Doggone Academy

Cecil’s emotional outburst was significantly provoked by my own mishandling of the situation. The accusation that I was selectively meeting only head students was nearly indefensible, especially considering that the individuals I donned my mask to meet included the likes of Luna and Sion, themselves head students. Understandably, this could cause significant resentment.

It would be problematic if such feelings were allowed to fester, drawing lines in our relationship. For now, I needed to smooth things over by offering comfort and reassurance.

“Okay, but what exactly do you mean by saying that there’s a ghost in the Guardian Tree?”

The news of a ghost at the Guardian Tree was intriguing enough to capture my attention. It could very well be speaking of a thought-form that I had failed to address.

“Do you know the legend of the Guardian Tree?”

I paused to recall. My memory served that Silveryn had mentioned the legend when explaining the Guardian Tree.

The story went something like a priestess had cast a spell on herself to become the Guardian Tree in order to protect Eternia. It was a tale intertwined with a sort of fairy tale narrative. There was also mention that the Guardian Tree occasionally provided answers to those who confessed their troubles to it.

“Sort of.”

“You know the original form of the Guardian Tree is a priestess, right? They say that sometimes the priestess wanders in human form. There have been a few witnesses to this.”

“…What does she look like?”

“According to eyewitness accounts, a young woman with long white hair.”

Hearing the description, I could think of one suspect.

“…But it could just be a normal person, not a ghost.”

“There’s no one in our school with white hair except for the professors.”

“But similar shades exist. Human eyes aren’t that accurate.”

“Hmm, another witness testified that she was the most beautiful creature they had ever seen. They said their face was entranced as if by a siren. I really need to ask that legendary priestess a few questions. You know me, I’m too curious.”

It was clearly Trisha who had sneaked out and been spotted. At least it’s not a thought-form, so that’s something to be thankful for.

Cecil squinted at me, scrutinizing my thoughtful expression.

“Why does your reaction change when beauty is mentioned?”

“You can see my expression?”

“Yeah, I have this ability to see through things. I can see Candy behind the mask, not handsome but with a likable face.”

“We can’t play cards together, then.”

Seeing that Cecil seemed to feel better, I rose from our place.

I would help her with the ghost of the Guardian Tree and later, she could appraise and process the crystal from the wingless dragon.

If Trisha, who had escaped the labyrinth, were to be ambushed by other students, it would be a disaster. I would have to step in and take preventive action.

“So we’ll see each other later. Is there anything else I need to bring?”

Cecil lifted up the book briefly to cover her face and responded.

“Just bring yourself.”

***

As dusk fell, I arrived at the dormitory garden as promised with Cecil.

Cecil was waiting for me, cloaked in a black robe that concealed her head for disguise. Despite it being evening, the dormitory area was bustling with wandering students. Her peculiar outfit drew some attention.

Cecil waved.

“Candy! You actually came. You’re nice.”

“We’re heading into a restricted area, do you have a way in?”

“You haven’t been there much, have you? Until recently, there were all these surveillance spells and Plantaras, but now they’ve been lifted. It’s only officially still forbidden on paper, but actually, there’s no problem entering.”

I’d asked just to test the waters, but she seemed well-informed.

After warning Trisha not to venture outside, I had visited the labyrinth, but she wasn’t there, so I couldn’t properly deliver the message.

I proceeded with Cecil towards the Guardian Tree. One masked, one hooded, we were a sight indeed.

While we walked, Cecil asked,

“But… you know.”

“Yeah?”

“How did you become friends with Sion?”

I answered bluntly.

“We aren’t friends.”

“Then why did you go to Rigved?”

“I had business there. What about you?”

“I went to have my fortune told.”

“How did the reading go?”

“You were in Rigved at the time, so you know, but I never got to meet that stone prophet. I wanted to see the aquarium reading too.”

“Aquarium reading…?”

“Yeah. Apparently, he reads fortunes with stones and an aquarium. Supposedly he’s good at predicting the future as well as confirming the past.”

“…”

“I wanted to know about my marriage fortune.”

“How splendid of a person do you need to meet to resort to fortune-telling?”

“I’m not fussy about eyes. I don’t need much, just good looks.”

“…”

“What’s your ideal type, Candy?”

Perhaps I should make something up to dispel the misunderstanding that I favored people based on their academic standing.

“Well, anyone who enjoys their food seems nice enough.”

“Hmm… Sounds like something an old soul would say.”

We stopped at the edge of the forest and the clearing. Cecil found a suitable spot and crouched down, then patted the ground beside her, inviting me to join.

“Come sit here.”

“Do you have a plan or something?”

