Evelyn

  ***

  Having finished cleaning my spear, I looked at my friends. They are doing surprisingly well, Charlotte especially. We were all cleaning our weapons after today’s training. They were a bit tired in the morning, but that seems to be the same for everyone. Well, for the students at least. All of the adults seem to be fine, so it’s probably just because we’re kids. Or rather, it’s probably because they don’t exercise very much. The Twin Regent’s group, myself, and a few others, are doing alright. Also, given the fact that I am seen as a “sickly” child, those people who look at me do so with confusion. Maybe I should try to change my image a bit? Ah! No time to think, someone important is coming!

  “Hey kid.” Aura said.

  “Hi!” I stood up to greet her.

  “You’re energetic as usual.” She said, messing with my hair. “You having fun?”

  “Yep!” I said.

  “Try not to cause any trouble for your friends.” She said.

  “I would never.” I said.

  Deviously smiling at me, Aura turned to my friends.

  “You know, one time she climbed up a tree because I was going to scold her.” Aura said.

  “I did not!” I defended myself.

  “Really?” Charlotte asked, wide eyed.

  “Yep. A tree as tall as that one, if I remember correctly.” She said, pointing to the tallest tree around.

  “It wasn’t that tall.” I said.

  “Oh, so now you did it?” She smiled.

  “Only because you were taking my stuff.” I said.

  “You really have a habit of escaping when things don’t go your way, don’t you?” Nicole asked.

  “Oh, so she’s done this again?” Aura asked, interested.

  “Well, we don’t need to get into this right now.” I said with a stiff smile.

  “She jumped out a window when that fifth prince tried flirting with her.” Charlotte said.

  “I didn’t jump, I slid down the gutter.” I pointed out.

  “She has no fear of heights, so I can imagine that.” Aura nodded.

  “Now that you mention it, she says that she likes to watch the stars on her roof.” Chloe said.

  “Also she climbs the trees at school all the time when no one is looking to get fruit.” Olivia added.

  “…” I smiled bnkly.

  It looks like I’ve lost control of the situation. The most I can do now is damage control.

  …

  Sitting in meditation, I was putting some skills that Orion taught me to good use. Mainly the “poker face” as Aura was sharing various embarrassing stories about me. It wasn’t just her, and it wasn’t just to my friends. At some point, Bke and others had joined our little story time, which now had an audience that has expanded to include the whole css and the teachers. It seems that groups were using these stories as an opportunity to have lunch with entertainment.

  “No matter how careful we were, she would find a way to sneak out with hunting groups.” Bke said.

  “…” Just say nothing and they won’t notice you…

  “I remember when she came back with a bunch of horned rabbits with four of our guys.” Bke said. “They said that she climbed the trees and jumped down on them when they were eating.”

  “…” I tried my best to keep quiet, although I felt eyes gathering on me.

  “Got anything to say about that?” Bke asked.

  Although I had my eyes closed, I could hear the smile in his voice. Not only that, but from the chuckling of others, I can tell that they’re loving every second of this… This must be revenge for all the trouble I caused…

  “It was only after my spear broke that I did that.” I replied, feigning calm.

  I don’t care what anyone thinks, but the skull of a horned rabbit colpses very nicely when a child size weight drops on it. If you aim right, the horn pops off as well. Although it makes a gross noise, so let’s not talk about it.

  “She did that in front of me once. The horn flew off of it when she nded.” Aura said. “And the sound it made!”

  Why am I here? Just to suffer? Looking to the sky, I searched for answers, but all I saw was one of the shadows standing atop a tree, keeping watch. I really hope she can’t hear this. Oh, who am I talking about? Of course she can hear this. Even if she couldn’t, 38 would tell her the moment we got back. I’m going to hear about this for weeks… Maybe I need to make a lengthy trip as Melody…?

  “You see that look she has on her face?” Aura asked. “She’s thinking about running away right now.”

  “How!?” I couldn’t hold myself back as I asked her in shock.

  Aura ughed at my reaction and 38 nodded beside her, not that anyone else could see her. It seems like my habits are too well known to these two. I need to be more careful in the future, or else I might get caught. Seeing this reaction as well, Aura ughed again and 38 narrowed her eyes at me. Looks like my poker face needs some work…

  Lloyd

  ***

  Evelyn really is… Being on our break, many of us were eating lunch including myself. Given the rare opportunity of entertainment for our time out here, we were listening to the leaders of the mercenaries. Although I originally expected them to tell stories of their work, everything they’ve been saying has all been about their time with Evelyn.

