Leaning against the cool stone wall outside the men's restroom, I try to act casual. Which is hard to do when I feel like a complete idiot standing here.
I shift my weight from one foot to the other, arms crossed, eyes darting to the heavy wooden door like it's about to grow teeth and bite me. Eclipse has been in there for over ten minutes. Ten minutes. That's long enough to start worrying, right? I mean, what if he collapsed? What if he hit his head on the sink and—
I shake my head. No, no. He's just dramatic. And rude. Definitely not dying.
Though if he die, after my grand show in his class, I'd have no more disguise.
I tap my fingers against my elbow, sneaking a glance down the hallway. The soft blue glow of mana crystals flickers against the stone, casting odd shadows. Nobody else is around. Great. Now I look even more suspicious.
"Like I'd actually go into a men's restroom," I mutter under my breath. Eclipse specifically told me to stay put, and I'm pretty sure the only reason I haven't kicked the door down is because it would absolutely give me away as someone who is neither delicate nor remotely obedient. "What kind of girl would do that, geez."
I huff, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. He was pale earlier, unsteady even. And then there's… that.
Did he really recovered from the incident?
Another question... did he know what he drank?
The potion...
I can't find any other reason then, why did he ask me to go with him today? Usually (Silva herself told me) she'd be the one who had to do this.
Trying to explain his weird behavior...
He knows.
He has to know.
I bite my lip. How long has he known? And why hasn't he done anything yet? My gut tells me that he's waiting for something. A confession? An explanation? Or worse—leverage.
Oh, gods. I should run. I should run right now.
What I did... even someone as Eclipse would find disgusting. I've seen people getting killed for that reason.
My legs don't move.
Now it'd be harder to explain why I had to be here.
If he asks why I'm really at this academy, what do I say? I can't tell him about my sisters. I can't tell him that I suspect one of the academy's lecturers is involved in their disappearances. That I'm here, disguised as a maid, playing the long game because I have no choice.
Because there's Silva. She specifically told me not to. Saying that her enemy is mine for now. She meant Eclipse right?
My jaw tightens.
"So what are you doing here that you risked both of my academy life and yours?" he would ask. Then I'd reply with a little tongue poking out, "It was my dream to see the academy, hehe." So then he'd smile and give me a thumbs up, "You're welcome for helping you to achieve that dream!" "Thanks!"
Huhu... If only this is a perfect world as my imagination.
What if I just tell him... I can't find a single good excuse!
Then...
What would she do if she found out? Would she report me? Would she tell Eclipse? Even if I try to hide it from her... she would be too smart, too good at reading people. She's the kind of person who holds onto information like a dagger behind her back, waiting for the right moment to strike.
I exhale slowly, focusing on the polished floor. My reflection stares back at me—tired, anxious, tangled in more lies than I can count.
A sound of footsteps snaps me out of it.
I straighten immediately, eyes narrowing at the approaching figure. A woman.
No, not just a woman.
An elf.
I tense, taking in her appearance. She's tall, poised, and draped in an elegant silver dress that glimmers under the mana lights. It clings to her form in a way that speaks of both luxury and practicality, as if it could be spun armor rather than mere fabric. Her long ruby-red hair cascades down her back, and her deep crimson eyes glint with curiosity.
I resist the urge to fidget.
This is bad.
Elves are rare at the academy. The ones who do attend are usually from powerful noble houses.
Which means if I ever get involve with her... I'd expose myself further to the academy.
Luckily, I am no one. It's not like she'd ever talk to me!
She stops a few steps away, tilting her head. "Well, this is unusual. A human servant not bowing or greeting me properly."
I blink. "Eh?"
A soft chuckle escapes her lips. "You must be new at this. Despite being a warbringer's servant."
New at—oh. Right. The maid thing.
I glance down at my uniform—modest, frilled, entirely unthreatening—and quickly dip into the most awkward curtsy of my life. "I-I'm sorry, miss…"
...
Miss elf?
"Rose," she says smoothly, smiling. "Rose Yua."
My stomach twists. That name—
It takes every ounce of effort to keep my face neutral. "A pleasure, Miss Rose Yua. What can I do for you?"
Her gaze flickers toward the restroom door. "Your master, Eclipse. He's still inside?"
I hesitate before nodding. "Yes."
"Is that so, very unfortunate as my time is limited."
The way she says it makes my skin prickle. Her crimson eyes glint with something unreadable, something that makes me feel like a mouse in a room full of traps.
"Then," she says, stepping closer, voice dropping slightly, "please deliver a message to him for me."
I swallow. "A message?"
She smiles, leaning in just enough to make it feel conspiratorial. "Tell him…"
I hold my breath, heart pounding.
"…that I wish him good health."
Ah.
I blink. "That's it?"
"That's it."
She gives me a dazzling smile before turning on her heel and gliding away as if she hadn't just sent my nerves into a complete spiral.
A moment later, the restroom door creaks open.
Eclipse steps out, looking significantly less like death. He dabs his hands dry with a pristine handkerchief before tucking it away. His gaze lands on me, then flickers toward the empty hallway where Rose had been.
"What happened? You looked so pale." he asks, voice as flat as ever.
I snap back to attention. "Oh! Uh, her name was Rose Yua. She wanted me to tell you she wishes you good health...?"
Eclipse doesn't react. Doesn't blink. Doesn't even look remotely interested. "Oh. Okay."
I stare at him. "Wait, that's it? You're not even a little bit curious?"
"Why would I be?"
I throw up my hands. "Is... an elf just sent you a cryptic message outside a restroom, a norm?"
He looks at me like I'm the idiot in this situation. "It wasn't cryptic. She literally wished me good health."
That's even weirder!
He sighs, already turning to leave. "You shouldn't be worried about that. Come on, it's finally for you to do the end of our deal."
I hesitate, watching him walk ahead. He seems calm. Too calm. Like he's already pieced everything together and just hasn't let me in on the joke.
Which means he knows something.
And if Eclipse Warbringer knows something, that's never a good sign.
For anyone.
"Deal?"
Oh.
...
Wh, where is he bringing me? And why are we going outside the academy!