I sat next to her, leaning against a tree stump.

“What kind of plan would I have? We’re just waiting.”

The evening chill was settling in. How long could we last without a fire near the Guardian Tree?

“What about the cold?”

Cecil smiled sunnily and produced a pitch-black bottle from her robe.

“I knew it would get chilly, so I brought a potion to warm the body.”

That’s quite a generous amount for a potion.

She uncorked the bottle and chugged some down herself. Then, wiping the black liquid from her mouth with her sleeve, she handed the bottle to me.

“Here, you have some.”

“…”

I turned away, lifting my mask slightly to take a drink.

Pwup!

I sprayed the liquid out after a few sips. It wasn’t a potion; it was wine.

“What a waste, spitting out such expensive stuff.”

“It’s alcohol.”

“You swallow down deadly potions fine but why get so touchy over alcohol?”

I didn’t really have a comeback for that.

“They forbid alcohol in the dorms, you know.”

“It’s my first time drinking too. I just brought it for fun, but keeping it in the dorm felt silly, so I thought I’d empty the bottle here and keep warm.”

“…”

After a moment of contemplation, I closed my eyes and downed the wine.

The bitter and tart liquid flowed down my throat. I really didn’t understand what people found enjoyable about the taste of wine.

Cecil took back the bottle and drank deeply again. This girl must be out of her mind.

We sat in silence for a while, the alcohol slowly affecting me, making me stare absently at the Guardian Tree.

“If we keep this up, any real ghost will take one look at us and run away.”

“No, I’ve really got to find out. Hiccup.”

Cecil pounded her chest with little coughs.

“Candy, hiccup, pat my back, will you?”

I patted her back, and the hiccuping soon ceased.

“That’s better.”

She then subtly turned her body and leaned her head against my shoulder.

“It’s unexpectedly nice here at night. Super quiet.”

Only the rustling of foliage and the chorus of night insects filled the silence.

I asked Cecil,

“How long do you plan to stay out here?”

“Till midnight.”

It felt less like ghost hunting… and more like she’d come to loiter and drink.

Just then, a dark figure stirred behind the Guardian Tree. At first glance, it seemed like an animal, but upon closer inspection, it was definitely human.

“Wait, did you see that?”

“…See what?”

“Something moved behind the Guardian Tree.”

“Hmm… really? I can’t see it. Let’s check it out, come on.”

Cecil clutched the wine bottle like a weapon and stood up, a bit tipsy already.

I grabbed her wrist, guiding her stumbling steps.

She then uttered in wonder, spotting something.

“Is there really something there?”

But it wasn’t the ghost Cecil suspected. If it were, the moonlight would have lit up the white hair.

Walking on, Cecil drank heavily from the bottle. She clearly lacked experience with alcohol, unable to control her consumption.

“Moderation. You planning to enter the dorm intoxicated?”

“It’s from the proud Fontar vineyard. Not a drop can go to waste.”

I moved stealthily toward the Guardian Tree, silencing our footsteps. Then we heard rustling from behind the tree.

I stilled my breath and readied myself.

In the midst of our silence, Cecil called out loudly.

“Who’s there? Hiccup.”

Then a woman’s voice answered from the opposite side.

“…Cecil?”

Cecil’s eyes widened, and she spoke haltingly.

“…Elias?”

Soon, a couple emerged from behind the Guardian Tree. It was Cecil’s friend Elias and Victor, whom I had encountered in the cardiovascular ward.

Elias, looking quite perplexed, asked,

“Cecil, why are you here…? What’s with the bottle?”

Cecil suddenly sounded sober, replying briskly.

“Oh, just a potion?”

“Really? What brings you two here?”

“We came looking for the Ghost of the Guardian Tree. What about you?”

“We, we came for the same reason. Your outfits were so peculiar, we thought you were someone else. Aye, we should’ve worn masks to prepare for being caught!”

There seemed to be another reason behind their presence, but since we looked suspicious enough, I refrained from prying further.

Victor glanced back and forth between Cecil and me, nodding as if piecing it all together. Whatever he’s thinking, it’s not that, you twit.

Then another character emerged from a hiding spot near the Guardian Tree.

They came out with a blatant show of hostility.

“Hey, what are you guys doing here!”

A figure wearing a black sack as a mask with eye and mouth holes emerged, a silhouette of menace. By their voice and stature, it was a young man about our age.

Notable was that one hand held a self-defense dagger and the other a pristine white canvas.

He surveyed us and called out boldly.

“Are you… first years?”

His demeanor was authoritative, but he couldn’t hide his tension.

I whispered to Cecil.

“How widespread is the rumor about the ghost?”