After just a few days of being in the infirmary, Allen was finally out. The nurses advised him he still needed to recover, so it would be in his best interest not to get into any new duels for at least a week. Allen certainly did not have any plans to duel anyone now or before, but of course the duel with Stephen had come out of nowhere.
By the time he got out of the infirmary, it was already the weekend. Allen used that time to relax and study in his dorm room, and with Thomas and Cecily at one point during the weekend coming by and helping him catch up on what he missed.
The day before they had class again, the three of them went to walk around London for a little bit, browsing the shops like they did last time. Luckily, there were no problems like last time, unless you count Thomas still not having enough money for getting lunch outside of the academy.
And of course, at one point during their small walk around London, they came across Charles Rivertide, who tried to go on about Allen and Stephen's duel. The three of them just decided to play the "ignore him card" and continued on, with Charles trying to keep getting their attention several times. Finally after several attempts, he finally gave up and went on his way.
When it started to become sunset, they finally made their way back to the academy. They all went their separate ways to their dorm rooms to get a good rest before their class tomorrow morning.
By the time Allen finally woke up for class, his injuries were for the most part fully healed. He's always been quick to heal his entire life, so it never really takes him that long to heal from his injuries (especially with all the injuries he got when he trained with William).
When Allen finally got back to class since his duel with Stephen, Thomas and Cecily wrapped up anything else they didn't or forgot to tell him during the weekend to help him get caught back up in class. There wasn't much else, so they used the remainder of the time to study together like they usually do.
Near the end of class, Allen was starting to wonder when he'd see Stephen again. He told him he wanted him to meet his friends, but he didn't exactly know when that could be. He also wanted to speak to Rose, as he wanted to ask her several questions about their past. However, there was no need to wonder or plan out how he'd speak to them again because they already had other plans.
"Yo, Allen!," Stephen's voice came from over by the door to the classroom.
When Allen looked over, he saw both Stephen and Rose standing in the doorway. Rose had her arms crossed and looked slightly annoyed, not because she was here but more of she looked annoyed with Stephen.
"You don't need to be so stupidly loud!," Rose remarked.
"And look who's talking?," Stephen gave her a smirk.
"You can shut up now you moron, or I'll cut you into several pieces," she said with a casual tone, like this was a normal, everyday response.
"Well, considering I have many reasons why I wouldn't want you to do that, I'll stop for now sweetcheeks," Stephen gave her an even bigger grin.
Rose gave him a good slap to the face, which then Stephen let out an "ow", and put his hand up to his face to cover the area in which she slapped.
"Stephen, Rose, what are you two doing here?," Allen got up out of his chair, surprised.
"We came to see you," Stephen replied, but still holding his hand to his face where Rose slapped him.
"No, I came to see him, but you just had to butt in from behind and join me on the way here," Rose scoffed.
"Not my fault you chose to go see him at the same time," Stephen shrugged.
"You moron, I-ll-"
"Care to tell me why the both of you feel the need to disrupt my classroom?," Ms. Florence remarked at them, looking up from her book.
"Your classroom?," Stephen asked. "Really, cause from what I've heard, you don't actually teach in here-"
Suddenly, the last thing Allen expected Ms. Florence to do actually happened. She threw a book across the room all the way at Stephen's face, surprisingly hitting exactly where Rose slapped him from before. He almost lost his balance and fell, but he caught the wall behind him.
"What was that for?," he exclaimed, once again putting his hand back on his face where he got hit.
"You get what you deserve," Rose shrugged.
"Magical studies?," he examined the book she threw at him. "So you do actually study magic in here-"
"Care for me to throw another one at you?," Ms. Florence gave him a "I dare you" look.
"No ma'am," Stephen quieted down.
"I could've done that better," Cecily muttered.
"Wait what Cecily!?," Thomas was caught off guard.
"Maybe we should just all step outside, before Stephen gets something else thrown at him," Allen suggested, slowly moving out of the classroom.
"Good idea," Rose responded, looking at Stephen like some sort of animal without a brain.
"What?," Stephen gave Rose a look like he didn't do anything as he and Rose stepped outside the door. Allen, Thomas and Cecily all followed out.
