Blind!Rood/Blow AU, kinda.
I hope you will like it. The first part of this chapter is more focused on hearing than touch or scent, so don't be surprised if there's more of that at the start.
There's also not much effect here in this chapter since certain people know about the blindness, but it will increase a lot as he enters Helios, because he can't simply use magic to help him around.
Black Haze does not and will never belong to me.
Only Black:
It didn't matter how hard he tried, he could not drown out the noise. The creaking and cluttering in every day was a constant companion that he could not ignore. The quiet rustling of the leaves started to sound like conversations as he left the city filled with so many different sources of noise.
Forests were always quieter, simply because they couldn't speak and a few birds would never compare to hundreds of people in the same space. That's why he preferred isolated places and paths that were not frequented constantly. Not that it wasn't true that he disliked places filled with people for a different reason, he just hated standing out.
It didn't matter where he went nowadays, he would always be recognized in his [Awakened] form. The sounds would start growing louder, messing with his head and there was always a chance he would lose his sense of direction for a moment in order to establish where each voices came from.
That in itself wasn't a problem for him as it only took a second or two by now but it cost precious time that could be used otherwise.
Smells were the same, the current aroma was quite relaxing however. It smelled of wood and flowers and the air felt moist around his fingers. The damp air didn't really surprise him, it had rained earlier that day, washing away any unwelcome, disturbing scents that lingered once.
His magic stretched further into the forest to keep track of the carriage he had started to follow a while back. Really, Master has been giving him too many pointless missions lately. It was starting to get annoying and now he had to collect an autograph of all things.
He sped up when he felt the presence of a demon in the carriages path. Not wasting a second as he arrived, he sliced at the demon before jumping above it and striking it once more. The screams behind him came to a halt and turned into relieved sighs.
He heard someone carefully walk towards him, accompanied by the barest sound of something touching wood. Whoever it was probably used the carriage for support since the sound came from the path where no trees should be.
"You… You are…" A feminine voice whispered "Could you be… The [Black Magician]?" He turned to her as he let his weapon fade "Y-yeah… there's no doubt… You are, right?"
He wondered if this was the Seren he was supposed to get an autograph from. He jumped down, landing carefully as to not trip on an uneven part of the land and walked towards the voice slowly. From the sound of it, the woman must be about a head smaller than him which would fit part the basic description Master gave him of the woman.
The woman voice echoed differently now, a little more distant as if she was looking at the ground instead of him "...S-so...I...uh..."
He stopped and heard her gasp. This was awkward, too awkward. Why was he given this mission, why not someone else?
"..." He collected his nerves "It'll be dangerous to go this way for a while…"
"...Yes." The woman answered after a short pause.
"Also..." He began "Um..."
"Yea- Yes!?" She shouted surprised.
"I'm sorry for asking… especially in such a situation… but are you, by any chance, Seren? If you are, can you do me a favour?"
"Yes...!" She confirmed hastily "Of course! Anything…!"
Blow shuffled nervously and took out the pen and paper he brought, hesitantly offering it to her "Here, can I have… a signature… please…"
"That's it?" Seren sounded disappointed.
"Ah, can you also write 'Go oo!'... please…"
He was going to kill Master for this embarrassment.
As he strolled towards the office of Opion's chairman, he really wished he had just destroyed the back door and come in that way. When he tried to use it, it wouldn't budge so he had to resign himself to using the front entrance and endure all these stares.
He really hated placed with many people. Not only was it too loud, the moment he entered the corridor the normal conversations would always turn into whispers and those who were quiet started to mutter as well.
All in all, those whispers were more annoying than any other noise. Because they were directed at him, only at him. He hated attention like no other. Blocking the back entrance, who did Master think he was?
"Eh? Ro... or rather, Blow!" A familiar light voice called out his awakenings name "What's up? How come you're coming in through the front door at this hour…?"
"Miss Ren..." He turned into her direction, happy that he had a source of noise to focus his attention on and forget the rest.
She sounded curious "Are you here to report on your mission?"
"Yes." He replied a bit down "Though, it was a sad mission…"
"Ahaha. So you did it." She laughed merrily.
