“Yo,” a voice called.

Hildebrand jumped, almost out of her shoes. She turned to her caller. It was Dolph.

“I think they turned the fountain off for fall,” he said. “It’s already pretty cold.”

Hildebrand grumbled through gritted teeth. “You scared me half to death!” she said. She thought for a moment and grumbled again. “And don’t ‘yo!’ me! My name’s not ‘yo’!” she said. “Who even speaks like that?”

“My bad,” he said.

Or that? Hildebrand thought.

He shuffled over and sat on the fountain’s edge, peering inside. “I’m not sure your wish will come true if there’s no water.”

Hildebrand crossed her arms. “I’m sure it will,” she said. “And exactly how much did you hear?”

“Not much,” he said. She couldn’t tell if he was lying or not. If he was, he was strangely good at it. He spoke slow and calm, looking through her with his beady eyes. Once again, Hildebrand thought the way he spoke really didn’t match his appearance.

“What do you want?” Hildebrand asked. “This late at night?” She minded Hugo’s warning and uncrossed her arms.

Dolph rubbed the back of his head. “Just wanted to check in. See if you’re alright. And I need to apologize,” he said. “Earlier, when you almost got domed by the chunk of wood—”

“Domed?” Hildebrand asked.

“When you almost got hit in the head, I mean. I—” he said, cringing, “I hit you in the head. I meant to stop the debris, but I misjudged the situation. I made a bad call. So, I’m sorry.”

“You’re forgiven,” Hildebrand said.

“You were hurt pretty bad,” Dolph said.

“It wasn’t that bad. I’ve been through worse,” she said. “You’re so light I didn’t even feel it.”

“It looked serious,” he said. “You were out cold for a while. When someone’s unconscious that long, it’s usually a sign of brain damage.”

“Brain dam—Hey!” Hildebrand said, pointing at Dolph. “Are you calling me stupid?”

“No,” he said. “I’m serious. I would get it checked out by an expert, if you can. Didn’t you say you hit your head before, too?”

Hildebrand sighed. “I’m fine,” she said. “The doctor and the priest both said I’m fine. I even got healed!”

Dolph grunted. “Right… You were healed,” he muttered to himself, rubbing his elbow. “With magic.”

“No,” Hildebrand said. “It was a blessing. Magic can’t even compare.”

He nodded. “Right. Just watch out for any strangeness. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Erika was worried about you too,” he said.

“Don’t worry,” Hildebrand huffed. “I’ll seek help if I think anything’s wrong.” She raised her hand. “I swear on Hugo’s family’s name.”

He smiled, but his eyes didn’t move. “Ok then…” He stood and waved two fingers near his head, like a salute, before walking away towards the woods.

“What does that mean?” Hildebrand muttered to herself. She tried it for herself. It must have been a farewell of some sort, like a miscreant’s salute. She did it again, waving two fingers at the departing Dolph. “Good night!” she shouted. “Wherever you’re going!” Perhaps it was into town. It wasn’t that long of a walk.

He waved a hand over his shoulder without even looking back.

“How rude,” Hildebrand muttered, smiling to herself. Hugo’s worry was unfounded.

She eyed the copper coin sitting in the dry fountain. It was already the middle of autumn and getting cold, colder than any autumn Hildebrand remembered. Dolph’s concern lingered in her mind. Hopefully, the coin would still be there when they turned the fountain back on.

She gave it one last look as she walked away, leaving the safety of the dim lanterns, and venturing into the dark towards her dorm.

She heard rapid footsteps coming up behind her. Almost running up. Had Hugo been right to warn her about Dolph?

“Yo!”

Hildebrand turned around in a hurried panic. He was right behind her! “My name’s not ‘Yo!’” she shouted, throwing a slap as she spun around. It connected with an echo.

That man, Roy Garland, was standing before Hildebrand with a red handprint on his face.

“Ow,” he muttered, rubbing his face. “What’s your problem, you brat?”

