"And so it was stolen from right under their noses." Takamichi said, lighting another cigarette. It was going to be a long night. "You would think that Meridiana would have better security."
The ermine beside him chuckled, drawing a drag from his own cigarette. "With enough willpower, anything can be done."
"Isn't that just your excuse for breaking universal absolutes?"
"When you get to my age, boy, nothing is absolute."
Then there was a steady silence between the two of them. They stood on the balcony of Takamichi's apartment, watching the day fade away with wisps of smoke as the night life gradually took over.
After another drag, Takamichi asked, "So I suppose you're going to report this to the Dean tomorrow?"
"Nope."
Takamichi nearly choked on the cigarette smoke. He turned to the ermine on the railing with an incredulous look. "This is the theft of a ridiculously powerful magical artifact! Even Nagi-san, in all his idiocy, couldn't control it. Are you really going to leave it in the hands of an unknown?"
"Meridiana will find out it's missing tomorrow morning." The ermine said casually. "They'll panic, put the school under lockdown then start sending notices to the ministries around Great Britain. It'll be a week at least until any news gets here. A month even, if there's no activity."
"Then how could you have known?"
"I'm just awesome enough to know when giant magic sources just up and disappear." The ermine smirked. Then his grin died down with another puff of smoke. "You know guys like me are more sensitive to those kind of things, especially on the Old World. Maybe the Magnus might had felt it but I sure did when that rock left its big shiny pedestal."
"But why come here instead of telling someone who could have done something?"
The ermine looked down at his paw where the Brimic runes had been carved then inside where his young master would be sleeping. "I've been more complusive than usual." He said with a final shrug. "A familiar's supposed to protect their master and all. Though that role's kind of redundant thanks to the Pactio system."
Takamichi nodded, his eyes also turning back inside. "But should we tell her?"
"Nah. You know how jou-chan is. She'll worry her little head off."
"But she could be targeted."
"And you're forgetting whose kid she is." the ermine said, putting out the cigarette butt. He hopped off the railing started heading inside. "Everything'll work out."
Takamichi followed, snuffing out his own butt."I hope so."
Chapter 7 - The Revealing Letter
Kyoya took off his glasses and cleaned off the fog. He put them back on again. The items on the table still looked exactly the same.
He turned to their local mage and owner of said items. "Negi-kun."
"Yes, Kyoya-sempai?" she, he, they(?) answered. After that last incident he wasn't really anymore.
"What is all of this?"
"British antiques." Negi said with an innocent shrug. "You said you wanted to borrow some for today's theme."
Yes, that was what Kyoya had asked the day before when Negi had said something about being an avid collector. He hadn't been expecting much. Negi was still a commoner, a commoner with magic but still a commoner. Kyoya had expected a couple of Victorian era tea set and maybe some other odd items, some of which he would have the pleasure of pointing out as counterfeit. With the Host Club's funds, it would have been easier to simply purchase some antique tea cups along with the cherry blossoms that were ordered for the day's theme. He had made the request on the off-chance that their mage would have something that would catch the ladies' eye.
What was brought was eye catching indeed.
It was like the table had been teleported straight out of a high fantasy game. There were magic staves and wands ornamented with rings, stars and moons along with a broomstick or two. Little charms and trinkets filled a polish cauldron engraved with latin script. Bottles were filled with dried plants and bubbling liquids next to a leather case. There was even a human skull and a gun, a gun of all things, lying inconspicuously next to a pile of parchment scrolls.
How had all these items gotten into Japan in the first place?! Oh right, Kyoya already knew the answer. Magic.
"This is quite the amazing collection, Master Springfield." Nekozawa grinned, carefully handling a winged staff with a sharpened blade on the other end. "This piece had to be manufactured in the Mundus Magicus. Old Ostian work, I'm sure of it. How did you even get it here?"
"My mother was migrated here from the Mundus Magicus after the war. Most of this stuff used to belong to her." Negi said, with that wistful nostalgic look. "And please, Nekozawa-sempai, there's no need to call me 'Master Springfield'. At the end of the day, I'm still classed as an apprentice."
"But it is a matter of respect. You are our mentor in the magical arts." The other present member of the Black Magic Club, Kanazuki Reiko of 1-D, said.
Though Nekozawa had often 'visited' the Host Club at his own liberty, he and Kanazuki were often found loitering before and after opening hours ever since Negi had become the Black Magic Club's advisor. An odd role for a student to have, given that club advisors were exclusively teachers. In addition, Kyoya had yet to find any information on the other club members outside of those two. It was like the other three cloaked figures he had seen on that day were nothing more than illusions.
"You sure it's safe bringing all this magic stuff to school?" One of the twins, Hikaru most likely since he generally talked first, asked, picking up a star tipped wand.
"Yeah, I don't want my clothes 'vanishing' again." The other added, eyeing the contents of one of the bottles.
"What's with that anyway?" They said in union.
Negi blushed with embarrassment. "Well, you see...I'm a wind mage and - uh, most my magic defaults to a...wind disarming spell when it fails. It's a reflexive thing really." The mage then picked up a heart tipped wand fitting of a magic girl then gave it circular wave. "As for these things...most of them are so old that they don't work anymore. They're basically costume props no-"
BANG
The all turned to see a guilty Tamaki holding a smoking gun and a slightly charred curtain with a hole in it.
