Mina stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the wax elf ears she had painstakingly crafted. She tugged at the pointed ends, making sure they stayed in place, then smoothed her hair back, tying it in a sleek ponytail. Her reflection stared back, a stranger looking like an aloof, mysterious elven boy, a far cry from the awkward girl she really was.
For the past week she has paraded around the academy as the mysterious elven boy, Mitsuo. She carefully spoke little to the ladies, keeping up the persona of a mysterious and aloof elf. Occasionally a young woman would approach Mitsuo and get just a little too close for comfort. When that would happen Mitsuo would suddenly remember he had a pressing prior engagement he had to attend to and run off at flank speed. The ladies loved the chase and word soon spread of the hot new elf boy in the academy.
She smiled to herself, the absurdity of it all washing over her. She was Mitsuo now. The newest member of the Gentleman's Club, the elven heartthrob who had quickly become the talk of Blackwell Academy's female students.
"Okay, Mitsuo," she whispered to herself, adopting a slightly deeper voice. "Time to fool them all."
A knock on the door made her jump, and when she opened it, Viktor stood on the other side, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. He nodded approvingly, his usual unreadable expression softening slightly.
"You're getting better at this," he said, his voice low but calm.
Mina, now fully in character, gave a small smirk, her tone cool. "It's easier once you get the hang of it."
Viktor chuckled under his breath, and with a brief gesture, he motioned for her to follow. "The others are waiting for you."
The room was just as grand and intimidating as ever, the deep velvet furniture, dim lighting, and the smell of old wood gave it an air of mystery that seemed to match the boys who called it home. The rest of the Gentlemen were already there, lounging in their usual spots, waiting.
Luca, his arms crossed over his broad chest, was the first to speak as Mina entered. His sharp eyes swept over her elven disguise, and a frown tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Mitsuo," he muttered, clearly unimpressed, "you're attracting too much attention. You're supposed to blend in, not become the academy's newest sensation."
Mina's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to stay in character. She crossed her arms, mirroring Luca's posture, and raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that the point? You said I needed to be convincing."
Asher, ever the playful one, chuckled from his seat, lazily sprawled across one of the armchairs. "Luca's just jealous you're stealing all the attention. You've done well, Mitsuo. The ladies can't stop talking about you."
Darien, with his usual carefree attitude, grinned and gave Mina a casual wink. "They've been talking about you non-stop. Maybe you should teach Luca a thing or two about charm."
Luca growled under his breath, but Viktor silenced him with a look. "Enough," he said firmly. "Mitsuo is doing exactly what we need him to do. Stay in character. Be popular. Draw attention, but don't let anyone get too close."
Mina nodded, keeping her cool exterior intact even though she felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. This whole situation was more complicated than she'd ever imagined, but she had no choice but to keep up the act.
Asher stood and clapped her on the shoulder, his grin widening. "Come on, Mitsuo, you've got this. Time to charm the ladies."
Just as Viktor finished his sentence, the doors to the club creaked open, and the air in the room shifted. A dozen girls entered, their eyes wide with excitement, their giggles filling the space as they looked around the room like they were stepping into a dream.
Mina swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to play her part, woo the girls, fit in with the other Gentlemen, but she wasn't sure she was ready for this.
Two girls immediately made a beeline for her, their faces bright with admiration. One had long, flowing blonde hair, and the other sported short, dark curls. They approached her with wide eyes and shy smiles.
"You're Mitsuo, right?" the blonde one asked, her voice breathy and filled with awe.
Mina, in her Mitsuo persona, gave a small, aloof smile and nodded. "That's right."
The dark-haired girl blushed, clearly flustered. "We've heard so much about you. You're… different from the others."
Mina had no idea what she was supposed to say. Should she flirt? Act mysterious? She quickly glanced at Asher for help, but he only smirked and raised an eyebrow as if to say, *You're on your own.*
Clearing her throat, Mina leaned in slightly, her voice low and cool. "Different, how?"
The blonde girl giggled, her cheeks flushing red. "You're… an elf, right? That's so unique. We've never met anyone like you."
