Chapter 17
Roxana leaned into her desk chair with a serene smile on her face as Helia chirped a happy tune, she caressed the phoenix on the head.
“You’re my trusted friend you know that ?” Roxana said, her eyes lost in past memories, only to be taken out of it by Helia who bumped her head on her cheek.
Helia looked at her mistress in the eyes. Are you alright ?
“Am alright, don’t worry about it” Roxana said.
The door of the room opened to let Grim in.
“Hey, Roxana! Ah, good, you're already up.” Grim grinned.
Ace entered the room after Grim. “Today's the big duel! Let's DO this thing.”
Roxana glared at Ace before she sent a curse his way.
“OUCH !”
Ace got throw out of the room and the door slammed behind him.
“Never enter a ladies room without permission !” Roxana said behind the door.
“How come Grim can enter then !”
“Are you a cat ?”
“Uh—no ?”
“Good, unless you’re not human or human chapped don’t enter”
*Heartslabyul Dorm – Rose Maze*
“Did you hear? They say someone's challenged Housewarden Rosehearts to a duel!”
“Riddle Rosehearts? Seriously?! Whoever it is has gotta be outta his mind. Riddle will have his head off in five seconds flat.”
“Still, it's the first challenge since Rosehearts took power. I'm pumped!”
Cater turned to look at Trey with wide eyes. “You're saying Ace and Deuce are challenging Riddle for the housewarden's seat?! Please tell me you're kidding.”
Trey sighed. “I tried to stop 'em.”
“Of all the stupid ideas... I just hope this doesn't make everything worse.” Cater facepalmed.
Trey looked worried too. “You and me both.”
Crowley stood up in the middle. “We are about to commence two challenges for the housewarden position at Heartslabyul House. The first challenger is Ace Trappola. The second challenger is Deuce Spade. The current housewarden they have challenged is Riddle Rosehearts. Now, in accordance with the duel rules, please remove the magic-sealing collars as they would provide an unfair disadvantage.”
Riddle took off the collar.
“Ah! FINALLY, the dumb collar is off!” Ace said with joy.
Riddle scoffed. “Enjoy your moment of freedom. The collar will be back on soon enough. I could hardly believe it when I heard you two intended to duel me. Is this a joke?”
Ace glared at him. “Do I look like I'm joking?”
Deuce glared too. “I'd never propose a duel as a joke.”
Riddle didn’t look impressed. “Hmph. Have it your way. Let us get this over with.”
Cater turned to look at Riddle. “Uh, Riddle, what do you want to do about today's afternoon tea?”
Riddle turned to look at him with a frown. “A foolish question. You know that the rules stipulate I take my tea every day at 4 p.m. sharp.”
Cater looked at the time. “It's just that it's already past 3:30...”
Riddle scoffed. “And you fear that I will be late? All the more reason to end this promptly. It appears I have little time to waste. Rather than facing my opponents in succession, I will take on both at once.”
“You can do it, Housewarden!” Heartslabyul Students cheered. “Knock 'em dead, sir!”
Trey stayed silent at that.
Deuce looked annoyed. “Cowards.”
Roxana sipped her tea while sitting in one of the tables.
Grim who was sitting on Roxana’s lap looked nervous, so nervous that he couldn’t eat the tuna Roxana gave him. “Myah. I got a bad feeling about this.”
Ace heard him apparently. “Hey, at least we got a plan!”
Riddle turned to look at Crowley. “Headmage, please give us the signal.”
Crowley raised the small hand mirror in his right hand. “When the mirror I've thrown shatters upon the ground, that is your signal to begin. Ready... Go!”
Roxana counted. “1”
Ace and Deuce raised their pen.
“2”
They opened their mouth to cast a spell.
“3”
Riddle raised his pen. “Off With Your Head !”
“Bwaaaaaaah!” The two boys screamed as the collar appeared on their neck again.
Ace groaned. “Urrrgh... Not again. I didn't even have time to finish my spell!”
Deuce looked defeated. “He shut us down like it was nothing...”
Roxana scoffed. “Against someone like Riddle a shield should have been the first spell you cast”
Crowley crossed his arms. “Visualization is key to spell casting. The better you are at accurately visualizing your magic's effects, the stronger and more precise it will be. It would appear Mr. Rosehearts has finely honed his magic.”
“Myah... They didn't stand a chance.” Grim said.
Riddle scoffed. “Hmph. You didn't even last five seconds. That was all you had, and still you thought to challenge me? You must be utterly humiliated. My mother was right. A man who cannot follow rules is a man who cannot achieve anything.”
