"I'm glad we're all safe and sound, but..." Trein exhaled heavily, trying to compose himself before turning to Malleus with a stern glare. "DRACONIA. How could you lose control in a moment of temper?! Have I not repeatedly emphasized how Night Raven College students must maintain composure and proper decorum—"
"AAAH! MY LIEGE IS SAAAAAFE!!!" Sebek howled, finally releasing all the tension built up inside. "If anything had happened to you, I—I don't know what I would've done...!"
"Malleus," Silver said more quietly, though his concern was no less clear, "please don't let your anger put you in danger again."
"You had me seriously worried, Hornton..." Yuu sighed as they slumped to the ground beside Grim. "Don't do that again."
"When I saw the rest of you panicking, it helped calm me down a little," Malleus replied, voice still low.
Still visibly trembling, Idia whispered under his breath, "Mental note: never make Malleus mad. Like, ever."
"Agreed. I quite enjoy being alive, thank you very much," Azul murmured.
Peony let out a soft, amused huff. If memory served, the only one who could suppress Malleus when he lost control was Briar Valley's reigning queen. Though far older, she remained powerful enough to quell even his tantrums. If these students couldn't even withstand Malleus's pressure, how would they survive her presence?
Despite their shared past, Peony had only ever seen the Queen's calm demeanor—excluding their early confrontations. Over time, they'd built a cordial rapport. But even so, the queen rarely showed her strength outright. And lately… signs of age had begun to appear. A sobering reminder: Malleus needed to claim the throne soon, before something irreversible occurred. With the Council's former leader gone, the queen now ruled alone, stepping in only when necessary. But the council's resistance lingered. So naturally... Peony would have to clear the path for her.
"But why did the flowers wilt?" Trein frowned, crouching by the dead petals. He glanced at Malleus. "Draconia, care to explain?"
"It wasn't intentional. I only unleashed my full magical might," Malleus said, clearly confused.
"'Unleashed your full might,' hmm?" Trein raised a brow. "These firelotus leaves are clearly drooping—and some have yellowed. Something affected them."
"I've seen similar symptoms back home in the Scalding Sands," Jamil added. "During the day, it's scorching. At night, the cold snaps. Plants left outside overnight often get frostbitten. They wilt like this."
"Frost, huh?" Riddle murmured. "Given Malleus's power, perhaps he unknowingly released a burst of cold magic."
Peony chuckled. "The only time you'll see him accidentally using ice magic is when he's too depressed to throw a tantrum. Her Majesty loved telling me those stories. Apparently, he cried so hard the temperature dropped."
"Enough," Malleus growled, glaring at her. She returned it with an innocent smile.
"I don't recall doing anything like that," he said stiffly.
Silver tilted his head. "Then what could have caused it...?"
"You know…" Epel began hesitantly, drawing everyone's attention. "I think I know what happened."
"Oh? Speak, Felmier," Malleus said with mild surprise. "You've identified the cause?"
"Uhm, I think so." Epel fidgeted under everyone's gaze. "This same thing happened to some veggie seedlings back home. Looked like frost at first—but it was fertilizer burn."
"Fertilizer burn?" Grim repeated, puzzled.
"Yeah. Too much fertilizer can mess with the roots, make 'em rot or twist up. I bet that's what happened here." Epel knelt, pulling out a dead flower. Its roots were blackened, shriveled.
Malleus leaned in. "The roots are discolored... decaying…"
"Exactly." Epel nodded. "That's what killed the firelotuses."
"Très bien! What a marvelous deduction, Epel!" Rook praised, beaming. "You honor our dorm with your insight."
"Ehehe… It's just farm knowledge. I grew up on an orchard." Epel rubbed the back of his neck, bashful.
"I beg to differ." Trein's eyes twinkled with approval. "You used firsthand experience to make an accurate deduction. Well done. The firelotuses are known to absorb magic readily. In this case, they over-absorbed Malleus's mana and decayed as a result."
Malleus turned to Peony, scowling. "Satisfied, Xue?"
Peony arched a brow, unbothered.
"You, of all people, possess the deepest knowledge of flora. And yet you said nothing. You withheld your duty—as a member of a ruling family—to guide those less aware."