"What else could I do..." Blow questioned as he noticed a rustling on her person and the faint scent of ink and paper "But... what are you holding?"
"Huh? This?" Her voice was suspicious and he wondered if he should be worried "Nothing! Well I've got to go. Master should be in his office! Let's eat lunch or something sometime soon."
"Sure." He replied a bit unsure.
It wasn't unusual for the older woman to ask something like this but coupled with his suspicion from earlier it was only more suspicious. As Ren passed him, he heard one of the papers swish away and caught it.
"Miss Ren, you dropped-"
He felt over the paper, tracing the lines, vaguely making out some kind of picture and text. He gaped at it in complete shock. That damned man! No wonder he had gotten so many stupid mission from him!
"Ahh!" Ren screamed "B-blow! You saw it? You've seen it?"
He snapped out of it and crushed the paper in his hand "Is this… Master's doing?" He whispered.
"...Ah, yeah… That's…" She obviously tried to come up with an excuse as Blow sped around the corner, knowing the way to the office by heart "W-wait!"
Whoever might have stood in his way rushed to get out of the way of the black blur as Blow violently kicked down the door.
Now where was that obnoxious man?!
"Hm?" There he was "What, who's kicking the doo-!" Kielnode probably spilled some sort of tea as the flyer landed in his face with more force than should be possible "Oww… What?" He removed it from his head and looked at it and turned to the intruder, jumping up from his seat joyfully "Eh? Blow? You're here! I was waiting for you~" He stopped as he noticed the angry expression on the younger's face "...What's wrong? Did somebody bully you on the way here?"
"You're the one bullying me!" Blow shouted enraged, clutching his backpack "Look at that thing I threw at you!"
"This?" The chairman asked confused and Blow heard a click followed by hurried shuffeling and determined that the other threw it out the window "Hahaha. It's gone~ I don't know what you're telling me to look at~"
He clenched his fists "Are you…! Kidding me?! Making something like that without permission… It's already loud enough enough wherever I am!" He lowered his head dejected "God… It's so embarrassing…"
"Hahaha." The man laughed much to his annoyance "Our star Blow gets embarrassed quite easi-" Another paper smacked his face "-ly." He was amazed as he spoke next "Oh~! You succeeded! Getting an autograph from Seren."
"This is the last time." He grumbled "That I do some stupid errand as a mission."
"No can do..." Kielnode stated as what sounded like a rock was smashed onto the rooms sole desk. Through some difficulty, Blow made out that they were all papers judging from the sound, so many that it sounded like not-paper as Kielnode continued his speech "...Finding Miss Elle's lost puppy, delivering Lucy's heart-beating love letter and so many others are waiting for you…!"
"Shut it!" Blow yelled. That was too much!
"But I'm surprised you got it. Seren is known for being bad-tempered and hating strangers."
"...? She didn't look bad-tempered at all." He explained slightly lost "Could it be because it was right after she was attacked?" He decided to get back a little at the man "There's a demon's blood on that."
"...What?!" Master replied delayed "Attacked? But the lobby she works in is a safe zone, isn't it? Did she meet bandits or something?"
"No." He crushed the man's feeble hope "A [Demon]. And a high rank demon at that." He thought back to the distance of the jump he had to take just to get down. The higher ranked ones often tended to be bigger than others "It wasn't all that strong but for something like that to just pop out in the lobby protected by the tower… Strange, isn't it?"
"Yeah." The other answered, though not as loud as before "It really is. I'm… going to need to look into this. But... to think you'd get an autograph at a time like that… Blow... you're quite…"
"It was your order!" He retorted.
"Anyways." Kiel interrupted him "How long are you going to stay in that form? [Rood]."
Blow removed his hood "...Because you keep giving me stupid missions, I have more than enough Mana!"
"Haha." The older laughed nervously.
"..." He could feel tendrils of magic engulf him "My name is [Blow]. Awakening [End]."
There was a bright sound and he felt himself shrink as his awakening was removed. It seemed he hadn't grown a bit.
"Hm?" Master hummed "Rood, you've grown taller since the last time we've met."