Deuce glared at him. “Tch... We agree that rules should be followed. But forcing others to follow nonsensical rules like the ones you've enacted is tyranny!”
Riddle narrowed his eyes at him. “Then you agree that breaking rules is wrong. And in this dorm, I AM the rules. Therefore, those who cannot abide by my decisions deserve not the heads they use to complain!”
“Using the rules like that are only making you a tyrant, you are ruling through fear, no one respects you they fear you” Roxana said.
Riddle glared at her. “If there were no penalties, no one would follow the rules. I have to wonder what sort of pitiful education left you unable to comprehend so simple a concept.” He scoffed at her. “Clearly, you were born to parents with no great magical capability. And as a result...You lack even the basic education necessary to attend a school such as this. It's quite sad.”
Grim jumped in fright as the glass in Roxana’s hand broke from her grip.
“What did you just say” Roxana glared and stood up. “Don’t insult me Riddle Rosehearts ! For my wrath is something you do not want to face !”
“Miss” Crowley stood in front of her to try and calm her down, he had a really bad feeling that is she threw a spell Riddle will end up in the hospital and he always trusted his instinct.
“You shut your spoiled little mouth!” Ace screamed as he punched Riddle in the face.
The Heartslabyul housewarden fell on the floor.
“Wh-what?” Riddle put a hand on his cheek where Ace punched him, still frozen on the floor.
Cater and Trey’s eyes widened. “Riddle?!”
“Mr. Rosehearts?!” Crowley called.
“Whoa! He just punched the housewarden...!”
Grim grinned. “Bam! Right cross to the face!”
Deuce looked nervous. “A-Ace?!”
Ace was beathing heavily. “That's all I can take. Forget Riddle. Forget the duel. I'm done.”
Riddle looked at him in shock. “That hurt! You... p-punched me?!”
Ace glared at him. “Kids aren't trophies for their parents to flaunt. And the accomplishments of a child aren't determined by the worth of their parents. It's not your parents' fault you became a tyrant - or anyone else's. You've been here a year and haven't even made a friend who will tell you you're outta line. And that's on you.”
Riddle looked at him with wide eyes. “What are you even talking about?”
Ace sneered. “Yeah, maybe you had some rigid upbringing from a relentless helicopter-mom. Is that all you are? An extension of her? Can't you think for yourself? You call yourself the "red sovereign"? You're just a baby who's good at magic.”
Riddle glared at him. “Baby...? Did you just call me a "baby"?! You don't know anything about me! You don't know anything about anything!”
“Nope, sure don't. And I don't need to. Your attitude tells me all I need to know - that you're nothing but a spoiled brat!” Ace shouted back at him.
“Shut up, shut up, shut UP!” Riddle started to have a meltdown. “My mother was right! And that means I'm right too!”
Trey approached him. “Riddle, calm down. The duel is already over.”
“Mr. Clover is correct. The challenger has been disqualified due to physical violence. If you do not cease your conflict now, I'll have you written up for breaking school rules!” Crowley said.
A Heartslabyul Student stood up. “Ace is right, though! I've had enough of Riddle!” And he threw an egg at Riddle
Riddle froze in sock at that. “Huh?!”
Trey blinked in surprise. “An egg?”
Riddle glared at the crowd of Heartslabyul students. “Who did that? Who threw that egg?!”
No one said anything.
Riddle had a sudden mad look in his eyes. “Heheh... Ah hahaha! You say YOU'RE fed up?! I'M the one who's fed up with all of YOU! No matter how strict I am, no matter how many heads I remove, you keep breaking the rules! All any of you care about is doing what YOU want to do! If the guilty party won't come forward, then I'll pass judgment on all of you! Clearly, none of you value your heads! Off With Your Heads!”
Roxana protected herself and Grim with a Protego, the collar bounced off the shield. “This is troublesome”
Heartslabyul Students screamed. “Bwaaah! Let's get out of here!”
“Urrrgh…!”
“Ah hahaha! How do you like that, hm? Now no one can do a thing to me! Do you see now? My strict adherence to the rules was clearly the correct path!” Riddle shouted in madness.
“Cease this improper behavior now, Mr. Rosehearts. I expect better from you!” Crowley tried to reason.
“And that is exactly the problem” Roxana said. “People expect too much from him”
Cater turned to Trey. “Trey, if he keeps using his spell... This could get ugly, fast!”
“Riddle, stop this!” Trey shouted at Riddle.
Ace looked at Riddle. “Wow, way to totally prove me wrong here, pal! I call you a baby, and you immediately throw a temper tantrum!”
