Following along behind Valencia and Estelle, Astrid tried her best to not look around too much as they made their way up the stairs, through the main double doors, and past the front reception area. Lacing her fingers with Valencia’s, she followed along as the administrators came to a stop in front of a massive holographic map in the middle of the main hall. 

With Estelle clicking her tongue and tapping her heel against the ground, Astrid felt an invisible pressure settle across the hall as Estelle raised an eyebrow towards the group of administrators. 

The problem with the Administrators was that it seemed they could do nothing but panic. Whether it was through hushed whispers or frenzied gesturing, it just seemed like they were coming up with a path through the school on the fly. 

“I’ll wait.” Estelle smirked, tapping her pen against her clipboard. “Take your time.” 

Leaning over to Valencia’s ear, Astrid covered her mouth and whispered. “You know, if I didn’t know Estelle for... uhm... being Estelle, I’d think she’s quite hot right now. I don’t know, maybe it's the confidence.” 

“Confidence is attractive. As for Estelle, I have to admit she always had the potential. Whether she manifests it or not though is another question.” Valencia murmured back with an assenting nod. Squeezing Astrid’s hand and pulling her a half-step closer, Valencia couldn’t help but chuckle as the stout leader in the suit began apologizing while sweat began pouring from his forehead. “I’d say her goofiness makes her more cute.” 

“I’d agree...” Astrid leaned her head against Valencia’s shoulder before snapping her mouth shut as Estelle turned around. 

“I can hear you two, you know.” Estelle furrowed her eyebrows, massaging the bridge of her nose. 

“I don’t care,” Valencia smirked, shooting a finger gun towards Estelle. “What are you going to do about it? Cry?” 

“So what if I do, hmm~?” Estelle squinted back, miming a biting motion. “I’m not afraid of you.” 

“Well, you should be,” Valencia shrugged while covering her mouth to hide a laugh. “Anyway, I think they’re finally ready.” 

With Estelle’s “business demeanor” returning in less than a second, Astrid murmured a quiet “You go Estelle, you go,” before following along as the leader guided them along a side hallway. 

“Alright, so we’ll visit the training area, the classrooms, and the outside area? Anywhere else you’d like to see?” The man explained as their footsteps echoed down the empty hall. “We’re open to letting you see any part of the school.” 

“You’d better be, this is an inspection,” Estelle sighed, tapping her clipboard once more as she walked forward. “I’d also like to see the dorms, the cafeteria, teachers offices, and any other areas we come across along the way like the infirmary.” 

Peering down over her glasses, Estelle’s solemn air radiated off of her and filled the hall as each member of administration paled. Even without her heels, Estelle was taller than the leading man by a hair, but with the heels, she was a full chunk taller than him. 

With the leader freezing up and having a calf spasm, a different gray-haired woman around the same height as Estelle came to take his place. 

What... What just happened?

That’s the question Astrid wanted to ask as she watched the man hobble his way to the back of the pack. Did they have some sort of tapping out system? Like they did in wrestling?

Shifting half a step behind Valencia, she watched as the gray-haired woman bowed her head a couple times and asked “We are currently walking towards the classrooms first, is that alright with you miss?” 

“Fine by me, I’d just like to actually see some part of the school. Instead of... whatever random nonsense I’ve been seeing so far,” Estelle waved her hand before spinning on her heel and walking forward. “Lead the way.” 

Snaking their way through the sleek hallways—ones unbefitting of the more antiquated stone exterior—the group passed through an elevated breezeway before entering a more traditional expansive hall. 

“This is the main hallway that snakes through this building.” The lady began as she motioned left and right. “The doors here lead to the various large lecture halls our academy has. For the more basic classes where the student sizes are larger.” 

Getting an “mhm,” from Estelle, the lady tapped out to get replaced by another man. Estelle, paying no mind to this weird substitution action happening, walked over to one of the doors, opened it, and peeked her head in. 

Raising her hand into the room, Estelle turned to look back with a half-grin ghosting its way across her lips. “Prepare yourselves.” 

With an immense pressure crashing down on everyone present, a wave of darkness left Estelle’s hand and swept through the lecture hall she had peeked her way into. 

Closing her eyes and cocking her head, Estelle took a second before murmuring “got it.” Taking some light notes on her notebook, Estelle motioned for the posse of administrators to keep the tour going. “I’m ready to go.” 

“A-...Already?” The replacement squawked, motioning for everyone to come closer to the door. “Are you sure you got everything? Or are you not looking?” 

“What do you think?” Estelle scoffed and flicked her hand forward. “The electrical outlet near the speaker’s podium has gum stuffed into all its holes, there’s a half-empty bag of chips left in the fourth row, barbeque by the way if you want it, and there are two students making out in the very back. Sa. Tis. Fied?” 

“Y-Yes, of course!” The man stammered before motioning everyone along. “Alright, let’s take a look at the smaller classrooms then!” 

Following along while keeping silent to not disturb whatever intimidation tactic Estelle had going on, Astrid took a second to peek into the lecture hall before catching up. 

It was SO NICE. 

Each seat was padded, had its own little table, and the lighting was bright so everyone could see. Row by row it went upward too, so short people like her didn’t have to worry. Shaking her head, Astrid couldn’t help but imagine how it would’ve been to continue school at a place like this... 

Wouldn’t it have been so nice?

There were large screens scattered through the hall, not just one at the front so everyone could easily see what was being displayed during the lecture... 

Feeling a bit of melancholy, Astrid dismissed the thoughts after a second. There was no use in being stuck in the past. 

Intertwining her arm with Valencia’s, she squeezed Valencia close as they walked along. The present was nice enough. This whole tour with Estelle was fun enough, even if Estelle was deliberately antagonizing the administration heads. 

Or, well, arguably, that made it better. At least that’s what Astrid felt. 

On the topic of antagonizing the tour guides though, she couldn’t help but notice the amount of clenched fists people were hiding behind their backs. Estelle couldn't see them because she was in the front, but from her and Valencia’s vantage point, Astrid saw them clear as day... 

One man was even clenching a thin sharpened rod as if it was a stress toy... 

... Hopefully everything turned out alright... 

As if reading her mind, Valencia just pat Astrid on the back. “There’s no need to worry, with Estelle and I here, they’d be long gone before they even got one attack in.” 

... That was reassuring but not in the way she expected. 

Esiyx

I've done a ton of room reoganizing recentlyyy its been fun!! put up some nicer curtains and some vine lights!!

hehehehe

idk very fun stuff :D

Thanks for reading though~!!
Take care reader friends~!! <3<3