Infernal Academia

Mulutipac Elanif

When Cobalt awoke, he was dimly surprised to find himself lying alone in his futon.  He blinked a couple of times and rolled over, wincing as his stomach scar ached.  He hadn't slept so deeply in a long time; it felt like the first proper night's sleep he had gotten since the entire Diate debacle began.  Yawning, the Incubus eased himself out of bed and began to limp his way into the kitchenette, only to nearly wind up tripping on the sleeping bags on the floor.

"Hm.  So I didn't just imagine it..." he murmured, pushing them aside with his foot.

They had really camped out in his room, waiting for him to wake up...

Right as he began to make himself some breakfast, the Incubus was startled by a series of sharp knocks on his dorm room door.

"Um... Hello?" he called.

"Unlock the door, boy," responded the curt voice of Mistress Viola.

His entire body froze as he heard the distinct sound of the Succubus impatiently tapping her foot outside of his door.

"Now," she added.

"Y- Yes!  Right away!"

Abandoning his attempt at making breakfast, Cobalt stumbled over to his door and unlocked it, staggering back as Viola swept into the room, already dressed in her full suit and cloak.  Arms folded, she looked him up and down, whereupon he realised that he was still dressed in his hospital gown.

"I see you pulled through and discharged yourself," she remarked with a cluck of her tongue.

He fiddled nervously with the hospital band around his wrist.

"I, um... yes.  Yes I did," he sighed, looking away.

Taking a deep breath, Viola stepped over to his couch and took a seat.

"Well then.  I suppose I misjudged you on multiple counts, then."

"S- Sorry?"

"I didn't think you could defeat Diate, and I didn't think you'd pull through.  Your students, on the other hand..."

She looked down at the empty sleeping bags.

"... they kept faith.  Sat by your side during the day, and held vigil in here at night.  They truly believe in you, boy.  Just like... Just like your father's friends believed in him."

A moment of silence passed between them as a few birds passed by outside the window.

"I thought I wasn't anything like him," Cobalt said quietly.

In a surprisingly display of emotion, Mistress Viola suddenly buried her face in her hands and exhaled slowly.

"I know what I said, boy.  And in a way, I still stand by what I said.  You're nothing like Brass.  And yet, you're just like him.  I... I don't know what to say, except this; I'm sorry."

The Incubus' eyes widened.

"Wh- What...?"

"Don't make me say it again."

Shaking her head, she got back to her feet and clasped her hands behind her back.

"I thought I could figure you out, boy.  But just like your younger self, you're impossible to figure out," she sighed, straightening her jacket.

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a black and red striped tie, worn and weathered from numerous conflicts.

"But regardless how I feel, the facts remain the same; you killed a Devil and ended a feud twenty-three years in the making, saving this school, its inhabitants and possibly the town at large in the process.  On behalf of B.I.D., I thank you for your valiance," she stated in an official tone.