not the reason for Silver's allergy reaction. No, it would seem that Silver was severely allergic to the fungi he had with her that night. Thinking this, she opened her mouth, "Zhang Li."

  Almost instantly, the girl appeared from the shadow behind her as she saluted her calmly, "Master."

  "How has your literacy with the language of this world become?"

  The girl responded nervously, "I can speak the languages of this world very fluently now. However, I'm ashamed to say that ready and writing has still been a little difficult for me."

  "Hence, I assign you to check out books in the port towns regarding rare allergy symptoms." Lotus responded as she sighed and set her book down and gave her a paper, "See if you can solve these symptoms, after that."

  "Understood." The girl took the papers into her hands and began to read it quietly to herself before she responded with a look of surprise, "Isn't this allergy symptoms for the chicken of the woods?"

  Lotus raised a brow and looked to her, "So, you've heard."

  Zhang Li nodded, "Mi- Master, the Hui family comes from the South part of the capital. No matter the season there was always at most a bite of something to eat thanks to the warm climate. As such, even the number of herbs and plant variety was abundant... Of course, just as wide as the number of illness and diseases. Allergy to the chicken of the wood is rather rare. Because people of the South have consumed fungi often, it is rare for them to even develop an allergy for fungi. However, every once in a while, there will be such an occurrence of one being born with an allergic reaction to it."

  "What if it's someone who consumes mushroom on a daily basis?" Lotus hummed curiously. 

  "Unless it was their first time eating the Chicken of the woods, it would be strange for them to suddenly develop an allergy to the fungi." Zhang Li responded with a frown, "This one shall go look around the town for more information and then return."

  Zhang Li left as soon as she was given permission and eagerly left the school grounds in a hurry. This was her first time receiving a test from her liege and she was eager to prove her worth to her as her right hand and bodyguard. She absolutely did not want to let her liege down! 

  As Lotus listens in on the conversation, she scrolled through her phone before noticing something rather interesting. She thought for a bit and remembered something very interesting.  She noticed a familiar bird by her window sill and thought carefully before taking out her pendant inserted her mana, "Maisey."

  "Yes, milady?" Maisey responded respectfully, "So, you've finally remembered about the pendant."

  This pendant is paired with a mirror; for Peony, it was a secret communication tool for her to contact Maisey in times of need. And, right now, it is one of those times. 

  "I'm going to need your assistance in something very important." 

  "Again? Fine. What is it?" Maisey sighed. 

  "Bring me all records of reports left by fairies stationed in Nobel Bell College as soon as possible. Not just that. Prepare the list and bring the items with you when you return for the fairy gala's last day."

  Hearing this, there was a moment of silence to which Maisey responded nervously, "Understood. I shall prepare this immediately."

  "I also require the documents regarding the history of the magic mirror and those regarding the expedition in Pyroxene, the So-Called Happy Valley, and City of Flowers." Lotus explained. 

  Hearing this, Maisey sighed, "Understood. I'll go check on them immediately."

  "Thank you, Maisey." She responded and hurriedly. 

  "Um. This may be out of my place to say this. But, please remember to rest properly."

  "I know." Lotus sighed, "I'll keep it in mind..."

  "If you say so..." Maisey said in a voice of doubt before closing the call on his side. 

  Lotus leaned against the chair and sighed with a heavy mind, "Not like I can just sleep so easily anymore..." 

  She took a deep breath before receiving a call from Huo Wei. She took a deep breath before she took out the mother stone. 

  "Master, the leader is on the move."

  Lotus inwardly sighed. It's been one thing after another since returning...