“I’m sorry, sir. We’re late to the ceremony,” replies the prince.
“Hm... I must say, ’tis most strange... I had the impression Your Highness was making an address as the representative of this year’s freshmen at this very moment. Was it but my imagination?”
Silence falls for a moment. Right, I forgot...
“Yeah, dude, you looked totally full of yourself giving that speech!” exclaims Satanás.
I remember now how he went up on the stage in the great hall and gave a speech when we were freshmen. I stared at him in disbelief, surprised by the fact I was entering school at the same time as a prince. And I’d never imagined we’d be in the same class too.
Faced with the principal’s smile, Prince Zenon looks like he’s given up and snaps his fingers.
“Wait, no, Your Highness!”
Nikeh and Benjamine shriek as the prince breaks his disguise. Can’t blame them. We didn’t have much of a plan, but we’ve definitely failed in whatever we were trying to do.
“Sir, please hear me out,” says the prince.
Looks like he’s resorted to a direct approach. Having changed his appearance back, he stands in front of us in our twelve-year-old forms as if shielding us. Satanás doesn’t seem very fond of that, however, and steps in front of him with a huff. What is he contending for here?
I’m sure it’s far more credible if a prince of Doran talks to the principal rather than the rest of us trying it. And most importantly, he’s an actual prince. Not many people would risk shape-shifting into one, which should make him more persuasive.
“Well, look how you’ve grown!” says the principal with a smile, remaining completely calm. Looks like he’s accepted this development.
“Would you believe it if I told you I am Zenon Doran—not the one you know, but his future self?”
Since we don’t know the number and location of the traps laid around the school, the risk of triggering one and getting thrown in jail or worse is too high. It makes more sense to try to gain entry fair and square. If we get chased out, we can plan a new approach from there.
The rest of us snap our fingers and undo the shape-shifting. I don’t bother to hide my blue hair.
“Sir, we’ve come from the future too! I’m a graduate of this school, Nanalie Hel!”
Since the people of this time apparently won’t remember us, it should be fine.
“Same here! My name is Naru Satanás!”
We introduce ourselves one by one. The principal doesn’t look dubious of us at all, and simply watches in silence.
“Well, well, then I suppose it has been a while. I see, I see. Once you pass through the gate, it will become clear whether you have come from the future as you say. Please, go ahead,” says the principal, beckoning us with his hand.
Is this the part where he does the cliché “old-man laugh”? No?
“Are you sure this isn’t a trap?” utters Nikeh quietly, slightly ducking her head.
I’m tempted to suspect something too, given how the other party doesn’t suspect us at all. Like, we’ve just told him we’re graduates from the future. I’d expect him to question our sanity. Hmm...
“Are you, perhaps, afraid of the gate? ’Tis enchanted with magic that repels those who bear ill will, do not belong, aren’t graduates, and aren’t teachers, along with some other types of people.” The principal smiles, playing with his long beard. “Since the entrance ceremony is today, the gate’s ability to recognize organisms might be functioning. If you have passed through it before, there shouldn’t be any issue. Shape-shifting accurately enough is only possible if you are assuming a form that belongs to you, as you would not be able to get the little details—say, the lines on your hands—otherwise.”
“For real?” asks Satanás.
“As real as can be.”
“Alright, we’ll be going, then!”
With Satanás leading the charge, we decide to just go for it and take the principal up on his offer. As we pass through the gate, I feel something like electricity pass through me. Nothing else happens, however, and we all manage to pass through just fine. Makes you wonder what we were so scared of.
“See? What did I tell you?”
“Anyone would lose their cool, okay?” replies Satanás. “And I gotta say, I had no idea you were out here sweeping during the entrance ceremony.”
“Good things are bound to come when you keep the place clean. Such as how I met you, visitors from the future, just now.”
While Satanás has always been awfully casual with his seniors, it’s pretty unusual how the principal doesn’t say anything about it. I guess he’s just very tolerant like that. Was it like this every time Satanás got summoned to the principal’s office?
Anyway, good thing we ran into the principal before anyone else. It should be easier to get around with the approval of the most powerful person in the school.
“It’s great that we ran into him first,” says Benjamine. Looks like she was thinking the same thing.
“Yeah,” I reply.
“So, what brings you here today?” asks the principal. “I believe your story, but I still don’t know why you would come here from the future.”
I guess he won’t let us in if we don’t give him a reason. If we were to tell him we’re here to see a teacher, I can’t imagine he would accept it unless said teacher was no longer alive in our time (and I’d hate to give such a reason, even if it’s a lie). Saying I’m here because someone wants to take my seat in class by my loved one’s side (even though back then I didn’t love him and, in fact, hated him) and I want to stop that—now that’s just disgraceful.
“Someone came to this time period to change the past. That individual is here in this school,” explains Nikeh as I stand there in search of what to say.
“Yes, and we’re here to stran... Ahem, to bring that individual back,” continues Benjamine.
That’s right, we have something of a home-wrecker on our hands. We need to teach her a lesson.
I can almost see flames raging behind Nikeh and Benjamine. You’re scaring me, girls. Seeing them like that, the principal cracks a smile.
“I must ask, has magic that allows one to affect the past appeared in your age?”
“I don’t know when it became possible, but there’s an artifact apparently sold on the black market that allows it. This doll right here,” I explain.
He should quickly forget about the Time Keeper in Benjamine’s arms, but it’s probably best not to say too much here regardless. That’s just how dangerous this artifact is.
“So you used it to come here... By the way, you said your name was Nanalie Hel, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I believe Mr. Bordon told me a Nanalie Hel passed this year’s entrance exam, attaining second place. In first place was a child named Arnold.”
In first place was a child named Arnold.
“Kgh...”
Now hold on a second, this is the first I’ve heard of this. What, are you telling me I had a lower score than him even at the entrance exam?! I’ve really been a loser my whole life, haven’t I?! And in this world where falling in love counts as a loss, I’m most definitely a loser on that front as well! Give me a break...
Two of my friends support me from both sides as I nearly fall over.
“Yes, and sitting next to that Alois Hades Arnold Rockmann was none other than her!”
“There’s a woman who’s come here to change that and become his girlfriend! Please do something about it, sir!”
“It’s very, veeery important for our friendship!”
Once again it’s Benjamine and Nikeh who do the talking for me, and more passionately than I would’ve. Becoming friends with these two in the future might have nothing to do with Rockmann, but I hate the idea of having things I remember being unwritten from history.
I hold my head to steady my wavering mind.
“I see, I see. The seating order hasn’t been decided on yet, so I shall keep that in mind.”
“It’s not enough to just keep it in mind!”
We’ve made it inside the school, but what about Treyse? How did she get in? It’s possible she knew beforehand she could simply walk through the gate and acted like a regular student. Is she currently in her child form or her adult one? Perhaps she’s assumed someone else’s form instead? According to the principal, you can shape-shift freely after getting in.
“Just like the principal said, anyone bearing ill will should trigger one of the traps around school. The fact that she didn’t probably means she doesn’t consider what she’s doing bad,” Prince Zenon infers, folding his arms. He hasn’t said much during this conversation.
“What?! That’s the nastiest kind of woman!” says Nikeh, shaking her head so strongly that her pigtails hit the prince.
“There is only the ceremony today, after which the students go to their dorms,” says the principal. “What do you say to working as substitute teachers? It would give you access to the school.”
Thrown off by his suggestion, we freeze up with our mouths hanging open. In the meantime, he does a hearty cliché old-man laugh.