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• School Magic Training Facility 15:30

“Five rings? Is everyone here? Has Fiorina come back?”
“Not yet.”

As the sound of the alarm bell reached the school, Corin checked to see if all the children were there. However, Eva Avans, with a worried look on her face, had told her that Fiorina was still gone.

“I see… She’s taking a bit too long. Fine then! Bibi, Mia, take everyone to the training area. I’ll go to the classroom to pick up Fiorina.”

Five bells signaled a type 3 alert. It was the initial stage of Amukham’s warning against Demonic Beasts. The alarm bells were sounded when a Demonic Beast with a high Threat Level entered the forest’s safe zone, posing a risk of potential damage. Everyone had to stay on high alert until the warning had passed.

When the alarm bells rang, the children in the school were instructed to evacuate to the most secure building, the training area. In particular, children who were in the lower levels and lacked any fighting prowess were given evacuation priority.

Corin entrusted the children to Bibi and Mia and rushed toward the building where the classroom was to find Fiorina, who was still supposed to be at the school.

“Fiorina! Where are you? This is strange. There’s only one path here… Did she leave the school?”

Corin quickly left the classroom and began searching around again, turning her attention to an office in the same building. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of something moving and turned in that direction.

“Fiorina? Are you there?”

Corin called out fearfully. From the dim interior of the office where sunlight scarcely reached, a figure slowly wandered into view; it was Fiorina.

“Don’t scare me like that, Fiorina! What happened? Why are you here?”

Caught off guard by the sudden appearance, Corin froze for a moment. But when she realized the person before her was Fiorina, she exhaled a breath of relief. Yet, something about Fiorina seemed off.

Corin couldn’t wrap her head around why she was here and why her face looked so pale. Fiorina’s expression was strangely vacant. It appeared as if she wasn’t feeling well at all. Corin approached Fiorina carefully and spoke to her in a gentle voice.

“Fiorina, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick? Are you alright? Do you need help walking?”

Corin then recalled that the alarm bells had gone off while Fiorina had been alone in the classroom. It was only natural that she’d be shaken up.

“It’s alright now, Fiorina. Let’s go meet up with everyone.”

Corin held out her hand to Fiorina. But then, she noticed that Fiorina was holding onto something.

(A hand? A child’s hand?)

Fiorina was holding the hand of a child who seemed to be younger than herself. Following the hand with her eyes, Corin let out a gasp as her body tensed. In the shadows, the pale face of a young child appeared.

But as Corin looked closer, she realized that Fiorina was simply holding the boy’s hand, and the two were standing side by side.

“F-Fiorina! I told you not to scare me like that! Who’s this child? Where is he from?”
“He was lost outside, so I invited him in.”
“Big sis is right. She let me in.”

Although both of them tried to explain the situation, Corin couldn’t quite grasp what was going on.

“I see… Well then, are you someone’s relative? Are you looking for someone?”

Corin asked, to which Fiorina gave a vague answer, “I suppose he is.”

“Still, what are you doing here? We should hurry up and meet with everyone else!”

Corin didn’t know exactly what was going on, but now that the alarm had sounded, they couldn’t afford to waste any more time here. So, she decided to take them both with her. However—

“I’m looking for something. Something very important,” Fiorina said.
“Yes. We’re looking for something,” the boy echoed.

“You’re looking for something? Speaking of which, what happened to Eva’s basket? I don’t see it on you. Are you looking for that? Wasn’t it in the classroom?”

Fiorina didn’t have the basket she’d gone out in the first place to retrieve. Corin was quick to notice this and asked, but just as she did, the alarm bells rang again.

“4-2? This is bad! We need to join up with everyone. Fiorina, hurry up!” Corin grabbed Fiorina’s hand and tried to pull her along, but she wouldn’t budge. She was shocked that she couldn’t move Fiorina, who was smaller and younger than her.

