110: A Quick Question Answer Session

Roxanne’s comment sparked a wave of murmurs. It spread through the crowd like wildfire as people began looking for anyone who might resemble the wild, brown-haired huntress on stage. While a couple people in the other classes got grilled by those around them, Nyssa melted into Celeste, erasing her presence as much as she could as those who knew couldn’t help but snort.

The differences between the Ravenstein siblings was like heaven and earth.

“I don’t even know why they go for people who look like Roxanne...” Nyssa mumbled aloud after hearing another commotion blow up from Class Two. “We were all adopted anyway...”

“In the moment people don’t remember that,” Celeste rubbed Nyssa’s back, pulling her upward to sit back upright. “Any questions you want to ask though? I think they’d probably come to Class Zero first if we had any.”

“I can just text her...” Nyssa shrugged. “So I'll just leave it for someone else who has an actual question to ask.”

Seconds later though, as a timid boy, with a quivering voice but intense eyes, stood up to ask the first question, she regretted any ounce of kindness left in her body. As his eyes blazed, he asked Roxanne, “So, Slade mentioned that you two have another younger sibling, named Nyssa, and both of you mentioned how she’s at this school, as a student. Is there anything else you can share about her? I’m sure we’re all curious to get to know this elusive figure. Is the name even right? Since it seems no one has this name in the whole school.”

“It’s because you don’t know everyone in this school,” Nyssa mumbled under her breath, a faint air of derisiveness lacing her voice as Celeste soothed her.

“Well... that’s a complicated one,” Roxanne propped her leg up on the stage, resting her elbow on her knee and resting her chin on it. “I think you should just let her live her life. She’s being very low-key about her presence at the school. And there’s no need for me to reveal something like this, you know? She’s just like many of you. A first year.”

“But-”

“Nuh nuh, calm down my good friend,” Roxanne raised her eyebrow. “If anything, she’s going to avoid you in particular because of all these questions. Just hand the microphone to someone else.”

With a faint suppressive air spreading over the crowd, Roxanne shook her head. A sigh left her mouth. Being an adult is hard. Were we all this bad back at this age? I swear Angelica and I were so much better... especially Angelica...

The next question came in within a couple seconds, this time, a girl with a long black braid of hair asked. “What do you remember most about your time at this school? Do you wish you did anything differently? And who would you say you were closest to?”

“Aww, what a wonderful set of questions,” Roxanne smiled, focusing on the third question in particular in her mind as she looked over to her stoic bodyguard standing at the end of the stage in a suit. “I’d say I remember the nights the most. Living in a dorm on campus is a rare experience. I really treasured being close to my friends. I don’t think you all realize, but when you’re all adults, you have to schedule all your hangouts. Friends I used to study with on the daily became people I video called once a month. It's really sad.”

Wiping a fake tear, she continued on to the next question without missing a beat. “As for what I wish I did differently... well I guess my answer is a little conflicting. I wish I lived a little more. I wish I didn't study as much, and explored the area around the academy. Stayed out late more. Had a worse sleep schedule. Simultaneously, I do wish I applied myself more. I think I missed out on a lot of resources the school had to offer, making my life after graduation truly worse for wear.”

Roxanne paused, scrunching her eyebrows after saying the last line. Though she saw how the students seemed to nod along like a crowd of ducklings, she ended up apologizing for the lack of logic in her answer before waving over Angelica. Holding the microphone between them, she gestured to the crowd. “Anyway, for the last part of your question, I’d say I had a lot of friends who I stay in contact with professionally, but this is the one person I’m still the closest to.”

“Yeah, and you still give the same bad answers as before...” Angelica trailed off, able to speak her mind with a microphone now in front of her.

“Hey, what do you mean by that.” Roxanne stared at Angelica with a frown as the crowd began laughing. “You’re supposed to come up here and support me. Pump me up and make me look like a goddess.”

Angelica just stared at Roxanne. After a couple seconds, she cracked, a faint laugh leaving her mouth as she wrapped an arm around Roxanne’s waist. Roxanne, unable to keep a straight face either, turned towards the crowd. “I’m sure you all know her, but this is Angelica. Someone I’d like to highlight in terms of career path. She was once a stellar student like I’m sure you all are. But instead of becoming a hero or hunter, she went into education. Using her skillset in a more impactful way while not having to go through danger or stress—all with a nice pay, right?”

“... It’s pretty good,” Angelica shrugged, waving to the students. “I’m the homeroom teacher for Class Zero, for those who do not know. However, if anyone wants to schedule a meeting or talk, feel free to reach out. I’m always down to have a conversation with any uncertain students.”

“Yes, yes. Reach out to her, the heavens know I needed it back when I was deciding between hunter and hero,” Roxanne teased fluttering her fingers and leaning into Angelica. While Angelica quieted down and just kept her hand around Roxanne’s waist, Roxanne let the crowd settle before transitioning. “Anyway, next question?”

A little shuffling later, another student stood from the crowd. “I’d just like to ask about your powers. Is it true that each of them have their own personalities? And what would you say is the most fun fact there is about them?”

“It is indeed true,” Roxanne snapped her fingers. Out from her body came a full battalion of different green-tinted summons. Themed after the zodiacs, they all took battle positions behind her before relaxing into a more circular formation. “I can hear their voices most of the time, though I can, of course, choose when not to listen. What I’d consider the most fun fact, or well, the one that most people find very surprising is that I’m not their favorite human. I may be their contractor, and the one they spend the most time with; but they’re all very, very biased towards my younger sister. She’s the apple of their eye, while I'm there... mother I guess...”

“Parent training from an early age,” Angelica commented from beside Roxanne, turning to wave at a couple of the summons who bowed to greet her.

As Roxanne continued on with the question and answer session, she gave a few mental notes to her summons through a direct mental link.

Don’t greet Angelica too much. They don’t know of our relationship. We’ve been hiding it. Got it? No master’s wife business.