The Redo of a Novel's Villain: Moira - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

The crisp sounds of a pencil going over paper as it quickly created the outline of silly doodles stemmed from the desk of a black haired youth. Lightly tapping his pen and half listening to the professor drone on.
Mr. Clark scanned the class, discontented. Certainly they may only be two days into actual academics and history may not be an interesting subject (even more so with this topic), but it was a necessary part of their current unit.
He cleared his throat, drawing back the attention of some students already a foot in dream land.
"May someone please brief the class what I just discussed on the history of the six kingdoms?"
Only two hands went up.
"Melissa?" He called on the girl with purple hair and eyes. A regal air constantly surrounded her.
Melissa stood up, her dignified voice coming out.
"The six kingdoms, Ecrelyn, Aleumon, Nailo, Querrie, Qinhai, and Inensa, rule unitedly over Evendale. Established by the Angels of Creation under Goddess Eelia after the ancient tri-empires; which fell as one of the tragedies of the holy war.
The angels blessed the leaders, the royals, of the kingdoms with unique powers only manifestable within those next in line for the throne: Time, hunt, weather, dreams, crystals, and space respectively. Unfortunately twenty years ago a disaster befell on Inensa and the kingdom collapsed. Half of it vanishing mysteriously overnight."
Melissa, finished with her textbook-like description, sat back down. Eliciting some awed gazes from those around her.
Mr. Clark nodded. He straightened his arms on the desk and looked up at the class.
"Yes, it is just as Melissa said. Of course that part of Evendale's history should be familiar to everyone here, but it is crucial we go over it again as it's an important factor for our unit on the tri-empire. So I hope all of you will listen as this is worth a third of your grade."
A couple groans and sighs erupted from the back of the class.
Mr. Clark was not impressed, but it got the result he wanted. After one more quick glance at the class which was now all focused, he resumed his lecture.
Huey perched his head on his hand, half listening. The general history of the six kingdoms and tri-empire was knowledge any avid reader of COL would know, which naturally included him (moreso with his first life knowledge).
But...
'I shouldn't rely on the novel for everything.'
It's not like it's a history textbook. Many details have been glossed over and he and Kayson have already altered the plot somewhat.
First, the tyrannical academy antagonist Huey Astaseul is no more and he is friends with Kayson Nevoid, who's barely acquainted with him at all in the novel. Secondly, he messed up the iconic prologue scene about the 'love at first help' meeting between Sorin and Celine!
Skrrt
A harsh sound came from his pen. Huey snapped out of his daze. Eyebrows knit together after seeing a side of his paper crumpled from using executive force on the pen. Sighing through the nose, Huey flipped to a new page, occasionally jotting down notes next to random doodles of ferrets.
Time tediously ticked by and the professor eventually set down his teaching stick, retracting its length to a little less than a forearm.
"...And that is all for today. Before you leave let me inform you in advance that we will soon be preparing for the annual play for the winter showcase. We will be working with another class so you 'lot better be on your best behaviour." Mr. Clark warned with knives for eyes which scarily melted into something warm and benign a second later.
"Any questions?"
A single arm went up.
"Yes, what is it?"
The student timidly asked, "When do we get to choose clubs?"
"Club choosing will begin next week with a grace period of three days," Informed Mr. Clark. "Anything else?"
Seeing no one raise their arms nor talk, everyone was soon dismissed for their next block. For Huey it was his chosen elective, art.
The travel time between each class was ten minutes, so the youth allowed his mind to wander whilst walking to his destination. Almost building an immune to the stares and whispers.
"Look, it's him."
"Shh don't look!"
"You're in his class right, what's it like?"
"Boring. He's quiet and doesn't do anything but write in a notebook."
"Is that true?"
"Yeah—oh he's looking this way."
"..."
The group of people swerved their heads around, awkwardly conversed fakely, and 'naturally' absconded the area. Huey's eyes lingered on their spot for a second longer while sighing.
Could they be any louder in their gossiping?
oh well, he needs to head to class. Quickly forgetting the matter, the youth walked down the hallway to the art studio.
The studio was located on the ground floor strategically stationed so that the window wall faces the garden and pond. Huey stood in front of the glass door to the room, feeling the excited thumping of his heart. Adjusting his bag, he pushed. The interior was rather large, with one side of the room crowded with easels and canvases. The walls were lined with shelves as well as numerous artworks, and finally a group of long rectangular tables took up the other side of the room.
