-previously-

"She's lying to you. She is hiding things of the past, YOUR past, that she won't let you know. Everything she told you about your origins is a lie!"

........

"I wouldn't say it's mine....it's actually yours! And this is MY special ability! You'll pay for your transgressions! This ends NOW!!"

....

"...this gift is more powerful than you're aware; with an equally strong backstory as to whom it came from. Never let it fall into the wrong hands. Promise me."

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Kalim felt her stirring in his arms. His eyes flew open and he looks at her with hope. She moaned in pain as her eyes flutter open.

"....Kalim....?" Her voice was quieter than a whisper.

"Charlie....!" He breathed happily, crushing her into a tight hug, one filled with relief and joy.

"O-ow..." she murmured.

"Oh! Sorry...." he mumbled and helps her sit up, keeping a hand on her back in case she still felt dizzy.

"Charlie!" she looks over. Ace, Deuce and Epel have joined by her side, fear in their eyes.

"She's waking up!" Ace grins.

"G-Give her some room to breathe!" Epel said. The first year trio did so and let Charlie have some air.

"What....happened?" she croaked.

"Well, when you came back....you and Deuce saved us!" Kalim smiled kindly. "But we didn't know where you were when the explosion happened....I was so happy Carpet found you in time!"

Charlie looks over to see Carpet giving her a sheepish shrug of sorts, making it seem like he was embarassed. "Thanks.....you saved me, literally...." she chuckled, and the carpet chirps, tickling her cheek with a tassel as thanks.

"Those shadows that took you.....are they-"

"Yes. They're the same as Xedok. But different. They tried to lock me away, but I escaped from them....B-But for now....what happened to Vil....is he...?" Kalim looked at her, noticing the discomfort in her eyes and accepts her wishes not to speak about what transpired during the fight. He carefully helps her up, arm at her waist for support.

Vil was in Rook's arms, withered and beaten. His hair was disheveled and dirt and scrapes marred his face. Yet even passed out, he still looked magnificent. His face scrunched in pain and his eyes opened slowly. He looked left to right, muttering, "....Where....where am I....?"

"Vil!" You're still alive!" Rook smiled. "The shine in your eyes have returned."

"H-He's back...!" Kalim started hiccuping, tears glistening. "Vil....we were so worried...."

"And here you are, bawling....geez..." Jamil, standing on his other side, rolls his eyes.

"Thank God...." Deuce sighs. "For a moment, I thought I actually hit somewhere vital...."

Vil's eyes swept over all of their faces, until he came to Charlotte. Seeing her in an even bigger mess than him.....made his heart clench. He remembered bits and pieces of the fight: battling with her, seeing her getting kidnapped, but only to return and weaken him with her Light magic, turning the tables in her favor. Her eyes, filled with rage and vengeance towards him before, looked so dull and aching to match her condition. 'She was right.' he thought. '.....I am a monster....as she said.....I was going to forfeit their lives to get what only I myself wanted more than life itself....' He kept looking at her as he spoke his mind. "......What I have shown now was something horrifying. I took out my anger on every one of you, and became a monster like I was told.....that can never be forgiven....truly a vile and loathsome behavior you've seen from anyone else....."

"You can say that again!" Epel smirked. "I thought you said, 'Only snot-nosed brats are allowed to throw tantrums just because they can't get what they wished for'~!" Charlie merely snorted at the counter of words being used.

"Epel....Charlotte....both of you were right about me...." Vil nodded solemly. "What I've done these past several weeks and just now says it all.... I don't deserve to be dorm leader, nor team captain, after this...."

"Do not say such a thing, Roi du Poissons." Rook shook his head. "There are very few things to be forgiven for."

"He's right." Kalim nods. "We're all still alive and breathing! There's no blood on your hands!"

"You do realize Neige LeBlanche and the Seven Dwarves are happily singing and dancing as we're speaking...." Jamil inputs.

"After all that torture you've put us through, do you really think we'd back down from something like this?" Ac smirked. But his eyes glinted with revenge. "And don't think you're getting let off so easy after what Charlie had done just now."

"It's difficult wording this....but we'll cover this by saying a disagreement got out of hand slightly."

