Kaisho: WHOO HOO! I'M BACK! I am TERRIBLY (could I emphasize this word any further?!) sorry for the long(est) update. Anyway, Act II is here so settle down and enjoy! R&R! By the way, since Mahora Academy has the money to do almost anything (you know what I mean; if you've read the manga they create freaking robots for Pete's Sake!), just visualize this "play" as a movie 'cause I find it hard to keep it within the confines of a play. So once again enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Negima or The Phantom of the Opera. Both belong to their respective owners; Akamatsu-sensei and Gaston Leroux.

Phantom of the Academy

Act II

Negi (Raoul) squeezed through the crowd to make his way backstage. Once he got free, he ran straight to where all the other performers were gathered, praising Konoka (Christine) for her wonderful singing.

"That was wonderful, Miss Daaé!" Kazumi (Firmin) exclaimed, shaking one of Konoka's hands. Madoka (Andrè) also complimented her by saying, "Miss Daaé, keep this up and you'll find yourself living more luxuriously!" Others, though, were not as happy for Konoka. Among those others were Kaede (Carlotta) and Satsuki (Piangi).

"Hmph! What an amateur! Beginner's Luck, right, dear?" Kaede huffed.

"Yes, darling, Beginner's Luck." Satsuki echoed. "I have more faith in you than that Daaé woman. Come now, shouldn't you be practicing? Tonight is also your night, you know."

"I suppose. All right then. Let us go, Piangi, dear."

Kaede and Satsuki leave stage. Then there came desperate a shout: "Christine! Christine!" The people still surrounding Konoka opened up a little to let a running Negi in. Bewildered, Konoka asked Negi, "Yes, may I help you with anything?"

Out of breath, Negi said, "Christine... It is I, Raoul! Remember? We were childhood friends!"

Taking it in for a moment, Konoka finally realized and immediately hugged him saying, "Raoul! Is this really you?! You've grown so much!"

Negi chortled, "You're joking me, right? Look at you!! What a beautiful young woman you've developed into! And your voice! Why, it's like nothing I've ever heard! Your father must've really taught you well."

"Raoul, please," Konoka blushed, "you flatter me so. I'm glad you came to watch my debut."

"Ha! Of course! But when I first saw you upon that stage, I couldn't believe my eyes! You, now a beautiful young woman, are finally performing for the Opera Populaire! Suddenly, my surroundings became unknown to me and I began reminiscing on the days when we were young. To believe that so much time has passed! And to believe the different paths we took! Christine, it's so nice to see you again!"

Kazumi, who seemed to not take notice of Negi, told Konoka, "So, Miss Daaé, would you like to go to your room and change for Madame Giudicelli's performance?"

"Yes, certainly, Firmin. I'll just see to it that I'll hav—"

"Excuse me," Negi interrupted. "Ahh... I'm sorry for cutting you off like that, Christine, but—may I escort you back to your room?"

All that were present were shocked at Negi's sudden offer. Negi extended an arm towards Konoka. After examining what was going on, Konoka smiled, took Negi's hand in hers, and allowed him to lead her to her room. Kazumi and Madoka looked on as the two walked away. Kazumi then commented, "Let us hope that they do not go any farther than what they are right now, right, Andrè?"

Madoka nodded and replied, "I certainly hope so, Firmin; I certainly hope so."

Konoka and Negi round a corner and arrive at the twin-door entrance to Konoka's room. Negi looks at Konoka, smiles, and grabs the handle of the door, thus opening it for her. "Raoul," Konoka begins, fidgeting with her dress, "it was very kind of you to come tonight. Perhaps we could skip Madame Giudicelli's performance and..."

"Go and get dinner?" Negi says, startling Konoka.

"Y-yes... Dinner..." Konoka mumbles feebly, fidgeting even more with her dress. Negi notices her awkward movement and takes her hand, saying, "Why, of course, Christine; dinner would be wonderful. I'll treat you for your amazing performance tonight. Now hurry on and get ready; I'm sure Madame Giudicelli wouldn't mind if you skip her opera." Konoka nods and smiles, with Negi returning the gesture. She moves into her room, closing the door behind her. Footsteps walk away from the door and grow faint. Konoka sighs, turns the lock, and retreats from the door. She sits in front of her dresser mirror and begins removing her earrings — that is when a voice arouses from the grand mirror, "Com... t... me..." Konoka freezes a moment, thinking that she is hearing the opera singers warming up from downstairs; she continues to remove her earrings. The voice is heard again, this time more louder and sounding with more authority, "Come... to... me..."

