After picking out the clothes we decided to have brunch, at an all you can eat restaurant in town, I proposed a question to mathis, simply because asking ana does not guarantee an answer with intelligence. "You know, I really wonder when we get to use our authorities." Mathis' look turned darker, but I expected it. I like this about Mathis, even when talking about things calming, funny, and joyful while eating delicious food and drinking exquisite cocktails, his diligence and caution doesn't drop at all.
"Vanitas. If this is some ploy to get me to reveal even the tiniest hint about my authority to you, know that you are mistaken to believe it will work even in the slightest. I am not your average person, whom you manipulate with your laughter, kindness and chemistry. I am not your mark Valentine, like nearly all of your decisions beforehand: you have chosen wrong."
"Chill the fuck out, egotistical heliocentral, not everything is about you. I was just asking if you thought there would be close future opportunities to use our authorities, and of course you just have to ruin the moment and create heavy tension. You seem to be the kind of mathis to hear that someone has trouble with solving a math problem and think they have a problem with you."
Mathis' serious demeanor dropped a bit after my last remark but I could tell he was still overly cautious. I could tell something about his authority now, it's most likely one easily countered, which causes him to be over-protective. In fact, I can pretty much predict that he won't use it against me in combat as long as there's the smallest chance I can get away or if there's someone else watching. Even if he was to try to kill me, he would most likely rather use conventional means in any of those situations. If can keep any of those two contingencies with me at all times, I don't even need to worry about his authority.
The rest of brunch was unreasonably quiet, after the food we got up and left the restaurant, the mood of Mathis got more friendly, but it was obvious that he was forcing it, unlike before. This was awkward, the best plan of action was to get Mathis some alone time to calm down, because it's obvious that he wants to, but it's also pretty obvious he won't initiate it.
If I possibly created a situation where Mathis leaves to get alone time without it being his fault that he did so, he would secretly thank me, even if that thanks is subconscious, and that subconscious thanks will improve his opinion of me.
How will I achieve such an effect, while sometimes the biggest problems have the simplest solutions, "Hey, Ana, you sure ate a lot, you look tired, why don't you head back to bed, after all we have an important event at six, partner selection and all that, and you wouldn't want to be half-asleep when the announce your partner, only to forget them in the morning."
Ana responded, "I mean, I am a bit tired, I don't really know if I can fall asleep though, it is only 2 o' clock." I assured her, "You don't need to, but by seeing how tired you look, I just worry your first title as a 'venerable' fallen would be the one who forgot her partner. We just worry about you is all. Me and Mathis would escort you to the teleporter, but if you think you'll be fin-" "No, no, I am feeling very tired, I'll go, I'll go." Interrupted Ana
That was easier than I thought, just tell Ana a half-truth like: you are tired. Sure she was feeling a bit sleepy from the amount of food she ate, but she most likely wasn't actually tired. I then included the term 'important event' to help convince her that the future was more important than the present. Then I talked about an unwanted future, such as forgetting her partner. When she decided to disagree with me, I decided to seal the deal by including possible shame associated with that future and how being tired now would avoid it. Then I repeated the phrase "you look tired" to further cement the false idea that she was tired. When I then included the phrasing "we" it invoked an image of a group telling her something instead of an individual person, which causes her mind to trust it more and put more faith in its certainty. I then chose the term, "just worry about you is all" to reinforce the fact that this was for her, not us, and that we are helpless and this has always been her decision. Then I offered a display of friendly affection and care, by saying that we would bring her to the teleporter. Finally, when I dejectantly said that we would forego it and not bring her to the teleporter because of her decision that she was fine, she felt guilty as if she was betraying our friendliness and care. So even if she wasn't tired she decided to go with it anyways.
We then arrived at the teleporter and sent Ana off. I paid close attention to what the sigil at her feet switched to, it became what I can only describe as a- I don't know, it was gone almost as soon as it arrived and I don't know what I just saw, if one asked me to verbally describe what I saw, I couldn't, If I was asked to write down what I saw, I column't, If someone asked me to draw what I saw, I couldn't. I couldn't even tell you what it was reminiscent of. This warrants further study.
Breaking out of my stupor, I told Mathis, "I'm going to follow in Ana's footsteps and rest for a bit." He said goodbye and I teleported back in front of Mathis. Back in my castle-mansion I realized that some plans were in order.
If there is anything wrong with this place or any issue with management and faculty of any order then the most suitable position to uncover them that I can attain is something similar to class representative, if it exists. A class representative would gain small, seemingly inconsequential clues in their instructions from the staff to keep the class in check.
I can use these clues to unravel any conspiracy which exists here. In order to most effectively and accurately achieve this, I shouldn't hold a vote. I should do something that curries enough favor that renders a vote unnecessary, make it just common sense that Vanitas Valentine should be class representative.
I need to think of a plan to accomplish this with. It's a good idea to start earlier, since when people typically look back at school and life itself, they remember the first and last things that happen.
So, there's two steps here, make an impression during this partner selection thing that happens tonight and give a reason to believe in me. The partner selection is easy, create an entertaining game that people can look back on with joy. As for the reason to believe in me, it can be accomplished by highlighting the weird issues with this system and creating artificial distrust with the institution.
I started with my preparations, I imagined that before me there were three books in a different handwriting and style than my own. Titled: The True History of the Hearthflame Academy, A song to all fallen, and A Fallen's guide: how to effectively use your authority.
I then imagined they were filled with conspiracy theories about this place, making sure that no conspiracy theories were word for word what I told anyone else here, but similar nonetheless. Similar enough to make one openly consider the conspiracy theories of the 'crazed' Vanitas Valentine.
After Finalizing my concept of these books, I activated my authority and made them disappear. I then teleported to the giant library I was met with before using the sigil, and looked around, I went deeper into the library, until I reached a more secluded spot and materialized the books using my authority and placed them in the bookshelves.
Feeling the job was done, I left back to my dorm. Upon teleporting, I had to figure out my solution to the game I was going to develop to enhance my chances of being given the representative spot or something similar.
I ultimately decided to kill two birds with one stone, and use the game to prove something else, while also accomplishing my original goal. I looked at the clock, 5:30, seeing this I decided it was time to start my game.
I adjusted the monocle on my left eye, and decided to match the color scheme to the rest of my outfit, black and gold. I then stepped on the sigil and teleported to the designated area.