When Negi, Natalie, Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna arrived at the Headmaster’s office, there were at least two dozen other people already there, including Edward. He was standing beside the Headmaster. He didn’t look as annoyed as he had when Natalie had left him earlier which was good. The others in the room looked like a combination of staff and students. Natalie figured they were all the magic users from the various schools within Mahora Academy campus. The Headmaster motioned for her to come over and join Edward and himself.
“Hello again sir,” she said with a smile.
“Hello, my dear. Can I have you wait here with Edward for a moment?”
“Certainly.”
The Headmaster stepped away and went to sit at his desk. Natalie leaned over and whispered to Edward. “How did things go?”
“Really well, but I’ll have to tell you about it later…” he said as he motioned with his head that the Headmaster was getting ready to start.
“Thank you all for coming. There are a few things that I need to share with you. First, we have two new young people joining our staff temporarily.” The Headmaster motioned for Natalie and Edward to step forward. “The young lady is Natalie Simon and the young man is Edward Elric. They have come to us to assist young Negi Springfield with the 3-A English class. They will be acting as teacher’s assistants and tutors as needed. So you are aware as well, they are also members of our magical staff here at the school so you can feel at ease with them. Mr. Elric is a gifted alchemist and Ms. Simon is a master of dimensional magic. I hope you show them every courtesy and help them feel welcome here at Mahora Academy.”
There were a few murmurs and mutters between the people in the room. The Headmaster didn’t seem to notice or if he did he clearly didn’t care.
“On to the next order of business. As you all know tomorrow the annual Mahorafest school festival begins. During that time the World Tree’s magic will be at its peak. As we all know, there are stories among the students that say that if you confess your love to someone under the World Tree that you will be together forever.”
“That’s just a story though, right Grandpa?” Konoka asked.
“Normally yes, the World Tree is pretty harmless most of the time, but every 22 years the magical power of the tree builds. This is that year. We’re expecting that it will be at its strongest on the third day of the festival but throughout the other two it will be dangerous as well. I’ve asked you all here to ask for your assistance in keeping our students from confessing their feelings around the tree. The results could be very dangerous. Affairs of the heart should be conducted of one’s own free will, not because of magic.
You can use any means necessary to keep the confessions from happening so long as you don’t expose yourselves and the existence of magic in the process though that should go without saying. Patrols will start at sunrise tomorrow so please check on your way out for the times and places I’ve assigned for you. Each shift is only two hours in length so that you will also be able to enjoy the festival yourselves or attend to your students and clubs.”
“Don’t worry sir, we’ll make sure no one confesses near the tree,” said one of the students. Her uniform suggested she came from St. Ursula’s, the high school on the Mahora campus.
“Very good, then that is all I had for you.”
The room started to clear. Asuna, Konoka, Setsuna, and Negi lagged behind and went over to Natalie and Edward.
“So is this the friend you told us about Natalie-sempai?” asked Konoka.
Natalie smiled. “Yup, this Edward-sempai.” She then introduced Edward to the girls. He’d already met Negi earlier in the day.
Konoka leaned over to Natalie, hiding her face from Edward with her hand. “So, is he your boyfriend?”
Natalie blushed ten shades of red. “Um… I… well… Uh…” She was clearly flustered. Natalie wasn’t sure how to answer that question. They were close yes, and she had told him how she felt about him, and there was the fact that he had nearly died to save her but they had never really talked about that sort of thing. Natalie didn’t want to push it, though Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion had had that conversation with them both but that still didn’t mean they were together as in couple together.
“What are you laughing about Oujo-sama?” Setsuna asked Konoka.
“Oh just how cute Natalie-sempai is, that’s all,” she replied with a giggle.
Natalie just gave Konoka a look. This wasn’t funny at all. Edward looked over at that point and her cheeks were still flushed. “You OK Natalie?” he asked.
Natalie waved it off, “Oh yeah, fine, no problem, nothing’s wrong, nope, just peachy!”
Edward looked at her strangely. He didn’t buy it for a second but decided it was just better to let it go. It was for the best too because at that point the Headmaster came over.
“Natalie, Edward, while you’re here I’ve arranged for you to stay in the faculty apartments. I hope you won’t have a problem staying together as we only have one available right now,” he said as he handed them the keys.
Natalie and Edward looked at each other. Stay together? Well they had been alright when they’d been in Resembool but then Alphonse had also been there and things weren’t exactly the same between them then as they were now.
“Also, if you need anything please let me know. I know having currency isn’t always easy for one such as you,” the Headmaster said, more looking at Natalie.
“Thank you for everything sir, we appreciate it very much but we will find a way to repay you for everything.”
The Headmaster waved it off. “Don’t worry about it young lady, just do the things that have already been asked of you and everything will be settled.” He then motioned for Negi, Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna to come over. “Would you all be so kind as to show our guests where the faculty apartments are?”
“Sure Grandpa,” Konoka said with a smile. She then turned to the group. “Come on, let’s go.”
The group left the Headmaster’s office and headed out for the trains. The apartments were on the other side of the campus from the girl’s middle school.
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