She recalled seeing this boy yesterday during the incident. Moreover, he gave her a feeling of deep concern. Such as something terrible was about to occur!
Seemingly innocent, Cater masked a smile and waved, "Hey, Riddle! What's shakin', pal? You're lookin' adorbs, as always!"
However, Riddle was not buying his attitude and said, "Hmph. Cater, keep running that mouth and you'll lose it - along with the rest of your head."
"Sorry, sorry! My bad!" Cater apologized fervently.
"Myah?!" Grim exclaimed in surprise and pointed, "You're the guy who put that stupid collar on me at the orientation ceremony!"
"And you're the new students who were nearly expelled yesterday." Riddle scowled in displeasure from being called out rudely, "I'll ask that you not refer to my signature spell as a 'stupid collar.'"
Hoshi pondered to herself in confusion.
Signature spell?
"The headmage's habit of tolerating rulebreakers like you is going to send this entire campus spiraling into chaos one day. Those who break the rules should have their heads removed immediately, without exception." Riddle reminded them.
"Dude, seriously? This guy looks like a wimp, but talks like a monster!" Ace whispered in a hush tone.
"The headmage may have forgiven you, but if you break any further rules, I assure you I will not." Riddle clarified firmly.
"So, uh, listen, housewarden, sir..." Ace spoke up hesitantly yet in a polite manner, "Any chance I could get you to remove this collar?"
"I had intended to remove it once you'd taken an opportunity to reflect upon your crimes. But I've not detected so much as a hint of remorse in the foolishness I've heard you spout today. So I think I'll let you keep that for a while." Riddle answered, "Don't worry. The freshman curriculum is more focused on magical theory than practice. And your inability to use magic will help prevent incidents along the lines of what happened yesterday. Now, if you've finished your meal, you should quit gossiping and prepare for your next class. Rule 271 is quite clear: 'One must leave the table within fifteen minutes of completing their lunch.' You DO understand what happens to rulebreakers, I trust?"
Realizing his attempts were for naught, Ace sighed in defeat, "More insane rules..."
"I believe you mean to say, 'Yes, Housewarden!'" Riddle scowled.
Startled from his strict and loud tone, the two Heartslabyul freshmen startled and straightened their back, "Yes, Housewarden!"
He nodded in satisfaction of their response, "Very well, then."
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them." Trey reassured him with a smile.
"Hmm. As vice housewarden, I trust you'll avoid any further indiscreet conversation." Riddle agreed though unsure at first, "Now, as per rule 339... 'The post-meal beverage is to be lemon tea with two sugar cubes.' Thus, I must go to acquire my sugar cubes. Farewell. Don't even get me started on their violation of running out of sugar cubes...!"
With that, Riddle exited the silent room. Cater heaved a sigh of relief after seeing the coast was clear, "Yeesh! That was terrifying."
Grim's ears drooped as he grumbled, "That guy... has some serious issues."
"Hey, don't disrespect him!" Deuce scolded him with a stern frown.
"Is the housewarden gone?"
Their conversation was interrupted by a soft whisper in the quiet room as soon another voice followed in a similarly soft yet urgent manner. A tone filled with trembling fear, "I totally just broke rule 186, 'Never eat a hamburger on Tuesday.' I don't know what I would have done if he'd caught me!"
Another sighed wearily, "I wish he wouldn't come here so we could at least eat lunch in peace."
The other group murmured in silence as Hoshi looked around in confusion. Surrounding the students was a thin layer of black veil that hadn't been there before! Was this normal? Though she pondered this, her gut feeling was telling her otherwise and she turned around only to find that the others weren't too surprised. Rather, they hardly reacted to the black veil at all! Rather, Trey continued undisturbed by the situation, "Riddle managed to secure the housewarden title before the end of his very first week at school. I know he can come off a bit harsh, but he's not a bad guy. Everything he does, he does because he thinks it'll improve the dorm."
"Would a good guy go around putting collars on strangers' necks?" Grim pouted unconvinced.
To this, the two third years could only manage a dry laugh. Uncertain if she should bring this up, Hoshi joined the conversation instead as she scolded Grim, "That was your fault for causing trouble, Grim."
"Grrrrr..." Grim only got more annoyed and whinned like a child, "But that collar really hurt, and it shut off all my magic! That's just rude!"
Ignoring him, Hoshi was reminded what Riddle said and asked curiously, "So what's this "signature spell" he mentioned?"
"Hm? You're curious about Riddle's signature spell?" Cater smiled as he was relieved for the change of topics.
"That means, like..." Deuce fumbled as he racked his head for an educated answer, "It's a spell that only he can cast, right?"
"I doubt he's the only person in the whole world..." Trey gave an awkward smile, "But yes, a signature spell is a magical ability that is, generally speaking, unique to its user. You'll learn about them in class soon enough."
"So, Riddle's magic is able to allow him to create collars that stops us from using magic?" Hoshi questioned curiously.
