Chapter Text
As they were walking towards the bell tower, Yuu realized that the Night Raven students were terrifying… but in a good way. Sure, they were scary and the way they used their magic was alarming at times, like how Ruggie and Jamil used their unique magic to save their asses by sacrificing some Noble Bell students to the crimson flowers but it was a necessary evil to survive. Yuu had to give them credits by how quickly they were able to analyze the situation and adapt to it, another example is how Epel used his unique magic to save Riddle from the flowers or how Azul and Deuce thought ahead and Deuce let Azul use his magic to protect themselves. Honestly Yuu was amazed by them and everything they had done so far to survive.
Something the students were doing as they were walking towards the tower was making Yuu feel included and maybe it was the feeling of being alone for so long and only talking to Gargoyles and Rollo but it felt weird to Yuu… weird but nice. Yuu couldn’t understand for the life of them why they sensed they belonged with the Night Raven students but it felt right being with them.
Yuu couldn’t help but to think back to Rollo, they kept looking up towards the bell tower, getting little glances of him on top of the inferno they were in. Yuu wanted to know why he was doing this, well, they knew why he was doing this but Yuu wanted to dig deeper into it. Yuu kept repeating the conversation they had with Rollo, trying to find clues in their chats and while Rollo did drop some clues, he never was clear on them, leaving Yuu to wonder.
As they were thinking back, one moment in particular came into mind, it was the time when Yuu sneaked out of the bell tower and got burned by the fire ball. Rollo obviously freaked out because Yuu disobeyed a rule and got themselves burned in the process but it was the conversation after that Yuu was interested in.
“ Why don’t you want me to leave? Why are you going through all this trouble? ” Yuu remembers asking Rollo as they were tending their burn.
“Because… I don’t want to lose anyone else to magic… not again ,” Rollo replied.
The “not again” was the answer that picked Yuu interest, he said it with such sadness in his voice that made Yuu wonder who was the person who Rollo lost to make him feel that way. Yuu desperately wanted to know more and to understand him but it was hard to do that if he was keeping his secrets. Yuu couldn’t help but to sigh as they were going up the stairs of the great hall.
“Are you okay, Yuu?” Malleus asked, looking concerned.
Yuu waved him off “Yeah, I’m fine… I’ve just been thinking about something” they replied, sounding a little bit out of it.
“Are you sure?” Silver asked “You are looking out of it”
Yuu nodded “Just a little bit tired from all this running around, I guess”.
“We can probably take a small break here thanks to Deuce and Rook since they bought us some time” Silver responded.
Yuu shocked their head “Seriously, it’s fine, we can keep going…” Yuu insisted “and anyways, we should be able to find a way to get to the bell tower from here.”
“Let us keep our distance and keep the crimson flowers from catching the scent of magic as we search” Malleus ordered.
“This is like a disaster movie after all. We keep losing people one by one,” Idia sighed “I don’t want to run anymore, after I was forcibly dragged along instead of staying behind”
“You are still lagging behind!” Sebek exclaimed, making Idia jump in surprise “Deuce and Rook stayed behind to save you, are you making their sacrifice to be in vain?”
“Oi Sebek, you are being too loud” Silver chided.
“Don’t stop me Silver. I can’t stand guys who all they do is whine!” Sebek retorted.
“T-t-that’s not true!” Idia tried to defend himself “I didn’t think that Sebek-shi did like me anyway… but anyway, you think that not liking something means denouncing it and that equals you being right, do you? The way they raised you on that gave you such a high opinion of yourself is truly a mystery, to the level that you announce it to the world” Idia started.
Sebek grabbed Idia’s collar “You are just being annoying! Are you incapable of not making fun of people?” Sebek exclaimed angrily.
Idia started to fakely whine “You can’t argue so you’ve gone straight to violence? That’s Diasomnia! So frightening, you don’t want to get near them!” Idia started smirking
“Aghhhh, you guys shut up!” Yuu demanded, stepping between Idia and Sebek, trying to separate them “You two are being annoying right now. Idia if you want to stay behind, fine be my guest, good luck with that but at least be useful dying and soldier boy, someone being wrong doesn’t make you automatically right” They huffed.
“This is such a childish fight” Malleus lamented.
“Everyone, did you forget about being careful?” Azul intervened “The flowers do not seem to react to noise, but during your little scuffle you’ve overlooked the fact that the bell tower entrance is covered in crimson flowers” He noted.
“Azul is right. Sebek, just calm down.” Silver established.
“Yes. In these circumstances, of course these weak humans continue to be seized with anxiety.” Malleus commented.
Sebek took a deep breath to calm himself down “Gh… y-yes, if you say so, Waka-sama”.
“It’s not really anxiety, but…” Idia started.
“Idia, please just give up already… or rather please give up on giving up” Azul demanded “Like Yuu just said, if you are going to die in a ditch then please do so usefully. If you are going to feed the flowers please at least feed us well,” Azul tried to convince Idia while smiling.
“It’s rich hearing that from you when your are as bad at physical stuff as I am, Azul,” Idia retorted.
Azul’s smile fell “It is not as though I am powerless. I am simply not as good as others at this moving my feet thing” Azul defended himself.
“Hey-Ho! Must be nice to be merfolk and have an excuse at times like this” Idia teased back.
“Are you trying to annoy me? Please don’t regret throwing down that gauntlet later” Azul noted.
“You were the one fanning those flames. I don’t really feel like losing the argument battle either, though” Idia said.
Yuu rolled their eyes, then sighed “Are you always this annoying?” They asked to Idia.
“Yes” Idia admitted.
“Everyone! Stay composed. This tense situation has got everyone on edge. Look at Malleus-sama, he has been calm this whole time. I am certain he is thinking of nothing but how to advance” He pointed at Malleus who looked deep in thought.
