Toru and Seth joined them instead of waiting at the usual spot. They ignored Sazuki's glare. Harumi's look of defiance spoke for the entire group. Chika snorted, openly revealing her distaste. The student council president led them off to the side, out of dodge to an area with a bench. Nobody sat, but probably because the autumn wind made the bench feel like ice.
"I hope you have a really good reason to waste my time," Chika said with deadly promise in her voice. Sazuki ignored her, though she looked as if she strained not to fire back.
"There are rumors flying around about Maki, Clyde, and bits and pieces about you," Sazuki said. "The dean urged me to just confront you about them, mere rumors. Normally it's not something we'd care about, but this morning during early-rise classes, a girl suddenly ripped off her clothing and declared a new religion under Maki. We restrained her—found out she was running a terrible fever, at least that's what it seemed, and sent her home. For some reason, the dean gave her a warning instead of suspending or expelling her. Two more incidents occurred with girls ripping off their clothing, laughing and declaring Maki their goddess. One of them said 'death to Clyde,' stoning and some other gibberish. She too had a bad fever. Connecting that and the rumors of girls being sexually assaulted…Something nasty is going on Clyde and you're at the center of it. So fess up or the police will make you do it."
Indignation flared into the young man.
"Isn't it obvious?" he snapped, "she's crazy. I don't even know the girl—she invited me to her party, I declined. Then she started making advances, but I'm just not interested—let her indulge in that ridiculous fan club, I don't fucking care. But I will not sit here and be threatened by some bullshit and rumors."
Sazuki sighed.
"You're the first man in the school to actually ignore that diva." She nodded to herself. "I can see why Harumi hangs around you. They flock to Maki like goofballs while she pretends to be nice and caring—it's infuriating! It's like the men can't see what she's really like. Rub her the wrong way and she's nasty. Snobby bitch."
Clyde and his friends gaped at the student council president. She continued the rant for another twenty seconds then let out a breath.
[Your relationship with Sazuki has increased to friendly- respect.]
Sazuki nodded to herself as if deciding something.
"No one saw her on campus this morning and despite our strict attendance policies, she has enough influence to do whatever she wants. She even has family controlling the law."
"Not for long," Chika said. "Or did you forget my family's more powerful than hers. And we contributed much more to this city. Just you wait—my father's already investigating matters."
"Really? Well now," Sazuki said.
Chika sniffed.
"Learn to be a president for once. Wave the power you were given—or give it up, I don't care."
She shoved her way past Sazuki, muttering to herself.
"Chika wait up," Seth said, following. He started to talk to her about something as they entered the building. Chika looked as if she had zero fucks to give.
"That girl hated me even before I became president," Sazuki said. Her softness lasted only a moment, but Clyde saw a world's worth of beauty there and stories. "Go on to class. I'll call you if you're needed. If you can, try avoiding Maki."
"Don't speak the impossible," Clyde said, a tad weary.
Sazuki blinked, seeming to take something in account then she shrugged.
"We'll see." She started toward the entrance, only to stop to lecture some passing students violating school regulations.
Clyde looked at his phone and noticed a missed call from Melody and a text message. He read it as they walked.
Melody: Hi Darling. I'm sorry for contacting so early in the morning, but in case I don't see you in school today, I just wanted to warn you that I felt my father's presence in the city last night. I don't know why he's here—Hades is gone, but that's very concerning. Please be careful. You may attract him simply because of what you are.
Clyde gulped then passed the warning to his friends. He texted Chika and Seth so that they wouldn't miss out. While Melody's father should have no reason whatsoever to bother them, he'd at least heed the warning.
The school day seemed like it was going to be fine and normal, that was until his Sciences class. A girl began to giggle uncontrollably when professional mentioned death in humans. She ripped off her clothing, eyes filled with madness. In fact, that even glowed.
"I worship the great goddess Maki! Death to the Stone, death to the Stone! Maki is ascending to goddess." She ran right into a wall, knocking herself out. As everyone got over the initial shock, the professor was on the phone. Clyde assumed he was calling the ambulance. When a man showed up instead with a blanket and Sazuki behind him, he immediately knew the plot. They were covering the incidents up to protect the academy's reputation.
