Seraphine knelt beside Ruby, who had lost consciousness after exhausting her mana due to the saturation attacks. Crimson Death, on the other hand, didn't seem to care that his mistress had collapsed; he continued flying carefree over the academy's rooftops.
"Professor Grimward, may I take Ruby to the infirmary?" Seraphine asked, ignoring the inquisitive looks directed her way.
"Yes. Since she's the only one who hasn't regained consciousness yet, she may need a mana infusion," the professor replied. There was something strange in the way she spoke to Seraphine.
Seraphine stood and turned to Worm.
"Worm, help me carry her to the infirmary."
Worm made an exaggerated bow toward Seraphine.
"Your wish is an order, my mistress."
The looks grew even stranger when he verbally responded to the girl's request.
Worm easily carried Ruby's unconscious body while Seraphine led the way.
The other students—and even the professor—watched them with strange expressions as they walked away from the group. They had certainly expected someone else to be carried out.
"Headmistress, what is going on? It hasn't even been a month since I saw that girl collapse from mana exhaustion during the tournament. Such a massive increase in mana would only be possible after months of mutual bond growth," Grimward said, making sure only the headmistress could hear her.
"Anne…" Grimward knew it was an unofficial conversation; Rosencrown never used her first name otherwise.
"As you already know, Miss Seraphine's spirit is extremely powerful. Some would even classify it as an anomaly. As you saw yourself, it can even speak," the headmistress said, choosing her words carefully, despite knowing far more about Worm's true nature.
"Yes, ma'am. I wasn't present at the ceremony, but I was told something great had been summoned. I thought it was one of the 8 prodigies."
"Not just that. Even the bond between those two is extremely anomalous. I wouldn't be surprised if the servant mark on the spirit's hand were already fully developed."
The headmistress glanced at her own spirit, which gently brushed its feet over the grass beside the courtyard.
"Ma'am, you can't truly believe that's possible. A seal growing independently from its master's seal… not even legendary spirits from the last century have done something like that."
"Believe me, young one. Miss Seraphine's spirit stands on a level unlike any I've ever seen…"
Grimward interrupted her.
"Do you think he's stronger than Lunn?"
Rosencrown looked at the young professor with a hint of sorrow.
"I know you trust deeply in your power and your bond with your spirit, and you've proven the worth of both many times. But, Anne… we wouldn't stand a chance against him. Not even if we fought together, with full support from Emerald and Lunn."
The disbelief on Grimward's face was so intense that the headmistress felt compelled to offer further proof.
"Fifteen. He broke fifteen seals, despite being a newly awakened spirit. And that—" she pointed toward the destruction of the records building "—was the result of the physical test, in which he nearly killed half the empire's nobility. Not to mention that he brought one of the Arcanes to her knees using nothing but raw magic release."
That was enough. Grimward finally seemed to understand that Worm was no ordinary spirit. Or so the headmistress thought, as the gleam in her pale eyes returned almost immediately.
"Headmistress Octavia," she said, also using the director's first name, "would you allow me to be the challenger of the student who wins the Imperial Arena championship at the end of the year?"
"I see that mere words won't convince you."
"And they never will. I only believe in what can hurt me—or what I can hurt," she said with a grin as malicious as Worm's. When it came to combat, there was no doubt she was just as perverse as Seraphine's spirit.
Rosencrown abandoned any attempt to dissuade the professor; it would be useless. She had no choice but to allow it.
The practical class resumed once the fallen students' mana began to recover naturally.
Daylight was giving way to dusk when Ruby finally regained consciousness. Magical lanterns illuminated the infirmary with a warm yellow glow. Since Ruby couldn't go to the refectory that day, the nurse allowed Seraphine to eat her meal beside her friend. She had a good heart—especially after Grimward's classes.
"Damn, Sera… how did you last so long under saturation?"
Seraphine simply lifted the sleeve covering the master's mark on her hand and showed it to the girl lying in the infirmary bed.
"No way… it's way more detailed than the one Professor Thorne drew on the board. And why are you trying to hide it?"
Seraphine pulled her hand back, hiding it again beneath her uniform sleeve.
"Are you kidding? Everyone already hates us because two merchants' daughters summoned powerful spirits. Imagine if they found out my master circle is already fully developed in two days. I'd rather avoid more trouble until I understand all this."
"You're really lucky, Sera. Look at him," she pointed to Worm, sitting on a chair in the corner of the infirmary. "I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to destroy the world for you. And look at mine… my proud, noble dragon isn't even here."
"Ruby, it hasn't even been a week since we summoned them. I'm sure the strange one here is this pervert. And Professor Thorne himself said the next two years would focus on bond growth. I'm sure you and the—" Seraphine glanced around, as if keeping a secret "—Fluffy Tail will have a healthy bond soon enough."
The two laughed, knowing Crimson Death's draconic pride was being wounded wherever he was.
"I see you two are well enough to gossip," the nurse said beside Ruby's bed. "And it seems you've recovered your energy. I think I can release you to your dorm tonight. But please, try not to irritate Professor Grimward again. I always end up taking care of unconscious students when that happens."
The two bowed lightly and headed straight for the fifth-year dormitory.
There was no hostility this time; no one else was in the dormitory antechamber. That seemed to be the aftereffect of the practical magic class.
Everyone had gone to sleep right after dinner, undoubtedly due to exhaustion. Seraphine didn't complain—it was a relief not to face inquisitive stares.
