The Fair wife

Chapter 5

"So, Ciel huh?" Diane asked as she settled in the seat beside Alex. Grunting, Alex placed the book down on the table and dryly looked at his friend. He was still annoyed with her leaving him. Said girl raised her hands in a placating manner, a small apologetic grin tilting the corners of pale lips. "Come on, don't be angry. I could see you had some unresolved issues to deal with and I thought I could help." She paused as a mischievous look flited over her expression. "Tell me, what happened after I left?"

Alex snorted but then picked up his bag to take out an opened envelope. Diane peered at it over his shoulder in confusion as he laid it out between them. "I don't wish to speak about that" he told her and sent her glare when she opened her mouth to argue. Diane brushed her red hair over her shoulder with a small pout.

"Fine, then what's that" she asked as she waved her hand at the letter.

"Mr Atwood delivered it to me...It's from home." This caught Diane's attention, especially the serious countenance on her friend's face. All playfulness drained away as she straightened out in her seat, her hands already reaching towards the note. She only glanced at Alex, who gave a 'go ahead' before she opened it and began to slowly scan the neat calligraphy. As she was doing this Alex took a moment to collect his thoughts. His sights absently wandered over their niche in the library. It was a nice place, located towards the furthest corner where the shadows seemed to creep in the corners in evening. The books here weren't often read, mainly focused on some more abstract subjects.

"What" Diane gasped in shocked disbelief. "How?"

"I don't know"

"But demons, attacking magical students! Hurting them! They are making a mockery of us!" she cried.

"Mother wishes me to be careful. I presume you'd soon also get a similar warning from your parents" Alex said as he carefully took the letter from his friend's hands and resealed it back into the envelope before tucking it away.

"Do you know what this means" she whispered after a tense silence. "They are rising once again".

Alex already knew that. But knowing it and then having it happen so close to his own world were two different things. For the first time, he cursed for not finishing the game. If he had, then he could perhaps be better prepared. Now he was just floundering around, wondering with them all when the demons were going to strike next.

Taking a deep breath, Alex forcefully pushed those depressing thoughts out of his mind, as he gently picked up Diane's trembling hand. Although Diane acted strong, deep inside she was a very delicate girl and he felt humbled that he got to witness this side of her. It showed him how much she treasured him. He was glad that he never gave up on this friendship despite her being a rival character.

"It'll be okay. We have each other to watch our backs"

He gave a reassuring squeeze before standing up and stretching. He glanced out of the single window in this section of the library and saw the orange sky that was streaked with pink.

"Let's go get some dinner"

Diane took a deep breath and then nodded her head, determination making itself known on her delicate face once again.

"Yes. I'm quite famished"

Together the two friends made their way to the canteen, talking about lighter subjects and joking around. However, the moment they entered the warm building with students eating Diane's smile was wiped of her pretty face as she grimaced.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked in concern, stopping to glance around to see what put her in such a foul mood.

Diane sighed, crossing arms with him, and dragging him forward towards the dinner line. Her voice dropped down an octave as she brought her head closer to his.

"It's that new girl"

"Rosa?" he asked, and Diane nodded her head.

"There's just something...'off' about her"

Alex kept his expression carefully blank, but his mind was wildly flickering through thoughts. Had he failed? He thought. Was this the start towards Diane's spiral to madness via love? But no, he liked to think he knew his friend better than that, and he knew that she wasn't saying just this because she was jealous...hopefully...

"Why do you say that" he weakly enquired, his breath stuttering in his chest. This could very well determine the moment to see if he had failed to change fate. Would Diane forever be doomed to be the rival character or not?

Diane, thankfully seemed oblivious to Alex's conflicting emotions as she was staring past his shoulders at something.

"It's just that, it may sound crazy, but I swear I saw her glaring at you when Ciel sat beside you..."

A relieved breath rushed out of Alex before he fully registered her ominous words. His eyebrows scrunched up in thought, because he too had seen the same thing. At that moment he had thought he'd been imagining it, but what if he hadn't been? On a certain level, Alex had understood that this was his real world now, and people had different facets to their personality. They couldn't be clear cut like the game anymore, but he supposed he had always assumed that Rosa, being the main heroine would be how she had been portrayed as. But she was a person now, with all their faults and negativities. It was a mistake on his part.

"You noticed as well didn't you" Diane continued after glancing at his thoughtful face. Hesitantly, Alex nodded.

"Well I think you should be careful around her"

"She just glared at me once, no need to act like she'd assassinate me next".

Diane scoffed as she picked up a tray of salmon with a side of salad. "It's a women's intuition, and trust me, its warning me to be weary."

"Your ten, far from a woman" Alex answered dully. Diane elbowed him with an small amused smile before she turned serious once again.

"Just, be careful Alex. She seems shifty"

"Okay" he answered at Diane's serious declaration. "I wasn't planning to make friends with her any time soon anyway"

Diane gave him a relieved grin as she turned away to select a drink. Throwing a glance behind his shoulder, towards the direction where Diane had previously been intensely staring at, he noticed Rosa sitting beside Felix and another boy. The boy was tanned and had brown hair that fell into his eyes. From here, Alex couldn't see what colour his eyes were, but he could see that the boy had an easy-going smile. Something stirred in his memories and it took him a moment of contemplation to dredge memories of who it could possibly be.

Mike Newtown, son to General Newton. He had two brothers who had taken the Marital world by storm. Mike was the first in his family to study magic instead of Martial arts. His character had been described kind and fun.

Alex had to marvel at the heroine. She certainly worked fast to have befriended him already. Turning away, Alex focused back on Diane who was now complaining about their homework.