❁❁❁
WHEN Lille outlined her strategy to everyone in Leo’s room, a deep frown formed on August’s red face. Judging by the almost-empty wine bottle and the exhausted droop to Leo and Ark’s shoulders, he had been drinking like a fish while complaining about anything and everything he could think of.
“Do you really think that will work? I’m against the idea. Especially as it may put Lille in danger. You should leave these matters to your elders,” he grumbled.
“C’mon, Grand Master. If we go along with Lille’s plan, she’s the only one who can play the role,” Ark countered.
“I understand that. However…”
“If Lille and Master Charlie have already decided to do it, there’s no point trying to stop them, to be honest. Those two are really good at pretending to listen and then doing the exact opposite,” Leo huffed.
“Huh? Really?” Lille and Charles shared a glance with each other, their faces blank.
“Really! And the fact that you don’t even realize it makes it worse. How is it that I’m the one with the most common sense, when I’m the youngest? You adults gotta pull yourselves together!” Leo scolded them.
“…Sorry,” all three of them replied in unison, each of them seeing the truth in his words. Leo winced, apparently not expecting a genuine apology.
“Anyway… We don’t have any better ideas, so I think Lille’s onto something. You agree, don’t you, Leo?” Ark said. “What about you, Grand Master? If your nerves get the better of you, no one will blame you if you back out.”
“Who do you think I am?!” August bellowed.
“In that case, it’s settled. We’re doing this together,” Ark sang casually, as if they were going on a day trip rather than embarking on something dangerous. His relaxed tone helped to calm everyone down, although anxiety still gnawed deep inside all of them.
“When’s the big day?” Ark continued.
“Considering what happened last time, I think it’s best we put the plan into action immediately after the new year comes around,” Charles suggested.
“In a week’s time, hm…? In that case, I believe I should call for more military strategy meetings,” August said thoughtfully.
“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. It seems like we won’t get a chance to properly welcome the new year, though. You don’t mind, do you, Lille?” Charles asked considerately.
She smiled. “No, that’s quite all right. I’m happy enough that we’re spending it together.”
She’d never really noted the new year. She only knew that most people went home to spend it with their families, as there had always been very little chatter to listen to in town on those days. If anything, that had made it all the more boring. She didn’t know what kind of occasion it was, or what people usually did, either. However, if it meant she got to spend time with her family, that alone made it worth celebrating.
“Now that school’s on its winter break, I think I shall reside here for a while,” August declared.
Charles immediately began to panic. “Oh, but we don’t have a room for you…” he fretted.
“I’ll sleep in your room, Charles. Surely you have no problem with that, considering there’s nothing left to hide, no?” He shrugged.
“Well, yes, but…never mind. I’ll sleep in Leo’s room.”
“Nah, that won’t do! Leo’s already got his hands full with me sleeping in here,” Ark claimed, clapping one of his hands over Leo’s shoulder and waving the other in the air carelessly. “You gotta sleep in Lille’s room, Master Charlie.”
“Can’t you just turn back into a bird?” Leo asked, exasperated.
“Nope. I’ve decided I’m not gonna turn back until tomorrow morning,” Ark said decisively.
“What the heck? Why?! If you do that, Master Charlie and Lille wil— Mmf!”
Ark suddenly pinned Leo’s arms behind his back and slapped a hand over his mouth. “Hahaha, is that so? You really wanna hang out with me, huh? Don’t worry, you’ll have all my attention.” Ark grinned, ignoring Leo’s muffled shouts of protest. Leo squirmed in his grasp, but eventually grew tired of struggling and stood quietly, looking resigned.
“All right, let’s leave the discussion here for today. I get tired doing this sort of stuff in human form. It’s about time we all take a bath and go to bed,” Ark announced, shepherding Charles, August, and Lille out of Leo’s room. The door slammed shut behind them.
“What’s wrong with Ark? Usually, he can’t turn back into a bird quick enough.” Charles raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
For some reason, August started to fidget awkwardly. “W-Well… It must be too cold for him in bird form. He wouldn’t be able to wear clothes, you see,” he said, bluffing.
“Even though he has feathers?”
Lille, on the other hand, could hazard a guess as to why Ark was so insistent on Charles sleeping in her room. He was trying to give them more time alone. He must have noticed how anxious she was feeling, and thought she might find comfort in Charles’s presence.
“Quite frankly, it does not matter why! Both of you should retire to your room at once!” August snapped.
“But, Lille’s a girl, and I… Well, even if I am her mentor, I feel like it’s inappropriate to share a room with her. Maybe I should sleep with you, Master August,” Charles suggested, also beginning to fidget.
“I may as well go home if you’re so intent on torturing me!” August exclaimed harshly.
“Please, don’t be like that…” Charles frowned. “I thought you were old enough to know better than to act like a spoiled brat.”
Insults and complaints flew back and forth between the two. It was possible that August was kicking up such a fuss for Lille’s sake.
“I don’t mind, Master Charlie. I’ll just curl up into a ball and sleep in the corner, so I won’t bother you,” Lille said, trying to persuade him.
“No, that’s not fair to you. I’ll sleep on the sofa in the living room, so feel free to take up the whole bed and relax to your heart’s content.”
“I won’t let you do that.” Lille raised her voice. “You’re exhausted from everything that’s happened today. You need a bed.”
“But, Lille…” he said with a troubled look. “Your bed is only big enough for one person, and I’d feel…”
As they bickered in front of the door, August suddenly interrupted with a huge sigh.
“Have you forgotten that you’re a sorcerer, Charles? You can simply use magic to make it bigger,” he barked.
Charles and Lille turned to look at each other. They both knew they were thinking the same thing:
Oh, right.