Part 4: The End of a Sweet Dream

"The children, soaring over sleepy houses and the sparkling sea, finally reach the dreamy island."
"The tide loves them so much it rolls itself into a blanket to welcome them."
"The fairies gather around, plucking waves and stars to crown them."
"The joyous children climb the highest cliffs above the sea."
"But don't get too comfortable, and don't let your guard down."
"Children. When dusk falls upon the island, you'll know it's coming."
Curfew holds no sway over these nimble little feet.
Three shadows tiptoe by the silent lakeshore. Even the smallest cough would shatter the stillness in the air.
But the silence can only last so long, and despite their best efforts to keep quiet, a voice slips out.
Golden Key Sancho: Say, do you think that critter will really take us as its masters?
Golden Key Sancho: Strange... It dug a hole there under its butt, put the can of food inside, then spat on it.
Golden Key Sancho: Boss, maybe we should try something else...
Effie: Sancho, how does your knowledge of critters suck so much? The instructor literally explained this morning that glavakus use their spit to distinguish food from trash.
Erick: Right, right. The instructors may be boring, but they do spout some wisdom.
Erick: One day, this big boy will willingly serve us and be our obedient mount!
Erick: Also, there's a saying. How does it go? “When God locks the door, he leaves a window open through which we may slip out.”
Effie: Uh, Jarl, I don’t think that’s—
Golden Key Sancho: Hey, duck down! Duck down! The witch is coming again!
Effie: Don't step on my foot! Gah! I literally just polished these shoes tonight!
Erick: Shush! She's coming!
Their hands meet their faces as they huddle together.
The witch hurries past. She pauses at a critter cage on the other side of the room.
Matilda: "Oh... glavakus Number 15, why do you have diarrhea again?! I've been feeding you exactly according to the 'Critter Feeding Manual'..."
Matilda: Someone else must be feeding you...
Glawackus: Brrrr...
The poor creature, unable to speak, curls up in distress.
Dejected, the three unreliable "masters" sneak away.
As the night deepens, they return to the dormitory.
Effie: Ugh, I have to go to class all sweaty again tomorrow...
Golden Key Sancho: Ha-ha-ha, you smell just like that critter! Maybe it'll even take you as its leader.
Eifer's face turns red. She pinches his arm hard.
Effie: Hmph! I'll put a curse on you to be thrown out of school tonight! Not even the instructors can protect you then!
Effie: You’ll be like a soap bubble floating in the sewer!
Golden Key Sancho: Hey, Eifer, don't...
Sancho suddenly turns solemn. He shakes his head, signaling her to stop.
Golden Key Sancho: ...Boss’s family.
The jarl's smile fades, and worry fills her eyes.
Eifer immediately feels guilty.
Effie: Sorry, Erick, I was just saying.
Effie: Your dad and grandpa must be—
Erick: Duck! Hide behind the wall!
Erick clasps her hands over their mouths, instantly muffling their voices.
A suspicious looking figure lurks by a red postbox nearby.
Erick: Looks like someone's up to no good with our mailbox...
Golden Key Sancho: Ewww... Boss, why does your hand smell weird?
Erick: Oh, sorry, I patted the glavakus's butt earlier.
She quickly lowers her hand, shaking it as if doing so could rid the stink.
Effie: Ginger hair, checkered headband... hey, isn't that the distinguished alumna, Sonetto?!
Effie: Oh... her hair is so pretty! Much prettier than my sister's. When I graduate, I want to dye mine the color of the leaves in autumn.
Golden Key Sancho: Isn’t she the one who was top of the class in Potion Studies, Basic Arcanism, and Critter Training a few years ago?! Move your head, I want to see too!
Erick: Nothing to fuss over, crew. She may be great, but she's just one of my former opponents. For a bard, she’s—
Effie: Strange, is she mailing something? But these aren’t the non-student mailboxes...
Golden Key Sancho: Look, she's stuffing a letter in there. But that's... that's...!
Erick: !!!
Having completed the task, the Sonetto hurries away.
As silence returns under the night sky, Erick dashes to her mailbox, pulling out the letter.
…
"To Erick..." The sender had falsely signed "...Harald" at the bottom.
Golden Key Sancho: Boss, why did you run so fast... Oh, is this a gift from Sonetto?! I thought everyone's mail was delivered by the postman during the day...
Golden Key Sancho: Hey, Boss...?
Sonetto: Don't worry, during the term, Harald will still... send you letters every month. The school postman is very punctual.
Sonetto: You can write to him too; your communication will be unhindered...
Vertin: We promised him that we would ensure your safety at school.
Vertin: He trusts you can handle this. I’m certain you will.
…
"You can trust these two, they’re good people. —Yours forever, Harald."
Erick: Have they been lying?
Erick: Besides the first, all the letters were...
Erick: If it’s all a lie, then what’s the point of all this?
Erick: The treasure, territories, crew... what’s the point of my ambitions?
Golden Key Sancho: Hey, Boss?
Golden Key Sancho: ...Ever since you got that letter yesterday, you've been acting a bit strange.
Effie: Erick... Erick!
Erick: Oh... sorry, what were you saying?
Effie: What's wrong?
Erick: N-Nothing, just leave me be.
Her gaze becomes vacant again, as if all this weren’t real.
Steady footsteps approach from a distance.
The students watch the advancing figure, lips firmly sealed.
Instructor: Erick, there is a suspicion that you snuck off to the critter shed by the lake yesterday and fed the critters there. As I’m sure you’re aware, this is against the school rules.
Instructor: As of right now, there's no second witness to prove it was you. But, if it was you...
Eifer stands up.
Effie: Sh-She was with us the whole time yesterday, I can testify!
Golden Key Sancho: I can too!
Erick: It was me.
Erick stands up, arms dropping to her sides...