Magical Teacher Professor Landry! - Episode 2: In Polite Company

[Krylo]

Dal raised an eyebrow at the girl as she accused him of something which he was certain he had no idea about, but as he was about to respond he was interrupted by Kohana's question.

His immediate reaction was, of course, to look down over himself and make sure everything was in place, but it didn't take long for him to put two and two together and figure out that Vanille had most likely lost something. Not that he was going to say that outloud. It'd merely make him look guilty.

After finishing a quick check of himself, he merely shrugged at the wolf-boy. "No, I've not lost anything for a few hours," he responded, with a bit of annoyance in his voice at the last bit.

"Why?"

The question was less one of curiosity as it was an attempt to get the wolf talking and bait Vanille into being distraction. At which point, of course, he'd wander over to the machine.

If that didn't work, he could always point to Jo, but blowing her cover didn't seem necessary quite yet. Especially as that it'd merely put Vanille next to the machine, stopping Sao and he from inspecting it all the same, most likely.

[Steel Shadow]

Negotiating the branches of the Northwest Oak tree, Diana steadily climbed toward the mysterious mass of pale blue sparkles she'd seen from her old position. Another peal of gleeful laughter met her ears, as she grasped the last branch she'd need to haul herself into a location where she could make out the source of this mystery. Pale blue sparkles flew into the air wildly, as the mass she'd been tracking fluctuated suddenly. Mind already made up, Diana pulled herself up!

Sitting cross legged against the trunk of the oak tree, a short distance away, was a girl - probably around Diana's own age. Pale blue motes of light fluttered around the girl's frame, moving in an almost gleeful dance. Her skin was a brown-red, a tone that matching Kohana's nearly perfectly. While her hair, a sandy blond, was mostly covered by a blue bandana - the designs on it, once again, reminiscent of the shirtless youth Diana had encountered last night. A white skirt, which came down to her knees, and a like coloured sleeveless top - tied into a knot just above her midriff - offered token covering of this strange girl.

Whoever she was, her attention was focused on the object in her lap. Long, slim and white, it appeared to be a trident of some sort. Gold snake-like decorations lay scattered about the weapon, implying that, whatever it was, it was expensive. The sandy haired girl was bending it - twisting and tying it, in fact. It was apparently quite flexible. She seemed intent on tying into some kind of balloon animal!

Lodged point down into the tree at her back was a black bladed sword. Diana could just make out the weapon's hilt from her position - it reminded her of a dragon. Pale blue lights danced around it as well - though less erratically than the mass around the girl.

So far, the Super Director and Camera Girl Extraordinaire had yet to be noticed. Whoever this girl was, turning the trident she held into a pretzel seemed very important to her! In Diana's mind, her camera girl sense was tingling - this might well be an important character!

But, how to approach her was the question...

A question Diana knew only one answer too! With but a moment to check that the mysterious girl had been captured by her camera, the Director Supreme approached her like only a documentary maker can. Skipping from branch to branch with nary a sound to give away her passage, she quickly reached her target.

There was no time to waste with pleasantries and politeness! A battle was on below their feet, and it was currently going unfilmed! Besides, directness suited Diana better anyways.

"Hi there!" she greeted the girl. Loudly. From a distance of less than 5 feet. "Can you answer a few questions?"

Interview time was go!

[Teal Mage]

Cold wind and ice shards, tinted with faint orange supernatural energy, swept up before the mass of thrown wooden weapons. Their progress slowed, as some were thrown off course. Jack stepped into the weapon's path then, and, seeming to grow multiple pairs of blurry arms for an instant, blocked and deflected the remaining knives. Such dexterity! It couldn't possibly be human could it?

It was a good thing neither Jack or Sean cared for such questions. The threat was past!

"So Sean, what'd you have in mind?"

"Well friend," he responded, trying to remain as calm as Jack, "the way I see it, neither side has to win. What we have to do is bring it to a premature end. More specifically, what if the game lacks a referee? Don't think a game of hockey could go on like that."

It was a good plan!

...

Wait, where had Adeline gone?