Konoka stood up in fear, her heart racing. She looks around her room and finds no one. Calming her self down, she decides to investigate where the voice is coming from. It echoes, "Come to me... Christine..." Konoka wheels around to find her self standing in front of the elaborate mirror. She finds the courage to speak: "W-Who is there?"

"Come to me, Christine..." the voice echoes once again. With feelings of fear and curiosity coursing through her, Konoka gazes upon the mirror and the voice echoes louder, "Come to me, Christine!"

"I-I ask again; who are you?" Konoka asks aloud.

"I am your Angel of Music; Come to me, Christine!"

As if in a trance (which I'm pretty sure she was), Konoka approaches the mirror and a faint figure appears from within; Setsuna (The Phantom). Konoka is startled and steps back. Her heart is racing; from fear or from being flustered? Either one will do.

"Come to me, Christine... I am your Angel of Music..." Setsuna says and reaches a hand out towards Konoka. At first unsure of what to do, Konoka replies, "My Angel... of... Music?" With no sign of being deterred, Setsuna nods slowly and extends her hand farther. Konoka gazes upon this new mysterious character, as if lost. Then she finally gives in to Setsuna's power and gingerly places her hand upon hers. Setsuna smiles faintly and begins leading Konoka into the mirror portal.

Konoka once again found the courage to muster up her voice, "Please, tell me, what is your purpose?"

No answer.

"Can you tell me where we are going?"

"Deep into my dwelling, deep into my heart..."

It was with these words Konoka began to feel a chill up her spine. They passed through a narrow hall where candlesticks lit the path along the way. They descended three flights of stairs and eventually arrived at a small barge floating upon a small reservoir. Setsuna escorted Konoka into the barge and stepped into it as well. Then, picking up a pole and using it as an oar, Setsuna steered the barge like a gondola deeper and deeper within the catacombs. There were small pockets carved into the cavern wall and in them were candles that lit the way. Konoka glanced up at Setsuna and saw her white, half-mask glowing in the dark. Looking ahead, Konoka saw Setsuna's dwelling. As they approached, a sense of nostalgia had begun to build up in Konoka, but she had failed to comprehend this feeling; something about Setsuna made her both want to stay and leave. The barge slowly came to a stop next to a sandbar. Setsuna hopped out of the barge and held out a hand towards Konoka. Seeing the hand that was generously held out towards her, Konoka hesitated on whether or not to grab a hold of that hand, to be lifted up and out from the barge by the mysterious personage. Realizing that Konoka would not take her hand, Setsuna slowly lowered her hand down to her side and started up steps that led to the working quarters. And as she walked up the steps, her eyes were fixed upon Konoka, who was still sitting in the barge.

"Let me tell you one thing, Miss Daaé," Setsuna finally spoke, "this is my world, my kingdom. You only came along with me here because you were attracted to the mysterious atmosphere. I assure you, though, that I am no madman." Setsuna walked over to the stone slab that served as a desk when writing compositions. The visual connection between Setsuna and Konoka was shortly severed when Setsuna picked up a sheet from the developing opera score. "I had first heard your wonderful, sweet voice when you demonstrated, in song, to those wily managers and that arrogant soprano and her diminutive partner." She gazed at the sheet of paper wistfully. "Then came the day you sang for your debut... What an angelic voice... I swear, my soul—for the slightest second—visited heaven." Setsuna closed her eyes and lifted her head, as if visualizing the scene all over again. Konoka found her tongue and replied, "I-I'm very glad you liked my singing, Monsieur."

Setsuna suddenly stared at Konoka. "Me? Like your singing? No, no, Miss Daaé, I LOVE your voice. I absolutely love it—no—I worship it! Do you realize what singing prowess you possess? It would be once in a hundred years that anyone would have the beauty and singing skills that you alone have, Miss Daaé. You are truly a beauty among beauties..."

Konoka could feel herself flush with embarrassment. "Merci, Monsieur."

Setsuna looked at her, "May you help me, then?" Konoka looked puzzled.

"Pardon me, Monsieur, help you on what?"

