Moonlight After Sunset's
[S2E3] Approach pt 2

"If you try something with a lie, then the illusion you get."

*****************#####****************

At night Dusk decided to check the entire information that had been collected by Muna and Zakila. The results are quite astounding and a little confusing as well. Because, what Kira bought was herbal medicines.

Dusk refocused his eyes on one of the herbs purchased by Kira. It was not a strange plant but the problem was, why did he buy so many mint leaves.

Mint leaves are plants that can be combined with anything, including tea. This is done to add a fresh impression to the tea.

"There is no indication of food or drink purchase here" murmured after examining the information. He wondered who actually bought it all.

It's strange to receive something you don't know where it came from. But when viewed from the rest of the mana, the food came from Kira.

"What don't-don't...!" Dusk thinks of one person who might be indicated by it all.

Obviously Dusk knew that such tactics were often used in slowly killing opponents. And this is also what happened to the Empress Rose, her mother. He was sure that the same thing would happen to him this time.

Dusk began to smile mischievously remembering that. He felt that someone was playing with him at the moment. But instead of feeling scared, Dusk wanted to know the end of the game itself.

****

"Kids, this time we will practice the previously learned mantra theory."

The students looked at each other. They had no idea about this sudden test.

"Prof, are we doing an exam now?" ask one of the students who feels they are not welcome.

"No, it's just a test run. I just want to find out how far you understand in my lesson."

The students only let out a long sigh before following Prof Amy towards the forest. The forest they will visit is an artificial forest that is often used to train or research for some students in the Adeline Academy.

In the forest, there are now some students who are practicing spells and there are some who are doing research. They all seem to be busy with their own business.

"Go inside and bring me a ribbon I've hidden for you. You can do it in groups or alone, it doesn't matter. The most important thing is, you only have 30 minutes to look for it. If it's too late, then your points will be deducted."

After giving the instruction, the students stepped into the forest. Their faces looked irritated knowing that their points would be reduced if they did not find the ribbon. Some of them immediately formed groups and parted ways with others.

Dusk itself only went according to the guidance given by Ristia. That way, he no longer needed to search with great difficulty. Unfortunately, that didn't last long, as Prof Amy had just added new instructions.

He said that any form of cheating will make them immediately lose points without any reduction. Therefore, they must search by their own strength not with tools such as magic animals or artifacts.

"It's so easy," murmured Dusk while reciting the location magic spell on his magic wand. The wand began to tremble lightly signifying that there was a ribbon around it.

Dusk then followed the vibrating direction of his magic wand. Slowly the stick began to shake even more violently than before. This indicates that the ribbon is getting closer to it. When he arrived at that location. The ribbon was already in the hands of one of the students who had previously formed the group.

They then looked at Dusk with an expression of hate and then left the place. Before leaving, one of them had sneered at Dusk with the word 'Penggangu' before disappearing with his other friend.

Dusk just sighed, he was neither upset nor angry. He felt no need to do that because it would waste his energy for free. Dusk resumed his search.

It had been 20 minutes of Dusk looking for ribbons but they had all been snatched right in front of his eyes. Dusk feels if they intentionally did that to upset him. Honestly, he doesn't like running like crazy just to get a ribbon.

Even when the ribbon was almost in his grasp, he was forcefully taken by the other students with his cynical smile.

"It's mine."

The student forcibly took the ribbon that was about to be held by Dusk.

"As long as this ribbon has not been touched, it can belong to anyone."

The student then left Dusk with a typical mocking laugh, and whoever heard the laughter. They must have wanted to hit him in the head.

"Huh, shit."

Dusk can only curse but he did not take any action at all. Honestly, Dusk was also annoyed with them, but at this time Dusk was being watched by various eyes, both from his own class or those who were training in the forest.

"It's a bother," the grunt of Dusk remained with his innocent face. He must still look innocent even though now his feelings are very upset. He didn't want them to see the bad side of him in this open place.

Dusk then returned to look for the ribbon with a light smile on his lips. Those who deliberately paid attention to Dusk, could only say that Dusk was such an innocent stupid girl.

They thought if it happened to them, they would hit the student hard, and scold him who tried to seize what was in front of their eyes. Or even they will slam the student firmly until the bones are broken.

"She's so stupid" one of the students whispered to her friend as she looked at Dusk smiling innocently at the man who had taken hers.

"Do you want to help her?"

"Not really."

They then went back to doing their job before looking down at Dusk.

Dusk could only laugh internally with their conversation earlier. Was he really that stupid to let his opponent go so easily. Oh, of course not.

In reality, the ribbon taken by his opponent would be burned when it was 100 meters away from Dusk. It does not burn completely but if the tape gets further along with it, then the tape will completely burn out.

"When you're five minutes away to get here."

Prof Amy gave the students a time alarm. If within five minutes they had not come out of the forest, then they would have lost all of their points

Dusk who heard the alarm could only sneer sharply. He was not afraid of being able to teleport quickly, but the problem was that he did not have the ribbon at all.