"So you're saying that we sweep this incident under the rug?" Vil looked at Jamil, the latter narrowed his eyes.

"Not what I meant. I mean: we should hold off on explaining until the day's over."

"Hmph, you really are quite the villain, Jamil." Vil smirked as he stands, only to wince and stumble from the rise. "Geh!"

"Vil!" Rook ran to his side before he had a chance to fall.

"I-It's just a bit of pain." Vil brushed it off. "I can handle myself."

"But you have fallen in battle at the hands of two guardian angels. You always push yourself like this....I would gladly lend you my shoulder." the hunter does so, supporting the Queen as if his leg were badly injured. Rook observed from the corner of his eye at Charlotte, whom Kalim was fussing over and tending to her scrapes or any hidden injuries. 'This must be something you and Charlotte both share.....you act so strong, even if you hurt deep down, physically or emotionally. And when you push away others that wish to help, they end up helping regardless. Ah, the two fearless Queens. One who strives for beauty and one who fights for justice....'

"Hey, Deuce!" Ace perks up. "That attack you used on Vil just now....what was it exactly?"

"Hey, yeah!" Grim grins. "You took him down in one swing! Where'd you learn somethin like that?!"

"Well, I was only able to make it materialize because of Schoenheit-senpai." Deuce admitted.

"Care to explain?" Kalim asks, not losing his hold on Charlie.

"It let me absorbs and store away opponent's attacks whenever I get hit. And when it was at full power, I'd counterattack and reflect their own power back at them. Long story short, it was his won magic that made me end this fast."

"Geez! Talk about an eye for an eye!" Ace gave him a weird look.

"That's not what I'm saying!" Deuce rolled his eyes. "Besides, the first time it was used was when I took Epel to the beach to speak with him! I just deflected it back to the guys that jumped us! Until it got outta hand....and kinda knocked them out...."

"Ugh.....You know you shouldn't use magic against those without!" Jamil groaned. "Even if it was an accident! Either way, it'd spell explusion for you..."

"I-I didn't mean it...but after a while, I couldn't conjure up the same attack twice in a row.....I only started to get wind of it when Schoenheit-senpai was attacking us."

Kalim chuckled, "See?! I told you that overthinking things isn't your style! That's what makes you different; unique!"

" 'Unique' huh...w-wait, so....you're saying that's my Unique Magic?!"

Charlie laughed at his confused face. "What? You still weren't aware? Dude, even my third eye is quicker than you on the shortcomings..."

"W-Well....I got kinda in the moment, so I don't remember much....hold on, did I recite something?! Crap, now I seriously don't remember!!! C-Charlie, you must have all the details, so replay it back to me later!!!" He bowed quickly. "Th-Thanks for lending a hand on the fight as well!!!"

"Marvelous! Such tremendous work, Monseiur Spade! You've broken free of your shackles!" Rook sang. "Even Vil is impressed by yours and Charlotte's work~!"

"I DON'T look anything of the sort...." Vil replied sourly. But he took a deep breath and look at the two with ease. "But....it's true. That final attack was the one thing that brought me back to the light. Good Work on your end, Deuce."

"TH-THANK YOU!!!"

"And Charlotte....I know that things between us will be tense, as you won't be so forgiving after what transpired.....Bierce and Malak, they've blinded me by my own ambition to gain what I thought was rightfully mine, and....I almost killed you for that matter......despite all this, you have proven me wrong, though.

"You're a strong woman who's been pushed through so many things, things that I myself won't understand...." he took her hand into his. " 'Your thing' was something that I never completely understood, and....it may take some time for me to see what it really is....but I see the basis...fighting against oppressors that put you down for what's right in your heart....." But Charlie placed a finger on his lips to shush him. Kalim released her when he saw that she was strong enough to stand on her own.

"I'm aware we won't be able to forgive one another after this....but I'll say for the record...I was wrong about you as well...we were both in the wrong, judging one another from first impressions. These past weeks were a rollercoaster, and we never saw eye to eye, and I don't think we may after a while....but these things will take time. We can leave it at that for now. Is that okay?"

".....I can live with that." Vil nods, a small smile on his lips.

"Ah, forgiveness of opposing forces....beaute, non?" Rook swooned.