With around three minutes until classes began, the classroom was already quite filled with students. All of which were staring shell-shocked at Huey.
It was the equivalent of a wild animal appearing inside their living room. They know that it lives in the forest nearby, but they'd never imagine it'd appear inside the home.
They were naturally all guarded.
Huey squeezed his bag handle and walked to a spot by the corner. Needless to say the whispers soon sprout from the previously pleasant silence. Though he could hardly care about what they were saying at the moment.
He let his mind wander.
Thinking back to what Mr. Clark said before, Huey bit the inside of his mouth.
The Winter showcase.
As its name suggests, it is an annual winter event that lasts for three days before the break during the twelfth month of the year, Hiemu. It showcases the students' talents and skills via many activities; with the class plays just being a mandatory tradition.
This, like the other school festivals, are highly anticipated for any Glory Academy's student. Either eager from the joys of last time or the excitement of a first experience, the Winter Showcase is a major waypoint.
Unfortunately, what should've been a merry and core memory would be turned into something jarringly baleful.
On the final day of the festivities, demons will attack. Fortunately there weren't many fatal casualties thanks to the quick thinking of the professors and teamwork between Sorin and company. But their combined efforts still couldn't prevent the theft of important documents and fleeing demons. Furthermore, although there weren't a lot casualties still happened. Five dead, over eighty injured. This in turn gives rise to public complaints about the academy's security and safety for the children. Which in turn creates a whole other set of trouble.
'Hmm..'
Massaging his chin, Huey thought this situation was extremely odious. It is true he does not plan on following the novel any more, but he doesn't want to affect the plot so much where it hinders Sorin's strength. The protagonist will always be the protagonist for a reason after all. So the pragmatic way to go about things is to let it unfold naturally but...
The death of those five students will be on him.
He knows that rue will forever plague him ever more if he were to walk out of the incident alive knowing full well he could've saved those students.
In the first place three out of five students were killed by bombs planted beforehand, so all he needs to do is to disable them. He knows the general area of each bomb anyways, and perhaps he could make Kayson save the remaining two people. As it's not OOC for him to save others, unlike him where a single smile can cause mass confusion.
All they need to do is to make sure to do things surreptitiously, avoid the area of the main incidents, and endeavor to abate as many casualties as possible without directly affecting Sorin and gang.
Sighs
He slumped his head on the desk with a thump. Already feeling the future headaches to come.
After the winter showcase there will be more invasions and more invasions and more invasions. As if it was their job the demons would stubbornly repeat the actions with a few tweaks without even solving anything aside from carrying out wakes of damage. Unless that is their goal, to torment humanity.
'Arghhh!!'
Once again Huey could only curse at nothing at the fact he died before the novel's conclusion. Right before a possible major reveal from the goddess too! He harshly bit his lips at the cruelness of life. Couldn't death have waited until after he found out what it was? Even more infuriating; all his memories concerning his connection with demons 'side for novel knowledge vanished! Poof! Gone!
The curiosity was strangling him.
A couple feet away at another table, some students looked at him in concern.
"Wah~~ there's dark energy." A person uttered to his friend..
They peeked at Huey whose head slumped on the table and a glum atmosphere permeated around him. Looking like the unawakened state of a final boss from a video game.
Peeker #1 was seated backwards on the chair, slumped with his face half nestled into his arms with a lazy smile. He peered at his friend whose expression retained the earlier puzzlement.
"I wonder why he's here?" He asked the one question that's been repeated again and again in everybody's mind.
Peeker #2, a pretty stiff and awkward individual, made an iffy face. "I'm not sure... but I just hope he doesn't cause any problems."
The other hummed passively, "In any case...mm—hauu~~" and yawned.
The other person frowned.
"I thought I told you to cover your mouth when yawning."
Looking at his friend he slowly covered his mouth after yawning, and gave a toothy grin. "I forgot," giggling at his friend's face he continued, "What I was saying, in any case I'm sure things will be fine. Haven't you seen or heard of the rumours lately?"
"You know I don't keep up with those things."
"Right, right." He turned his head, "Roughly, they say that the scourge of the academy has changed."
"How so?" He was unconvinced, probably just baseless rumours. Plus, they were only a couple days in. How could anyone make such a bold assumption with only two to three days of observation?
"He's more quiet, calmer, and hasn't been antagonizing anyone. He's become docile?"
