The dusk gloomed over the Westhex dormitories. Despite the thick fog, the purple light colored the skies, and there was Lia, sitting on the usual dried-up fountain, reading some Encyclopedia of Natures and Plants Around the World. She sat there peacefully, sipping some kind of herb drink from her tumbler.
From afar, a shadowy figure emerged from the thick fog. She assumed it was one of her friends, but alas—it was the infamous twins, talking about their plans and today's mishaps. As they passed by, Likka noticed Lia sitting alone on the fountain. She stopped and approached her, despite Lia's best effort to cover her face with the big encyclopedia book.
A finger pulled down the book, revealing Lia's sweating face as she looked away.
"You, goth girl..." Likka said.
"Y–yes...?" Lia replied nervously.
"Where's your entourage? Usually it's always you, Rai-boi... and my cute prey..." Likka licked her lips, grimacing.
"Umm, I think they're still sleeping in their dorm... Maybe your brother knows where they are," Lia answered, trying her best to stay calm.
"What? Do you think we're some kind of commoners who live in that broken-down building?" Sokka shouted from afar.
"Ignore her, twin... A commoner like her wouldn't even notice our exclusive dorm outside this academy. Give the poor girl a break." Likka and Sokka giggled.
"Anyway... Tell my prey to meet me at the academy gate at 5 PM today. If he doesn't show up, I'll assume you didn't deliver my message. Got it?" Likka crossed her arms, pressing on Lia.
"O–ok..." Lia nodded aggressively.
"Too-da-loo~" Likka flicked her finger and left Lia alone.
Lia stared at them, then closed the encyclopedia book with a hard thud.
"...The hell is wrong with you?" Rai suddenly popped up right next to her.
"GODDAMNIT, RAI!" she gasped and punched him hard on the shoulder. It didn't budge him at all.
"Man, lucky I didn't come here earlier... The second I saw them, I knew I had to hide. No way I'm starting my day talking to those twins," Rai chuckled.
Lia stared at him, unimpressed. "How's your hand? Still hurt?"
"This? Turns out I'm some bigshot descendant from my father's side. But he left us as soon as he saw I wasn't showing any potential at the age of three," Rai said, glancing at his hand.
"I'm sorry..." Lia clenched her lips.
"Don't be. My mom's still here supporting me anyway. She matters more." He smiled.
"Luckily, I have a boyfriend, so I won't have to hug you out of pity," Lia bluffed.
"You? Pffft, congratulations!" he clapped his hands. "Who's the unlucky boy?" Rai tried to hold back his laugh.
"WHY YOU—" She punched him again.
Then, Niko arrived at the spot, with Bell floating beside him.
"Well, well, well, I wondered where you went last night. Turns out you were with Niko." Lia pouted, hands on her hips.
"I ain't gonna be your goth makeup tutorial every night, boo. I got priorities too," Bell sassed.
"Thanks for awakening my dormant power, Master Bell. It didn't just boost my physical abilities—my mental went haywire too," Rai laughed.
"That's the spirit, boy. Keep it up and maybe you'll reach Hugh level someday," Bell said proudly.
"Hugh?" Rai raised a brow.
"Hugh. Hugh Mungus. Your great-great-great-great-great grandfather, right?" Bell tilted its body.
"I– not sure... I think his name starts with an N," Rai scratched his jaw, trying to remember.
"Huh? Am I mistaken? I was pretty sure that—"
Niko clenched his hand on Bell, staring menacingly."You sure there's no mistake in your knowledge, Bell?"
"Of course I'm sure! 100%!" Bell snapped.
"Ah, it's my granny that starts with an N." Rai snapped his fingers.
"You're probably right, Bell. My family's been kept away from the main family history," Rai pondered.
"But why's his name Hugh Mungus though?" Rai asked, curious.
They all looked at Bell, waiting for an answer.
"As if I gave birth to him, you doo-doo. Ask your own family the reason," Bell turned away, unimpressed.
The three of them laughed and walked toward the greenhouse, as the daybreak stars lit up the green, lush fields across the academy.
* * *
They walked through the same path, same bushes, same plants as yesterday. But as they approached the greenhouse, once again, Lia started scrubbing her eyes — as if her vision was playing tricks on her mind. Rai and Niko looked confused too, because what stood before them now wasn't the same small, homebrew greenhouse with a crazy terrarium inside. In its place was a sunken valley of average size, housing a large aviary covered in bramble vines — but no giant bloom on top.
"Wasn't it just a small greenhouse yesterday? Not to mention, a big-ahh rafflesia flower on top of it!" Lia said, frustrated.
"Are you doing some kind of time loop again, Bell? 'Cause this ain't what it looked like yesterday..." Rai scratched his head.
Niko exhaled, looking exhausted. "Are we stuck in Tuesday again?" he blinked.
