[12.1] *GULP*

*CLANG CLANG CLANG*

I opened my eyes with a frown. That's certainly not an alarm clock.

Zephyr stirred in his fox form. He glared at the Headmaster who was banging together two pans. "Is that necessary?"

The Headmaster looked back at him without a change in expression, "They say that jarring noises wake up heavy sleepers."

I take back all the hateful things I said about the alarm on my phone. It turns out there are much worse ways to be woken up.

The Headmaster noticed my look and raised the pans, "I will keep banging them until you get up."

I grumbled under my breath and moved to get up, "...This is NOT how you are supposed to treat children."

Once I got out of bed, I crossed my arms. "There. I got up."

His eyebrow twitched, "Get ready for class."

I smirked, "Are we going to go through this again?"

He spoke, "If you get ready, I will make you cooked carrots after class."

I shook my head, "Nope. That won't work."

He frowned as he thought. He spoke slowly, "Then… I will give you a lemon tart?"

I grinned, "Make it three and you have a deal!"

Zephyr jumped up, "Oh! And another steak dinner!"

I snapped my fingers, "Great idea! Add that to the list of demands as well."

The Headmaster nodded, "Alright. Another steak dinner and three lemon tarts. However, this is only if you get ready and attend class without getting sent to my office."

I nodded with a sigh, "Fine, fine. I will behave."

...Maybe.

The Headmaster walked to the door, "I will be waiting downstairs."

After he left, I threw a blanket over Zephyr and moved to the closet, "Don't watch."

He clicked his tongue under the blanket, "Why would I ogle a child?! I'm not a disgusting pervert!"

I looked at the closet which was now overflowing with dresses gifted to me by the Headmaster. Instead of looking for my uniform, I pulled out my wand that I had hidden under my pillow. When I pulled it out, I heard something fall off the bed and roll to my foot. I raised an eyebrow as I picked up the item.

It was a smooth black rock with strange writing along its surface. The surface was so smooth, I could see myself reflecting back. I tilted my face as I stared at the reflection.

I'm still not used to seeing this little girl in my reflection.

I absentmindedly waved my wand so I could dress myself with magic while I stared at the rock. Isn't this the thing I had accidentally picked up after I encountered Zephyr? I had almost forgotten about it….

But what exactly is it? It looks like a stone. But I've never seen a rock look like this before.

I shrugged and slipped it into my pocket. After I finished, I picked Zephyr up by the scruff and used my ice-levater to move down the endless stairs.

The Headmaster was waiting at the bottom with a frown, "Don't tell me you used magic to not only get down the stairs but also to get dressed?"

I yawned, "It's easier that way."

He looked at me sternly, "If you keep using magic like that, you will suffer a backlash. You should only use magic when necessary."

I raised an eyebrow, "Yesterday, I watched you use magic to bring a paper over because you were too lazy to stand up and get it."

"..."

He cleared his throat and looked away, "That was different."

"Mhm."

There was a sudden knock on the door, ending our conversation. I looked at the door in confusion. Who knocks on the door this early in the morning?

The Headmaster straightened his tie, "He's right on time."

I frowned, "Who is right on time?!"

The Headmaster opened the door revealing a bright-eyed Cyrus. Caldwell stood behind him looking like a proper butler.

Cyrus spoke with a polite smile, "I have arrived to bring Reika to class."

I shook my head, "I don't want to be escorted to class by a child. I can go there on my own."

The Headmaster frowned, "I'm not sure if I believe you."

I feigned surprise, "How could you not believe me?"

"..."

Under his frosty stare, I shrugged. "Alright. Fine. Let's go, shorty."

I walked past Cyrus who frowned, "Shorty?"

Realizing I was walking away, he scrambled after me.

I tossed the still sleeping Zephyr to Caldwell, "Watch him for me."

Calwell held out Zephyr far from his body with a look of disgust. As we walked through the halls, I noticed Felix waving as he rushed over to us.

"Cyrus! Reika! Good morning!"

Cyrus nodded at him, "Good morning, Felix."

Felix walked with us while smiling sweetly, "I heard that you will be starting in our class today, Reika."

I yawned, "Yup. Seems like it."

He giggled, "It will be so fun! I hope you won't find it that hard. If you do, I'm sure Cyrus won't mind tutoring you. He's the best in the class."

I glanced at Cyrus.