* * * * * *

"My future was already taken from me once." Astarte murmured, amber flames spreading into the air around her. "This time," Her eyes shone with inner fury, "I'm taking my future into my own clutches." The fire-haired mummy pronounced, passion in her voice. She was sure.

"Astarte," Gorgeous beamed, stopping his slow dance. "we'll clutch the future," The blond confidently replied, "together." He blond closed his fist firmly before himself, then pumped his arm once. Gorgeous then turned around and threw a glance over his shoulders. "Let's go!" He crouched, preparing to spring toward the Professors and -

"Stop!"

Gorgeous stumbled.

Adeline Fletcher had appeared in their path! "As your future Class President," Bright red supernatural light blazed around her body. "I can not allow you to ruin your fragile academic reputations by attacking your teachers!" With her wooden practice sword in one hand, and her other hand held palm-out toward Astarte and Gorgeous, the brunette seemed serious!

Hazel eyes flickered away from the two for an instant, and her aura darkened to a carmine shade. "Besides, if I don't stop you, Sao'll totally swoop in and do it herself. Can't let her take the credit." Shaking her head, Adeline stepped to the side. She gestured past the Professors. "I suggest we all work together and attack the Referee! Then Shuyin!"

Gorgeous didn't have a problem with that.

Though he meant to punch Landry too.

* * * * * *

Thinking quickly, Dean crushed the faintly glowing gardening pegs - and the vines they'd spawned - before throwing himself into a roll. Hannah's kick narrowly missed him, only grazing his back. Recovering, the Dragon Rider shot his opponent a cocky grin - Filia was charging her from behind.

Hannah response was a confident smile of her own - she coolly sidestepped the leaping Dane.

"Really Dean?" Hannah taunted, drawing two fists of garden pegs from her pouch - it was half empty already. "Relying on a dog to beat me? Is that really the-

A cry from across the battlefield cut her off.

Eyes widening, Hannah's head snapped to the side, "Al!"

Her aura flared!

She vanished.

* * * * * *

Panting, Shinobu loomed over the now prone from of her opponent, Al. Her attack seemed to have caught him off guard, he hadn't been able to dodge in time, and had taken the full force of her inhuman strength. It turned out that, yes, Al could scream. She wasn't even sure if he was still conscious.

But, with the demonic energy she'd poured into herself fading, the Oni found that her body had grown heavy - she'd pushed a little harder than was safe with that last surge. Still, with her opponent down, there-

Supernatural energy rippled on the other side of Al's body. Hannah appeared, seemingly out of thin air. A furious corona of blue supernatural light, the color of Western Magic-Users, swirled around her body, while eight of her oversized gardening pegs were gripped tightly in her hands. Strands of blond hair had escaped her bun, hanging limply around her face. Outraged blue eyes were fixed on Shin.

"Get away from him!"

Aura flaring again, Hannah's arms slashed out. Sliding free from between her fingers, the eight throwing pegs launched themselves into the air. Surrounded by an aura of supernatural energy, they flew straight, with unerring accuracy, toward Shin's body.

That would hurt.

* * * * * *

Jay got back up.

"This is nothing." His jersey slid from his shoulders, falling heavily to the ground. Hefting his newly found aluminum baseball bat to his shoulders, he continued, "Don't you listen you damn idiot?"

"I never give up." Around his shoulders, a yellow-green aura of chartreuse light flared to life. He began to approach Zet, newly found aura dancing furiously around him.

Zet’s only reaction was to glance side-long, toward where Hannah had appeared, then take a defensive stance. The youth’s sunglasses glinted in the late-afternoon sun, hiding his expression. It was hard to tell what he thought of this sudden development.

But it was easy to see the blue-green aura pulsing calmly around him.

* * * * * *

Far across the Field of Honour, a small group had begun to gather near the mysterious machine.

With Dalbhach, Sao and Kohana keeping Vanilla occupied, the pale Johanna was free to sneak up on the machine's operator. Seemingly caught up in her work, the bereted blond did not notice the girl's approach. "Excuse me." The woman jumped slightly, snapping wide eyes toward the voice's source. "May I ask what is the purpose of this machine?" Jo seemed politely curious!

