Underneath the Silhouette-Chapter 79: Witch’s Summons

The next day, Eirin returned to the Hissing Woods to train, uncertain if the young man would be there. ’Yesterday was such an embarrassment, but I have to keep going,’ she thought, trying to remove the memories of yesterday’s humiliation.

To her surprise, Shade Cromwell was already there waiting for her to arrive. They spent two consecutive days training in the Hissing Woods, so when Eirin arrived on the third day and found Shade Cromwell absent, a wave of disappointment, almost like a delusion, washed over her.

"Wait, why am I disappointed? It’s not like he really has to mentor me around," she told herself while looking at the library’s window.

Earlier that day, Shade Cromwell had diligently completed his library tasks, a quiet anticipation building for his time with Eirin Luxfield... until a familiar face appeared, seeking him out.

It was Miss Welkins, her arrival a clear summons. Shade was to report to the Director’s office. Instantly, a familiar dread coiled in Shade’s stomach. Only one reason ever brought such a summons, and it was never good.

The moment he stepped into the Director’s office, he spotted Mr. Arthur Blade’s hesitant expression, which made Shade sigh as he followed the professor’s gaze.

’Of course, who else would be making a fuss about me anyway except for that hag?’ Shade thought as he rolled his eyes. "What is it this time?" Shade’s voice was laced with undisguised annoyance as he stood, arms crossed, in front of the door.

"Shade, calm down and go to that room," Mr. Blade urged, gesturing to a smaller within the Director’s office. Shade’s eyes rolled again; he knew exactly what awaited him. Still, he obeyed Mr. Blade.

’I knew it, this old hag,’ Shade thought the moment he entered the other room and saw Ms. Hockenbury with crossed arms. "What is it this time, old hag?"

Ms. Hockenbury’s nose flared, and her eyes widened in outrage. "W-What did you just call me, you demon!?" Her voice escalated into a shriek as she launched her fury at the young man.

"Please, this is the Queen’s chamber, calm down," Mr. Blade said as he entered behind Shade. "And Shade, could you please show some respect?"

"Respect is earned, not given just because you’re some old hag." Shade’s words ignited a furious spark in the old woman’s eyes, and her hand twitched, wind gathering at her fingertips, poised to strangle him. But the Queen intervened, cutting the tension before it could escalate further.

"Shade, we have called you here because—"

"Because this old hag wants to send me on some errand, doesn’t she? You don’t have to sugarcoat it." A sharp shriek erupted from Ms. Hockenbury at his words.

Regina sighed, a subtle plea in her eyes as she glanced at Arthur. The man swiftly intervened, pulling Shade away from Ms. Hockenbury, his grip firm on the young man’s arm to prevent further provocation.

Meanwhile, Eirin waited for Shade, but the Hissing Woods remained empty of his presence.

’I guess we didn’t promise to meet every day anyway,’ she thought as she walked out of the Hissing Woods. Eirin remembered Pierre’s return from his mission was scheduled for today; they were expected to report to the Director’s office regarding Eirin’s progress.

Eirin, however, would simply recount her own struggles, as Pierre hadn’t been there to assist her. Instead, it was Shade Cromwell who had guided her through her training.

"I’m sorry that you have to do all that by yourself," Pierre said as they arrived in front of the Director’s office.

"It’s fine. I wasn’t alone."

Pierre’s brow furrowed in confusion, but he held his tongue as they stepped into the office. When they left the papers on the desk, Eirin’s forehead creased after hearing a familiar voice nearby. ’Shade Cromwell?’ she thought.

"Send him to a mission, right now!" Ms. Hockenbury’s voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the hallway. Eirin’s brow furrowed, and she crept closer to the door, pressing an ear to the wood. Inside, hushed voices spoke of Shade Cromwell needing to make amends for his "uncontrollable power."

"An S-Class mission for something out of my control? Great teaching technique right there," Shade scoffed, a wry chuckle escaping him. freёnovelkiss.com

Ms. Hockenbury slammed her palms on the table, pushing herself to her feet, her face a mask of barely contained fury. "Does that also include the fact that you almost killed another student?"

The words struck Eirin like a physical blow. Before she could stop herself, annoyance dominating caution, she pushed open the door, stepping into the room. She knew exactly who they meant, but that wasn’t the whole story.

