"It has only been two years, but he's already fallen victim to a scheme?" Malleus questioned in confusion.
"Well, for humans, a month may seem like a week to you or perhaps a few hours. However, two years is no different to twenty years to you perhaps. To make matters worse, my mentor was already in bad health before he vanished. He is also very old. For his condition, the fact that he responded and even invited me to attend the masquerade in another month is already impressive. His disabilities is nothing he can just overcome either. His misshaped skeletal structure including the skull is altered to terribly that it has impacted his health. Even leaning causes him a lot of pain. You could say that, if there was anything he considered to be a miracle and a blessing, it would be two things. His birth and his child."
"He has a child? Even in that state?" Malleus questioned in bewilderment.
Lotus nodded, "In his state, it should be difficult for him to have children. However, he had strongly wished for a child and a miracle did happen. His kind wife bore a son for him. However, that was when tragedy struck. She later died from complication and weak health during birth leaving their child solely in his care. My mentor spent months and went through many books to find laws and amendments in the City of Flowers to keep custody of his son when his disabilities made it liable for others to attack him for his son. Even after he did managed to keep his son, he struggled between work and spending family time with his son. To make matters worse, his son struggled since young having a physically impaired single parent. Most children were also too young or too scared to understand those who are handicapped as severly as my mentor. They would ostracize his son because they could not approach his father. A very cowardly method, but it made a big impact on his child's growth. When I learnt of his son, I also heard that he was a well-learnt individual as well. A person who cares very much for his father's declining health. Despite the ups and downs, they shared a very close parent and child bond. However... Now, all of that is up in the air."
"Why do you say that?" Malleus questioned with a frown.
"The name on the paper is the name of his son. He signed his name with the title of the headmaster of the school." Lotus shook her head in dismay, "However, my mentor did not mention any plans of retiring. So, why was it that he immediately claimed the seat of headmaster so quickly?"
"Noble Bell College is not a bad school, but I do not believe it has so much influence." Malleus hummed in confusion.
"It does not. However, it is the stepping stone for many future lawyers and those in the field of law, including prominent figures such as my mentor and his son. That being said..." Lotus shook her head in dismay, "In the past, those who become headmaster of the school is unique compared to other magic academies. Traditionally, those who would become the next headmaster must follow the candidacy path. Their knowledge on law and the understanding of them are questioned by the judge."
"The Judge?"
"A judge is chosen by the board of education, president of the board of education and the retiring headmaster." Lotus responded, "This is to ensure that there won't be any bias opinions and preferences made by either one of the three. That judge will choose amongst two candidates chosen by the former to become the next headmaster. However, with the current one missing, the choosing of the next headmaster should have been left onto the judge. Why is it that his son has already proclaimed himself the next headmaster?"
Lotus sighed, "My mentor... I-It's complicated. However, it is true that he does not know about his own candidacy. All he knows is that he has the qualifications to become a headmaster. As for who the judge is and the process, I don't know. Since my mentor has called me to the city of flowers, I will naturally have to go there. Even though I took his short life existence as something obvious, it would not sit well with me if I did not and just let him move on. However, as for how all of this concerns you..."
Lotus scowled, "Forget it. Do what you want to do with that invitation for their party. Just remember this. Even though everything there sounds like fun, remember that this scheme may have others look to you for social and political influence. As crazy or impossible as it sounds, there may even be someone who aims to harm you for their own gain. Hmph! To think that one of the candidacy or even schools may try to utilize political influence and work schemes to climb to power. I swear! What is this? A daycare?!"
She shook her head in dismay before turning to him, "I will go as the princess's representative. Hopefully, you come into contact with the second candidate as soon as you get there."
"Who is the second candidate?" Malleus's smirk from before soon changed into deep curiosity.
"The reason why the candidates and the process has never begun ever since my mentor chose the candidate is because the second candidate is extremely young. Normally, no one of that age has the chance to become the headmaster. However, this kid is incredibly smart and one of the requirements to be a candidate is to be the headmaster's student. So, as long as you are a student from Noble Bell College during his time in the school officially, then you are eligible to be his student as well. However, this person seem to be someone my mentor tutored from a very young age. So, at this point in time, he should be in the school."
"So, you want me to find this person?" Malleus looked to her in surprise.
"If you don't want something nonsensical to happen, please do so." Lotus huffed, "Otherwise, anything else you do to him I don't really care."
"You don't?" Malleus looked to her in disbelief.
"Do you want me to care?" She glared at him.
"I just thought that you would be more concerned over your mentor's other student."
Lotus sighed, "It's been a while since I last had any seniors and it's clear that this one sure is acting all too weird. So, all I got is a suspicious senior brother and another senior brother who probably has zero idea that any of us existed. My mentor sure picked some rather strange students to teach in his lifetime. Then again, he has always been a weird guy to begin with. Hopefully, I'm not the only normal student he has taught."
Malleus huffed a sneer, "Very well. I shall be attending the masquerade! Now, I'm more eager to learn who these two students of his are."
"You're sick." Lotus raised a brow in displeasure and huffed in dismay, "I'm going back to check out the area. You try not to get into trouble."
"Why must I listen to you?" Malleus scowled.
Lotus shrugged, "Why do you think I expect you to listen to me? Just admit it. You're bored."
"You are annoying." Malleus hissed with a scowl at her to which she quickly leapt into a tree barely missing his strike.
"You're so slow." Lotus sneered as she stuck out her tongue, "Unfortunately, I don't got time to play with you now. Perhaps later."
Just as she was about to turn around and leave, Lotus paused and turned her head, "Ah, don't forget about the Fairy Gala end party. You tend to be so forgetful sometimes."
With that, she turned around and disappeared into the trees as Malleus paused with a look of surprise and chuckled, "Now who is the one looking forward to this event?"
.....
Lotus made her way to the lake where she saw Yuu and Grim picking herbs with Trey and the others from her science club. As she recalled, they were supposed to be catching a large catfish for their meals. She was confused why they were going through the ground for herbs. However, she suddenly recalled that there was a presentation not too long ago about the ecosystems of swamps and ponds. She recalled that that catfish was one of the crucial balance of the ponds. they have powerful senses of smell, hearing and touch to make up for the lack of sight. Since Trey was one of the members, it did make sense that they would have gone to make something that could be a smelly bait even in water. As she walked to the lake, she saw that they had gone to ginding the ingredients before she got there.
"You've already started grinding the ingredients?"
"Lotus! You're here!" Yuu smiled, "How was Kalim?"
"I've already removed whatever was there so he's fine. He just wasn't someone who could go to sleep despite all that." Lotus shrugged, "I left him with Ren earlier. We ended up having to tell boring old stories before he finally fell asleep."
Yuu sighed in relief, "That's good to hear."
"What about you guys?" Lotus gestured to the lake, "I saw that you've already started on a test."
"Trey and the science club think they can catch a catfish with this smelly bait." Grim grumbled as he continued to cover his nose, "It stinks! Will the catfish really be able to smell this?"
Lotus chuckled, "Then do you want to bet?"
"No way!" Grim hissed at her, "The last time we betted, I somehow lost to you again! I didn't even get one taste of a can of tuna! Why would I make another bet with you?"
Lotus shrugged, "All right."
"If Lotus is even willing to bet that we can succeed, then maybe we are on the right track!" One of the students cheered eagerly.
Hearing their words, Lotus frowned, "Just basing on my words to determine your success, are you just trying to flatter me? Flattery gets no one anywhere in nature or did you already forget that I'm not suppose to take part in our club activities?"
"Ah, s-sorry..."