Relaxing, the woman clasped the wrist of one of her arms with the opposite hand. "Well." She began, gaze turning toward the faintly glowing green screen that dominated this side of the machine. "It's mainly designed to manipulate the hydrargyrum amaranthium that comprises the environmental space we currently occupy." Her voice was surprisingly fluid and soft, had Johanna not been standing next to her, it would have been difficult to make the words out. "But it also possesses auxiliary applications as a diagnostic apparatus for abnormal phenomena within a given area, provided it can find a network to operate through."

She shrugged, "It's still experimental though. This is its first real time test, and," She tapped the heel of her ankle-high boot against the grass surface she stood on. It offered a surprisingly sharp retort. "Well, the rate of change is abnormally slow."

A frown crossed her face and she leaned over the keyboard fingers moving fluidly over the keys. "I think an illegal program inside the Field's Network may be responsible. The read-outs are too erratic - far beyond acceptable parameters." She seemed to be talking to herself as much as Johanna at this point, "I suppose a hacker might be responsible, but the Field uses a closed system - there's no way to access it without a direct interface. With guards posted, that shouldn't be possible."

She shook her head, "And the interface is too arcane for me to do anything but cool the flare-ups within the georama's generation network." With a sigh, she drew back from the screen. "Frustrating."

"Ah," the woman paused, favouring Johanna with a small smile. "Professor Shuyin would scold me, I've forgotten my manners." She offered a slight curtsy. "My name is Marisa Grimaldi, I am the Assistant Director of the Computer Club, and oversee the advanced classes. I am also Professor Shuyin's Assistant Teacher." She ducked her head elegantly, "How do you do?"

* * * * * *

"Have either of you lost anything in the last five minutes?" Vanilla's eyes were torn from Kohana's abs by his statement. They narrowed suspiciously. The slim blond retreated a pace, bringing her hands up before her and shifting her stance, falling into a slightly awkward guard.

"No, I've not lost anything for a few hours," Dal replied, shrugging. There was a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Why?"

Vanilla slipped another pace back. Eyes wary, it appeared the girl wanted distance between herself and the small gathering. It was probably a good thing that she hadn't just turned around and run off - otherwise, she'd have seen Jo.

But, she probably wasn't really a threat anyway.

* * * * * *

Skipping gracefully along the branches of the Northwest Oak, Diana came to a stop less than five feet from the mysterious girl – and her mysterious pretzel of a trident. "Hi there!" The director called with her usual cheerfulness, "Can you answer a few questions?"

Making the final adjustments to her strangely flexible trident sculpture – it looked a lot like a poodle now – the girl turned her head toward Diana. A knowing smile rested on her lips, which slowly broadened as her eyes took in her visitor. Diana soon found herself staring into a toothy, and slightly predatory, grin. The girl casually threw her trident poodle over her shoulder. It landed neatly on the black-bladed sword that was imbedded into the tree at her back.

"Sure!" She got to her bare feet in a smooth motion, one of the daggers at her waist suddenly in her hand. "You look fun." Dexterously, she played the blade through her fingers. "Whad'ya wanna know?"

For some reason, Diana had the strangest feeling this girl was looking at her camera with a little too much interest.

* * * * * *

Selena Brooks still stood on her small grey stone pedestal. The woman's arm's were crossed over her thick red turtle neck, and her dark brown eyes were fixed on Professor Shuyin and Landry. Neither of them had tried anything atypical for a time - they seemed to talking now. This, the referee reflected, shifting one of her jean-clad legs, is surprisingly dull.

She had no idea that students were, even now, gathering to attack her.

The area around the referee's pedestal was clear for a fair distance in all directions - she could easily be surround. Fortunately, with Selena's attention on the two Professors - and occasionally, the three-way melee - approach would not be difficult. Still, without any cover nearby, they would have to make the last leg of their movements visibly.

Still, they had the element of surprise!

* * * * * *

"You dance as well as I expected, Rebecca." Professor Shuyin offered, voice smooth.

