"But who could we turn to for such power when practically all the mages in the city are incapacitated?" Malleus contemplated in confusion, "And there are few mages with magical reserves on par with our own. We'd have to gather hundreds of them."
Rather dumbfounded, Azul muttered in disbelief, "...I'm surprised. You still don't get it?"
"Dude, Malleus... You're powerful and all, but srsly..." Idia sighed in disappointment, "Are magic pools the be-all and end-all to you? I didn't peg you as an unga bunga, brute force kinda guy."
Unamused, Sebek shouted, "DID YOU JUST MOCK MY LIEGE?!?!"
Seemingly deadpanned, Idia grumbled, 'Look, I mean, come ON. If you can't do something yourself, wouldn't you normally use a tool of some kind to get the job done? Isn't using tools to make things easier the mark of intelligent life?"
"Tools?" Malleus
"There's a real handy one just beggin' to be used—y'know, a magical artifact that sends magic all over the city." Azul hinted.
"All over the... Ah!" Malleus looked up in surprise, "The Bell of Solace!"
"Bingo! Hee hee." Idia smirked, "Remember what Rollo said when we first got attacked in the lecture hall? 'When the Bell of Solace rang for a fourth time, it suffused the city with magic.' Cue smug face emoji. Normally the bell rings three times a day... So Rollo rang it a fourth time to amp up the magic and make the flowers grow like wildfire."
"Of course." Silver gasped. "You're right, all the flowers popped up in the lecture hall immediately after the bell rang. Which means..."
"Dyeh heh! Now you got it. One extra ring is enough to make the flowers grow super fast." Idia giggled excitedly in an omnious manner, "So if we ring it a bunch and fill the city with even more magical power... What do you think's gonna happen to all those precious flowers he spent so long carefully cultivating? Hee hee hee!"
"The city would become even more saturated with magic, and the flowers would get overwhelmed and wilt." Malleus smiled wide, "To think that what causes them to flourish would also be their demise..."
"It's exactly like Epel's description of fertilizer burn." Azul gave a smug smile.
"So we'll supply the necessary magic with a tool, rather than our own power..." Malleus sneered, "It's true that I normally never consider that kind of option. There are very few instances where my magic isn't sufficient for a task."
Deuce muttered with a mix of defeat and envy, "Wish I could say that once in my life..."
"Very well. Let us head for the Bell of Solace and ring it right now." Malleus spoke up.
"I think not." Trein got off the mount, "All of you are to wait here."
"Huh?"
"I will climb the bell tower and ring the Bell of Solace." Trein spoke up, "Since we've cleared this area of firelotuses, it's safer than anywhere else. All of you stay here until the bell has rung."
Peony raised a brow wondering if he had lost it. This old guy had been stooping every since she found them. Obviously, he had a back injury between the time she left to now. Silver noticed Trein still stooped over and began to worry, "Professor Trein, you shouldn't strain yourself.
Surprised, Trein looked to Silver hesitantly as Sebek raised a brow, "What do you mean by that?"
"He's been stooped over this whole time." Silver pointed out, "My father does the same thing when his back hurts."
"Wait, so he hurt his back? Must've been from all the weeding." Ruggie looked to her with concern.
"I have...not..." Trein struggled as he barely managed to take one step forward.
"Yeah, real convincing, bub." Grim grumbled rather deadpanned with arms crossed in disappointment.
"Professor, why would you push yourself like that? You should've told us you're in pain." Epel said worriedly.
"He has his pride as a professor. It's only natural he wouldn't want his students to see him in a moment of weakness." Rook shook his head with a worried expression.
"So you're just tryin' to save face?" Ruggie sighed, "C'mon, Professor, pride ain't worth a single sorcent."
"But..." Trein hesitated, "The Bell of Solace is on the top floor of the tower. The way up is bound to be infested with firelotuses. It will be dangerous getting up there."
"You make our case for us, Trein." Malleus pointed out bluntly, "You would climb the stairs far too slowly since you're in pain. The flowers would consume you in seconds. Allow us to handle this."
Azul nodded eagerly, "Please do. We're not afraid of the danger; we've learned from the best, after all."
"Uh, I don't like where this is going..." Idia groaned, "This is gonna end with us having to climb the tower, isn't it?!"
Peony sighed, "Professor Trein, I understand your dedication to your role as the teacher to your students. It's truly admirable that you were able to protect and guide them this far. However, if you continue to push yourself to do something you cannot do physically, you will only harm yourself and further worry the students. Everyone here is determined to complete the task in your stead. Why not let them take care of the job. Let's not forget. Rollo is the student council president and is capable of reviving this flower. Is he really foolish enough to just let others ruin it by using the same method he used to bring it back? He's very likely going to guard that place. You may be knowledgeable with magic, but you also will be in a less fit shape to even make him stop."
Trein took in a deep breath and looked at them before sighing, "....This is strangely reminiscent of the story of the Righteous Judge and the Kindly Bell Ringer. I'm sure the Righteous Judge was incredibly worried when the Kindly Bell Ringer was trying to avert the catastrophe. But he chose to have faith in his dear pupil and let him go. And so the city was saved. As your teacher and chaperone, I'd much prefer it if you didn't endanger yourselves... But I suppose I must have faith as that great man once did."
"Ah, the story of the righteous judge and the kindly bell ringer."
"You know of it too?" Trein looked to her.
She remembered her master once told her this story and nodded, "It's a story my master often shared with me."
