i can't lose you again.

CHAPTER FOUR

"Oh goodness! Are you alright, professor?" Ofelia, the school nurse, asked quickly as Wystan laid him down on a bed.

"Yes, I'm fine. But my legs hurt and I can't stand on my own," Palladium answered, his head hung low.

"Well, do not fret. I have a potion that can heal your legs in no time."

"Thank you, Nurse Ofelia."

"You're welcome. It is my job after all." The nurse walked over to a cabinet and pulled a glass bottle out.

"Professor Wystan, would you be so kind as to pull his roll his pant legs up so I can pour this on him?" She asked the raven.

"Of course," He said, doing what he was told. He paused, though, as he heard Palladium hiss in pain.

"Are you alright?" He asked the other in a worried tone.

"Yes- Please, continue.." He kept wincing as Wystan continued to roll the fabric over his aching skin.

"Okay, you may stop. That should be enough," Ofelia assured. She then poured the potion slowly onto Palladium's legs.

The brunette had to bite his hand to keep himself from screaming as he felt an excruciating yet calming feeling course through his legs.

"Alright, the potion should have worked its way through your system by now. How do you feel?"

The pain still lingered, but Palladium decided he could handle it. "I feel much better, thank you."

The nurse turned to face the other professor, "Would you mind helping him walk to his room for the night?"

Just as Wystan was about to answer, Palladium chimed in, "Uh- I was wondering.. Would I be able to go to the welcoming ball tonight? I've been wanting to go for a while."

"I suppose so.. But don't push yourself too hard," Ofelia responded. She then shooed the two out of the infirmary.

"Thank you for helping me through this," Palladium said quietly as they were walking towards the teachers' quarters. Wystan had his arm under Palladium's.

"I couldn't just stand there and do nothing. What kind of person would I be?" The defensive magic teacher smiled.

Palladium smiled back. "I suppose that's true." His eyes laid their sight on his door. "Oh- Here we are."

"Do you need help getting ready?" Wystan asked as he carefully let go of the other.

"No, I'll be okay. Thank you," Palladium said as he entered his room and waved.

Wystan waved back and continued to walk to his room to get ready for tonight.

______

When Wystan arrived at the ball, half the school was already there. He had a few people point and look at him, and he assumed it was because of something Stella had said.

DuFour waltzed her way up to the other. "So, I've  heard you and Professor Palladium are together?"

If Wystan had taken a sip from his drink, he surely would have spat it out.

"N-No, where did you hear such nonsense?" He asked, even though he clearly knew the answer.

The woman's eyes widened a bit. "Mh? Oh, well, Stella had said she caught you carrying the potions professor."

Wystan drew in a deep breath and sighed. "Professor Palladium had injured himself while he was doing something in the simulation room. I was just helping him out."

DuFour's kind smile turned into a smirk. "Well, if you guys aren't together, then-"

Griselda had come up behind the white-haired teacher. "I think that's enough for tonight, DuFour.."

The older woman groaned and walked off with Griselda, leaving behind a chuckling Wystan.

"Hey, Professor Wystan," A voice behind the male spoke. The raven turned around to see the professor he carried hours before.

"Oh, Professor Palladium. How are you feeling?" He flashed a smile to the brunette.

"I'm feeling great thanks to you. Thank you again." Palladium returned the smile.

"Like I said, what kind of person would I be if I didn't help a friend." He looked out to the center of the ball room, seeing people dance.

"Mh? Something catch your eye?" Palladium asked, trying to follow Wystan's eyes.

"No.. Just looking at all of the students dancing and having fun." He turned his head to focus back on Palladium. "Do you want to go out there?"

Palladium brought his arms up to his chest nervously. "What about all the rumors..? Do you not care?"

Wystan frowned slightly. "Why should I care about something that's merely false?"

The brunette smiled. "I guess you're right." He turned to look at the people dancing, as well. "Yeah, let's go out there."

"Alright, but be careful. I don't want you hurting yourself again."

The two made their way out onto the dance floor, hundreds of eyes staring them down.

Palladium's voice softened and shook, "A-Are you sure this is a good idea..?" His face was most definitely red by now with all the people staring at him.

Wystan just took Palladium's hands in his. "Let them stare. It's not like they're physically hurting us right?"

The brunette nodded. "You're right. I need to stop overthinking things.."

Wystan just smiled and snaked an arm around Palladium's waist. "Now, just focus on this dance. Nothing else."

Palladium followed Wystan's steps for the whole dance, being careful not to step on his feet. At one point, he thought his heart might just beat out of his chest.

As the song came to an end, Wystan withdrew his arm from around Palladium's waist. "Hey, that wasn't half bad! Where'd you learn to dance like that?" Wystan asked.

"I uh, I don't know. I think I've been here my whole life.." Palladium's voice trailed off.

"You think? Did you used to live someplace else?" Wystan asked as they made it off the dance floor.

"I don't know. My memory's all foggy. I think I used to live somewhere where there were forests and flowers everywhere." Palladium tilted his head up in thought as he tried hard to remember his past.

"That kinda describes where I come from. The Elven Kingdom." The ravenette would add, hoping it might restore whatever memories Palladium might have lost. IF this was his Palladium.

"I mean, it's not impossible. I am an elf." Palladium would say, his head still tilted up in thought.

"Hmm. Well, anyways, do you wa-" Wystan was cut off by a thundering crash coming from outside the ball room.

I finally updated this book 😭. Sorry to leave y'all on a cliffhanger.....