Professor Landry breathed a laugh, entering a graceful twirl. "Of course I do. I can not fail my students when they need me most!" Her eyes narrowed, drawing close to Shuyin. "And you call yourself a teacher. To threaten to expel my students if I am defeated - as if they are tainted by a disease! I will not allow you to do defeat me. No! I will defeat you and save your students from your malpracticing ways!"

Flowing through the simple steps with his rival, the azure haired Shuyin offered a shrug. "I admit, were this a fair fight, you would defeat me in the end." His golden eyes flashed, the pupils dilating, "I know better than any one," his voice dropped to a low hiss, "what you are capable of."

Professor Landry's steps faltered momentarily. "And what." She cautiously edged further from Shuyin, brown eyes on his golden ones - as if seeing them for the first time. "Does that mean, Alphonse?"

"In the name of our history," Professor Shuyin drew Professor Landry close, voice suddenly a threatening hiss in her ear, "I am sorry for what I must now do. But," He suddenly threw the auburn haired woman into an almost vicious pirouette. "I will destroy you here - utterly."

Snapping back toward Shuyin, in a reverse pirouette, Professor Landry laughed merrily. "Impossible!" Her expression was incredulously, "Nothing will stop me, not when my students are depending on me."

"But," Shuyin pulled away, holding her at arm's length. His expression was sly, "Professor Landry, that's just it." A folding fan appeared from his sleeve, "Your students are in great danger - you are their greatest danger!"

"What in the world are you talking about?" Professor Landry frowned, watching him cautiously.

[Overcast]

Jay was seeing colors. He must have really hit something before, he shook his head a bit to shake it off, but the flaring hues stayed. Great, he probably had some kind of permanent brain damage, synesthesia or something. Whatever it was he at least didn't feel so tired, he must have hit his second wind. He was feeling fresh. Yeah, fresh was a good word for it. He felt aware, even if those damn colors were kinda freaking him out.

Zet didn't seem too intimidated by his presence, and out of the corner of his eye he caught Hannah decided to gang up on his poor classmate Shin. Well, he wanted to get a rise out of the big palooka, so he might as well get started properly as he stared deviously her way then took off sprinting.

To be honest he didn't expect to get to Hannah, but he wasn't about to run headfirst into Zet again. He wanted that big bulky ogre to walk into his trap this time, but he let out a nice obnoxious whistle for Hannah just to let her know she was in danger. He had no idea where the hell this confidence was coming from but he seemed so sure this was the perfect plan.

But he had been wrong quite a lot in this fight.

[Astral Harmony]

"Astarte," Gorgeous beamed, stopping his slow dance. "we'll clutch the future," The blond confidently replied, "together." He blond closed his fist firmly before himself, then pumped his arm once. Gorgeous then turned around and threw a glance over his shoulders. "Let's go!" He crouched, preparing to spring toward the Professors and -

"Stop!"

Gorgeous stumbled.

Adeline Fletcher had appeared in their path! "As your future Class President," Bright red supernatural light blazed around her body. "I can not allow you to ruin your fragile academic reputations by attacking your teachers!" With her wooden practice sword in one hand, and her other hand held palm-out toward Astarte and Gorgeous, the brunette seemed serious!

Hazel eyes flickered away from the two for an instant, and her aura darkened to a carmine shade. "Besides, if I don't stop you, Sao'll totally swoop in and do it herself. Can't let her take the credit."

Astarte frowned, her arms folded. "So it makes sense to you that our futures are being gambled away by our professors? Did you become an idiot over night or was it so gradual that you didn't notice you were spouting bullshit?"

Shaking her head, Adeline stepped to the side. She gestured past the Professors. "I suggest we all work together and attack the Referee! Then Shuyin!"

"Why just Shuyin?" Astarte asked no one in particular. "Professor Landry is also at fault for agreeing to something so absurd. I want to beat them both up."

Gorgeous didn't have a problem with Adeline's idea.

Though, like Astarte, he meant to punch Landry too.