Noticing the different tone, "Why the question?"
"Because whenever people see him with Kayson Nevoid he becomes aggressive, but not like the murder aggressive but rather a.. playful one?" At least it certainly seemed so because if it was the former would the pink haired youth still be here?
"Kayson Nevoid? That Kayson Nevoid?" Seeing his friend nod, the confusion doubled. "Didn't he hate him? Are you sure it's him?"
"Positive."
The other leaned back, perplexed. Was it.. true?
Slumping into his seat he massaged his head in an effort to lessen the bemusement.
"..What in the world happened over break?"
The other shrugged. "Hopefully something good, I'm sure everyone agrees that this Huey Astaseul is better than the old one."
"It's definitely more comforting, but also scary in a way."
"Mm I suppose—oh!" His lazy attitude did a complete 180 and he promptly sat upright. Waving at the woman entering the studio. "Hi Miss~."
"Ah, hello." The teacher sheepishly waved back. Her hair was pulled back into a low bun held together by a large clip, she wore neutral oversized sweaters over a pencil skirt, and she had freckles dotted all over her face.
Standing in front of the class, she gulped.
"Hello class, I'm Ms. Sanna, a new teacher at Glory Academy as well as your art teacher. I am also the sponsor teacher for the art club in case anyone here would like to join." She fiddled slightly with the sleeves of her sweater. Thankfully she didn't mess up her words.
'Eelia, why am I so nervous? I did the same introduction yesterday, there's no difference besides how this class consists primarily of nobles... Wait no—they're all my students. I shouldn't separate them into groups! Ah...'
She cried in her thoughts. If not for the high pay would she be even doing this? Coming from peasant origins, being in a room—an academy filled with nobles (and a handful of peasant students), albeit young, was overwhelming. On normal occasions they'd have more status over her, but with her standing as their teacher it's the opposite.
So weird.
'No no Sanna, stop spacing out, you have a class to teach.'
Placating her jumping nerves Ms. Sanna took out a list of names.
"Let's go over the attendance, is Mathew Andri here?"
The person who was sitting backwards from before half-raised an arm. A carefree lilt to his voice.
"Here~"
"Huey Astaseul?"
"Here."
"Vincent Burgess?"
Mathew's friend answered this time.
"Chanelia Ca..." Ms. Sanna quickly went through the attendance. Happy that no one was absent.
"Since today is our first class together we'll start off with something simple. May I have someone come up and distribute these sketchbooks to everyone in class?"
Vincent took the job.
"Now our task for today and upcoming classes depending on your speed is to decorate the cover of your class sketchbooks. You may use whatever medium you want within the studio so long as you don't waste the materials. I'll play some music and if you need anything I'll be over here." She clasped her hands together.
Sure enough as soon as some students began to move she left to start the phonograph. The disc spun and relaxing classical music filled the room.
Huey stuck to a shelf supplied with a variety of paints. He took out a couple oil paint bottles, brush, and a clean palette before settling down by his seat again.
He was planning on drawing mini ferrets all over the cover.
One curled up, another holding the Astaseul emblem, two playing, one eating, one sleeping, another just sitting still, and much more.
Zoning out all other noises except for the classical music Huey moved his brush stroke after stroke. Meticulously careful with the thinner lines. He was about halfway done when the occasional stares bugging him since the start of class won. Just because he's used to it doesn't mean it isn't annoying.
He looked up and made firm eye contact with a male with messy peach coloured hair and eyes who was next to a stoic looking brunette; hair a couple shades darker than Owen and Elaine. If he remembers right they're Mathew and Vincent respectively.
"May I help you?" He asked. The two seemed a bit startled that their staring had now been reciprocated and confronted.
Vincent coughed lightly. "Apologies," then jabbed Mathew's side.
He silently cursed in response and did as implied.
"Sorry."
Huey blinked confusingly watching the two return to doing their own thing without even so much as a grumble. In fact it might just be his eye and brain playing tricks on him... but their eyes held no malice or prejudice but rather... curiosity? Bewilderment?
...
Whatever.
He resumed drawing and was about 80% done when a shadow casted over him. He looked up at Mathew grinning at him.
"?"
"Can I see?"
Huey paused, taking a while to respond as the question sunk in. "Um.. sure?"
With his consent Mathew went and admired his sketchbook. He gasped, "Ah!! So cute! Hey Vincent come check this out—oh wait are you okay with that?"