"Her parents are on the way," he said. He seemed to flaunt his gold DEAN badge pinned to his shirt. Fuckery to its finest and whatever Maki did only made things worse. Alice made eye contact with Clyde, worried.
The rest of the classes went by uneventful, lunch at in silence. Clyde's crafting level increased after his last class. He decided that he'd gather the materials from the former Ashfall estates.
[Congratulations, you have reached crafting level 5. You can now craft complicated items.]
[Quest: craft 1 complicated item. This quest is mandatory and cannot be refused. Reward: unknown.]
It was four in the afternoon, one hour until his meeting with this Ming. Clyde and the others headed home first to drop off bags and change into something casual. He wouldn't count on her simply handing over the Omen's Sphere without a catch. Whatever bullshit this Ming had planned, he didn't have time for it.
Maki's house…
Lady Mei Ashfall felt lost, pathetic, full of shame. She originally came to the city to thank her hero and convince him to rule in Ashfall's stead. She even considered marrying him just to help keep things running. Somehow the young woman ended up staying longer, getting lost into Maki's embrace. There were limits, lines that shouldn't have been crossed—and the display with the Stone didn't help her cause.
That wasn't what worried Mei. She rolled to the side, in Maki's bed, attempting to ignore the streaking sunlight with her pillow. That presence…those words. She only pretended to be sleep the prior night, hoping Maki would be up for another round. She was a demoness with cravings after all. Not that she minded men, but preferred Maki.
Somehow her pupil gathered Black Ki—something that was supposed to be impossible to all but the tainted ones and their servants. Maybe even a fallen angel or devil could wield it, but humans, shouldn't be able to. She sensed no taint in Maki—the girl was still herself, just…obsessed. Just… yandere, one of the most dangerous and thrilling human beings of all time.
Black Ki…forbidden, dangerous. Oh Venus, how did this happen to her, Mei thought. And now Maki's simply going to carry out the voice's plans without questioning it? Without snapping out of her obsessions to realize that she took things way too far. She tasted whatever power it offered and desired more.
Mei jumped up. There was only one type of being that could give Maki such power and frighten the demoness enough to root her in bed. She wasn't sure if compulsion was used or not, but she needed to warn the Stone. Maki was about to do something drastic.
Toru and Seth joined them instead of waiting at the usual spot. They ignored Sazuki's glare. Harumi's look of defiance spoke for the entire group. Chika snorted, openly revealing her distaste. The student council president led them off to the side, out of dodge to an area with a bench. Nobody sat, but probably because the autumn wind made the bench feel like ice.
"I hope you have a really good reason to waste my time," Chika said with deadly promise in her voice. Sazuki ignored her, though she looked as if she strained not to fire back.
"There are rumors flying around about Maki, Clyde, and bits and pieces about you," Sazuki said. "The dean urged me to just confront you about them, mere rumors. Normally it's not something we'd care about, but this morning during early-rise classes, a girl suddenly ripped off her clothing and declared a new religion under Maki. We restrained her—found out she was running a terrible fever, at least that's what it seemed, and sent her home. For some reason, the dean gave her a warning instead of suspending or expelling her. Two more incidents occurred with girls ripping off their clothing, laughing and declaring Maki their goddess. One of them said 'death to Clyde,' stoning and some other gibberish. She too had a bad fever. Connecting that and the rumors of girls being sexually assaulted…Something nasty is going on Clyde and you're at the center of it. So fess up or the police will make you do it."
Indignation flared into the young man.
"Isn't it obvious?" he snapped, "she's crazy. I don't even know the girl—she invited me to her party, I declined. Then she started making advances, but I'm just not interested—let her indulge in that ridiculous fan club, I don't fucking care. But I will not sit here and be threatened by some bullshit and rumors."
Sazuki sighed.
"You're the first man in the school to actually ignore that diva." She nodded to herself. "I can see why Harumi hangs around you. They flock to Maki like goofballs while she pretends to be nice and caring—it's infuriating! It's like the men can't see what she's really like. Rub her the wrong way and she's nasty. Snobby bitch."
Clyde and his friends gaped at the student council president. She continued the rant for another twenty seconds then let out a breath.
[Your relationship with Sazuki has increased to friendly- respect.]
Sazuki nodded to herself as if deciding something.
"No one saw her on campus this morning and despite our strict attendance policies, she has enough influence to do whatever she wants. She even has family controlling the law."