As Gorgeous and Astarte moved around to engage the Referee, Gorgeous noticed changes in Astarte's body that the girl herself didn't seem to realize.

Her skin tone, which is already healthy enough, got even warmer. Her eyes were now as clear as mirrors. Her curves had filled out, making her even hotter. Her mummy wrappings receded to various places on her body, wrapping around her hands, elbows, knees, feet, and even forming a big, white hairbow with trailing ribbons that made her so cute that Gorgeous could barely resist her anymore. And holy shit, were those blush stickers?!

Astarte, who wondered offhandedly why she felt so warm inside, noticed a number of different auras from the various people she bothered to look at, but didn't bother trying to understand what those auras meant. Maybe Landry would teach a class on it, Astarte didn't care right now. All she wanted was for this to end, and hopefully all it meant was putting her fist where the Referee's face is currently.

Astarte stopped suddenly. "Wait, I forgot something very important!"

Gorgeous halted suddenly and was once again surprised by yet another change in Astarte. Her voice was even more pleasant to hear than usual. Wait, that wasn't important right now. What could Astarte have forgotten? She didn't leave anything lying anywhere, did she?

Astarte scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. "Which one's the referee?"

[Dracorion]

With a relieved sigh, Jackson promptly threw himself down on his butt on the cold hard stone of the Field, panting. Pushing himself like that might not have been the smartest move, but whatever. Turning to look up at Sean, he addressed the pale youth.

"Attack the referee?" He began. "That... well, even if it works it's a bit of a dick move. I don't like it." Then, he noticed Adeline was gone. She had been there just a moment ago! Jack quickly scanned the field, and spotted her with some guy he didn't know and a classmate of his, Astarte he thought she was called. A girl wrapped in bandages was decidedly weird, but he figured she might be a burn victim or something.

Her aura flared at the moment, and as soon as Jack took the time to study it he was hit by realization. Oh... well that was interesting. He was going to have to find out if there were things other than mummies going bump in the night.

[Girasol of Chaos]

Al's pained cry was music to Shin's ears. Her body felt like she had tied too many weights to it now, but that was okay, her opponent seemed out for the count. Her victory grin was cut short by a ripple effect, followed by the blonde bitch appearing from out of nowhere, forcing Shin to step back.

She had forgotten about the girl. Hannah's blue eyes were bright, enraged flames punctuated by strands of hair that didn't belong in her face. These features were framed by almost painful blue light. Shin made a mental note to pay more attention to the colors next time. "Get away from him!' The furious blonde gripped pegs, flagging her own attack. The oni's red eyes widened, and her tall form dove forward and to the right, trying to dodge the oncoming assault.

Hannah was extremely fast, and slashed out her arms, hardly allowing for any reaction time. Coupled with being unable to recover from her own strike, the oni was pelted by the pegs on her left side, her arm and chest taking most of the damage on her way down. Vines erupted from the pegs, twining around her torso and arm as she hit the ground on a spin. Hard.

The pegs felt like full-blown punches, and the plants constricted her, quickly stopping all movement on her one side. They cushioned the landing, but not enough to spare her the pain of collision at such an awkward angle. A grunt left her as her left arm tried to bend to support her and failed miserably.

Mohawk disheveled and on her back, Shin found herself pinned almost entirely on one side to the ground by the vines. Her nostrils flared defiantly as she planted her right leg to stand, neck strained to face Hannah. The tall girl refused to let go of her club, but knew just how prone she was. On her way down she caught a glimpse of yellow-green that she identified as Jay making a sprint in an attempt to assist her, at this point a faint hope.

[Bard The 5th LW]

"Attack the referee?" He began. "That... well, even if it works it's a bit of a dick move. I don't like it."

"Well I don't like this competition," Sean responded, looking over himself to make sure he was uninjured. "Conflict of interest exist unfortunately. We may not have to attack him, but the plan will work if he is gone. What do you think of it....?"

Where was Adeline?

The pale Canadian looked off to see Adeline discussing something with the burn victim and other person. They both appeared to have the ever pervasive black aura. Sean decided at that moment that no matter what, he would not succumb to the glowingly popular aura. It was way too mainstream now. After reaching this ultimatum, decided to get back on track.

