Ava: “SO let me get this straight real quick. You were called over from I assume your house or the faculty office, aiming to “help” us cure this kid’s curse so it doesn’t eat away at us or something, correct?”

Aeron: “*Nods*”

Ava: “If that’s really the case, then I hope you don’t mind me confirming with Professor Abrams real quickly via phone call.

(This will tell me the truth! If he doesn’t agree with my conditions, then he most likely IS the intruder. The gun shots and wall – shaking were both dead give – a – ways that Mr. Abrams was right! Something really IS fishy around here. And now, only moments after the noise stopped: this … stranger claims to have been sent by Mr. Abrams himself to ‘help’ us? This man who none of us have ever seen before? I could be entirely mistaken, but if he IS the intruder…

Can any of us survive this?

We may have to sacrifice ourselves to protect the children in an unwinnable scenario where it turns out he far outclasses us. I hope for everybody’s sakes, that this nutto has been telling us the truth.)”

Aeron: “Listen. I don’t even wish to be here if I’m being honest with each of you. If that phone call takes longer than 5 minutes then I’m leaving. You can deal with his blood curse yourselves! Hmph!”

Wuce: “...You aren’t lying to us right? You’ve really come to eliminate the curses?”

Aeron: “Huh? Are you an idiot? How do you expect me to eliminate a curse the Malierano family placed?! Even low-class Gods would find it difficult learning anything from his blood without having its soul codings scattered across the Aether! Do I look like a God?? I mean, Sure I may LOOK like one, but I’m not! Definitely not!”

Wuce: “...Then...Then why are you here…?”

Aeron: “To SUPPRESS it! The only curse you have to worry about, out of the three curses placed on him is his vengeful blood curse. As nurses, you have no business tampering with his soul. Regarding his biggest curse; just forget it. Most likely you couldn’t trigger it to manifest no matter how great your efforts amount to, and if you somehow did, then I’d honestly pity you. Not even a God can get rid of the Generational one. (Believe me, my sibs and I have asked when we were about baby bro’s age.)”

Georgia: “Uhm, Mr. Onareilam? You called the biggest curse a ‘generational’ one, correct?”

Mr. Onareilam(Aeron): “That I did. Why?”

Georgia: “It’s just...doesn’t that mean he needs to be ‘related’ to them? If not, how can he have the curse?”

Mr. Onareilam(Aeron): “...Ah. You have a point! Haha.(If only…) Forget I said anything then. He probably has the blood one because he was used as practice for the Malierano Family’s actual children(Actually a monkey is the only test subject we ever used. Hehehe.) And the soul one to prevent him from talking about it to others. He might not even KNOW he has these curses, if we think about this from a rational stand point. It would attract untold and unnecessary attention. Anyway enough chatter! Make the call-oh. She already is. Great!”

*RIIING!*

Mr. Abrams: “Hello? Ava? What is it?”

Ava: “Where are you? And did...you send a Mr. Onareilam to find us?”

Mr. Abrams: “...Ona wha-?

...Do you mean Aeron? Wearing multi-colored contact lenses?(Although the brown ones are also contact lenses.) I did send him over. He ‘knows’ how to deal with the blood curse long enough so you 4 can treat him. Make sure to prioritize Rise’s condition first though. That substance he’s been inflicted with is most likely magic poison, which, I warn, is incredibly dangerous. One wrong move can actually worsen his condition. Not to mention that he’s only a child. He would die much sooner than an adult from the battlefield. It’s crucial you remember the difference!”

Ava: “Yes, Yes. I do remember. It’s just … all of us entered alert mode the instant we noticed your … friend’s presence. When that door creaked open, nobody reacted. I for one; wrongly thought you or Dome came. I’m not sure if your teleportation technique can bypass our barriers, but you’re a master of magic, so I didn’t really doubt. We sort of froze after sobering up to the reality of a total stranger actually appearing on our side of the shield. Since we had set up an anti - space barrier as protocol suggests to prevent any harm befalling ourselves and our patients, we had very little care about our safety being endangered. But he merely phased right through in response! To breach the barrier, rather than give us a proper passcode is naturally disturbing. The passcodes in our school are important for learning about the dangerous situation and telling friend from foe. Without such rules followed, life here in Hero High School – no, in ALL of Herotopia would be very difficult on medical staff, especially during a villain raid. Much like today. He scared us all with his sudden appearance and yes, it was silly for us to think you or Dome came since the barrier prevents people from both entering AND leaving. But this whole day has been strange!”

