The cloak and mask they took from the unconscious folks who had followed them earlier kept close to them, not yet worn since they’re literally jumping from branch to branch to avoid the students below them. Their observations only found out that most of the students are horribly sick from mana drain and fatigue.

It was a horrendous sight and it made them wonder what on earth are the teachers doing? It was then when they realized from the students' chatter that they hardly got any supervision for the past week or so.

“It’s way too weird to be coincidences,” Zielle said as they hid in between the leaves while watching the students working their bones off to work on the decorations and performances props. From time to time she winced, as if physically hurt from what she’s seeing.

“Are you okay?” Zielle said when noticing Aediva massaging her temples and her question is answered first with a long sigh.

“It’s… I’m reminded by what I… That time when that hag controlled me” Aediva said, sounding pained as she speaks. Zielle grabbed her shoulder with a firm grip and a light squeeze.

“You don’t have to say anything more. But you’re right. It does look like these students are basically walking zombies…” Zielle said, looking at the students and their lifeless eyes.

“... And I couldn’t shake off the feeling we’re in some sort of… other world. If that makes sense. It might be the lighting though. It is already night after all” the green-haired girl said with a weak smile as Aediva frowned at what her partner is saying.

“I get you. This reeks like some adults doing dirty things to the students. Cath, what do you think?” Aediva asked the monster who had been oddly silent since earlier. Cath stared in silence at the view below them and to the two girls and fidgets.

“I hate this place. It’s creepy” he said.

“You and me both, buddy. But focus. Are you sensing something else that’s odd?” Aediva said with a stern tone to the monster who pouts at her.

“Aediva… Let’s go back. This place is no good for you” he said. A statement which roused an eyebrow from Aediva.

“What the hell are you on about? Huh, never mind. If you’re not going to help then stay silent in my hoodie” Aediva said and shoving the black-furred monster into her hoodie. Cath looked at Zielle who quickly locked sights with him. As he looks away, Zielle could feel his unease. As Aediva jumped off the tree to the ground and quickly slithered away like a snake, Zielle took out her phone - squinting at the messages from Zayen before clearing her notifications and with a swift motion, took the pictures of the students shambling around below. She pockets her phone, securing it by zipping the pocket before following where Aediva went.

As quiet as a mouse.

When they reached the building, Cath looked increasingly disturbed as if completely uncomfortable with the place. Aediva looked into the little monster worried but not enough to shake her own unease as they looked around the solid piece of wall and the rows of closed windows just above their heads.

“I don’t think these windows are that easy to open. It’s stained glass and I don’t think breaking it is a good idea…” Zielle said, a bead of sweat slid down her cheek. Aediva hummed silently to herself as she rubbed her chin.

“That said, where is this Gallows again?” Aediva asked and Zielle stared at the platinum blonde-haired girl.

“It’s the left wing,” Zielle said.

“Ah, right. So where are we now?” Aediva asked.

“The left wing” Zielle answered. Then it was silent.

“Right. Let’s get going” Aediva broke the silence when Zielle grabbed her arm and pulled her back down on her knees.

“I have a bad feeling about you. So now you follow me” Zielle said and while still holding Aediva’s hand, led her to a certain direction - where Aediva quickly noticed a vent right above them.

“That’s not going to fit any of us” Aediva quickly pointed out the obvious.

“No, it certainly does not” Zielle supported her point before they looked at each other and slowly panned their head to the little monster whose head was poking from Aediva’s hoodie. Immediately, Cath knows that he’s finally dragged into the scene for real.

“O-oi, Aediva. Zielle. Don’t give me that look” Cath said. Unfortunately for him, none of the girls are not going to accept “no” for an answer as Aediva pulled him out of her hoodie and ripped the vent open with brute force with a smile on her face.