"Fgnaa?! She knows plants?!" Grim gawked at her. "Then why didn't you say anything?!"
Peony smiled, unruffled. "You're right. I do carry that duty. But I did not come here today as a royal."
"Then why are you here?" Jamil frowned. "Your silence suggests a different motive."
"I remember…" Trein began slowly. "The Princess of the Fairies was invited to Nobel Bell by the headmaster. But... she never arrived with an escort. Nor did the student council meet her."
"Right." Ruggie scratched his head. "Didn't you say Lotus barely even spoke when the headmaster was around?"
"That's right," Peony said, her grin widening as the students struggled to piece things together like kids fumbling through a puzzle.
"Malleus, you seem to know her well," Riddle said cautiously.
"She's close to the queen," Malleus grumbled, tone edged with frustration. "But I've only seen her in passing. She likes to treat everything like a game. But now that danger's escalating, shouldn't you take things seriously?"
Peony sighed theatrically. "I would, but my master forbade me."
Her expression darkened slightly. "Besides… the flowers aren't the only danger. You all noticed it, didn't you? Or perhaps you were too distracted... by your tantrum?"
She tilted her head. "They're already here."
Suddenly—figures burst from the shadows, lunging toward them.
"What the—?!" Deuce shouted as masked attackers swarmed in.
"It's an ambush!"
A flash of light cracked the air—then a cloaked figure struck down several enemies in an instant. Spotting Peony, he barked, "Get her!"
As the rest lunged, Peony flicked a chess piece. It struck one in the head, knocking him across the plaza. Two more came from either side, but she ducked, seized one by the head, and lifted him effortlessly.
Her lips curved into a smile. "Ah… I've been in such a terrible mood lately. Thank you for volunteering."
The man screamed as she slammed him into another. Both crashed into the water.
One attacker leapt from behind—but Little Jiu reared and slammed a hoof down. A horrible crack echoed.
"Oops. I got nervous," Little Jiu said, startled.
"All's well." Peony patted his head. "Just don't get blood on your coat."
Trein turned pale. The students were frozen in fear. And Malleus… stared at her with something close to disappointment.
She had mocked his tantrum—and now this?
The final attacker charged with fire in his palm. Peony caught his wrist and twisted. A crackle split the air. He howled in pain. Behind her, ice crystallized into a beautiful sculpture.
The moonlight hit her hair, now shimmering like nightfall. Malleus muttered, "Crimson fairy… that's what they called her at the gala..."
"Back during the camping trip," Jamil murmured, "she panicked at the fire. Could her original hair color be… red?"
"Red?" Idia blinked. "Wait. Could she really be... that little girl from back then?"
But that soft, innocent child—could she really have become this violent?
...No. That only happens in anime.
Right?
"She's being lenient," said a woman's voice.
They turned—Peony's servant now stood calmly by Ruggie.
"Who—?!" Ruggie jumped.
"This is our first meeting," Malleus said.
"I am her servant," the woman answered flatly.
"Are they... cultivators?" Silver asked warily.
"I've heard of them," Azul muttered.
"They're nomads who live by magic," Malleus explained. "In their society, the weak are discarded—while even criminals are accepted if powerful enough. She—" he looked at Peony "—was born without magic. Left to die in the wild, rescued by humans... She grew stronger. Found her own way."
Peony tossed aside the fainted attacker and dusted her hands off. "Thank you for that informative monologue."
"Why were those guys here?!" Deuce's voice shook.
"That's a long story," Peony shrugged. "But they're part of why the Council of Magic is present. I'm only here because my master summoned me."
"Your master?" Idia echoed, confused.
"The former headmaster of Nobel Bell College." Her expression sobered. "He disappeared nearly five years ago after learning one of his other students had suffered a tragedy."
Malleus's eyes narrowed. "So… you found him?"
Peony nodded. "He was born with a serious disability. Though mentally sound, he suffered seizures when pushed too far. The day he returned to Fluercity... he collapsed. He's been comatose ever since. Until recently."
"And he's the current headmaster of Nobel Bell?" Azul's voice was quiet.
"What?!" the others echoed.