"Really?" Rood touched his head in surprise for a moment, feeling the soft wisps of his hair before he remembered that he hadn't "...N-not!" He walked forward and slammed his hands onto the desk, nearly missing it just a bit "I got the autograph-! Now give me a proper mission!" He got no answer from his superior, no matter how long he waited "What…"
"Rood." He was interuppted with an all too serious tone "...After [That Day], ordinary people… as well as numerous Magicians are looking out for you. [Shic] from the Magician's Association is especially out to get you. From now on... It's going to get even more dangerous. It's different from how it's always been. I'm… worried about that."
Rood grinned slyly, at least he hoped he was, and held up the extra flyer he had hidden "And you make something like this?"
"You've got more?!"
"Scrap the dumb talk." He crumpled the paper in his hand, feeling the rough texture on his skin "So you're going to give it to me, or not?"
The was a swishing sound on the desk "...Well... There is this one big thing… It's an Auction house opening once every two months. It only deals with scarce and rare items. And- in the Auction house opening this time... A Magic stone with a [Name] is said to make an appearance."
"...! A highest class Magic stone!"
"Yeah, the problem is… other Magician's have this information as well. Do you understand what this means? This mission… might be quite interesting."
If sound wasn't already unbearable, then scent certainly was. He knew it would be bad but there were just too many odours. It reeked of sickly sweet perfume, it was burning in his nose.
Beside him, Ren whistled. She came along because she thought it would be an easy mission and in case Rood needed help with all the people around.
"There's so many people~" She commented, her breath not too far away "I guess the Magic stone [Shajarn's heart]… really is amazing, huh?"
"Well," Rood explained while tightening his grip on his cane "Magic stones of the highest quality are rare."
"He~" She stilled for a moment and he couldn't hear her breath but he knew she hadn't moved "Moreover- There really are a lot of people. You sure you will be fine on your own? Mr. Black Magician."
"I should be." He replied "My goal is different from them… I mean my goal… you know… is…" He let his head sink. God… 'It might be interesting', he said!
What was interesting about pulling someone's pants down?!
"...Are you really okay?" Ren asked worried.
"I'll do it somehow. Somehow…" Why him of all people?
He paid more attention to the Auction as the Auctioneer announced the main item. Despite not being able to see it, Rood could feel the power even from where he was standing.
"So, have you found your target?" Ren asked the dazed him "Hey, hey!"
He paid more attention to her again "No, not yet. The people's auras are all mixed up… He might not be here because of some accident…"
"No way." Ren shot that possibility down "Don't try to avoid reality."
"Then… I guess I'll get ready." He grasped the light, fluttering velvet of the curtains beside him and pulled it to the side "My name is [Blow], [Awaken]."
"It surprises me every time." The woman stated "I've never seen a Magician change so much like you. How can such a kid, in his awakened form, turn into such a handsome man?"
He looked at her curiously before it turned to annoyance "...Sorry for being a kid."
"Oh my. It was a joke, a joke." She assured "How's your Mana?"
"It's fine." He informed "Moreover… I've found him."
"What?" She questioned surprised "In this crowd?"
Just as she said that a loud crash resounded and the crowd broke into scream of panic, magic buzzing all around the room. At the source of the commotion were several people who used magic and one familiar aura that he recognized as the one who accompanied Shicmuon when they first met.
This wasn't good, if he spread his mana out to search for the red-head and he was here then… this wouldn't end well.
"Oh~ I thought all they had was a bunch of weaklings… But turns out I was wrong~ But the Association's Magician… Weird."
"Miss Ren..." How was he going to tell her this? "Look closely. That person… I'm sure he's the one that was with [him]."
"...What?" She gasped "Then could it be...?"
This wasn't good. Not only did he not want to meet him, he might have to do this mission with him in proximity.
"Now~ now~" A deep voice drown all others out "Every Magician in the room, please listen. I understand you're excited about the highest class Magic stone. …But if you do something stupid, you won't end up well. So please stay calm until the end of the Auction. Okay? From now on... anyone who tries to touch the Magic stone… really won't have a fun time."
A clang resounded and the whizzing of mana was heard. Blow sighed, even though that man tried to make such a good impression, his companion had to sabotage his plans.