"We'll see you tomorrow, Ms. Florence!," Thomas waved goodbye.
"Yeah okay," Ms. Florence didn't even look up from the actual book she was reading.
"I think I'm becoming her favorite student!," Thomas grinned.
"In your dreams, Tom," Cecily said as Allen shut the door to the classroom behind them.
Once they were all outside the classroom, they moved a bit down the hall, away where if they were to talk it wouldn't disrupt Ms. Florence (this was Rose's idea cause she knew Stephen would likely get another book thrown at him otherwise, not that she wouldn't like to see that again).
"So mind reminding me why the two of you decided to show up to the classroom?," Allen asked.
"We both came to say hi," they both said at the same time.
"I-"
"No you-"
They were looking at each other like the other shouldn't have said the same thing as the other.
"Okay, and what for?," Allen asked, with a slightly annoyed expression because the two of them won't quit it.
"Well I came by to tell you a few things, including Thomas, Cecily, and might as well tell this bonehead since he's already here" Rose explained.
"Who said I was a bonehead?," Stephen exclaimed.
"Well obviously your head is all bone and no brain," Rose shrugged, with a sly smile on her face.
"Well you-"
"Oh quit it the both of you," Allen exclaimed, not sure which person he should be upset at. They cannot go one second without insulting the other.
"Anyways as I was saying," Rose continued. "There were a few things I needed to inform everyone"
"Alright, and what about you Stephen?," Allen asked.
"Wanted to discuss with you about the conversation with my father yesterday," Stephen responded.
"Oh, you talked to him yesterday?" Allen asked.
"Indeed, I did," Stephen grinned.
"Uh, mind explaining to us what's going on here?," Thomas asked, confused.
"Last I remember you two were at what seemed like serious odds," Cecily added.
"Oh right, I forgot to tell the two of you," Allen suddenly remembered.
"Way to go, Allen," Rose laughed.
"Haha. Funny," Allen remarked.
Allen spent about the next ten minutes explaining to Thomas and Cecily about Allen's talk with Stephen while he was in the infirmary. Rose already heard what happened through Stephen, surprisingly.
"Well, guess things can turn around really quickly," Thomas blinked rapidly for a moment, still a bit in disbelief.
"So you really went from rivals to friends in just a few days?," Cecily asked.
"Pretty much," Stephen and Allen answered at the same time.
"Nah, it makes sense for both of them," Rose added.
"What do you mean?," They both asked at the same time again.
"Nevermind," Rose quieted down.
"Anyways Stephen, I should probably introduce my friends here," Allen motioned over to Thomas and Cecily.
"Was wondering when you were going to do that," Stephen grinned.
"Stephen, these are my friends Thomas and Cecily," Allen introduced them. "Although you may have seen them when you first walked into your father's office with the whole thing and all"
"Nice to meet you Stephen. You can just call me Tom!," Thomas grinned.
"A pleasure to meet you Stephen," Cecily gave him a small smile.
"Nice to meet the both of you," Stephen shook both of their hands.
"Oh, and you can just call her Lily," Thomas added.
"Geez Tom, not everybody has to call me that," Cecily gave him a slightly frustrated look.
"Well then, I'll call you Tom and if Cecily is okay with it I can call her Lily," Stephen said after he laughed for a moment at what Cecily had said to Thomas.
"Sure, that's alright," Cecily responded.
"Well then, I'll call you Lily from now on," he smiled.
"You can also call Allen, Al from now on!," Thomas added.
"I was waiting for you to say that," Allen smiled but rolled his eyes.
"So Tom's got a nickname for all of you huh?," Stephen smirked. "What about Rose? What's her nickname?"
"Absolutely not," Rose crossed her arms.
"No no. We absolutely need to use a nickname for her!," Stephen smirked even harder.
"Do you want me to slap you again?," Rose glared at him, ready to do so.
"Hold up, I was just kidding!," Stephen put his hands up in case she tried to.
"Hmm, well everybody's nickname is just a shortened form of their name. But how can we shorten Rose's name?," Thomas contemplated for a moment.
"See? Looks like I'm not getting a nickname!," Rose proudly grinned.
