“As it would seem,” said Faye. An understandable test too, which had allowed her to adapt her senses before she had been thrown into the maelstrom of casual thoughts that was the Academy, “Perhaps I have underestimated your own abilities,” she added.

“Well I know never to underestimate you,” said Rembrandt Payne, “I know from experience to listen to each and every word a Water faerie says, because they don’t waste a single one. Your minds are always five steps ahead of ours. I don’t think you came here just to tell me about the underground ruins, did you?”

There was nothing to gain from hiding her motives. “I wish to ask you for information regarding events surrounding this town. It has come to my attention that the illusion placed upon your students has been adapted multiple times over the past six months to cover up a variety of occurrences for their own safety. I would like to understand more about these events, and others that have happened in the vicinity of this town. I do not believe myself and Princess Phantasia are here by mere coincidence,”

“I wouldn’t know where to begin,” said Rembrandt Payne, rolling his eyes skywards, as humans did when reminiscing, “But I’d like to know what’s going around here on just as much as you do. I guess letting you see my files wouldn’t be much harm,”

“I would ra—“ Faye began, prepared to chastise Rembrandt Payne for relying on such mundane methods of recollection, but then his thoughts opened up and she realised she was once again underestimating him.

***

By the time Phantasia arrived at the Second Year common room, the majority of her class had dispersed into their regular lunchtime routine. Only a handful of students remained loitering, having discarded their bags under benches and tables. Approaching them she noticed their faces drop to match the cautious waves of their auras.

“Remind me never to visit wherever it is you come from,” said Theseus. His frame was relaxed and his hands hung casually in his jacket pockets, but his flaming aura and its mane of lightning vigour flickered dimly behind a defensive barrier, “No offence, its just you ladies hang out on the wrong side of the weirdness scale.”

“I-I think Faye’s interesting,” said John, poking up his glasses, “I mean its nice to have someone around who isn’t afraid to speak their mind. Don’t you think?”

Theseus scoffed. “There’s a difference between speaking your mind and speaking someone else’s though. It’s almost like that Faye knows what’s goin’ on in our heads. And I can’t believe I even said that!” He groaned and shook his head. “I’m outta here. This crap is doin’ my head in,”

As Theseus strode off, John clutched his computer to his chest and followed, leaving Phantasia with Kaori, Joel and Lyra. While Lyra wore a half-smile, as if trying not to publicise her amusement, and Joel stared off into space with vacant eyes, Kaori had her arms crossed tight and stared at her heavy leather boot as it tapped away on the green carpet.

“Interesting or not,” she said, “It’s not fair that she’s picking on Doyle,”

Lyra guffawed. Like John, her aura showed little sign of change, but then she also maintained the sort of protective barriers her fellow students lacked. “He can’t be handling it when a girl don’t acknowledge his advances,” she said, “It’s about time his ego got brought down a peg or two,”

“That’s harsh, man,” said Joel, reaching under his woolly hat and scratching his head, “Dude’s got a proper thing for the ladies, sure, but he don’t deserve that,”

Kaori grabbed her boyfriend’s arm and began to drag him away before he lost himself in a slow-witted bout of attempted psychoanalysis. “We’re gonna eat,” she announced, “See you guys later.”

Chapter 44
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