Chapter Text
Floyd turns to his chapter.
Next thing Hayu realizes, they are standing in front of a quiet wood enveloped by the night sky.
“So this is the famous dwarf mine,” Deuce says. “It used to be quite prosperous once upon a time due to magic crystals.”
Grim is complaining of course. “How did it turn out to be such a hassle!”
“Why the hell are you complaining you dumb cat,” Ace grumbles. “You’re the reason we’re in this mess!”
“You’re just as guilty as him Ace,” Jack reminds him with a blank look. “You and Deuce.”
Ace grumbles while Deuce keeps his head low.
“If you wanna blame anyone, blame yourself you dumb cat,” Ace snaps.
“You’re the one who shirked your cleaning duties!” Grim points out.
“He has a point,” Deuce agrees.
Ace gives Deuce a nasty look which Deuce responds with a shrug.
Ace turns his ire to Deuce. “You’re not completely innocent! It’s your stupid plan that got us in this mess in the first place.”
Deuce immediately feels defensive. “I was trying to get Grim down.”
“All three of you are at equal fault,” Vil says with an unamused expression.
‘All three of you are at fault,’ is what Hayu thinks but doesn’t say. They don’t wish to add anymore oil to the fire.
“That would be wise,” Jamil says. “Especially since you have an impossible task in a short deadline.”
Instead they decide to explore. As much as the woods creep them out, they have a seemingly impossible task on a deadline.
“Yuu thinks like Jamil!” Kalim says with a laugh.
Jamil just huffs.
“I see a cottage,” Hayu says to their companions. “Maybe there is someone there that can tell us more about magic crystals.”
“A cottage?” Sebek asks.
“Ah!” Rook says. “They must be talking about the deserted cottage before the mine.”
The three thankfully decides to follow Hayu to the cabin quietly. Hayu knocks on the door, only for the door to swing open automatically.
“Creepy…” Cater says.
“What a perfect spot for Halloween,” Lilia says with a chuckle.
“This place is a total wreck,” Ace says, peering into the house behind Hayu. “I doubt anyone lives here.”
The inside of the house is indeed a wreck. Cobwebs hang across the ceilings.
Jamil mentally vows to stay far away.
The pots and jars and broom have clearly not been touched by anyone for a long time.
Vil is clearly displeased, meanwhile Ruggie wonders if there is any leftover valuables in the cabin.
There is a messy, dusty table with seven chairs scattered across the floor. Hayu can’t help but note how tiny the table and chairs are. It’s like those mini tables and chairs meant for toddlers.
“And there are seven of them?” Epel asks. “That’s a lot isn’t it?”
“Maybe the cabin belonged to dwarves?” Rook suggests.
Vil’s eye slightly twitches. The mention of dwarves makes him think of someone.
While Hayu observes the cottage, Deuce returns. “I found the entrance of the Dwarf Mine.”
Ace enters the cottage and finds some candles. Grim easily lights them. Ace gives a candle to Deuce, Hayu and one for himself.
Hayu decides not to comment on the teamwork.
“What teamwork?” Ace grumbles.
“You and Grim worked together to solve the lack of light,” Silver says.
“That isn’t teamwork,” Ace says stubbornly. “Grim just did something useful for me, that’s all.”
“You think so?” Silver says. “I see. It looked like teamwork to me.”
Ace just grumbles.
Jack shakes his head since he knows what Ace said.
The four head to the entrance of the mine.
“It’s… so dark,” Grim says in a quiet tone.
“Ya scared?” Ace taunts.
“Of course not!” Grim says defensively. “Follow me.” He rushes into the cave.
Ace snorts. “That scaredy cat is definitely scared.”
The four enter the Mine with nothing but the candles in their hands. Hayu can hear water dripping from a distance.
“It’s so damp, dusty and dark,” Grim complains. “Reminds me of Ramshackle Dorm.”
“At least Ramshackle has a bed,” Trey offers.
“You do realize that isn’t that much of an improvement,” Cater says with a weary expression.
“Ramshackle Dorm?” Deuce and Ace say in unison.
“It’s the name Grim gave to the building we are staying in,” Hayu explains.
“I don’t recall any building in school being called that,” Deuce says in confusion.
“Because no one called it that before Grim,” Deuce answers himself.
“Calling it a dorm is an exaggeration,” Grim grumbles. “That building is even more run down than the cottage we saw.”
Some of the boys give an awkward smile in agreement.
Malleus on the other hand wants to see the cottage now.
“Why the heck would you stay in a crummy place like that?” Ace asks. “Can’t you just go home?”
“They can’t,” Almost everyone says simultaneously.
“That me doesn’t know!” Ace says in exasperation. “Sevens! That’s a weird sentence to say.”
“I can’t,” Hayu says. That only confused the two boys more, so Hayu sighs and explains what happened after the opening ceremony.
“Another world!?” The two boys are naturally shocked.
“Is that even possible?” Deuce wonders.
“Wait…” Ace says in realization. “So what’s going to happen if we don’t find a crystal and you have to leave campus.”