Ah, that story. It was unfortunate that the actual tale was a lot more different.
"You can rest assured that we shan't disappoint." Malleus reassured him.
"Worry not, Professor Trein, for I shall protect Malleus!" Sebek declared proudly.
"Uh, mind givin' us a little of that protection too?" Ruggie grumbled hesitantly.
"I'm sorry for Sebek's lack of manners." Silver replied apologetically, "You'll all have my protection, of course."
"It's fine." Jamil replied, "We should all be looking out for ourselves anyway. That's how I prefer it."
"If you're worried, Ruggie, you could always stay behind with Professor Trein. None of us would hold it against you." Ruggie smirked.
Hearing this, Idia looked up with a faint glint of hope in his eyes, "Ooh, in that case maybe I should..."
"I wasn't speaking to you. As a housewarden it's your responsibility to help!" Riddle scolded him coldly.
"Eh! Th-Then..." Idia glanced over to Peony.
She chuckled, "Apologies, but these guys won't clean up after their own mess themselves. So, I'll be busy."
"Actually, I'll be going to aid the mages in town once you set off." Trein nodded.
"Wait, what?" Idia looked to him stunned.
"But the city's overrun with flowers! It's too dangerous!" Epel exclaimed in bewilderment.
"Professor, you hurt your back, did you not? You should lie down and put some ice on it!" Sebek suggested worriedly.
"I suddenly feel decades older..." Trein grumbled before reassuring them, "Don't worry. Climbing those stairs might be too much for me, but I can handle getting rid of some flowers."
"Professor, I know you're quite capable, but I do question whether you'll really be safe in town." Azul warned him.
"Hmm. Well, if all of you are that concerned..." Trein turned to Yuu and Grim, "Yuu. Grim."
"Hm?"
"Are you certain you wish for these two to accompany you?" Peony questioned hesitantly.
Trein nodded confidently, "Yuu—since you have no magic pool to speak of, the flowers present no danger to you. And Grim—you're nimble and could easily avoid the flowers. I'd like both of you to join me in helping the townspeople."
"Aww, man! You're really askin' me? I dunno..." Grim grumbled in disappointment.
"Sure." Yuu nodded with a smile, "Gotta take care of my elders, after all."
"I don't care for your wording there, but I choose to believe you meant well." Trein frowned but nodded his head and turned to the cat, "That just leaves you, Grim."
"Hey, Grim." Deuce smirked, "Are you gonna let Yuu hog all the spotlight? If the three of you save the city, you'll probably be celebrated as heroes like the Kindly Bell Ringer. Isn't that right, Yuu?"
Elbowed in the side, Yuu nodded quickly in agreement and added, "I can hear their cheers now—SQUEEE! GRIM'S THE COOLEST WHO EVER LIVED!"
"Mya-hah! Okay, okay, we all know it's true, but you're makin' me blush." Grim laughed with his white fluffy chest puffed out.
Confused, Little Jiu tilted his head, "Big Sister, that cat really has a big ego."
"Pfft!"
As someone amongst the group struggled not to laugh, Peony sighed, "Yes, that's right. Take it as an example not to be like him."
"Okay~!" The little qilin nodded.
"Hoo boy." Ruggie took in a deep breath to release the urge to laugh and continued, "So it's either go for the bell or help in town. Both sound rough. In that case, guess I'd better suck it up and stick with Team Bell Tower."
"Oh, well, I appreciate your change in attitude, but why choose us?" Riddle glanced at him with suspicions.
"More human shields-ah, I mean, the more people there are, the better my odds of survival are." Ruggie corrected himself.
"Heh. Exactly what I expected from you, Ruggie. You never disappoint." Jamil sneered.
"Y'know what... I can respect how Ruggie always looks out for Number One." Idia nodded in agreement, "Not looking forward to tangling with those stairs again, but I'm thinkin' along the same lines. Might as well come with."
"I'm coming as well. There's no telling what kind of grief I'd get later if I just stayed here." Jamil jumped in, "Besides, I can't let that smarmy villain get away with mocking us like that. Our school's honor is on the line."
"You bet I'm going with the bell group!" Deuce declared proudly, "I don't run from fights. I'm gonna make sure that punk gets it—for everyone he's hurt!"
"Yeah, for sure." Epel nodded eagerly, "He's gonna regret springin' a trap on us! I'll destroy every last firelotus and wipe that smug smirk off of Rollo's face!"
"Deuce, Epel—well said. Avenging every insult personally is the Night Raven College way!" Riddle chuckled proudly, "We shall crush Rollo Flamme ourselves!"
"Indeed. Let us ring the Bell of Solace and reclaim the beautiful Fleur City!" Rook declared.
Knowing they were all doing this for the wrong reasons yet would still work to save the city, Trein nodded, "...All right, everyone, listen up. Flamme used the Bell of Solace to propagate the flowers, so there's no way he hasn't considered this possibility. He's bound to be on the top floor of the tower, safeguarding the bell. He's an exceptional mage, so I advise you to proceed with EXTREME caution."
"We're not gonna lose to some grognard mage clinging to an extinct relic of a flower." Idia declared.
"Please, don't insult us. Instead, I suggest you begin thinking of a suitable reward for when we all return." Azul smiled confidently.
"I will put a stop to all his schemes. Heh heh... Where shall I begin...?" Malleus smirked as he began to scheme maliciously, "Just you wait, Flamme. We'll face one another soon enough."