About a week later.

The sun had risen, the birds were chirping and most people in suits and actually jobs had woken up, got dressed and headed out.

Unlike Aegon. With his curtains closed, his room unkempt he laid sprawled on the bed, ruffling the sink sheets beneath him.

Even as the alarm next to his bed threatened to break his oasis, he grabbed the rectangle and hurled it across the room.

~Knock. Knock. Knock.~

Someone was at his bedroom door.

"Who is it?" He said without tearing his face from the sheets. "Come in."

The door creaked open as one of the maids sauntered into the room. She paid Aegon no attention like this was his regular morning routine.

Reaching the drapes, she shifted them both aside letting the morning sunlight bathe the room in its golden hue.

"Is this your plan—" she placed her hands at her waist and began to nag. "—to stay here like a caveman on your birthday?"

His eyes instantly shot open. "Birthday?" He mustered up enough energy to sit up. "You remembered?"

Diane was a curly silver haired, grey eyed girl. Just a couple years older than him yet younger than all the other maids.

Ever since getting back they'd been acquitted and were turning into good friends.

'How long have I been here? How's he eighteen already? When's even my actual birthday?'

She tilted back slightly, shocked by his questions. "Am I not supposed to remember the young master's birthday?" She gave a light bow.

"Cut the shit, Diane." He waved her off, knowing she wasn't an orthodox maid. "Are my parents home?"

"Nope. Haven't seen your dad in months and your stepmother has been out a lot lately." She said with a straight face. "And look at you? You look like a hippie."

She wasn't wrong. After months in the trial and now about two weeks at home, his hair had grown rather untamed, now ending at about his shoulders.

He ignored her. Sunk back into the sheets and covered his eyes with his hands.

She pointed at the opposite wall. "Your murder wall is getting bigger."

He turned to his wall. He'd taken quite an interest in finding the mercenary group evident by the crime board on his wall.

Pushing off the bed. He walked to it. Pictures of the most obvious suspects.

Mira. She made a rather incriminating phone call the day of Claire's party and she was MIA all day when they returned.

Micheal. You'd seen the way his dad treated him and now that the novel was on its head he couldn't leave him out.

Followed by most of the teachers. Reasons unknown however they also knew the students would be coming back that very same day.

Then, Quinn. He didn't want to believe it but Quinn was still supposed to be a villain in this novel. So he couldn't afford to leave her out.

Diane walked up to him. "You know this is stalker behaviour, right?"

He shook his head and smirked. She always knew how to brighten his mood.

"Also, this came for you." She brought out a letter from her pocket. "It's from the academy."

He took it. She was right, evident from the Aetherion stamp that sealed it closed.

He opened it and read.

"Fuck." He cursed.

"What is it?"

She asked.

"They're opening the academy in three days." He tossed the letter aside.

"Isn't that good news?" She arched a brow. "Thought you were already tired of being home?"

"Yes but—"

He stopped himself before he relieved too much.

Yes, he was happy the academy was opening back up but he and Cara still wanted to break into the school and see what else they could find.

And now with the letter, they had a deadline on their heads.

"Whatever, man." She shrugged, before proceeding out the door. But turned back in the tink of time. "Happy birthday idiot."

He gave her a forced smile as he hurriedly took a bath and headed out the house.

---

About an hour later, he arrived at Cara house. A simple minimalistic styled home. Basically, your average suburbs.

Which was the last thing he'd expect from Mr Collins.

He knocked on the door and took a nervous step back as he awaited a reply.

The door creaked open to Mr Collins, plain shirt and pants which the expression of someone who didn't want to be disturbed.

"Orian?" Collins opened the door further. "What are you doing here?"

He stared at him for a bit. 'There's no way he still doesn't know my name right?'

He shrugged off the thought as he replied. "I'm here to see Cara."

"Oh." He said, then with a higher tone he concurred. "Ohh."

He stepped outside and closed the door with a soft click. Folded his arms and soured his expression.

"Alright. I think it's time we have a talk."

"What do you mean sir?"

"Are you fucking my daughter, Brian?"

"..."

"...?!"

Aegon stared at him. Unsure if that was a genuine question.

"I'm serious in case you're wondering." Collins didn't budge.

"Ohh." Seeing the seriousness in his tone, Aegon shook his head violently. "No. I am absolutely not sir."

"Why'd you put absolutely? Are you saying my daughter isn't good enough for you?"

"What?" Having a conversation with Mr Collins was like arguing with a crazy person, after a while you start to question your own sanity.

"Sir, no your daughter is very beautiful, I jus—"

"Oh, so you're planning on having sex with her?"

"Enough, Dad." Cara finally got outside and stopped her father. "Could you just go back inside?"

He said nothing but his eyes lingered on Aegon for a second too long before he headed back inside.

They waited for his footsteps to wander off before he began.

"You have to break into the academy tonight." Aegon wasted little time before getting into matters. "They're planning on resuming in three days so we don't have time."

"You know we can't do this alone." She folded her arms. "We need others and you know it?"

He sighed through his nose. Although she was right there were very few people he could trust right now. "Look, i think we can do it—"

"No." She shook her head. "I know the school's network in and out and I know it'll take more than us to pull this off."

He exhaled, feeling defeated. "Fine, guess I'll make some calls."

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