It was then Setsuna slowly descended upon the steps towards her, not once taking her eyes off of her. "Miss Daaé, your voice is the voice of a goddess sent down from the heavens to sing for operas. It would be wrong for you to waste it on garbage that those two pathetic managers call an opera. Instead, use your voice for MY works—MY operas—MY soul. Imagine, Miss Daaé, you and I, practicing together down here where no one will find us, where our secrets may be shared only between us two, where we shall develop a mutual bond and evolve it into something more... Deep."

Konoka stared at her with wide-fearful eyes, like the eyes of child when they had gazed upon something forbidden, something mysterious. The atmosphere was tense, almost too tense to bear. Konoka rose to a new level of blushing when Setsuna stood in front of the barge once again offered her hand to assist her from the barge. Slowly, but cautiously, Konoka finally took the hand of this mysterious individual and allowed herself to be escorted from the barge. Setsuna smiled and began leading Konoka up the steps and across an overpass that connected the one stone isle to the next, where a small grotto, covered by a semi-transparent drape, was deliberately carved into the cavern wall and where a round luxurious bed (which was also draped with the same semi-transparent cloth) was set.

"Miss Daaé—may it be all right if I call you Christine from this point onward?"

"Y-yes, Monsieur, you may."

"Very well then. Christine, just think of it, you and I working together, showing those managers and those performers who is better in the musical world. Day after day we shall be together, discussing, sharing, connecting..." At that point, both were standing next to the draped entrance of the grotto. Setsuna went on, "We shall, of course, grow close to each other and when we do, it would be right for you to wear... this!" With one swift movement of the hand, Setsuna revealed what was behind the cloth: a mannequin that had donned a bridal gown.

Konoka, who was already uncomfortable at the fact that she was down in the catacombs instead of waiting for Negi to fetch her from her room and—Negi. She had forgotten about Negi! Her mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts: "Raoul! What about Raoul? He must be worried!", "This bridal gown... What is this man rushing to?", "What a feeling I am getting...", "I must run away, back to where I came from and find refuge in Raoul's arms!", "But then again, this man—this PHANTOM—has got me weak in the knees, too.", "Oh what am I ever going to do?"

And then, Konoka collapsed. Setsuna had caught her just in time, though, to prevent her from hitting her head upon the stone. "My, she fainted," Setsuna said to herself, "matters not, though. I shall let her rest and I shall wait until she wakes up." Then Setsuna carried Konoka in her arms and laid her upon the bed. She gazed upon Konoka one last time before walking across the overpass to the other stone isle to continue the work on her developing opera.

Konoka awoke gently from her passing out. At first she seemed alarmed, her eyes darting from one corner of the walls to the next, wondering where she was. She then breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that she was down in the catacombs and not in some sort of asylum. Though she knew she was being held captive here for the time being, she felt no panic; the setting had begun to grow on her.

Rising from the bed, Konoka took a quick glance at the drape covered grotto. She could faintly see the mannequin with the bridal gown behind the semi-transparent cloth. It made her shiver. Turning away from the grotto, she spots Setsuna, sitting at the stone slab that served as a desk, scribbling notes onto a sheet of paper. Konoka did not want to be detected, so she cautiously made her way across the overpass and stood behind Setsuna's right side. At first, Konoka looked at the opera score Setsuna was scribbling on, then she took note of the white half mask that was set upon Setsuna's face. She wondered what was under that mask, not thinking twice about the consequences that followed it.

Slowly, Konoka reached for the mask from behind. She felt the cold, smooth porcelain surface of the mask and felt Setsuna flinch in surprise. Konoka jerked the mask away from Setsuna's face. For a moment, Konoka thought she saw what was under the mask, but Setsuna turned away so suddenly, she couldn't make out what it was. Cursing and swearing came out of Setsuna's mouth as she hunched up, away from Konoka, hiding the right side of her face with her hand.

"Damn you!" hissed Setsuna. "Why must you take off my mask? Curse you! Your curiosity has brought me misery! Christine, why? Damn it all!"

Konoka was taken aback with fear and pity. She clutched the mask close to her chest as if she didn't want Setsuna to wear it again. She heard Setsuna breathe heavily and she couldn't tell if she was crying or hyperventilating. Then Setsuna reached out a hand to Konoka, her back still to her. "Give me my mask, please," she said breathlessly, almost in a whisper. Slowly, Konoka placed the white half mask in her hand. The hand recoiled and placed the mask back into its rightful position. Setsuna stood up, her back still to Konoka. The tenseness of the situation made Konoka not want to move or say anything.