“Fiorina, what’s wrong? We need to go! Why won’t you move?”
“I’m searching for something. I must find it.”
“Big sis is right. We must find it.”
“What are you searching for? Is it not the basket? Fiorina, what the hell is going on?!”
“It’s something very important. I must find it.”

They weren’t making any progress. Corin didn’t know what had happened, but Fiorina was clearly acting off. On closer inspection, she could see that Fiorina was talking without even looking at her. Her eyes were completely vacant. Something was clearly off. The child next to her was strange as well. To begin with, his face was unnaturally pale. Corin could see that he was wearing black, but still, the only thing that stood out in the shadows was the boy’s face.

And also, Corin couldn’t help but notice that this place was unusually dark. Even without sunlight and even with deep shadows, it shouldn’t have been this dark.

It felt as if they weren’t just standing in a shadow but that they were surrounded by darkness itself. A cold chill crept up Corin’s spine, and sweat began to bead on her back.

The darkness was quietly making its way to Corin’s feet.

◆◆◆◆◆

The school’s children were gathered at the training area.

While the training area was spacious, with all the students assembled there, the air felt stiff. In the midst of that, William was taking roll calls.

“4-2, huh… It’s been a long time since a Demonic Beast actually made it into the safe zone.” Carl Giacobini muttered to no one in particular as he absently toyed with a baton in his hand.

“The harvest festival is next month. I really don’t want them ruining the crops!” For some reason, Alan Edgar said this with a rough tone, his hands on his hips.

“Why are you acting so high and mighty, Alan? To begin with, since when were you this hyped for the harvest festival?”
“What are you saying, Carl? The harvest festival is a major event! I wouldn’t be able to call myself a man if I didn’t get hyped for it!”

“I still think it doesn’t concern you.”
“You see, I’ve decided to go for it this year!”
“Well, whether you decide to do it or not is entirely up to you.”
“This year, I’m inviting Susie to the harvest festival!”

At that bold declaration, a few pairs of ears around them twitched in curiosity.

“Have you gone insane?”
“Hold your horses, Alan. That’s a careless statement.”
“Alan, you haven’t thought this through, have you…?”

Irvine, Lombard, and Belknap all gathered around Alan. Carl looked up at the ceiling and sighed, “Here it goes again. Losing before even having the chance to fight.”

“W-Why do you always gang up on me like this?!”
“Because you say stupid stuff! I cannot allow you to say that!”

Irvine pressed in on the worked-up Alan. The other two nodded firmly in agreement.

“What’s wrong with you?! Aren’t I free to invite whoever I want?! Besides! I don’t want to be scolded by someone who already has a partner!”
“Y-You… W-What are you saying!” Irvine began to stammer at Alan’s response.
“Ah, damn it! Irvine put up a good fight but just got roasted!”
“Y-You idiot! I did not! Besides! I haven’t decided if I’ll go with her this year!”
Irvine, now bright red, tried to deny it, but…

“Hmph, is that so? You haven’t decided?” A voice suddenly echoed from behind Irvine, sending chills down his spine. It almost felt as if he’d been dunked in cold water.

“Huh? Bibi? Since when…?”
“Hmph! I’ve been here the entire time!”

Sensing the sudden danger in the air, Lombard quietly grabbed Alan by the collar and led Belknap and Carl away, moving as carefully as if they were trying not to startle a wild beast.

“W-What I meant when I said that I haven’t decided yet was that…”
“I don’t care who you invite anymore, Irvine! It’s your choice! G-Go ahead and invite Su, Mia, or anyone else for all I care!!!”
“No! Bibi, wait! I haven’t said that…”
“Stop it! Don’t touch me!”

Irvine reached out to Beatrice’s shoulder, but she brushed his hand away and glared at him with watery eyes.

“Bibi… you… I…”

Just as Irvine was about to say something to Beatrice, the loud echo of an alarm bell rang out violently from the distance, sending a ripple of commotion through the training area.

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