“You scared me!” Hildebrand shouted. “Who just runs up to a lady in the middle of the night like that!”

“Lady?” His brows wrinkled over his seemingly closed eyes, his eyelashes like dark rips on his face. He smirked. “You?”

She threw her hand at him again, but he tilted his head out of the way.

“Yes, me! You scared me half to death!” Hildebrand shouted.

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“Jeez,” he said. “Relax, you’re acting like there’re monsters out here.”

Hildebrand angrily huffed. “Yes! You!” she said, pointing her finger in Roy’s face.

He grimaced and pushed her hand down. “Speak for yourself. I,” he said gesturing to himself, “was simply doing my job as a dutiful instructor at this very fine institution.”

“By scaring the wits out of your student?” Hildebrand barked.

“No,” he said, raising a finger to Hildebrand’s face. He tapped her nose, wearing his amusement openly with a smirk. “Just you, Little Miss Saintess.”

“Ugh,” Hildebrand groaned. “Do you have something against me?”

“Hmm,” he hummed. He brushed his bangs to the side, twice. “Now, why would you think that? I came here at your request.”

“Huh?”

He brushed by her side, placing a rough, heavy hand on Hildebrand’s shoulder. “You asked for help,” he said.

“I did?” Hildebrand asked. She didn’t remember that. “What did I need help with?”

Roy shrugged. “You didn’t say.”

Hildebrand groaned quietly. She had never even met Roy before in her life, neither one. Not even Hilde had. Hildebrand watched as Roy placed two fingers to his brow and brushed his bangs aside. Once. Then twice. Even in the dark, his red hair was vivid, like scarlet. Maybe Hilde had met this man before…

“Come on, Little Miss Saintess,” he said. His voice slithered, and it hissed, like a snake’s. “I’ll walk you back to the dorm.”

“You don’t have to,” Hildebrand said, shying away from the open hand he offered. “I’ll be fine on my own,” she said in a shrinking voice. She curled her fingers tight, balling them into fists.

“Suit yourself,” he said, still walking towards the ladies’ dorms.

“I told you, you don’t have to,” she repeated. He was already several paces ahead.

“I’m not,” he said. He pointed to the small building next to the dorms. “The faculty building’s right there.”

“Oh,” Hildebrand muttered. She looked around the dark that grew darker as they moved further from the courtyard. “Wait,” she called, running closer to Roy’s side.

Better to keep your enemies close, she told herself.

They walked the distance quietly, and awkwardly, in Hildebrand’s opinion. When they finally stepped beneath the lantern lights near the buildings, Roy gave Hildebrand a smack on the back towards her dorm.

“Seeya, Little Miss Saintess,” he said. “Don’t let the monsters getcha!”

Before she could open her mouth, he had already walked to the front of the faculty building, joining a long-haired gentleman who lingered in the doorway. The young gentleman glanced over to Hildebrand with sharp, yet disinterested eyes and gave her a nod of acknowledgement. Compared to the bumbling oaf that was Roy, the gentleman had an air of nobility and refinement about him. That was why he, Professor Adler Aschwald, was popular with many young ladies.

At least, that was the case in Hildebrand’s previous life. Even Hildebrand nursed a small crush on the professor during her academy days. She had spent more than a couple of lectures of Metaphysics gazing upon the young professor with doe eyes.

It was unfortunate that he turned out to be a villain…

“Yo,” Roy said, raising his hand.

Adler raised his hand too, and the duo smacked their hands together. Adler dispensed two cigarettes and shared one. In just two moves, the esteemed and popular professor had lost what little superficial charm he had left.

Roy accepted the cigarette with his left hand and held it out for a light. It was almost like he was showing it off, as if he were taunting Hildebrand.

Roy stood, dragging on the cigarette so long and hard he even tilted his head up, as if drowning himself in a drink. Then he keeled over and coughed out smoke, like he had been choking on it.

“Oh shit!” he said, spiraling into an uncontrolled fit of coughing.