"Wait she's totally going to take credit for my plan!" Sean concluded, slamming a fist down on his palm. "This isn't gonna happen on my watch guy! I'm going, so you got make a choice quickly."

Without further words he jogged over to where Adeline and Astarte were standing, determined to counter her plagaristic ways. Maybe he'd decide to run for class president later in retaliation? "So... Alina? Is that your name? Anyways, have you told Astarte and this other guy about the plan?" He said, giving a nod of the head at the referee's direction. "We got to do it fast and soon, but not in a wild rush. We should find some points to get him from and mobilize ASAP."

[Arhra]

The woman at the machine confusingly explained in her soft, flowing voice that the strange machine manipulated a hydragyrum amaranthium, whatever that was, within the Field, allowing her to modify characteristics of the Field in some way. When connected up to it, it could also analyse phenomena within the area.

It also wasn't working.

Talking just as much for her own benefit as for Jo's, she speculated about a program in the Field's network producing the disturbance. With its guards, that shouldn't be possible.

"Ah," the woman paused, favouring Johanna with a small smile. "Professor Shuyin would scold me, I've forgotten my manners." She offered a slight curtsy. "My name is Marisa Grimaldi, I am the Assistant Director of the Computer Club, and oversee the advanced classes. I am also Professor Shuyin's Assistant Teacher." She ducked her head elegantly, "How do you do?"

Jo emulated the curtsey. "I am Johanna Imirsdotter. Just Jo, if you please." she said softly. "A new student in Professor Landry's class. I am pleased to meet you."

"And I'm sorry, but hydragyrum amaranthium? I am not familiar with the phrase. Perhaps my English needs more work." the Scandinavian girl said aplogetically.

In a back room in the library, another Jo put down her book and went to the shelves. Taking the most substantial dictionary she could find, she went to the reading table in front of where she'd been sitting. Nudging the school rulebook aside(it was opened to the section on duels), she set the dictionary down with a muffled thump.

She flipped the book open to the H section and started to scan through it.

Back at the Field, Jo looked at the machine's screen and darkness settled over her. The jotun gasped, a soft, harsh intake of breath. The air itself seemed to have curdled. Like banks of dark fog, a black aura hung over the field, the swirling mass hiding the ongoing duels and blocking out the sun. First everyone else's auras had been turning black and now this...

On the rooftop, Jo frowned and rubbed her eyes. It wasn't affecting her, the Field looked completely natural. Only the her-that-was-there was seeing it.

Trying to act casually, Jo asked Marisa "If it can't be the Field, is it possible the machine itself has been tampered with?" She shaded her eyes and looked up at the Sun, frowning. "Is it just me or has it gotten much darker suddenly?"

[Teal Mage]

Afternoon light glinted off the mysterious girl's knife. Her smile, which hinted at predatory intentions, widened at Diana's silence. The small galaxy of light blue motes around her pulsed with pleasure. She broke into a sudden laugh.

"City girls!" She brought her free hand to her lips to stifle a giggle. A grin blossomed on her face, "Don't tell me you're afraid of a little steel?" She moved her hand toward the silvery edge of the blade, then drew it slowly down her index finger's pad. A line of red welled. "Hey…" Her expression grew distant suddenly, as raised her cut finger to her lips. "…I just had a wild idea."

The galaxy of light blue lights turned black.

She raised her chin, bringing the knife up. Carefully, the girl slid along the center of her bandana, splitting it in two. The halves slipped from her head, revealing a mess of short-cut sandy coloured hair. In its midst, a pair of tan canine ears sprung up. "Oops!" The girl grinned.

"How clumsy of me, letting you see my ears with a camera." Her expression brightened, as she cheerfully clasped her hands behind her back. "I guess this means I'll need to make sure you don't show anyone."

A second knife appeared in the girl's hand, longer than the first.

"Better scream." She hissed, tensing.