“Huh…” Kalim says. “That’s actually a good question Ace.”
“I’m sure the Headmage has something in mind,” Trey says hesitantly.
“Doubt,” Idia simply says.
To be honest, that was something Hayu didn’t think about or rather didn’t want to think about. They just give Ace an awkward shrug.
Ace stares at them in shock for a second before looking away and muttering something under his breath.
As someone who has been hearing Ace grumbling and muttering, Jack can’t help but ask, “What are you complaining about this time?”
Ace says nothing. Knowing himself, he is probably regretting his earlier words to Hayu. In fact he has been regretting since the others have been calling him out but he refuses to admit and apologize. And he refuses to answer Jack’s question.
“Hee hee hee” A laugh comes out of nowhere.
The four immediately look in the direction of the laugh. A pair of ghosts.
Ace and Deuce both groan at the same time. “We don’t have time for this!” Deuce says.
“Our first visitors in ten years!” One of them says.
“Come and join us!” The other one says.
“Gh… Ghosts!” Deuce, Ace and Grim shouts.
Most of the boys snort.
Hayu, on the other hand, having heard that line before, approaches them casually. “Hi.” They say with an awkward smile. “Sorry to ruin your ghost fun, but a ghost trio already threw those lines at me, so… yeah.”
Kalim bursts out laughing. He isn’t the only one. The second years, third years and Ortho are either laughing or smiling in amusement or bemeusement.
Ace, Deuce, Jack, Epel and Sebek just listens with a blank expression. They are still processing what they just heard.
Everyone stares at Hayu in shock. Finally one of the ghosts speak. “Aw man… and here I thought we were finally going to have some fun.” The ghosts look at Hayu. “We don’t get visitors everyday you know.”
“Jee… I wonder why,” Ruggie comments. He is obviously being sarcastic.
Hayu gives an awkward shrug.
The ghosts sigh in resignation. “So, what are you kids doing here?” the other ghosts asks.
“We are looking for a magic crystal,” Hayu answers.
“A magic crystal?” one of the ghosts says. “Haven’t seen one of those in a long time.”
“You’re gonna have to go deep into the mines if you want to find one,” the other one says. “And even then, we can’t guarantee you will find one.”
“We’ll take our chances,” Hayu says. “Thank you.”
“Good luck,” one of the ghosts says as it floats away. “You’ll need it,” says the other.
“How reassuring,” Azul says dryly.
"How kind of these lovely apparitions to offer their guidance," Rook says with a smile.
Hayu turns to look at their companions who are still just staring at Hayu in shock. “What?” Hayu asks.
The trio sighs. “My hench-human is a weirdo,” Grim says.
Almost everyone snorts.
Hayu just gives them a confused expression before saying, “The Ghosts said we need to go down. So let’s go deeper.”
The three just followed Hayu. They didn’t get far before Grim stops them. “I just heard a strange voice.”
“A strange voice…?” Hayu says.
“Don’t tell me we have to deal with more ghosts!” Ace complains.
“…on’t… ive… wo…” A deep, gurgling, menacing voice echoes in the mine.
No one says anything. The room’s enchantment made them hear just how the voice sounds and frankly, it terrifies some of them. It’s definitely not a ghost.
It sends shivers down their spines.
Ace notices a hidden cavern and points at it. All four immediately dives into it. It keeps them hidden and gives them a view of what is coming.
Lilia nods his head in approval.
First they see a light, then they see a lamp and they see… a monster.
The creature hunches forward as it slowly walks one step at a time. A thick black sludge with a broken glass bowel cover in ink as its head. It’s wearing a faded and tattered burgundy coat and hat. One hand carries a lamp and an axe on the other hand.
“WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE GREAT SEVENS IS THAT!?” Ace, Deuce, Jack, Epel and Sebek shout.
Everyone else aside from the Shroud brothers are too stunned to speak.
“Big Brother,” Ortho says to Idia. “That’s..”
“... a phantom” Idia finishes in whisper. “This is bad…”
Leona who hears him, immediately looks at him. “Oi Raddish Sprout!” he says. “If you know something, speak.
“Eeek!” Idia says. He gets out his tablet. “Uh… well… first of all, everyone knows what an overblot is, right?”
Everyone nods.
“Okay,” Idia continues. “Basically, what Yuu-shii and others encountered is a phantom. A manifestation of the negative energies when a mage overbolts.”
“In other words, this monster or phantom as you call it, is the representation of the negative emotions that a mage is surrounded by when they overbolt?” Vil clarifies.
“Correct,” Idia says. “It’s a creature made of pure negative energy. It basically saps the mage’s magical energy until there is nothing left but the phantom itself.”
No one says anything as they try to process what Idia just said.
“Wait…!” Epel says. “You’re saying that this thing killed the mage that created it!?”
“That’s right,” Ortho confirms. “We’re not sure when, but the mage that created this creature is dead.”
