"Nevertheless, all of us council members must be careful. You all could also be the victim. The council is the supposed "strongest" in the school. If one of you was to be caught, it would be catastrophic." Kiku said.
...
..
..
"The Apostles are here!" Yasuna's voice yelled from outside.
Her voice shattered the atmosphere within them, as they entered a fight mode. Not even having time to process, the council jumped up from their seats, and fled right through the door, holding all their weapons in hand.
They immediately noticed that, upon turning to the left, a black figure was in the far distance, leaning against the window.
Without hesitation, Kyouko and Ryujin unsheathed their magic-flowing weapon and dashed toward the black figure.
However, as they did, at the corner of their eyes, just behind the wall corner, was the unconscious Yasuna, with another black figure shining a bluish arcane stone over her head.
Their hearts dropped down on their stomach, demolishing their focus on the enemy. Taking this chance, the black-clothed figure strikes both of them simultaneously in the abdomen, sending them flying backward.
The man, seeing the rest of the council members quickly was quickly rushing up to them, he signaled his accomplice to go. However, the process of manipulation was almost done. Just a few seconds more, and the mind of Yasuna would be theirs.
Conflict emerged as they battled their thoughts on what to do best. If the council manages to close up on them, they'll be done.
At the last second, before the manipulation was completed, they both decided to turn back, teeth gritted in frustration as they weren't able to accomplish their goal. The one holding the arcane stone brought it back before turning away.
They rushed to escape from the place. But, before they could, red chains that emerged from the ground clenched them tightly and pulled them downwards, tying them ever so tightly to the ground.
They looked in the direction of the incoming council member, all with their murderous eyes laid upon them. But behind them was the figure of Matsubara Kiku, her aura almost lethal enough to cause a shockwave around her.
The tight grasp of her chains around them was enhanced by the freezing, cold energy that Yukime emits, almost freezing their bodies instantly.
"Are you two the ones responsible for the recent incident?" Yukime asked coldly. However, she was met with only a laugh, as if to mock them.
Yukime, irritated, lowered the temperature of her cold ice even further, causing the cold to freeze their feet and legs completely.
Yukime's cold voice spoke again. "I'll ask once-" However, she was cut off mid-way by one of the Apostles.
"That's just funny. Honestly, I don't really care about anyone in the council." It was a male voice, speaking loudly, and psychotic
"Is it us? Maybe? I'm not sure. Either way, it's not just us two." He replied, his voice so taunting that it was possible to make out a taunting expression behind his mask.
"Another Aspotle?"
"But yeah, the show wouldn't be interesting if you easily caught us. May we meet again."
With those words, they instantly turned into a murder of crows and quickly disappeared from the scene, accompanied by a burst of mocking laughter.
In a desperate attempt, Yukime tried to cast big, spikes of cast, each accurately aiming for all the crows, but all of that was just futile.
"We lost them," Kiku said in a chilling calmness.
Having no choice, but to concede, they could only look at the flock of crows dispersed all throughout the now-dark sky.
Kyouko and Ryujin, who were kicked away were able to shuffle forward but struggled due to the lingering pain.
They all gathered around Yasuna's still body, their eyes showing clear concern.
"What's the condition of Yasuna?" Kiku asked,
"I'm not sure either... However, her vitals are all normal." Stella replied a clear confusion plastered on her face as she continued.
Kyouko, who was still clutching her abdomen from the attack earlier, gritted her teeth, yet moved forward, looking at Yasuna worriedly. "That stone... was that weapon used to manipulate and create the dreaming incident?" She asked.
"That is a possibility. However, we have no idea yet of what that stone truly holds. There may be more to the story." Kiku replied.
Ryujin, who was clearly struggling with the pain lingering, nodded grimly. "B-Better to take precaution. B-But, I-I'm really worried for Yasuna."
As a melancholic cloud rose above them, Stella broke the atmosphere.
"I know what happened to her." She said, standing up and looking at Kiku. "But first, I want you to transfer some magic energy onto her body."
Kiku realizes what the situation is and immediately affirms it. She kneeled down and leaned forward towards Yasuna.
She slightly adjusted Yasuna's still position, turning her so that she was lying on her back.
Then, she placed her right hand on Yasuna's chest and began exerting her magic power.
Not long after, it manifested a bright, golden light, shimmering the air with a golden glow.
