“Let us join Ark School.”
“Yes…”
The headmaster’s throat drew in with a groan—perhaps he’d been harmed after all. But then he finally exhaled a plume of smoke and returned to his senses.
“…Right. This boarding school exists to raise English gentlemen. Sending a young lady in crisis away would violate those standards. You should stay here until next season’s ship arrives and take classes with the other students. I’ll let you work here as a school nurse, too…”
“I’d expect nothing less, Mr. Headmaster!”
It was Leeds, who I’d expect nothing less from. Though it was a matter of force, he got us permission to stay at the school after my tears failed to produce results.
“Okay, we’ll be on our merry way then. Thanks a bunch!” Leeds pushed me out of the headmaster’s office. Our next destination was the chapel.
“I’m glad we don’t have to swim across the ocean. Thank you, Leeds,” I said.
“You’re so very welcome. We got permission to stay here, but I’m not sure how we’re going to protect you properly. I don’t want to ask more from the others than they’re capable of.”
We didn’t know how the transformations of the other four might continue to affect them. A demon was lurking somewhere nearby as well. At this point, I wanted them to prioritize their safety rather than mine.
“I can protect myself. Dum and Dee said the demon would have poisoned the food if they wanted to kill us,” I said.
“We don’t know that for sure. A sadist would come up with a reason to trap us on the island for a while before slowly killing us to get his thrills. You’re too forgiving when it comes to demons.” With a worried look, Leeds grabbed my shoulders. “You can’t be alone here, my lady, and you can’t rely on the earl’s help this time either. We’ll have Jack stay with the earl to protect him, and Dum and Dee will guard you. As for the demon, I’ll search for them however you demand. How’s that sound?”
“Perfect. I hope everything goes as planned.”
Leeds placed a reassuring kiss on the top of my head. “No need to worry. Us girls are invincible when everything’s in order. There’s supposed to be an opening ceremony in the chapel before classes start, so why don’t we head there next?”
We walked down the stairs and went into the chapel. Light poured in through the dome skylight, illuminating the students who filled the wide room.
The school uniform was a black tailcoat with different colored neckties depending on the dorm they belonged to. Lion Dorm members wore golden yellow ties, while Unicorn Dorm members wore bright blue ones. The two dorm members sat on different sides of the chapel. Students wearing gold ties were on the left. I walked over to join them.
Being the only girl at a boys’ boarding school made me really stand out. Each time one of the boys pointed at me or jeered, Leeds blew them a kiss to shut them up.
I wonder where Dum and Dee are? I scanned the black-robed masses until I spotted the twins at the very front of the chapel. They were dressed in the same clothes as yesterday, sitting comfortably next to Charles as he read his Bible.
“Hello, Charles. The Headmaster offered to let us take classes here as students until the next boat comes,” I said.
“That’s good news. I can’t give you special treatment for being a female student, but I’ll still help you and your attendants if you need it since you’re members of Lion Dorm.”
“Please take good care of my lady,” Leeds said. “I get to be a teacher here during our stay, so make sure she’s in good hands while I’m working.”
“That makes me a little nervous…” Charles paled but shook his head and offered a suggestion. “Oh well. I guess I’ll have to make Miss Alice my ‘dorm brother.’”
“What’s a dorm brother?”
“Someone who takes care of the upperclassmen. They clean and do odd jobs for them in exchange for protection. Even if you’re on the verge of being bullied, no one can touch a powerful upperclassman’s dorm brother.”
The insulated society of a boarding school sometimes resulted in students acting out violently. Underclassmen needed the dorm brother system to guarantee their safety while they were still low on the food chain.
“I’m the prefect of Lion Dorm. Anyone would have to be a total dunce to lay a hand on you once you’re my dorm brother. I can’t stay with you at all times, so it’s smart to use whatever methods are available to you.”
“That sounds logical. I’d love to be your dorm brother, Charles.”
