The mansion was quiet. Faye and Ron trained in the garden, and all the house ghosts decided to watch them. Even Veyra, who despised all forms of violence, went with them. It was obviously just an excuse to leave him alone with Iza.

  She was already waiting in his room when he stepped into the mansion. The others were apparently angrier at her than Dante was. For a moment, he felt guilty that he had completely forgotten about their argument. In his defence, it was all Kelit’s fault. His ridiculousness and that moment under truth serum managed to occupy his mind so much. But when he saw Iza again, he reminded himself that nothing that happened was his fault. He didn’t say or do anything that deserved the lash-out.

  She looked nervous. Her long hair stood up on the ends, making her look like a ghost from a scary story lit by the setting sun through the window. She fidgeted with her fingers.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “Well...I...I’m sorry.”

  The silence that followed was awkward, broken only by the sound of wooden swords clashing from the garden. Very awkward. Dante broke it with a chuckle, reminded of the silence he shared with Kelit. His cheeks weren’t spared from colour when he caught himself doing it. Leave it to that Leech to distract me...

  “It’s…” he wanted to say alright, but it wasn’t, not really. In the morning, he felt like his world had crumbled down, and maybe that was the case. He should start hanging out more with the living, not just the dead. “I know it’s hard for you to talk about those things,” he said. “But I’m still your friend. At least I think I am. I have a right to ask about those things; you don’t have to scream at me if you don’t want to talk.”

  “I...I know.” She looked ready to cry, but the ghost couldn't do that. “I knew that right after I left, but I wanted to clear my mind…When I came to apologise, you were with Goldy and his sidekick. I decided to give you space; you belong with them, not me.” She smiled faintly. “It seemed you had a good day.”

  The implication that it was a good day, because she wasn’t there to ruin it, hung heavy in the space between them. Dante sighed, letting his hair loose and tossing the hair band onto the desk. He sat down on his bed next to his bag.

  “I like your presence, you don’t even know how much. I felt so lonely in the morning, don’t just disappear like that, please. We had an argument, everyone has those, but it doesn’t mean I don’t like you anymore.”

  “I feel so bad, and I can’t even cry properly,” she rubbed her face. “I’m pathetic, really, always have been. I was so scared that you wouldn’t believe me and tossed me aside that I lashed out.” She started laughing, which made Dante worry that something was seriously wrong with her. “I worried that you, you, who eats otherworldly bullshit for breakfast, wouldn’t believe me!” Then she became serious again. “I’m really sorry, and I’m ready to talk now.”

  “I was ready to say take your time…but go on.” She let out a chuckle

  “Ugh...so well…eighty years ago...Don’t look at me like that, I just don’t know where to start!” She pointed her finger at him and floated closer. “I was part of the student council back then. I got in by a teacher’s recommendation and desperately wanted to fit in. Everyone was from upstanding noble houses when my father just brought the title. I have done everything they told me to: organised the files, tidied the contraband room, and patrolled the underground corridor. It’s closed off now, I think…Less than a month before my death, monsters started showing up. Same as now, but back then, they didn’t handle it properly like Duke Claude did. There have already been casualties, and everyone has been on edge. One evening, before going back to the dormitories, I wanted to organise the documents for the council; most of them were underground. Everything was alright until I heard some strange noises. I thought that if I just took a peek, everything would be good. The noises came from the old quarry, which was connected to the underground. And so I went and I saw...a dragon…”

  She waited for his reaction, but only his brows furrowed. Dragons were just stories told to scare and amaze children; creatures like that didn’t exist. But did they really? Ghosts weren’t supposed to exist either. After all, what is called a dragon could be anything; old texts on the matter described a big creature covered in scales, preferably with wings, but never specified. People dismissed their existence because they’ve never seen anything that fit that description.

  “At least it looked like one. It was big, scaly, and...maybe more like a snake, but I swear no snake could be that big! So I ran to tell my ‘friends’. I thought we were friends, but they not only didn’t believe me, but also made fun of me. In the end, they gaslighted me into thinking that I had hallucinations, so...I went back to the quarry. Couldn’t even see what killed me…if it was that dragon or just a normal monster. Next thing I remember is already being the ghost, first thing I did was escaping the quarry and swearing that I’ll never come back there…but now that I think about it, it’s not because I was scared after a traumatic experience, it’s because my nature as a ghost is to be irrationally scared of that…thing.”

  For a moment, a silence took over them. Dante was lost in thought, and Iza was still uncomfortably fidgeting, afraid of not being believed again.

  “I do believe you, don’t get me wrong…But I don’t think that what you saw was a dragon, per se. Whatever it was is still there, no ghosts approach the west corridor and undergrounds, but it definitely attracts monsters.” She let out a sigh of relief, but then a realisation came crushing down on her:

  “How do you know that?!” She screamed, and he looked at the window, now guilty that he had gone on the adventure in that place.

