Three day after the last camping trip, Lotus, Malleus, and Lilia were called away for another camping trip. Only this time, Lotus was called away from her science club once the first meeting was held.
"Coach Vargas? You called, sir?" Lotus called out to him once they arrived in the teacher office.
"Ah, Lotus! You don't have to act all stuffy around us! Haha!" Coach Vargas laughed as he struggled to break the tension before returning to his firm expression which was unlike his usual smiling face, "Ahem! As I recall, you did not struggle very much when faced with challenges during the last camping trip. Your experience and knowledge far exceeded what is required for you to know in a life and death situation. Because of this, you were able to easily carry your club through the trip with little effort and even taught the students how to survive in the wild without magic."
"It's not unusual for me as I don't have magic." Lotus nodded, "Coach Vargas, I think I understand what you are trying to say about my performance during the last camping trip. Would there be changes made because I am a part of a cultural club too?"
"Unfortunately, that's how it is." Vargas nodded, "With your knowledge and expertise, I don't have anything else to teach you. As such, taking you on the trip once more as a student seems unfitting to your position."
"I see…" Lotus nodded, "Then, what do you have in mind, sir?"
"I'm glad you asked!" Vargas smiled wide as he said with a bright smile on his face giving Lotus a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
…..
"Eh?! You're not going to take part as a student?!" Sebek and Silver looked to her in surprise upon hearing this. They were grooming the horses to be rode out onto the pasture in Equestrian club when Sebek inquisitively questioned Lotus's absence after hearing she had been called away after the meeting through Malleus and Lilia.
"Apparently, I outperformed all of the others during the last camping trip and gave the professor a difficult time grading so they are putting me on the side during the camping trip this time." Lotus grumbled, "Although, I have no idea how I managed to outperform all of you when I had difficulties of my own…"
"Hah?! Are you trying to mock us?" Sebek hollered at her angrily.
Lotus raised a brow and sighed, "I'm sorry. Does it sound like I was mocking you? I had no idea what gave you that impression in the first place but it seems like you may wanna fix your impression with poor Gale before you try judge others? Yes?"
It was only after she said so did the half fae realized that the poor stallion he had chosen had backed himself in his pen so ferociously it had froze once more when he noticed Sebek's eyes laid upon him again. This time, it collapsed.
"Gale!" Riddle rushed forward upon picking up the atmosphere in a panic!
The poor horse was foaming by the mouth as Riddle checked the horse's breathing and shouted, "Get the first aid kit for horses right now! And you two! If you have time to squabble, you better help or you can wait for when I report this to your dorm leaders!"
"Got it…/Yes, sir!"
"Here it is, Riddle." Silver handed the kit over to him immediately.
After ten minutes, Gale managed to regain consciousness, but he quickly passed out again after seeing Sebek holding his head. This time, Riddle kicked him out of the stables much to the freshman's horror and disbelief! With a few needles, Lotus helped the horse regain consciousness once more and, this time, the stallion was left to rest alone with the older horses in the stable. Instead, Sebek was assigned to a different stallion and managed to join them for a ride as the new stallion was unwilling to trot or prance around the pasture but went for a full sprint…
Once again.
After another hectic day, Lotus was returning to her room when Lilia called over to her.
"Lilia-senpai?" Lotus raised a brow curiously, "Do you need something from me?"
"Just a couple of questions." Lilia reassured her, "Did something happen between you and Malleus?"
"Between us?" Lotus thought curiously, "Perhaps... We had a small argument and ended up saying some things to one another, but that was it. Did a problem come up?"
"You could say that..." Lilia hummed, "Normally, he has great control over his magic, but it has been different during these past couple of days. His mood has become quite foul as of late. It would be good if you could sort things out with him before the camping trip."
Lotus sighed, "So, you say... But, um... the spat was a little bit more complicated..."
"Oh dear..." Lilia shook his head and brought her to his room, "Pease go into details."
"Well, apparently," Lotus hesitated then sighed in defeat, "the dorm leader saved the princess the other day while she was doing something reckless... Though the queen and the princess were grateful and shared some info to him out of gratitude, he later barged into her room for some important matter. Although the matter being important enough for him to find her could be overlooked because he had saved her and it was an important matter, the fact that he barged into a woman's quarter and especially the princess's left the princess in a foul mood. While letting them talk it out in my room, they got into a spat and the princess teleported him out of the room... Basically, she kicked him out."