"Not for long," Chika said. "Or did you forget my family's more powerful than hers. And we contributed much more to this city. Just you wait—my father's already investigating matters."
"Really? Well now," Sazuki said.
Chika sniffed.
"Learn to be a president for once. Wave the power you were given—or give it up, I don't care."
She shoved her way past Sazuki, muttering to herself.
"Chika wait up," Seth said, following. He started to talk to her about something as they entered the building. Chika looked as if she had zero fucks to give.
"That girl hated me even before I became president," Sazuki said. Her softness lasted only a moment, but Clyde saw a world's worth of beauty there and stories. "Go on to class. I'll call you if you're needed. If you can, try avoiding Maki."
"Don't speak the impossible," Clyde said, a tad weary.
Sazuki blinked, seeming to take something in account then she shrugged.
"We'll see." She started toward the entrance, only to stop to lecture some passing students violating school regulations.
Clyde looked at his phone and noticed a missed call from Melody and a text message. He read it as they walked.
Melody: Hi Darling. I'm sorry for contacting so early in the morning, but in case I don't see you in school today, I just wanted to warn you that I felt my father's presence in the city last night. I don't know why he's here—Hades is gone, but that's very concerning. Please be careful. You may attract him simply because of what you are.
Clyde gulped then passed the warning to his friends. He texted Chika and Seth so that they wouldn't miss out. While Melody's father should have no reason whatsoever to bother them, he'd at least heed the warning.
The school day seemed like it was going to be fine and normal, that was until his Sciences class. A girl began to giggle uncontrollably when professional mentioned death in humans. She ripped off her clothing, eyes filled with madness. In fact, that even glowed.
"I worship the great goddess Maki! Death to the Stone, death to the Stone! Maki is ascending to goddess." She ran right into a wall, knocking herself out. As everyone got over the initial shock, the professor was on the phone. Clyde assumed he was calling the ambulance. When a man showed up instead with a blanket and Sazuki behind him, he immediately knew the plot. They were covering the incidents up to protect the academy's reputation.
"Her parents are on the way," he said. He seemed to flaunt his gold DEAN badge pinned to his shirt. Fuckery to its finest and whatever Maki did only made things worse. Alice made eye contact with Clyde, worried.
The rest of the classes went by uneventful, lunch at in silence. Clyde's crafting level increased after his last class. He decided that he'd gather the materials from the former Ashfall estates.
[Congratulations, you have reached crafting level 5. You can now craft complicated items.]
[Quest: craft 1 complicated item. This quest is mandatory and cannot be refused. Reward: unknown.]
It was four in the afternoon, one hour until his meeting with this Ming. Clyde and the others headed home first to drop off bags and change into something casual. He wouldn't count on her simply handing over the Omen's Sphere without a catch. Whatever bullshit this Ming had planned, he didn't have time for it.
Maki's house…
Lady Mei Ashfall felt lost, pathetic, full of shame. She originally came to the city to thank her hero and convince him to rule in Ashfall's stead. She even considered marrying him just to help keep things running. Somehow the young woman ended up staying longer, getting lost into Maki's embrace. There were limits, lines that shouldn't have been crossed—and the display with the Stone didn't help her cause.
That wasn't what worried Mei. She rolled to the side, in Maki's bed, attempting to ignore the streaking sunlight with her pillow. That presence…those words. She only pretended to be sleep the prior night, hoping Maki would be up for another round. She was a demoness with cravings after all. Not that she minded men, but preferred Maki.
Somehow her pupil gathered Black Ki—something that was supposed to be impossible to all but the tainted ones and their servants. Maybe even a fallen angel or devil could wield it, but humans, shouldn't be able to. She sensed no taint in Maki—the girl was still herself, just…obsessed. Just… yandere, one of the most dangerous and thrilling human beings of all time.
Black Ki…forbidden, dangerous. Oh Venus, how did this happen to her, Mei thought. And now Maki's simply going to carry out the voice's plans without questioning it? Without snapping out of her obsessions to realize that she took things way too far. She tasted whatever power it offered and desired more.
Mei jumped up. There was only one type of being that could give Maki such power and frighten the demoness enough to root her in bed. She wasn't sure if compulsion was used or not, but she needed to warn the Stone. Maki was about to do something drastic.
