"But, big sis, where will you sleep instead?" Little Jun's voice echoed in the back of her mind desperately.
Lotus thought for a long while in deep thoughts with a troubled look across her face.
For once, she was stuck.
She did not want to go sleep in Heartslabyul since it would be difficult to come up with an excuse for why she would need to sleep in the lounge this time when the weather has been getting warmer. Savanaclaw was full of sweaty boys and Jack has a strong sense of smell too. Octavinelle wouldn't mind as long as she pays a fee, but she would rather not get the upper hand by the dormleader. Scarabia is also out of the question since she agreed that she would not appear again until the time is right.
This was a problem. Thankfully, none of the dormleaders or members were around to try and influence her thoughts. After all, some would love to take advantage of this time to harm her morals while Riddle would just put her into one of the freshmen's rooms and she would rather not share the bed with anyone, much less a room.
"Lotus? Is that you?"
Surprised, Lotus turned around and found Ren looking to her with a stack of books he borrowed from the library.
"Ren!" Lotus instinctively smiled at the sight of someone familiar, "Yes. It looks like you just came back from the library?"
Ren nodded and pointed to Goldsvein behind him, "That's right. Goldsvein and I decided to continue studying while class was closed for now. But, what are you doing out here? I heard the prefect is staying in Pomefiore until the construction of your dorm is over."
Lotus sighed shaking her head, "I just came back from sorting out some problems back home. When I came back, I heard that I would have to stay with those from Pomefiore. However..."
Lotus grumbled miserably, "Though he is offering this as a kind gesture, Pomefiore's dorm leader and I do not get along."
"You don't get along? Really?" Ren looked to Elijah in surprise, "Elijah and I have been helping Prefect Yuu and Grim move their belongings to the dorm yesterday. Though Dorm leader Vil is very strict upon everyone's performance, he isn't a bad person."
"He isn't." Lotus nodded in agreement, "However, aside from traits, we don't get along. It'll be better to say that our personalities clash. I wanted to ask dorm leader Riddle to let me stay over, but relying on Heartslabyul once is enough. If I go again, I'd have a debt to repay, even if those in the dorm wouldn't mind letting me stay over. It'd just hurt my conscience."
"Ah..." Elijah muttered in bewilderment, "Well, school is out and we still have rooms in our dorm. Would you like to stay over at Diasomnia again? I heard that dorm leader Malleus and the others were looking for you for some help."
"Eh?" Lotus looked up in surprise when it suddenly dawned upon her! Oh God! How could she have forgotten?!
"A-Ah! That's right! I forgot I was suppose to give them a visit!" Lotus responded in bewilderment.
To their confused expression, she explained, "An acquaintance of mine contacted me for help telling me that it was very urgent. She mentioned that he also attended Night Raven College and he would contact me soon. To think that it was Dorm leader Malleus and his friends. Since it's like this, maybe I can lend a hand for a place to stay over a few weeks."
"But is the matter so big that it'd lend you a place in the dorm?" Elijah questioned curiously.
Lotus sighed, "It must be. my acquaintance isn't a small clent either. Think about it, how else could she have been able to contact him? Whenever she calls me, it's usually to fix a problem she's caused or an errand for me to run. Normally, I'm paid for it after the work, but this time I think I might be able to get this chance to let me stay over at the dorm."
"How about your fever?" Ren questioned curiously as he touched her forehead and nodded, "It's still cold as always."
Lotus nodded with a bright smile, "I'm much better now, though."
"That's good." Ren petted her head with a small smile, "I'll bring you over to the dorm leader, then."
"All right!"
As they made their way to the hall of mirrors, Elijah stood there staring at them in bewilderment. Did... Did Ren just petted her head?!
Since their meeting, it was well known by those who came across her that she disliked being pet on the head and the only one capable of doing this was the prefect and Grim. If it was others, she would've blocked them and suggested them otherwise, or...!
In the past, those who disregarded this had their wrists held by her as she smiled more politely before they suddenly backed away. Strangely, even if they wanted to get back at her, they never did so. Since then, nobody dared to do what she did not allow.
But, Ren did this just fine without getting reprimanded by her!
"Elijah!"