"2 minutes to go."

Dusk looks upset with the timer. He then accelerated his pace in search of the ribbon in all parts of the forest.

"10, 9, 8."

Prof Amy kept counting down quickly, all that Dusk could do was curse and curse. He could not find any ribbons in the area.

"Damn," maki Dusk before reciting teleportation magic.

"4, 3, 2."

In the second countdown, Dusk was already in front of Prof Amy. It was time to stay a little, but he managed to arrive before the count time ended.

Prof Amy then asked those who were there to hand over the ribbon they got. Some of them were surprised because the ribbon they could disappear and left only dust.

"What's this?" prof Amy asked with a frown.

"Are you guys playing with me?" the question returns while throwing the ribbon dust.

Prof Amy looked angry and it made the students both scared and confused. They did not understand why their ribbons could turn into such dust. Only a few students can give the tape without burning.

"Alley!" call Prof Amy when Dusk is still standing in place. Those who saw Dusk could only sneer in annoyance.

"He'll get the same thing as us" they murmured in each other's hearts.

It was clearly on their faces. Dusk himself only smiled stiffly as he was about to explain about the situation.

"That prof.., I..."

"Where's the ribbon?"

Cut Prof Amy impatiently. Dusk could only sigh deeply before steadying his heart to tell the truth.

"States, ribbons..."

"It's the same as me Prof," Kira cut the words of Dusk while waving two ribbons in her hand.

"I and Dusk are a group. I'm sorry I forgot to give this to her" Kira continued, giving both ribbons to Prof Amy.

"All right, no problem. Which other one?"

Prof Amy seemed to be indifferent to it. It's not that he doesn't know, it's just that he's trying to pretend he doesn't know about his student's problems.

Honestly, he knew that the burning ribbon was the one they had taken from Dusk. While Kira, indeed from the beginning never grouped with anyone even with Dusk.

The students who lost points stared at Dusk with expressions of envy and hate. They didn't even expect if Kira saved Dusk this time.

****

At lunch, Dusk was accompanied only by the twins and Luna. While Muna is in punishment for not being able to memorize the double sword defense essays.

Because basically Muna is a knight who only focuses on her great sword, so in using a double sword, she always fails. In contrast to Maya who always uses a short sword, so to use a double sword, he can get away with it easily.

"How was your day?" asked Zakila with a sandwich in her mouth.

"Not much has changed" replied Dusk flatly.

Maya just kept quiet because she was too tired to serve her sister. While Luna just nodded her head in agreement with Dusk's reply.

In the middle of their lunch, Luna was already on the phone by her servant. I don't know what they're talking about, but Luna's expression changed drastically. One thing is certain, that Luna is currently in an important problem.

"I have to go, see you."

Luna left them, and soon Maya caught up with Luna. He had to leave because his rest was over.

"Why so fast?" ask Zakila confused.

"I have to rehearse because the trials will start in 20 minutes."

After that Maya left with a pale face. It seems like Dusk can guess what kind of trial Maya will face this time.

"Zakila, apparently you're here" called one of Zakila's friends in a hurry.

"Damn it, why did you run away when the portal wasn't ready, asshole."

Zakila's friend seemed ready to explode before Zakila put an apple in her mouth.

"I know, so don't yell" Zakila grumbled.

"I'll go, but before that."

Zakila then looked towards Dusk with a wry smile.

"Sorry I have to leave you. See you back."

Zakila then kissed the twilight cheek and pulled the arm of her friend. They then left Dusk with a table still full of food.

"Huh."

Dusk could only sigh deeply with the situation this time around. He puts up his sandwich and intends to leave.

"Where are you going?" ask a voice when Dusk is about to stand from his seat.

"Huh?" tanya Dusk was shocked when she saw a girl already sitting sweetly before her.

"This food is delicious, it's a pity that it's thrown away" said the girl as she grabbed a sandwich in front of her.

"Kira," lirih Dusk was still confused by what happened. Kira himself just smiled sweetly before putting back his sandwich.

"What's wrong? Don't you like me here?"

Kira asked with her sad face. Contrary to what he did just now.

"Ah, no. That's not. It's just..."

"Sorry."

Cut Kira while standing up. The still confused twilight involuntarily held onto Kira's hand spontaneously.

"Ah, this. Sit down."

Dusk felt panicked as Kira looked at him as their hands touched.

"Damn, old habits."

Dusk berated himself for his stupid reflexes. He calmly smiled back at Kira as he said, "Thank you for the ribbon." Kira just smiled back with the twilight at the moment.

"No problem, I should be the one apologizing for hurting you first."

Dusk only shook his head with Kira's sudden reply. He then said if it was just the past and now everything has changed.

Kira just nodded in agreement. He accompanied Dusk to his lunch before they returned to class. I don't know what Kira thinks, but as long as they are with him he always smiles mysteriously.

Kira looked brighter with such a wide smile. No one knew that Kira not only smiled smugly, she also smiled cunningly at the same time.