A Doubtful Heart

Lotus breathed in a sigh as soon as she returned to her room. Last night was one of the busiest nights she ever had. She went out expecting to kill the cultivators, but she ended up having to chase down the runaway cultivator who foolishly ran to his subordinate, find the young prince, save Leona and the others from a ghost lion, and discovered that she's part of a family of assassins and is the only survivor. To make matters worse...

Lotus grumbled as checked her body with a scowl. Another one of her dantian was damaged and her shin wasn't any better. Not to mention, her previous injuries hadn't fully healed yet either. What a mess!

She grumbled and decided it would be better to sneak out some bandages and disinfect from the infirmary. The school had to have restocked the supplies just before the games. Though, she don't know how much is left after yesterday's incident. And, now she has to ponder over the fact as to whether or not she really is the young master the Zhang siblings has been looking for!

There was just so many things to consider that it was making her head spin!

She hadn't felt like this since she reincarnated into this body. She grumbled and sat at her desk before calling out to her contract beast, "Crystal, have you been keeping track of the Savanaclaw dorm?"

"In response to mistress, I have." Crystal responded.

It turned out that Leona kept his word and took credit for saving his nephew instead. Jack and Ruggie was there to support his claim and the guy she stuffed the truth pill into spilled out all the truths as to his involvement in the kidnapping of little Cheka. Cheka awoke just in time to give his uncle a hug much to the uncle's displeasure. His mother had to come by to help pry the child off of her brother-in-law. After answering all the question and the whereabouts of the elephant graveyard, Leona sent Ruggie and Jack back to the dorm for a good night sleep.

When she asked Crystal about Ruggie who admired the King of Beasts in the beginning, the guy didn't seem too distraught over the reality and didn't doubt what he had experienced that night, but it seems that he had a load off of his shoulders and couldn't stop snickering himself to sleep. It would seem the king of beasts had quite a few embarrassing moments in his lifetime to share with them that night.

As for Leona, he complied to further questioning by his brother which made the process supposedly easier.

"His brother was surprised." Crystal responded.

"He was?" Lotus raised a brow in surprise when she heard about Farena, the king and elder brother.

"He was." Crystal confirmed, "They didn't apologize to each other, but it seems that the younger child had agreed to make the report after he gets better."

Lotus hummed, "I thought he'd have Ruggie do it for him, but I suppose there are some complications with that. But, I think it's a pleasant surprise to see him finally working harder."

After some thought, Lotus continued, "But, this is just the beginning. The road ahead of him as the second prince is still a bumpy one. Being the king also has its fair share of trouble for Farena. He's been shouldering that rather well since he inherited the title, but a king by itself can not support the entire kingdom. A ruler needs the thoughts of their advisors and powers to keep a kingdom afloat."

Lotus hummed, "Sunset Savannah is a place that fears drought and Leona has the unique magic that can turn things into sand. Once he gets to work again, he'll be in the light with his brother once more. No doubt, people are going to try and manipulate him and spread rumors about him again. I wonder how Leona will deal with those troubles at that time?"

"Riddle and ther others won't spread rumors, right?" Little Jun's voice came in.

Hearing the innocent voice of the child, Lotus smiled, "What do you think?"

"I don't think they'd do that..." Little Jun responded without hesitation, "But, why can't he just quit being a prince or beat up those meanies?"

Lotus breathed a breath of cool air before responding, "Quit being a prince is no different from running away from your problems, Little Jun. There have been times when other members of royalty cut themselves off from the family, but that act is difficult to achieve without reprecussions. Beating up those meanies are even more troublesome."

"Really?"

Hearing Little Jun's confused snort, Lotus smirked, "You'll understand what I mean one day. For now, focus on your cultivation and broaden your view a little more. One day, when we return to our world, you'll encounter a lot more troublesome matters with me and you'll have to fight to protect when things take a turn for the worst."

"Will everyone be there?"

"We'll be there." Crystal answered for her, "We won't leave you."

"That's right." Lotus smiled as she recalled something nostalgic, "If that's what you want, we'll never leave you by yourself. I've told Ying Hui and Xiao Li this before, but it seems I've yet to tell you. Regardless of blood or status, we are a family and as a family we look after each other."

"Mn..." Little Jun responded with a little spring of joy in his voice, "I won't leave Big sister and Crystal by themselves too..."

"A family..." Crystal muttered to herself, "I see..."

Crystal then continued with her report. It seems that the headmaster had been involved in the search as well and was thoroughly relieved to find the child was in one piece and unharmed. In the end, he got a stern lecture from Mister Trein after the royal family left without an incident much less making it known. Leona remained in school where he continued his recuperation and Jack regained his sense of smell shortly after just as the kidnapper said.

As for the kidnapper, once he was forced to answer how he got into the school, a bolt of lightning came out of nowhere and zapped him to death while her encased fire pill had burnt away his soul from attaching itself to this world. It was Sam who cleverly depicted that it was something related to a curse that killed him and the trigger was the method and motive to entering the school grounds secretly and the fire had exorcised the possibility of him returning as a ghost.

