When Mathias awoke, he was laid out in the middle of the courtyard. He did not know what happened after being force-fed a strange vial, but he blacked out. Since he felt fine, all things considered, he just left it at that.

Except even Jasmine and Kira were looking at him worriedly.

"...?"

He felt something soft underneath him.

He turned his head up to see Lisanna.

"We're starting now. Are you ready to get up?"

Mathias was brought up weakly and he heard Lisanna explain, "I guess Hana's mother gave you too much. Whatever it was, your mother got rid of it, but since she couldn't go back here, she told us to have you rest out here. Are you okay now?"

He nodded.

Lisanna smiled and she helped him up to his feet.

As if waiting on cue, the Headmaster verified his condition with a glance and then he shouted from the entrance. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but we'll now be starting! Shiro Kanata and Neveah Tucker, please accept the escorts as your punishment."

"Fine, fine."

"It was her and not me! I wouldn't sacrifice good results!"

"Yes, whatever. Moving onto bigger and better things, I'll be explaining the general set-up of the exhibitions! As you can see, we have five main sectors, four on the outside and one on the inside! Each will have its own security - Miss Kanata and Miss Tucker - and we'll be doing segmented unveils. We'll be starting with the South-West, then moving clockwise from that before ending in the center.

"As everyone seems to be gathered, I'll first lead you to the first section! Please follow me everyone and students be prepared next to your works!"

Mathias' arm was draped around Lisanna's shoulder as he was being held up.

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"Sorry... I tried, but... but..."

Lisanna looked down to the ground.

Kira was looking away.

And Jasmine was staring at him curiously. "You. Who are you?"

"...?"

"You know who he is already so don't ask stupid questions."

Jasmine looked around, made sure everyone was preoccupied and sighed. "You're a fire mage. You wouldn't have been able to see the poison in his blood. It's not normal to be alive after that."

"His mother treated him so it was fine. Go back to your own spots already."

Lisanna gruffed since Mr. Shields was watching them like a hawk. He may also be a judge, but he was the class teacher so he was to be there early.

"Are you lot done? Thatcher, Jessal, go back. Vandiese, the order has been shifted. Take five minutes to settle yourself. O'Clare, deal with him."

"Okay."

"...?!"

"Y-yes. I'll do my best."

"You signed up for this. It changes nothing, honestly."

Mr. Shields turned and walked back as he was expected to be there for the unveiling as well.

As was Chef, Mitras, Natalie, and the Headmaster who was announcing the whole affair.

The two, as they were sitting there, did not really register much as Mathias was trying to shake the strange feelings in his limbs. His head was clouded, too, but he felt fine. It was a strange mix of discontinuity between the brain and body.

"I can't believe her... if that didn't happen...!"

Lisanna grumbled her complaints to deaf eyes.

He only registered Wendi, Erik, and Ayla peaking over from one of the shrubbery walls with questions in their eyes. Since they were last, they tried to get away with the action.

"... He's fine," Lisanna whispered, to which she poked Mathias to get his attention. He looked over and nodded since it seemed to be what he was expected to. "See?"

They sighed in relief.

It might not have been talked much about by those in attendance, but the word spread around the students quickly. In part, it could be said that Eldrich relayed the bare-bones information to ensure they were aware but that Mathias' mother's actions wouldn't cause an issue to them.

He was a valued member of the Brotherhood - even though he did not know it.

Mr. Shields cast a gaze over their way.

They yelped and returned back to their stations. If looking out from the entrance, Mathias and Lisanna were behind the shrubs, out-of-sight, but as the Headmaster moved to the next section, the scattered crowd seemed more obvious.

Mr. Shields firmly kept his vision scanning back and forth to ensure that there were no students acting out of line. He even only took passing glances at the sculptures being unveiled dramatically.

There was plenty of time to ascertain the quality of the technical portion once the crowds settled.

Soon all the sculptures aside from their own were unveiled.

And the Headmaster gathered the crowd back to the front as he called on two students behind.

"Lisanna and Mathias, please join your fellows at the front. We'll be doing this one a little differently.

Lisanna grabbed his wrist and he just followed the hazy figure in his mind.