Riddle glared at him. “Retract your comment immediately, or I shall skewer you where you stand!”
Ace refused. “No way. I ain't retracting squat !”
Riddle shouted furious.
Cater panicked. “Dude, this is bad! You've G-2-G, now!”
Grim looked around him in fright. “The rose trees! They're floating!”
Deuce dodged a tree beside him. “This is some serious magic!”
“Mighty roses, tear this brute to pieces!” Riddle shouted.”
“Cease and desist at once!” Crowley screamed at the red head.
Ace gasped as a tree was thrown at him, he closed his eyes waiting for the impact only for him to hear an explosion, he opened his eyes to see Roxana in front of him and the tree still burning on the floor.
“Why—”
“Fortunately for you, this became my business the moment Riddle decided to insult me, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a life for a life ! Me not returning the favor to him would be an insult for everything I stand for !” Roxana said.
“Off With Your Heads !” Riddle screamed, but only cards came out. “W-What ?”
“That magic…Doodle Suit ?” Cater turned to look at Trey.
“What did I tell you? My magic can overwrite characteristics for a short time. So I used it to make "Riddle's magic" into "my magic." Trey explained.
Cater looked at him in surprise. “You can do that? That's some kinda loophole!”
“N-no... Off with their heads! I SAID, off with their heads!” Riddle panicked.
Trey frowned at Riddle. “Riddle, stop. Can't you see how you look right now?”
Heartslabyul Student gulped. “He... He was really gonna do it!”
“He is completely out of control.”
“He's like some kinda monster!”
Riddle looked at Trey with panic. “What? Was my magic overwritten by yours? Does that mean your signature spell is stronger than mine?!”
Trey shook his head. “Of course it doesn't. Riddle, take a deep breath and listen to us.”
Riddle glared at him. “Are YOU going to tell me that I'm wrong too? After all I've done to protect the rule of law?! Do you know how much I've suffered for this?! I... I refuse to believe this!”
“Cease immediately, Mr. Rosehearts!” Crowley said. “Any further attempt to use magic will leave your magestone completely tainted with blot!”
“But... I'm right! I'M the one who's right! There is NO! POSSIBLE! ALTERNATIVE!” Riddle screamed in rage.
“Riddle, stop!” Trey shouted.
Everything around them started to fill with a black fog of sort that started to corrupt the area around them, Riddle especially got cocooned with the inky substance.
Roxana narrowed her eyes as a silhouette similar to that of the Queen of Hearts appeared behind Riddle, but the head of the Queen was a glass filled with blot.
As for Riddle ? He undergone a complete transformation; he looked evil.
“Heheheh... AHHAHAHA! You are fools to defy me! You are not welcome in my world. In my world, I am the law. I am order made manifest! The only response I will accept from you is "Yes, Housewarden Riddle." All who defy me will lose their heads! Ah hahahaha!” Even his voice was different.
“Dear me, what have I done? I've allowed a student to overblot in my presence!” Crowley said while looking at the palms of his hands.
“Well, that what happens when you give too much freedom to your students to the point of doing what they want” Roxana said.
Crowley deadpanned at her. “You’re not helping”
“Am not trying to help”
“"Overblot"? What does that mean?!” Grim asked.
Crowley began to explain. “Overblot is a dangerous condition that mages must avoid at all costs. At the moment, he is overcome by negative energy, and has lost control of his magic and emotions.”
Grim nodded while not understanding anything. “Okay, sure... but what does that mean?”
“Please explain!” Deuce begged.
“To put it in layman's terms, he's in evil berserker mode!” Cater said.
“You don’t say” Roxana gave him a blank look. “Besides that ! What’s the most important thing about Overblot”
Trey turned to look at her. “If he keeps releasing magical energy, we could be looking at a loss of life here - his included.”
“I’ll applaud him from the grave if he succeed in killing me” Roxana said.
“Uh, WHAT?!” Grim said, half about Trey’s comment and half about what Roxana said.
“The well-being of my students is my top priority.” Crowley said. “Therefore, I must evacuate them immediately. As for Mr. Rosehearts, we must restore his consciousness before his magical energy runs dry. For as bad as losing him would be, there are scenarios that are far worse… Listen well: I need all of you to seek help from the other housewardens and members of the faculty.”
“Hiiiyah! Take that!” Ace threw a spell at Riddle, but it did not affect him.
Cater, Grim, and Trey looked at Ace like he grew another head. “Huh?!”
“I summon thee, cauldron!” Deuce attacked Riddle, and his spell did not have any effect either.