The moment she was able to connect with Yasuna's magic aptitude, she instantly felt the insidious manipulation of magic given by the Apostles.
And like predators, they eat away her magic energy, causing her body to lose energy and fall unconscious.
Kiku pushed deeper, doing her best to counteract the foreign energy in her body.
Although difficult, Kiku persisted and continued, until her tense and serious expressions softened.
She noticed that Yasuna's eyelid moved, indicating that she was successful.
She pulled her hand away, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips.
Stella kneeled down and leaned forward again.
"Yasuna, can you hear us?" She asked. Yasuna opened his eyes in response, looking around confusedly.
"Monchi?" She uttered in a soft, voice.
Monchi? Everyone, except Stella, uttered in confusion. No one here is named, or even nicknamed Monchi.
"O-Oh, that. Monchi is the name of the Teddy Bear on her bed. She cuddles with it all the time." Stella replied in disbelief.
"Monchi and I... We're making cakes together. She grew... Big... Human-sized... She became my best friend." Yasuna continued in her soft voice. A small, smile was present as she talked about it. It was like a child telling her parents sleepily about a dream.
However, this lights up a connection in Stella's mind. She furrowed her eyebrows as she thought carefully.
"Monchi, was it, Yasua? Hehehe." Ryujin said in a mischievous tone.
"Ryujin," Kiku said with a sigh. "Let's bring Yasuna to the clinic to lay down first. Things are happening so rapidly so it's better for her to rest.
The seventh seat slid his arms under Yasuna's shoulders and legs, carrying her in his arms.
Then, all of them went to the Clinic, and circled around Yasuna.
Yasuna immediately fell asleep as soon as she was laid down on the bed.
"W-What happened to her?" Yukime was concernedly shocked that Yasuna fell asleep almost immediately.
"She's fine she's simply resting," Stella replied. Though, her eyes was focused, and she was in a deep, pondering state.
Monchi... It was maybe a dream. The Apostles used magic that consumed her magic energy, causing her to fall unconscious, or "asleep."
Moreover, as far as I can see, the dark magic has never been fully completed.
The incident last year consisted of two main players; The Sleeper, or those who place targets in a slumber, and The Dreamcontroller, those who control the dream, and eventually control the whole person like a puppet.
She was put to sleep, but the process wasn't completed, so she wasn't able to be manipulated.
But, there are questions I want to answer.
People from the past who became puppets to these techniques forget what happened and only recall the events before they caused chaos. They never mentioned a dream that they had.
But, in Yasuna's case, she remembered her dream. Was it because it was incomplete?
This could help us gain a deeper perspective on what happens to a "victim" even if it's just incomplete.
I need to ask her more questions.
"Either way, this is a declaration of war against us." Kiku said, her voice full of authority as everyone's attention shifted towards her. "We mustn't let this school succumb defeat. Treat this while this is still early. I'll prepare something for tomorrow. Let's all do what we must."
With determination, the council member nodded.
...
A day has passed, and Seiei Academy announced a one-day class suspension, shockng the entire school.
Out of nowhere, they suspeneded the classes. Why would that be? Most of them wondered.
Unbeknownst to them, the start of the dreaming incident phenomena is already knocking on their door.
And right now, the student council, the school governor, the teachers, and other staffs held a meeting, along with the previous president, the magician of the infinite skyfall.
And at the meeting, Yasuna, who already recovered from yesterday's incident, told everyone her experience.
Her statements says that upon being knocked down by the culprit through some magic unknown yet to her, her scenario was immediately changed to Monchi.
She didn't realize that it was a dream, until she woke up and Stella told her everything.
In conclusion, Yasuna wasn't severely affected as the process of manipulation was incomplete.
Which means that it is necessary for the two elements; Sleep and Dream, to be incorporated together in order for them to become a lethal manipulation magic.
Another thing to note, atleast from what Yasuna speculates is that, the council will be its target. Considering that the council members are the strongest students, the best to manipulate, and taking into note the recent attack on Yasuna, it is highly feasible.
With these being said, precautions will be taken when the school opens again.
Attacks will probably continue as long as there are students that could be turned victims.
However, if the school suspends class, that would mean that the culprit won't show up, atleast based from what happened from the other schools that experienced the incident.
After all, the culprit is always within the school. Maybe some students, or even, a council member.