A week before graduation two of the worst things happened to him. The first was he was pushed down a set of stairs and blacked out. He came to, thanks to Usagi squeaking in his ear, there was a small pool of blood by his broken arm, a piece of bone jutted out and he screamed in pain as he tried to move. A Teacher from a nearby class looked out and instantly ran to his side. No one had heard the fall, no one had come to help in the short time he laid there, with the exception of Usagi. The Healer was called and they had to carefully document everything from the broken arm to the assortment of bruises all over his body and the broken rib that threatened to pierce his lung with every breath. There was even a clear handprint on his back that was measured and documented before he could be set anew and healed. Lidia and Felicia only found out later as whispers started circulating that someone had tried to kill him. Marissa laughed it off and tried to play it as if he was just seeking attention or just slipped. Henri was worried but then quickly it seemed he believed Marissa and thought it was nothing. Finding out that Henri had known he was hurt and didn’t even come, broke some part of him. He didn’t go to class the next day but the day after he went only because of his finals, he remembered none of it he just recalled being flagged down by one of the teachers that afternoon.

“Mr Del Monique! I’m glad I found you, I need your help, there is a situation that’s gotten out of hand that you might be able to assist with.” The dwarf teacher said as he ushered him to a room. There was a tiger beast man looking furious while Marissa sat there crying. 

“I think I know what this is about I need you to find a second year Angelkin named Ethan De Strahd, tell him to come here, after he leaves I want you to find a tiger beastman third year named Leon DeSantos, Ethan will probably be leaving his last final in history and Leon should be in the Cafeteria probably waiting for him. Tell Ethan I wish to speak with him here and tell Leon that Ethan wishes to speak to him in this room.” He told the dwarf. Who nodded rapidly and dashed off, it still surprised him how fast they could run. He walked into the room and looked at Marissa who looked at him and seemed to get more upset and then he looked to the Tiger Beastman and bowed properly. “Greetings Ambassador Kline, I am Lua’aZaer Del Monique, we met last year at the graduation ball, what brings you here today?” He asked.

“I’ll tell you after you get this wailing mess of a useless humankin out of the room.” He snapped glaring at Marissa still. Lua looked at her.

“You are clearly dismissed Miss De La Cove.” He said looking her right in the eye. She got up and went to run out but he caught her by her arm and whispered sharply. “Also let it be known whatever you did here may have cost us the loss of our second greatest allies if the teacher hadn’t found me.” He let her go and she bolted, he hoped it was to go cry to Henri because he was having a bad day. He then went to the door and summoned Sheena and got her to fetch them some tea and snacks. “Sorry about her, everyone here pampers her too much because she is the light magic user.” He said as he took a seat where she had once been.

“No excuse at all, I plan on writing to the Emperor about this. I came here to speak to the crowned prince about my Nephew and that girl showed up and told me that he was too busy with his finals to entertain anyone and told me that I should just go home.” He snarled. “When I asked under what authority did she have for blowing me off without even knowing who I am, she told me she was the new Fiancee to the Prince. I thought that was a change we had not heard of so I asked her if she knew of my nephew Leon. She rolled her eyes and said she didn’t have time to know all the beastman in the school and that if I was looking for him I should just wait till he goes home in a week. I lost my temper at her, you always seemed to know everyone in the school or knew someone who would know the right person. She then started crying and wailing like some banshee and wouldn’t stop till you showed up.” He told him. Sheena rolled a cart into the room, a plate of savory snacks and strong tea.

“I see, well she’s not officially I still am, but I also summoned someone who could bring your nephew here, you’ll probably want to meet him too.” Lua said as he picked up a piece of cheese to nibble on and realized he’d not eaten since the morning. 

“Ahh you’re a gem Lua’aZaer, he’s been avoiding all our messages and summons home. He won't even write back that little brat.” He said happily, helping himself to a little quiche. 