"E-Eirin, what are you doing?" Pierre asked, grabbing her arm. But it was too late; every eye in the room had already snapped to them. Shade’s gaze, a cold, sharp thing, immediately fixed on Pierre’s hand clutching Eirin’s arm.

"I have to say something about this mission," Eirin declared, tugging her arm free from Pierre’s grip. "You should go," she muttered into his ear, pushing him gently towards the door. "It won’t do you any good to stay here."

Ms. Hockenbury scoffed, crossing her arms. "It must be true then, the saying, ’birds of a feather flock together.’ Sure, why don’t we send Luxfield into this mission too? So they can die together."

"Ms. Hockenbury, how could you utter such contempt?" Queen Regina’s eyes narrowed, a sharp glare directed at the professor. Disbelief glinted across the Queen’s face; such vitriol was unfitting for an academy instructor.

Eirin took a deep, steadying breath. "If it is because Shade Cromwell lost his reasoning and almost killed a student, then I should be punished with him." The silence in the room stretched, heavy and profound, as every gaze fixed on her.

"Miss Luxfield, you better not be doing this to save Mr. Cromwell from his punishment," Ms. Hockenbury said, a cold, satisfied smile stretching her lips. It was a predatory grin, one that seemed to relish the prospect of Eirin’s downfall too.

"If almost killing someone should be punished, then I almost killed him too," Eirin admitted.

Queen Regina, momentarily speechless, simply massaged her temples. "This won’t do. I shall talk to the students alone—"

"Wait."

Eirin swallowed hard. Only then did she notice Scarlett Jenkins, lounging in a chair she hadn’t seen before, a smirk playing on her lips. "If the old hag wants the two of them on a mission, I have the perfect mission for them." Scarlett’s voice, low and confident, cut through the room, rendering everyone frozen.

"D-Did you just call me o-old hag?" Ms. Hockenbury sputtered, but her indignant outburst was met with blank stares.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow. "You are. Get over it." Her words left the old woman speechless. "It’s about the plague’s cure. An S-Class mission, just like the old hag wanted."

Regina cleared her throat. "What is it?"

"I need the weeping bindweed for the cure of the plague. And you all know it only blooms once in a hundred years, so we need to make this meeting quick."

Mr. Blade’s hand shot up, commanding instant silence. "I do not agree with this mission. The weeping bindweed itself might not be harmful, but the location is beyond dangerous."

Scarlett chuckled, a low, disdainful sound. "What? You’re coddling babies now? It’s Shade Cromwell we’re talking about, Arthur."

Mr. Blade slapped his forehead with a resounding thwack, clearly at a loss for words against Scarlett’s bluntness. "But Eirin’s coming with him. Do you know the extent of danger we will put them into?"

Scarlett raised a brow. "Since when did the academy care for the well-being of the students? Even this old hag right here wants to get rid of those two so badly she’ll use every means to kill them."

"H-Hey! When did I?" The old hag—Ms. Hockenbury sputtered, her face contorting with outrage. "I shall inform the elders about this behavior, Ms. Jenkins!"

Scarlett scoffed. "As if that’ll scare me. I’m not a student of a low-class mage like you." The words were a finely aimed arrow. Ms. Hockenbury shrieked, a high, thin sound of pure indignation, and stormed out of the room. "Now that I’ve gotten rid of the nuisance, let’s continue our discussion."

Queen Regina frowned, letting out a weary sigh. "That was no way to talk to Ms. Hockenbury, Ms. Jenkins." The unusual formality in the Queen’s tone made Scarlett blink, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "You might hate her, but this isn’t—"

Scarlett raised a dismissive hand, an unbelievable action towards the Queen. "Let’s just talk about the mission, shall we? The old hag just wanted to get petty revenge on these two anyway, why not do this to end that hag’s nagging?"

Mr. Blade stared, his mouth slightly agape. "You’re not forgetting there are students here, are you?"

"So what? They’re not my students."

Eirin blinked slowly, trying to process the casual banter between the three adults. ’They seem... friendly?’ she wondered, observing their easy back-and-forth.

Mr. Blade’s nose flared. "Exactly! Stop behaving like that, will you?"

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