"You had a kid here...? AND DIDN'T TELL ME?!" Eliza scooped up the mini M/n into her arms and held him up high. The man's eye twitched as he gave a slight smile.

"Yes, well, I've asked him to be our ring bearer. Please do be careful with him, he took a long time to make.." 

M/n said, confusing a lot of the people there. As far as they knew, their professor could care less about humans let alone women. The people that had been slapped could only watch the scene before them, unable to look away.

Idia, being the only one that was free, was panicking. Sense when did M/n go along with this?! If M/n had a plan, then Idia wasn't seeing it. Even if he had one, then why wasn't he sharing it? They're in the same life or death situation!! So why-

"I can hear you thinking from here." M/n mumbled to Idia. The boy's head shot up, tears of horror streaming down his face. By the Tsaritsa did M/n hate crying. So, he beckoned the housewarden to quit while he was ahead. Archon forbid Eliza see Idia.

"Ah! M/n, I think that this boy will make an excellent ring bearer! I shall get my attendants to tend to him and design an outfit immediately!" The woman smiled and put Zandice down, who ran straight to M/n, hugging his leg. 

'Make an excuse to the restroom and go out to the sports field. This is an order.'

'Yes, sir.'

The two communicated with their thoughts. Being a product directly related to M/n, they were able to communicate in secret via mind link. This was the one thing M/n always made sure to add when making his clones. He didn't think he'd be able to achieve what he had here, but he was proved horribly wrong after Zandice's creation.

"Miss..." The kid mumbled, yanking on Elizabeth dress softly, his ruby red eyes boring into her own.

"Oh? Yes dear?"

"I left the rings in our room..may I go get them please?"

"Of course! Like I would EVER say no to you. Run along now! Take as long as you need!"

Zandice nodded and walked off as M/n gave him a somewhat pleased expression. That gave them an indefinite amount of time to explain the situation to the ones outside. Only now could he hope that Eliza doesn't catch on.

───※ ·❆· ※───

The boy had made it to the field after navigating the labyrinth they called a school. There was no fanfare for his arrival, but rather he was met with confusion from the remaining students. The teachers, though, had mixed feelings about the boy.

"A little boy?" Crowley said as he craned his head to look over at the peculiar presence.

"He came from the school." Crewel said seriously, crossing his arms. Zandice walked right over to Pantalone and stared, making the man slightly confused. He recognized him, however.

"Oh, yes, Zandice I think your project name was called.." That only heightened the confusion from everyone around them. Pantalone got down on his knee and tilted his head. "I wasn't aware you were finished."

"I was sent here on behalf of Prime. He told me to find you specifically."

Pantalone refrained from looking smugly at Crewel, seeing how this hardly was the time for arguments.

"I see. What is the situation inside?"

"I am fine. Shroud however is in the midst of a panic attack. I suggest you hurry this operation up and get the both of us out of here." Zandice relayed in his dull voice. Pantalone nodded a thanks to the clone before getting up and patting his head.

"Is there any alternative way in or out?"

"From what I surveyed sir, no, there isn't. The only way in and out is through the entrance to the school."

"I see.." Pantalone turned to Crowley, who was discussing the new plan to the next group of people. He had completely disregarded the child's arrival and continued on.

"Alright. Maybe try a different approach...is that clear?"

The students nodded their heads, and set off towards the school. There was one final group of people, but everyone was hoping that this group would come put more successful as opposed to the last.

───※ ·❆· ※───

'Reporting in, Prime. They sent another group in. I have made contact with your set target. He is currently trying to come up with a new plan.'

'Thank you. Please come back.'

M/n sighed and leaned back against the plush couch. He had little hope for the next group, and he had not wanted to be there to watch it. Instead, he opted to try and calm down his student. Normally, he would've cared less about his meaningless tears, but this was not a normal situation. And he had to deal with this quickly.

"Shroud, I would appreciate it if you'd just calm do-"

"Don't tell me to calm down when this situation just got worse! More students came in! And they all failed again!"

M/n knew it.

"They're not doing this for me!" Idia sat down on the couch across from him and sniffled. "They're all doing this because of guilty conscious. Do you know what it's like to be cared so little?"

M/n's posture became slightly rigid. That one sentence brought him back to Akademiya days.

"I don't blame them. But I expected to live longer than this. Not be wed and die on the same day. So forgive me if my panicking is bothering you, but it's the only thing that I can think of doing right now. Maybe this is just some...dream."

"....You and I both know this is very real. As much as you wish it to not be, this is reality. Panicking is getting you absolutely no where, Shroud."

"I...get that...but..."

"I have a plan. I know we hardly know each other on this kind of basis, I need you to trust my judgement." He reasoned in a surprisingly calm tone. This seemed to relax Idia, even if it was just a little, it was progress.

"All we can do for the remaining time we have is wait. But I assure you that we are not dying today."

"Thank you...Professor."

"..Don't worry about it." M/n mumbled. At least now the problem was solved. Now all that was left now was the waiting game.