NOVEL NEXT Chapter 157: Cookie
After a quick nap, not quick enough to be in time for class, but too quick for Zach to get proper rest, Zach went about his day as usual. He attended classes, held a meeting with the Club to bring Liam up to speed and hammer out a few details regarding Rierdan's safety.
During the meeting, they also talked about the fact that no one had visited the man after Dukiel and Julius dropped him off. They tried to get a peek at the infirmary logs for all visitors, but if they would get permission for that, it would take at least a couple of days.
Julius also hadn't found any traces of underworld energy other than the ones they were responsible for. Other than successfully getting a magic tool on Rierdan's door that prevented anyone other than his designated attendants at the infirmary, the healers and doctors, and the club members as soon as they registered with it, from entering, there wasn't much success in the Club's endeavors.
Even the tool on Rierdan's door wasn't perfect, either. What if the spy was a member of the infirmary? It would be useless. A skilled magician or a summoner with the right familiar or skill could probably bypass it relatively easily, as well.
And if someone were willing to use force, the magic tool would be useless.
But it was better than nothing, and it wasn't like they could have someone constantly sit by Rierdan and watch him. All of them were busy enough as it was with their duties, responsibilities, and studies.
Heck, Zach was barely getting any sleep anymore. It was partly due to his choices, but he made those choices out of a sense of necessity and obligation.
The most they could do was bring their study materials and sit by Rierdan while studying. But that would cover a few of the many hours of the day. Those hours were also the busiest, which was when Rierdan was the safest since it would be extremely difficult to enter his room, silence him, and leave the infirmary without anyone noticing.
Still, it was better than nothing, so the club members agreed to study in Rierdan's room if they could. There were some books and texts they weren't allowed to bring outside the library.
In the afternoon, they had a class on the natures of familiars, understanding different familiars, and how to make multiple familiars get along. It was easy for some, and difficult for others.
Usually, summoners summoned familiars at least a little similar in nature, so making the familiars get along wasn't any difficult. Stop them from getting jealous or fighting, and it would be fine after a while as soon as they settled. But in rare cases, the familiars could be so hostile they fought with each other and the summoner.
Zach's classmates and some of the instructors thought that had happened between his two familiars since they never saw the tall one anymore. Since things were better between the two maids now than they were in the beginning, Zach was quick to correct that misunderstanding.
Unfortunately, that led to him having to explain how he got his familiars to get along and explain anything special he did.
Put on the spot, Zach reacted quickly and informed his classmates of the importance of good food and having a conversation with both familiars, if not with words, with hearts and minds. But if it came to blows, it might be best to let the familiars settle it themselves, either by figuring out the hierarchy or by understanding one another through an exchange of fists. Or paws. Or pincers. Or fangs.
Or wings. Or mystical stuff that was closer to magic, like what Violina's Ice Spirit did.
Zach's classmates couldn't tell if he was rambling or not, but it sounded like reasonable advice, so they took notes. The teacher also thanked Zach for his impromptu lecture with a cookie. Zach didn't mind.
And then, after all the lessons for the day had ended, it was time to reenter the sewers again. The club members gathered in the clubroom before the group were to set off.
"Considering you guys found an underworlder and a possible kidnapping victim yesterday night, should we also go?" Anerias asked while looking at Dukiel giving Julius a map of the route they followed last time.
"I do not want to enter the sewers for obvious reasons, but maybe we need more manpower this time." Violina also expressed her desire to enter the sewers.
Zach looked at Rabst and the other two sewer explorers for a moment before turning to the ones who hadn't entered.
"Considering not even Rabst could catch up and they fled on sight, I think it's unlikely that we will need more combat strength. Stay put and if you have spare time on your hands, check on Rierdan." Zach was about to ask the other three if they were ready to go.
"Hold on. How about a shift-change, then?" Nessa asked.
"A shift-change?" Zach tilted his head.
"Instead of you three entering the sewers with Rabst, why don't the three of us, or four if Liam comes, go?"
Zach raised an eyebrow.
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"Julius is the best at finding underworld energy. Leaving him behind is a mistake. And Dukiel is the second best in the club after Rierdan at finding the way."
"Okay. How about you stay behind and let someone else go, Zach?" Although Nessa phrased it as a question, Zach had a feeling she didn't want a no.
"...Why?" Zach's tone carried a slight sharpness as he asked for Nessa's reasons. Plural because a single wouldn't be good enough.
"Because you're tired, Zach."
"..." Zach gave her a blank look.
"..." Nessa returned the staredown with crossed arms.
"...Pf–Ha!" Zach let out a quick and dry laugh.
"No way," Zach said with an iron-like voice and shook his head.
But he noticed the way the others exchanged looks.
"What?" He looked at them, one at a time. They avoided meeting his gaze until he looked at Nessa. She met his eyes with a resolute expression.
"How many hours have you slept the past weeks?"
"I dunno. A couple of hours." Zach shrugged.
"A day?" Nessa asked for clarification.
Zach was silent, and before he could say anything Nessa continued,
"Or total?"
"..." Zach's silence was all the answer she needed. The others also realized that Zach probably shouldn't be doing anything other than resting right now. Unfortunately, Zach wasn't going down easy.