A Twisted Halloween: Terror is Trending

Chapter 23: Easier than Spinning Thread

Crewel raises his teaching pointer and looks like he's ready to discipline the visitors.

But Trein says, "Professor Crewel, wait. Why are you raising your pointer? What are you going to do?"

"It should be rather self-explanatory. I'm going to teach them common courtesy," Crewel says.

"Are you going to use magic on laypeople?!" Trein asks.

"Oh, relax," Crewel says, lowering his pointer, "I'm not going to hurt them.

"That's not the point," Trein says, crossing his arms. "It'd be a scandal. If word got out worldwide, who knows what people would say about us?"

"What is magic there for, if not situations like this?" Crewel questions. "It's for their own safety!"

"If it's their safety you're worried about, just use wind magic to catch them if they fall. Safety or no, if we take the first action, it's a PR nightmare waiting to happen," Trein says.

But Crewel says, "Personally, I consider it a teacher's job to be a beacon of the storm that is youth."

"Our guidance should be reserved exclusively for Night Raven College students," Trien says. "I must ask you to cease this before you do something rash that reflects poorly on our school."

Crewel mutters, "Tsk. Stubborn old fool..."

"I'm sorry, would you care to repeat that?" Trien questions.

Obviously he has heard Crewel saying something offensive.

Crewel says otherwise, "Repeat what? I didn't say a word."

"Hm. Professor Trein and Professor Crewel sure do butt heads a lot," Vargas says.

Sam then says, "Professor Trein is an older veteran, while Professor Crewel is a younger hot-shot. I wouldn't be surprised if a battle broke out between them."

"They're fine teachers, but they're both missing something key," Vargas says.

"Oh yeah?" Sam questions.

With confidence, Vargas says, "What matters most is MUSCLES. This situation calls for a muscular intervention!"

The three look at Vargas with quiet expressions.

Then Vil says, "I can see the professors are having trouble addressing the matter."

Then turns to Crowley, "What's your ball, Headmage?"

"Well, um..." Crowley thinks, as he watches the teachers argue among themselves. "Weeell, uhhh..."

Crowley says, "Settle down, professors! And uh... you tree climbers as well! Get down from there this instant! Otherwise -"

"Otherwise? Everyone questions.

"The school's security system will identify you all as threats and expel you from campus!" Crowley sternly says, and looks like he really means business.

"Pardon? What 'security system'?" Crewel questions.

"Do we even have one of those?" Trein questions

"Why, yes!" Crowley says. "After I saw the Halloween crowds, I took the initiative in installing one in case of bad actors. The system activities as soon as it spots exceedingly dangerous activities. Yes, safety measures are firmly in place!"

One of the men in the tree says, in excitement, Night Raven College has a security system? Siiick!"

"And it sounds like a real fancy one. NICE." The other man says.

Then the woman says, "So whatever we do is cool as long as we don't get kicked out? Sweet. Let's see how far we can push it!"

Crowley can see that only excite the people even more.

Then he calls out, "Hm... Management committee, I would like to call a quick huddle, if you please."

Soon, the students and the headmage circle to discuss what to do with the situation.

Vil asks, "Why? We can just ignore them if your security system removes the threats for us. If the problem is solved, then shouldn't we be going back to our Halloween posts?"

Crowley whispers, "In what world do you think a security system that convenient actually exists?!"

The students ask in shock, " YOU MADE THAT UP?!"

Crowley quickly shushes them," Shhh! Not so loud. They'll hear us! Nobody could have predicted this ahead of time. That was all a bluff I devised on the spot."

"Then how are you gonna remove the wannabe influencers?" Idia whispers.

Lilia quietly snicker "Khee hee hee... I can see where this is going."

"We can only expect the liberties they take to keep escalating if we don't need this in the bud," Crowley whispers.

Then whispers, "Here's the plan. I'll distract the 'Magicam Monsters' and Professor Trein. While I keep them busy, you all use your magic to eject our unwelcome guests from the premises!"

"Okay, first of all, why do WE have to -" Cater questions.

But Malleus says, "Simple and to the point. I like it. You just want them blown off-campus? That's easier than spinning thread."

And with that Malleus begins to charge up his magic and ready to use his spell.

But Crowley tries to stop him, "Ah, hold on, Draconia! You just exercise restraint. If you use your full power, we wouldn't have campys left to eject them from!"

That's enough to get Malleus to cancel his magic.

Then Crowley turns to the others, "The same goes for the rest of you as well. No harm must be allowed to befall our guests under any circumstances. Any incidents of injury, whether from an accidental tumble or from magic, will call our reputation as an institution into question. I expect you to be discreet. Perhaps you could cast a levitation spell on them to float them out of the gate. Use your best judgment."

"Hm..." Malleus replies, thinking about it.

Then says, "All right. You'll have my assistance."