"Hey! You! Shic!" Blow tried not to cringe at the voice of Lanoste's dog, it was way too loud "What the hell are you doing?!"
He was here, Shicmuon of all people. He could already feel the maniac's grin.
"Hey! You bastard! What do you think you're doing with that?" Van yelled as something kept connecting with a type of rock at the auction side.
"Kukuk… I can feel it. I can feel it." Damn this guy "...That guy! That guy's annoying energy...!"
What?! He was sure he had not spread it out! He still hadn't!
"Oy, Blackie!" His voice, louder than Van's, echoed off the walls "This must be your target, too, right? If you want it- Come out and get it!"
The Magic stone… By God, this guy…
He straightened himself, speechless.
"If you don't…" It wasn't threatening but it still made him uncomfortable "This. I'll eat it."
Eat it. Just fucking eat it. His target wasn't even the damn stone.
"...Blow!" Ren whispered "This... Thing's just got a bit more complicated. Seeing that, it won't turn out well if he sees you. Wouldn't it be better to step down? The mission is just dumb anyway…"
"...No." He declined "I can't go back just because of a flea like him. It is dumb though."
"That…?" Ren retorted "A flea…?"
"A red flea!" He shot back.
"Uhuh… Sure. Go ahead." She sighed "You're pretty stubborn."
He grabbed the railing of the inner balcony and jumped onto the cool surface as a commotion started down below. Whoever that Magician was that distracted Shicmuon, this might be his chance to fulfill the mission without drawing too much attention.
"Ho~" His companion whistled "Where did that blue-haired woman come from? Fight~ Fight~! But that's good for us. I don't know how much time that woman can give us but this is a great chance. ...Isn't that right, Blow?"
"Of course." He stood and pulled his hood up, locking onto the aura of the third class magician.
"The target?"
"Still got him."
Donning a brown coat, he jumped into the agitated crowd and walked right towards the target. As much Mana as a third class Magician had, a male voice and women voices close to him. But...
There were too many people! But surely everyone was focused on the stone. Could this be an opportunity? What if he got called the Pantsing Magician or something with this? Should he do it? Should he? ...What should he do?
...Why did he have to think about something like this? Goddamn Master. Fine! First, let's just do it!
He rushed forward, calculating where he had to pull but hesitated last moment and grabbed some type of neckwear instead.
I can't…! I can't do this!
Something dropped down from under the fabric and rolled a few feet. It was definitely a hard object and there was no question as to what said object was.
People close to them started screaming and he had to cover his ears.
"You little…!" Dan yelled "How did you notice…?!"
He didn't, he really didn't. He wasn't searching for the stone and consciously blended any sign of it out.
"Damn it!" He heard the two women with the man scream "I almost got away with it...! Well..." The stone's energy left the ground "Since it's in my hands now, I won't let go of it so easily! ...My name is [Cloak]! [Awaken]!"
Magic erupted from the older man and he took a few steps away to get a better bearing of the room. Since the guy awakened, a fight was highly possible.
"The Magic stone… is already in my hands… If you get in my way… I'll kill all of you! Starting…" Mana sprouted in the man's hand "with you!"
"I wonder…" He felt the enemy attack nearing, blocking the energy with his own weapon as it exploded, his hood falling backwards "Isn't that… A bit too much?"
"The Black Magician!" One of the audience yelled, many others following suit.
Blow wondered if it was possible to disappear on the spot without teleportation. Shicmuon was sure to have heard and was probably rushing here now.
"...The B... Black...!" Was that fright in Cloak's voice? "Black Magician!"
"I have some business… with this guy here…" He explained seemingly composed. He didn't even know anymore "...So I would like the others to wait. …Magician Cloak." He addressed he other whose aura felt like it went a few steps back.
"I won't…!" He claimed "Hand over the Magic Stone!"
"No…" He said weakly "That's not it..." Was that him or was a very dangerous red flea's aura flying right towards him? "Your… pants…"
No, it wasn't his imagination. He barely stopped the other Magician's attack. Ducking, Shicmuon managed to grab a hold of him and flung him away. Blow, still not having spread out his magic in order to escape the others awareness, hit the wall without anything softening the impact.
He silently cursed, that was a stupid mistake.