"Christine," said Setsuna, her head lowering, "your foolish curiosity has disappointed me, but I am sorry for cursing you. I shouldn't have done that. Neither should you have taken my mask off."

Konoka couldn't find the words to reply. She was so afraid of Setsuna. She wanted to go back to her room and tell Negi all that had happened.

"At any rate, however, I must return you to your room. Are you willing to go back, Miss Daaé?" Setsuna said, now facing Konoka. Konoka nodded. "Very well then. Get in the barge, Miss Daaé. I shall return you at once."

Miss Daaé. Hearing that name made Konoka unreasonably sad. She wanted to hear "Christine", but at the same time she did not. Her heart was now belonging to two different people. Konoka stepped into the barge and Setsuna followed suit. Taking up the pole once again, she steered the barge back through the catacombs and arrived at the three flights of stairs. Helping Konoka out of the barge, she lead her back up the stairs, through the narrow hall lit up with candlesticks, and through the mirror portal, leaving her in the room. Before leaving Setsuna reminded Konoka, "Miss Daaé, please do not forget your obligation to me. Two weeks from now I will come back and fetch for you. We shall start your lessons then. Until that time, I bid you farewell, Miss Daaé." Setsuna then left.

Konoka stared at the grand mirror as if expecting for Setsuna to come back and pass through it. When she did not come back, Konoka found herself staring at her own reflection in the mirror. Then there were three heavy knocks on the door. She started up in surprise. A voice called from behind the twin-doors; "Christine! Christine? Are you there? It is I, Raoul." It was Negi. Konoka turned to the twin-doors but did not get up and open them. Negi spoke again, "I've brought Madame Giry and Meg Giry with me. Christine? If you do not open this door right now, I'll have to open it by force!"

"B-By force? Oh, Raoul you couldn't possibly think of—" But Asuna is cut short by Negi.

"I'm sorry Madame, but I have to do this. What if Christine has fainted? We must help her."

Konoka then heard footsteps retreating from the door and Negi saying "Move!" then quick, approaching footsteps and finally a loud BANG! This repeated for about four times before the twin-doors ultimately gave in and Negi bursted into the room. "Christine," Negi says, approaching Konoka with Asuna and Sakurako trailing close behind, "where were you? I was so worried! I came back in thirty minutes because I thought you were taking your time and when I knocked, you didn't answer so I tried opening the door but it was locked. I kept knocking but when you didn't answer, I sought help from Madame Giry and Meg. Christine I was worried!" Negi looked at Konoka and saw that she wasn't paying any attention—she just stared off into space.

"Christine," Negi said softly, "are you all right?" This time Konoka heard and looked at Negi.

She didn't say anything.

"Christine, there's something wrong? If there is, can you tell me?"

Konoka shook her head slowly. She didn't want Negi, Asuna, and Sakurako involved in the situation she was in. She turned and looked at the grand mirror that stood silent and cold, just like the time she encountered Setsuna. Negi looked at the mirror as well and could not comprehend why Konoka was looking at it.

"I must say, Andrè," Kazumi mused as she fixed her cuff, "that last opera we did, that was such a big success, no?"

Madoka nodded and replied, "It was a big success, Firmin. And how long ago was that? About two weeks ago?"

"Hmm... Yes, it has been two weeks since our last opera—And look at these people!"

Kazumi pointed at the performers dancing, jumping, running, and hopping upon the stage as if they were chickens without heads.

"I thought this was supposed to be an opera! Not dozens of chickens with their heads cut off! Where's the organization?! The graceful movements?! You know what this new opera needs, Andrè?"

Turning her head towards Kazumi with an amused smile, Madoka said, "What does it need, Firmin? More headless chickens?" She chuckled. The first joke made by her in a long time. Kazumi gave her an annoyed glance and Madoka immediately stopped chuckling.

"Ho, ho! Look who's the funny man now, Andrè," Kazumi said sarcastically.

"My apologies, Firmin," Madoka said, excusing the bad joke that was made earlier. "Now, what was it that you said that this opera needs?"

Looking at the clumsy and disorganized performers hopping across the stage, Kazumi sighed and said, "What this opera needs... Is Miss Daaé!"

