Not As it Seems

Chapter 6: Reinforcement

The other performances were, naturally, way better than the fiasco Laura and the others had just performed. When it was time for Eleanor's group, Laura was actually enjoying the play again. Sure, she had been completely and utterly humiliated and probably had a permanent stage trauma, but at least it was over. The group was almost perfect, except for the grumpy guy who clearly hated performing like this. When they finished, everyone had to wait until principal Mary announced the best play and give them their prize. It took around ten minutes before she went onto the stage together with sister Edith.
"Thank you for waiting, everyone! After careful consideration, we have decided on the winning group. Edith, will you do the honor?"
"Everyone did a wonderful job on the play, but we felt that one group went above and beyond. This group consists of Isabella, Audrey, Eleanor, Cheston, Amaya, and Drake! Come onto the stage!" Edith announced. It was weird that Edith mentioned six names, because only five people stood up and went towards the stage. It wasn't nearly as weird as what was about to happen, though. The group of five went backstage, as that was the only way to get onto the stage, but didn't immediately appear again. Everyone waited for a few minutes, and people started whispering. Edith disappeared backstage to look for the students. She came back looking mortified.
"They're gone!" she shouted. Everyone started talking and was on the verge of panic.
Principal Mary turned to the crowd, "everyone, please remain calm and go to your rooms. We will investigate this matter immediately and find out what happened. We will find your classmates, please don't worry."

While Laura and Astrid went with Felix and Glen to the boys' dorm to discuss the situation without Elizabeth being one room away, Levi followed Elizabeth and Anna. After Elizabeth's awful performance, he really needed to talk to her. She was heading on a dark path he hoped he could still take her off. A thought he immediately put aside when he saw her shouting at Anna. That was enough for him.
"Elizabeth!" Levi shouted, "leave her alone!"
"This is none of your business, Levi!"
"Do you even hear what you're saying?! It's like you're a whole different person!"
"You have no idea what you're talking about!"
Levi sighed, "you know what, I'm done trying to be nice to you. You can come back to me once you can act like a decent human being again, though I doubt that'll happen. Now, leave Anna alone." Elizabeth gave both Levi and Anna a deadly glare before walking off. Levi furiously stormed towards his dorm. Anna went to her room in tears.

"Who could possibly kidnap five students without creating any noise..." Laura wondered. The group of four was trying their best to figure out what had just happened, but it was difficult to understand the why and how behind things.
"Do we even know any of them? I didn't recognize any of the names," Glen said.
"I know Eleanor, she's a noble from Falmar, and her father is good friends with my parents," Laura answered.
"Cheston is a commoner from Earth," Astrid added, "Audrey is the Crown Princess of Brightwald, and Isabella is a commoner from the same country."
"Drake is the Crown Prince of Wyvernston. He's always in the tavern we visited on our first day," Felix explained, "and Amaya is the Crown Princess of Mistlyn, but she wasn't at the play."
"But why would anyone do this? Surely we would have gotten a ransom note by now, if the kidnappers were out for money or some kind of favor..." Laura questioned.
"I might have an idea!" Levi shouted, barging into the dorm.
"Aren't you Elizabeth's fiancé? That doesn't exactly make you trustworthy," Felix spat.
"I know, but I dislike her as much as the rest of you. I saw her shouting at Anna just now, and I... told her off, so believe me, I'm with all of you."
"So, how can you help?" Astrid inquired. Felix sighed. He wasn't too happy with their circle expanding.
"It has to do with Drake and Audrey. They have something important in common: they have a lot of influence. It's well-known that Audrey's father, King William, dotes on her greatly. And while Drake might still be a prince, he's technically already king of Wyvernston, being the only member left of the royal family and not having had a regent to govern on his behalf. What do you think kidnapping those two could achieve?"
"It would give them unlimited influence over Brightwald and Wyvernston... King William would pay any price for his beloved daughter, and so would the people of Wyvernston for their only member of the royal family..." Glen answered.
"That explains the why, but who would do such a thing?" Laura asked. Nobody had an answer to that.

After the discussion ended, everyone went to their rooms to sleep. Most of the group easily fell asleep, being tired from thinking and the play, but for Glen, it wasn't as easy. He turned around multiple times and tried to take his mind off the events of that day, but he knew it was impossible. He got up, changed back into his normal clothes, and sneaked out of the dorm. Glen went through the quiet and empty hallways, towards the courtyard, where he walked to the first tree he saw, grabbed an arrow from his quiver, and started shooting. He didn't know there was someone else in the courtyard.
"You're up late," Astrid greeted Glen. He turned around and was relieved to see it was just her.
"Thanks for the heart attack," he said with a glare, "I couldn't sleep. I'm so worried about the missing students..."
"Me too. Though, I wasn't expecting you to admit that. You're never so tender, always showing off and being as tough and charming as you possibly can. I wonder if it's all genuine..."
"You certainly think you know me so well for someone who hasn't known me for long. I have my reasons for doing what I do."
"I can easily tell when people carry a burden..." Astrid briefly paused, "and when compliments and flirtations aren't genuine. Someone less observant could easily believe them. What reason could a prince like you possibly have?"
"What I do and say is my business, Astrid. Stay out of it," Glen warned, grabbing his arrows from the tree and walking away. Astrid felt a sting of regret.
"Glen, wait! I just want to-" But he was already gone. "-help..." Astrid whispered.

The next morning, at breakfast, Laura felt a clear tension in the air. Or more specifically, at the table she and her friends were sitting at. Felix clearly wasn't a fan of the decision to let Levi join them, and Levi wasn't a fan of the constant distrustful glares. Glen also seemed angry at Astrid for some reason. What could have caused it was a mystery to Laura. Just one more on a quickly increasing pile, she thought. Others on that pile were 'who kidnapped the students', 'why was Elizabeth such a thorn in everyone's side', 'what was the package and what was Mary hiding', and, the latest addition, 'why was Anna suddenly sitting alone'. She just hoped the tension at her own table would soon be resolved, because if the group started fighting amongst themselves, they would never be able to solve anything.
"Astrid!" Emma's voice suddenly shouted. The young princess ran towards the table, quickly followed by Edith. She tightly hugged her older sister.
"She wanted to see you before we left," Edith clarified, "Principal Mary has started an investigation to find the missing students, and for the time being, the church won't intervene to make sure it doesn't start a continental conflict."
Astrid nodded, "it's too soon after the last war, people would immediately start pointing fingers and start a new one."
"Please don't disappear too!" Emma exclaimed.
"I won't, I promise. Take good care of her, Edith, and give your brother my regards."
"I will," Edith smiled, "let's go, Emma, the carriage is waiting." The two of them walked off, and for a moment, it felt like the tension had gone off with them.