In just a few seconds, the armor-clad people had gone around and checked the pulses of everyone on the floor.
The person who led them all walked up to me and took off his helmet.
The king?
"It looks like we meet again, Leo." He paused for a moment before continuing to speak, "Can you tell me what happened here?" He had a serious tone as he looked down at Kathryn and Ian.
"A crazy succubus came and put everyone to sleep." I responded, I figured to just get to the point, so I continued to speak, "She went that way." I pointed at the doorway she went through.
The king looked towards his soldiers and nodded. The soldiers immediately headed through the doorway and out of sight.
"Can you tell me what happened in detail-" The king paused for a moment before continuing to speak, "Later?" He looked around at the unconscious students before another group of people clad in armor walked in.
The king stood up and ordered the soldiers,
"Get everyone back safe."
The soldiers immediately took action, carefully picking up each student and heading out the door with them.
The king picked up both Ian and Kathryn before speaking to me,
"We'll talk later."
Hm? What a doting father.
I nodded my head and lifted Rio up and put him on my back.
I started to walk back to the school.
I wonder if the teachers care about this more or does the king? I doubt the teachers even know about this yet though, so probably the king. And is this considered an attack on the kingdom or an attack on the school? Probably both actually... Hm... I know I wrote this world, but there truly are so many questions I have...
---
Holy hell... That walk was way too long...
Haah, finally back at the dorms. Why is it so hot out right now? I can literally see the sun going down... I'm definitely going to lay down for a few...
Entering the dorm with Rio on my back I was met with Kazu who was on the couch. I accidentally locked eyes with him.
"Leo! Good afternoon, you both coming back from ice cream or something?" Kazu said before he noticed that Rio was sleeping on my back. Quickly catching his mistake, he began to talk again in a quieter voice, "Oh! Sorry..." He clasped his hands together before continuing, "How was wherever you went?"
Haah, he's so talkative...
I gave him a wave before speaking,
"We went to a party, it was alright. But I think I'm a very unlucky person..."
"Unlucky?" Kazu tilted his head in confusion, he was about to speak again but I cut him off before then.
"Yeah, I'm pretty tired though, so I'll be heading off first. Night."
"Oh! Good night!" Kazu immediately replied and waved at me.
I headed to Rio's room and opened the door.
Huh?
On his bed was a ton of pillows and blankets, like the ones I had but in a different color.
What? Didn't he literally ask for these today? I had to wait 5 days for my stuff to come in... What is this unfair treatment?
I laid Rio on the bed then threw some of the blankets over him.
Hm?
I noticed on his nightstand was a picture of us together, it was different than the one I had.
How do they keep getting these photos? Are they stalking us or something? Weirdos...
Shortly after, I headed back to my room.
I'll tell Mr. Mispholfo about this the tracker when I wake up. Haah, I'm pretty tired.
I don't know whether it was because of this mark or because I got choked out, but I was way more tired than I should have been.
I laid down and slept.
---
I woke up and yawned,
Haah...
My arms stretched wide.
I sat up and looked around, the usual empty bottles with empty cans of food were on the floor.
I twisted my body to crack my bones, the cold floor usually left me with tons of cracking in the morning.
"Morning Leo!" The brown-haired kid greeted me with a smile and an energetic voice.
"Morning Jamie." I responded, still mid-yawn. I paused for a moment before continuing to speak, "Hm? Why do you look so happy today?"
"Eh? Do you wanna know? Do you really wanna know?" Jamie said in a playful tone while poking at my arm.
"I do?"
"Well, I'm not gonna tell you! You gotta guess!" He smiled and laughed.
"Eh? Why not?"
"Cause it's important for you to remember!"
"Eh... Just tell me..."
"Nope!" Jamie said before pausing for a moment, putting something into his bag and then started to smile, "Let's go!"
"Where?" I asked but he took my hand and led me out the door.
As we ran through the streets, we passed by many shops and stores. I looked at the window and saw my reflection.
My messy blonde hair which followed his long brown hair, those were the two things that stood out most in the reflection.
After a short while I asked again,
"Where are we going? Shouldn't we be collecting cans?"
"Nope! Not today, just follow me! We're almost there!" He looked back and smiled before continuing to lead the way.
Although I was confused, I still followed him.
…
"Alright! Close your eyes!"
We stopped just behind a wall; we were in an alleyway, and I couldn't see anything other than the walls.
"Eh? Why?"
"Just do it!"
"Okay..."
I closed my eyes, and he took my hand then spoke,
"Don't open them until I say so!"
"Okay..."
As much as I wanted to open my eyes; I kept them closed tight.
It felt like we were going upslope and I almost tripped a few times.
"Don't trip!" I could hear him smiling.
"I can't see... You have to keep me from falling..."
"Then just follow me carefully!"
"What? I can't see..."
"We're almost there!"
"Are you even listening to me?"
"A few more steps!"
Hm? It feels a little windy...
"Okay! You can open them!"
When I opened my eyes, I felt another cold breeze.
We were on a hill overlooking our town. It was a pretty sight, a sight which I've never seen before. I looked at Jamie who started to speak.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Jamie took a seat underneath a tree on top of the hill before starting to speak,
"Come here!"
He patted on the ground next to him and I sat next to him.
"What do you think!?" He smiled.
The breeze flipped up my hair.
"It's very pretty." I smiled.
"It is! Isn't it? Did you remember why today is important?" He asked
I couldn't think of anything, today wasn't my birthday or his so I had no idea why we were here.
I shook my head.
"Agh! I'll just tell you!" He paused for a moment before continuing to speak, "This is something my older brother showed me a year after we met, so I wanted to keep the tradition! It's been a year since we met." Jamie had a soft smile.
My eyes widened and Jamie continued to speak,
"And for this special day, I've brought you this." He opened his bag and pulled out an item before handing it to me. "Here you go!" He smiled.
A book?
I couldn't help but feel my eyes start to water.
"T-T... Thank you..." I could barely get out as I smiled.
"Of course!" Jamie smiled even wider than I did
---
I jolted up and sat up.
Huh?
I looked around and I was back in my room.
I could feel a droplet hit my hand as I wiped my face and eyes.
Am I... Crying?