Like a tendril that sought the nourishment of the sun, she reached for the smallest glimmer of consciousness from the depth of her mind. With success, she found herself confronted by the glaring orbs mounted on the ceiling. In an attempt to soften the blow of the harsh illumination, she lifted her arm only to find herself strapped to the bed. "Ah, I'm admitted to the infirmary. What a disgrace!" she thought to herself, as she ceased her futile struggles to break free. Since their species pride themselves on having a sturdy, healthy body, Sam's family deemed it a disgrace and a sign of weakness to see a doctor.
Ken: "You're awake."
Sam turned her head toward the voice but without her glasses, she could only see a blurred silhouette with short black hair and a beauty mole. "Who are you!?" Sam asked nervously, feeling intimidated; her heart thumping away at 170 beats a minute.
Ken: "I'm the campus doctor. How are you feeling?"
"Where are my glasses? Why am I here? Can you unstrap me?" Sam asked groggily, her voice as rough as the sandpaper.
The doctor scribbled her reaction on a booklet and followed up dispassionately with another question, " Do you know what happened to you?"
Sam shook her head, her memories a fuzz, "The last I remembered, I was at the assembly hall. Somehow, I felt really tired and drained, then I ended up falling asleep."
"Mm," the gorgon calmly jotted down the observations then untied the patient.
Sam: "Can't you let me go? You know how hard it is for us to feel tired and get sick. See, I am as healthy as a horse now!"
The doctor looked indifferently at the trainee who sat up to flex her tiny biceps in an attempt to demonstrate how healthy she was. "What an idiot," she thought. Despite Sam's strong will, her wakefulness was soon replaced with lethargy, gradually falling back to slumber.
While Sam was dreaming of ways to escape her humiliation, Cori, on the other hand, was racking his brains to redress his innocence.
Cori surveyed the dark cold room feeling like a pig in the market. "Where is this?" he asked, wondering whether he was suspected of attempted monster slaughter.
"Nothing to worry about Mr Cori. Just a routine for our report," Andre reassured and pushed Cori into the cell. "Rest assured, this is a standard procedure. You will be released shortly." The white furry said and concurrently threw a black orb in the air. The black glassy orb floated and surveyed the room to search for the best spot for recording and surveillance.
Cori tried not to lose his cool and asked, "What is all this?"
A sturdy hand patted Andre's shoulder, signalling him to go.
"Headmaster!" Andre addressed the man in a Hawaiian shirt with a bow and left the prison. The man twirled his white whiskers in deep contemplation and resolutely summoned a contract before Cori.
"Sign it," he said.
"What is this?" Cori asked.
"Ho, ho, ho. It's an agreement to reveal the truth and nothing but the truth regarding the incident today. Just a simple contract really," the man said resting his hands on his belly.
"What will happen if the contract is breached?" Cori asked.
"Well, nothing much. Just a simple expulsion and a trial by the Royal Court," the man threatened.
"How can I know I can trust you?" Cori asked.
"Well, everything is recorded and submitted to the tribunal," the old man pointed to the orb.
'Observation' Cori thought but his skill could not be activated.
"Ho ho, I see you used a skill. Unfortunately, once you step in here, all skills will be deactivated," Santa said while stroking his beard.
Cori, who could not even extend his paws, realised the truth in his words. "I have no way to sign it," Cori replied.
Santa Claus: "Just say 'you agree' and the contract will be finalised."
Cori: "I agree."
A glowing insignia bounded on Cori's body upon his promise; while the contract disintegrated into tiny
Santa Claus nodded and continued, "Do you know what day is today?"
Cori: "The day before the classes officially start."
Santa Claus: "Do you know the date and time?"
Cori shook his body: "No Santa."
Santa Claus: "Do you know why you are here?"
Cori shook his body again: "No, I don't."
Santa Claus: "Did you set up the barrier on the school campus?"
Cori: "No. I don't have the skills to do it."
The Santa paused to see if there was any response from the insignia. Having judged that Cori was indeed telling the truth, he asked, "What did you do to Samantha Spears?"
Cori: "Is she alright? I did nothing to her!"
The insignia singed Cori's body. "Arghhh!" Cori cried.
Santa Claus huffed with suppressed anger, "What did you do to Samantha Spears!"
Cori having felt the might of the insignia, replied carefully, "She was invisible and seemed to be under someone's control. To protect myself and her, I used my skills on her."
Santa Claus: "How do you know she was under a curse? And what skills have you used on her?"
Cori replied with beads of perspiration running down his blue body: "I used observation and saw the name of the curse -Kralieordo. I immobilised her with my sticky fluid and cast primordial holy power on her."
"Kralieordo!" Santa Claus muttered under his breath in horror as he realised the demon saint had returned. His eyes softened and looked at Cori with a sense of pity after Cori told him about primordial holy power.
Santa Claus: "And why is there blood all over the place?"
Cori: "It is the result of levelling up my skill, headmaster."
The jolly old figure nodded and stroked his white snowy beard after having a grasp of the entire situation.
Santa Claus: "So when Samantha Spears attacked you, do you know what she was after?"
Cori: "It was the wishing dragon pearls. Kareem said he would fulfil a favour to the person who collected them all. The last pearl is with me."
"A contractual dragon's favour. This is serious," said the Santa with crinkled brows.
Santa Claus: "Do you know the person who cast the curse?"
Cori: "No."
Santa Claus heaved a sigh of relief and said, "The contract is fulfilled." Since the contract was fulfilled, the insignia on Cori's body gradually disappeared and the burn mark was instantaneously healed.
The headmaster summoned back the orb and released Cori from the cell. "Follow me, we have to hurry," said the headmaster panting with each heavy step.