The girl leapt forward, her coyote ears slipping from her head. Attached to a headband, the ornaments struck the tree branch she had been standing on. Seemly ignorant of this, the girl's longer knife lashed out, aiming to take Diana's throat. Simultaneously, her shorter knife darted toward the camera lens.

This director was in serious trouble.

* * *

Emulating the older blond Teaching Assistant, Jo curtsied. "I am Johanna Imirsdotter." The pale girl introduced herself, voice characteristically soft. "Just Jo, if you please. A new student in Professor Landry's class. I am pleased to meet you. And," Jo paused slightly. "I'm sorry, but hydragyrum amaranthium? I am not familiar with the phrase." She ducked her head, in what appeared to be embarrassment, "Perhaps my English needs more work."

"Ah, well." Marisa straightened to her full height - my there was quite a difference between her and Johanna - a hint of a frown appeared on the blond's face. She drew a hand to her chin thoughtfully, "The Headmistress has never exactly explained it to me, but as I understand, hydragyrum amaranthium is an isotope of mercury. Apparently," she turned toward the computer, and began to tap keys unhurriedly, "the gardens and grass of the Field of Honour are made of it. Though I've no idea how."

Pausing, she glanced toward Johanna, "But, I'd avoid eating any of the flowers, if I were you. The school is not liable if you are poisoned, after all." The blond returned to typing.

Jo's gasp was slightly delayed - Marisa didn't seem to notice it. The Jotun's eyes gained a far-away look momentarily, before she began to speak again. "If it can't be the Field, is it possible the machine itself has been tampered with?"

"Unlikely. Though..." Marisa replied, before leaning slowly back from the screen, hand moving to her chin thoughtfully. "...I suppose the components could have been damaged, bringing them over. Perhaps-"

"Is it just me or has it gotten much darker suddenly?" Jo suddenly interjected, shading her eyes as she stared into the sky.

Marisa glanced toward Jo, blinking slowly. Then, "I wondered if any one else had noticed." She stated, turning half-way toward the screen, "The sensors don't show any metrological abnormalities, so I thought I was seeing things." The woman shrugged, "It happens periodically," Marisa went on, "though the School's Nurse did say it isn't dangerous." Glancing back toward Jo, "If it bothers you, she said she has a medication for it – apparently it isn't unusual for students to hallucinate on campus."

Marisa cocked her head. "Perhaps some hydragyrum amaranthium got into the water supply? Mercury poisoning might explain-"

The screen started to flash red.

Jolted, "What!?" Marisa's eyes snapped to the screen. She growled softly, as large blockish letters that read ‘Warning!’ appeared around the screen's borders. Smaller white text began to file into the window that dominated half the monitor; in moments, it was half full. "Im-" Marisa cut herself off, fingers flying. A new window opened in the bottom corner, and text began to fill it.

Sections of text in the original, and larger, box began to vanish, but it looked like more was replacing it quickly. The keys began to take on a faint grey glow, as an aura bloomed to life around Marisa - pale and grey.

* * *

Hannah levelled an ire filled glare at the vine bound Shin. "Rabid dogs like you deserve to be locked up." The bandage-clad girl growled, as more of her blond hair escaped its bun. Drops of sweat were visible on her forehead, and her chest was heaving – perhaps the battle was taking more out of her than it appeared?

"Now I'm going to-" Her breath caught, and she spun back.

Revitalized and encouraged by his beloved Professor, Jay was sprinting toward Hannah - surrounded by a corona of yellow-green light. It burned bright with the baseball player's confidence. Zet was perusing him. The muscular youth catching up to Jay quickly, at this rate -

"Zet!" Faint panic tinged Hannah's voice, even has she drew two more of her quickly dwindling store of pegs from her pouch, "Stop! It's a trap!"

Flinching, Zet lurched to a stop.

He was a step behind Jay.

* * *

With Adeline taking the lead, Gorgeous and Astarte moved quickly through the field of Honour, skirting Professor Landry and Shuyin's stilled dance duel. They made good time and the Referee hadn't even glanced toward them. The woman's attention seemed to be entirely on the situation developing in the three-way-melee on the opposite side of Shuyin and Landry. They would arrive in striking distance-

"Wait!" Astarte stopped suddenly, "I forgot something very important!" Embarrassed, Astarte scratched the back of her head.

