A Witch's Tale IC

[Diachronos]

"It's kind of hard to do when you're escorting the blind girl who wanted to talk to him. Although, now that I think about it, I think she only wanted to come to set me up with him..."

[NeoSeraphi]

Phoenix blinks. "...Your life sounds surprisingly complex. We've only been back at school for three weeks."

[Diachronos]

"You have no idea. I kept to myself all last year, I didn't think things would start playing out like this as soon as I came back."

[NeoSeraphi]

Phoenix chuckles. "Well, this is my own little slice of heaven here, so you're welcome back here any time you like. Just come up to the terrace whenever you want to hang out. But uh...don't bring anyone else with you. It's kind of a thing I need to maintain."

[Diachronos]

Rachel nods. "Don't worry, I won't bring anyone else with me."

[NeoSeraphi]

Phoenix nods. "You probably also don't want to let anyone know that you're up here. I mean, it took me nearly a week to scare all the regulars away from here, so if anyone finds out you're coming up here they'll know you're hanging out with me."

[Diachronos]

"...Why do I get the feeling that it's a bad thing if people find out?"

[NeoSeraphi]

Phoenix raises an eyebrow. "What part of 'delinquent' did you not understand? I'm trouble. People are going to ask questions if they think you're trying to make friends with me. I mean I already intimidated all the freshmen and sophomores who usually come up here so I could have this space all to myself."

[Diachronos]

"Alright. I won't tell anyone, don't worry."

[NeoSeraphi]

The boy nods and goes back to his guitar. Rachel heads back to her dorm for the evening.

[Diachronos]

When she gets back, Rachel continues reading the fencing book.

This is a mess. How can she choose between Varsuvius and Auron? Maybe... maybe she should just stay in her room that night and not go with either of them?

[NeoSeraphi]

Sebastian flies into her room and lands on her head, dropping a letter into her lap from his beak.

[Diachronos]

Rachel blinks and picks up the letter. "What's this?" She opens it to start reading the contents.

[NeoSeraphi]

Rachel,
Sneak out of the dorm and meet me at the park.
Facia"

[Diachronos]

...Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to end well? She creeps out of her dorm to meet Facia in the park.

[NeoSeraphi]

Facia turns around as Rachel approaches. "You came."

She's wearing a light jacket and shivers a bit in the cold fall air.

[Diachronos]

"Yeah... is something wrong, Facia? I wasn't expecting you to want to meet out here this late..."

[NeoSeraphi]

"I...Look, I get that you're not the most social person here at school. So I wanted to try and cheer you up. Let's be honest, neither of us is going to get a date to this party, but we don't have to just sit back and stay home. Why don't we...go together? To the Autumn Ball?"

Rachel waits for the "as friends" clarification, but it never comes. Facia's face turns a bit red.

[Diachronos]

Oh, no... "F-Facia, I... th-this is so sudden..."

[NeoSeraphi]

Facia looks down. "I knew it. You don't like girls. I kept telling myself that I was noticing things that weren't really there, that you were just being nice and not really flirting with me..."

[Diachronos]

"N-no, that's not it! I... I don't know how I feel about girls, to be honest. And, well... two people already invited me. I haven't said yes to either of them, though."

[NeoSeraphi]

Facia's expression changes from upset to dumbfounded. "I didn't realize you even knew two boys at this school. I guess I was wrong to think of you as a shut-in. ...Well, good. I hope you have a lot of fun at the Ball."

She runs away to her dorm.

[Diachronos]

And now I probably hurt her feelings... dammit... She returns to her room.

At this point, maybe she should just come out and tell everybody what the situation is. They'll understand, right?

[NeoSeraphi]

Rachel gets some rest.

When she leaves her dorm in the morning, she sees Ciel standing outside waiting for her.

"Morning! Do you want to walk to class together?" He gives her an honest, carefree smile.

[Diachronos]

Rachel nods, still feeling a little numb after her dilemma last night.

[NeoSeraphi]

Ciel walks with her and smiles. "Sis...can we talk? Like, really talk?"

[Diachronos]

"Yeah, sure. What do you want to talk about?"

[NeoSeraphi]

Ciel hesitates, then he rubs the back of his head. He looks guilty. "I've been doing a little research on my own. I know I should have asked you first. But Rachel, I...I found out where she is."

[Diachronos]

Rachel blinks. "You found out where who is?"

[NeoSeraphi]

Ciel turns to look at her seriously. "Your mother."