Chapter 11: Lies and Pies
[Shelly's POV]
"Hello everyone, we brought some pies from the kitchen." said Lei, pushing a wheeled-tray table with five slices of pies on it.
"We... we were just making sure that none of us would be hungry. S-since using magic consumes our energy." says Horikawa.
"About time you two, it's time for Hato and Lei's affinity showcase!" exclaimed Mikheala while clapping her hands in front of her.
As Lei parks the wheeled-tray table nearby the glass-topped table, Miki and Horikawa sits down on the sofa. I decided to help Lei with the transferring of the pies even though it was obviously an easy job, but I need to look helpful around here. I also sat down afterwards while Lei sits across me.
"My ability is not something colorful Miss Shelly, in fact, no one in this room would be able to see it." began Hato.
I raised an eyebrow in confusion, pans at the other girls or apprentices, but all I got as a response were smiles, and a blush - it was Horikawa blushing.
"My affinity is spiritual energy. I can do a couple of things with it, it is quite handy. However, for Shelly to be able to visualize, just imagine that one of the basic things I can do is track people down by focusing to sense an individual's color of life, for example-" Hato was still explaining when Lei began to cough, but it sounded like intentional coughing.
"Lend me your ears, Miss Shelly. What Hato is saying is that her powers allows her to know someone's location." Lei briefly explained.
"Oh, okay. Thank you Miss Lei." I responded with a nod.
"Are we really doing this right now, Lei?" came a cold voice from Hato.
"I wonder what you mean by that, Hato?" said Lei as she tilts her head to the right and smiles.
"Nee, Lei and Hato, are you fighting? I'm going to cry if you start fighting." mumbled Horikawa as she looks back and forth the two, gripping the laces of her skirt in the process while pouting.
Mikheala stood up from her seat, as if she was a referee of boxing match, hands spread apart to cover the gap between Lei and Hato, "All of you stop right now. Hato, you know that Lei doesn't mean anything by that and that she simply wanted to make sure that Miss Shelly understands your affinity. And Lei, we've talked about this before, everyone has chances so let us respect that."
Both Lei and Hato leaned backwards, with Lei simply shrugging and Hato looking away from Lei.
"It's my turn now." spoke Lei.
She stood up with grace, hands on both sides of her skirt, very noble-like in fact. Scooting slowly towards a more spacious part of the living room quietly. I watched with eagerness, for some reason, I felt like her affinity is unique and something hard to guess - well, at least that was what I am hoping for.
Lei remained standing for what I believe was around two to three minutes, hands clutched similar to praying. Unlike what I imagined, no glitters or light appeared anywhere, nor any sound was created.
"I'm done." Lei stated, doing a little bow, before returning to her seat.
"As usual Lei, you really don't like holding back, that was a little scary." chuckled Miki before clapping her hands.
"I almost peed my pants..."mumbled Horikawa.
I was dumbfounded. What just happened? Nothing was there or rather I saw nothing happen. I gulped and simply clapped along with Miki, but truly I had no idea what Lei had shown us. This is making me nervous, given that I have not seen anything at all.
How would they react if they find out that I failed to spot Lei's affinity showcase? When did I became curious about what they'll think and do? I clenched my fists as I exhale.
"Was it good? What do you think Shelly?" questioned Miki to me.
I don't think lying would do me any good anyway, so it was best to tell them there was none.
"I didn't see anything." I spoke with my head down.
There was a few seconds of silence before all of them burst into laughter - more like Miki mostly while Horikawa, Lei and Hato smiled meekly.
"Don't worry Miss Shelly, it was actually better that you were not able to see what Lei did. If you're wondering why I said so, then there's only one reason." stated Miki, smirking, obviously making it sound like a cliffhanger.
"Miss Shelly, it's because you're either immune to her ability or you're eyes aren't simply trained enough to see it, the Eye of the Witch" explained Miki with a grin.
"Eye of the witch?" I asked them.
"All of us, including your aunt also known as our teacher, possess eyes that are not normal to humans, sooooo don't worry. You'll soon see her affinity." Miki adds.
"Uhmm, but why go through such lengths when you can just tell me what it is." I told them with a confused expression.
[Miki's POV]
I don't really know if I should be happy or scared of how smart Master Shelly could be. When I heard that question, I slightly flinched, and gave the other three quick glances. Horikawa was already digging on the pie, Lei was having that smile on her face as usual and Hato seems to have no plans to get me out of the hot seat.
"Why is everyone silent? I mean, that's fine right? Hato did not just tell me her affinity but had also explained how her ability works." Shelly adds.
She was obviously getting more and more suspicious of our actions, but honestly we would not really mind if she keeps on placing us over hot grill. If I would be honest, it would be better if Shelly would learn more about the four of us, because the sooner she does, the sooner we could break free from this.
At this very moment, Yurara gave us an order to act like her apprentices in order to lessen Master Shelly's suspicion about her. To be honest, everything looks ridiculous to me, since we have known that Yurara had tried her best to hide our existences from Shelly for years now. But ever since Lhea's encounter with our Master, Yurara started to worry that she would not be able to fool a 17-year-old Shelly for too long. Basically, this teacher and witch apprentices act sounds like Yurara's plan B in order to keep Shelly around her.
"Is it because I'm new?" asked Shelly, bringing both of her hands in front of her chest and clasping it together while her expression turns crestfallen.
"I-..." that was such a shocking arrow to my heart.
I glanced at Horikawa who started blushing madly. On the other hand, Hato began to cough and Lei...well, being Lei she was just smiling like the usual.
"If it's not because I'm new, then I think it's because all of you possibly knows the truth right?" Shelly begins as she places both of her hands beside her.
"What are you saying Miss Shelly?" asked Lei.
Shelly stood up, raises her head and says, "that I don't actually have any affi--ugh."
My eyes widened and I was about to pounce towards Master Shelly, but Horikawa was quicker to react and had already delivered a chop to Shelly's nape sending the blonde immediately to sleep.
"That was close, good call Hori." I told her.
"She's so talkative." I mumbled under my breath.
"I don't want to hear that from you, Miki." responded Horikawa to me with a grin.
"Hori-senpai. Thank you for that, I would have done it if you hadn't." stated maid Yona, as she starts removing the badges in our fake apprentice uniform.
Horikawa, commonly known as maid Hori, despite her short stature and childlike appearance is actually the oldest of us four, being 23-year-old. You could say that she actually looks like a loli-lady, and she was only acting in front of Master Shelly to avoid shocking her. She can actually be scarier than Lei and Hato, so I don't really tease her or else.
"I'm glad that she was not able to taste the pies." spoke maid Lhea with a concerned expression this time, her smile fading.
All three of us nodded to Lhea's statement.
"Let's get her to bed." Lhea added, bringing her back her sweet smile.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
SilverPsycho
SilverPsycho Happy 10th chapter! <3 Lots of love from your not-so-gay author... HAHAHAHAHA
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