  “Well...you can say that I had a close encounter with the hedgehog…In my defence, it was all Kelit’s idea!” He raised his hands, while Iza looked like she was on the verge of becoming a vengeful spirit…or simply more nagging than she already was.

  “What do you mean, the hedgehog?! Aren’t those like some of the scariest, those that were exterminated in the Mist City?” he nodded his head.

  “Kelit dragged me on an adventure with him. He wanted to check the quarry, but because of the monster, we weren’t able to get there…On the bright side, I had fun…Shit, now that I think about it, there’s really something wrong with me.” He chuckled in self-deprecation. She couldn't stay angry at him after that comment.

  “Definitely…Wait a moment, those aren’t your clothes!” she poked him in the chest. “Seriously, why do you two always have the best moments when I’m not around! I would love to see the faces of those nobles when you walked in Goldy’s clothes!” She exaggerated a little, but it made Dante laugh, and the atmosphere was no longer heavy.

  “So are we good?” She nodded her head. “So, can I ask Alera if she found something in the quarry? If not, the dragon then maybe the half of your body that they didn’t find?”

  “Yeah, and if she won’t find anything…Can we go and check?” Dante guessed she would ask something like that. Being believed was important to her, but she has always been a person who says that actions speak louder than words.

  “If you’re ready…I’ll drag Kelit with us. He wanted to check for himself, and despite what he says of himself and the way he acts, he’s pretty useful. He can use light magic.” He explained that it wasn’t that he wanted him close; he just didn’t want to die alone. Iza’s brows tightened while he tossed the insides of his bag onto the bed.

  “Light magic is hard to get hold of...you have to have a lot of mana to actually do. Didn’t he have only a little?” He nodded; it wasn’t that surprising to him, as he guessed that was the case a long time ago. He probably said those things to easily get close to Dante. Not that he cared. He still couldn’t understand what magic really is and how it works. It was completely unnecessary for him. He didn’t find any use in knowing, as he couldn't use it either way.

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  He started organising his things, notebooks, and books. The romance story for Bernadette’s class was still hanging out in his bag. He said he will read it during breaks. He would have, if not for that blond idiot. He should at least start the project by next month. He sighed. Iza, on the other hand, found a great interest in Peter’s notebook. She opened it with ease, as the Death Week made her even stronger than she usually was. Something had fallen out on the floor.

  “Oh, shit. My bad.” Her upper half floated to retrieve the piece of paper, while her lower part stayed seated on the bed, cross-legged. She was quiet for a second. “Dante…Whose is the notebook?”

  “Your favourite Scaredy Cat lost it, why?”

  “Take a look at it…” She handed him the paper, which appeared to be a letter. It read:

  ‘Rats are supposed to know their place. Should you continue to forget yours, WE will be obliged to present certain facts to those whose duty it is to preserve the Academy’s honour. How would the professors react when WE give them evidence of your cheating? You have only three chances after all. WE will submit evidence of scholastic impropriety to the faculty and petition for your dismissal. Don’t get your hopes up; no one will believe a commoner vermin like you. WE can arrange witnesses if you oppose US. From now on, you have to be on OUR every call. No one will help you so keep quiet.’ – There was no signature, but it was pretty clear who wrote it. The Student Council found a new target and it was Peter.

  “Fuck.” Dante swore. He considered that man a colleague and he values his relationships, as there’s not much of them. He couldn't just sit idle.

  “It may sound like nothing now, but damn, they won’t just stop at threats and one false report…If the administration kicks him out, no academy in the country will take him! We have to help!” He was silent for a moment. It was hard for him to keep distance from the situation this time. It was egoistic he knew, he held a certain weight as a Duke son, but it was too much for him alone.

  “How? Honestly, I would love to, but I’m alone…If I threaten them with a gun, the headmaster will transfer me, as was in our agreement.” She sighed while Dante put the letter into his notebook to keep it as his own evidence, should he need it. “I’ll think of something, but we have to act quickly…”

  “Yeah, he looks like someone who could hurt himself under the pressure. I’ll get the ghosts to help!”

  In the end, Dante couldn't quite think of a solution. The next day came, and the only thing he decided on was not to tell Peter that he knew. The man would only panic further if he did. He wanted to talk to Kelit about it, so he would at least make sure that Peter wouldn't hurt or forget about taking care of himself. These were the only things that the commoner could do in this situation.

  Iza went to confide in the ghosts and get their help in gathering information, despite everything they made great spies. He walked on the first floor alone. He was starting with his diplomatic lectures that day, so he would see Peter later on a break or after it. Surprisingly, before he walked to the lecture hall, he stood face to face with a beautiful woman. Her skin was darker, but not as dark as her mother's. Her hair was long and tied in a bun that reminded him of roses; he would have to tell his sister about it.