He looked up in surprise as he noticed the two waiting for him standing side by side. Strangely, the sight felt rather natural as though they had always known one another.
"We're gonna leave you behind if you don't hurry up!" Lotus said with a raised brow, "Do you need help carrying your books?"
Elijah quickly shook his head, "N-no! I'm coming!"
.....
Upon arriving at the dorm with her craft bag and medical kit, Lotus noticed a rather distraught looking Sebek and a very confused looking Lilia over by the entrance. Seeing the two, Ren hesitated in confusion as she said, "Um, is Sebek..."
"Oh, you're back, Ren!" Lilia nodded with a wide smile before noticing the guests, "Ah, Elijah and... Lotus! Just in time! I was ready to go out and look for you in Pomefiore!"
"Good morning, Vice-dorm leader Lilia." Lotus smiled, "I was told that you may need my help with an accessory."
"Oh?" Lilia looked to her in confusion, " I was certain that Ren would not talk about it."
"He didn't." Lotus answered for Ren, "My acquaintance did. She mentioned that it was urgent."
Hearing her words, Lilia smirked mysteriously as he responded, "Ah, I see! So, she did."
Lotus chuckled, "Yeah. Sorry to have given you this impression. Either way, to alter the appearance of the item, I need to see what it looks like first and how I can alter it without changing its spiritual properties. Um... Is Sebek all right? No wait. That's a silly question to ask."
"He's displeased with something and I can't quite understand what it is." Lilia shook his head and sighed to see that Sebek had already passed out from the shock.
"Maybe it has to do with whatever is going on surrounding the dorm leader." Elijah said, "I don't know how you guys sees it, but, whenever there's talk about Malleus, Sebek seems to be just as prideful of being Malleus's retainer and boasts about him even more. On the other hand, if it was mention something unsatisfactory about Malleus, he'd give an earful to that person for disrespecting him. I get that Diasomnia's dorm leader is a respected figure even outside of the school, so maybe something happened that it directed towards his lord's reputation?"
"His reputation?" Lotus noted curiously as it hit her, "Ah... I see... If Malleus got it, it could cause some trouble should it reach others' ears. Ah geez. She really messed it up this time..."
Well, it seems she really, really messed it up this time...
"Uh... I'll take Elijah to study in our room, is that all right?" Ren suggested upon seeing the situation and decided to take those uninvolved away from the area.
"Please do and take Sebek with you. It'd be impolite if he stays unconscious out here." Lilia nodded and turned to Lotus, "Come with me."
Lotus nodded and followed Lilia into the dorm. For once, the dorm was crowded with people as some walked back and forth with books in their arms or they're heading to the lounge which they walked past. Seeing this, Lotus raised a brow but she did not say anything. Instead, she sent a few butterflies to scout out after they changed into a dark black color to blend into their surroundings. By the time the two stopped, they were just outside of a door. Lilia knocked, "Malleus, we found Lotus."
Lilia opened the door and Malleus sat there on a chair before his desk. They walked in as Malleus looked over to her, "You're here. It's been a while."
"Yes." She nodded with a small smile yet didn't talk until she heard the door behind her closed shut did the smile on her face vanished instantly, "The princess told me what has happened. My apologies, milord."
Seeing her change in demeanor, the two were rather surprised as Malleus asked curiously, "So you do know the princess?"
Lotus nodded with a heavy sigh, "That's correct. However, I'm normally never called unless there is a mess she wishes for me to patch up."
"Oh? Then, you've known her for a while." Malleus noted curiously.
Lotus nodded, "When I was a child, the one who helped me evade capture from my pursuers when I was captured was her."
Well, it was technically HER mother.
"Evade capture?" Lilia looked to her in confusion.
Lotus nodded again, "It's widely known to those who know me, but I was from an orphanage when I was little. However, the process of raising and accepting children were illegal. Those who knew of the situation were sold and those who didn't stayed blissfully unaware or 'adopted'. I heard that the situation was rather similar to one from the princess when she was younger than me."
"Do you know the reason the fairy queen adopted her?" Lilia questioned her curiously, "It's not often for light faes to adopt human children, especially the Queen of Fairies."