Chapter 2
Morning Comes, and There’s an Impaler on the Loose!!
Part 1
I wake up feeling great, and I’ve got the sweet darkspider silk robe I picked up last night to thank for it. I take a moment to appreciate the way it glitters in the morning light, then head over to the academy a bit earlier than usual.
It’s been a while since the last time I went to school solo.
Skel and Po always like to get there at the last possible minute, but going to school early every now and then has its appeal, too. You get to see all sorts of new faces, and basking in the sunlight as you head through the gates feels great…
“…This sucks.”
“What are you doing here, Fido?”
“What are you doing here, Alexia?”
When I walk through the gates, I find Alexia standing there.
“You should be a little happier getting to see me first thing in the morning.”
“Gosh, gee, I’m so happy.”
“Well, I should hope so.”
“Anyways, later.”
I powerwalk away, but Alexia quickly catches up. “Hold on, don’t you go running off on me.”
“Why’d you follow me?”
“When people run away from me, it makes me want to chase them.”
“What are you, a beast of prey?”
“Isn’t it an honor getting to walk to school with me?”
“………”
“Why’d you go quiet?”
“I was just thinking about how happy-go-lucky you are.”
“Not nearly as much as you.”
We continue bantering as we walk, then we spot a crowd gathered in front of the school building.
I can hear the students murmuring to each other.
“H-he’s dead…!”
“Who would do something so brutal?”
“Hey, stay back! No one gets closer until the Knight Order gets here!”
Alexia and I exchange a glance.
“Sounds like they found a body!” I tell her.
“We need to go see what’s going on.”
We don’t tend to get much excitement at the academy, and it’s been forever since there was a cool surprise like this. It’s no wonder my heart begins pounding with anticipation. I push through the crowd, eyes glimmering. I wonder whose corpse it is.
When I get to the front, my disappointment is immeasurable.
“Oh, it’s this guy.”
It’s the dude I kicked off the roof and left behind last night. I completely forgot about him.
“That’s horrible…,” Alexia mutters. “What kind of person goes and impales someone on a statue’s sword? It’s like a public execution.”
“It was probably just an accident.”
“Obviously it wasn’t. When someone gets murdered like that, it means the killer did it for a reason.”
“Uh, I guess…”
Alexia stares earnestly at the corpse. “I wonder who he was. It doesn’t look like he’s affiliated with the school.”
“I bet he was a burglar.”
“He isn’t with the Knight Order, either. He must have been some sort of intruder.”
“Pretty sure he’s a burglar.”
“Could he be a member of the Cult? Either that, or…?”
“I gotta say, he reeeeeally looks like a burglar.”
“Be quiet, you. He’s obviously not a burglar.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Eh, so it goes. The other students look like they’re enjoying themselves, and if I think about it, that was basically my goal all along.
“That’s so scary… Did the you-know-who org kill him?”
“They still haven’t found those missing students, right?”
“And there was that thing with the magic yesterday, too. It feels like it’s all connected.”
Aw, look at ’em. They’re having the time of their lives.
All that really happened was a cat and a dog getting into a fight and a burglar falling to his death. As the instigator for all that, it warms my heart seeing the other students get so excited about it.
Oh man, if I waited until night and dressed up as Shadow, that’d give them even more to talk about.
“What’s with the creepy smile?” Alexia asks me.
“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing.”
Her red eyes peer at me with suspicion.
Then someone comes over and starts talking to us. “Could I have a moment, you two?”
It’s a hot dude with dark-green hair—Isaac.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Isaac. How dare you miss class yesterday?”
“You’re…Cid, right? I had some business I needed to attend to. Did something happen?”
“We had a pop quiz.”
“I see. And what else?”
“Nah, that was about it.”
“Then I’m not sure I see the problem. In any case, school has been canceled today.”
“Oh, huh.”
“This is a horrible tragedy. The academy and the Knight Order will be launching an investigation, so they’ve ordered everyone to stay away from the crime scene. The perpetrator behind this monstrous act might still be around, so be careful. Make sure you don’t leave your dorms.”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh.”
Alexia gives me a look. “That means you, Fido. It’s dangerous.”
“Yeah, I got it—”
All of a sudden, something snaps around my neck.
Is this a collar?
“There we go. I finally caught you.”
I turn around and see Claire smiling from ear to ear.
“H-hey there, Sis. Long time no see.”
“It really has, hasn’t it? Since before winter break, as I recall.”
“Th-that sounds about right.”
Shit. I let my guard down.
I knew running into my sister would be a headache, so I’ve been actively trying to avoid it.
“U-um, Claire, that collar…,” Alexia starts.
“What about it?” Claire replies.
“That’s your collar?”
“Yep. I left it in my room, but for some reason, the Knight Order had it. You have no idea how hard it was to get it back.”
“I—I see. And what do you use it for?”
“What do you mean? Isn’t it obvious?” Claire smiles as she gives it a rattly tug.
“I, uh, I guess it is… I suppose dogs do need collars, don’t they?”
“Exactly. See, you get it.”
“Just for the record, I’m not a dog,” I interject.
“Of course you are, Fido.”
“I swear, Cid, you say the strangest things. Now, come along, Fido. Err, I mean, Cid.”
Claire pulls the chain and begins dragging me off in front of a crowd of onlookers.
When in the world did she and Alexia start hitting it off?
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