"I see, that's the situation." Crowley hummed in deep thought, "You're against apologizing to get the collar removed, but you don't feel that you can persuade Riddle to let this go without fuss."
"Yeah, that's about right." Ace responded with a nod.
"So then," Crowley pointed out, "if you don't think you can compromise with the dorm leader you have the option of transferring dormitories. However, your dormitory was chosen for you after the Dark Mirror saw the quality of your soul so there are quite a number of troublesome procedures and rituals that are required."
"Transfer, huh." Ace frowned, "That makes me feel like I'm just running away so no thanks."
"Hmm." Crowley nodded," How do you feel about applying for a decisive match with Mister Rosehearts to take his place as dorm leader?"
"EH?!?!"
Lotus covered her ears with a grimace.
"Everyone!" Crowley scolded harshly in a quiet voice, "You're shouting!"
"Because you are saying really crazy things..." Ace responded with wide eyes in surprise.
"It is not crazy in the least." Crowley responded bluntly, "After all, that's how Mister Rosehearts became dorm leader."
"Now that you mention it," Deuce responded with a look of surprise, "how are the dorm leaders chosen at Night Raven College?"
"We heard that Riddle because dorm leader a week after he started school." Grim noted curiously.
"Being nominated by the previous dorm leader, winning a decisive match against the current dorm leader, and there are many other ways it's decided." Crowley answered, "A decisive match is one of the more simple."
"Isn't using magic to settle personal squabbles prohibited?" Ace questioned in confusion.
"Personal ones, yes." Crowley responded, "Going through the proper channels with the headmaster overseeing a decisive match is another matter."
"It's prohibited to place handicaps on your opponent before a decisive match, too." Trey pointed out informatively, "You would be able to get the collar removed without apologizing to Riddle, but..."
"All students are give the right to take the role of dorm leader the moment they enter this school." Crowley explained with a smile, "What say you? Mister Trappola. Will you challenge, Mister Rosehearts?"
Lotus frowned when she heard this. It was true that they could always beat Riddle in the match, but...
"Okay." Ace decided with a determined look, "I won't know unless I try."
"Count me in, too." Deuce added cupping a fist into his other palm.
"Don't forget me!" Grim added with a scowl on his face.
"Grim, you're not in Heartslabyul." Lotus reminded the cat with a smirk, "I can't imagine you taking over a dorm while belonging to another."
Crowley nodded, "Grim, unfortunately students from another dorm cannot issue a challenge."
"Ffgna?!" Grim jolted in shock, "Then, who exactly is gonna take my collar off?!"
"I'll order Riddle to take it off if I become dorm leader." Ace responded with a smirk.
"Shit." Grim scowled, "This was gonna be a chance for me to show off my skills..."
"Are you guys serious?" Trey noted with a frown, "Deuce, I never would have expected this from you."
"Really?" Deuce said firmly, "As a man, don't you want to aim for the top sometimes? If we're doing this count me in, make it a team-play."
Seeing his smirk, Ace sneered, "Here it is, bad-boy mode."
"Eh?" Deuce snapped out of it with wide eyes, "It's... normal?"
"I shall take care of the bureaucratic matters." Crowley said with a wide smile.
"We should come up with a plan." Yuu suggested.
"Yeah." Ace nodded, "Anyone got any bright ideas?"
"Huuuuh." Deuce frowned, "I don't see us beating Riddle in terms of magic. But..."
He smiled, "if its a fist fight we got this."
"True, he seems like a little weakling!" Grim smirked.
"Oops, I forgot to mention." Crowley added with a frown, "I forgot to mention. In the decisive match, any attacks other than magic are forbidden."
"Geh!" Deuce jolted up with wide eyes is shock.
Crowley laughed, "Follow the rules and enjoy your decisive match! The formalities will be taken care of tomorrow so be mindful of the timing. I bid you adieu."
As Crowley walked away, he made a quick glance at Lotus to which she didn't shown to have noticed before continuing out the door.
"A-Alright! I'm not super confident in our magic, but... I'm sure it'll be fine!" Ace started nervously.
"O-Oh!" Deuce nodded hesitantly.
"I've still got this collar on me!" Grim reminded them, "You better go all out!"
"You guys." Trey frowned.
"When I become dorm leader, I'm going to make him say, 'I was wrong. I'm sorry'!" Ace aloud, "And I'll stop him paralyzing everyone with his crazy rules!"
Trey didn't say anything as the others bid their farewells and left the room. Lotus, however, was still stuck in the library in deep thoughts as Trey turned to her with a look of confusion, 'What is it?"
Lotus thought for a bit in silence before responding, "Parents..."
Trey raised a brow before she continued, "Some parents are kind and doting while others are harsh, cold or strict. For what reason would a parent want their own child to be better than them while others are more lenient towards what a child wants? If not, why would they choose to have children? To leave a generation to continue their line?"