"Yeah, I don't believe you." Lilia stated bluntly with a dry smile.
"I figured you wouldn't, but I might really end up lying later if you continue." Lotus responded with a smile of her own.
"Our prince wouldn't do something as barging into a woman's quarters." Lilia shook his head in disbelief.
"Really?" Lotus's eyes widen in surprise, "Then, why suddenly appear in the princess's quarters?"
Lilia sighed, "I see. Taken into account that he and Yuu are friends, can you take this into account and give us some leniency for more information?"
Lotus sighed, "The princess was tasked by the queen to check on his mental health. She feels reassured knowing that you and the other two retainers are by his side, but, as you've mentioned to her prior, you are leaning towards retirement and the queen isn't deaf. She's worried that your sudden departure from his side and this school would throw the prince's mental unstable for a brief period of time. And time is something that most faes struggle to calculate on human terms. Hence she was here."
"Now that's a surprise." Lilia looked up in bewilderment.
"I don't believe this worry is something to be shaken off lightly." Lotus sighed, "Malleus has always been able to control his own emotions. However, the matter is that his bond with you is even more than the queen who is his biological grandmother. Everyone else has long left but you are still around and still is to this day. The queen is willing to let you go to retirement after all you've done for the kingdom and royal family, but your absence has one more repercussions she fears she may not be present to handle. As someone who have traveled often, you probably understand the queen's concern better than others. If THAT scenario were to occur, things will become dangerous. Not even other we're able to discern friend from foe during that state. So, the queen has sent the princess to see for herself and give her judgement on the prince's state with your absence."
"So that's it." Lilia smiled with a relieved expression, "I was worried that the reason would be more complicated than that."
Lotus smiled and nodded, "As expected, you are confident in Malleus."
"It's called faith." Lilia chuckled, "Malleus has always been a very docile and well mannered child. Now, he's old enough and strong enough to live on his own two feet without me staying by his side. There are days where I am not around him as well. So there's nothing to really worry about."
"Is that so?" Lotus hummed to herself in deep thoughts before she chuckled, "Since it is like this, I trust that those two can finally stop taking my room from me?"
"Huh?"
…..
With her wallpapers repaired, Lotus returned to her work and was carefully crafting something in her hands as Malleus entered the room with a curious expression , "What are you making?"
However, Lotus did not respond as her fingers swiftly and carefully smoothed out the rough edges of the metal bangs.
Malleus was intrigued by the intricate designs of the metal bangs and reached out for one of them only to feel a slight burn on his fingers.
"You fool!" Lotus jumped in shock upon realizing that Malleus was there and his actions. She quickly grasped his hand covered the burning finger tips with her palms as she cursed, "Are you an idiot?! Who said you can go ahead and touch other people's stuff without permission?!"
In her palms, the flames were smothered as it scorched her palms. She hissed in pain before uncovering the hand. His finger tips were burnt heavily by the flames probably enough for it to be considered a third degree burn across all of his finger tips. Malleus flinched painfully as he realized that the flame was a lot more powerful than he had expected. He was upset and frustrated to have been burnt like this and having continually underestimating everything around the princess. Lotus saw this and scolded, "Oh, don't give me that look! How old are you? Three years old?! I know for a fact Lilia taught you to respect other people's belongings well enough if you kept your hands away from Ramshackle dorm's gargoyles. This time, you have no one to blame but yourself! Now, sit down unless you wanna walk around showing others that you managed to get injured despite being so strong. Hmph! Can't leave a single thing outside for more than three seconds…"
As she grumbled to herself, Malleus was stunned in bewilderment before finding himself seated on a chair across from her. Having cleared his mind, the situation finally settled in as he was shocked by what had occurred. Something actually burnt his hand to such a degree in less than three seconds!
His train of thoughts were broken as a loud sound snapped his sight back to his surroundings. He looked up and found that it was coming from Lotus who seemed to struggle opening a porcelain container as it had fell to the ground and shattered into pieces!
Peony?