  From everything we heard, she seemed to be quite the wild girl. I mean really, who sleeps with a hatchet under their pillow? Also, how did she keep stealing knives? Why didn’t anyone notice her stealing them? What a strange girl… Maybe I had misjudged her?

  No. I don’t know any good person who steals knives and hides weapons under their pillows. She may not be evil, but I don’t exactly think she’s a good person… No, that’s not right. Let’s call her a strange person instead.

  Gncing at her, it was obvious to all that she was embarrassed. Sitting on her knees, like some sort of meditating samurai, her eyes were focused on nothing, but kept darting between the mercenaries and her friends. Like all of us they were enthralled by what they heard, and Evelyn hated every moment. I suppose that’s how I look whenever Mom talked about me to her friends when I was younger. I don’t envy those memories…

  “-and it wasn’t the first time we had to pull her out of the river.” Bke said.

  “Now that I think about it, have you learned how to swim yet?” Aura asked.

  “No…” Evelyn said, ashamed.

  “You really should. You never know when it may come in handy.” Aura said.

  “I know…” Evelyn muttered like a child being scolded.

  I mean, will it really? We live in the city, miles away from the nearest ke. Now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t think pools exist… Maybe it would be useful to have one. Maybe teach some of the soldiers how to swim. Well, for that we would need to separate boys and girls. People here are kind of conservative. Back when Melody first appeared, many people were calling her a lewd girl due to how short her dress was. It’s not at all short. It goes past her knees, it’s just the people here get all hot and bothered if a woman shows so much as a bit of ankle.

  It’s part of the reason why long stockings are used in the girls' uniforms. Some people still compined about it, but thanks to Melody’s “shocking appearance” it’s less of an issue. Also, now that I think about it, copies of Melody’s dress have been sold for quite a while, although they are longer. I wonder if I’ll see any at the school festival or end of the year party? I know that the Saints want to wear them. Or so Lna told me.

  I wonder how many people will wear them this year? Gncing at Evelyn, I couldn’t help but try and picture her in one… Yeah no. She’s too tall and intimidating to wear one. She’d probably look better in a suit if I’m being honest… What was I talking about?

  That’s right, pools. So yeah, we would need to do something about the swimsuits if we were to make pools. I couldn’t imagine anyone in one… Once more my eyes drifted to Evelyn. No, rather this time it was to her friend. What was her name again? Charlotte? The one with the blue hair. She’s kind of cute, she can make one of those old swimsuit work. What about Evel- NO! NO NO NO! I’m not even going to think about that! That’s exactly what Mom and Dad want! I don’t care how cool or cute she would look- NONONONO! STOP IT ME! SHE”S NOT EVEN A FRIEND! I DON’T EVEN LIKE HER! SHE’S JUST A CLASSMATE NOTHING MORE!

  “What are you doing?” Lna asked, having obtained a block of cheese from somewhere.

  “Nothing.” I sighed. “I just have a headache…”

  “Sucks to suck.” She shrugged.

  “Just wait until you hear what she did with magic ore.” Aura said.

  “That’s right!” Bke said. “She almost blew you up!”

  Evelyn’s face is in her hands. She must have really messed up…

  Charlotte

  ***

  After another day of hard training, and a lengthy story time, we found ourselves back at our little camp in the encampment a bit before dinner. Due to all the damage Evelyn took today from talking about her past, she’s been smiling creepily at her spear and muttering for the past hour.

  “You would never embarrass me… No… You’re a good spear…” Evelyn said under her breath.

  I exchanged a worried gnce with our friends.

  “She’s acting really weird right now.” Nicole whispered.

  “Should we do something?” Olivia asked.

  “Maybe we should get her some warm milk.” Chloe suggested.

  “Where would we get the milk?” I asked. “They already said that they didn’t have any here.”

  “Maybe some tea?” Olivia said.

  “What tea calms people down?” Nicole asked.

  “I don’t remember.” Olivia admitted.

  “Probably something with honey.” I said. “Do you think they have honey?”

  “It’s kind of expensive so I don’t think so.” Chloe said.

  “Then what should we do?” Nicole asked.