“You have soft pads on your paws and drop on your feet. You want to get out of here quick? Find those boys and if you don’t, you’re allowed to come back. Don’t try to stay in one place for too long and come out saying you found nothing. I can hear you from miles away” Aediva said. For the first time that day, Aediva actually smiled but it was not a smile Cath would like to see. Instead, it was a smile that reeked of threat and Cath's ears went flat as his pupils dilated - an appeal for Aediva to forget what she’s asking from him but that went down the drain fast as Aediva shoved him to the vent’s opening.

Her action went with a resistance of course, with Cath holding the edge of the vent to stop himself from being shoved into the cramped place.

“You need to do a bit of work for once. You’ve been near-useless lately and you can escape anyone just by hiding in a corner somewhere” Aediva said.

“I’ll shout! And we’ll all be caught!” Cath retorted. Aediva clicked her tongue before pulling Cath back before whispering to him.

“Three canned fish for anything you found and you can skip class twice next week” Aediva offered and immediately a wide grin appeared on Cath’s face.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and hoist me up there! I’m gonna find those two idiots in no time!” the little feline monster said with excitement - completely forgetting his nervousness from earlier. As soon as Aediva let go of him at the vent’s entrance, she heard his quick scuttle gradually turning faint and gone.

“Well, at least we know he’s going to get a job done” Zielle said with a skewed smile after witnessing Cath’s antics of how easily swayed by food and lazy time. It’s almost like a certain girl whose smile immediately disappeared when not hearing Cath any longer. Zielle pats Aediva’s back.

“You look sick. Your face is pale” Zielle said as Aediva nodded.

“I don’t exactly feel good anymore. Can you feel it? It feels like my very life is sapped out of my own body the longer I stay here” Aediva said, heaving heavy breath as if to catch up her predicament. Zielle remained silent - unsure whether to tell Aediva that she is with a dragon’s protection that kept her from any sort of harm especially those of magical nature. But seeing Aediva’s condition right at that moment, she knows exactly that the whole dormitory grounds is definitely taking in mana from those who stepped inside of it.

“The mana disparity is considerably different here. I see now why you wanted to make those mana potions as a precautionary step” Zielle said when they both suddenly looked up when noticing the sound of approaching footsteps. The two scurries away from the vent and into the bushes - practically flung themselves into the shrubbery and hid from the group of cloaked figures who quickly went to inspect the vent.

“Oh no” Zielle whispered to Aediva.

“It’s as if they know,” Aediva said, looking at the cloak and the mask they had been carrying with them.

“It seems like we have to go and get Cath ourselves” Aediva said as Zielle nodded to her words.

“Time to really infiltrate an enemy’s fortress” Zielle sighed.

To their surprise, the moment they walked out of the bushes, someone wearing the same cloak and mask greeted them.

“Where are you going?” the masked stranger asked and Aediva basically froze at the sudden interaction and it was up to Zielle to take over.

“We were chasing some intruders earlier. It seems we’ve lost them” Zielle said.

“Intruders?” the stranger asked and immediately he grabbed Zielle as she gripped at Aediva’s arm to stop her from jumping at the man to maul him to bits.

“We can’t let anyone see things outside the barrier and get away. Where did you see them? Where did they go?!” the stranger asked, sounding rather desperate.

“I’m not sure. They broke the vents and left before we arrived” Zielle said and the stranger released her in a huff.

“Incompetents! We only have three weeks to pull this whole operation through. If someone got out and brought others in… We might as well book it from here! Agh! Find those people. Search the bushes. They can’t be far! After that, bring them to the Gallows. If they’re students of course. Dirty little bugs” the stranger ordered them and left all alone, leaving the group of four plus Zielle and Aediva in disguise. Zielle pulled Aediva away and pretended to look into the bushes.

“Is it just me or this mask smells weird?” Zielle asked.

“It does. Smells like it was soaked in some sort of potion” Aediva whispered back - turning her head to see the other four who were inspecting the areas around.

“We need to get inside. But won’t students see us and call us out if we go in this outfit?” the silver-eyed girl asked.

“Only one way to find out,” Zielle said as they both looked at the procession of students passing through their entrance into the building.

With black cloak and a red mask, they both truly wondered if this was actually a good idea…