Adler burst into a short fit of laughter until he too caught a fit of coughing. Professor Adler Aschwald wasn’t like anything Hildebrand remembered from her past life. But he did keep bad company in both lifetimes.

Roy glanced over at Hildebrand and waved his hand at her, shooing her away like a pest. “Go to bed, missy,” he said.

“Isn’t it past the curfew?” Adler asked. “You should head in.”

Hildebrand narrowed her eyes before taking a step inside, and she stuck her tongue out before slipping inside. Before the door shut, she heard Adler ask, “Is that the one?”

Hildebrand threw the door back open and almost threw herself back out, only keeping herself from falling by hanging onto the door frame. The two men were squatting on the ground, cigarettes still smoldering in their mouths, the ends of their coats laying on cobblestone and dirt. They were busy admiring a lighter in Roy’s hand. They both looked up at Hildebrand. They almost glared, but hid their annoyance well.

“What?” Roy mumbled.

“Nothing,” Hildebrand said. “I just forgot to say goodnight. So, goodnight…”

Adler nodded and bid her a “Goodnight.” That response was fitting from academy faculty, even if Maximilliana would strip him of his position in the future. But Roy just waved dismissively.

Hildebrand slowly closed the door, but didn’t shut it completely. She lingered in the doorway; her heel keeping the heavy door ever so slightly ajar. Hildebrand buried her face in her hands. The embarrassment felt like it would burn through her palms.

“Agh!” she moaned.

“I’m impressed you managed to get your hands on this,” Adler said.

“I have connections,” Roy said.

“Still,” Adler said, “the Rosario Company refused to even talk about this. I doubt even Emperor Konrad could have obtained this.”

“Emperor? The emperor is nothing,” Roy scoffed. “I told you, Adler, I have connections in the Empire. Goods connections. Great connections! Some even say… The best.”

Both men chuckled. They chuckled like boys, like little thugs from the slums who were up to no good. She had heard that kind of laughter a thousand times. It was the laughter of villains.

Hildebrand was certain she had never called Roy Garland to the academy, or anywhere, for that matter. He had tracked her down; he had followed her. And he wasn’t there to help her. He wasn’t a friend. He was the enemy.

Hildebrand briskly walked to the main staircase, looking back just once. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on edge. Even with Principal Maximilliana and Sasha around, Hildebrand felt fear. Would they even believe her? Of course not… If Hildebrand rambled on about one past life, they’d call her insane. If she rambled about two past lives, they would throw her in an asylum. Especially if she claimed some hidden figure who secretly controlled the Apollyan Empire from the shadows was after her. Or even worse, that the same person had followed her across space and time like a monster. That was why he was here, where he wasn’t meant to be.

Hidlebrand grabbed onto the railing of the staircase. Her knees ached, and they wobbled. Her heart pounded in her ear. She slowly climbed up, step by step.

Is he the reason every life was different? she wondered. She gulped. Did he already kill Rinaldo? He seemed capable of it from the way he so easily overpowered a young Hugo. And it would explain why that man had taken Rinaldo’s place.

Hildebrand fell to her hands on the stairs. Her breathing quickened, and she felt like retching despite an empty stomach. Her lungs felt smaller, like the air wouldn’t fill them. A cold sweat sent a cold tingle up her spine.

I’m overreacting, she told herself. I’m wrong. I’m jumping to conclusions. Calm down, Hildebrand…

She clambered to her feet, still clinging to the railing. And she got herself to her room, where she collapsed onto her bed.

He can’t do anything to me, she thought. Maximilliana and Sasha are both here. They’ll stop him. And Hugo! And Hugo…

Hildebrand gripped her pillow tight and gnashed her teeth. All her boisterous bravery had vanished in an instant. Her declaration at the fountain meant nothing. She was spineless.

She closed her eyes, cursing her own cowardice and cursing that man, Roy Garland. She fell asleep cursing that man, Montisal, the scarlet knight who was like a serpent.