The next day, the news was on the notice board, it hovered on everybody's lips in soft whispers before escalating into loud murmuring; Itohan's suspension had been stretched.
Itohan smiled. One didn't need strength to be in control, one needed tactics. And she had plenty. One of which was wrapping the Dean around her fingers.
At first she had really liked him, then she found out he was not human.
It wasn't what made Itohan's like for him vanish, it was her taste for power, her greed to be like him. Then her greed to be better than him. Her greed to be Master's most faithful servant even if she had no idea who Master was.
Their mission was simple according to what Father IK told her. Many years ago, hundreds of years ago, there had been a village called Quain. It had been ruled by some dynasties until a foreigner took charge.
And he was not to be joked with, king Anton. So the other royals went into hiding, waiting for when he would grow old and die, except he didn't grow old and die. Year after year, his youthfulness would be radiating.
But one day, he left, without a trace. It would have made the others happy, but king Anton took with him the royal globe, the only evidence to royalty.
The rumour was that he had placed it in the school since it was his and—
"I mean, why?" Aisosa's voice brought her back to the lunchroom. She looked to see that her hold on her fork was not gentle. "Did she commit another offense there?"
"Beats me," Gaga agreed.
"Let's confess to the Dean, we're in this together, we all went into Father Chibuike's office," she proposed.
"You know that it wasn't going into Father Chibuike's office that landed her in this mess in the first place," Itohan said quickly before the words would sink and they would all agree on it. "It was her betraying us, trying to pin it on me."
"And that gave her a two week suspension. What is giving her an extra two weeks?"
"I don't think it makes any sense either," Gaga said. "But if we go to the dean then that is trouble for Ivie. Itohan is getting a suspension but Ivie would be expelled. We can't have two of our friends gone at the same time."
Of course, they only thought about Ivie. But this consideration was good for Itohan this time around.
"Let's talk to Father Chibuike about it, he would be in better position to talk to the dean," Gaga suggested.
"I'll talk to him," Itohan said immediately. "You know how we are, he will listen to me."
"How you are?" JohnMary asked, speaking for the first time. "How exactly."
"I'm his sweetheart."
Three heads turned to look at her.
"Why would you say such a thing, are you forgetting who you're talking about? He's a priest," JohnMary said, trying to keep his voice low and devoid of hurt.
"You're not high on an elephant urine, right? You would never say something like this. You nearly chewed me when I mentioned it, what happened to change your stand?" Gaga asked.
"I saw things in a different light."
"Let the light blind you," JohnMary muttered quietly.
"I'll talk to Father Chibuike," Itohan said again.
"Do it today and fast," Aisosa said. It was visible was sisterly affection she had towards Itohan and it melted her heart.
"Have you figured a way to beat Father Ekene to his game?" Gaga asked her.
She groaned. "Don't even remind me of that loser who takes delight in seeing people suffer. But JohnMary happened to finish his, you will help us, right?"
"Why not ask the person to whom you're his sweetheart for help," he retorted.
"Jealousy looks good on you, it makes you ugly," Gaga taunted.
"There's nothing to be jealous about, he's a priest," Itohan said, trying to soothe him.
"And you're his sweetheart," he argued.
"Relax, it's not like I'm having sex with him."
Their table went silent for a while.
"Definitely high on elephant urine," Gaga said. "I don't know if I should like this new you or not."
"People change, it's nothing new." She shrugged, trying to remember Ivie's responses.
"Yes, but they don't do it within the blink of an eye," JohnMary regarded her suspiciously.
The bell rang, much to Itohan's delight, signaling that breakfast time was over.
"See you in class." Itohan pushed her plate aside and left.
"Will you talk some senses into her?" JohnMary said pointedly at Gaga.
"Will you just tell her you like her and have you reject you so you can move on to other things and create chance for other people?"
"Other people to do what?"
"You're so blind. Aisosa, let's go?"
Aisosa chuckled slightly. "Everywhere is so gloomy following Sister Omo's burial."
Gaga sighed. "The next festivity we have is Halloween. Far Halloween."
Meanwhile, as Itohan journeyed to the classroom, she resumed her thoughts on Quain.
King Anton did not just hide the royal globe, he locked it with its own magic, a magic with tons of energy that it needed human sacrifice to unbind.
But the people they killed weren't just sacrifices, they were armies Master was going to bring back to life when he sat on the throne as the king of Quain.
Only if Itohan would find this royal globe, she would be his most faithful servant, she would have a place.