  “I don’t know.” Chloe said. “Should we sing to her?”

  “I don’t want to sing with so many people around.” Nicole said.

  “Do you still have your flute?” I asked.

  “I put it back in the wagon.” Olivia said.

  “What if we give her a belly rub?” Chloe asked.

  “How would that help?” I asked.

  “Well, my dog likes it, so it can’t be that bad right?” She said.

  “Wow.” Nicole said.

  “Please never say that to anyone.” Olivia said.

  “Okay I’m sorry.” Chloe said.

  As bad as that sounds, I feel like Evelyn might enjoy it. She is a bit strange after all. How mean of me to think that, but given all of the stories I heard about her, I can’t help but think so. Also, there was our first meeting…

  Thinking back to then, I can’t help but picture the two Evelyn’s side by side. Back then, she was so… There's no nice way of putting this, but it was like she was on death’s door. She was so skinny and pale and had baggy eyes. Just how was her family treating her? Now that I think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen her and her family together… Even back at the tea party, her stepmother and brother were away, and her uncle locked himself up in his office. Despite such a party with even the Regents, they didn’t even make an appearance.

  Not only that, but rumor spread that Evelyn didn’t even know of the party until the day of. Surely that’s false, correct? All the other rumors about her were false… Then again, she acted nothing like a host. No. Rather, she acted like a servant, taking orders and providing refreshments. Is that what they made her do? When was the st time she even talked about her family?

  …

  Oh no… I don’t think she ever talks about them. It can’t be that bad, right? Giving her a worried gnce- ah? She’s rubbing her face on her spear. Let’s do something about that before she hurts herself.

  “Evel-” Wait a moment. “Big sis.”

  “Ah?” Evelyn quickly turned her attention to me.

  That was scary! For a moment, she looked at me like that demon hog that she sughtered! I know she can’t help it, but she really should try and be less threatening! The moment we made eye contact, my body froze and she smiled with some sort of cruel joy. Standing at her full height, still holding her spear, the four of us couldn’t help but take a step back. Suddenly, that cruel smile of hers turned childlike.

  “Wanna go see what sweets they have?” Evelyn asked.

  “Sweets…?” I asked hesitantly.

  “Yeah, they have a bunch!” Evelyn said. “Aura said that I can go and get whatever I want as long as I don’t overdo it.”

  “…” Olivia looked at her worried. “Um. Why do they have sweets here?”

  “Don’t tell anyone this, but it’s because a lot of the people here are parents.” She said.

  “Parents?” Nicole asked.

  “How did parents become mercenaries?” Chloe asked.

  “It’s the other way around.” She said as if that expined everything.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “After a rough job, they like to get drunk and then some of them become parents.” She said. “I met a few of the kids, and they aren’t here right now, but some of them should be the same age as us.”

  “Isn’t it dangerous to bring kids into this sort of life?” Chloe couldn’t help but ask.

  “Yeah, but let’s not worry about that.” She brushed it off. “Anyway, it was really fun back then. Back in the day, I’d ask them to do the fire toss with me.”

  “Fire toss?” Olivia asked.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “It’s when you light a big bonfire and toss kids over the fmes!” She said.

  ““““!?”””” We couldn’t help but be armed.

  “It’s really fun! Although I’m a bit too big to do it now.” She sighed.

  They threw the child of nobility over a bonfire!? These people are dangerous! We can’t let her be around them!

  “Aura always got mad at them when they did it though.” She said and then sighed. “Always ruining the fun.”

  Thank you Aura for being a responsible adult! Keep an eye on these guys!

  “And those are the people who were hired to protect us?” Olivia asked, worrily gncing at our ‘protectors’.

  “Yeah, Aura said that they really seemed desperate to hire them.” Evelyn nodded. “Given the Twin Regents and Fifth Prince are here, I’m not surprised no one wanted this job.”

  ““““…”””” We exchanged silent gnces.

  Once again, I couldn’t help but ask. Should the school have taken this risk? Leaving a bunch of mercenaries to guard The Empire’s future? Melody, if you can hear me, please look out for us…

  Nissia

  ***

  Although we’ve been keeping an eye out, we haven’t spotted any strange birds. Given this “Raven” watching us and Evelyn, we thought that maybe we would see something by now. For the past few days, we’ve seen several birds, some of which were ravens, but none of them seemed odd. They just look like normal birds to us…

  “You know…” Jenna muttered. “I’m starting to think that this Raven guy isn’t coming.”

