❝ℕ𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 ℝ𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕟'𝕤 𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟❞ [𝚃𝚆𝚂𝚃 𝚡 𝙾𝙲] (!!ᴏɴ ʜɪᴀᴛᴜs!!)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟳:
𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏

❝Headmage's Office❞

[Third POV]

"Pardon?! You're telling me you actually went to the Dwarfs' Mine in search of a magestone?" the headmaster questioned the group after they arrive, shocked that they were able to find a magestone

"Uh...? Yes?" the four of them answered in unison, although Yukina's tone is more annoyed than the boys'

"I didn't expect that you'd seriously do it, and never in my wildest imaginings did I think you would actually return with a magestone! And here I spent all evening preparing your expulsion documents" Crowley continued, causing the girl to have an irk mark on her forehead

"Are you serious?! While we're fightin' some crazy monster for you, you were expelling us?!" Grim yelled at the headmaster who just stepped back. He gave the group a questioning look

"Monster...?"

"Yeah, there was a monster alright. A big, nasty one. It nearly killed us!" Ace exclaimed

"Would you kindly relate this story in full?"

While the group explained to the headmage about the said monster in his office, Yukina couldn't help but feel uneasy and wary while detailing the event. 'that monster... Where did I recognize it...?' she thought to herself, but brushed the thought off

"Hmmm... So a mysterious monster was living in the mines and the four of you worked together to destroy it, and then brought its magestone back to me?" Crowley briefly summarize what the freshmen had said

"I don't know that I'd call it 'working together'" Ace said

"It was more like we just happened to share the same goal at the same time..." Deuce added

"We were... But these two decided to deny it..." Yukina said with a blank, straight face

"Oh gracious... Ohhh... Ohhhhhhh!" The grown headmage started to sob while the group stared at him

"What is this guy's deal?! Burstin' into tears in public? At his age?!" Grim muttered to the girl while she stood there, appalled at the sight of their headmage sobbing

"In all the decades I've worked at this school..." Crowley choked out "the day has finally come when the students of Night Raven College have joined hands together to defeat a common foe!"

"Wait, you got the wrong idea! No way I join hands with that guy!"

"Okay, one, there was no joining of hands. Gross. And two, exactly HOW old are you, Headmage?"

Both Ace and Deuce are appalled and grossed out with the idea of joining hands together, while the female just stayed silent, her eyes twitching in disgust as she imagines joining hands with the other two males muttering out a "no" in the process

"At this moment, I am moved beyond words. This incident has proven my hopes were justified" headmage said while pointing to the girl "Yukina, my doubts are allayed! For you... You possess the talents of a beastmaster!"

The girl flinched with a look of shock as her lips are pressed in a thin line

"Uh... What...?" that's all she could muster up, still dazed from the shock and confusion she got

"My students have all been selected by the Dark Mirror for their exceptional talent and potential. But great talents begets great pride and big egos. Most are self-reliant and self-centered that they never even consider cooperating with others"