??? "Yes?" ???
"Ok, Vinvin come over here!" Mathew beckoned the brunette over who deadpanned disappointedly at the boy.
"I thought I told you to not bother him."
Mathew scratched his cheek, "Haha I was too curious, he looked so focused."
Vincent sighed, "Haaa, sorry for his behaviour."
Huey shook his head. "No it's fine, so you two are Mathewand Vincent?"
"Yup." "Yes."
Mathew began admiring Huey's sketchbook again.
"Hey you're surprisingly good at drawing, and it's so cute! What animal is that?"
"It's.." Do ferrets exist here? "Some kind of rodent."
Probably.
"Ooo~" Mathew wowed, then went to retrieve his own sketchbook. "Since you showed me yours, here's mine."
Huey took the sketchbook into his hands, admiring the giant turtle with wings and eating a peach taking up the majority of the cover.
"Creative right?" The artist grinned.
A scoff.
"More like monstrous." Vincent commented from the side.
Mathew glared then raised both of his brows with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, "Then let's take a look at yours." He then rushed towards their seat and snatched up the remaining sketchbook.
"What—hey don't!" Too late.
Mathew looked at the drawing with a mix of wow and exasperation. "Waa a pond scenery.. so serious..."
Vincent felt his ears turn pink. "Stop.."
"Hey, take a look at this." However his friend was already bouncing over to Huey to show it off.
"I said—"
"Wow." The red eyed youth exclaimed quietly, but still audible.
"—Eh?"
"You're so good." Huey's eyes twinkled.
Vincent felt all his words die in his throat. Any feelings of rage dispersed and were replaced with a pleasantly surprised fluster.
"Eh? Oh um t-thankyou."
Receiving the book back, Mathew handed it back to Vincent. "Wanna sit with us?" He laughed.
Huey nodded, "Sure."
Just like that they spent the remaining class period together, making small talk ranging from 'normal' to borderline insane. Such as how a conversation about Mathew's donut succumbing to ants to tapeworm anatomy.
They got a lot of perturbed looks.
Huey looked at the clock, realizing class was almost over. Well he is pretty much finished, all he needs to do is to set it on a rack and wait for it to dry for a few days. He picked up his sketchbook decorated with many ferrets and was stopped by Mathew.
"Wait."
"Hm?"
He stood up from his seat and Huey watched in awe as Mathew swept his hand across his sketchbook. A warm glow followed by small pixie lights fizzling in and out with the motion appeared.
Huey felt a bit muddled, what happened? He looked down at the book. Noticing the difference in texture. His eyes widened, the paint which should've taken days to dry already is!
His head snapped up at Mathew who wore his signature lazy smile.
"I'm not great at magic, but I'm quite good at little miscellaneous stuff. Think of it as a small favor now that we're friends."
'Friends...'
He smiled indiscernibly, "Thankyou."
"No need, in fact we should be apologizing."
"Apologizing again?"
"Yup, because at the start of class both of us were really suspicious and weary of you causing problems at class. But it turns out you're a pretty great guy."
"I uh, thankyou?"
It's fine, it's fine. Are you joining the art club?"
"Yeah."
"Great! Vincent here is the club leader." Mathew gestures towards his friend adding the final touches on his book.
"Ah no wonder your art's so good." Huey casually remarked.
Vincent jolted. His voice slurred, "Th..hhh.."
Huey looked back at Mathew who was snickering at Vincent's reddened ears.
Mathew tittered, "Don't mind it, he's like this every time someone compliments him. When I first did it he avoided me for days."
"Really?"
"Mhm." Waving it off he the. raised his voice slightly. "Anyways, Ms. Sanna! Can we leave after we're done?"
Sanna, startled, quickly looked at the clock and saw how there was only three minutes left, permitted. "S-sure!"
He clenched his fist in victory. "Yes..! Alright come on Vincent let's go I'm hungry." Barely hauling him up by the shoulders, Mathew turned towards Huey.
"See you around."
Huey gave a sound of agreement, "En."
Watching the two depart Huey soon finished cleaning up and left the classroom as well in a relatively happy mood thanks to his new friends.
Speaking of friends, Kayson should be at the science wing which is right down the corridor. Maybe he can introduce them? But before that...
Rumble
Huey flushed slightly. He forgot to eat breakfast and today's lunch was chicken! Swallowing saliva he hastened his pace.