  The woman’s eyes were vividly green, and it appeared that she wanted to see him and that the meeting wasn’t an accident. She wore pants; she always hated dresses, even when they were children. Back then, she could convince both their mothers and him that if they wanted to see those cute children’s dresses, they could always see them on Dante.

  “See you soon, Darling.” That was the only thing Alicia said before passing by him and walking off. His eyes involuntarily followed after her. What does she mean? We are avoiding each other, not planning a tea party! – he wasn’t dumbfounded by the use of the nickname; she always called him that. It was certain she knew something, he didn’t, and of course, she couldn't tell him outright. It wasn’t her style. His stomach tightened. Whatever Alicia was planning, it wouldn’t end well for his peace of mind.

  He walked to the classroom, his mind full of it. First Kelit, later Peter, and now Alicia. Was this the year everyone decided to bother Dante? The blond man was already waiting for him.

  “Did you know that Peter is getting threatened?” He asked bluntly, taking his seat.

  “Threaten? Bullying, yes, but it will pass if he doesn’t give any reaction,” Dante looked at him in disbelief. He definitely didn’t know what he was talking about. Peter could lose a chance to actually achieve something, without ending higher education, the best he could do was to work on a farm, not even military would take him, as they didn’t take cadets older than sixteen.

  He decided not to continue the topic, as the man was as unhelpful as always.

  “My dear Leech, please educate yourself on the practical things about hierarchy, and then we can talk.” He just called him out.

  “What is wrong with my reasoning?” Kelit apparently wanted to understand what he had done wrong again, so he had to point at those obvious holes in his world-view.

  “A lot. For instance, Peter is easily shaken, so even if ignoring it would be a solution in his case, it wouldn't work.”

  “I’ll educate myself…” he mumbled in agreement.

  Soon, Bernadette walked in...with a cat. Dante looked defeated, already knowing what the task was for today, while Kelit was intrigued. The cat was meant to be their opponent in the discussion, per Bernadette’s saying that diplomats sometimes had to literally argue with the animals. Royal families and high nobles or bureaucrats sometimes had strange ideas, such as appointing their pet dog as a secretary in a state of war.

  After twenty students tried to convince the animal that starting a war isn’t beneficial, the cat decided to take a nap, and Bernadette ended the lecture. She reminded them about the project, asked Kelit to change his major, and pestered the members of the club about some upcoming debate. She’s certainly a busy woman.

  They had about an hour break before the next subject, so Dante decided to head to the library. More accurately, to Alera’s self-made office. Kelit kept him company, even though his major still had the practical lectures. Did he forget that he studied magic? Iza found them when they were already in the library. For a moment, Dante thought that Kelit was looking her way.

  Alera looked lively, or just not as overwhelmed with research as she was before. She stood up and saluted like usual to greet him.

  “Young lord, Mr. Bodyguard.”

  “Miss Captain.” Kelit retorted.

  “I assume you want to know if our search was fruitful,” she guessed correctly, not giving any reaction to Kelit’s antics. “Let me inform you that thanks to your recklessness, we are now free of one hedgehog and two chimeras.” Chimera was a name for monsters that hadn’t looked like any known animals, nor resembled humans, and were a combination of both or just strange blobs of blackish mass that eat people. They were considered high-grade monsters that usually made their appearance only around Mist City, which was a base for many strange phenomena.

  “Nothing else was found?” he asked to be certain and because Iza wrapped her hand around his, like she was trying to brace herself for the news.

  “No. The quarry was clear of both crystals and anything that could explain this phenomenon.” She answered, and Dante sighed. Iza, on the other hand, didn’t know if she should be happy or disappointed to hear that, Kelit looked similar. He decided to wish Alera a good day and leave her to her work. “See you soon, young lord.”

  Her words made him stop in his tracks. “Why?” he asked, and she shrugged.

  “It’s not my place to say.”

  Then whose? Alicia didn’t tell me anything either! – he gritted his teeth, not wanting to overstep. Alera wasn’t as familiar to him as Ophelia, even though they both were like mothers to Alicia.

  When they were out of the library. He and Kelit made eye contact.

  “Wanna go to the quarry, Trouble?” the blond man asked in the same tone that a normal person would ask about the weather. Dante couldn't help but crack a small smile, on which Kelit's eyes lingered for a moment too long.

  “I wanted to ask the same.”

  “Oh, look at you both! How cute! And Trouble?! You have to fill me in, that one sounds so affectionate!” Iza chirped, probably to deflect a little from the topic of their conversation.

  “Oh, since when are you interested?” Kelit teased.

  “Since a certain someone decided to drag me down with him.” The blond man barked a laugh. “When?”

  “I was thinking now. It's right after the clearing, there should be no monsters and you…it should be safe.”

  “Look at your speaking reasons,” it was Dante’s turn to tease. He looked at Iza for confirmation, and when she reluctantly nodded her head, he said: “Alright, let’s go, good that I took bullets today.”

  Kelit’s eyes sparkled at the mention of a deadly weapon.