Chapter 5: Kaori Shimomura
She noticed Mr Payne straighten up and adjust his jacket. He was looking towards a figure walking in their direction. A tall man, wearing white robes, he carried an ornate staff that clanked on the ground with every long stride he took. He was accompanied by Astrid, the girl Phantasia didn’t feel comfortable with. She had a smug grin on her face, just like when telling Joel about Kaori’s disappearance.
“Bishop Wotan, I see your timing is as impeccable as always,” said Mr Payne. He frowned and crossed his arms as the man reached them.
“My daughter tells me that you’ve been having more trouble with the undisciplined students,” said the man, as Astrid stood basking in his glory, “And I also hear you’ve acquired yet another odd soldier for your ranks,”
His eyes shot down into Phantasia’s. She met his stare as best she could, though her white hair fluttered across one eye. She tried to focus on his aura, but it was too blurred for her to make out.
The world only tells you what the world wants you to know.
“Phantasia is certainly not just another student for you to chastise as you see fit, Bishop,” said the head teacher, gripping her shoulder, “As much as your patronage is appreciated, I would rather you avoided intimidating her,”
Mr Payne looked down at Phantasia and smiled. She felt a warmness that silenced the cold stare of the Bishop. “Now,” he said, “I believe Ms Celeste here – and Ms Garland too – have lessons to be attending. Bishop, I think any business you have with me is best resolved in private, don’t you?”
Phantasia took the cue to escape. Astrid glared at her for a second before she marched off. Quite who her father was, Phantasia didn’t know. Humans were complicated, and she still wasn’t sure quite what to make of them yet.
***
Phantasia found Joel and Kaori sitting alone in a corner. She wasn’t sure how she had found them instead of the lesson they were meant to be in, though. It felt as if her instinct had guided her here. Without a second thought, she waltzed over and peered down into Kaori’s eyes.
“Hi,” said Kaori, brushing her fringe out of her face with fumbling fingers, “I-I’m sorry you had to, that this had to happen on your first day. I really don’t know…”
“You don’t know what came over you?” said Phantasia “Was it like being half asleep, or like you were in a trance?”
Joel and Kaori looked at her and huddled closer together. Then Joel tugged Phantasia towards them. His eyes darted around the empty corridor.
“Do you know something?” he asked, trying his best not to look suspicious. Phantasia wondered for a moment about how much she could tell him. She wasn’t meant to tell anyone that she was a faerie – unless they knew already – so she had to keep that part secret at least. But her theory…
“There was negative energy,” she said, “I think something was driving her to the edge, feeding on her emotional despair.”
“What do you mean, ‘something was feeding on her’?” Joel whispered through clenched teeth he pulled Phantasia in even closer, whilst Kaori watched wide-eyed.
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