Gorgeous and Adeline stumbled. "What is it Astarte?" Gorgeous looked concerned!

"Which one's the referee?"

Adeline looked as though she'd been slapped. The girl stumbled, before shaking her head vigorously, as if to clear it. "Weren't you listening to that long speech!?" Thick brown braid whipping like a tail, she gestured emphatically-

"Do not," Looming darkly, Gorgeous had appeared in front of Adeline. "raise your voice to Astarte in that manner." Dark supernatural light crackled menacingly around the taller youth's well muscled figure, giving form to the displeasure he felt. "She is a lady, and you will address her like one." Fists clenched until they were white and muscles tensed, he almost seemed to be carved from rock, in that moment.

Luckily, Canada intervened.

"So... Alina?" Sean had caught up with the group. "Is that your name?"

Surprised, Gorgeous turned back toward Sean - aura dying away. Adeline slipped out from behind the larger youth, looking a little pale, "It's Adeline, actually." She offered, seeming a little shaken. Her hazel eyes darted to Gorgeous, but the youth's menacing visage had vanished. He was moving toward Astarte.

"Anyways," The muscled Canadian continued, seemingly without noticing the tension. "have you told Astarte and this other guy about the plan?" He said, gestured toward the woman on the Field's south side, "We got to do it fast and soon, but not in a wild rush. We should find some points to get him from and mobilize ASAP."

"Actually," Adeline hesitantly interjected, "referee's a girl, Sean."

At the same time, Gorgeous whispered in Astarte's ear, "The referee is the brown haired woman in red." The blond pointed toward Selena.

"And, uh," Adeline paused hesitantly, before sighing and nodding resolutely. There was a flare of bright red supernatural light around her for a moment. "I'll support you from the tree over there." She pointed to the South-East most Oak. Then, smiling brightly, "As future Class President, it wouldn't be right for -"

"Stop right there you cheaters!" Vanilla shouted, from behind Sao. The short-short clad girl's arms and legs had snaked around Sao's limbs, effectively immobilizing the Undine. Before Sao's neck, Vanilla's hand hovered. Ominiously, the tips of the blond's carefully polished nails glinted. "Take one more step toward the Referee, and I'll cut this girl's throat!"

She pressed the nail of her index finger into the skin of Sao's neck. A thin trail of liquid oozed out. It shone almost white, as a lucky ray of sunlight fell on the stream.

Sh-she was serious?

* * *

Shock mingled with confusion on Professor Landry's face, as she stumbled back a pace. Expression serious, her azure haired rival released her hand, allowing the woman's momentary retreat.

You and me could write a bad romance.

"My students?" The auburn haired woman breathed. Her eyes narrowed and visage darkened visibly, as her voice took on a tone of enraged incredulity. "Fail?"

Oh oh oh.

"Just who do you think I am?" Her arm dashed the air in front of her decisively, "I am Professor Landry, beloved teacher to my beloved students! I would never betray their love so!" Her hand lashed out, finger levelling itself at her azure haired rival's heart, "Shuyin!" Eyes blazing, she clenched her fist. "I have never failed a student in all my years of teaching excellence!"

I want your love and all your love has revenge.

"Further more!" Decisively, her arm cut through the air, "The conspiracy you describe would be helpless against any pupil trained by me! After passing my class, they would never be defeated by a shadowy syndicate, much less fall into an indefinite coma!" She thrust her arm out to the side, "Your jealous lies are laid bare In the face of my observational process Shuyin! If fanciful conspiracy theories about students vanishing after passing my class are all the evidence you have, you are doomed!"

You and me could write a bad romance.

"Professor Landry," Golden eyes hard, Professor Shuyin withdrew his folding fan. He snapped it open, obscuring the bottom half of his face, "Do you remember the cruise you took your class on, three years ago -" A frigid wind swept up, throwing both teacher's hair into frenzies of motion, "- in the last week of classes?"