Shicmuon was coming towards him again, he supposed he had to no choice but to end this quickly. If he was trapped, even Shicmuon shouldn't be able to do much. A hand crashed into the wall beside his head before it retracted.
"Hello...? Blackie."
Hello, his ass. Magic was pouring around them and basically everywhere, people were screaming and the stench that accompanied fear was unbearable mixed with the perfumes "...Hey, Shicmuon. I- won't fight you."
"..." Shicmuon didn't reply for a moment "Really?"
"Really! Because my target isn't even the stupid stone! Wasn't your goal to protect the Magic stone until the end of the Auction? That's what it seemed like from what your friend said earlier." He calmed himself "With that the reason for us to fight, it doesn't exist."
"...Hmm." What was there to think about?! "Then… what's this?" There was a shuffling but Blow assumed he meant the magic aimed at the red heads throat "For someone who says he won't be fighting... Isn't it too threatening?"
"T-that's…" It's for self-defence! "Because you're going at me like a mad man! Anyway, I have no reason to fight you, so let's just do our own missions." He paused, the uncomfortable magic was still there "...And remove that big ass Magic stone above your head, too."
"Ah. What if I don't want to?" He swore the guy was smirking, he must be! That arrogant-
Was he trying to tear the place apart? With all these people in it?!
"...Whether you're aiming for the Magic stone or not, that has nothing to do with me." Shicmuon sounded calmer now, it scared the raven "Do you know how long I've been searching since [That Day]? Opion's been busy trying to hide you as if you were a jewel. …So I went around to every mission where you might show up. But I couldn't find you at all."
That's because he's going around getting autographs and pulling down pants these days!
"Now, you're right in front of me." Shicmuon was way too talkative "So... Show me again, that day. The Power that gave me the shudders…!"
…The hell was he saying? Crazy Bastard!
He was roughly gripped by the collar and janked forward "Before I... kill you."
Alarmed at the sudden appearance of magic in the others hand, he abandoned his brown cloak and jumped towards the upper balconies, giving a sign to the occupants to keep quiet.
But what a joke. Why should he waste Mana for nothing? Come to think of it, could it be that he was getting all these weird missions because of Shicmuon? He hid behind a cold, wide surface, a pillar and pulled his hood up again.
There were less voices and aura's. He should hurry up with the mission and leave already.
It didn't take long to find his targets aura again even as it was hidden partially by several others. But first, his target had to be alive for him to fulfill the mission.
Probably…
Those people were idiots though "I'm sorry but you'll have to leave. I'm in a hurry and you guys… should better hurry up and leave this place." Damn, there was a lot of magic spread on the ground, that crazy man "This building… is about to explode."
He let out a breath as the other Magician's left but his alarm increased at the same time. The magic disappeared and Shicmuon wasn't the type to let things go so easily… But first, the mission...
"A-are you chasing away the others to try and take the stone yourself?!" Cloak asked loudly "E-even if you glare at me." He was glaring? How could that man even see his expression, did he put his hood on the wrong way? "I can't give you this stone!"
He couldn't care less for the stone, when were they going to realize. He focused his hearing. Most people were escaping or did already. Even if he carried out the mission out now, it wouldn't feel right, but...
He clenched his fist around his weapon. He couldn't have a mission failure on his record. Cloak crashed into the ground before him and Blow jumped backwards. Only one person would do that.
"Didn't you say your target wasn't the stone?" It really wasn't… "Even if you fight trash like that… What fun is it?" The stone was taken from Cloak, the energy now in Shicmuon's hands once again "So, play with me."
They just stood there for a moment until Shicmuon burst forward, magic ready. Blow readied his staff as well-
There was a sudden loss of Mana, causing Shicmuon to barrel into Blow which send them both rolling. Blow jumped up onto his knees, hands on the ground for support.
What the hell was that? All his Mana just disappeared.
Before he could form another thought, magic appeared again but it was spread out around the building with a demonic energy. Something definitely came out of those but it wasn't human for sure.
"A summoning circle?" He faintly heard a voice and walked up to the man who had run towards them earlier.
"Those are summoning circles?" But wasn't that demonic energy? That shouldn't be possible.