He looked away with a slight blush, "I-I wouldn't mind helping."

I shook my head, "Eh. I'm not interested in actually learning math or grammar. I'm only going to get that snowman off my back."

Cyrus raised an eyebrow, "Snowman?"

"The Headmaster."

Caldwell chuckled, "A snowman seems like an accurate comparison to the Headmaster."

I nodded with a smug grin, "Isn't it?"

Felix blinked in confusion, "But why don't you want to learn anything?"

I answered with a grin, "Why do you need school when you can use magic? I'm already the best there is at magic. I don't need to be good at anything else."

Caldwell chuckled, "You're awfully confident, aren't you?"

Zephyr clicked his tongue, "More like arrogant."

Caldwell quickly tossed Zephyr to the ground once he noticed he was now awake. Zephyr changed back to his human form and started shouting, "Oi! Don't throw me!"

Caldwell gave him a cold smile, "Did someone hear something? All I heard was a little kitten meowing."

"FILTHY OWL!"

Cyrus ignored the two arguing and scratched his cheek, "Regardless, if you have any questions you can always ask me. I might be able to help."

I felt something in my pocket and paused. Actually, this overachieving young Prince might know what this stone is.

"Actually, I do have a question." I pulled out the stone and held it out to Cyrus, "Do you know what this is?"

His eyes widened, "That's a-"

Zephyr shrieked, "THAT'S THE D*MN THING THAT IMPRISONED ME!"

Zephyr suddenly lunged for the stone and I held it out of his reach on instinct. He started to claw at me to grab it from my hand as I struggled to push him back.

I shouted, "Oi! Get off of me!"

"NO! Give it to me!!! NOW!"

"No way! It's mine!" Seeing him almost grab it from my hands, I panicked and put the stone in my mouth.

Cyrus panicked, "Why'd you put it in your mouth?! Swallowing that will be very dangerous!"

Caldwell and Felix watched off to the side with forced smiles. Neither one knew what to do. They could only watch as Zephyr attacked me to get the stone while Cryus jumped around us in a panic.

Cyrus quickly smacked my back to get me to spit it out, "S-Spit it out! Quickly!"

*GULP*

Everyone froze.

Felix blinked, "Reika… Did you just…"

I turned to Cyrus with a twitching face, "So um… What were you saying about swallowing it?"

Cyrus looked back at me with a pale face, "That stone is an ancient relic… It might kill you if you swallow it..."

I forced a smile, "Ah… I see… Well… One of two things is about to happen. I'm either going to die, or I'm going to turn into a superhero."

Zephyr glared at me, "You better not die!!!"

I felt touched, "Aw… You care if I live or die?"

Zephyr barked at me, "NO! If you die then I will too!"

My face twitched, "..."

Felix stared at us with a pale expression, "I-I think the likelihood of death is very high…"

Cyrus nodded quickly, "Exactly! Now is not the time to be joking around!"

I put my hands on my hips, "What do you suggest I do?! I've already swallowed it!"

Caldwell watched me with a concerned look, "Maybe you should try puking it out?"

I nodded, "Good idea."

They all stared at me silently.

I looked back at them, "...How exactly do I make myself puke?"

Caldwell shrugged, "I have no idea. Birds don't have a gag reflex."

I narrowed my eyes, "Don't birds vomit up food for their babies?"

He smiled, "How would I know? I don't have a baby."

Felix raised his hand, "O-Oh! You could drink poison. One of the symptoms is vomiting!"

I stared at him blankly, "How do you know this?"

He grinned, "I like plants."

I don't see how those two things are related.

I looked at Cyrus who shrugged, "Food poisoning?"

I smacked my forehead, "Is everyone here useless?"

Zephyr made a fist, "If I hit you hard enough then you will puke!"

I shook my head quickly, "No way! If you punch me, I will force you to stay as a cat and give you to a 3-year-old!"

He screeched, "They don't know how to be gentle!!!"

"Exactly."

He clawed at his head in a panic, "AHHH! I CAN'T TAKE IT!! JUST GIVE IT TO ME ALREADY!"

I looked away with a huff, "Well I can't puke it out, so unless you want to wait until nature takes its course…"

Zephyr brandished a claw, "That's it. I'm going to cut open your stomach to get it."

"I thought you just said you didn't want me to die?!"

He snickered, "I'm sure you will be alright."

I held my stomach, "Don't you dare!"