Frustrated and annoyed, Malleus was at a loss for words. Rather than nobody having treated him this way before, he was more at a loss over how easily someone else blatantly treated him this way now! Although it was interesting and he wished he could say it was refreshing, it can also get irritating. Yet, knowing this only became more fun for Lotus. She kept prodding at him until he reacted and then pushed him back down like some idiot he was! Although it was nothing, it was fun to see a male dragon kin show so many expressions! Even her elder sister's husband was as expressionless as Silver's regular face. However, who knew that this little dragon would be so much fun to play with?! Had Malleus known this thought, he would've attempted to take her life right there!
As Malleus was left in thoughts out of frustration, Lotus continued her way to the cave with a mind full of "fun" ideas to pull on him.
"Lotus?"
Lotus looked up and smiled, "Hey, Trey. How is everything?"
As expected, Trey and the others have started looking for magic stones already.
"Were you able to find the tools and the magic stones yet?" Lotus questioned curiously.
"No, not yet." Trey shook his head, "Malleus came back telling us not to go in too deep and wait for you."
"For me?" Lotus pointed to herself in bewilderment. However, that was a long while ago! From the time Jade was smoking the fish till now, it was approximately three hours... Who knew that Malleus also enjoyed procrastinating and eavesdropping so much?!
Thinking this, she became really annoyed. If it was before, she would find it surprising. But now, she found it insulting! To have stayed in one place for so long and not get found, it was insulting her own talent! As expected, she still has a long way to go. It was definitely too soon for her to be overconfident with her own skills if she couldn't even detect the presence of a baby dragon. She sighed and nodded, "Understood. Guess it's time for me to go organize a little search. The group and Malleus can wait out here."
Malleus opened his mouth, "I'm going with you."
"And no." She ignored him and continued, "Please have everyone wait out here, Trey."
"I don't mind that, but..." Trey glanced over to the guy and hesitated, "You know it will be very difficult to convince some to stay behind."
Lotus shook her head, "I need to go make some requests to fairies in this mine. They won't be thrilled to talk with someone when there's a powerful aura exuding from someone... Oh, and no, I can't make them quit trying to stop you."
"At least, please listen to what we have to say." Trey shook his head in exasperation.
"Ah, sorry. I was in a rush and just said everything I wanted to say instead." Lotus sighed, "Please go on."
"Haha…" Trey gave a dry chuckle before continuing, "Aside from everything else that you have answered, I am wondering how was that student you took away with you?"
"I only saw from afar, but it would seem that he has taken a shine to his new job." Lotus replied, "It was outside of my expectations aside from the jeerings and sneers. He has great patience and fortitude. I expect that he might do well as an assistant in the future for budding prodigies. That being said though. He needs to build that mental fortitude and strengthen that character building if he wants to prevent the same mistake from occurring like what he had pulled. If possible, I'd like him to pass on his knowledge to the next batch of freshman next year or assist us as we conduct experiments before the other students. He's still responsible for what he did and that's something he has to work on himself. We'll just provide him with what is needed, but the rest will have to be in him. Whether he can rebuild that foundation of trust relies on his own will and determination. Needless to say, nothing in this world are that simple. It is only simple when others have worked towards something and helped you achieved a path to your goals. One is such asking for forgiveness and receiving that forgiveness, while you have worked out your differences, the other must also accept the apology and the effects of your fault. Many times, they came be simple but that's not always the case. Much like what he has achieved right now, not many will accept an apology from him, but what he does now is more important than our apology. Otherwise, he will have difficulty moving forward just as those who wish to continue resenting him for what he's done. They will be stuck in a loop where they will always remember and despise him for what he's done."
"That's to be expected." Trey sighed in disappointment, "I didn't think the one who started this would be from our own club though."
"This is a school. And, in this school, this is a club. In a club, we exercise our favorite activities and let our mind wander and energy used in a healthy direction. This is not some sort of government or entertainment industry where your every action and decisions must be judged or we judge others so harshly in a direction that would end their entire future. At the same time, we do not target others for our own benefits in such a underhanded method for opportunities that would result in the end of the other's future. That was his mistake, but it's not an uncommon one. We are living creatures roaming this earth after all. Even a kitten will target the other due to the favoritism of their caregiver. But, as common as it is, we are sentient. As common as the problem is, there are also more than one ways to overcome this, and not all of them are the right way. As such, even this may not be a completely right way, however, in this time and place it is the best possible one we can think of. If it wasn't, everyone else would've intercepted by now, am I right?"
Noticing that a few others have perked their ears over towards them, Trey shook his head and sighed, "Those guys… So, what do we do?"
"Let him do as he please. The most we can do is let him go and see what he does. Providing him the opportunity to improve himself is also one of them. Forgiveness is his own personal goals, not ours. Whether the others forgive him or not is up to them. As long as it does not impact the others and the club, I'd care less."
"But what about you?"
Lotus shrugged, "I've already let him off. If it's still not clear, I'll forgive him when he asks for it himself. I'd like to not dawdle around a matter that is less significant as my own goal. However, he needs to remember… Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice. Shame. On. Me. If he asks, please do convey that to him for me, would you? I'd like to focus on my studies unlike those who have more time on their hands for these cute pranks. If he has so much time and energy, why not join the Magift club? I'm sure Ruggie would know exactly where to put him there."
Saying this in such a deadly serious tone, even the others could feel a shiver run down their spines! They never expected someone as passive as her could become so angry like this! It was horrifying to think what she would do if they acted in a similar manner! Since this incident, Lotus would later become remembered as the just, yet cold club leader of the Science club that would later become known as the seeds of many other future well known male scientists in the world. Yet no matter how ambitious they were or the future club leaders, none matched the ambitious nature of this club leader since her generation. No matter how ambitious the others were, none dared to create trouble around her or the places she wanders. Those who had were recommended to the magift club and track club by her. Had that child known this, he would've never acted on impulse from the very beginning and touched her ire.
Suddenly, Lotus flinched as she heard something from her Butterflies.
"Now, don't go deep into the caves without permission. I'll be right back!" Lotus responded with a bright smile and quickly before disappearing into the caves!
"Wait-! Ugh…" Trey sighed, "What if he gets into trouble down there? Well, it's ventilated if there's a slight breeze, but still… Guess we will have to try to-! Malleus?"
Looking around, he was shocked to find that the dragon fae had already vanished.
"… Oops."
…..
Entering the cold cave, Peony frowned as she lit up the interior with a ball of light. All around her was full of spiritual essence, mana, flowing from the ground. They're flowing everywhere with no order at all. As she got closer, she finally found them. She knelt on the ground and softly gathered them in the palm of her hand.
"The butterflies…" She closely examined it and whispered to herself softly, "Chaotic mana. One toxic enough for acid-like property… Evil mana? Demonic mana? Tsk! If only second sister was here…"
After some thought, she decided to insert her spiritual powers to dissolve into the natural chaotic spiritual essence. With that, she managed to gain control of the spiritual essence and see a trail of it forward down one of the tunnel's paths.
"What is this?!"
She spun around before she sighed in exasperation, "Mal. Le. Us.... Seriously?!"