Trey frowned in confusion before stating, "Isn't it because the parents wants the child to benefit in how they think a child should benefit. My parents aren't as strict with me as Riddle's mother is. I can't say for his father, though. Perhaps, you should try asking your parents?"
"I'm not to sure my mother would understand how humans view this topic as."
Trey looked to her in surprise before thinking for a bit then responded, "I'm not too sure. This doesn't have a definitive answer. However, I think something like this should be part of a parents' decision, shouldn't it? They're the ones who would decide rather or not we come into this world based on their decisions and actions as adults."
"So, it's a parents' decision on how we come into this world and how we should grow up..." Lotus thought for a bit as she recalled the families she had witnessed in her past lives.
Some were poor but happy and some were poor and unhappy, while the rich was mostly unhappy or desperate while a few were satisfied with their lives. Within such an environment, conspiracies and deceptions were birthed through the cycle of hate, jealousy, and violence. It was a said era to be born in and one word of an oracle and effect the way a child will live in the future.
Yet here, it was a more different than there. Even with the same ideologies around, many parents wants the best for the children in many different ways. Trey's parents and Deuce's parent both cared about them and wants the best for them. Riddle's mother wants him to be the best and earn the benefit of it, but was that benefit an obsession or real parental love?
She frowned in deep thought before nodding her head with a sigh, "Thanks. Sorry for taking up your time."
"It's fine." Trey smiled wearily, "I was just resting a little."
"Also..." She added, "I don't think Ace is ready to take on the responsibilities of a dorm leader."
Trey froze in surprise when he heard this, "So you believe he's capable of winning?"
Lotus shook her head, "I don't. However, though capable of being a leader in the future, now is too soon whereas Riddle has the ability to lead and take on the responsibilities, but I agree with him that Riddle is starting to step over the line. I don't hope for whoever wins the match. I just hope Riddle learns that he's wrong soon before it's too late."
Trey watched her with a frown as she turned and walked away firmly.
She doubted that Ace was ready for the position of dorm leader. In her mind, Riddle was the best option for this, but he's stepping over the boundaries. It would be better for both parties if Riddle learns of his mistake sooner rather than later or she can't tell the future of Heartslabyul from here on out if Ace doesn't have someone to learn from in the beginning.
After checking with the situation and hiding the evidence in the dorm, Lotus returned to Ramshackle and cultivate. This time, she reached past Gold Core and hurried onto the Mid-gold core. There she went ahead and returned into the ring where she entered the mansion of wooden and paper. She found that the little Kirin was playing around with a butterfly chasing it on his wobbly leg before slipping and falling into the river. Despite the yelp, he got back up and chased after it again before perking his ears up once he heard her walking over to him. He jumped up and hurried over to her and nearly tackled her down to which she sidestepped with a sigh and scolded, "My dantian is still injured and you're trying to ram into me?! Are you trying to kill me?"
"N-n-no..." The little kirin whimpered quietly, "I'm sorryyy!!!"
In actual tears, the little kirin began to cry. Lotus only scowled, "Don't cry in front of me. If you really hurt me in the future, will crying really help me with broken meridians? Listen to me well, Little Jun. When you take something from those you're close to, make it up to them. When you hurt them, help them get better or make it up to them. However, those who tries to take advantage of you for your kindness can not be forgiven. You do this because you want to, not because you have to. If the person is your enemy, don't return them with kindness. Instead, show them what you can do if they dare to do this again. Crying won't help you make things better."
"O-okay..." The little creature nodded, "But what if the person is trying to hurt me?"
"This is obvious. If the person is your enemy or mean to harm you or those close to you, teach them they have no capabilities nor permission to do so."
Little Jun nodded attentively. Satisfied with this, she went ahead and patted his head rewarding him for listening so attentively. She reached out and touched his snout as she continued, "Tomorrow, I have to help some of my friends. Have you been cultivating hard?"
The little kirin nodded, "Xiao Li has been instructing me how to cultivate quicker. I've already reached to Sentient beast level 5. Lately, I can see Xiao Li eating little white pills in the mansion when he takes a nap on the trees!"
"Is that so?" Lotus smirked as a dark feeling emerged from her chest.
So, Xiao Li has been stealing some of her snowdrop pills she had been making these past few days...
Just wait till she make him clean the entire mansion rather than just a quarter of it this month. The floors better be sparkling when she returns.
Lotus petted his head again praising him, "Good work. Now, do you remember the red hair boy you called out to the other day?"
"The boy with the sparkly yellow thingy on his head?" Little Jun questioned in confusion but nodded.
She smiled, "Tomorrow, there will be a battle and he might need some help. Do you want to help me go see him tomorrow?