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This is the second last part - and I already miss you guys :(

And I didn't even kill anyone yet. Tch.

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          Káel only saw his friends when they were walked to a stable full of fierce bronze griffins, unable to even greet them by Mr. Rudas' decree. The silence stretched the journey to twice its length, the dragging time still insufficient for Káel to make a plan. As Phantom had predicted, his brash move of running to Fairez Stella was now biting him in the butt, and with the Council's nosy dog he didn't even have a plan to get the ingredients from Zalius.

          When they landed in Cobalt's field, Káel was holding back his urge to vomit. The nauseating rock upon the beast's back was only trumped by his buzzing leg, and he accepted Ariabella's assistance off the beast when Mr. Rudas offered none. He was lead to the front entrance before any of his friends and even Puff, worry the only emotion plain upon their faces as he looked over his shoulder.

          As they climbed the tiny length of stone steps, Káel swore he felt some of Mr. Rudas' ragged sigh on the back of his neck. "Must we take the front entrance and publicise this mess?"

          "It's the quickest route to the nursing quarters," Samanthra replied, nodding at the two Elites that stood at the opened doors. "My students hardly count as the public. Had you removed your Council colours as requested before arrival, they'd have no idea what is going on."

          "The Council pesters its schools with many trivial visits, they won't think much of us if we don't give them anything to think about,"  Ariabella spoke, immediately slowing at the first sign of Káel's pained wince. "I hope you'll keep your questions short and productive Mr. Rudas, rest is quite important for Mr. Aeric right now."

          They entered the lobby, a few students that had seen the griffins land lingering to satiate some of their curiousity, surprise turning to whispers at the sight of Káel and Ariabella. He passed the time wondering what ludicrous theories they were cooking up. The truth would likely trump every one of them.

          When Mr. Rudas broke from the group to speak with two men robed in white, Káel was rushed through the hoards of spectating students to the nursing quarters, immediately put in front of Ms. Metulas and her disappointed sigh. Without the usual questions she pulled him into a side room, slamming the door in front of a few more white clothed council representatives as they approached. "So, how was our little adventure?"

          Káel felt some comfort with Ariabella's shadow beside him. "Fun."

          She looked at his braced leg, raising her eyebrows. "You kids have some warped sense of entertainment." she waved him to sit on the small bed, taking a knee for a better angle at the contraption as Káel's heart dipped with the fear of her finding the branch. 

          "The bone has been mended, the brace is to be left on until the enchantment runs its course," Ariabella cut in, her sharp voice stopping Ms. Metulas in her tracks. "He just needs medication for the pain and infections."

          "Infections?"

          Ariabella nodded, composed as a rocking sea. "He landed on a jutting stump, if possible his majesty Elisious Aeric would not like his wounds to scar."

          "I'll see what I can do," Ms. Metulas muttered, starting up a green glow on her palms only for the spell to shatter as the door flew open. She cocked her head to Mr. Rudas in the frame, a once over of his getup sprinkling salt into her voice. "Apologies sir, I thought I locked that."

          He narrowed his eyes at Ms. Metulas. "So you are the suspect's nurse?"

          "I am the head of the nursing quarters, but yeah, I guess he comes in here a lot," she replied, starting up the spell again while Mr. Rudas entered the room. "I also go by Ms. Metulas."

          Mr. Rudas scoffed. "Very well, Ms. Metulas. I have a few questions for you." his lips curved into a smile as two council members in white came to the door, a small fire of rage flickering in Káel's chest when he noticed one of them was holding Puff by his legs, a thick leather muzzle trapping the dragon's mouth. Mr. Rudas seemed to be hoping for some hostility on Káel's face, finally getting what he wanted when he motioned for the council member to toss Puff on the bed.  "The beast cannot communicate, so it has no good use for its mouth."

          "You've got no use for your brain, so why are you using it?" Phantom grumbled, Káel itching to give Mr. Rudas a similar remark when he felt Ariabella touch his shoulder.

          "Do not directly engage with my clients, or throw them upon soft surfaces or otherwise. Ask your questions and leave," Ariabella spoke, a stare alone pushing the two white robed council members out of the room for her to wave it shut. 

          Mr. Rudas cleared his throat, turning back to Ms. Metulas. "During the time you spent interacting with the suspect did he exhibit any odd behaviours?"

          Ms. Metulas hummed. "Odd as in odd for a teenager...?"

          "Did he give you any reasons to suspect his affiliations with a Novan?"

          Ms. Metulas gave him a dumbfounded look. "No...?"