"If I recall correctly-" Jamil ignored him and looked to Deuce. "Can't believe you were confident enough to tell us to "duck" even though you jut developed your magic for the first time.....nonetheless, I'm glad you were able to cast it. Can't imagine what the outcome would've been if you didn't...."

"Give him a break. He made it manifest and that's all that matters!" Kalim supports him.

"Really, you... I can't understand how your minds work." Jamil gave up.

"Deuce got his Magic before me?! No fair....."

"Out of all of us, Never knew Deuce would be the surpassing one over me...."

*WHACK!!!!*

"OOOW!!" Ace and Grim's defeated looks vanished when they felt something sharp whack them on the backs of their heads. They clutched their heads in pain and look up to see Charlie's hand glowing brightly.

"Shut up and let him have his moment, you two." she threatened with a deadly smile.

"But this means we just have to aim as high as him and Charlie!" Epel laughed, but sweating on the inside at what she pulled just now.

"Well, this is nice and all, but what are we going to do about this?" Jamil asked, bringing the others back to the area. The wrecked stage. "On the one hand, due to the poisonous vapor concealing the coliseum, we were the only ones witness to it. But on the other, Vil's Unique Magic didn't have a continuous effect, or else this'd be a bigger mess than what's seen. It'd do well to fix the stage and remove the curse while no one's here, but we're all out of power, and Charlotte isn't powerful enough to fix the mess herself!...I-I'm all out of ideas! I guess we're screwed...."

"S-so, the VDC could be....?" Epel began, until-

"My word....what in the name of Seven happened here?" Everyone turned silently to see- "I apologize for arriving early. But now this area looks like a tornado arrived...."

Charlie smiled as she ran towards the newly arrived person. "Tsunotaro... I-I mean: Oberon!"

"Tsunotaro?! Oberon?!"

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Ah! So YOU'RE the guy that Charlie keeps mentioning that comes around late at night!" Grim smiled. "I've only heard about you, but I've never actually seen you! She's right! You DO have horns! Hahaha-mgnh!!"

"Grim, no!!!" Deuce hissed, covering the creature's mouth with his hand, looking ready to piss his pants. "You can't speak to a senior like that!!!"

"Charlie!!! Are you insane?!" Ace ran up to her in fear. "Are you asking for a death wish?!"

"You're really unaware of who he is?!" Epel followed.

*WHACK!*

"Hey!" "Ouch!!"

"He said I can call him whatever I wished, Stupid Heads!" she snapped as the first years cower away at her frightening glare, clutching their heads from the upside slaps.

"Roi du Dragon, how'd you get in?!" Rook asked in surprise.

"Dearest Titania invited me. I've the ticket with me as we speak, just in case you were wondering."

"Th-That's not what I was talking about...." the blonde stuttered nervously. "The poisoned vapor from Vil's magic is still concealing the coliseum! Anyone who so much as touches it may become injured!"

"Well, now that it's been brought up, I thought something here felt off. Yet despite its prowess, it doesn't affect me in the slightest." Malleus smirked.

Vil seemed irked and steps forward. "You dare take advantage of this poor girl's naiveness for your own pleasure....Charlotte, allow me to introduce whom this man TRULY is." he stood beside her for protection. "This is none other than Diasomnia's own Dorm leader: Malleus Draconia."

Something struck Charlie when the name was said, making her mind grow hazy for a moment, visions flashing by her eyes.

A dark forest filled with sparkling magic.

A young fae boy with a young woman side by side.

A tall figure of a king shrouded by shadows.

A cup of something being drunk falling out of someone's hands and shattering to the ground.

The fae man, now older, carrying a body in his arms as tears leave his eyes.

She was brought back, looking up to see Malleus himself looking at her.

"Y-You....Y-You're 'Him'....?" she whispered. "Malleus Draconia...." the name left her lips icy like winter's breath.

"Yes." he nods. "And the crown prince of the Valley of Thorns. THAT Malleus Draconia."

Grim felt his little heart thudding dangerously, memories and things being said about him rewinding through his mind like a blur. "....S-So....you're the strong wizard that Ace and the guys talked about back when Magift happened! That couldn't have been you!!!"

