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Arzol grinned, shrugging his somehow elegant shoulders. "There is still work to be done here, in the Top World, when there is still a chance that her spirit can be redeemed. I value my immortal life, you see, and don't wish to have it ruined because of the whims of a few demi-Gods." He said, rolling his eyes.

"Ah, don't ya know, Headmaster? It's not my job to hurt her anymore. The Boss wants that for himself. Personally wouldn't wish that on anyone, but that's out of my hands. I'm just supposed to keep her in my sights, make sure she doesn't make a break for it...Which she did, kind of." He shrugged again, brushing a stray strand of hair behind his ear.

"Those last few days, though, ya gotta know, even a Hell sentenced demon wouldn't have had it in them to lay a hand on her. Think about it, man. She committed suicide, the ultimate sin. She had to know her soul would end up straight in hell, go straight to the Boss. She was just beyond caring, beyond thinking...Taking her down then, when she could barely function...Not even I kick sick vulnerable puppies, not like that. Didn't you see her? Didn't you see the look in her eyes? Even if I didn't think she'd go the suicide route, even I could see she was falling apart at the seams...So why didn't you guys?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.

Lin had been so absorbed in reading and she was becoming so drained that she hadn't sensed Maggie coming up behind her. Normally she would have, but not now, not today.

When Maggie spoke into Lin's ear, Lin didn't jump or even flinch in surprise. It was almost as if she was too tired to even react. She simply sighed and rested her head in her hand.

"Hello Maggie. No, this is not extra work. You know me. I like researching different subjects on my own. Always questioning, always learning."

Lin turned her head and looked at the small fairy form of Maggie as she spoke energetically. Instead of getting aggravated at her enthusiasm and energy, Lin smiled and laughed softly.

"I agree, Maggie. I really do."

In her dorm room, Athena was pouting like a little child upon her bed. She hadn't gotten to talk to Ialo today; she'd been too busy and every time she actually remembered, there had been something else that was just distracting enough to make her stop and procrastinate--something that she truly couldn't afford. Not with this, anyway.

She huffed slightly, then wondered if the Headmaster was in bed yet. If he wasn't... well, she wasn't objecting to making a late-night visit. Especially since it was probably the only way she'd be able to actually get any sleep.

So, glancing about conspicuously, Athena tiptoed out of her dorm room and into the main hallway. She gave no thought to the fact that she was in pajamas or that Adolf was likely wandering the halls himself. He was prone to doing things like that, especially so close to the full moon--which, she reminded herself, is tomorrow. The power... she could feel it, herself, and could only imagine how it would be affecting her godfather. She held no wonder at his restlessness.

--

As Athena suspected, Adolf was out in the hallways, simply walking about. He was no longer wearing his travelling suit--he'd discarded it for a different suit. This one was white, with red accents that complemented the markings on his face. A handkerchief in his pocket, the laces of his shoes, lines down the side of his pants--it wasn't necessarily subtle, but it wasn't in any of those absurd patterns that he had seen over the centuries. It was truly quite plain--and, he'd discovered, he preferred it that way.

((Hope you don't mind Mitsuki, I'm skipping this scene ahead to keep up with the timeskip))

"Because," Ialo fired off automatically, even though he didn't have an answer. "Because..." He was disgusted with himself. He couldn't come with an answer when he really needed it - the truth was, he had let himself become caught up in all sorts of other things that he had considered more important than the school. But the school... ultimately, that's where everything was for Ialo. It frightened him, and it gave him purpose.

He bristled, becoming defensive. "Nobody expected her to suicide. She wouldn't have, if it weren't for you and your partners contributing to her misery." Ialo stood up, and glared at the demon. "Leave. I'm done talking to you today." Already, he was envisioning slapping a nice red expulsion notice in Arzol's folder.

But that was hours ago. The day passed by rather uneventfully... the most momentous thing that had happened all day was that he had fallen asleep in the middle of the afternoon and was therefore now, and just after 10 at night, quite well awake. So, he set to roaming the hallways. It was always a nice thing to do, because there was always someone else doing the same thing. You were never alone in the hallways of MFHS.

"Aha!" Maggie exclaimed gleefully. "You admit it! Then I know just the thing for you! You're always helping people with that fancy elf magic of yours, so why don't I return the favor? Nature spirit to nature spirit, eh? I know a little fairy spell that should keep you ticking for a few more hours... but after that chica, you really should go to sleep... you look awful!"