"Light guide us to the answers,
A school full of cancers.
A mysterious figure lurks behind the curtains,
Holding answers to questions that are certain.
Let's take that card and look for the bard."
The lantern stood on the counter. A faint green glow pulsed from within — unsteady, alive, whispering in a language older than fire.
No one spoke. The silence hummed louder than the flame.
"This… doesn't feel like Ainsworth's," Marv said finally, voice dropping to a whisper. "It's too… the aura's wrong."
Shinigami crossed her arms, eyes narrowing. "Then whose is it?"
"That's what we need to find out," Parmiss replied, brushing dust off the old counter. "If it's not his… then someone's framing him. Or worse."
They exchanged tense glances.
Marv stepped closer. "If only we could trace its last user…"
Shinigami's lips curved. "We can."
Kazuto blinked. "What?"
"Ruh-Neshan magic," she said, voice low. "Magic of residual essence. It reveals the true owner."
"Wait, that's forbidden inside school grounds," Parmiss said — half worried, half thrilled.
Shinigami tilted her head. "Rules are for people who aren't being haunted."
Marv nodded. "I agree! So how do we do it?"
"We'll need the portions for it," Parmiss said.
"And how long will it take?" Marv asked, trying to sound like a detective.
"Not long enough,"
A voice came from behind them. Heavy. Godly.
Everyone froze.
The figure's shadow stretched across the room.
"Are we busted?" Kazuto whispered.
"It's not like we're going to die, right?" Marv replied.
They turned around as the light faded—
"Hello, everyone~"
A creature stood in the doorway. It resembled a cat — but not quite. Long whisker-like ears shaped like a Chinese dragon's beard, big round eyes, a fluffy tail, and a cute but quietly carnivorous face.
"Guys—did you see this cat speak???" Marv grabbed Parmiss's shoulders, trembling dramatically.
"Oh, shut your whining, child," the creature snapped.
"As you say, Parilis," Marv said calmly — almost too calmly, like he'd known the creature for years.
Parmiss blinked. "Wait. You know this thing?"
"We go way back. One of the reasons I had to come here," Marv said.
"And we don't have much time," Parilis added.
"I'm confused…" Kazuto said.
"Don't be, dear Kazuto." Marv patted his shoulder. "You'll get it with time."
Parilis cut them off sharply. "We must find the real culprit fast, or this world will perish. Here—your homework. Stolen from Greadrock's room."
A flash of light appeared in its paws, forming Makeh Potion and Siena Powder.
"You STOLE from the professor???" Kazuto gasped.
"This cat is useful," Shinigami smirked.
Parmiss picked up the ingredients and recreated the ritual Greadrock had demonstrated earlier — except now on the lantern.
"I love the way she uses her hands," Marv said.
Parilis slapped him. "Watch it."
"Ouch, as you say."
"Ruh-Neshan"
The lantern glowed, luminating the room, a golden thread formed around it, glowing light-green. It revolved around the kitchen where they stood, then started to extend out form the kitchen.
"Let's follow it."
They all ran behind the thread, leading to crowd of students and respected teachers.
"So, what's the story of you and Parilis, Marv?" Kazuto asked running on the way.
"Oh, Parilis is a magical creature who found me and resonated with me─"
"Marv, we had talked about it." Parilis stopped him mid explanation. Eyes sharp with a glare that could kill.
"Right..." He stopped muttering to himself.
Kazuto's eyes sharped for that moment; there was something off about both of them.
The thread led them to a hall packed with souls. It slipped between students and started to go around Ainsworth who was just standing talking to a fellow teacher. He didn't seem to be able to see the thread.
"I knew it was this guy." Kazuto said with sharp look.
"It certainly appears that way." Parmiss said.
"Then let's open his guts." Shinigami going for the kill like it was a battle front.
"Wait, Look." Marv stopped her and pointed towards the thread that loosened and then started to extend, heading to the other direction.
"What the hell..." Kazuto whispered.
"Com'on, you all." Parilis said, heading to the direction of the thread.
Others followed behind. Running while eyes glared at them. For a moment Marv's chest tightened like a past memory hitting him in his chest. Sweat dropped from his face in the cold air, Eyes widened, till he locked in again, running behind the line. They all turned one hall then another and another until.
"Why did it take us here?" Parmiss asked, "The cafeteria..."
The thread then locked in, reaching to someone, A person, a boy, someone sitting and eating.
"Cornelius???" Parmiss burst out.
"Ah... Who?" Marv together with Kazuto asked.
"Cornelius Butterworth," Shinigami replied, "He eats alot..."
"Hmm... I think I have solved it!" Marv got his hands together.
"Huh? So, what is it?" They all asked. Except for Parilis. It seemed to be quiet.
"Let's find out." And thus, the jester of chaos headed to the desk of the talking balloon.
"Oi, Butterworth," he said taking a chair from, rotating it to face Cornelius, spreading his legs and leaning back like a king, face serious, yet no arrogance.
Parmiss stood on his side, hands crossed with a stare of death at Cornelius.
"Ah, can I help with something?" The devour of food asked, hands shaking like he'd seen a ghost.
Sweat dropped from his face.
"Oh, you sure can." Shinigami let the lantern rest on the table of Cornelius.
She then lifted the butter knife that was laying on the table.
Kazuto stood on her opposite side. His eyes too sharp.
"Ah, what do you mean?" He asked, the worst act of defense I have ever seen.
"Oh, you Do know the meaning, right?" Shinigami without a second's delay put the knife up on his neck, eyes of the reaper, ready to kill. No blade needed.
Parilis then jumped on the table and glared right into his eyes.
"Meow~"
Cornelius, red by the purr, sweat dropping like he'd seen a dead body put his head down slowly.
"Ok I admit it now." He said, "I was the one that put it there."
"And WHY would you do something THAT catastrophically idiotic?" Marv leaning forward, eyes still sharp as the day.
"I... was sitting here two days ago," He said, speaking slowly with guilt, "And someone came and asked me to put my lantern in the hall near West wing, using the solution of alchemy that he gave me. The person 's face was covered and he was wearing a cloak, but it felt like he was a boy. He asked to get me a premium monthly ticket for free food for a whole month, which he did."
"And you just agreed on that?" Marv asked.
The boy shamefully downed his head and nodded.
"What the hell!"
"We would have died."
"All this for free food?"
They were shocked by how low a human heart could go just for something so simple as food.
Though food is important, the amount taken should have some limits.
"I'm… I'm sorry." He spoke.
"Whatever!" Marv said, standing up to leave, "Enjoy your food while it lasts."
The tension was frozen in the air.
"Oh, I remember," the one bought by food said.
"He asked me to give this card if someone came to ask about him." He got in his pocket and pulled out a metal card.
Marv took the card that he offered to him and looked at it.
It appeared to be made up of a silver coloured metal (Not silver) and Golden coloured complex styled borders (Not gold), at its center was a single initial: "P"
"P? There are a hundred people by that initial "Parmiss", "Parilis", "Pancakes", "Pe—"
"Chill bro!" Kazuto stopped him.
"What? It can be Peanuts, Pizza and more! What exactly does it mean?"
Marv said looking up at him then Cornelius.
"Wait Marv, look under it." Parmiss pointed underneath the word "P"
Kazuto and Shinigami also got close to read it.
"Phantom!"