“Yes, advancing… and how best to teach Flamme how deep the sin of false invitation is! Those have been my thoughts” Malleus announced angrily.
“Truly vindictive,” Azul said.
“He’s the most irritated” Idia noted.
“... You kinda sounded like Rollo there” Yuu mumbled under their breath.
“HOW DARE YOU COMPARE WAKA-SAMA TO THAT VILLAIN!” Sebek screamed, making Yuu wince.
“I’m not comparing them, it just sounded like something that Rollo always says… The wicked shall not go unpunished!” Yuu tried imitating Rollo, lowering their voice and even going as far to flatten their hair in order to copy his haircut.
“Still, how dare yo-” Sebek tried to argue again but shut up when Silver jabbed his side, Sebek sighed “Ugh, anyway, Waka-sama had lost his patience. Let us hurry onward!”
Azul and Idia sighed at the same time “... Let us” Azul answered as he fixed his glasses.
“Yeah, we don’t want him to take it out on us, so let’s go” Idia sighed.
“It doesn’t look like there’s any entrance into that corridor with the door between the building and the belltower,” Silver stated.
“And all the doors seem to be locked” Malleus added.
Yuu analyzed the doorway “Mmm… I think I know another way to get there but for that I need you to open a specific door” Yuu pointed to the farthest door “It’s that one”
“Please stand back, my liege. I will try to open that door” He walked to the door with the others following behind “Are you sure it’s that one?” He asked Yuu, they nodded in response, giving the go ahead.
Sebek went and kicked the door, opening it with ease, revealing a dark place with only a fire illuminating it. In the dark room, there were tables sprawled with papers, large chairs for people to sit around, and big bookshelves. Along with this, there were stacks of red robes on the wall.
“This doesn’t seem to be the bell tower,” Malleus commented.
“But it is a shortcut” Yuu told them while looking around, “Rollo told me once that you can get to the bell tower from here”.
Azul was looking around the room, rummaging through the papers on the table.
“What are you doing?” Sebek asked.
“Looking for documents. I thought they may have some hints as to what this room is” Azul responded.
“It is the Student Board Room” Yuu answered, while walking in front of the fire and stopping there “Here’s where they discuss the budgets relating to club activities, event plans, student council accounts, and even more”
“For someone who has been in a tower, you do know a whole lot, huh?” Sebek noted.
Yuu sighed “I might have been stuck in a tower for a long time but I know what this place is from what Rollo has told me when he’s complaining about people being idiots or when he’s had a stressful day… which often go hand in hand. ” Yuu explained.
“It’s a historical school, so the equipment itself is also old. Even the fireplace is a non-magical antique… hm?” Idia commented while getting close to the fire.
“What is it, Shroud?” Asked Malleus.
“T-this fireplace… doesn’t it seem unnatural? The bricks on the right edge here strangely don't have any soot on them…” He pointed to one brick on the right edge.
“You are right. But it’s not that they don’t have any, more like someone touches it frequently.” Malleus added “Perhaps…” He reached to grab the brick, easily separating it from the wall. Inside the hole made by the missing brick there was a book.
“There was a book inside?” Everyone asked shocked.
“A-a secret fireplace book!? You gotta be lying, that’s like straight out of some classic novel!” Idia exclaimed.
Malleus analyzed the book “I wonder what kind of book this is. Going out of their way to hide it, perhaps it’s an important magic tome?” Malleus wondered.
“Let me see it” Yuu demanded, extending one of their arms as Malleus handed it to them. Yuu opened the book, eyes slowly widening as they recognized it “This is Rollo’s diary… I would see him writing on it at times while he was hanging out with me”
“Ho ho? I see, I see. Why would he need to hide his diary so carefully… hmmm… heehee” Idia started to laugh maniacally “If this diary Rollo-shi’s dark history… we may be able to cut right to his weaknesses and make him squirm! I’m so excited now hahaha! I definitely gotta read this!” Idia exclaimed as he tried to take the diary from Yuu’s grasp, making Yuu grab it protectively towards their chest.
“Weakness, hm… If it is something that will damage him, I too would certainly like to know it” Malleus smirked, also towering towards Yuu “I will continue reading. Let me see, Yuu” Malleus demanded as Yuu quickly slipped from them, still grabbing the diary tightly.
“No” Yuu denied “It’s not correct to do that, it’s private for a reason!”
“Oh come on Yuu!” Idia said “Don’t you wanna know why Rollo-shi is like that?” Idia questioned.
Yuu took a step backwards “Y-yes! But not like this, I would rather hear it from him.”
Azul raised his eyebrow “What makes you think he will tell you if you ask him?” He wondered.
Yuu sighed “I can try to convince him to tell me… I know he hasn’t always been honest with me but maybe this time he would be,” Yuu tried to convince themselves “I have always thought that someday he would be honest with me and tell me everything.”
“Why don’t you make someday come right now?” Malleus asked, making Yuu look at him in surprise.
“Your patience is finally breaking, that’s the whole reason you come with us, right? To finally know the truth of why Rollo has been doing this and I’m asking you again, if he hasn’t been truthful to you before, what makes you think he will be truthful now?” Azul questioned.
Yuu stared at the diary then looked back at Idia, Azul, and Malleus, closing their eyes and giving a sigh as they made their way towards them “I still don’t like this but… you are right. This hopefully will finally give me truth” Yuu reached them, hoping that they will finally find the reality Rollo Flamme.
“Let’s start from the beginning” Azul stated while the others nodded.
Yuu opened the book on the first page, slowly reading the words written on the book.
Dear diary,
Morning in the City of Flowers, the city awakes to the sound of the bells…