          "Are you sure of this? Any and all information provided will go towards the completion of this investigation."

          "Great. My answer is still no."

          Mr. Rudas made a soft growl in his throat, pulling his notebook out as he side eyed Káel. "Will your answer change if I remove the suspect and their counsel from the room?"

           "Look, if you wanna grind me with questions I respectfully ask that you do it while I'm not working, because as it stands, the only thing I suspect this kid to have is one massive misfortune curse and a vendetta against Mr. Lightwood."

          "Mr. Lightwood," Mr. Rudas mused, a sigh mixing into a quiet laugh as he jotted something in his notebook. "Unsurprising that he has associated with the suspect."

          "Of course, it's almost as if he's a teacher in a school Káel attends," Ariabella replied, blind to the silent snicker Ms. Metulas paid her jab. 

           Like Mr. Rudas' entrance, another came without a single knock, this time cracking the door a sliver to peek in. Hazel eyes skimmed the room, Mr. Lightwood screwing up his brow at the sight of Ariabella. "Did I hear my name?"

          Mr. Rudas glared at the eavesdropper, grabbing the door to shove it closed again; but Mr. Lightwood was stronger than he looked. "This is a private conversation."

          "I was having a private appointment when you barged in," Ms. Metulas corrected. "Why don't you go interview Lightwood? As Káel's personal instructor I'm sure he'll be able to answer more questions."

          Káel's attention fell to the foot of the door, a patchy brown cat slinking through while Mr. Rudas remained distracted with Mr. Lightwood. Ragdoll had a small package in tow, the stuffed black cloth dragging against the floor as she wandered under the bed without a word from Ariabella or Ms. Metulas.

          "I'll be interviewing you after the prime suspect, so free up your schedule. One question you can answer for me right now is why you've interrupted this interview."

          Mr. Lightwood smiled, nudging his chin for Mr. Rudas to look behind him at Ragdoll as she rubbed against Ms. Metulas, a package no longer in tow. "I was following that pretty kitty."

          His entire body tensed at the sight of the cat. "I know who's guardian that is, he's under arrest and not permitted to speak with the suspect," Mr. Rudas growled, one step towards Ragdoll sending the cat fleeing behind Ariabella.

          "Good thing Káel doesn't speak cat, hey?" Mr. Lightwood replied, still boasting a grin as Mr. Rudas glared over his shoulder."Káel's only under investigation you can't go running the investigation like he's already been arrested."

          "I've done hundreds of investigations, I can count on one hand the number of times a suspect was innocent after running. I only need evidence, so for now you can call this a precaution."

          Káel held in a laugh as Mr. Rudas rounded Ariabella and herded Ragdoll right onto the bed and into his lap, the cat flopping on his legs to let out a rumbling purr.

          "No unauthorised contact with the suspect!" Mr. Rudas boomed, stomping towards Ragdoll as she and Puff burrowed under Káel's covers.

          "Oh yes, Lao forbid we get cat hair in the room! It could compromise this whole operation!" Mr. Lightwood caught a glare from Mr. Rudas. "Also, did I mention? Lady Samanthra wanted to set up a meeting with you to go over allowing this student to get some education. Because trust me, he's in desperate need of it."

          "You didn't. I'll speak with her later, get this fiend out of here," Mr. Rudas growled, pointing at the two lumps cowering in the white sheets.

          "I believe the proper term is feline." Mr. Lightwood cooed, watching Mr. Rudas accidentally grab a terrified Puff.

          "Damn dragon," Mr. Rudas growled, dropping him on the floor and grabbing Ragdoll. Puff let out a muffled whimper, running under the bed to keep from the counselor's wrath as Mr. Rudas wrangled the cat, glaring down at Káel with a snarling lip. "What kind of Lumer are you? Snatching random dragons off the ground and keeping them. I say you're a hazard to the security of this institution."

          He dropped the squirming cat in Mr. Lightwood's arms, pushing him out the door and slamming it shut.

          With a parting scowl he kept his palm on the door handle, eager to leave the room himself. "If you need to do anything that involves leaving this room, you'd better do it now. Cause you're not stepping a foot out this door when I leave."

          "I'm good..." Káel replied, feeling the air loosen as Mr. Rudas departed.

          Ms. Metulas shared his sentiments, starting up the healing spell she'd been distracted from the entire time while she oozed out a heavy sigh. "Council always sends us treats like that, don't let them get to you Káel. Nerves of rock and morals like a hungry coinkidink the lot of them."