“And now our two freshmen along with Yuu-kun and Gri-chan has to face this thing?” Cater says with mild panic. “Isn’t that…like… really bad and dangerous!?”
“You four need to get out of there now!” Riddle immediately tells the boys.
“Oh you don’t need to tell me twice,” Ace says while Deuce stays quiet.
The sight of the creature horrifies Hayu so much that they stop breathing and cover their mouth with their hands. Fearing that just breathing will alert the creature of their location. The others are doing the same thing.
“What is that freaky thing!?” Ace whispers in terror.
“No one told me we would have to fight a monster,” Grim whimpers and trembles.
“Because no one knew such a creature would be in the Dwarf Mine,” Jamil says.
“Stone… is… mine…” the monster gurgles.
“Did it mention… stone?” Ace asks. “You don’t think it’s a crystal?”
“Cry…stal, won’t… give…” the monster continues as it walks back into the mine.
“Well at least we got confirmation there is still a crystal in the cave,” Jade says.
“Yeah, they just have to deal with a viscous killing monster,” Flyod says casually.
“Can you not be so casual about this!?” Riddle snaps at them.
Everyone’s eyes widens in shock.
“So there is a stone here after all!” Deuce says. He quickly shifts into a determined expression. “I’m getting it!”
“Are you insane!?” Ace, Jack, Epel, Sebek, Riddle, Trey and Cater shouts.
The others look at Deuce as if he has grown a second head.
Deuce shifts in his sit. Now that he knows there is a stone, he will not leave without it.
“Are you nuts!?” Ace exclaims while keeping his voice low so the monster doesn’t hear.
“It’s too dangerous,” Hayu adds.
Deuce hits the nearby wall with his fist. “I will not be expelled!” He says and runs after the monster.
“Dude! Your priorities are seriously messed up!” Idia says. “You’re just asking to be killed.
Riddle tenses. Just last chapter he was hoping he wouldn’t have to learn about any deaths…
Everyone else is too stunned to stop him.
“Hey you creep!” Deuce calls out to the monster.
The monster turns to look at him.
“Come at me! I’m gonna beat you and get that stone.”
No one says anything. Their minds simply hoping they don’t have to hear about a death.
“Go away!” the monster shouts and immediately swings its axe at Deuce.
Deuce manages to dodge the attack. The swing of the monster’s attack was powerful enough to leave a dent on the ground. If Deuce hadn’t dodged, he would be dead.
Deuce lets out a shaky breathe. He didn’t like that last sentence.
Deuce tries to kick the monster, only for his foot to get stuck in the black ink much to Deuce’s shock.
“A phantom is made of an ink like substance that is similar as wet tar,” Ortho supplies.
“Ortho…” Trey says. “With all due respect, I think we could have done without that fact.”
The monster swings its axe at Deuce and he ducks in time. The axe hits the frail wall causing the small rocks to fall.
“Gah!” Deuce shouts as if a bunch rocks fall on him.
“Deuce!” Trey and Cater immediately move to him.
Riddle is now standing up.
Everyone holds their breathe.
“Deuce!” Hayu calls out.
The smoke from the debris clears and this time the monster notices the other three.
“That's not good!” Sebek says while Ace curses.
“Stay away!” It snarls and swings its axe to Hayu.
A gust of wind and fire pushes the monster away. Hayu realizes it must have been Ace and Grim. While the monster is distracted, they run to check on Deuce. “Deuce, please tell me you’re still alive!” Hayu says, kneeling down.
Deuce groans.
Everyone lets out a breathe they didn’t realize they were holding.
“Sevens!” Riddle sits back down with a sigh.
Deuce can’t help but feel guilty. “Sorry…” he says softly.
Trey gives a tired smile and pats his back. “It didn’t happen yet.”
Hayu helps him sit up.
Deuce perks up suddenly and points at a nearby wall. “Look!”
Hayu looks and sees a sparkling stone. Could it be…
“A stone!” Ace and Deuce says.
“Forget about the stone!” Riddle snaps. “You two need to get away!”
“Mine!” the monster growls.
“We need to leave now!” Hayu says with urgency.
Riddle is starting to appreciate Yuu.
They grab Deuce’s arm as tight as they could and force him to run.
Deuce twitches. His body is protesting the idea of running which something strange for him.
The four of them ran as fast as they could out of the cave and all the way to the cabin.
The creature didn’t follow them beyond the mine. It goes back inside the mine.
Floyd stops reading with a blank look and everyone relaxes.
“Sevens!” Cater says with a sigh. “Who would have thought a simple reading and listening could be so exhausting?”
“I guess this means you’re getting expelled then huh?” Jack says to the Heartslabyul duo.
Ace sighs in resignation while Deuce just looks away.
“The only way to know is if we continue on,” Lilia says.
Floyd tosses the book towards Kalim.
Jamil catches it. “What are you doing!?”
“It’s Sea Otter - chan’s turn to read,” Floyd says with a shrug.
Jamil sighs. He turns to the chapter and gives it to Kalim.
Kalim starts reading.