"Why is she being expelled?" Lilia looked to Crowley in surprise.
He was about to return to his dorm when he heard the news and curiously went back to give the man a visit in his office at the middle of the night. Having been accustomed to this, Crowley put down a piece of paper and explained, "Expelled? Quite the opposite. She is now considered a student together with her new familiar, Grim. I... found some potential in her talent. As you know, the queen requested us to keep a closer eye on her. However, during that time, the two destroyed a major part of the school's property. One that we cannot simply turn a blind eye to when compared to scorching a statue of the seven. She and the two students involved were to be expelled. However, they left and returned with a magic stone as compensation. Moreover, they have shared with me how she was able to make the two students, who refused to work together, work in unison. I was personally able to witness her abilities to make a prideful weasel also cooperate and rely on her words. Thus, I've made my decision and make a very special decision by enrolling her as the sole female student of this school."
"Would this not affect the school's position as an all boy's private magic academy?" Lilia pondered with uncertainty.
"I have thought of this as well and spoke with a representative of the student board. They immediately sent for an experienced female school counselor who would work as her case carrier. She's a hard worker and a compassionate staff member. A fitting role model for the young girl. Unfortunately, the situation was not very good when she arrived."
"The situation?" Lilia frowned.
Crowley nodded, "It would appear that the plans she had them follow was to fend off some wild creature guarding the only mage stone left in Dwarf's Mine. During the escape and conflict, she used magic without a magestone and hurt herself while protecting the boys. She was taken to the infirmary for immediate treatment upon return. That was where she met our new counselor."
"This is very distressing to hear." Lilia hesitated, "Will she recover without any trouble?"
Crowley hesitated, "She will recover. Yes. However, there may be some pieces of information that the nurse discovered while treating her."
"The nurse..."
Hearing this, a sense of discomfort came across him as Lilia frowned, "Although his position is that of a nurse, he's not a woman. Moreover, what are you going to do about those who already know she's a girl?"
"It will be all right. During the treatment, the couselor was present. We've also already begun steps to controlling her private information from circulating." Crowley explained. "Moreover, the counselor would take care to adjust her appearance to
It sounded fairly acceptable. However, Lilia still could not help but be rather uncertain and uncomfortable as he pushed it aside and asked, "Very well. So, what did the nurse find?"
"During the commotion, Hoshi had slammed a blunt force into her left arm which left internal damage. According to doctor Izma, she will have to take some painkillers and keep it wrapped up. However, during the process of treatment, Hoshi woke up several times and continued to utilize the injured arm with ease while also further injuring the wound. Thus, he suspected that she must have a dull sense for feeling pain."
"For a young lady, this is rare." Lilia muttered, "Or it could also stem from another source."
"We believe so." Crowley nodded, "During the treatment, we noticed a large scar across her arm. According to the nurse, this is a very fresh wound. However, due to the difference of gender, he was unable to conduct further inspection unless we bring her to a certified professional of the same gender. Yet, with a lack of funds, we are unable to even invite one female doctor without revealing the presence of a female student in the school. The Board of Education may have allowed her acceptance and education, but certainly did not allow her presence to be spread outside of the school without justification. I can only pay them another visit before she can see a professional."
"Then, I will notify her majesty." Lilia frowned, "However, what will you do now?"
"What do you mean?" Crowley folded his arms in confusion.
"You need to assist in finding more clues to this human's background." Lilia pointed out, "I've agreed to keep an eye on her from a distance. However, I cannot guarantee that I will gain more information, much like today. Had you not told me, I would not have know about her medical situation. It would also be more convenient than to send the queen a page of letter each day to report her activities."
"You mean, you want us to also put in some effort." Crowley grumbled with his mask hiding a glint of dismay, "Very well. We cannot guarantee that the staff will notice anything special, but it will be better than nothing. I shall notify the teachers tomorrow and talk to the ghosts of the mansion. I fully trust in their abilities to act appropriately in the presence of a student with such circumstances."
"Very well." Lilia nodded, "Then, I will pay her a visit. Good night, Headmage."
"Have a good rest of your evening, Mister Vanrouge." Crowley responded with a slight bitterness and disappointment in his voice.
.....
Watching the student from Heartslabyul sleep in the lounge, Lilia muttered curiously while hugging a small box, "A young man visits her in the middle of the night and she's not even a tiny bit flustered."
Seeing Ace struggle to sleep properly with the collar on, Lilia raised a brow curiously, "I wonder what had happened for their dormleader to use his unique magic on a young freshman? … Well, they are still kids..."
He flew higher into the skies till he noticed Hoshi sleeping in her bed with Grim curled up next to her. Her hair was a mess that he recalled being unable to properly see her face. All he could recall was her blue eyes and hardly much else. Even now, he could only see that all she have with her is the ceremonial robe that had not been washed and was used as a night gown. He sighed in disappointment and muttered, "Even though the queen said we should keep an close eye on her, she did not say we should treat the human like a prisoner. No wonder the queen instructed me to send her pajamas and the school uniform."
Using magic, he teleported the box from his hands onto the table in her room. Satisfied to having finished the task, he nodded, "There. Now that the job is done, I can finally go back. I wonder if Gloomy Samurai is still online. I need to hurry and finish the game quest."
He then vanished from sight. Almost on cue, a shadowy figure emerged from the dark shadows of the trees. He watched the sleeping figure of the two and teleported himself into the lounge. Quietly, he approached the sofa where Ace lay fast asleep and raised a hand over him...
.....
Morning came sooner than they had expected as rays of sunlight broke through the cracks between the plans boarding the windows. Sunlight rain down and shone on Ace's face as he grumbled and turned around to avoid the sun. However, as he was gonna settle back into his slumber, a loud series of knocks interrupted his sweet dreams. He yawned with a messy bed head, "Duuude... Who is pounding on the door at this hour?!"
Despite his complaints, the pounding only got louder as it was even strong enough knock the dust off the ceiling and onto his head and face.
"Bleah!" He spat out some dust that had gotten into his mouth, "Every hit kicks up a dust storm! I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Upon opening the old door, Ace found Deuce standing there with his arms folded and a very dismayed expression as he sighed, "I figured I'd find you here."
"Ugh. Deuce..." Ace's eye brow raised as he grimaced in disgust.
"So, you ate the housewarden's tart." Deuce shook his head at the sight of the collar, "You really are an idiot, Ace."
"Oh, shut up! Like you're one to talk!" Ace scowled before grumbling, "Anyway, uh... Is he still mad?"
Deuce shook his head, "Not at all. Maybe a touch irritated, if anything. A few of our dormmates overslept this morning… But only three of 'em got your treatment."
"You call that "not at all" mad?! Sounds like he's still on the rampage, to me." Ace scowled with irritation as he recalled when the collar was first placed on him.
"Looks like you have not cleared your head at all." Deuce shook his head in disappointment.
"Yeah, yeah! Whatever!" Ace grumbled in dismay, "I just gotta go and apologize, right?! Fine!"
"Oh, that's right." Deuce nodded as he was surprised how willing Ace was in making up to the err he made compared to how Deuce initially thought he'd be willing to, "I guess Hoshi talked some sense into you. Where are those two?"
"Definitely not with me." Ace grumbled, "I was booted to the sofa."