An Earl in Night Raven College (Book three)

The Merchant of the Deep Sea: Part 24

*Ciel's POV*

"I still can't believe you ran out of your inhaler this quickly."

Me and Riddle were walking through the halls as I was holding a small white bag in my hand that had my inhaler in it. I needed to go to the nurse's office to get a refill since he ran out earlier due to escaping from Mostro Lounge. But sadly he had to wait since the nurse was busy and by the time he can get one, it was already night time. So I asked Riddle, after being sure he knew of my asthma, if it was alright to come with me since Grim wasn't in the mood to come. Which lead us back to here as he still found it hard to believe that I had run out this quickly.

"I know, I know... You don't have to keep reminding me."

"I only do that because I'm worried about you. And also because you're reckless." Riddle states

"I'm not that reckless!" Ciel argues

"Yes, you are!" Riddle counters back.

"No!"

"Have you not been paying attention to all the stunts you and the others pulled since you got here? Do you want me to remind you." Riddle questions, which makes me unsure what to say.

"Uh..."

"That's what I thought, but in all seriousness please be careful next time. I don' want to imagine what would happen to you if your asthma triggered and you couldn't use your inhaler. I don't want that, you're my friend Ciel and I don't want you to get hurt... So please don't let this happen again, okay?" Riddle pleads as he had a hand on my shoulder.

I frown at his words as I felt him squeeze my shoulder a bit before I turn my head away from him and looked at the ground. I didn't mean to make anyone worry, especially Riddle since he already has enough things on his plate at the moment. Though it looks I failed to prevent that from happening. I sigh as I though back to those memories that shown I had gotten hurt back in my dimension, but I didn't want him to know that. It will only make things worse, I look back at him.

'If only you knew what I've seen, Riddle...' I thought to myself while rubbing my arm.

"... Okay, I'll. Sorry for worrying you." Riddle gives me a small smile to which I smiled back.

"Good, now hurry along back to Savanaclaw. I'm sure Jack and Grim are wondering where you are. Same for Leona and Ruggie, even if they don't show it."

"Alright. Night, Riddle." I say with a small yawn

"Night, Ciel." Riddle states as he walks away.

I watched as he walks away before making my way out of the school once he had turned the corner. I was deep in thought while also making sure that I didn't bump into anyone was I was walking. After a while of walking, I find myself in the front yard of the Ramshackle dorm as cold winds blows past me. I looked at the dorm in awe and shock as I saw the state that it was now in, the outside didn't look like the building was in ruin now, it looked like an actual dorm. Though my shock came from the fact I was here and not at Savanaclaw, guess I'm not use to going to a different dorm.

'I walked back to Ramshackle Dorm out of pure habit.'

I looked at the dorm with a faint smile on my face at the little memories I had made within the dorm's walls. But then I frown as I remembered that tomorrow is the deadline for the contract before Azul takes the dorm away from me and Grim. While I'm upset about the news, I couldn't help but be worried mine and Grim's three dorm ghosts. I hope Azul isn't forcing them to do things that they don't like. I shake my head as I could hear some voices coming from within the building.

'One more day until we lose our dorm privileges for good... I hope that plan works...'

Then my eye widens as I felt someone was here, I quickly began to look around to see if I can spot the individual. I knew right away that it wasn't Jack or Grim since they were at Savanaclaw resting. While Ace and Deuce were back at Heartslabyul doing some of the chores that Riddle had given to them as punishment. Then I saw a lot of green fireflies flying around, not bothered by the cold winds. I couldn't help but smile at the sight as one landed on my shoulder while the rest continued to fly around as I followed them to somewhere.

"Ooh, that's a pretty sight." I said in awe before noticing the horned boy from a while ago.

"Hm? You're..."

"Well, if it isn't Hornton, the ruin explorer." I said as I walk up to him

"Hornton? Who is that? Are you...referring to me?" Hornton questions with wide eyes.

"You said I could call you a name of my choosing." I say with smile to which he smiles back.

"Heh... Hmhm. Ha ha ha! Me, being called 'Hornton'! You really are fearless, it seems. No matter. It was I who told you to use a name of your choosing. I'll indulge this liberty and permit you to refer to me by your...curious nickname. By the by, I've noticed that this dorm has seemed rowdier as of late. Are you taking in more students?" Hornton inquires as I look down, which makes him concern.

"Actually... You see, the dorm was taken as collateral, and..."

I began to explain to him what had happened that resulted in the dorm being taken away from me and Grim. I told him how I saw the sea anemones appear on Grim, Ace, and Deuce heads just before Jack showed up. Then, brought up how both of me and Jack followed the infected students and saw what they were made to do by Azul. And the next day, the twins confronted the us and told me about forming a contract, which made the trio beg me to make. Finally, I finish by stating how I made a contract and terms, Hornton was taken aback but listened before speaking.

"What? You made a deal with Ashengrotto? Well... I suppose that does explain it. Then once the sun sets tomorrow, I suppose this place will belong to him and become a hotspot for noisy students. Heh. You look like you take issue with my statement. You don't like me speaking as  though your loss is a given? ...... Incidentally, the walls of this dorm have some rather impressive gargoyle sculptures." Hornton states as I sweatdrop at the sudden shift.

'Talk about an abrupt topic switch...'

"Gargoyles?" I ask, curious about them

"At first glance, these gargoyles appear to be imposing, dangerous monsters... But in reality, they are a kind of drainage spout built to keep rainwater from sullying the walls. They look frightful, and yet they are beings devoted to the preservation of their home." Hornton explains.

"There's a stark contrast between what they do and how they look, huh?" I state as he nods

"Sometimes, what you see with your eyes is the complete opposite of the truth. And...I, too, would prefer to avoid this place becoming rowdy every night. Continue fighting to protect your dorm." Hornton encourages with a smile.

He then teleports away leaving a small flash of light as the fireflies also vanishes, making me believe that they only appear when Hornton is around. Once he was gone, I began to think about what he said to me. I couldn't help but smirk to myself as I was trying to figure out what that statement is or who it's applied to. But I was never one to back down from solving a mystery, though this time I have to be more careful or else Riddle will have my head. I began to walk away from the dorm as I began to mutter to myself.

"So what I see... isn't always the truth?"

(I added another scene and some dialogue to make the chapter a bit longer)