On Thursday, after class, Arabella stayed longer at school. She decided to go to the ecological section and thus change her daily routine. When she entered the classroom where it would be held, she noticed several familiar faces. She sat down again by the window, waiting for the start.
– Good morning, children! It's great to see so many of you!
Just like always, Professor Betty smiled at everyone there. Most of the section was spent learning about rules, goals, ecological sciences and many other things related to ecology.
– The main part of today's section is related to the project we need to do. Namely, it concerns the arrangement of the schoolyard, where we will plant some plants. We will do it on Sunday, so I hope you can help me.
Arabella was already beginning to have her doubts. She found it extremely strange that the project would be done during the period when classes are not taking place at the academy. School-related obligations always took place during school hours. However, she thought that she was analyzing things a little too much and that there was nothing strange about it. Professor Betty was a very good creature and would never do anything wrong. That's why she decided to end her doubts and join the conversation again.
- Do you agree that Arabella should be the leader of this project since I will be away? – Professor Betty asked, speaking to everyone in the room.
– Yes! – the creatures shouted loudly.
The shout snapped Arabella out of her own thoughts.
– Excellent! Do you have any other questions?
– I have a question for you, Professor Betty – Arabella said.
– Which plants will we be planting, and what are their names?
– They are a rare and unknown species.
– I would still like to know their name – Arabella insisted.
– I don't think you will be able to find them anywhere.
– What do you mean? Why can't I find them anywhere?
– Because they come from a distant history, but our academy was privileged to have them in its yard.
At that moment, the bell rang for the end of the section. Everyone rushed out of the classroom as Arabella packed her things. Professor Betty was still at the table. There were various things on the table, such as books, plans and some papers. As she approached the table, she noticed one paper that particularly caught her attention. It was a black piece of paper with the words Deathower written on it in large, blood-like letters. Doubt filled her creature even more when she saw the last letters of that word. She snapped out of her suspicious thoughts and looked at Professor Betty, who was gathering her things. After exchanging greetings, Arabella walked out of the classroom.
After the lived section, Arabella started researching Deathower as soon as she got home from school that day. She spent an enormous amount of time hoping to find something. But she couldn't find the information anywhere. The next day, after class, when she was getting ready to go to the library to find something there, the folder she had prepared for data collection fell on the floor. It had "Deathower" and "Environmental Section" written on it in the Japanese alphabet. She chose that letter because she was one of the few who knew Japanese. She decided to work on the case alone. Orion was also there, as he again chose the classes that Arabella attended. He was arrogant and unstoppable when it came to banning him from attending classes. She got upset seeing him with her folder in his hands. He studied the words on that folder in detail, then gave her a look that indicated he knew something about it.
– Could I have the folder back?
He continued to look at her the same, completely motionless, whereupon she stood up and took the object from his hand. He gave her a reproachful look, full of disapproval.
– Thank you!
She gathered the rest of her things and headed for the library, where she spent a lot of time and couldn't find anything. She was very disappointed, so she decided to spend the weekend doing research. She even missed the traditional gathering with Liv, because she decided to focus as much as possible. She knew she couldn't tell her anything about it, because she didn't take her seriously about it. So she threw herself into an individual search because she didn't want to waste time proving herself and making fun of her. But it was all in vain, she didn't find anything again. She explored until early dawn, after which, completely exhausted, she caught a few hours of sleep.
