To School (3)

"Uh, Liliath. Uh... nevermind.. just take a seat," the principal stuttered.

Liliath entered, I shut the door.

She looked at me perplexed, her eyes hinted at me a question: did I do something wrong?

I've seen that look almost half a dozen times now. I don't know what I should reply.

There were three sofas in the office, so naturally, Liliath and I took the unoccupied one.

"Sorry, where were we," The principal faked a cough and her aloof expressions were replaced with her regular calm look.

"Sorry, and about..." the uncle, Prune's father, retorted his conversation with the Principal.

Leaving the three of us— Prune, Liliath and me in an awkward predicament. I'm sure Prune has no intention of interfering with the conversation between her father and the principal.

Prune looked at me, her whitish-blue hair shone, the two fluffy ears on her head twitched.

I was confused why she was wearing casual clothing when it's a school day— nevermind. I noticed the documents placed on the table: her student file, medical report and what-nots. She's transferring schools, obviously.

Oh. I'm sure she must be confused why or who Liliath is huh?

I turned to Liliath. She hung her head.

"Hey Liliath. I'm sorry to say but this isn't a fantasy world so that manner of speaking could be said as weird to the people here," I whispered.

I almost died of cringing.

"So it is true.." she muttered.

"True?"

"No wonder those heroes that were always summoned know not an inkling of etiquette. It makes sense considering their upbringing. Likewise, I too need to learn how to properly socialize in this world."

"Yeah.. I guess so."

Oh. So she's actually reciprocating the knowledge in regards to the summoning of heroes to act. Wow. Though I must say she made quite an entrance with her incredibly cringe-- I mean, noble-like greeting, I got to give it to you— she's smart. Wait.. didn't I realize that yesterday?

"Noel, why are there beastkins in your world? I've read in a description written in past journals that beastkins are a man's romance and that such a race didn't exist on Earth?"

I winced at her remark.

Oh wow. So the heroes actually left journals in their world. An additional layer of proof that her world wasn't as simple as stories.

Eh— beastkin? You mean Prune?

I followed Liliath's gaze. Prune's bushy tail and ears stood on end.

Liliath narrowed her eyes.

"Noel.. w-who is this?"

"Um.. a Princess from another world?" I'm not lying.

Liliath released her gaze, "It's the same here too."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"They can sense it."

"Sense what?"

"Assume I said nothing," Liliath looked away. She dropped her slippers and curled into a ball.

"Liliath.. don't do that.."

Yeah.. I know Prune.. I know. Her panties are visible from your angle.

"Hm? So it's a balance of being respectful and disrespectful? I suppose. I'm sorry," she muttered.

Weird. Liliath is talking a lot.

"So with this it's settled. I wish you and Prune the best," The principal and Prune's father shook hands.

He stood up, Prune picked up the files on the table.

"Is this your friend?" Prune's father asked.

Prune nodded hastily. Was she shaken? Shaken by Liliath?

"Well. I didn't think you study here too," he said nonchalantly, and with a wave of his hand, "I appreciate you guys coming over to our restaurant every now and then," he nudged Prune.

"Uh.. See you?" Prune tried to squeeze those words out her throat.

"Bye?" I raised my right hand to make a gesture.

"Alright. Thank you principal. See you next time Noel," Prune's father said before stepping out.

Prune gave me the look just before the door shut with a click.

Huh. What the hell?

Liliath now sat straight with both her hands placed on her thigh. Which puzzled me even more-- what's up with those two?

So mysterious..

"Noel. So this person I suppose is your summon?" The principal pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah. This is Liliath, who I mention about."

"Noel.. how does one normally greet in this situation?"

She almost added -sama there,

"Just greet? Just say your name and age?"

"Esteemed Principal Rachel, I'm Liliath Toren, age.. "

Ah fuck it.

"You know what Liliath, just be you.. just be you."

She narrowed her eyes at me and pouted.

I'm sorry I didn't teach you this world's proper 'etiquette'..

"Just to make it clear. Liliath, you were summoned by Noel?" The principal didn't sound convinced.

"Yes. It happened two days ago."

"So what happened before the summon? Were you from a dimensional plane or did you have a past?"

"I would prefer to look to the future. The past no longer holds any weight."

Yeah. I'm not convinced a past treated as a slave holds no weight.

"I see. Noel, so your summon is a permanent one?"

"Something like that? I actually don't know any way to send her back even if I wanted to?"

"So how did the summoning happen?"

