🎃 🎃 🎃
I stood on the deck of the ship dressed in a thick coat. I was watching the students haul cargo back to the castle.
All around me, the faces of the Liddell family were back to what I recognized.
Jack was angry that the jacket tied around his waist had snagged on a cannon. Dum and Dee, dressed in hooded capes, were playing with small crabs on a glass float.
Everyone was in perfect form.
Only Leeds, in a pair of sunglasses, was slumped over the railing sadly. “What a god-awful school life that was. So many boys and I couldn’t even get a single date! Can you believe that?”
“But it was fun, wasn’t it?” I responded.
The days I spent living communally in the dorm and the time I spent studying with the others in class were all brilliant memories for me.
I knew Dum and Dee must have felt the same. I looked over at the two of them. They were catching crabs that slipped from the glass float and returning them to the ocean.
They waved at Charles when they spotted him on the dock. Charles waved back. The three were still friends, even with the twins back to their normal size.
Dum and Dee’s lives used to consist of nothing but each other. But their world expanded as soon as they came to Ark School.
“There are so many possibilities in life when you have lots of people around. I’m glad I was able to show you two that,” I said.
“…Although, some things are better left unknown…” Leeds muttered under his breath, but the roar of the waves drowned out his words.
“What’s that?”
The sea was as stormy as ever. Thankfully, the massive ship didn’t rock as much as the last one. Only the noise of the ocean was disproportionately loud.
Leeds lowered his sunglasses and smirked. “It’s nothing. Anyway, I’m surprised the earl was able to prepare such a nice ship for us.”
The ship was painted blue, white, and red and had three sails. Black smoke was billowing up from the stern—a state-of-the-art steamboat. The railings and cabin doors were decorated in a nouveau art style, and the entire ship was far more luxurious than any other cargo vessel on the sea.
“He probably made the most of his connections, no?”
“I’m talking about the timing. Isn’t it too perfect that our ride home showed up the day after Gryphon undid the spells? As far as I’m aware, the earl can’t contact people outside of physical means. So who’s this ‘Menou’ guy who arranged for the ship?”
“Did someone summon me?”
My eyes went wide. The Knightley steward had emerged from the wheelhouse.
“The steward?! Now I remember, you left us at the train station. Where have you been all this time?”
“When I heard Ark School was on an island, I waited on the shore in case there was any trouble. I’m sorry to introduce myself so late, but my name is Menou.”
It was an astonishing revelation. I made a note of his name on my mental character sheet to be sure I didn’t forget it.
Instead of looking shocked, Leeds seemed more wary that this steward was going to be an annoyance. “Three months is a long time to wait. How did you know when the spell was broken?”
“I used my power.”
The steward widened his usually squinted eyes. The star and crescent moon seal was floating over his pupils.
“You’re a stigmata too?!” I felt like I was going to fall over. The steward, on the other hand, didn’t seem even slightly bothered.
“I was the first human Lord Dark ever resurrected. He blessed me with the power of ‘Second Sight’ to see things as they happen, even from far away.”
He’d always been able to get ahead of things because of the power of his stigma. I felt like I’d finally solved a mystery. But Leeds was squeezing his fists.
Is he nervous now?
“That’s incredible. Does your power work for anyone?”
“Only upon those I know very well. I can use it on Lord Dark, Hisui, and a few other servants of the Knightley family. I may be able to use my power on you in the near future, Miss Alice, but I would never dare spy on a lady’s private life.”
“I see…”
I let out a sigh of relief, and Leeds placed his hand on my back.
“I’m glad your private life gets to stay under wraps, my lady.”
“We’re about to depart.”
Dark had joined us on the deck. He was dressed in an outfit much more intricate than what was suitable for sea travel. He took his place at my side and waved goodbye to Charles on the dock.
“It’s only temporary at this point, but I can tell he’s going to be a wonderful headmaster,” he said. “The supplies Gramps brought them will make their lives better for some time, and I intend to do everything I can to the same end.”
“It’s the start of a new era in Ark School’s history.”
I heard the metal clanking of the anchor being raised. Smoke billowed from the smokestack, and a tugboat pulled the ship out of the harbor.
I placed my hands on the railing and gazed at the castle in the distance.
“We’re saying goodbye for real this time.”
Life at Ark School was full of hardships, but I was still sad to leave.
I looked to my side and saw Dum and Dee holding hands, staring off at the island. Jack had his hands on their shoulders. It seemed that everyone was struggling to leave it behind, too.
Amid our moment of reflection, we heard a cheerful cry of “Up here!” from above.
I gasped and looked up. My eyes landed on none other than Gryphon, sailing through the air with a flock of seagulls.
“Robins!”
“Robins!”
Dum and Dee waved at him with pink cheeks.
“Take care, everyone!”
Robins flew three laps around our ship before heading back for the island.
It was like seeing a living illustration straight out of a fantasy novel.
I burned the images of the island and all its nature, the ancient historic castle, and the kind-hearted demon into my eyes. Then, I vowed to never forget them for as long as I lived.