These days, everything went as usual without any shocking event. For a couple of days, both of Panto and Alicia started to send meal on him. It was good, but since Baston had to finish two portions at the same time, it really made him too full. Clearly, it was good someone was treating him, but in this case, he would be doomed to be always fat. The worst case was he became fatter even more than now. He didn't want to become like that so he just asked
for the waiter to send a request. Whoever treated him, just send a small portion and that was good enough.
Fortunately, this small request reached into both of Panto and Alicia. They pondered if there was a meaning of this action from Baston, but they just did as his order. It was just a small amount for them, so it wasn't a big deal. The fat boy still learned to use the puppet efficiently, transforming into anything that came up in his head. He also started to experience the way someone walked and talked better. As long it didn't go for fighting, everything was fine then.
One day, he made the puppet turned into a rat and lurked to the street at night. It was still inside the academy, but at this time, the
surrounding was already quiet with only passerby that came up once or twice. Baston couldn't see clearly because it was too dark, but he could hear everything around. His sense was connected to the puppet, making it could act as his assistant. It would be very good to use it this way as observation. When it was time to go back, he heard something interesting.
"Damn, my day is bad today…"
"Me too. I never thought that I will be late for the lesson this morning. The teacher is quite harsh. He even doesn't see me as a noble."
"That because his status is way higher than you," another boy scoffed at him, "It seems we are being targeted. Look, my homework is full one page, unlike others…"
"That's because you're lazy…" his friend laughed at him.
Unbeknownst to them, the one who gave them a trouble was actually Alicia. At first, she didn't concern too much regarding this little bully, yet when she thought about Baston, she felt she needed to show her good intention. By doing this, Baston wouldn't take revenge on them later because he could then see them being punished for some reasons. Unfortunately, the fat boy indeed didn't dare to exact any revenge since he didn't have any power here. He even had already forgotten the matter.
"By the way, what about the magic circle?"
"I already set it before. Now, we just need to wait for explosion."
"Are you sure it's safe? What if it makes huge commotion later?"
"Relax, you already saw it before, didn't you? It's more like fireworks and nothing else."
Baston didn't know who were they, but considering their conversation at present, they made this mischief only because dissatisfaction a week before. He heard that they sometimes went into commoner area just to show off some of their own prestige. They even ordered many foods, but they rarely touch it which was the same as wasting food. Because of that, the head of the cafeteria warned them not to do things like this or they would be banned for
ordering. This indignation made them hateful, so they wanted to teach a lesson.
Surely, they couldn't just use their nobility to punish someone because the academy had protection from royalty. If they dared to do things out of the rules, then they would be punished according to the rules of the academy.
The boys only wanted to set a small firework from magic circle, making the head of the cafeteria shocked senseless. They couldn't wait for it to happen and just laughed it off. Baston thought if they dared to do this mischief, then they must be thinking about what the punishment they would get once everyone knew what they had done. If they knew and they still dared to do it, the boys should have a certain way to escape from detection.
"I'm really curious about it…"
Baston felt he needed to protect the cafeteria from the menace. It was also because if it was closed because of them, his food supply would stop and he would go back to his little sandwich again. He felt he would suffer from hungry by then. The rat moved along with the boys but the conversation ended and nothing useful could be gained any more. Baston could only go back and looked for the magic circle they talked about tomorrow.
After the morning lesson, Baston didn't go back to his dormitory as usual. Panto and Alicia wanted to order a different dish, but when they saw him, they were surprised. Still, they kept their attitudes in check so
that no one would notice it. By the way, the fact that Alicia came here everyday already made a commotion along the students. They thought she liked the food from commoner side, but since they never saw her eating in this side, she probably had a certain importance nearby.
Baston didn't order anything since he didn't have any money. He also didn't go to counter to take his free meal. The fat boy only glanced at the surrounding before slowly went to the back of the cafeteria. Panto and
Alicia were curious, so they took a chance to follow him. Unfortunately, Alicia had a hard time because she had too many admirers at the academy. Panto himself wasn't popular here, so he could just easily get away from the crowd.
When he met with Baston, the fat boy was busy looking around for something. Panto wanted to ask, but he was afraid he would disturb him in the process. Besides, his timid personality still shackled him for joining many conversations so he decided to be quiet first. It took a couple of minutes until Alicia finally came to the scene. She found out that Baston was circling around the area while Panto only stared at him silently.
"What is he doing there?" Alicia asked Panto.
