Chapter 52
“You came after me!?” Rook exclaimed in surprise.
“‘COURSE! Must be outta yer mind if ya didn’t think I was comin’!” Epel shouted. “I ain’t lettin’ ya go by yerself! I’m ’ere, too!”
“Can’t have all the fun to yourself Mister Rook !” Roxana smirked.
“Ooh-la-la! You mustn’t, Monsieur Pomme ! Reine des Serpents ! It is too dangerous!”
“Same goes fer ya!” Epel said. “Nuthin’ could ‘it those bastards’ armor!”
Rook looked down. “Yes, truly…”
“If ya dun stop, I’ll knock ya off if I ‘ave to!!” Epel said. “I’ll set fire to yer broom! TAKE THIS!”
*WHOOSH!*
Epel nearly fell off the broom. “UGH! It’s difficult to control the broom while firing magic…”
“Let me do it then.” Roxana said before she fired a spell.
“Non! Stop, Reine des Serpents !”
Too late the spell hit the Rook’s broom which made it stop suddenly in midair making Rook flying off of the broom.
Rook didn’t even have time to scream, he found himself floating in the air and just for the fun of it Roxana feigned dropping him and catching him again.
“Whoops~”
“I give up! I understand, I surrender!!” Rook screamed. “Can we … land ?”
“Sure.” Roxana smiled.
*In the woods*
“Brr… So cold…!” Epel shivered.
Roxana snapped her fingers a fire camp set itself, Epel scooted loser to the fire and sighed.
“Warmth !”
“Come and have a drink. It’ll warm you right up.” Rook said while giving Epel a mug with hot cocoa.
“A cup ?” Rook said while looking at Roxana.
Roxana shook her head. “No thanks, I do not feel cold.”
“……… Uh, this isn’t cursed or anything, right…? Surely, you wouldn’t drug us so you could run off…” Epel said while giving Rook a suspicious look.
Rook frowned. “Perish the thought! I do not have any special tools with me, so curses are out of the question. I do not possess Vil’s skills, mind you.”
Epel took a sip. “Phew… It’s so warm… I feel energized now…”
“You truly surprised me. I never expected for you to chase after me.” Rook said.
“…” Epel stayed silent for a bit before he finally spoke. “I am fully aware that we might only get in the way even if we followed you. I won’t wait for you to give us permission. We’ll still follow you. My Prefect and my friends were attacked. I can’t just do nothing!!”
“I am here for Riddle but sure I will get the others along the way.” Roxana confessed.
Rook looked down.
“What’s with the grim expression? You left so suddenly, so I’d say we’re even!” Epel said. “I won’t go home even if you reprimand me!”
Rook shook his head. “Non, that’s not it… I am not mad at you.”
Epel raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“I am frustrated with myself for underestimating your strong desire to help.” Rook said. “Was it not I who said that ‘Those who believe in themselves and in their friends are truly strong.’? Yet, I chose to keep you in the dark while I ventured off by myself. Epel-kun, your honesty as you followed your own heart is both beautiful and strong. I am embarrassed with myself for lying to and deceiving my own heart.”
“What exactly do you mean…?” Epel asked.
“I am the same as you, Epel-kun.” Rook said. “I simply couldn’t sit around while knowing that my dear friend is hurt and in pain. I thought that I shouldn’t involve my teachers and my friends in my selfish actions, but…”
Epel shook his head. “A little too late for repentance, ain’t it? We’re already up here and kickin’.”
Rook nodded. “Yes, indeed. Very well, let us travel together, Epel-kun. Roxana-san, too.”
Epel looked surprised.
“However, you must agree to follow all of my instructions. Are we understood?” Rook said seriously.
Epel cheered. “YEAH!! Ah… Yes, sir!” He quieted down before he grinned. “Hehe, mission success~”
Rook smiled. “Epel-kun and I are both the type who get blinded once we’ve succumbed to our own recklessness. Your ability to observe and see things we’d otherwise ignore would be a big help.” He said to Roxana.
“Let’s hope I don’t go full Black Madness then so I can keep you from doing something stupid.” Roxana said with a mysterious smile.
“Black Madness ?”
Epel who didn’t head them turned to Rook. “I feel like seeing you distracted is a bit of a rare sight, Rook-san… But now I know that you can really be reckless, too.”
“Oh, but I am. Were you not able to catch up with me because I was too distracted?” Rook asked.
“Aha, yes. Now that you mention it.” Epel smiled. “But, you know, Pomefiore’s students are, well… Despite appearances, there are many who listen more to impulse, I think…? Vil-san, included…”
Rook chuckled. “Do you remember what “strenuous effort” represents in our motto? It means being able to muster up courage to stand up for oneself. The Beautiful Queen we know from the statues and literature possesses the qualities of a uniquely beautiful woman, of course.”
Roxana bit her tongue to not laugh. She was vindictive narcissistic bitch for no reason.
“But I’ve always thought that she might have been an active woman, too.” Rook said.
“But I don’t think she was the type who would’ve ventured out on her own like we did…” Epel said. “I mean, it’s not possible, right…?”
If only you knew. Roxana thought.
“Hahaha! Indeed.” Rook then paused after hearing a sound. “Shh, everyone, quiet. I hear a beast about. It’s close-by…”
Epel blushed. “Ah… I’m sorry… That was just, um… My stomach growling…”
Rook sighed and laughed a bit. “Ooh-la-la! I thought that we had angered the forest’s guardian by trespassing in their territory!”
“We usually eat supper around this time, so…” Epel commented.
Rook chuckled. “Vil would surely lecture you for the unsightly show if he were here.”
Epel gave a small smiled. “I can already imagine.”
“Very well, let us nourish ourselves before we depart.” Rook said. “I will explain our route while we dine, alright?”
“You two can eat, I don’t need much food.” Roxana said.
“Are you sure ?” Rook hesitated.
Roxana nodded. “Yes, I ate enough today to sustain me a week.”
Epel frowned. “Hah ??”
“Am a snake darling.” Roxana smiled.
Epel decided to let that conversation fall and focused on his food while Rook finally had a light bulb moment and understood what Roxana meant.
“Phew, I’m so full! Thank you for the meal!” Epel said as he pat his stomach.
“I’m so glad I brought a portable stove and camp set with me.” Rook said.
“We left without any plan at hand, so food definitely didn’t cross our minds…” Epel said.
Rook turned to look at him after he cleaned everything. “It is quite alright. We’ll run into many towns on our way. We can procure food and ingredients there if necessary.”
“Oh, can I ask, Rook-san…?” Epel said. “You don’t know where the Island of Woe is, but you mentioned you could “see” where they are, correct? What did you mean by that?
Rook gave a mysterious smile. “Here’s a secret… It is a little thing I like to call my unique magic.”