“I started to figure that was the situation.” There was a knock at the door. “Enter.” Lua called out figuring it was Ethan, he was right and in walked the Omega Angelkin who looked a little winded and surprised. “Ethan, come sit I want you to meet Ambassador Kline Martial of the Beastman Empire.” Lua said as he walked in introducing him. “Ambassador Kline, this is one of our brilliant second years, Ethan De Strahd.”

“Um, pleased to meet you Ambassador Kline.” Ethan said nervously with a bow. He looked to Lua who motioned him to sit on the empty couch to their right. “May I ask why I’ve been called here?” He said sitting down on the couch. She could see his soft blue a white wings tremble with nervous energy.

“I wanted to bring you and Leon here to meet the Ambassador.” Lua said. “Leon, bless his heart, is smart till it comes to you.” Lua said sipping on his tea, Shena poured him a cup and then readied one more as they could hear the sound of someone rapidly approaching. “Speaking of.” He said looking at the door as it opened and Leon stepped in looking quite happy and slightly out of breath till he took a good look at the room.

“What is going on here?” He asked. He saw Ethan was there looking nervous and instantly went to his side. He looked at Lua who seemed to be the mastermind behind this.

“Did you think that your mothers wouldn't send someone here to see why you’ve ignored all of our messages to you for a month?” Kline asked him.

“Well, err… They were just asking when I was going to go home and I thought it was obvious.” He said taking a seat next to Ethan. Kline, who had been wondering why the Angelkin had been introduced to him, now clearly understood why. Looking him over he appeared to be smart, he was clearly an Omega, and it seemed Lua’aZaer had approved of him so it seemed he was to become Leon’s chosen mate and potential soulmate.

“Since my job here is complete, please take your time using the room and know Ethan is sixteen still and has a year to go here, I’d like to see him complete his schooling here before he goes off.” Lua said, draining his tea and standing up.

“What?” Leon and Ethan both said, confused.

“He is giving his approval of the both of you but is asking Ethan to remain here till he has graduated and has turned 17.” Kline explained. Both turned slightly red realizing this.

“Please come to the Winter Ball Leon and make it publicly known you are soulmates even though it’s clear that you already are.” Lua said with a bow. “I hope you have a good rest of your stay here Ambassador Kline.” He started to walk out.

“Yes and thank you for arranging this Mr Del Monique.” Kline said with a slight bow.

Lua got to the door as it swung open and an angry looking Henri stood on the other side. He was about to say something when Lua shoved him back and then closed the door behind him. “Not a fucking word out of your mouth.” He said angrily. This shocked Henri that his anger just vanished, Lua never spoke like this to him or really any one like that. He also never pushed him. “I don’t know what you heard but inside that room if you had bothered to look was Ambassador Kline and when I arrived he was spitting mad because Miss De La Cove had not only introduced herself as your new Fiancee, which is news to me, and that because of that she had clear authority to tell him you were too busy to help him find his Nephew.” Lua snapped.

“She’s not, and I didn’t even know-”

“Yes, well she said otherwise, she also was very disrespectful and showed her level of ignorance that almost could have cost us an ally if she continued.” He told him. “You and the others have pampered her and ignored her lack of education just because she is the Light Magic user and it’s now spiraling out of control. Next time I am sure there may be a larger incident and I WON’T be to blame for what problems she causes because her head is too big for her britches.” He added. He was trembling with both fear and anger, he was yelling at an Alpha and he was just an Omega. He had every right to be mad but he was also tired and hungry and emotionally distressed.

“Britches?” Henri said, confused. He recognised that he was right they had been pampering Marissa and this could have been worse. “Lua are you alright?” He asked, suddenly noticing the dark circles under his eyes, and the fact that he looked like he’d lost weight.

“You are so fucking stupid.” He snapped as he started to storm off.

“Wait Lua!” He called after him as he followed him.

“I don’t have time for your sudden realization of my conditions, it was clear that you don’t give a fuck any more Henri.” He practically snarled. 

