The next morning, when the sun crept over the horizon and birds filled the crisp air with their song, Theodore was already awake. He hadn't slept a wink. Dark shadows clung under his eyes like bruises, evidence of a sleepless night spent replaying yesterday's horrors. He splashed cold water on his face, donned his academy training suit, and stepped outside for a walk, the frosty air nipping at his cheeks. The dormitory grounds were eerily quiet except for the occasional chirp of early birds. Inside, Cai lay sound asleep, blissfully unaware that his friend and classmate was missing—and that Theodore had left.
As Theodore strolled, he spotted Mr. June, Miss Dalia, and Miss Lidia gathered near the dormitory entrance.
Mr. June looked as exhausted as Theodore, dark circles matching his own, while the two women exchanged worried whispers. They sat stiffly on the worn chairs, their conversation punctuated by nervous glances toward the edge of the forest.
Miss Lidia's voice was filled with concern as she murmured about Marvin's disappearance. She wrung her hands, whispering that if Principal Roman found out, his fury would be unmatched. They had to find Marvin.
Mr. June yawned, rubbing his temples as though he could press away the exhaustion. "I'll find him, Miss Lidia," he reassured her with a shaky voice. "You and Miss Dalia should stay here with the other students. Keep them calm. I'll handle it."
The women nodded solemnly, though their furrowed brows betrayed their doubt. It was then that Mr. June's tired gaze landed on Theodore. He approached quickly, his boots crunching against the gravel.
"My prince," he greeted with a practiced bow. "What brings you out here so early—" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he noticed Theodore's gaunt expression and dark circles.
"Oh, my goodness! You didn't sleep, did you? It must have been traumatic for someone your age… seeing—" he faltered, his voice dropping to a whisper, "—the blood last night."
Theodore scoffed, brushing off the comment with a wave of his hand.
"Traumatized? Hardly." He yawned, his sharp voice cutting through the morning air.
"I didn't sleep because there's something strange about this village, and we need to talk about it."
Mr. June tilted his head, puzzled. He crouched slightly, lowering himself to Theodore's height.
"Strange? What do you mean?"
Theodore's expression darkened.
"I think this village is hiding something. Something dangerous. We should investigate."
For a moment, Mr. June simply stared at him. Then, he laughed—a nervous, dismissive chuckle.
"Oh, your highness. You've got quite the imagination. But leave the worrying to the adults, alright? You should go back inside. I'll find Marvin. He's probably just wandered off."
Theodore's jaw tightened as he glared up at the teacher.
He could see the man's fear, the way his hands trembled ever so slightly. Theodore didn't buy a word of it. He knew they were lying—Mr. June, Miss Dalia, Miss Lidia. They all knew Marvin was likely dead, just as Theodore suspected. But they clung to fragile hope, ignoring the dark truth that loomed over them like a shadow.
Fine, Theodore thought bitterly. If they wouldn't take him seriously, he'd investigate on his own. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away.
*****
Back in his room, Theodore collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts drifted to Belial and Mimi, the companions he wished were here. They would've understood.
They were smarter than the teachers—smarter than most people. But they weren't here, and he had to figure this out alone.
Cai stirred from the other bed, blinking groggily. His gaze landed on Theodore, and his brows furrowed in concern.
"You look terrible," he muttered, his voice still thick with sleep. Unexpectedly, Cai slipped out of bed and shuffled outside.
A few minutes later, he returned, carrying a plate of breakfast.
"Here," Cai mumbled, shoving the food toward Theodore. "Eat."
Theodore raised an eyebrow. "What's this about? You've never been the considerate type."
Cai's cheeks flushed. "Don't get used to it," he muttered.
"I just… I heard people talking. They said you're a weakling prince. Always sick, always useless. I don't care about the rumors, but—" he hesitated, his voice faltering, "—I know what it's like to be misunderstood."
Theodore laughed softly, a sharp, hollow sound.
"The rumors are true," he admitted, though his voice carried a bitter edge. "I don't care about people. Never have." He smirked, but his eyes betrayed something darker, a glimmer of doubt.
Cai ignored the remark, his expression softening.
"Marvin… Marvin was different. Despite being a commoner was a nice guy. He was humble, even though he's probably the most talented mage I've ever met."
Theodore leaned forward, his curiosity piqued.
"How did someone like Marvin even end up at this academy?"
Cai hesitated before answering. "He was an orphan," he said quietly.
"He Used to work on a pig farm, of all places. My father—the baron—saw his magic potential and sponsored him. He wanted Marvin to be the mage of our village."
Theodore frowned. "A pig farmer turned mage? That's an unusual story."
Cai nodded, his voice growing more emotional. "He was my best friend. I just—" His voice broke, and tears filled his eyes. "I just want him to come back."
Theodore stiffened, unsure how to handle Cai's tears. Comforting people wasn't exactly his strength. He remained silent, letting Cai's sobs fill the room.
After a long pause, Theodore asked, "Did Marvin ever tell you where he was raised? Before the farm?"
Cai sniffled, wiping his face. "He mentioned a village once. Some place he lived as a kid. But he didn't talk about it much. Just said his father sent him away."
Theodore froze, his mind racing. "Did he ever say the name of the village?"
Cai shook his head. "No. Why?"
A smile crept across Theodore's face—a cold, calculating smile. He let out a low chuckle, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. There was more to Marvin's past than anyone realized.
Before he could press further, a knock at the door interrupted them. Cai got up to answer, revealing Miss Lidia standing in the doorway.
"It's time for training," she said briskly.
The two boys exchanged a glance. Theodore pushed himself off the bed, his mind still spinning with new revelations. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
As they headed outside to join the others, Theodore's resolve hardened. He'd uncover the truth about Marvin—and the village—no matter what it took.