It was the week of the Fall and everyone was busy ether preparing for the festival and ball. There was decorations being made by and hung up, many prayer cards for those lost. It all reminded me of Halloween and Day of the Dead, without the dressing up. I couldn’t really enjoy it due to the fact that an attack was supposed to occur the either on the Eve of the Fall or the day of the Fall.

This did not stop the other’s excitement for the holiday however, Beth and Claire were busy making decorations, Thu’ane was hitting on girls hanging decorations, and Edward and Ryan were putting up prayer cards for those smaller than them. I was the only worried about the attack I guess.

“Kyle, you should relax.” Claire says after noticing my cold attitude.” Worrying so much even after all the defenses we established won’t help our situation.”

“And acting like nothing is going to happen is any better?” I ask.

She shakes her head,” I want to enjoy this festival, we don’t know if it’ll be our last one.”

I look at her and her saddened expression,” I never thought of it that way, I thought you guys were just not worried.”

“We’re all on edge, but this is something to take our minds off things.” She says.” Plus it’ll be the first festival we’ve gone to together.”

I rub the back of my neck, though her words did help me, I still can’t help but be worried. I spent the rest of the preparation day checking the perimeter of the school and all of the barriers. I really shouldn’t have been surprised when the Headmaster showed up.

“Oh my, a worrywart are we?” She says.

I jump, no one has caught me by surprise like she just did in a very long time.” Yeah, I think I’m the only one too.”

She shakes her head,” All the students are on edge, they may not know what’s coming, but the can feel something.”

“Wait, how did you sneak up on me?” I ask.

“That’s my secret,” She says smiling.

“Of course it is.” I say coldly

Her face becomes serious and then she says,” No one shall enter my school. No monster, assassin, or Mad King. I will protect this place with everything I’ve got.”

I stop and stare at her. This was the first time she was serious and I could tell she was dead serious. For some reason there was no more doubt in my mind about her, she would protect this school.” I think I owe you an apology. I’ve been rude to you. I thought you were just a senile old woman, but that expression and tone is very familiar to me.”

There was a pause and I felt like for once I understood this woman. She wasn’t just some teacher who is in charge of this school, she’s seen terrible things in her life. She must’ve had experiences like my own, I recognized that expression as one I’ve also worn. Her facade had finally cracked and the real Rivers was shown through.

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Her face went from weathered veteran to smiling old woman real fast.” It is no concern of yours, I promised you Claire would be safe at this school after the last incident.”

Just like that the moment of understanding was gone and the Rivers I got used to was back.” Even though you annoy me, I feel like I can trust you with this one.”

I turn and walk away from her, many questions in my head. What atrocities has she encountered? Why did she act like a weird old lady? I knew I wouldn’t get answers so I didn’t ask. Then I encountered my reflection and I realized I subconsciously changed my eyes to the blue and violet, the ones that Rivers preferred.

I was lost in thought and I bumped into a ladder that a girl was standing on. Luckily I caught her so she didn’t hurt herself. I guess I still scare people since she was very shy and tried to get away from me fast. The story of how I beat a hydra to death spread pretty fast I guess.

“Kyle, you are so clumsy when lost in thought.” Thu’ane says patting me on the back.” I would have at least requested a kiss as repayment from her.”

“Has any of that stuff ever worked for you?” I ask him coldly.

His smile fades and he says,” Thanks for killing my confidence, and not many times.”

“Then why do it?” I ask

He shrugs and says,” I don’t really know. Maybe to keep my mind occupied so I don’t get lost in thought.”

I glare at him, I know he was taking shots at me, but there was some truth to his words. He was there for most of my experiences, yet he doesn’t seem affected like I do.  I guess since he talked about it with somebody it helped.” I’ve got to go meet someone.” I say

“Don’t act like I’m oblivious. I know you’re meeting up with Claire.” He says.

“Sorry bad habit.” I say and quickly leave. I rush my way down towards the girl’s dorm, hopefully to catch her before she enters. It was almost curfew so I knew I’d have to sneak around. I switched to my green eye and listened for her vitals.Maybe it was creepy to memorize them, but I did. I heard them, and she was alone.

I took a deep breath and dropped from the tree I was in scaring her.” What the Hell, Kyle?!” She yells.

“Sorry I thought it would be creepy if I waited for you by the door.” I say then realize I was literally just in a tree.

“But you waited in a tree?” She asks.

“That’s besides the point, I want to talk to you about the festival.” I say and her expression lights up.” I think it’d be a good idea to take my mind off this stuff.”

Obviously this wasn’t what she wanted to hear because her smile slowly faded. I could tell I messed up but didn’t know what I did wrong, I’ll have to ask Edward or Thu’ane about that.” So what changed your mind?” she asks more seriously.

“I talked with the Headmaster and she assured me that nothing would get past her.” I say

“Didn’t you say she was incompetent? What changed your mind about her?” She ask.

“She got serious for once and she reminded me of myself. Some one who’s seen some horrible things and for once I understood her.” I say. Then hear a groundskeeper coming so I say,” Gotta go, just know I’ll try my best to enjoy myself.”

I run back towards my dorm but I hear something I didn’t expect. Ryan and Beth talking and I could just feel the dense atmosphere. My leg gets grabbed and I realise that Thu’ane and Edward are hiding behind bushes.”Shhh, they don’t know we are here.” Thu’ane says.

“What are you two doing?’ I ask quietly.

“I was dragged into this by him.” Edward whispers.

“I wanted to hear this.” Thu’ane says.

“Beth, wou-would you like to go to the ball with me.” Ryan says. I thought I was bad with my feelings, but Ryan really is hopeless.

“Of course I will.” She says in her faint voice.

I turn to Thu’ane and ask,” You're using the espionage skills you’ve been learning since you were five to spy on a boy asking a girl to a dance?”

He nods and say,” I needed to know if Beth was open to be my date.”

Something clicked in my head and I realized how I screwed up.