"Sorta." Cater explained, "Riddle's signature spell allows him to temporarily seal away the magic of another. The spell is named... Off With Your Head."
The three were horrified as Grim exclaimed, "Even the name is completely psycho!"
Confused, Hoshi looked to Cater for an explanation. Thankfully, he understood what she was trying to say without her having to ask something probably really dumb and explained, "To a mage, losing the ability to use magic is about as painful as losing your head completely. Which is why all of us at Heartslabyul House try hard not to violate Riddle's rules."
"And as long as you are following the rules, Riddle isn't so scary." Trey reminded them.
"Speaking of which," Ace turned to Cater with a look of hesitation and confusion, "Are you still not gonna let me into the dorm until I buy a tart, Cater?"
"Don't @ me, but..." Cater muttered reluctantly with a seemingly guilty look, "yeah. That's rule 53, so my hands are tied. Also, Riddle always looks forward to having the first slice of a tart. So if you want him to forgive you, you had better bring a whole tart!"
"What happened to "We're all from the same dorm, let's try to get along?" Throw me a bone here!" Ace begged feeling wronged.
"That's one thing. This is another." Cater drew his line calmly with this.
"A whole tart has gotta be pretty expensive." Deuce pointed out.
"Seriously? I don't have that much money!" Ace bemoaned in despair.
"Nor time." Hoshi frowned, "I recall Deuce say that the next time we have permission to leave school grounds isn't till a while. I don't mind you staying in our lounge, but..."
Ace sighed slumped onto the empty table in defeat. Needless to say, she didn't have to finish that sentence to get the point across.
"Then why not make one yourself?" Cater suggested cheerfully, "Trey made those three tarts by hand, after all."
"He did?! Wow, that's amazing!" Hoshi looked to Trey in awe.
"Will it beat paying alotta money for one?" Grim questioned in confusion.
"Usually." Hoshi agreed, "When you pay for the tart, they also include fees for utilities and labor that goes into making the tart."
"You made those tarts, Trey?" Ace looked to his vice-dorm leader in awe, "That's incredible! That was like something you'd find at a bakery!"
Trey gave an embarrassed and dry laugh, "Heh. I appreciate that. We do have most of the stuff you'd need, but... I'm afraid I'll need something from you in return."
"You're gonna charge me to make it?! What kinda racket...?!" Ace exclaimed in horror.
"Nah, I wouldn't take money from a freshman!" Trey immediately clarified and explained, "But Riddle wants a chestnut tart next, so I'm gonna need you to gather a ton of chestnuts."
Ace groaned, "Like that's any less of a hassle. But... fine. How many do you need?"
"Well, it's for the unbirthday party, so..." Trey estimated in his mind, "Probably two or three hundred?"
"Did you say HUNDRED?!" Deuce and Grim exclaimed in disbelief.
"And they're all gonna need to be boiled, shelled, and pureed." Trey added.
"Alright, I'm gonna head out." Grim hopped off the table.
Deuce followed him without hesitation, "I'm leaving too."
"You heartless cowards!" Ace exclaimed in disbelief.
"I wouldn't mind helping…" Hoshi hesitated, "But that's still a large amount… Even with just the two of us, it wont be done in time."
"Hold up!" Cater grabbed onto the collar of the other two, "Haven't you ever heard that food tastes better if you make it with your friends? This'll be a memory to treasure! It could even be your chance to make a splash as a cooking blogger!"
"Don't tell Riddle, but chestnut tarts are at their tastiest when eaten right out of the oven." Trey whispered with a smile, "And the only people who get to experience that culinary privilege are the ones who make it."
"Well, when you put it that way... Come on, humans, let's do this!" Grim started drooling even though he had only finished eating a huge lunch earlier.
"You sure changed your tune quickly." Hoshi sighed and turned to Trey in confusion, "But, the gates are closed until the weekend. Where can we find chestnuts?"
"I heard there's a whole bunch of chestnut trees in the woods behind the campus's botanical garden." Trey explained.
A… Botanical garden?
"Cool. Plan made. Let's meet at the botanical garden after last period." Ace declared.
"We're gonna be up to our ears in chestnuts!" Grim cheered.
As the others hurried out the door, Hoshi barely noticed before Ace went back for her.
Once they left, Trey's expression changed to a look of concern as Cater sighed, "I told you so. It was hard to tell, thanks to her messy appearance, but that newcomer is definitely a girl. Well?"
Trey wore a dry smile, "Well, what?"
"Come on!" Cater shook her head in disappointment, "Ya' think she's gonna stay for long? Or maybe the school will become co-ed?"
"Come on now. Let's not make any bets on that." Trey laughed, "You know this school is an all boys school. The headmage probably let her stay because she has nowhere to go. I doubt she will stay here for a long time."
"Hm.... I don't know about that." Cater muttered softly to himself.