“Let me see your hand.” Charles removed the lion-shaped lapel pin from his tailcoat and placed it in my palm. “This is proof that you’re an upperclassman’s dorm brother.”
When I pinned his badge to my jacket, the twins stared at me, looking irritated.
“Do you have to?”
“Do you have to?”
“Of course. She needs to be protected.” Leeds patted them on the shoulder. “I’m going to look for cute boys in Unicorn Dorm.” With that, he was gone—he had to inform Dark and Jack of the new developments.
“We’re in our final year of school, Alice.”
“Will we be able to stay with you, Alice?”
“I don’t know… I hope we can at least take classes together,” I said.
The twins looked at Charles—any light in their eyes was extinguished.
“We want to take classes with Alice.”
“We want to take classes with Alice.”
“In that case, you can get a teacher’s permission to sit in on any class in this school. But be warned that slots in popular classes are decided by a lottery. Latin, orthography, arithmetic, geometry, sports, astronomy, and demon studies are required for all students.”
One of those subjects caught my attention.
“I’ve never heard of demon studies before. What kind of things are taught?” I furrowed my brow. Charles responded bluntly.
“It’s exactly what the name says. You learn about demons.”
“I-Is that so…?”
Perhaps English gentlemen had to be well-versed in demons. It didn’t seem like Charles was joking, but that left me with even more questions.
The bell in the church rang, and the headmaster and teachers appeared in the chapel. They stepped up onto the altar, their robes dragging along with them. At the end of their line was Leeds in a white coat.
How did he end up there?
Charles closed his Bible, and the other students instantly finished their conversations.
“Alice.”
“Alice.”
Dum and Dee were patting the space they’d left between them on the pew. I decided to take a seat and think about the rest later.
The chapel fell into a hush. The headmaster’s hoarse voice echoed through the hall.
“To all of you who have been gathered here at Ark School, I guarantee your experiences here will teach you valuable lessons. Study hard, pray dutifully, and work together to become men who can serve your country. I’ll introduce your teachers now.”
Just as Leeds had described, every last teacher sitting on the altar was elderly. Their faces were covered in deep wrinkles, their eyes were sunken, and their lips were rigid and stern. Many walked with canes, making them look like sorcerers in their age-worn robes.
Each teacher introduced themselves with their name and subject. Leeds was the last one to go. He stood up, the bottom of his white jacket twirling around like a dress.
“My name’s Leeds and I’ll be your new school nurse. I’ll be sure you’re all nice and healthy, so let me know if you’re hurt or you’ve caught a cold. I don’t mind if you just want to talk, either. I’d love to hear all your secrets about the school or your fellow students. Glad to be part of the team!”
He waved at us charmingly. The other teachers had mixed responses. Some were smiling, but others looked at him with suspicion.
“I’ve never seen a young teacher come to this school before.” Charles was murmuring to himself.
Most students seemed excited, but only Robins, sitting in the front of Unicorn Dorm’s section, looked at Leeds like a bone was caught in his throat.
“With that, classes are now in session, future English gentlemen.”
The headmaster had finished speaking.
Once the teachers left the room, the students stood and began to head to their respective classrooms. While Charles was listing off recommended classes for me, a top hat bobbing in the sea of students stole my attention.
Multiple ribbons and a crucifix adorned the glossy, silk hat. But no head was underneath it—the hat was covering it completely.
Jack was leading him around since he couldn’t see what was in front of him.
It may be a last resort to hide his horns, but it really makes him stand out.
Only the sight of Jack offered me any hope.
He looked exactly like the other students despite the bag with his saber strapped to his back. I could only pray that nothing at this school would incur his wrath and activate his stigma’s flames.
“Let’s go, Alice.”
“It’s astronomy class first.”
“Right. Where will you be off to now, Charles?” I asked.
“I still have prefect work to do.”
“All right then. Until next time.”
With Dum and Dee at each of my sides, we headed to our first class.
Despite the dangerous situation, I was actually looking forward to it.
It’s my first time attending school, after all.