After the rest, she headed to the academy. She left early, so she decided to spend that time in the courtyard of the academy with the book she was currently reading. She sat down on the bench in front of the entrance and started reading. The dark ink pulled her deep into the world of that book, after which she lost track of the space she was in. It suddenly got dark in space. It was covered with oblong lights. A strong but pleasantly warm wind began to blow, which carried her away from the world of the book. She turned her gaze to the deep darkness of the endless universe. Looking back at the book, the pages began to turn at high speed. The pile of letters that made up one page flew into a slightly higher region of the atmosphere, forming a black butterfly. His special beauty, the beauty of his darkness, merged with the universe. He lightly flapped his wings and began his first flight to the entrance of the academy. Meanwhile, the wind, with its kind of unproven strength, opened the front door right when the black butterfly was in front of it. He entered the academy and Arabella decided to follow him. When he reached a single, seemingly ordinary wall, he dissolved the atoms of his body, leaving behind a mini version of his being. Dissolved atoms created, on an ordinary wall, a huge door made of aged wood. The door opened and a mini version of the Black Butterfly walked towards the interior of the newly created room. Arabella also entered the room. When she crossed the threshold, she was pleasantly surprised. She saw a huge library with extremely high black walls. They made it very dark. She also had candles, which illuminated her sufficiently. The library consisted of high shelves with many books. They were arranged precisely, from the smallest to the largest. It speaks to the attention to detail, because they were so perfect that they formed a flawless array. Some shelves also had ladders so that it would be easier to get to all those books.
Arabella walked slowly along it, thinking that she was completely alone. She went deeper into each shelf. She lost herself in them. She was too charmed and amazed. In the part that represented the center of the library, there was a small oak table. On it were a typewriter, writing utensils and a pile of scattered papers. Passing that desk, Arabella decided to head to the other half of the library. Wandering between the shelves, completely unexpectedly, she ran into a creature. Meeting that creature, it seemed as if it had just then teleported to that row, which Arabella was wandering through. She decided to get closer to him in order to find out who was hiding there. Approaching, she saw Orion. With his white shirt tucked into black pants, his hair disheveled, he stood leaning against the shelf. He was reading a book. He seemed like some fictional character who would be her benchmark for a perfect partner.
– How did you get here? – she asked him.
– You shouldn't be interested in that! – he suddenly turned and seeing Arabella in front of him, kept a relaxed expression on his face.
– But I'm interested.
– Your business. Now leave me alone.
– Just because it's my thing and it makes me restless, I won't leave you alone! We'll both lose our peace! – she looked at him defiantly, leaning on the shelf next to him.
– Where did you get the right to destroy my peace?
– I have every right to do that because I don't intend to hide from you.
– You mean?
– I know! – she answered him, and he immediately put her on the shelf next to them and captured her with his hands.
They were too close. The sparkles in his eyes caused her heart to start beating madly. Her purple eyes bravely faced the dark depths of his. She tried to get out of his grip, but with each attempt he blocked her more and more, bringing his body closer to hers. She could feel his heart pounding. She smelled his scent, which immediately intoxicated her slightly because it was masterful. He brought his lips close to hers and softly said in his dreamy voice:
– You have excellent knowledge, assistant. You're making me restless – and then he gave her a look that left her petrified.
In the second moment, she found herself in the courtyard of the academy with the members of the section. Everything that happened a while ago has evaporated. It was clear, stormy moments disappeared. The time was like the time she started reading the book. She was quite sure that a lot of time had passed from the moment she stepped into the secret library until now. However, the time was right, which was the time of the meeting for the implementation of the project. She looked around. Orion is gone. There was no sign or voice of him. She felt totally exhausted and unreal.
– I think we should get on with the project, Arabella – Felix said.
– Oh, yes. But we have no seeds to plant – Arabella said, still a little lost.
– I have the seeds! – said Kate.
With her short frame, she was almost invisible. She was wearing a big green dress. Her flowing red hair was decorated with various flowers. She was Professor Betty's niece. She approached Arabella and handed her a bag of seeds with a wicked smile.
– They look strange – Arabella said suspiciously.
– Come on! We got a rare plant and now you don't want to plant it – she rebelled, and the others along with her.
– O.K. Let's plant them.
They started digging and planting. Arabella supervised the process and assisted. At the moment when she came to Felix and was laughing with the rest of the team, Orion walked by. He looked as lost as she did.
He seemed to have wandered into the academy yard quite by accident. He looked at Arabella and Felix and frowned. He observed the whole situation and walked past them without saying hello. The team continued to work. When the project was finished, Kate left the gathering prematurely with a mean smile. She was acting extremely strange. Arabella began to doubt even more. She sensed that a dangerous commotion was brewing that would lead to their downfall.