"Well why not use the nickname I use for her?," Stephen suggested. "I call her Rosy"
"Excuse me?," Rose said in disbelief, giving him a glare telling him she really would slap him again.
"It's perfect," Allen grinned.
"Hey, that definitely works!," Thomas agreed, the nickname following his nickname rules.
"Umm, don't I get a say in this?," Rose worriedly looked at all of them.
"I personally like it. It fits well for Rose. It's a cute name," Cecily smiled. "But you don't like it, Rose?"
"I- uh- Cecily- no no, I like it," Rose fumbled with her words for a moment.
"You do like it?," Cecily asked, her eyes looking like they were shining.
"Yes, I love it!," Rose smiled.
"Couldn't turn down Lily, huh?," Allen smirked.
"Oh shut up," Rose rolled her eyes.
"Two cute names for two cute girls," Stephen smirked, putting his hand on his chin looking at Rose.
"You moron!," Rose yelled as she slammed the top of his head.
"Ow, Rose!," Stephen said as he reeled back and held the top of his head.
"A nice bruise on your head to go with the one on your face!," Rose proudly grinned.
"Wha- wait what?," Stephen exclaimed, trying to maintain his balance.
The four of them all laughed while Stephen regained his composure.
Wait, where have I seen something like this?, Allen thought to himself for a second. Oh yeah. Ms. Clark had done the same thing to William. Funny.
"What about Stephen? Does he get a nickname too?," Cecily asked.
"Oh yeah, good idea!," Allen smirked.
"Oh, so now I get a nickname? Better be a good one!," Stephen grinned.
"How do you even shorten 'Stephen' anyway?," Thomas asked, lost in thought.
"This better be good," Rose smirked.
"Better be good my ass Rose," Stephen rolled his eyes.
"What is an 'ass'?", Cecily asked, confused.
"No no, don't worry about it Lily," Rose tried to steer her away from it, trying to help keep her innocent like nature.
"Wait, you mean you don't know?," Stephen asked, genuinely confused.
"You moron. Shut up or I will send you out of here faster than Allen can get into the infirmary twice in just over a week," Rose stared him down.
"Excuse me, what?," Stephen and Allen both asked at the same time.
"Oh I know!," Thomas suddenly exclaimed. "How about Steph?"
"You're serious, right?," Stephen looked at him in major disbelief.
"That's the best thing I've heard all day!," Rose exclaimed after she laughed for what felt like a solid minute.
"Best thing you've heard, really?," Stephen sarcastically asked while giving her a very annoyed look.
"I think it fits perfectly," Allen said after he laughed for a second.
"Not you too, ugh!," Stephen rolled his eyes.
"Stop being such a Steph," Allen smirked.
"Steph! You really just called him a Steph like it's a derogatory term!," Rose was almost falling over in laughter.
"Are you serious right now?," Stephen exclaimed loudly.
"Yeah, stop being such a Steph, Steph," Thomas said before he was unable to contain his laughter anymore.
"It would be wise if you wouldn't be such a Steph," Cecily said before she giggled.
"Steph! I'm going to die of laughter," Rose exclaimed before laughing even further.
"I hate you guys," Stephen blankly said, rolling his eyes with an annoyed look, but a slight smile on his face because he too even thought it was a little funny.
"Steph it is then!," Thomas said after he was finished laughing
After everybody calmed down, the five of them all talked for a bit about current classes and anything else going on around the academy they wanted to share.
"Oh yeah, what's William up to anyways?," Allen had asked at one point.
"Oh, the head director?," she asked. "Busy with his paperwork again"
"Again?," Allen put his hand on his forehead in disappointment.
"Well maybe if that four-eyed director actually did it when he was supposed to, we wouldn't be constantly caught up in that mess," Rose rolled her eyes.
"Leave it to William to do something like that," Allen laughed.
They had continued to talk a bit about current classes and anything else they wanted to talk about.
"Oh yeah, did you hear that new rumor around the academy recently?," Thomas asked.
"Since when were you so interested in stupid rumors Tom?" Cecily rolled her eyes.