Mina tilted her head, playing into the role of the mysterious elf. "Elves don't tend to reveal much about themselves. It's part of our nature."
The girls practically swooned at her words, and Mina felt a wave of relief wash over her. Maybe this wasn't so hard after all. As long as she kept the conversation vague and mysterious, she could get through it.
"We'd love to see you again," the dark-haired girl added shyly. "Maybe tomorrow?"
Mina gave a slow nod, trying to seem nonchalant. "Perhaps. If you can find me."
The girls giggled again, clearly smitten, before giving their goodbyes and promising to return tomorrow. As they left the room, Mina let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Well done," Viktor said quietly, appearing by her side. "You're fitting in perfectly."
Later that night, Mina stood in front of the mirror in her dorm room, staring at her reflection, Mitsuo, the elf gentleman, looking back at her.
She burst out laughing, unable to contain herself. The whole thing was ridiculous. The pointed ears, the cool demeanor, the fact that she was actually charming girls as a fake male elf, it was all so far from the normal life she used to know. How had things gotten so crazy?
With a sigh, she reached up and carefully peeled off the wax ears, her real ones springing back into place. She ran her hands through her hair, loosening the tight ponytail, and let herself sink onto her bed.
The day had been exhausting, and the reality of how deeply she was involved in this insane charade weighed on her. But as she lay there, staring up at the ceiling, she couldn't help but smile. It was strange, but somehow, she was pulling it off.
She hoped her disguise, and this bizarre persona, would be enough to keep up the act for as long as she needed.
The next morning, Mina walked into the Gentleman's Club room, feeling more confident than before. She had survived her first real test as Mitsuo, and to her surprise, she had done well.
As soon as she entered, Asher grinned widely at her. "Well, if it isn't Blackwell's most popular elf."
Darien leaned back in his chair, a playful smirk on his face. "I heard the girls are already planning their return. You might just have to schedule dates now, Mitsuo."
Mina rolled her eyes but kept her cool demeanor. "You're just jealous."
"Maybe," Darien said with a wink. "But I think I'll let you handle the fan club. You're doing a great job so far."
Luca, as always, seemed less than amused. "You're attracting too much attention."
Before the conversation could spiral into another round of disagreements, Viktor stepped forward, his eyes serious. "Enough. Mitsuo's popularity is a good thing, but we need to stay focused. There are other, more dangerous things happening right now."
The room fell silent as Viktor's words hung in the air. Mina's stomach tightened. As much as she was getting used to playing Mitsuo, she knew the real danger was still out there.
And then, just as before, there was a knock at the door.
The tension in the room was palpable as Viktor opened the door. Standing in the doorway was a tall, slender figure, cloaked in dark robes, his face partially hidden by the hood. His eyes glinted with a cold, calculating intensity as he stepped into the room, his presence immediately filling the space with an eerie chill.
Mina's heart skipped a beat. The air seemed to thicken around him, and a familiar sense of dread crept up her spine. This was the dark figure she had seen before, the one lurking at the edges of her vision, watching her. She had hoped it was just her imagination, but now, standing in front of her, he was very real.
The other members of the Gentleman's Club stiffened as they recognized him. Luca's fists clenched, Asher's playful smirk faltered, and even Darien straightened up, his usual laid-back demeanor disappearing in an instant.
"Malakai," Viktor said, his voice low and warning. "This isn't the time."
Malakai's gaze slid over the room, ignoring Viktor's words entirely. His eyes settled on Mina, or rather, *Mitsuo*. He smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile. It was sharp and dangerous, like a predator watching its prey.
"I've heard quite a bit about you, Mitsuo," Malakai said, his voice smooth, almost too smooth. "You've certainly made an impression on the ladies of Blackwell."
Mina's pulse quickened. She could feel the others watching her, waiting for her to respond. She forced herself to stay calm, to stay in character.
"And you are?" she asked, her voice steady, though her nerves were frayed.
"Malakai," he replied, stepping further into the room. "A fellow student. But I suppose you could say I'm more than that."
