After their talk, Riddle returned to his book when he heard a buzz coming from his phone and picked it up in confusion. The notification on it sent a jolt in him as he read it curiously in confusion.
"Riddle?" Cater called over to him casually for once when he noticed the strange face he was making.
Riddle shook his head and responded, "It's nothing. Regardless, you seem rather drawn to the book, Cater."
Cater looked up from the book on beasts and wore a dry smile, "A-Ah... Well, I got bored..."
Riddle raised a brow as he recalled the "small" Kirin. He decided not to say it seeing how Cater was rather nervous around the younger creature.
Trey didn't say anything more knowing Riddle's thoughts. He has known Riddle since they were children and could understand what had happened just now. He chose not to say anything to allow Riddle to ponder over his own thoughts a little more.
"Eh? Kirin? What's that?"
The three nearly dropped their books as Trey looked over to the lounge door in surprise and pushed his glasses back on before it could fall, "Ace?"
Cater spoke up as casually as he could, "Ah, Ace! Where's Deuce?"
"He took a shower saying it wouldn't be good to fall asleep with the dirt in his hair." Ace responded bluntly before noticing the books in their hands with a look of surprise mixed with dismay, "You guys have these books too?"
"You know these books?" Trey looked to him curiously.
Ace nodded, "Yeah. I was at their place a lot with Deuce and we always saw him reading these books. What are they anyway?"
"Just some books for fun." Cater replied with a wide smile, "We asked Lotus if he had anything for me to read since I didn't want to look over the Library books again. Next thing you know, he dropped a chestful on me."
"Hah?" Ace grumbled and picked up a book curiously, "These are supposed to be for fun?"
"Ah, wait, Ace!"
However, Ace had already picked up the book and raised a brow as he did so, "Huh? 'Acupuncture And Meridians'?"
Trey raised a brow and sighed, "Riddle was going to read that next... Huh?"
"Ace..." Riddle looked up to his freshman resident and frowned, "What did you just say?"
"Huh? I was reading the title of the book." Ace responded with a raised brow and handed the blue cover book back to Trey who had also widened his eyes upon realization, "What?"
Cater spoke up curiously, "Ace... Have you ever studied foreign language before?"
"I haven't even learned animal language. How can I have learned foreign language?" Ace spoke up in confusion.
"You're certain?" Trey questioned him with a frown as he put his book back on the table.
"Yeah..." Ace frowned with slight irritation, "What?"
Cater turned to a page and handed it over to Ace eagerly, "Can you read the title of this page?"
"Hah?!" Ace was bewildered by their sudden questions, "I'm not a story teller or any-!"
"Ace, read it." Riddle ordered with a firm tone and sharp glare as he scowled at him.
"Y-Yes!" Ace jolted in bewilderment and obediently as he read, "U-Um... Huh? Lunar glow worm? What the hell is this?"
Riddle turned to Cater who responded with an exasperated sigh and shrugged, "He can read."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Ace raised a brow in confusion and irritated as no one is telling him what was going on or why he was being bossed around all of a sudden, "What's going on?"
Cater smirked trying to make light of the situation as possible, "You said that you haven't learned foreign language yet, right?"
"Well, yeah."
"Have you ever been able to read Lotus's books before?" Cater pointed out curiously.
"No way." Ace responded bluntly, "The words are all con... fusing..."
Slowly, his eyes widen upon realization and he looked down upon the book covers, "What the hell?! I can read them clearly! What's 'Foundation of Cultivation'?"
A little nervous as his mind thought of a reason hurriedly, Riddle cleared his throat, "Fantasy books, apparently... But a detailed guidelines..."
"That's right!" Trey agreed quickly, "Since Cater brought it back, we got interested and started reading it during free time."
"Um..." Ace looked to them in confusion, "But, how come I can read it now?"
Riddle was lost for words when he heard this. Trey spoke up for him, "Well, according to Lotus, there has been someone playing with the waters recently and throwing some strange herbs. You should keep away from the waters for now. I'll go check with him tomorrow and see if he can do anything to fix that."
"Really?" Ace thought curiously with a wide smile, "I find it cool, though! Maybe I can be some translator for this!"
Thinking of how he can dissuade the student from continuing this condition, Cater sighed, "It's better to have him fix this. It won't be as valuable if more people becomes able to translate, right?"
"That's true..." Ace grumbled as he realized this, "But, if this was another language, how can he read all of this stuff? Is he like Dorm Leader Riddle who can read a ton of books and remember them all?"
Cater laughed, "Isn't he someone like that?"
"Hm?" Riddle raised a brow in confusion, "Is it really that weird?"
All three wore a wry smile when they heard their dorm leader's words as they knew how talented he is in self-discipline and studies followed by magic on top of it all.
Trey reminded, "Regardless, I'll need to speak with Lotus tomorrow as soon as possible."
"Fine..." Ace grumbled in defeat knowing that he can't escape from his seniors that easily much less Cater and his magic.
.....
Azul was examining the Soul Jade he had received from Lotus the other day in great curiosity. He was told that, when the Soul Jade is damaged, it would mean that the person is in danger and close to dying. When it shatters, then the person is gone from the world. However, no matter how much he had researched, he has never heard of such a tale before. At the same time, he was uncertain of testing it out if it means getting blood on his hands. The soul jade was pretty against the silky white cloth it rests on and the box was also very pricey.
As much as it'd be an honor to work for the public and give a helping hand, he couldn't help but feel that something just didn't add up. Not even the idea of handing him a responsibility this big. Though he liked to make big contracts with high stakes and great profits, he wasn't a fool as to gamble his life away. He took the object in for now because he wasn't certain it would be a good idea to reject it as much as it would be to receive it. The next day, he had also received the papers of contract from Lotus too. Just where did the guy come across something as valuable and confidential as this to begin with?
"Azul."
Azul looked up as Jade came in with a pile of papers under his arm before passing them onto the dorm leader, "Here is what I have found on the materials along with today's profits."
Azul looked over the Mostro Lounge's business before looking over the material's information. HE raised a brow and placed a hand on his chin as he leaned back in his black leather chair, "You mean, you can't find what this silk is made out of?"
"That's correct." Jade responded bluntly, "However, according to Scarabia's dorm leader, the price of this silk is of amazing quality. Even he was unable to put an estimated price on it."
Azul frowned and looked upon the box again curiously, "Is that what he said?"
Jade nodded, "Should we return the box to Lotus?"
Azul hesitated in confusion before he shook his head, "No. Leave it with me."
"Oh?" Jade raised a brow in surprise when he heard this, "However, if something were to happen to the jade, we would be in big trouble."
Azul nodded with a sigh, "True... However, I have a feeling it would be in even bigger danger if it was returned to his care."
"Bigger danger?" Jade frowned at the thought of this.
He knew that, as much as Azul liked to make contracts and run businesses, he would never put himself in harms way or illegal contracts and acts. That one time with the photo was the only incident, but he still held firmly onto the belief after returning the photo back with a formal apology. Yet, he was willing to go through with this?
Was this really for himself or was it for Lotus?
Uncertain, he watched him in exasperation as he wondered over and over again in confusion. However, regardless of this change, the amusement continued to grow inside of him. It seems rather fun and he wanted to continue to watch what this friend of his would do as time passes on. He smiled as he watched Azul examining the box and item in deep thoughts as if lost in it.