Chaos Follows Me

Seeing Stars

The trip back to the academy was uneventful in the sense that nothing major happened. At least not to anyone other than Y/N.

The encounter the previous night shook him more than he would ever admit. So Tempest knew what he looked like, and clearly was more deranged than ever. What a way to close off the first day.

Joshua and Iris both tried to talk to him, but Y/N waved them off. He wasn't in the mood.

Nonetheless, once the group reached the academy, all went to their dorms, presumably to get changed. Spruce themselves up. The works.

Y/N went do his dorm and shut the door. He didn't want anybody talking to him right then.

When he laid on his bed, he half expected to fall asleep. Yet he didn't. Time to face this second day.

It was a good while before the announcements came on. "Y/N L/N, please report to the headmistress's office immediately."

Y/N groaned. "What now?" He quickly put on a hoodie and jeans and started to head there. Only to be stopped at the stairs. By whom? Joshua.

"Hey there, buddy! Feel like chatting now? Yes? Good! We can talk on the way!" He beamed at Y/N, who frowned.

"I'd rather save my breath for whatever Hadern wants." He started walking towards the office, which was just down the hall.

"Oh. Well, see you around!" And Joshua was gone. Finally.

When Y/N reached the doors, they opened automatically. Guess they're motion activated now. Hadern was sitting at her desk, her face expressionless. "Good morning, Y/N. Please take a seat." Y/N did so warily.

When he had sat down, she went on. "How was your little expedition with the other freshmen?"

Y/N hesitated. "...Loud. They wouldn't stop talking. I guess I'm just...not used to...this."

"Mm. Why do you think that is?" Y/N gazed quizzically at her."You don't get what I mean? I didn't think you would."

Before Y/N could protest, she continued. "I know about what happened last night."

"How?"

Hadern chuckled. "Mindscapes are a form of magic, Y/N. And I can sense when magic is being used, and who is using it. The point is, a villain knows you're here."

"And?"

"I'm sure you've faced far worse things than Tempest, but the rest of my students, namely the freshmen and sophomores, haven't." Hadern frowned slightly. "If I remember correctly, you briefly were a part of the villain circles before you became the feared vigilante."

"Yeah, and I hated it. One year, and I was gone. What're you getting at?"

Hadern ignored him. "My sources tell me that the circles are growing restless, with the disappearance of Deathcaller. They're growing bolder, more daring in their crimes, now that Deathcaller isn't around to stop them."

Y/N pinched his nose in annoyance. "You think I don't know that this is happening?"

"I would've thought that you would want to stop this."

"What would you have me do? Infiltrate a circle, pretending to rejoin, and gather info, so you can send your team of heroes to wreck the place?"

Hadern simply smiled.

Y/N blinked in shock. "Shit." Hadern laughed.

——————————————-

"Wow! Barely a week here and you're already gearing up for a mission!" Emma was beaming at him, clearly impressed. "Most students don't go on any until much later in the year, and the freshmen choose not to!"