Viktor stepped forward, placing himself between Malakai and Mina. "Whatever you're here for, Malakai, it ends now. Leave."
But Malakai didn't budge. His smile widened, and his eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, Viktor, always so serious. I'm not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to meet the newest member of your little club."
Mina tried to keep her breathing steady, but the way Malakai's gaze lingered on her made her skin crawl. There was something unnatural about him, something dark and dangerous that set him apart from the other students at Blackwell.
"I've been keeping an eye on you, Mitsuo," Malakai said, taking another step closer. "There's something… different about you. Something intriguing."
Viktor's hand twitched, and Mina could feel the tension radiating off him. She knew that Viktor would step in if things escalated, but the last thing she wanted was a confrontation with this stranger, especially when her disguise could be compromised.
"Enough," Viktor growled, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Malakai, leave. Now."
For a moment, it seemed as though Malakai would push further, but then he tilted his head, his gaze never leaving Mina. "Very well, for now. But we'll meet again, Mitsuo. Sooner than you think."
With that, Malakai turned on his heel and glided out of the room, his dark robes trailing behind him like a shadow. The door closed with a heavy thud, and the oppressive atmosphere seemed to lift, if only slightly.
The room remained tense even after Malakai's departure. Luca finally spoke, his voice laced with anger. "Why didn't we just throw him out? You know what he's capable of."
Viktor shook his head. "It's not that simple. Malakai's dangerous, and he's not just a threat to us. He's after something bigger."
Mina, still reeling from the encounter, tried to make sense of it all. "Who is he? What does he want?"
Asher sighed, rubbing his temples. "Malakai is a necromancer. He's one of the darker elements here at Blackwell, someone who dabbles in things that should've stayed buried a long time ago. He's dangerous, unpredictable, and now he's interested in you."
Mina's stomach twisted. A necromancer. She had heard rumors of such magic, but the idea of someone controlling the dead, manipulating shadows, it was terrifying.
"Why me?" she asked, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.
Viktor's expression darkened. "It's not just because of your popularity. Malakai knows there's something different about you, he can sense it. He's drawn to power, especially the kind of power that's tied to the prophecy."
Mina's breath hitched. The prophecy. The very thing she had been trying to avoid thinking about, the thing that now seemed to be at the center of everything.
"He's not going to stop," Luca said, his eyes locked on Viktor. "We can't keep playing defense with him. We need to figure out what he's really after."
Darien, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. "Mina, Mitsuo, we'll protect you, but you need to be careful. Malakai is obsessive. Once he sets his sights on something… or someone… he doesn't let go easily."
Mina nodded, the weight of their words settling heavily on her. The façade of Mitsuo had been enough to protect her so far, but it was clear that her disguise wouldn't be enough to keep Malakai at bay. He had seen through it, or at least sensed that something was off. And if he suspected she was the one tied to the prophecy, things were about to get much worse.
Viktor turned to her, his voice softer but still serious. "You need to stay close to the club. We'll figure out how to deal with Malakai, but until then, don't let him corner you again."
Mina swallowed hard and nodded. She had trusted Viktor and the other Gentlemen to help her navigate the dangers of Blackwell Academy, but with Malakai in the picture, the stakes had just gotten a lot higher.
Later that night, Mina sat on her bed in her dorm room, staring at the discarded wax elf ears on her nightstand. The events of the day played over and over in her mind, pretending to be Mitsuo, charming the girls at the Gentleman's Club, the strange and unsettling encounter with Malakai.
She had managed to fool most of the academy so far, but Malakai… he was different. He saw through her in a way no one else had. And worse, he wanted something from her, something connected to the prophecy she still didn't fully understand.
As she lay back on her bed, her thoughts swirling, Mina wondered how much longer she could keep up the act. Mitsuo had given her a way to blend in, to hide from the immediate dangers, but it was becoming clear that she couldn't stay hidden forever.
With a heavy sigh, she closed her eyes, hoping for a few moments of peace. But in the back of her mind, she knew that Malakai would return. And when he did, the real danger would begin.