The three of them stared judgingly at Bell, thinking it had left them out of whatever happened yesterday.
"Man, leave me alone. If I triggered some kind of wonky, out-of-touch loop, I'd notice it, you whippersnappers!" Bell snapped.
They looked at each other and just shrugged it off.
"At least there's no more Ms. Personality Disorder again... I hope," Lia mumbled.Rai immediately shivered. "I don't wanna think about her anymore." He rubbed his shoulders, still shaken.
They made their way down the stairs to reach the greenhouse—or aviary—at the bottom of the sunken valley. At the front gate, they saw a granny watering plants using a set of grimoires that sprayed water across the garden.
"There's another grimoire?" Niko said in surprise. Bell noticed it too and instantly slipped into Lia's bag.
"Excuse me, Granny. Do you work here?" Rai asked bluntly.
"Oh my—hello there, young man. May I help you?" the granny smiled. She clapped her hands, and the army of watering-can grimoires flew back to their bookcase and tidied themselves up.
"Wow... How did you do that?" Rai asked, eyes wide.
"It's magic, young man. The old kind, the kind that used to be common back in the day," she giggled. "Besides, who needs magic now that machinery's booming in this age?" She clasped her hands. "Not to mention, the government restricts magic use now. Only selected family groups are allowed, right?" she added, her expression darkening as she stared at the three of them—no smile this time.
"Sadly, these students are the worst in their class, Ms. Jobber. They don't even know historical events like that. And you were talking to a wilting cabbage," said Mr. Mister, suddenly appearing right behind them.
Ms. Jobber adjusted her glasses and realized she was talking to a wilting cabbage."Oh my! Ohohoho, pardon me..." she chuckled, embarrassed.
The trio winced. Mr. Mister's presence was never a good sign—and worse, they couldn't use or talk with Bell when he was around.
"Ms. Jobber, these three misfits are here today because they failed their exam. Their task is to document plant anomalies in your greenhouse. Is that possible?" Mr. Mister asked, hands clasped behind his back, standing menacingly.
"Why yes... of course, Mr. Mister. Today's my shift in the greenhouse—I think they can cover for me today," Ms. Jobber said while talking to a tall bush beside her.
Niko furrowed his brow. "What do you usually do during your greenhouse shift, Ms. Jobber?"
"Ah... it's mostly just watering the plants like I did when you arrived," she replied, stretching her back.
"Remember, report to me at sundown. Don't be late," Mr. Mister said before turning and walking away.
Once Mr. Mister disappeared down the hall, the three exhaled.
"Where can we find the tools, Ms. Jobber?" Lia asked, raising her hand politely.
"No tools needed, young lady…" Ms. Jobber replied. Her voice wavered, fingers trembling. "You'll understand once you step inside the greenhouse."
Lia hesitated, then nodded and turned toward the door.
Rai followed close behind, muttering, "Well, that's not ominous at all."
As they neared the entrance, Bell's familiar voice echoed from Lia's satchel, muffled but chipper:
"Oh goodie, fieldwork! I've been waiting ages to flex my botany degree—I mean, page number."
Lia groaned. "You're doing the explanations this time. I'm not reading anything for you."
"Fine by me," Bell sniffed. "Prepare your scrolls, minions! Nature's about to get freaky."
Behind them, Niko hesitated—then stepped forward.
"Ms. Jobber... do you have any relatives named Genevieve?" he asked, gently holding her hand.
Ms. Jobber's eyes lit up, and she looked at Niko's face. Her vision was blurry now—nothing sharp.
"Who are you, boy? How do you know my niece's name? Us Jobbers don't live anywhere near here," she asked, now gripping his hand tighter.
Rai and Lia watched from afar, unable to hear what was being said.
"What's he up to now?" Lia mumbled.
"Who knows? Maybe asking what kind of horrors we'll find inside," Rai shrugged.
"I think Genevieve Jobber is my mother, Ms. Jobber," Niko said firmly.
Her eyes widened, and she leaned in close to his face.
"Ahahahaha—nice joke, boy. But... if you're serious, which one do you think your mother was?" she asked.
"Sorry?" Niko blinked, confused.
"Genevieve Jobber are twins, Gen-e-vieve and Gene-vi-eve. My brother thought it'd be funny to give his daughters a practical joke name—same spelling, different pronunciation," she giggled."It's nice to know someone still remembers our family, though. But don't go around claiming to be someone's child like that, alright?" she patted his hand and walked over to a rocking chair, commanding the grimoires again as they watered the garden in front of the greenhouse.
Niko clenched his fists.
"Niko! You done talking? We need to hurry!" Lia shouted.
Niko ran to catch up, leaving Ms. Jobber alone.
He was heartbroken.But this time, he chose to let it go.At least now, when the time is right—he knows where to go.