Briar and the boys fight off the giant Phantom as much as they can. Soon enough, the Phantom is defeated as it turns into a puddle of black ink.
"Good thing we rested up in the hangar," Rook says.
"Definitely," Vil says, "That would've gone a lot worse if we'd run into them fresh off our battle with the Titan."
"I have to agree. I feel that we'll run into more of these Phantoms at this point," Briar says.
Epel grows frustrated, "Augh! Why does something always interrupt us whenever you guys talk about how you met?!"
"Are the Phantoms boring you, Epel?" Rook questions.
"It's not that," Epel answers, "I'm just curious to know more about my dorm's housewarden and vice housewarden, I guess."
Then Rook says, "As I recall, I came up to Vil and spoke to him while he was reading in the courtyard. He looked positively picturesque sat upon that bench, set against the backdrop of a sunny afternoon. I was so terribly nervous."
"Liar," Vil responds, "You didn't show a hint of nervousness. Oh, I'll never forget our first conversation... 'Hi there! I caught your show the other day.' 'I've seen you perform many a time, but you hadn't really stood out to me before.' 'The way you played the villain this time, though? Sublime!' 'There are precious few actors who could pull off such a cold, tyrannical, tantrum-prone fiend so convincingly!' And that was how Rook and I met."
"Whoa..." Epel says, surprised.
"Oh my," Sereia replies.
"Uh, was that a compliment or an insult?" Briar questions.
Even Trinket is confused
"Oh là là... To me, it was the highest of compliments," Rook says.
Then Vil says, "Even if it was, you speak your mind far too freely. At the time, all I could think was, 'Where does this guy get off?'"
"Can't blame you there..." Epel replies.
Vil continues, "From then onward, Rook would come up and talk to me even when I didn't engage him at all." He'd share his completely unsolicited opinions on my performances, then go on his way. Both his positive impressions AND negative ones. At first, I thought he was no more than an armchair critic, trying to tell an actor how to do their job. But over time, I realized that his observations were oddly perceptive. 'Hey! I saw that musical you just starred in.' 'Your expression in the final scene when you realized your love wasn't to be? Wonderful.' 'Hi again! You seemed right at home in your last play, but not so much in this one. Anything the matter?' He'd highlight all the parts of my performance I was quite happy with. And then when I did as the director asked, but wasn't happy with the result... He'd zero in on those moments as well. 'Were you satisfied with your final scene? It didn't seem like you were.' At one point I just went ahead and asked him-'How would YOU have performed that scene?' And then... He went on for FIVE HOURS STRAIGHT."
"Five hours?!" Epel reacts in surprise.
"For that long?" Briar asks, surprised.
"What a rewarding discussion that was," Rook says. We touched upon not just Vil's acting, but works of media we'd both seen, theatrical productions, scripts... The next thing I knew, it was well past my dorm's curfew. I had to sneak back in."
Then Vil says, "Before then, I was fully convinced that no one my age knew as much about theater and art as I did. But Rook quickly disabused me of that notion with his breadth of knowledge. Frankly, I couldn't keep up with half of what he said, much to my chagrin.
"The difference between you and me is that I simply had more free time when I was a child," Rook says,
"After that, I started meeting with Rook in the courtyard regularly after school," Vil says.
Then Rook says, "I remember this one time it was snowing, and our conversation grew so heated we both came down with colds."
Epel laughs, "Ahaha! Wow, I guess even you two acted like silly kids once. Why'd you stay outside when it was snowing, anyway? You're in the same dorm. You could've just talked inside."
But Rook says, "Actually, I was still in Savanaclaw back then."
"Oh, neat, you were in Savanaclaw..." Epel says, but quickly realizes what Rook says and exclaims in shock, "WAIT, WHAT?!"
"You were in Savanaclaw Dorm back then?!" Briar asks, shocked.
"Really? I didn't know you transferred forms," Sereia adds.
Even Trinket is surprised.
"Well, you see... Rook is about to explain, but notices the door, "Ah! Look there. We're coming up on the next containment facility."
"You're right. Let's pause the chitchat for now, shall we?" Vil replies.
But Epel quickly says, "What?! You can't stop there! I'm dying to know more!"
"Me too!" Sereia cries out.
"I'm curious as well. How did you transfer from Savanaclaw Dorm to Pomfiore Dorm," Briar adds.
Rook laughs, "Hah hah hah! I'd be happy to share as much as you'd like... If we all make it safely through this area, of course."
The three freshmen realize that Rook is right.
"Oh, right. The Phantoms are gonna be stronger down here..." Epel says.
"And there might also be a chance that Titan might come back," Sereia says.
"Just so. We won't have an easy time of it. And there's no telling what Ortho and Idia will throw at us. Stay on your toes," Vil says.
Everyone agrees and decides to go to the facility to see what is about to take place.
YOU ARE READING
Twisted Wonderland Book 6: The Watchman of the Underworld
FanfictionAfter Grim attacked Briar after the SDC, she and her friends search for him, but captured by Ortho. A few days later, the school has been invaded by strong people is armor, and has captured, Riddle, Leona, Azul, Jamil, Vil, and Briar, and has Grim i...