"Since five days ago when I overheard some students talking about an interesting rumor," Thomas grinned.
"So you were eavesdropping?," Rose gave him a look.
"No, no. I just happened to be nearby and had overheard what they said," Thomas explained.
"So eavesdropping. Got it," Rose nodded.
"I-"
"Just continue Thomas. You have our attention," Allen said.
"Well anyways as I was saying," Thomas continued. "The students were talking about a rumor about 'The Academy's Mysterious Girl'"
"The academy's what now?," Stephen asked for clarification.
"You know, the mysterious supposed girl who has been apparently walking the halls recently," Thomas said, as if he was expecting all of them to have heard about this too.
"We have no idea what you are talking about," Rose stated.
"Oh, well let me explain then," Thomas cleared his throat. "Apparently there's been this girl wandering around the halls of the academy. She never shows up during the crowded hallways in the mornings or afternoons in between classes. They say they only see her when they're the only ones in the hallway! Anytime anyone has tried to approach her or talk to her, she refuses to speak and quickly gets away before you can even notice! Apparently no one really knows what class she belongs to, nor what year she is in. All they know is she is a water mage because the academy has students wear a uniform based on their elemental type. Because of her quiet nature and no information regarding her, she has been named: 'The Academy's Mysterious Student'!"
Thomas gave a bit of emphasis to the last part of the story, and then let his story sink in. For a moment, everyone was quiet, thinking about what Thomas had just said.
"Really? That was it?," Stephen asked, the first one to talk.
"I think you can do better for a scary story Tom," Allen laughed.
"Tom, you really need to improve on your jokes," Cecily giggled.
"Wha- I'm serious! I really heard this from a few students!," Thomas exclaimed.
"I highly doubt it," Allen shrugged.
"Doesn't sound like something people would talk about here man," Stephen shrugged as well.
"Even if it doesn't sound real, I think you did a good job coming up with the story," Cecily complimented him.
"I-, well thanks Lily, but I swear it was a real story!," Thomas exclaimed.
"Really? Then who were the students who were talking about it?," Stephen asked.
"I- uh…"
"We're waiting," Allen looked at him.
For a moment, everyone was waiting for Thomas to speak. Rose however, seemed to be lost in thought, not paying attention to them.
"I don't know," Thomas said while hitting his head a few times, hoping to come up with something. "I forgot!"
"I like that," Rose said finally after laughing for a moment.
"Yay Tom! At least Rose found your joke funny!," Cecily smiled.
"I said it wasn't a joke!," Thomas cried.
"Good point, Rose, why did you find that funny?," Stephen asked her.
"I'd also like to know why," Allen awaited Rose's response.
"It's just that… nevermind," Rose finally said.
"Really? That's your response?," Allen sighed.
"Eh, she was probably too busy thinking about which pair she wanted to wear," Stephen grinned.
"Pair of what?," Thomas and Allen asked.
"You know. Her pan-"
"You absolute moron!," Rose yelled while slapping him so hard he quickly fell to the floor.
"That hurt… again," Stephen murmured, still on the floor.
Everybody laughed again, except Stephen who was still on the floor, and Rose who had her arms crossed looking away from him.
After Stephen got off the floor and Rose wasn't as mad at him (however she won't forget about this for at least a week), they continued to talk for a bit longer, but not too much longer since it was getting close to curfew. After talking for a bit longer, it was time for everyone to head back to their dorms.
"Well, it looks like it's getting close to curfew," Rose noted, looking out the window and seeing the sunset.
"Aw man, already? I swear we only talked for like… thirty minutes at best!," Thomas exclaimed.
"Well it's been fun, but I'm getting tired and I have some studying to do before bed," Stephen said while yawning.
"You could learn a thing or two from Stephen," Cecily glared at Thomas.
"What?," Thomas asked, pretending not to know what Cecily was trying to imply.
"Well it was nice talking to everyone!," Allen nodded.
"Agreed," the four of them said in unison.
"One last thing before we all leave," Allen said before any of them could begin to walk away.
"Yeah?"
"What is it Allen?"
"What's up?"
"Elaborate"
"I think we all need to train together sometime!," Allen finally said.