  “I hope not.” Lidia sighed. “I don’t want to deal with any scheming reincarnations.”

  “What do you think they’re pnning?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe he just really likes Evelyn?” Alice suggested.

  “That’s kind of creepy.” I said. “Staying hidden and watching her every movement.”

  “You think he’s like a Yandere or something?” Jenna asked.

  “What’s a yandere?” Lidia asked.

  “It’s like an obsessive killer lover.” Alice said. “They don’t want their love to interact with the opposite gender and what not.”

  “So, wouldn't that mean Levi is in danger?” Lidia asked.

  “He would probably already be dead if that was the case.” Alice said.

  “Unless he’s pying the long game.” I said.

  “And what would that be?” Jenna asked.

  “Maybe he knows about the story line and is waiting for Evelyn to be exiled for him to come in and save her.” I suggested. “That way, Evelyn would feel indebted to him.”

  “Then why wouldn’t he follow the story line where Evelyn is isoted as the viliness?” Alice asked.

  “Yeah, right now she does have friends, everyone likes her, and she doesn’t seem evil.” Jenna said.

  “Okay, so maybe not a yandere.” I said. “You think he’s just weird?”

  “Yeah. He seems weird.” Lidia nodded.

  “What if he isn’t reincarnated?” Jenna asked.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “What if he’s just like some hermit who took a liking to her?” She asked.

  “Yeah, but he knew about bears.” Alice said. “Bears don’t exist here.”

  “This world has three moons, demons, magic, and a Magical Girl.” Jenna said. “Who’s to say that bears don’t exist here?”

  “Come on, that’s crazy talk.” I said. “Next thing you know, you’ll be saying this guy isn’t even real. Or that one of us is the Magical Girl.”

  “I mean, I’ve never seen you and the magical girl in the same pce.” She said.

  “She stops by my family's bakery all the time!” I said.

  “Isn’t that convenient…” She said squinting at me.

  “You know, she has a point.” Lidia said.

  “No she doesn’t!” I said.

  “Are you actually the Magical Girl?” Alice asked. “If you are, just say so. I won’t tell anyone.”

  “If I was, there’s no way I would tell anyone of you!” I said. “Also, if I was her, why wouldn’t I be using my powers to get free stuff?”

  “Ah, so you aren’t.” Jenna said.

  “No way someone as selfish as you could be her.” Alice nodded.

  “I guess that means that none of us are secretly Melody.” Lidia said. “I would totally use it to get free stuff as well.”

  “Hey! Don’t count me out of it!” Alice said.

  “Yeah, we can be Magical Girls if we want to!” Jenna argued.

  “Oh yeah, and where would you get your powers?” I challenged.

  “Um- Well-” Jenna hesitated. “Maybe…”

  “From the church?” Lidia suggested.

  “I doubt it.” I said. “Lna told me that they’ve been trying to get Melody to come to be named as the saint, but she refuses.”

  “Really?” Lidia suggested.

  “She could get a lot of money from it.” Jenna said.

  “You see that talk right there is exactly why you can’t be a Magical Girl.” Lidia said.

  “Oh, shut up.” Jenna pouted.

  “Maybe Melody is actually super rich?” Alice asked.

  “That would expin how she affords all of the cinnamon buns.” I nodded.

  “Okay, so what if Melody is a noble here?” Jenna looked at the students readying for dinner.

  “Who do you think she could be?” I asked.

  “Right off the bat we know it can’t be Evelyn.” Lidia said.

  “Yeah, she gets sick far too easily, and also if she was Melody, she could have saved herself when she got stranded.” Jenna said.

  “She probably never would have gotten stranded in the first pce.” Alice whispered.

  “Yeah.” I responded in kind.

  Realizing that we were indeed talking about the accident that killed one of our cssmates' parents, we didn’t exactly want anyone, let alone Evelyn, to hear us.

  “Okay, so what if this Raven guy is like some sort of wizard?” Lidia asked, obviously changing the subject.

  “What kind of wizard?” I asked. “The 40 year old kind or an actual magical wizard?”

  “If he’s talking to her through a bird, it’s probably an actual wizard.” Jenna said.

  “Probably…” I nodded.

  Grayburne