Chapter 94: I Ran Away from Mario
LEO
"Come out, Cheese Boy," Blanche called out to me shortly after I heard the door close and Mathias leave.
I walked out from behind the curtain and opened it again to let some moonlight in so I could see her.
"Come over and sit here," she said, scooting over a little on the bed to make space for me. I went over and took that space as I was told.
"What was all that about?" I asked her, desperate to hear her answers.
"Actually, that’s what I wanted to ask you. Why did Falken give you this room for two weeks? I had never been kicked out of my own room before," Blanche said, her voice as annoyed as it was curious.
"I wasn’t well," I said.
"That doesn’t explain anything."
"There was a storm during a survival mission in the mountains, and I got sick. I don’t know how, but I needed some time to rest and recover. So Mathias let me stay here till I felt better..."
"Mathias?"
"Yeah, the gentleman who was here just now."
I felt like I had made a mistake by calling him by his first name when I was supposed to only use it between us.
"I see," she said, then paused to think something over and continued, "so that’s how it is."
"What do you mean?"
"Obviously he treats you specially."
"He’s been very... kind to me, yes."
That made Blanche scoff.
Now, this wasn’t the first time. And she wasn’t the only one.
Dorian, Thomas, Isabelle, and now Blanche.
None of them were convinced that Mathias was being nice to me, when in reality he clearly was.
"He talked gently to you as well," I said, and then asked, "but why doesn’t he let you leave this place?"
"This is my room and also my jail. I’m not free to come and go as I please."
That didn’t feel right. Mathias would never force anyone like that.
"That doesn’t make sense. He didn’t only let me stay here and give me all that nice food, but also let us use the lodge, which was super nice," I argued.
"Oh, yeah. The lodge. Boy, he’s really onto something about you," Blanche said, studying my face.
"There is nothing about me, seriously. But—what about you?"
"I can’t tell you," Blanche flatly refused to answer, and she asked me another question instead.
"Why did you come here today?"
I was so confused by Blanche being here, then Mathias coming, and hearing all that I heard that I had forgotten about the book.
"I came here to pick up a book I was reading when I was here. I forgot to take it with me when I left the room," I explained.
"What book? Where did you place it?"
"It was called Tales of Witches and Folk Magic. I had it right here on the bedside table—" But when I looked, it wasn’t there.
"Did you move the book?" I asked Blanche.
"No, there was no book here at all. Check the drawers at the desk over there. There aren’t many."
I went over. There were three drawers right under the desk. I opened them. All of them contained pencils, papers, erasers—all the drawing things that Blanche needed, which I never knew because I never bothered to sit at the desk—but there was no book in sight.
"I can’t find it," I said, nervously disappointed.
"Falken must have taken it," Blanche said.
"Maybe it fell off? I’ll check under the bed," I said, trying to think of where it might have gone.
"There’s nothing under the bed," Blanche said, sounding quite certain.
"How do you know? Have you checked?"
"I check it every night."
"Huh, why?"
"For the monsters."
"Are there—really monsters under the bed?!"
"Never seen one. I just want to make sure there isn’t one suddenly. I do that before I sleep."
That was oddly childish.
"I think you should return to your dormitory now," Blanche said.
"But I need the book."
"If Falken took it, just ask him about it. Surely it can wait another day?"
I could only accept with a sigh.
"And it goes without saying that you shouldn’t tell anyone about tonight," Blanche said firmly.
"I understand."
"Good night then, Cheese Boy."
I thought about telling her not to call me that, but just left it there for now.
On my way back, I kept thinking about Blanche’s conversation with Mathias.
A blessing and a curse.
Whatever it was, Blanche was gifted. I guessed drawing in the dark was a gift. I didn’t suppose that was a curse. And Blanche was the one who said she didn’t like staying at the dormitory. So no, Mathias wasn’t keeping her in the room. And Mathias would never hurt anyone either. So Blanche saying that was just her throwing a tantrum. But then again, at Hoffberg—
The magician.
I wondered what happened to him afterwards.
I shook my head and started to walk a bit quicker, only slowing down for a moment as I saw an owl sitting on a tree, looking at me with its big, round eyes. That made me worry about squirrels. I always liked squirrels. I hoped the squirrels would be safe from the owl tonight.
Then, as I paced away, I heard someone shout my name from behind.
I turned to see that it was Mario. I could recognize his shape even from a distance. At first I thought about waving back, but I began to panic when I thought about what I would say when he asked me where I had been. I couldn’t tell him I met Blanche. I couldn’t tell him I overheard Mathias. After what Isabelle and Thomas were saying... I felt like if I told Mario about Mathias, Mario would tell him.
I didn’t want to make up any more lies. I didn’t want to keep any more secrets from him. Mario was my friend. My special friend.
Not knowing what to do, I ran back.
I ran away from Mario.