Twisted Wonderland 2

Leave Everything to Me

The boys reach the next level in the tower, nearly at the top. Though the next flight of stairs is nowhere to be seen.

Azul adjusts his glasses. "Well, this is a conundrum. I wasn't expecting the stairs to end before we reached the top. We should be getting very close."

"Yo, party leader!" Idia says to Azul. "Got some leadership for us or what?"

"Why are you heckling me?" Azul rolls his eyes. "We're in the same boat, you know!"

Malleus glances around. "It seems Flamme wasn't joking when he said this place was so vast someone could live here. It felt like a straight path upward when we climbed the tower earlier today. But that must've been due to Flamme's familiarity with the layout."

Azul places a hand to his hip. "Only an extremely agile person could live in a place so full of obstacles."

"I blocked the stairwell leading down with some crates to keep the firelotuses out." Idia says. "But that's not gonna hold 'em off for long."

Malleus nods. "So be it. We'll have to break through the ceiling to proceed further."

"Again," Azul sighs. "any destruction of this structure would be unacceptable." He stops. "What's this?"

In front of the boys sits a gargoyle. It's arms folded and faces the boys.

Malleus's eyes widen slightly. "That's the gargoyle we saw on the top floor earlier. Why is it down here now?"

"Could it be a different one that happens to be identical?" Azul suggests.

Malleus shakes his head. "No, I assure you this is the exact same gargoyle. See how the wings have a ten degree difference in their angles? And the tasteful centimeter scratch on its head? It's unmistakable to me."

Azul quirks an eye. "Those are such trivial details, it's a little off-putting that you had them memorized."

"Wow, this must be what otaku look like from an outside perspective." Idia says.

Malleus folds his arms. "Why give me such dubious looks? I find it stranger that neither of you noticed those details. Look at how expressive it is. It's most distinctive. Such a fascinating piece. I could study it for ages."

"Wow, hardly anybody gives us that kinda respect."

The boys freeze.

"Uh, what was that...?" Idia throws a glance to Azul. "Azul, this is NOT the time to goof around in that falsetto voice."

"I would never do such a thing and you know it." Azul scoffs. "How about you stop goofing off instead?"

"I didn't say anything."

"Then who was it? Malleus?"

Malleus shakes his head. "No."

Idia's eyes widen. "Then... was it..."

The boys turn to the gargoyle.

It stretches its arms above its horned head with a groan. "Geez Louise! One stretch ain't gonna cut it with how stiff my back is. Sitting around for how long I've been can give you such a crick in the neck."

The boy's eyes go wide, staring at the living gargoyle in shock.

"The gargoyle talked?" Azul exclaims.

"Sure I talk." The gargoyle folds its arms. "I'm a gargoyle at Noble Bell College, an arcane academy. I've been watchin' over the school and Fleur City from the bell tower for eons now."