It was quite the sunny day. Rufus looks like he is enjoying this nice day. With a sudden stop, Rufus looked at the tree and after staring at it for a moment, he points at it, "diakopsei"
Amy woke up with a jolt. Her eyes hurt despite the immediate comfort in darkness. The moment Rufus said the spell, her vision suddenly turns to static. Unable to fall back asleep, she got off the bed and decide to get some fresh air out on the deck.
Rufus is sharp. He probably has control over all the animals in the Academy to act on his behalf. The wooden critters and birds are not his and cannot be controlled and he knows it, so he is looking for them and breaking her connection with them one by one.
She is running out of eyes and ears in the school. It took a lot of effort for her to place them strategically and unnoticed. She placed so many of them and he is finding them so easily and is quickly taking them all out. As proud as she felt for his efforts, she is extremely unhappy. For the first time in a while, she felt more resentful towards Rufus than Leon. He is inadvertently destroying her spy network.
If Amy remembered correctly, this is around the time the tournament will be announced. Leon will definitely participate. Everyone else is a mystery. The assassin will definitely participate as well.
"Dammit," she grumbled. Not being able to see this is killing her. There is only one thing that they could depend on now.
*
Boris checked up on Violet and could see that everyone is following his instructions to the letter. There is no sign of bed sores, and she is physically healthy. In fact, by the time she wakes up, she won't notice anything about her has changed. This girl is gonna wake up feeling like a million bucks.
But now that they found the Contract, they will need to discuss what to do next. He got everything ready, and he knows that this will take time. The most important matter is getting the Succubus to give her consent to the major surgeries that will turn her semi-human. Everything may be artificial, but she will be more human than succubus.
He knows that all three of them are put in a difficult spot that no one has time to deal with the freaking succubus anymore. He could sense Amaryllis's anxiety with the information network which is why he decide to speed up Violet's recovery. Alabaster is taking priority on expanding his business. The money this man makes is enough to not only keep his business going but do some 'albeit' illegal experiments and fund his research.
Boris also knew that they are running out of time. Rufus is beginning to notice the fake critters and are destroying them, destroying their eyes in the process.
Then he felt Amaryllis appear in the room. She looks tired. It is a while since they've actually physically seen each other but it doesn't feel distant.
"Are you alright?"
Amy stared at her sister with a slightly discouraged expression. "Rufus is destroying everything. At this rate, I won't be able to keep an eye on the school." she laments and groans, "I wish I'm old enough to drink again. I could use a drink probably a cigarette."
Boris then pulled out a box to give her. Amaryllis's face cringed at the contents before giving him an unimpressed look. "You actually got cigarettes? Really?"
"They are not tobacco or nicotine. It's an herbal blend that will give you a dose of caffeine to keep you up at night. It also has a calming effect. It's not addictive and won't harm your body if you smoke it."
She stares at it before putting it away, "I'll consider it." then continue to stare at Violet, "How is she?"
"She's healthy. All she needs to do is wake up."
Violet has been unconscious for only two weeks. Then Amaryllis stared at Boris.
"Did I make the wrong decision in letting them figure things themselves?"
Boris shook his head, "I don't think so. You left quite the impression on them last year. But they shouldn't depend on you for every problem. This is something they need to learn. That is what Alabaster says."
"You will need to treat Sabina's legs. Last time I saw her, she is facing severe depression. She feels like her world is coming to an end. It is hard to watch."
"Your parents won't let me leave easily."
"Both of them are compassionate. If you can convince to let you heal Sabina then they'll allow you to leave as long as you can bring a caretaker to take your place, and you can go treat Sabina's legs in time for the tournament. I know she's gonna look forward to it."
Boris nodded then remember something, "Your father is helping out with supplies to the Orlando Duchy. He's also helping with the health department on developing a cure so he's quite busy. I don't see him that much anymore. Your mother is also quite busy or rather she is making herself busy," he sighs, "the place doesn't look emptier than it has been. That's what the servants have been saying."
Amaryllis is visibly upset, hearing that. The letters that she received from her parents were lengthy. She could basically hear how much they miss her.
"Is mother home?"
"She is."
*
Amy left the room and sneakily went to her mother's room. After getting in, Amy noticed her desk is a mess. Amy could see that she is doubling her work as a lady-in-waiting to the queen, helping with her finances and events. Due to the plague, she also helps with budget and the donations sent to the Orlando Duchy. In addition, she sees some other things and Amy's eyes widen at the sight.
Clarissa Anthos is no stranger to politics, but Amy is unexpectedly pleased to know that she has her ways to be a wonderful mother.
With a groan, Amy turns to see that her mother is tossing and turning in bed. Overworked and anxious, she can't seem to find some peace. Amy put a hand to her mother's hand, and it dimly glow for a bit which got her mother to relax. "Sweet dreams, mother."
*
Nathaniel is at his desk, doing his homework but is rather occupied. The timing couldn't get any worse than this. News of the upcoming tournament has been announced and everyone is excited about it. The tournament is overall safe, though many commoners usually like to come and watch the fights. Leon is far too nonchalant about this and already signed up the moment it was announced. Rufus expressed interest in signing up, but he is more focused on the tournament than the issue at hand.
Some prince Leon is.
Everyone else including him refused much to Leon's dismay. Sabina is devastated since she still hasn't recovered from her injury as she would like to get back at Theseus who beat her last time.
Frankly, has his doubts. He got off the bed only to feel the cold metal on his neck. Following Amaryllis's advice, he kept the necklace around his neck on at all times though he finds it somewhat ridiculous as this thing is uncomfortable.
By the time the light has gone out, his window suddenly burst open, and something jumped in like a cannonball. Nathaniel jumped from his spot but before he could use his eyes, the entire room is filled with smoke, impairing his eyes.