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Christmas has come to an arrival, but the spirit of the celebration was still wrapped around the academy. The camaraderie that everyone brought in the dining hall was enough to lift up the holiday cheer that Wolfgang was ready for when he woke up in his dorm room. Wolfgang strode into the dining hall, straightening his tie as he mentally prepared himself for the day's interactions. He had anticipated a festive atmosphere, but what greeted him exceeded his expectations.
The room was alive with laughter and chatter, filled with the scent of cinnamon and pine. Paper snowflakes dangled from the ceiling, and someone—probably Toshiko—had taken it upon themselves to adorn every corner with tinsel. Near the center of the hall, Toshiko, Ingrid, and Grace were huddled together, whispering conspiratorially. Wolfgang raised an eyebrow but dismissed it, focusing instead on the buffet table, where a fresh batch of peppermint hot chocolate awaited.
“Good morning.” He greeted, his deep voice cutting through the buzz of conversation. Before he could grab a mug, Toshiko appeared in front of him, her face alight with mischief. “Wolfgang! Perfect timing. We need your help with something.”
Ingrid and Grace flanked her, each holding a coil of brightly colored Christmas lights. Wolfgang eyed them warily. “With what, exactly?” he asked, though he suspected the answer would do little to prepare him for what was to come.
“Stand still!” Toshiko declared, ignoring his question entirely. Before Wolfgang could protest, the trio began wrapping him with the lights like a human-sized Christmas tree. “Is this truly necessary?” he sighed, though a faint smile tugged at his lips as Grace looped the lights over his shoulders.
“Absolutely,” Ingrid replied, her tone resolute. “You’re the tallest one here. If anyone should represent the Christmas spirit, it’s you.”
“Besides,” Grace added, stepping back to admire their handiwork; “You’re pulling it off. Very dashing.”
Wolfgang groaned but didn’t fight them off. He’d learned by now that resistance was futile when these three were on a mission. Meanwhile, at a nearby table, Eva and Damon sat side by side, each wearing a pair of reindeer antler headbands. Damon’s looked slightly crooked, as though he’d tried and failed to take it off multiple times. “This is absurd,” Damon muttered, glancing sideways at Eva, who was sipping her tea with an air of composed indifference. “Why are you even wearing that?”
“Because Toshiko asked me to,” Eva replied, her tone perfectly even. “And it’s not worth the argument.”
“You could at least look less smug about it,” Damon grumbled, tugging at his own headband. Across the room, Toshiko clapped her hands in delight. “Ta-da! Behold, Wolfgang the Noble Christmas Tree!”
The dining hall erupted into applause and laughter. Wolfgang stood rigid, his arms at his sides, adorned with twinkling lights that blinked in synchronized patterns. “This is a blatant misuse of Christmas cheer…” He said, though the warmth in his voice betrayed his amusement.
“Cheer’s meant to be shared!” Ingrid countered, grabbing a camera. “Now smile!” Wolfgang complied, though his smile was small and subdued. All around him, the room buzzed with lighthearted joy, and for a moment, the lingering shadows of the academy felt a little farther away.
Wolfgang stood stoically as Toshiko, Ingrid, and Grace continued wrapping the colorful Christmas lights around him. The faint hum of the bulbs filled the air, barely noticeable beneath the lively chatter of the dining hall. He managed to keep his composure, though he felt slightly ridiculous, especially when Toshiko gleefully declared him the “Noble Christmas Tree.”
As Ingrid plugged the lights into the nearby outlet, Wolfgang felt a sudden jolt.
"Ow!" He hissed, his body tensing as the sharp sting of electricity coursed through him. The world around him seemed to blur, the sound of laughter and holiday cheer fading as his mind was yanked elsewhere—back to a moment he'd buried deep within himself.
The memory hit like a thunderclap.
The dingy, oppressive space of the generator room replaced the festive warmth of the dining hall. The air was heavy with oil and desperation, the dim light casting jagged shadows across the walls. Diana stood before him, her face pale with fear and uncertainty as she dropped the taser. The car battery seemed to be ready to fall, but he ignored the possible death awaiting him with this simple item.
He could hear his own voice, calm but cold. "I won’t give up… until everyone knows me as—!"
A sudden burst of energy, chaotic and wild, surged through the room as she connected the cables. The generator roared to life, sending an arc of electricity toward him. The pain was immediate, searing. His body convulsed as the current tore through him, his vision fracturing into a kaleidoscope of light and darkness. He hit the ground hard, his senses immediately disappearing like thin air. Somewhere in the chaos, he saw Diana’s sheer horror of the scene, but the look felt distant, as though muffled by the relentless buzz in his skull.
When the pain finally subsided, he’d been left sprawled on the floor, breathless and trembling. Diana had escaped, the generator humming mockingly in her absence. He’d failed—both in killing her and in maintaining control.
Wolfgang blinked, snapping back to the present. The dining hall's festive din washed over him, the sharp contrast almost dizzying. He was still standing, the lights twinkling harmlessly around him now, though his hands were clenched into tight fists.
“Wolfgang?” Toshiko’s voice broke through the haze. She was staring at him, her usual playfulness replaced by concern. “Are you okay? You look... kind of pale.”
Grace frowned, stepping closer. “Yeah, you’re not about to keel over, are you? ‘Cause that’d ruin the vibe.” Ingrid tilted her head, scrutinizing him. “Was it the lights? They zapped you a little, didn’t they?”
“It’s nothing,” Wolfgang said quickly, though his voice was a touch strained. He forced himself to relax, unclenching his fists and rolling his shoulders. “Just a static shock. Continue with your... festivities.”
“You sure?” Grace asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because for a second there, you looked like you’d seen a ghost.”
Wolfgang straightened, regaining his composure. “I’m fine,” he said firmly, his voice steady now. “Though perhaps these lights should be checked for faulty wiring.”
Toshiko gave him a sheepish grin. “Oops. Guess I should’ve tested them first. Sorry about that.”
“It’s... quite alright,” he replied, though his mind still reeled from the vividness of the memory. He glanced around the room, grounding himself in the present. The warmth of the holiday atmosphere began to chip away at the lingering unease, though he knew the memory would stay with him for far longer.
For now, he let the cheer of his companions fill the space left by the dark recollection. After all, even the noblest Christmas tree had its imperfections.