The next morning is dark and gray. It seems as if the sky itself wants to show its sorrow over yesterday's tragedy. The morning air is cold and Cyril shivers as the icy breeze catches him. With his typical hunched posture and both hands in his trouser pockets, he walks along the terrace of the school garden. The tiled floor is still wet from the morning dew. If the sky wasn't cloudy, the dewdrops would glisten in the sunlight, but even this sight is denied him today.

He leans against the railing and looks down at the numerous flowerbeds. Both the school garden and the adjacent infirmary were spared from the flames. Apparently, the fire was only concentrated in the building of the Faculty of Magic.

Cyril looks at the garden in silence. Despite the gray weather, this place looks beautiful as always. A lot happened yesterday, so he is enjoying this moment of peace.

"You stopped him. The professor." Cyril doesn't turn around; he already knows who that calm voice belongs to.

“Yep.” He replies briefly.

Isabell leans against the railing next to Cyril and lets her gaze wander over the garden. He would prefer it if the two of them keep looking at this place in silence, but Isabell speaks up again.

"Looks like it's staying closed for now. The Faculty of Magic."

“How many died in the fire?”

Cyril didn't really want to ask this question, but at the same time he just has to know. Isabell rests her chin on the back of her hand.

"No fatalities. Some are in the local hospital with smoke poisoning. Both students and professors. They'll all recover very soon."

“I see...”

"How about you? Your head. Are you still feeling side effects from Athazagoraphobia?"

"You mean that memory lacrima from that weird guy? Not really. Maybe a few headaches, but I didn't sleep well either."

Isabell remains silent. Her eyes look briefly at Cyril and then turn back to the garden.

"Is it bothering you? The professor's death."

When he hears the question, Cyril feels as if a lump is lodged in his throat.

"I-I... guess I'll have to get used to it, huh? If someone like the Professor goes that far, we'll have no choice but to stop them. Even if it means their death. A lot of people would die if we didn't..."

“I guess you're right.” Says Isabell coolly,

"Well, Cyril. In the end, it was a victory for us. For Penumbra. The plan worked for the most part: You quizzed the professor with your lack of memory about the project assignment. As our source had said, Wagner wanted to gather materials for a staged fire. We actually wanted to confront him yesterday, but he's already carried out his arson attack. We hadn't expected it so early. The attack."

“Hm.” Cyril nods, “So whatever the outcome, the professor would probably have died.”

"He would undoubtedly have paid for his actions with the death penalty. Both scenarios would have ended in his death."

Cyril had hoped that this confirmation would take some of the pressure off him, but somehow he still feels bad.

“Tell me, Isabell...”

“Hm?”

“Would you be willing to kill someone if it could save other lives?”

"The Arkwrights are a family of knights and it's destined for me. The knighthood. So I will definitely find myself in a situation where I have to strike someone down to protect others."

"‘Strike down’. Sounds brutal..."

"I don't want to sugarcoat it either. Death. But it's part of life, whether early or late."

“Heh...”

Isabell sounds anything but empathetic or understanding, but her matter-of-fact tone and objective perspective seem to be exactly what an emotionally troubled man like Cyril needs right now.

“How are the other warlords?”

"Hm, Zenith and Junishi helped out. During the evacuation. Eclipse stayed in hiding and hasn't moved."

“I see...”

So Sudri is fine!

Of course he knows about Sudri's identity as Zenith. It's just that he hadn't remembered it in the last few days. Hopefully he hasn't said anything nasty about Penumbra or Zenith...

“As for the Shadow Commander...” mumbles Isabell.

“Who?”

"I mean Eclipse, the Warlord of the Cisterns. She's been keeping a very low profile since your appearance in the school garden. It worries me. Her behavior."

"Uh-huh. I guess we'll have another meeting after this incident..." says Cyril, scratching his neck.

He doesn't know the true identities of Eclipse and Junishi, and these meetings usually end in arguments. The disagreements within Penumbra are also the reason why the group kept their feet still for so long.

“Everything will work out fine.” Isabell replies confidently.

Cyril crosses his arms and grins.

“Well, I'm counting on you Isabell... Or should I say Polaris, Warlady of Swamps?”

Isabell grins. Cyril had known for a long time that she was behind Polaris. The voice, the way she talks and the fact that Isabell was involved in the whole plan. It's actually a wonder that he hadn't realized it even sooner.

The student timidly touches her pink flower earring.

"We're like them. Hydrangeas. Our appearance is just an illusion-"

“A farce." Cyril finishes Isabell's sentence.

“Yes, but who knows how many more hydrangeas bloom in this garden...”