"Where did you find a caladrius? Was it a summon? Or a purchase?"
"What purchase?" Dorin asked wide-eyed.
"Can I see it? Is it true that their eyes are blind?" Xander continued excitedly.
[I plan to take her to the registrar's later, but wish to inform you first.] Sebastian continued, ignoring Xander's questions.
"Well," the dorm head said, "This is all so sudden... we haven't had a magical beast as a familiar for more than 40 years now..." she paused. "May I ask where you got the caladrius?"
[We met in the dark forest] he wrote. [It must have followed me here, she suddenly appeared in our room last night]
"How do you know it's a female?" asked Mordecai who also stepped back inside the room.
[I call all animals 'she' if I can't tell their gender] Sebastian excused.
"I would very much like to see her myself," said Ms. Ermingard, looking excited.
[Well, if you insist.] Sebastian replied. He faced Dorin who looked back at him wide-eyed. [Let's go] he wrote in his slate.
The group went out of the room together. There were several students waiting outside, Nathan and Robert included. Ms. Ermingard took one look at them and the crowd hurriedly dispersed.
"Lead the way," she said, once the hall was clear of bystanders.
Sebastian went first with Dorin by his side and Johan trailing right behind them. The prince's group also followed them, just behind Ms. Ermingard.
"Those imperial jerks are still following us," Dorin whispered.
[Nothing much we can do about that] Sebastian wrote discreetly. [Don't worry, I have a plan. Let's just hope Azra hides away like we told her to.]
When they reached the 4th floor, they had to go single file to climb the stairs. The wall on the left side was cracked and the carpet was almost thorn into shreds.
"See the extent of your foolishness?" Ms. Ermingard seethed as she pointed at the roped off area. The 2 groups kept their heads low. "Make sure this does not happen inside my dorm again, lest I send you out to the streets!"
When they reached the 5th floor, Xander and his companions did not enter their respective rooms. They trailed after Sebastian and headed for the staircase at the end of the hall.
"Where do you think you're going?" Johan snapped at the group.
"None of your business where we're going!" Venet hissed back.
"Yes, it is, since only Special Class rooms are on the top floor," Dorin answered back, "and you lot are not part of the Special Class."
"Is it forbidden for other students to enter the top floor, then?" Boulvar asked coolly.
"No." Ms. Ermingard filled in before Dorin could reply. "Dorm students can go to any public part of the dormitory except inside individual rooms, without permission."
"But what are they going up to the attics for?" Johan frowned.
"We're just familiarizing ourselves with the dormitory," smiled Xander. Johan glared at him.
"You're what?" he asked.
"It's okay Johan, they can't enter our room anyway," said Dorin, tapping his friend's shoulder. "Enough with the aggression, we need to do something about Azra." he added in a whisper.
"What?" Johan looked confused.
"Well, 'she' is a 'bird' after all, right?" Johan stared at Dorin blankly.
"Oh!" Johan's eyes suddenly widened.
They were supposed to show a bird. What if Azra was in her human form?
[I'll go in first and look for her, let's hope she's hidden herself] wrote Sebastian, [I'll ask her to take bird form, If not, I'll hide her and pretend that she had flown out the window.] [you two keep them out of the room.]
"Roger," said Johan as Dorin gave a nod.
The plan was solid. Sebastian opened the door with his class card as Johan stood behind him, ready to stop anyone who would try to barge in. Dorin stood with the Dorm head, ready to distract her if needed, but as Sebastian swiped his black card in the slot, the door clicked open, and they heard the sound of flapping wings.
Sebastian did not react fast enough. Azra flew right out of the room as soon as it was wide enough to let her through. She glided around the high hallway ceiling and landed gently on Sebastian's right shoulder. Sebastian gave a deep sigh. It was a good thing she was in bird form.
They heard the audible gasps of Ms. Ermingard and the rest of the onlookers.
"It is beautiful..." the dorm head whispered, her hands over her lips.
"Can I touch it?" it was Mordecai. His blue eyes were wide and glassy.
[No] Sebastian immediately flashed his slate.
"There's the crown and... but why does its pale eyes look pink?" asked Xander. The caladrius looked at him and twittered. "It chirped!" Xander said excitedly with a big smile on his face.
[She said you're a twit.] said the slate.
The hallway fell silent.
"What did you just say?!?" Venet's shrill voice pierced the air. Johan started laughing.
"Did it really say that?" Xander sounded disappointed.
"Don't mind them, your highness, he is just teasing you," assured Boulvar.
Azra chirped once more.
[She said to keep your paws off her feathers.]
Xander looked hurt. He slowly stepped back and went behind Mordecai. Azra's eyes followed him.
"Well, I see no reason to oppose your request," said Ms. Ermingard. "I can even write you a recommendation! You can pick it up in my office tomorrow morning, I'll go make one right now." With that, the Dorm head left.
"I guess we should be going too," Xander smiled, regaining his composure. "We'll be seeing you around." He waved and headed down the staircase with his companions.
"Well, good riddance," said Dorin.
They entered their room and closed the door before they burst out laughing.
"You see the look in his face?" said Johan, clutching his stomach. "He looked like he just saw his woman shagging his best friend!"
"... Johan, you really say the weirdest things," Dorin told Johan who still can't stop laughing. "Did Azra really say that, Sebastian?" he asked Sebastian.
[Don't know. Why don't you ask her?]
Azra hopped off Sebastian's shoulder and glided towards Dorin, upon landing on his lap, she turned back into her human form and looked up at Dorin with dark pink eyes.
"Your friend was hurting," she said, her head tilted to one side.
"We're not really friends..." Johan piped in.
"Not friends?" Azra looked questioningly at the three.
[We just met today, you see.] explained Sebastian, [What kind of hurt did he have?]
"The kind that eats away," Azra said thoughtfully. "It was in his heart."
"Did you take it away?" Dorin asked the little girl.
"No. I did not have enough time... maybe next time..." Azra looked at Sebastian who nodded back.