"Huh?" Van was surprised at his sudden appearance "...Yeah, I think so."
"...But." This wasn't right "Those are, no matter how I try to perceive it, demons, right? Are there Magician's who summon demons?"
That would be terrifying. Imagine an army of highest level, supersized demons…
"No… Well... Not that I know of…" The man replied.
Blow put his hand to his chin. What were they supposed to do now. It's not like it was just one or two. How was a summoning at such a scale possible at a place like this…?
"Blow!" Miss Ren!
"Miss Ren?! Haven't you gone ahead of me?"
"I can't just leave by myself!" She shot back "But what exactly is happening? I followed, thinking it would be an easy mission but... Look what mess we've gotten into!" There was shuffling and rustling, combined with a few traces of Mana. Magic item? "Here, Blow! It's a teleportation scroll. Let's get the hell out of here!"
"Huh?" Wait, no, he wasn't done yet "I can't. The mission is still..."
"You're leaving?" That annoying red flea! "With whose permission? You're… staying."
If Blow wasn't as fast as he was, that attack would have hit him. But it confirmed that the Mana hadn't disappeared. Maybe it was just an instantaneous thing? What was going on?
"Shicmuon, you must have felt it, too, right? Just now…"
"The Mana dissipating?"
"Yeah! Those demons as well… it couldn't have been your doing. Something's… wrong. Very wrong. So...! What's clear is that now is not the time for us to fight!"
"No matter what's wrong or what happens, I don't care." Insane, he was insane and nothing else!
Blow prepared to dodge when Van moved in front of him. An explosion followed.
Did that man just block that with his body? He was fine, right? His Mana felt fine.
"Move it." He heard the red haired one tell his companion, Mana flaring "...Even if it's you, I won't forgive whoever gets in my way."
He's definitely crazy...
"Blow!" Ren drew his attention, a demon certainly behind her "He's right. If the people from the Tower come, things might get ugly, so let's go back as soon as…"
Never mind the Tower or what Van said "Miss Ren! Behind you!"
"Huh?"
Damn it, the demon was already too near to her.
"Careful!" An unknown voice yelled but the stranger only ended up in danger himself. He didn't really… have that much Mana...
He sliced the demon, now that it was a reasonable distance from Ren, without hitting the teen. He turned to Ren "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah…" She confirmed.
He went back to the ground and glanced into the direction where Cloak would be with regret. His mission was done for.
"Blow!" Miss Ren yelled "Really! Just forget that stupid mission! I had a bad feeling this morning, good thing I brought this." He was just going to assume she meant the scrolls. Ren usually knew to inform him of what she was talking about, this must have really surprised her, too.
"Like I thought…" He murmured "Miss Ren, please go on ahead."
"What?! Are you seriously trying to take his pants off now?!"
Did she have to scream that! It was embarrassing enough "No! That's not it! There are still demons and civilians, too…"
"Oh, that… Don't worry about that. The Tower will take care of al that. It's their speciality and..." She turned to the stranger who attempted to help her and another person with him "Ah! You guys! As pay...ment for the help earlier. How about leaving together? We can take up to four people with this scroll." There was a small silence "Ah, of course. If you don't want to…"
"N-n-no! We'll be grateful if you do!"
They had teleportation scrolls, too…
Ren grabbed him by the shoulder "The place is [where I want], the condition is [who I touch]."
Blow turned to the two strangers and held his arm out "...Hold on."
"Ah... yes." The male one replied and touched his arm as Mana once again flared up near them "U-um... Black Magician-nim. Over there… a really scary looking Magician is glaring at us."
"Don't mind him." He advised "He must be having a staring contest with himself or something. Haha... ha. Miss Ren!"
"I have to concentrate so don't talk to me." She warned.
"You think I'll just let you go? Fucking Blackie…!" There he went again, the ground was crunching with a sickening noise.
"Miss Ren!"
"Mm... What I want is…" Magic engulfed them "[Teleportation]!"
There went the building.
I did say there was no real effect but I think it's a nice introduction to the story. Somewhat.
To clarify, the only people who know Rood is blind are Kielnode and Ren.
I hope you will continue to read, 'till next time~