Mr. Abrams: “...More importantly, how goes Rise’s treatment? While we’re talking-”

Ava: “The treatment was a success, more or less, but there is still quite a lot of magic poison left. I had to examine it for a minute to discover the correct sequence of spells that remove it. Poisons created by magic are very tricky because they’re always growing more complicated and advancing as time moves forward. Luckily this wasn’t that deadly a concoction. UNLUCKILY, I need to focus hard, or it propagates further. I already finished removing the protective spell infused with the poison that you feared. Again, you were right. It would have dispersed the poison everywhere in tiny, trace amounts had I immediately tried to extract it: spreading the dangerous substance closer to his organs than it currently is.”

Mr. Abrams: “If I had to guess; you’re saying Aero- erm. Mr. Onareilam interrupted the extraction procedure?”

Ava: “Well, yes. While I already successfully removed the danger of that magic poison’s protection spell from wreaking havoc in his system, magic poison is still magic poison. Protective spells cast or not, the substance is highly invasive, and dangerous enough that left alone, it will feed on the body in order to grow. We are sort of lucky you figured out it may be magic poison before hand. I still might have tested, but going in knowing how high the odds of it being magic – related were saves me a lot of time double – thinking. Especially if I receive such info straight from the infamous creation magician himself!"

Mr. Abrams: “If you still need to finish extracting, then why are you still on the phone?!”

Ava: “Winney took over. I’m confirming the man’s status with you. Can we really trust him? His na-”

Mr. Abram: “Haah. Yeah, trust him. He can rid that boy of his blood curse, if only for the moment.”

Ava: “Where are you, and where are you going? It almost sounds like you’re in motion. Are you leaving someplace? And what about Billbert and Raftia? Were they traitors? Did THEY cause the quake and bullets?”

Mr. Abrams: “(She was so quiet earlier, but now she can’t stop talking!) I am heading to Ms. Daisy’s room. There are things I need to tell her. After that fool-- err, the careless gym instructor Mr. Onareilam finishes his part in overseeing Noel’s treatment, I’ll send her over. I plan on speaking with the kids for a little while.

(Once the day ends and the sun sets, I’ll check on the other kids at the non-combatant dorm. Only then, will I be ready.)”

Ava: “Okay...But wait! You never told me what happened to Billbert and Raftia!”

Mr. Abrams: “Those two? *Glances at frozen bodies*

...Well, let’s just say they’re taking an extended vacation.”

*Click!*

Finished hanging up, Mr. Abrams walks along the hall, preparing to visit Ms. Daisy a little ways down by the next left. Two breathless bodies floated mid-air behind him as he moved.

Suddenly, before the next turn can receive a single, dirty step, this... soft and low – bellowing shout vibrated through his ear canals.

It was at first, very soft – too soft to properly make out. But gradually; it changed. The soft – sounding yell grew louder and louder. Finally, the source of such an out – of – place noise became all to apparent!

...It was Dome.

Dome: “HAAAH! What foul villain DARES to harm children in my domain?! Who DARES to scare the tykes without first confronting me – ALMIGHTY REFEREE in charge today – DOME!?!? Show yourself scoundrel! I’ll BEAT the snot outta you faster than you can scream out an apology!”

Mr. Abrams: “...(This moron. I’ll just leave him be. Based on the sound he’s making…

…It seems as if he is, in fact, coming from Ms. Daisy’s side. How truly unfortunate. Once he passes by her door then I’ll teleport at the entrance. No need to scare the kiddos with this scene.) *Stares at the two floating bodies behind him*”

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