Hah! I knew it. Anyhow, I've briefed Liliath about this yesterday. She's an intelligent person so she probably won't slip her tongue. Basically, our stance was that Liliath appeared after a summoning circle almost blew up the house. The information regarding my phone will be kept a secret. Since the shop function could be exploited by the government if found out. The principal has to report the TALENTS to the higher ups after all.

Those who have dangerous TALENTS would have to undergo special education subsidized by the government. Crime is a thing after all. And with special abilities— the fights between a criminal and police filmed on camera was nothing to joke around with.

Ah. Also to note— Liliath was to limit her magic usage just in case.

Since those with useful TALENTS would be hired into government agencies. And I think Liliath fits the bill— or so I worry.

"A summoning circle?"

"To tell you the truth, it's weird. It happened one day after my birthday after all. It could really just be an accident? I don't really have any other ideas of what my TALENT could be."

"Hm.." the Principal fell into deep thought.

"Noel saved me."

""Hm?"" Both the Principal and I turned to Liliath.

"I'm sure he's the one who summoned me. All I know is that there's this unexplainable connection between me and him." Liliath smiled, a little forced, which only served to make it look more convincing.

"I was thinking it might just be a coincidence."

When I heard the principal say that, I suddenly realized my mistake. Well.. so much for saying too much. Thankfully Liliath was quick to notice and helped me cover up.

After all, I said that I didn't know if Liliath was summoned by me— which in itself was a mistake because that would put Liliath in a position whereby her summon was a coincidence and not caused by me, hereby declaring myself as TALENTLESS. And if I wasn't Liliath's owner then she's a free individual— which meant the possibility of the Principal taking her away from me?

That's the shitty conclusion I came to.

But still though..

'an unexplainable connection between me and him.'

Oh fuck I nearly slapped my face in embarrassment when I heard that.

"Then I'll take it that you're his summoned person, or familiar."

"Yes," Liliath nodded diplomatically.

"True. You don't see, to be a person of this world," the principal muttered before jotting down more notes in a book,"Alright, you two can leave now."

"Wait, principal. About that, it's alright for Liliath to temporarily stay in school right? Or should I bring her back home first? Then I might be late for class.."

"Good point," she stood up and walked over to her desk. She took a pink slip, wrote something on it and then passed it to me. "Show this to your class teachers, I'll notify the other teachers if I come across them."

Mission accomplished? With this pink paper in hand, the situation with Liliath's excursion to school has been resolved?

No... it was only the beginning.

*

I entered the class together with Liliath. Everyone's gaze was not fixed on me, but on Liliath.

Especially the boys— no, Gruan specifically.. I want to punch him so hard.. but I can't.

Prune's seat is empty.

"Liliath, you can sit down here."

She nodded, conscious of the gaze direct at us.

I hung her bag on the side of the chair then returned to my seat, situated just beside her's.

Then everyone resumed what they were doing. Nobody came to talk to Liliath.

Huh.. looks like I wa wrong about--

Next thing I knew it, one girl came trickling in, then another-- then a hord. They directed their gaze at me as if asking for my approval. Oh fucking come on... do you girls seriously need my approval to talk to her?

"Morning Noel. Eh..can I ask who that is? Your cousin?" Among the girls, Freya took charge and approached me.

"Morning. Well.. she's Liliath.. my familiar."

"Pardon me?"

"My TALENT is a summoner class and that's your answer," I said with my body dropping limp.

"Seriously?" Freya glanced at me then at Liliath.

Liliath sent Freya a weak smile.

"So I can talk to her right?"

"Who's to say you can't? She's a human, not some pet," at least.. I didn't want her to be treated like one.

"If you say so.." Freya mumbled, "Hello, nice to meet you, Liliath? I'm Freya."

"Liliath Toren. Pleasure is mine.." Liliath looked towards my direction, her eyes asking if she was doing her greetings alright.

I gave her a thumbs up.

She looked at it puzzled.

Ah. Right. She doesn't know this sign language.

"You're doing fine. Just be you."

She nodded.

"Uh.. you two.." Freya looked dismayed. As did the other girls.

"I apologize as I'm not familiar with the practises of this world. Thus I wanted to seek approval from Noel to avoid making similar mistakes."

The gasps from the girls holding their hands to their mouths were deafening.

"You're not from this world??!"

"No wonder you have red hair!"

"Um. My name is Hilda, Your Majesty?"

Good luck Liliath.

Though she seemed to be able to manage the attention albeit treating them in a similar fashion to how a princess would.

"Noel. Did you just say she's your familiar?"

"That's your TALENT??"

"You haven't violated her have you?"

I turned to the source of the voices— my nightmare. A crowd of boys, the one leading the group was Gruan.

Oh shit. Here it comes.