Grim looked confused. “Myah?!”
The overbloted Riddle glared at them. “What do you fools think you're doing?”
Cater took a step back. “Um, hello?! 911? We've got an idiot emergency!”
“You DID hear that part about how reeeal bad things are happening' with him, right?!” Grim asked while pointing at Riddle.
Deuce nodded. “That's why we need to stop him now! I don't want that on my conscience!”
“And I'm not giving' up till I hear him say "I was wrong and I'm sorry."” Ace added.
Trey sighed. “All right let's do this. I can overwrite his magic for a little longer. In the meantime, do what you can! Headmage, please evacuate the other students!”
Crowley was taken aback and tried to stop them. “Wait! This is dangerous!”
Cater looked at Trey. “Are you S-R-S, Trey? You can't beat Riddle!”
Roxana sighed. “You guys are wasting time, let me do this in my way”
“Eh ?”
“Let me show you how a real duel is like” Roxana smirked as she raised her wand.
“Such defiance, from every last one of you! I shall take all of your heads!” Riddle screamed.
“What a horrible sound, let me shut you up” Roxana threw the first spell at Riddle which knocked him away but not enough to finish him. “This was just the start, I could have ended you with a single spell, but where’s the fun in that ?”
“Riddle's body can't take much more of this. We need to stop him before it's too late!” Trey shouted from behind her.
The Monster, The Death and Life.
Riddle sent a fire spell at her, but Roxana countered that with Protego before throwing a Confringo at the Blot that tried to attack her. The Blot monster screeched in pain; Roxana used Levicorpus levitating Riddle by his leg.
“GAH !” Riddle screamed in surprised he got raised up in the air before he got throw on the floor hard enough to break his arm.
“ROXANA !” Trey shouted at her.
“Oh that’s nothing he will survive that” She rolled her eyes, now that Riddle was distracted by the pain in his arm Roxana was able to finally take care of the Blot without it using Riddle as a meat shield. “Bombarda Maxima”
The blot monster exploded.
“I…was wrong ? But…that’s….impossible…isn’t it…mother” Riddle fainted after that.
“That was…” Crowley started.
“Awesome” Ace said.
“She was like a War Goddess or something” Deuce said.
Trey approchaed Riddle and put his head on his lap. “We need to get him to the infirmary, that broken arm—”
“It’s something I can fix” Roxana said, she wandlessly caster healing spell on Riddle’s arm, she continued to look at Riddle with a hidden emotion in her eyes. “This child…”
One second she was looking at Riddle, the next she used legilimency on him.
Roxana looked around the mind-space, she entered the first door she saw.
A dining room ?
A woman with red hair similar to that of Riddle entered followed by a small Riddle.
He’s…cute. Roxana’s eyes softened when she saw how Riddle was as a child.
“Happy eighth birthday, Riddle. This year's birthday cake is a low-sugar recipe made with nuts and lecithin-rich soy flour to improve your cerebral function.”
What…
“Thank you. But Mom... Just once, I'd like to try one of those tarts covered with bright-red strawberries...”
“Absolutely not! Those tarts are monstrously unhealthy. I might as well feed you poison! Even just a single slice would exceed your recommended daily intake of sugar. Now, dinner tonight will be a tuna sauté rich in DHA and omega-3 fatty acids. Now that you're eight, your caloric intake should be 600 kilocalories per meal, so don't eat more than 100 grams of it. Understood?”
What is this ?
“Yes, Mom.” The Young Riddle looked down in sadness.
What…is…this ?
Roxana took a deep breath to calm down as she walked to the next room.
The meeting between Riddle, Trey, and Chenya was something Roxana smiled at, but the next scene changed to something that made her blood boil.
“I cannot believe this! Not only are you cutting independent study time, but I find you eating a mountain of sugar?! Those two hoodlums must have incited this behavior. You must never play with them again!”
“I'm sorry, Mother! I promise, it will never happen again.” Riddle cried and begged.
But his mother did not have any mercy on him. “Be quiet! You've broken the rules, and I'll not hear another word from you. Clearly, you're not able to handle the freedom of independent study. I need to keep a closer eye on you.” She raised the stick in her hand.
Is that a beating stick ?! The scene changed again, but it was clear in Roxana’s mind that Riddle didn’t just go through emotional abuse, but also physical as a way to make him learn.
He was a child.
He was a child.
HE WAS AN INNOCENT CHILD ! HOW DARE YOU !
Roxana got out of his mind with a heavy beath.
People like that…
She greeted her teeth in anger.
I hate people like that !