Henri knew this wasn’t like him at all and was trying to piece together why his gentle Lua was so angry at him, and then he remembered the fall, he’d not even gone to check on him. He didn’t recall why, he should have even if it was an accident. From what he heard he’d broken his arm and a rib from the fall, those things could be healed up easily by the healer. Still he should have seen him, but he should have been resting as well, no today he’d had finals, they all did today. He suddenly also realized that he’d not even asked Lua to the end of  the year ball, he was his finance and he should have asked him weeks ago. He hadn’t, as to why he couldn’t figure it out, and it was all making his head hurt. He followed Lua to the cafeteria where he quickly noticed  he didn’t sit at their table. He wondered when the last time he had. He looked over at their usual table and saw the others with Marissa, not their Fiancee’s weren't there either, who still looked upset. Lua was right she was being spoiled and pampered too much even if she was the Light magic user. He had to put his foot down.

Lua was famished and tired but most of all he was hungry, he ignored Henri following him. He needed sugar and solid food, so he got soup and pasta and added on an extra bit of a pie and fruit juice. Sitting at what they dubbed the girls table, even if he himself and Ivan were male he started eating with gusto.

“Are you alright?” Christina asked, looking at him a bit surprised. She could smell slight distress pheromones coming off of him and he wasn’t acting like himself, but he looked like trash.

“Yes. No. I’m just, I had to defuse a situation and then I had to yell at Henri for letting said situation happen, and I’m tired and I’m hungry.” he muttered. The other girls looked at him and then patted his head, it took guts for him to do what he did. 

“Well, you should finish your dinner then go right to bed, you did alright I’m sure of it.” Lidia told him as she gently hugged his shoulders. “The other day was scary enough and having to yell at an idiot who happens to be an Alpha probably did your nerves no good.” She told him. She had been the first to come to his side when she heard what happened, she had seen his back covered in the bruises and she felt someone had done it on purpose and worst of all they had almost successfully killed him, if he’d not woken up due to his familiar he could have died from blood loss.

“That was the plan.” He said feeling a bit better. It helped that he was getting food into himself. He felt much better once they finished and he listened to all the gossip going about. He was rather amused that his fall had caused a commotion but he was more surprised that it had caused talk of assassination. “There is only one person who would profit from my sudden death.” Lua grumbled.

“Yeah and there are a lot of people who would do it too.” Felicia said motioning to the table where the other’s sat with Marissa. She was still visibly upset and the others were all looking like they were thinking hard on something. “So how is your outfit coming along?” She asked, changing the subject. “I heard you’re having it styled in the elvin tradition?”

“Yes, I wanted something different, I should be picking it up tomorrow after my last test. I know my mother would hate it, and it’s a little feminin but I thought it was cute. It’s a Silver and Lavender corset top with a thick strap and the bottom looks like a slim skirt but it actually has pants underneath. I got a nice new pair of boots with a small heel to go with them.” He told them.

“Look at you being daring.” Felicia said knowing he didn’t often do heels even though he could work it. She and Lidia had convinced him to try on a full ball gown last winter, heels and all he’d killed it but one look in the mirror and he hated it he felt like he looked like his sister and it had upset him. He had also tripped several times wearing the heels that he had been sure, they weren't his thing. 

“Thanks… I thought I would hate it but I don’t think I do.”

“You should dance with us since we don’t have dates. Though it’s going to be odd since all of us just know the female side.”  Felicia pointed out.

“I could try and learn the other part… but umm I’m too small for that.” Lua admitted. He was 5’2” and the shortest of the group even Ivan was taller than him at 5' 4” but both had room to grow. 

“Yeah, I always thought that elves were supposed to be tall but you’re just not, I mean you have time to grow still but I don’t see you growing much taller than Tina is now.” Felicia pointed out.

“It’s fine I don’t need to be tall, I can still take you all out at the knees.” Lua teased feeling a little better.

“Of course you can, that's all you can reach.” Lidia teased back. They all laughed and finished by talking about their own outfits before calling it a night to go study for tomorrow's rounds of finals.