"Innocence be a fickle thing.

The butterfly that waves between springs.

Can you ever see it for what its worth?

Or will it instead seer you through?

-from ‘Deceit’ by Princess Sibylla of Endro

“Unhand me, RIGHT NOW VICTAROS!” Anwir roared as he struggled against Mahan’s constricting hold. Mahan laughed maniacally as his limbs constricted around Anwir’s pinned form. Meanwhile, Elena was backed against the door, holding the knob tight as her eyes darted apprehensively between the group while Raymond and Leila mirrored each other as they leaned on the clustered shelves, arms crossed with fanged sneers.

After sprinting after Anwir from the canteen, in the spur of the moment, the group (mostly on Mahan’s part) slammed the man into the nearest door they could find, which happened to be a small room for supplies. Yet, what was once neatly organised now lay in shambles due to the conflict between Mahan and Anwir, one which the former was winning at the moment. After things had settled, with Anwir successfully bound by Mahan, Leila began to speak.

“How was your lunch, Anwir? Good?” she asked merrily, like they were just getting a coffee down the street. Despite her colourful demeanour, though, the ‘gala incident’ proved to Anwir exactly what kind of beast lay beneath that facade. Deciding not to dawdle, he cut straight to the point.

“What is the meaning of this?” Anwir huffed, giving another dirty side-eye to the dual-eyed freak restricting him. Mahan gasped in mock offence, tightening his grip on Anwir to the point of choking.

“Oh, Professor! Why should we not spend our sweet, patient time on this? After all,” a flicker of mania. “We just want to have a small chat.”

Anwir’s lips thinned into a firm line as he glanced at the professors.

“Go on…”

“You see, we’ve come to a collective consensus that the factor called ‘transparency’ was nonexistent when we were discussing this occupation.” Raymond led on, smirking menacingly. “Care to explain?”

“You found out about 10E already?” Anwir blurted out, subsequently realising his inner thought was voiced at the four sets of scathing eyes pinning him to the wall. Shite. He thought as beads of sweat trailed down his neck. He felt Mahan’s grip trembling as the man constricted his windpipe further.

“You knew? And didn’t care to I-don’t-know- MENTION THIS EARLIER?!” Mahan screeched into Anwir’s ear, causing a wince. He raised his hands in surrender as his coworkers closed in on all sides, gasping for air all the while.

“N-now, I told you they have a questionable history with teachers-”

“Yeah, you didn't state they were the problem themselves!” Mahan countered incredulously.

“Fine. Their character might be a bit sacrilegious-”

“Just their character? Their report cards are practically renowned across the school: students and staff alike!” Raymond added on, flicking his Intra-Memo to display the holograms once more. Anwir couldn’t compose his expression, as his mouth was agape in disbelief.

“How did you even find those? The Headmaster specifically had them under lock n key!” Apparently, that was the wrong thing to mention as Raymond and Leila’s eyes turned to slits. Leila snarled,

“So he’s in on this, too?” Anwir snorted at her question.

“Obviously, he’s the Headmaster, how else could all this secrecy have been pulled off? Moreover,” Anwir’s eyes glimmered in mock pity at their faces. “Did you seriously expect him to be honest in the first place? Let me tell you now, his ‘honesty’ is as good as that horrendous, smiling facade he puts up. And in case certain individuals require more explanation: it’s. Fake.” Anwir finished his sentence, the last parts directed with a subtle side-eye at Mahan, who snarled, but Anwir shushed him.

“Now, think about it. You are fresh invitees, waltzing to a nefarious song you cannot even begin to perceive. Then there’s me: the metaphorical leader of the backstage, second only to the ‘prima donna’ who's running the show.”

“Cut the crap and tell it to us straight!” Mahan seethed. Anwir whipped his head to face the man, eyes sharpened.

“What I’m saying, you idiot, is that I’m offering insider services during your stay here at Tellowania. Information, warnings, the whole lot of it all free of charge- although, I may retract that statement if you’re going to insist on choking me.” Anwir raised a brow, glancing towards Mahan’s grip on his throat. “Well?”

Mahan glanced at the three professors who mused in silence before they nodded. With an irritated scoff, Mahan loosened his grip as Anwir dusted his clothes, rising to his feet once more. He grinned at Mahan, patting his shoulder kindly.

“Good boy.” Mahan’s face turned beet-red and Raymond swore he could see the man’s veins pop from the nick name but before Mahan could raise his fist, Leila interrupted.

“Why would you go so far to help us?” She asked skeptically as Anwir smirked grimly.

“When you watch from the sidelines long enough, you get tired of seeing the same outcome. Trust me when I tell you, the Headmaster does not take kindly to any sort of ‘failure’ and will eliminate any risk to his reputation, no matter the cost. If you so much as dare to run your mouths on 10E or even consider leaving your job, you’re as good as dead. ”

“You could have helped our…predecessors as well. So why are you helping us?” Elena pressed as something unsettling brewed within her. By instinct, she knew something was missing, and she felt that piece was the most significant of all. Her theory gained teetering confirmation at Anwir’s dark glance.

“Because, unlike the others, you were chosen specifically. That stupid speech Ari gave amounts to nought, because you lot were targeted, marked and stalked from the moment you handed in your application. And it wasn’t just you.” Anwir turned to lock eyes with Raymond. “Francis and Minerva seem to be preyed upon keenly.” Raymond flinched as he unconsciously clenched his fists.

Cy: Ray…

W-what’s happening-?

Cy: Raymond, calm down. We’re going to be fine, but you need to calm down.

Yet, despite Raymond’s efforts, his frail body would not cease the shivers wracking him. Why can’t I stop? Raymond thought in a confused daze. As he remained preoccupied, Anwir continued his reasoning.

“You and your families are all under watch, meaning, you have something the Headmaster requires, and I want to know what. The answer to that question is payment for my services in safeguarding you to the extent that I can. So, do we have a deal, or do you insist on choking me once more?” Anwir raised a brow, turning to Mahan in particular- the man in question looking at Anwir’s raised hand as the most revolting action in the universe. Mahan turned to Leila, Elena and Raymond, eyes pleading for support to purge the living daylights out of the infuriating man in his presence, yet there was no support for his choice. He clenched his jaw, grinding the words from his lips.

“As much as I want to kill you…We have a deal.” Mahan’s crestfallen eyes evaded Anwir's beaming expression.

“Wonderful! Now let’s shake on it-”

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!”