Madoka blinked. "M-Miss Daaé?"

"Yes! Miss Christine Daaé! Are you deaf, Andrè? Think about it: Miss Daaé's performance two weeks ago made a huge spike in the income! If we place Miss Daaé in this new opera, think of all the people who would line up to hear her wonderful voice again!"

"Hmm... That sounds like a good idea, Firmin, but wouldn't that just sound like you're using Miss Daaé for your own financial gain?"

"No, no, no," Kazumi shook her head, "Andrè, what kind of person do you think I am? I care for the happiness and the contentment of our number one star! I wouldn't just go and use her as if she were some money-attracting item! She's a human being, of course! What kind of heartless person would use her for her talents just so he or she could earn money for himself or herself?! I daresay, if I ever encounter a person like that, I would bring justice to him or her!"

"I think you just described yourself right there, Firmin," Madoka muttered under her breath. Unknown to her, Kazumi picked up on this and slapped her on the arm.

"You and your straight man attitude," Kazumi grumbled.

"Going back on track here," Madoka said, changing the subject. "I very well agree with you that Miss Daaé should perform in this new opera. But the problem is this: The performers have gone and already practiced halfway through this opera, and the performing night is three weeks from now. How will Miss Daaé find the time to pick up on the earlier material?"

"Good point, Andrè. Unless the main performer is—"

"Me! Carlotta Giudicelli!"

"Oh dear, here comes our diva," Madoka mumbled as Kaede approached her and Kazumi.

With arms opened wide as if asking for a hug, Kazumi welcomed her by saying, "My! Madame Giudicelli! What an unexpected surprise! How might you be doing? And where is your partner? The short and stout one?"

"I am doing very well, thank you. And do you mean Piangi? Poor dear has caught the flu and is resting. I was planning for him to play the role of the man who falls in love with the main character, who will be played by yours truly. But since this has happened, who will replace my dear Piangi for this role?"

Kazumi and Madoka both simultaneously looked at each other and smiled.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Firmin?" Madoka asked.

"Why yes, yes I am, Andrè." Kazumi replied with a wide grin.

Kaede looked at the two, confused at whatever was going on inside their heads. Kazumi turned and faced Kaede with childish excitement.

"Madame Giudicelli," she began, "on behalf of poor, sick Piangi and Andrè and I, we would like to propose an agreement with you."

Cautious of Kazumi's sly wits, Kaede asked, "What is this proposal of which you speak of, Firmin?"

Chuckling a bit, which made it even more suspicious for Kaede, Kazumi replied, "Here is what I propose, Madame; You play the main role in this new opera and our new little shining star, Miss Daaé, will play Piangi's role. I know you may feel uncomfortable sharing the stage with another of the Opera Populaire's great performers, but trust me, with two of the best up on that stage the income will be higher and you know what happens when we have a bigger income?"

Kaede's eyes suddenly lit up. "A bigger paycheck!"

"Ding! And the winner is our shining diva! So, how's about it, Madame Giudicelli? May you allow Miss Daaé play Piangi's unfilled role?"

"As much as I dislike to share the stage with that newbie," Kaede says tartly, "I will allow her to take the place of Piangi. After all, it is I who the audience will pay attention to."

Without saying anymore, Kazumi nodded contently and smirked at Madoka, who in turn patted Kazumi's back as a sign of acknowledgement. One particular other, however, did not approve of this deal...

Later that night, when all the performers had gone back home after a long day of practicing, Madoka spots a white envelope on the empty stage with a black rose beside it. She freezes. "Could it be...?" she whispers to herself as she hesitantly reaches over and picks up the envelope. Flipping it over, she saw a red wax seal and immediately grew uncomfortable. "Oh, it better had not be..." she whispers to herself once again. With trembling hands, Madoka gingerly opens the envelope and reads it. Her eyes grew wide with disbelief and she immediately rushed backstage to show Kazumi the letter.

"Firmin! Firmin!" Madoka cried out while running towards Kazumi, waving the envelope and letter in the air. Kazumi looked up from a couple of leaflets and saw Madoka approaching her.

"What is it, Andrè?"

Madoka, out of breath, tried to explain to Kazumi what was in her hands. "Letter.... I read..... Very bad.... Here!" She shoved the letter and the envelope into Kazumi's hands and collapsed onto a crate, fanning herself.