For a moment they all gave it a thought.
"Yeah! I'm up for it!"
"Sure, long as everyone else is okay with it"
"Sure, why not. Can't wait to see what all of you are capable of"
"I suppose I could train with you guys again"
"Great! Then we can start tomorrow!," Allen exclaimed! Let's meet outside the classroom here again before we go"
"Sure," the four of them said in unison.
"Alright well I'm going to head back to my dorm. I'm going to need a good night's sleep if I'm going to train with everyone! I'll see you guys later!," Thomas exclaimed while starting to walk away.
"Tom, don't rush off so fast!," Cecily raised her voice, trying to catch up to him.
"Nice meeting you two!," Stephen waved them off.
"You too!," they both yelled, before turning the corner down the hallway.
"Well, they certainly left rather quickly together," Rose noted.
"Hm…," Stephen was thinking for a moment, his hand on his chin.
"What are you thinking?," Rose asked.
"Allen, quick question," Stephen said, still not looking away from the hallway.
"Yeah?,"
"Are those two dating?," Stephen blankly asked.
"Uh… I don't think so?," Allen shrugged, not even sure himself.
"So they could or could not be dating?," Stephen said, smirking.
"All I know is they may or may not like each other," Allen shrugged.
"So they basically got the hots for each other?," Stephen smirked even harder.
"Ugh, don't put it like that moron," Rose scoffed.
"I… guess?," Allen didn't really know what to say.
"Anyways, I have to head out now," Stephen said while starting to walk away.
"Wait, weren't you going to tell me about-"
"I'll talk to you about it tomorrow," Stephen said as he walked away.
"Alright see you tomorrow," Allen raised his voice.
Stephen, without looking back, waved him off.
"Well, guess I'll finally head out as well," Rose exclaimed as she started to walk away.
"Wait Rose, I wanted to ask you something," Allen exclaimed, trying to get her attention.
"You can ask me tomorrow," she said as she began to walk away as well.
"Wait! Not you too!," he tried to get her attention again, but she just kept walking.
"Well, guess I better head back to my dorm room as well," Allen said to himself, shrugging.
He finally started to head back to his dorm room after the confusion left behind as everyone left all at once out of nowhere. With the hallways taking him, he slowly walked back to his dorm room, thinking to himself on the way there.
Lost in thought, he suddenly bumped into something on the way back, falling on his butt on the floor. With the sudden stop and put back to his senses, he looked up to see what he ran into. He didn't run into a wall or even an object, but another student!
"Oh I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to bump into you!," Allen exclaimed as he got up.
"Ouch," was all the student said in response while also on the floor.
Finally being able to get a better look at who he bumped into, he noticed he bumped into another female student, a water mage at that (as she wore the water uniform). She had very light blue hair that went down to her shoulders and eye color, very similar to Cecily's. However the notable difference was at the very ends of her hair and part of her eyes seemed to be darker, almost a brownish-like color. She also wore a dark blue "X" like pin in her hair, larger than an eye.
But what really caught Allen's attention is something else she was wearing. She wore glasses! As far as Allen was aware, William was the only other person he knew wore glasses. William only told him they were some sort of "magical artifact" and to "not worry about them" and "they aren't that important". However, here was this girl in the middle of the hallway wearing a pair in front of Allen!
The difference was, her glasses were a dark brown color, while William's were a light gray color.
"Did you… did you need help up?," Allen put his hand out to help her, but still caught off guard at her appearance.
"No," was all the girl muttered as she went to get up herself. By her feet were several pieces of paper, probably some kind of homework. She scrambled to get them together.
Wait a second, Allen thought. Didn't Thomas say something earlier about some mysterious girl who wandered the halls, only seen by a few people at a time?
Here Allen was, in the middle of the quiet hallways close to curfew, alone with just some random girl who came out of nowhere. While Allen was lost in thought, he was sure he kept paying attention so he wouldn't run into anything, even this late. As he thought about it more, the dots just kept seeming to connect.
"Are you… are you that mysterious student everyone keeps talking about?," Allen directly asked her while she was still quietly putting her papers together.
"Hm?," was all she said, tilting her head to her left in confusion.