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          Káel wiggled his toes, wincing while the pain in his leg seemed to be strung to his pinky toe. Polearis was all the way down, and the room empty to him and Puff - and Phantom. But while night was upon him, it was the only one he'd have to free Phantom.

          And he'd given Zalius all the ingredients he collected. 

          Zalius who was hours away in the middle of a hostile forest.

          "You won't make it five minutes," Phantom said, not on board with visiting Zalius, yet fresh out of a better idea. 

          "I can ride Puff," Káel retorted, his face screwing up in pain as he moved his leg.

          "Right, so I guess you'll saddle up at the door and run through the halls while Tia's whisps have half a dozen council lackeys jump you?"

          Káel sighed, feeling his pocket, relief washing through him as he felt the ceptrum still snug in it. He pulled it out, focusing on the tiny rock until a voice popped into his head.

          Ah master, I do not detect any Ceptrums nearby, do you mean to speak with me?

          Káel frowned, glancing at the Fairez Stella sender on his wrist. Can you call Zalius?

          Master, I am a Ceptrum, the art of the dead is beyond me.

          Do you know how to attract Zalius? 

          My old master is not a sweetfly Master. The Ceptrum replied, a pause softening the bite in its voice. I have heard tales that the dead can hear prayers spoken in their name. 

          Great. Thanks. Káel pocketed the Ceptrum with a sigh, giving Phantom a dead smile as he attempted to get off the bed. But his injured leg failed him entirely as he dropped straight to the floor with a stiffled grunt.

          "What are you doing?" Phantom said, on the verge of a heavy sigh in watching Káel's antiques trying to untangle himself from the blanket he'd dragged with him.

          "Just wait," Káel grunted, twisting himself around to face the bed and awkwardly splay his injured leg to the side. With a few scooches he pressed his chest against the mattress, clasping his hands together and resting his forehead on the ball of interlaced fingers. "Please Zalius Whitecrown, I pray that you come to my room tonight and help me free Phantom, otherwise he's screwed."

           "Oh good, I was worried your new plan was more drastic than running off into the woods on Puff's back," Phantom snorted.

          Káel frowned, keeping his eyes closed for whatever authenticity he could offer to a prayer that sat strict to ludicrous hope. But when he felt the bedding in front of him shift he couldn't help but lift his gaze, excitement doused by Puff. He'd removed the muzzle as soon as everyone left the room, and now the dragon was putting his mouth to use with a black sack of cloth looped in his fangs.

          He'd forgotten about the present Ragdoll had left under his bed, and was now hungry for a lead to a second story. Ray's.

          He untied the sack and his phone fell out, face up along with a folded up note. Something was definitely wrong with the object, the modest shiny black it once was now replaced with a glaring neon pink.

          "Dick," Káel growled, grabbing the note to skim.

I found this beside the wall you fell off of. You know, the one you smeared your blood on. I couldn't help but notice it was dead, so being the exceptional 'friend' I am, I gave it a new battery. What's this battery you ask? Nothing special, just something I had to get out of my room.

P. S. I also went through the trouble of giving your phone shock absorbent protection, it's not 100% effective, but it can take a car... and it's your favorite color!

P.P.S. I'm glad you're safe and I'm getting that rock as soon as these council prats stop tailing me. I don't care if you're buddy buddy with that trenchcoat-wearing, spider-limbed, halloween creep. Novans are dangerous.

~ Ray

          Káel paused, almost too afraid to flip over his phone and seal the written words. But he found it somewhere inside of him, the sight of its flat neon pink back somehow even worse.

          Phantom knelt down beside Káel, confused by his paled face. "What's wrong?"

          "He put a battery in it.," Káel whimpered, holding up the pink monstrosity was that just thick enough to hide the battery if Ray was telling the truth for once. "I think there's a Zodraic Battery in here."

          "What?" Phantom replied.

          Káel clicked it on. One hundred percent power - and it would likely stay at that. He slid it into his pocket, thinking twice on if he needed to pray for more than Zalius popping into his room. But he didn't want to risk being greedy for any celestial beings that had an ear on his thoughts. He glanced at the note, the closest thing to a middle finger Ray could send. "If I get out of here, I'm going to sneak into his room first and kill him."

          "Freeing me, or snuffing Blondie? I wonder what's a worse crime." Phantom chimed.

         "I'd say possessing a Zodraic Battery might blow you guys out of the competition." Káel replied, the friendly gaze he had tossed Phantom rising to just above the spectre's head, where a familiar latch sat in the ceiling. The same make as the one he'd fiddled with his first day at Cobalt. "New plan."

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Quality Quip #56:

'If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.'

~ Milton Berle