"Let's recap," said the deputy of the Sprite Guardians, Alice. "The first group of veterans who were assigned to the northern region found that those who disappeared were seen alive and well in the moments leading up to their disappearance. The same was the case with the second group of veterans, the group of sophomores, and the interns. Additionally, all of them had their big break right before the disappearance," she said.
'Looks like you were right.'
[Was there ever really any doubt?]
Hunter puts his hand in the air. Alice turns and a smile appears on her face. "Yes, darling?"
"What the hell are you doing?" Joe whispered. "Put your hands down right now," he demanded.
The dark-haired boy does not spare the brown-eyed man a look, rising to his feet and speaking anyway despite the latter's protests. "I know what happened to those people," he said.
"You do?" Alice asked.
"Yes. This is the work of a pure demon," he stated.
"How did you reach that conclusion?" Richard queried.
"To manipulate humans, weaker demons need the human to have a high emotion. In this case, the pure demon try and make his victims as happy as they can to have access to their mind like buying the entire product in their store for double the price."
"Do you know anything about demons, Hunter?" Richard asked.
'Much more than you do.'
"Uh huh," Hunter nods.
"Then you should know a strong pure demon cannot be here because of the travel ban set by the councilwoman, Lilith, even less so one of a weaker caliber."
"You're right. However --"
"Apologies for his interruption, he just wants to be involved somehow," Joe said pulling Hunter back to his seat.
'I just want to be involved somehow? ME?!'
[Ha ha ha]
.
.
.
Hunter places the plates of slightly charred fish with red onions cut in rings spread around along with lemon wedges and cilantro in front of his schoolmates.
The students' mouths water and the air is filled with the aroma of the food.
"Bon appétit," said Hunter before walking out of the room to go to the kitchen and get himself a plate. The teal green-eyed boy passed through the dining room where some of the veteran Guardians were eating. "This is delicious. You're going to have to show me how you made it," said Alice.
"Heh," he chuckled nervously. "It's nothing special really, I just soaked the fish in a medley of fragrant spices and herbs, then grilled it resulting in the tender and juicy texture," he explained.
"This is unbelievably good!" Richard exclaimed.
"Thanks," he said before continuing to the kitchen and grabbing the plate.
Hunter returned to the room where his friends were and they all praised his cooking. Lexa joined them some time later and Joe followed almost immediately.
"Alright guys, let's check our grades," Alex said.
"Yeah!" John said excitedly.
Alex took out his phone and browsed for a bit before looking up at the others. "Alright. Ready or not, here I go," he said. "Starting with the master of the transmission ability, the King of the domain, and the only person who looks cool bald: Thomas Maximilian, Grade A; no change."
"I like the introductions, it's cool," Hunter lauded.
"Thanks. Some people would say I'm being dramatic," Alex said side-eying his sister who rolled her eyes in response.
"Next, she is the greatest thing to happen to the sprites community since the Sprite Guardians, the prodigy: Yui Nakamura, Grade A; promoted to Class 4."
"Wow, that's not what I expected," she said.
"Whoa, they promoted you after one semester? That's awesome!" said Meghan.
"Round of applause for Yui please!" Alex requested and the other sprites obliged, applauding the scarlet-haired girl.
...
"Onto the year 1 student!" Alex said.
"I am so ready," Petra said.
"Yeah, I'm mostly eager to know what Hunter's grade would be," said Thomas.
"Same here," Yui said.
"Did he flunk most of his classes or something?" Joe asks.
"The opposite. He only joined the Met school this year and he led us to our first inter-order competition final," Yui explained.
"I didn't know you were that good," said Lexa.
"He's extraordinary," said Alex.
"Please, that's nothing. Back when I was in school, I won all four inter-order competitions I participated in and graduated with Grade B," said Joe. "It would have been an S Grade but I fell sick for most of the second semester and that greatly affected my final results," he added.
"What school did you attend?" Meghan asks.
"Thornbridge."
"Our rivals," said Oliver.