"I daresay Andrè, you're terribly out of shape," Kazumi remarks as she flicks the letter straight and begins to read it, her eyes examining every word of the paper. Her eyes grew wide as she neared the last line; she tensed up. Crumpling up the letter and flipping over the envelope to take a good look at the wax seal, Kazumi grew red with anger.

"WHAT IN OPERA'S NAME IS THIS?!" She exploded, her voice echoing towards every corner of the opera house. Violently, Kazumi tore up both the letter and the envelope and threw the bits into the air like confetti. "Who does that fool think He is? Make Miss Daaé the main lead instead of Madame Giudicelli? I daresay that man has a bone to pick with us. If we make Miss Daaé the main lead now, we would have to postpone the opera until next month and then that devil of a man would pester us about paying our dues to Him. Well, I ask then, how are we going to pay Him if we do not have any money?! He even says that we should reserve Box 4 for him! Damn that man: He even says that if we do not comply to His wishes, He would hang one of our actors the day of the performance. A bunch of ridiculous jokes, I say."

Sitting up on the crate, Madoka states, "Don't forget about the part where The Ph—I mean, He would raise our dues to Him. That would prove impossible if we change Madame Giudicelli and Miss Daaé's roles now."

"That is exactly what I am talking about, Andrè," Kazumi sighs angrily, plopping down on the crate next to Madoka. "We've already distributed portions of our earnings to our performers and spent the rest of it towards a pending appointment with the architectures to refurbish the stage. We're practically in the red!" Kazumi gives another sigh, this time an exasperated one, and buries her face in her hands. There was silence between the two of them for a while until Kazumi stood up with a jerk and waved a fist in the air, cursing.

"If it's making us suffer financially what you want, then I'll tell you this: I've just had about enough of your pressing us into the red! We WON'T pay our dues and we WON'T change the roles of Miss Daaé and Madame Giudicelli! You hear me?! You goddamn son of a—"

"Firmin!" Madoka snapped. "That's enough. I understand that you are stressing out right now, so why don't we call it a day and rest? I'm sure the He's bluffing. You know, just trying to make us go crazy and pull our hair out just for His entertainment. So go get some rest now, Firmin, and hope that tomorrow won't be as chaotic as this one."

Kazumi looked at Madoka and sighed, "I suppose you are right, Andrè. I need to rest. Very well then, good night!" Then she turned around and left. Madoka looked on as Kazumi exited through the backstage wooden double-doors. Getting up from the crate, Madoka makes her way onto the stage only to find the lone black rose still resting in the same place where she had found it earlier. She cautiously walks towards it as if it were bait set up for a hidden trap. Bending down, she picks it up and stares at its dark petals. They seemed more violet than black—Dark violet at that. Madoka fiddles with the black satin ribbon that was tied around the middle of the rose's stem. Smooth and cold. She flinches and stands completely still, halting her breathing for a moment. She stood there on stage, listening and holding the black rose. Shrugging, Madoka convinced herself that she was imagining things and that she did not really hear anything. Even if she did hear something, however, if would have been the faintest of sounds. A sound that would have echoed from deep within the confines of the catacombs below the opera house.

Looking at the black rose again, Madoka gave a small "Heh." and walked backstage to place the rose in an empty box before exiting the wooden double-doors, leaving the stage to whoever lurks during the twilight hours to make it His own playground.

Bold Print Notes:

N/A

Kaisho: Yes, sorry for the long update. You know me. (sheepishly) Hehehe... So! Few things to explain: Remember that line where Setsuna's/The Phantom's voice echoes from the mirror and says, "Com... t... me..."? Yeah, that's no typo; I intended for the voice to be incoherent at first. Also, I needed inspiration so I looked up the "Angel of Music" scene on YouTube and borrowed some elements there (Hence, "I am your Angel of Music; Come to me...", and Setsuna/The Phantom appearing from within the mirror portal). I also borrowed elements from the "Music of the Night" scene. -sigh- Writers' Block is, alas, such a curse. By the way, did you like the little Manzai Comedy bit made by Kazumi and Madoka? I thought a little humor might lighten the mood after that dark scene. A little heads up to all my readers out there: I am in high school right now and I will probably not find any time to work on Act III for a while so please be patient with me. I hope to see you all again soon! :) Thank you for reading this chapter!