"As I told Titania, the moment you hear it, you'll feel a chill overcome your senses if my name is spoken." he smirked darkly. "Or should I say.....'Charlotte'~?" Charlie felt like thousands of volts of electricity shook her spine as he spoke her name, her TRUE name, the one she tried to keep hidden from him for so long. And the smirk he sent her way didn't ease her fears. Oh shit, she hadn't felt fear like this since.....since.....she couldn't even think straight as his eyes peered down at her like an insect ready to be squashed. But it seemed more playful, a sadistic kind of playful....was she suppose to be more paranoid or what...? "But never mind that." Malleus turned his gaze towards Vil next. "Schoenheit. Why do you look like you just got put through hell and back? The Beautious Queen would just weep in embarrassment if she saw you like this."

Vil's eyes grew cold as he scowled towards Malleus and turned away with a huff at his sadistic mannerisms.

"Oh? Cat got your tongue?" Malleus smirked smugly, finding joy in his discomfort and turned back to Charlie. "Maybe YOU can explain, Dearest Titania."

"W-Well...." she fidgeted and closing her eyes, recounted the details of the fight from Vil's outburst of ugliness to his downfall at her and Deuce's hands. But she made sure to leave out the details of the Void and being kidnapped by Malak and Bierce, and being saved by Eros, too. How she did that while having the Fae prince's eyes locked on her, she'll never know....When she had finished, Malleus nodded slowly and looked away.

"I see. Something like this has happened before....yet still, students who go Overblot are surrounded by powerful auras of magic. And excluding myself, no one else around here had noticed the situation at hand...."

"Huh?! So you're saying that people outside the area were unaware of our predicament?!" Kalim shouted.

"Indeed. the RSA students are still frolicking about. And many a spectator is watching them as we speak."

"I think I see it now.....Magift games, tests of Defenses, and duel for Dorm leader positions are all held here in this exact place. And whenever something like that is held in the Coliseum, there's a strong magic barrier to prevent outsiders from getting injured during the events....Or so a teacher claims...." Rook murmured, deep in thought.

"So then....if we never got Vil back to the way he was before...." Epel starts.

Ace finishes, "Then Backup would never arrive, no matter how much we struck back....holy shit, man...."

Malleus was in his own head for a while, thinking deeply until he looks up with a smile. "....So be it. You owe me for this, Schoenheit." Vil shot him a confused look, until Malleus drew his pen and gathering magic in his hands....

The grounds shook, rumbled and quaked with the tremors of power unveiled.

"EH?! What's going on?! I'm freakin out now!!" Grim cowered by Charlie's leg.

"This is such strong pressure...." Jamil grunts under the weight added.

"Dearest Charlotte! I shall bestow a gift like no other to you." Malleus smiled.

"Malleus! What are you doing?!" Vil asked.

"This is child's play compared to other things. Now.....turn back the hands of time and fix what was lost!" Green electricity crackled from the skies as more and more debris floated up and a flash of white engulfed everything.

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Epel opened his eyes, only to find himself lying down on the ground.

"Uh.....I must've been knocked out when the flash happened....I hope the others are okay....and the stage is fixed....wait, huh?!" He sits up, looking around in a daze. "No way....the stage is restored to how it was!! Like nothing!" True to the word, the entire stage was completely brand new. No more rubble or debris littered the ground, the coliseum stands were cleaned and the stone backdrop and giant screen were completely renewed.

"That's crazy....!" Deuce gagged.

"Whoa! Malleus! you did all this?! So cool!!" Kalim gushed.

"Geez....and the last time I saw this was back at Magift...I forgot how crazy strong he was...." Ace quivered.

"Amazing, Roi du Dragon!" Rook smiled. "Magnificent and beautiful work!"

"I'd have to see your performances unless the stage has been repaired, no?" Malleus countered with a grin. "I'm indeed intrigued to see."

"Grazie, Oberon...." Charlie smiled angelically.

"Haha....you still wish to call me that name despite knowing who I truly am?" Malleus snickered.

"Huh?~ You don't like it~....?" she whined teasingly.

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I do. It's a favorite of yours, no?" he took her hand in his gently. They felt so humongous in her smaller ones. "Although....you may know of me, but I barely now a thing about you. Who are you TRULY...?"