After finding out that all of the students have been accounted for, the group was able to roam around free on the campus. They completed their meal and Jo'han managed to split off from the group on the search for Umbra who they hadn't seen since the previous afternoon. The Chef, Shiloh, and Erato made their way to the library after hearing about the self proclaimed "Frecia Trio" who may have some insider information on what's going on with the students. So far all that they were able to gleam was that the certain students from the Crest of the Star were leaving campus on tasks presented to them by Cecil. Most of the students weren't signing out properly, but they always came back.
The Chef took to some books to read up on Golemancy in the hopes to find something in regards to what may have happened to their son and why while, Shiloh and Erato tried to visit the restricted section. Xeala approached after they were denied access claiming that it had become impossible to see those books. Shiloh and Erato hung back for a minute after quickly finding out who the Frecia Trio were. They listened in on a far-fetched tale being told by one of them to a group of other students disregarding the fact that they were in a library. After the students started clearing out the two approached their table.
One student who they learned to be Domino Wittenmyer was working on blueprints for a AI warforged that wasn't entirely reliant on a lacrima and had the capability of learning and feeling emotions. Something that had almost a soul to it. Shiloh took interest in his research continue his earlier ruse of being a teacher and giving him pointers and ideas.
Erato came up behind Malady Visus who was completing some work on rare herbs for various types of poisons and elixirs. He recognized some of the plants she was listing and she was compiling them into recipes.
Luna Eventide seemed to be the damage control of the group telling Domino to focus on his work at the sheer mention of someone by the name of Kather.
Eventually the two had talked to Domino and Malady enough to gain their trust and asked them to come with them to conduct some investigations on what was going on at the school. Luna tagged along with them and the entire party, Chef included. Proceeded to make their way out of the library.
As they made their way into the courtyard they spotted a student who had climbed up on the top of a fountain. A crow kept near him and eventually landed on his shoulder as the two of them carefully watched. Following their gaze they could see Cecil with a Porcelain warforged and two familiar faces. These faces were two of the Runners that they had killed just the other day and left in the alleyway for the guards. The two runners appeared to be completely normal. No grey skin no markings, just their uniforms. They appeared to be taking some kind of order from Cecil but eventually all hell broke loos when Erato got closer.
One of the runners had "paralyzed" Cecil causing them to drop to the ground. Their skin changed and a fight ensued. The crow student joined in on the battle attacking Cecil on the ground causing Shiloh to retaliate against him. After a runner was taken out and the other was drawing near death, Cecil had gotten up from the ground and transformed into Comedina. It was revealed that there was some type of plan underway and things got disrupted the moment that the party started interfering. They fled the scene leaving the last remaining runner clinging to life. The mental stability of the runner was shot and his neck was snapped by the mystery student.
Said mystery student revealed himself to be Copper. He gave the party a playing card with Kather's Mystics and Wares or also known as Kather's Emporium written on it. Told the group that if they needed to decide what side they were on and to go there as a start. He proceeded to make a pact with Chef with a few exchanges of words to help him in the right direction for what he was looking for.
Thus the party stands in the middle of the courtyard with no teacher's insight after Copper makes his retreat.