Panto shook his head, telling her that he also didn't know. Who knew that Alicia misunderstood and thought she shouldn't know much about it. As a proclaimed informant, she wanted to know some information. The noble girl then stepped ahead toward Baston, stopping behind him.
"What are you doing?"
Baston was startled, but he kept his demeanor in front of her, "I'm looking for a magic circle."
"What magic circle?"
"I don't know for sure…" Baston just shrugged, "Some students just placed it yesterday. And the purpose is…"
The fat boy halted his words because it would look ridiculous to tell the truth of it. He decided to hid it first which made Alicia became more curious, but she held back the thing she wanted to ask. She also began to look for the magic circle around. Because it was quite hassle, she asked Panto to help them find it. Right at the moment, three students just strolled around the area while looking at the ground, the wall, and everything that could be latched with magic circle.
Fortunately, the place was quite deserted, so there were only three of them here. In just a few minutes, Panto and Alicia began
questioning inside their minds that if they were looking at the right place. The back of the cafeteria was only a small one and they already circled it many times without any result. Baston also wondered if what he heard yesterday night was true or not. One person said it would be just like a firework.
"Perhaps, it was set at a higher place?"
Baston looked around and the higher one was only at the rooftop of a small warehouse. He circled the warehouse then he tried to climb it. Panto and Alicia noticed what he was doing, so they hurried soon to his side.
"Baston, what are you doing? If the head of the cafeteria knows about this, he will punish you severely," Panto reminded.
"He's right. This man has a strict discipline, so if he spots you on, you will be banned for a couple of weeks from the cafeteria."
When Baston heard what Alicia said, he was trembled with fear. It was because if he couldn't eat, then he would die of hungry. He
wondered if the one who treated him would be banned too if the man knew the food was being sent to Baston's room directly. Anyway, he just made a quick
move up here and just looked it fast before getting down. He hoped he was wrong, but unfortunately, he found it at the top.
"It's here…"
"What? Are you sure?" Panto climbed up to see the magic circle, "It's really true."
Alicia also went up with the help of magic, "This magic circle… I think I haven't seen it before. Is it dangerous?"
Baston pondered about what he should tell to her. Based on what he knew, it shouldn't be dangerous since it worked like a firework. That meant it was used only for display. Still, it could also be said that it was dangerous since it would provoke the head of the cafeteria. What would he do if the man was very angry and refused to let any student entered the cafeteria until the perpetrator could be found? By this summarize, the magic circle really was very dangerous.
"Yes, it's dangerous. You might die too…"
"Die?" Panto was terrified, thinking that the cult was after him again, "Let's inform the teacher first. They will know how to handle it."
"Yes…" Alicia nodded seriously.
Baston didn't mean to exaggerate it, but the mischief of student would affect his meal here. Not only him who would suffer, but everyone would also join it too. He considered that if someone couldn't get his food, they really might die of hungry. Even though so, perhaps, he really thought too
much because the academy wouldn't let it go. They might have some ways, but Baston just didn't know more about it.
Everyone got down but before they could go far, the magic circle suddenly activated itself. There was a big array of magic that suddenly
manifested itself behind them. The fluctuation of magic circle made a big impact against the surrounding, even many teachers were alerted at once.
"Strange… This kind of magic seems destructive enough…"
"Is there any magic practical session today? Is somebody try to cast such a big magic?"
"I'm going to check first," one teacher looked away from the place, "Hmmm… The fluctuation should come from the cafeteria…"
"The cafeteria? That place is full of students at this time…"
The concerned teachers soon rushed ahead to the cafeteria one by one. They never thought someone dared to unleash such a big magic in this academy. Usually, only a handful of teachers who had this authority. They would cast it just when it was time to study. It only worked as an example and
no more than that. While everyone was going toward the place, Baston, Panto, and Alicia didn't have enough time to escape.
"It's going to explode! Take cover!" Alicia shouted.
She had seen many magic circles in her life and she knew this one was set and activated just like a bomb. The girl quickly fled while
Panto was behind her. Only Baston who got left behind because he was too slow. He heard this was just like a firework, but he could see this thing was more than that. It should be a real thing and the matter was out of control if the people thought it was just a mischief. The magic circle could really kill someone here.
Baston glanced and it was too late to get away from it. Alicia and Panto noticed that, so they quickly got down, protecting their body from the explosion. In the midst of urgent situation, Baston suddenly summoned his puppet. He transformed it into something bigger as a means of nullifying the impact. Just when the puppet stopped expanding, there was a loud blasting sound from the magic circle.
"BAM!!!"