Lotus thought for a bit before heading to the library once more.

.....

As she picked out a book and borrowed it, she snuck into the infirmary where she confirmed that everyone had returned to their dorm to rest up. She then reached for a the bandage up on a shelf but couldn't quite get it. Rather than to continue her futile struggle, she cursed her short height under her breath and looked around for a stool or a step ladder.

"Is this what you were trying to get?"

Lotus turned around and saw that it was Ren!

Surprised, her eyes widen, "Ah, Ren."

She smiled and took the bandage from him, "Yes, this is what I was trying to get. Thanks!"

"You're welcome." Ren smiled in response when Lotus noticed his was in his athletic jumpsuit.

"Oh, right!" Lotus recalled something and said, "I saw you play on the field yesterday."

"Ah... that..." Ren grumbled nervously, "My control over magic must've been all over the place..."

Lotus raised a brow, "All over the place? Seriously? But, the disk went where you intended for it to go, didn't you?"

"That's..." Ren hesitated.

"He's right."

It was then that Lotus realized they weren't alone and found that next to Ren was Malleus?!

Lotus's eyes widen in bewilderment, "Malleus-senpai?! Ah, apologies... I didn't notice you... somehow..."

Lotus couldn't help but feel like an idiot to have missed such a tall figure. She groaned, "How in the world...?"

Exasperated, Ren shook his head with a sigh, "You didn't notice him even though he's taller than me?"

"I know..." Lotus grumbled slightly flushed.

Malleus, in his dorm uniform, smirked with a chuckle, "This is a first for someone to have not noticed my presence... haha..."

"Ugh..." Lotus groaned in embarrassment.

It really was a first she had missed someone, but how can she help it if she can't even see who it is without looking up?

The idea of looking up against made Lotus realized that she was just too short and a flicker of small anger and smoldering frustration brought her more shame. She hates being short...

Luckily, he didn't dwell on it and continued, "Still, Lotus is right. By the looks of it, none of the other Diasomnia students had any problems when you passed the disk. I had no problems with it either. You had perfect control of your magic the entire time, so I do not know where your worries lies in..."

Hearing this, Ren muttered nervously, "W-well..."

Lotus smirked, "I think you just made yourself think that way."

"Made myself think that way?" Ren looked to her in bewilderment.

Lotus nodded, "The mind and the body are two separate functions. Sometimes, the body moves faster than the mind as if it has a memory of its own. Not trying to offend you or anything, but even though you had perfect control over your magic, you probably made your mind think it's not so?"

"That's..." Ren hesitated into a deep thought before speaking up again, "I did feel that my control over my magic was stable, but... I'm not too sure..."

Lotus thought for a bit before responding, "They say a doubtful heart can affect the function of the mind and the body. Just have more confidence in yourself. You're clearly able to control your magic."

She raised a brow, "I don't know what's bothering you, but, even if you don't believe me, at least take the advice of your seniors as truths. Malleus-senpai is amazing with magic and you've witnessed it first hand yesterday with me."

"R-Right..." Ren stammered nervously, "I really don't know why I should be doubting my magic, but..."

"But?" Lotus repeated curiously.

"It's nothing..." Ren responded after some hesitation.

"Oh? That was resolved fast." Malleus looked to them rather impressed before turning to Lotus, "So, it seems you got hurt? I heard from Lilia you subdued Leona's little rampage the other day."

"Really?" Ren looked to her in surprise.

Abashed, Lotus chuckled, "I've dealt with people who are stronger than me back at my hometown. I was surprised how I couldn't subdue his overblot, though... It would seem there's a limit to how much acupuncture can do."

Ren sighed and lectured, "You shouldn't be taking part of battles with magic, if you can't use it. It's dangerous, you know?"

"I know, I know.' Lotus smirked mischievously, "I just slipped and cut my arm on a jutting nail."

She really didn't want to tell them that she burst open her sutures last night too...

Malleus smirked, "Looks like the stadium needs an inspection, then."

Somehow, hear that from Malleus didn't insure her that her excuse fooled him making her feel a little agitated.

Ren raised a brow and grabbed a hold of her arm making her yelp, "Ow! Don't suddenly grab it!"

Hearing her words, Ren quickly released his hand and Malleus raised a brow when he looked down, "Looks like you'll need the nurse..."

"Huh?" Lotus followed her gaze and found that Ren's hand was covered in blood!

"Gah!" Lotus's eyes widen in bewilderment, "S-Sorry about that..."

Malleus smirked, "Why are you the one apologizing? Haha..."

Ren quickly cleaned the blood away from his hand with a sigh, "Malleus-senpai is right. I should be the one apologizing here. Sorry for grabbing your arm like that. I'm going to get the nurse. Don't try to run."

"Run?" Lotus raised a brow in confusion.

Ren paused before continuing, "You're always running around when I see you that I get a feeling that you might try to make a run for it while I'm gone."

Was she that easy to read?!

"Stay here and be good." Ren stated before hurrying out the door.