"Yeah, I remember once during an interschool competition against the Metropolitan School of Mysticism students, I captained my side to a clean victory without a single loss in any of the stages. The students were so pissed we were stoned back to Thornbridge," Joe said, he turned to Hunter. "Were you also part of the team?" He asked.
"As Yui told you earlier, I joined the Met school this year," Hunter said.
"I remember that competition," said Thomas. "I was still in class 1, didn't participate," he said. "We booed from the first elimination up to the last," he said.
"It was a tough atmosphere for sure but nothing can stop a team led by me," Joe claimed.
"As interesting as that must have been, it's time I continue with the first semester results," said Alex. "For the year one students, first up, she is the now, the enigmatic sprite, Petra Harrison who sees an increase to Grade C," Alex stated.
"Congratulations," Hunter said almost immediately Alex announced the increase. She was a step closer to reaching her desired grade and the dark-haired boy couldn't be happier for her. Petra smiles at the teal green-eyed boy.
"Next up, we have the incredible me, holding firm on that Grade C," he stated.
"And finally, the reason you're still listening to me," he continued. "He has taken the entire mystic world by storm since he burst onto the scene four months ago, no joke by the way, he has been targeted by high-profile mystics including Merlin and Santa Claus, and he was trialed by the Council of Mysticism --"
"There's no way those are good things," Hunter interrupted.
"Shh," Alex dismissed.
"Those are hyperboles, right? They didn't actually happen?" Joe queried.
"Shh!" Alex continued. "He went toe-to-toe against a group of Grade A students and a Grade S student, the joy of the people, the ultimate, Hunter 'Evergreen' Heffernan; Grade A!" He revealed.
"That's lower than I expected," Thomas claimed.
"Higher if you ask me," said Joe.
'Why is this guy inputting himself in my business?!'
[He just wants to be involved if you ask me]
'He he he.'
"Tom is right," said Yui. "Hunter defeated a group of Grade A students and even a Grade S student," she said.
"Let's not forget the rumors about him defeating a pure demon and Merlin," Alex chipped.
"Listen guys, I appreciate your concern but it's not that big of a deal. This way, I get to sit with two of the best," he said turning to Yui and Thomas.
"Welcome to the Grade A gang," said Thomas.
"Thank you."
"Time for some drinks!" said Alex as he got up to his feet and walked out of the room. He returned a short while later carrying a bucket that had drinks and ice inside.
Hunter looked at the bucket and then at the other sprites to see their delighted faces. 'Why I'm I friends with alcoholics?'
"Grab a bottle, Hunter," Alex said. Hunter looked around to see that everyone had taken a drink already. "I don't drink," he said.
"Oh? What would you like then?" Alex asks.
"Don't worry, I have a bottle of water right here," Hunter said raising the plastic bottle of water to show Alex.
"More drinks for me then," Joe said dropping an empty bottle next to the bucket and picking up a full one.
"Whoa!" Lexa exclaimed.
"Don't worry, I can hold my liquor ... Unlike someone here." As he said it, he cast a sidelong glance at Hunter.
'I -- is he talking about me?'
"We have our first empty bottle, you know what that means?" Alex said excitedly. "It's spin the bottle time!"
"I just knew you were going to say that," Lexa said.
"No, you didn't. Even I didn't plan to say it but only did because you wanted me to. This is actually your suggestion, you manifested it!"
"What are you saying?!" Lexa frowned.
"Moving on. Spin the bottle, are we all in?"
"Sure."
"Why not?"
"I have nothing better anyway."
"Let's go!"
"Alright," Alex smiled. "First things first, we need to set the rules: I get to spin the bottle; once the bottle stops, the person facing the bottom gets to ask the person facing the top of the bottle any question that the person facing the top has to answer," Alex said.
"Has to? I don't know, there are some things I'd like to keep to myself," said Petra.
"Agreed," said Yui.
"Okay. You either answer or take a shot," he stated.
"No," Hunter shook his head.
"Either answer or take off an article of clothing?"
"Hell no!" Lexa said almost immediately Alex closed his mouth.
"What about a kiss?" Joe suggested.