The two entered their shared room. On one of Ruby's pillows, the dragon was already comfortably curled up. But not for long: the girl carefully picked him up beneath the wings and placed him on the rug. She wouldn't allow him to sleep on the bed after being so inattentive.
Worm seemed amused by the dragon's expression of disbelief when he was dropped onto the floor.
Seraphine also went to bed. She was too tired for Worm's jokes. She remembered to take off her shoes and socks before lying down, to avoid a repeat of the morning's situation. She turned off the lamp beside the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
Worm was the only one who remained awake. He watched through the window as moonlight began to bathe the institute's gardens.
In an instant, he vanished into the shadows cast by the lunar light.
It was as if he had become smoke, swallowed by the wooden floor.
The silence of the night dominated the institute's interior when Headmistress Rosencrown returned to her office. The fact that the students were asleep didn't mean the day's work was over.
However, as soon as she placed her hand on the doorknob, a deadly chill ran down her spine.
Every instinct screamed for her to run, but she knew that doing so might only anger whatever awaited her.
She gathered her courage and slowly turned the knob, heart racing.
When she opened the door just a crack, Emerald burst into the room, shoving Rosencrown aside.
Despite her courage, the attempt was futile.
As soon as the dryad took her second step toward the desk, massive shapes resembling tentacles surged toward her and immobilized her instantly, slamming her to the floor. One of the tendrils shaped itself into a grotesque hand, forcing the dryad's head against the ground.
They were made of shadows.
Projected shadows that began beneath the headmistress's desk and ended over the dryad's now completely immobilized body.
Seated in the large chair behind the desk was a man wearing an expression of profound boredom.
It was Worm.
He pointed to one of the chairs across from the desk.
"Young Octavia Rosencrown, why don't you sit down?"
The bored expression shifted into a calculated, almost mocking smile.
The shadowy tentacles restraining Emerald withdrew without any command. Emerald rose quickly, still intending to attack the man, but Rosencrown stopped her.
"It's fine, Emerald. If he wanted us dead, I doubt he'd need to wait for us to enter the room. And besides… what is this? Tired of playing the obedient spirit?"
Worm didn't smile, but seemed impressed.
"Incredible. It seems the forest bitch…" Emerald tried to lunge again, but was restrained once more by the headmistress. "…managed to acquire at least one useful servant. And a respectable one. Even in terror, you can still speak to me normally. Perhaps I'll make you my servant when this is over."
He leaned his elbows on the desk, boredom returning.
"But still… for such a noble woman to send an old façade and a plant with anger issues? It's almost insulting to our shared past."
Worm seemed to expect a violent reaction from Emerald. What he received was something different.
"You are not worthy of breathing the same air as my lady," Emerald said loudly.
Neither Worm nor Rosencrown appeared surprised.
"That's much better. This theater of spirits who only speak to their masters is unbearably dull. After all, whose idea was it? Or was she just trying to enhance the mysticism of these pacts?"
"So you know I'm not the one truly in command here? All that in just two days?"
"And did I need more? Her stench is spread across every corner of this place. I expected she wouldn't even allow me to return to this plane, but I'm glad she kept her part of the agreement."
Emerald exploded in fury.
"My lady would never make deals with something like you!"
"You'd be surprised what people do when they're cornered, little plant. Even your noble lady."
Worm laughed mockingly when he said the word "noble."
Emerald's rage only intensified as she realized he was mocking the Lady of the Forest once again.
Worm stood and walked to the office window. He didn't seem to care about turning his back on them. Even if Emerald considered attacking from behind, the headmistress knew it would be useless—Worm's shadows moved beneath his feet as if alive.
"What's the point of this, then? Why this visit now? Why didn't you simply destroy the institute the moment you were brought back to this plane?" Rosencrown asked.
Worm stretched his arms, like someone loosening up after a long day.
"You're a cunning woman, Octavia. I respect that. And rest assured: since Seraphine seems to like this pile of stones, I won't destroy it yet. But I will certainly obliterate anyone who tries to stand in her way."
His voice grew serious for the first time.
"So tell me—what is it about that girl that made someone like you debase herself this far?"
"I see your lady didn't tell you everything."
He laughed again, but Emerald interrupted him.
"Perhaps I should simply visit that girl and strangle her in my vines while she sleeps."
Rosencrown expected an aggressive response. Worm didn't change expression, but his shadows grew, becoming more vivid, reaching toward the two women across the desk. They halted instantly when Worm turned to face the headmistress. Even his own shadows seemed to fear him.
He walked slowly to Octavia and stopped just inches away.
"Do you consider yourself valuable, Octavia? Valuable enough that your heart stopping might make that woman appear here?"
As he spoke, one of the shadows rose into the air, forming a dark blade that advanced toward the woman's chest—stopping mere inches away.
The shadows retreated as if nothing had happened. Worm headed for the door.
"Well… we can always find out, can't we, little plant?"
When he left the room, Rosencrown collapsed into the chair. Panic overtook her—heart racing, breath unsteady. She couldn't believe she had endured that.
Emerald, despite her hatred, was also relieved. She stood and embraced her mistress, but said nothing.
There was nothing to say.
In the corridor, Worm wore a calm expression after all that tension.
He seemed eager to return to the dormitory and watch over the rest of Seraphine's sleep.