"I don't know if I'm very interested in kissing one of you," Oliver said looking at the guys.
"Then I guess you'll have to answer every question we ask you," Joe said.
Alexander looks around. "You agree with his suggestion? Seriously?!"
"People tend to follow what I say; it's a skill, no need to be jealous," Joe said.
Alex sighed. "A kiss it is then," he said placing the bottle in the middle as the sprites formed a small circle. "Okay." Alex spins the bottle and it stops pointing to Joe with Yui on the other end.
"How old are you?" Yui asks.
"Twenty-four," Joe replied.
"Wow," said Hunter. Joe frowned at the year 1 sprite.
Alex spins the bottle and it stops with the mouth pointing to him and the bottle facing Meghan. "Who is the most attractive person in this room right now to you?" She asked.
"I'd say Lexa because she looks a lot like me and I think I'm a pretty fine guy," Alex replied.
Lexa laughed, shaking her head while Petra placed her hand on her nose bridge and sighed. "Oh God."
"The first part I agree, one hundred percent," said Joe.
"Seriously though, the very obvious answer is Hunter," Alex said.
"You know what? I second that," said Meghan.
"Me too," Yui said.
"Hm, I guess he does have a pretty boy face," John agreed.
"It's kinda punchable really," said Joe staring at Hunter's face.
"Aw, stop you guys, you're going to make me blush," Hunter says sarcastically. They laughed and continued their game with Alex spinning the bottle and it stopping on Thomas, with Oliver at the other end.
"Who's your favorite sparring partner?" Oliver asked.
"Depends. If you mean someone to spar against then I'd pick Yui. No offense to the rest of you but she's the only one who can keep up with me. If you're talking about a partner to spar in the same team with then my pick would be Hunter. No one understands my abilities as well as he does," said Thomas.
"Guess you'd have a lot of carrying to do in the case of the second situation," Joe said.
"Joe, be nice," said Lexa.
"Sorry but I'm just going by what Thomas said earlier; only Yui can keep up with him which means in the case of a team-up with Hunter, Thomas would be doing most of the job," said Joe.
"Technically he's not wrong," Hunter stated.
"Even he agrees with me."
[Remember when I said Sydney was the strongest in your study tour team?]
'Random, but yes.'
[Sydney would beat Thomas in a fight]
'Why are you telling me this?'
[Because currently, two Sydneys couldn't beat you. Don't sell yourself short.]
"Guess I'm asking Hunter then," Meghan said. The calling of his name caught his attention and the sprite looked down to see the bottle pointing at him.
"If you could, who in this room would you date?" Meghan asked.
"Hm ..." Hunter leans forward and gives Meghan a smooch but as he moves away the year 2 sprite holds his hands and kisses him on the lips.
"Okay that's enough," Petra rolled her eyes.
...
Hours pass as they continue their game laughing, joking, talking, and very little kissing.
Alex spins the bottle which stops with Joe and Lexa on each side. "Lexa, will you be my girlfriend?" Joe asked.
'Eek ...'
The whole room went silent as everyone turned their attention to Alexandra.
"Oh? Uhm ..." Lexa stuttered.
"This is kinda awkward," said Alex.
[Hunter, there's someone outside]
'Huh?' The dark-haired boy turned and looked through the window to see a silhouette of a figure staring at the room from outside the villa but the teal green-eyed boy could not tell who it was.
"Um ... Not to alarm anyone but there's something outside the villa watching us," he announced.
"What the --" They turned and looked through the window to see what the teal green-eyed sprite was talking about.
"Well that's creepy," said Petra.
"This thing again?" Joe said.
"You've seen it before?" Alex asked.
"Yes," Joe replied. "Alice was the first to notice it on the same night we came here. Richard went to confront us but it just disappeared before he could. It has appeared every night since," he stated.
"Every night?" Petra queried.
"But fear not kids, I'm going to inform Richard and he'll handle it straight away," Joe said before walking out of the room.
Hunter turned back to the silhouette. 'Appears outside every night but disappears before it is confronted, what the hell could you be?'
-----