"'They don't work anymore' you say." The twins said, cornering Negi.
The mage gave an awkward grin, hands held up in defence. "Well, they don't work for me."
"I'll just put that on your tab." Kyoya said, making note of it in his records.
"I have a tab?!"
"Of course. I'll forward you the bill at the end of the month."
"What's on it anyway?"
"Mostly the uniforms that have 'mysteriously' disappeared."
Tamaki sheepishly placed the magic gun back on the table. Maybe that little encounter would be enough to convince their dear king to think before he acted, especially considering they now had a mage in their midst who was sure to bring in something dangerous.
"Originally, today's theme was supposed to be a high tea under the cherry blossoms, treating allowing the ladies to be waited on by the most charming of waiters or to take part in a traditional tea ceremony." Tamaki said, with that familiar glint in his eye that was sure to spell a headache for Kyoya. "But with all these magical items generously provided by our dear Negi, today's theme will instead be a magical tea party!"
"Are you forgetting something, boss?" The twins said, holding up the ruined curtain.
Tamaki deflated, though he was unlikely to stay that way. "Oh that. That would be a problem wouldn't it...well I'm sure that our resident mage can come up with something to fix that!"
Negi looked slightly abashed. "Well there are several spells and other things that could work...and I've been meaning to go over magic negation with the Black Magic Club…"
"Don't worry Suoh-kun." Nekozawa said, appearing behind Tamaki. "Let the Black Magic Club handle all your mystic needs."
"No! Back! Back!" Tamaki cried as he tried to avoid Nekozawa, leading to the two chasing each other around the club room.
"Hey, Negi-chan!" Hunny called, lifting the leather case above his head with his stuffed bunny dangling from one hand. "What's in this thing?"
Mori, looming over his fellow senior as always, added, "We can't open it."
Negi visibly brightened. "Oh that! That's from my onii-chan. It arrived this morning. It's most likely some of his custom tea blends. I thought that it would be nice to share with the Host Club."
"Of course, Junior!" Tamaki swooned. "It will be the centerpiece of today's theme!"
"And we will see their magical properties en masse." Nekozawa added.
Kyoya saw that this wasn't just a charitable action but a well played business endeavor. Negi's 'onii-chan', Nathan Springfield as his research had revealed, owned a small but well-reviewed tea shop in Wales. Why it wasn't more prominent was most likely due to its rural location and lack of media presence outside of a basic website. If this sample was popular, Nathan Springfield was guaranteed to have an influx of new business. If not, the little shop would fade into obscurity.
Hunny placed the case back on the table to allow Negi to open it. There were no visible locks or seams on the case but with a quiet "tel ma amorista" from the mage, it cracked open. A flurry of black rose petals spiralled out of the case and a sweet flora aroma filled the air.
(Kyoya made note to cut back the Host Club's rose stock, if this was what it was like to get petals flung in one's face)
Inside was lined with faux red velvet with thirty small drawstring bags filled with loose tea leaves neatly arranged into rows of six. A small bottle of red and blue candies and a white envelope were propped up behind the tea bags. Kyoya had to give him points for presentation.
"Still the same, onii-chan." Negi said fondly, picking up the envelope.
Both twins peered over the mage's shoulder.
"Wizards still send letters?"
"Don't you have a telephone?"
Tamaki grabbed the two of them by the collar and dragged them away, but not far enough to not be heard. "Don't insult Negi! Wizards could still be behind in times. For all we know they might not even have electricity in his hometown! Show a little tack."
Negi appeared completely unfazed by the tackless display and instead grinned at the group. "We have electricity and internet access and indoor plumbing in Wales. My hometown is no exception. However letters are something special."
Negi opened the envelope. Inside, it was blank.
"There's nothing there." The twins said in union.
Negi simply smiled, or rather smirked. The mage waved a hand over the paper. "Tel ma amorista."
A geometric circle appeared on the page with a small play button. Pressing the button, a translucent image flickered above the circle. The entire room paused for a moment as the figure of a seated young man fully manifested.
"Is that…"
"...the boss?"
And if Kyoya didn't know better, he would have mistaken the blond man in the image to be Tamaki. They had the same violet eyes and thin facial structure and the same shade of hair. He was even surrounded by roses, though they were black instead of Tamaki's usual romantic red. However despite that, the man, Nathan Springfield, couldn't look more different. His hair hung just below his shoulders, tied back in a loose ponytail. He wore a dirtied white shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows and traces of dirt on his exposed skin.
"Hello? Is this on?" Nathan Springfield said in English. He even sounded like Tamaki, if Tamaki had a thick Welsh accent. "Oh, it is. Hi Negi! It's good to hear that you've been settled in Japan."
So it was a magically recorded message. Interesting. At least Kyoya, and the rest of the Host Club for the matter, was decently fluent in English. It was the business language of the world.
"I know it's been hard on you, being sent halfway across the world at such a young age, but know you've got people supporting you. I've also heard that you'll be staying with Takamichi while you're at Ouran. Treat him well and don't give him too much trouble." Then Nathan Springfield gave a cheeky wink that caused Negi to blush.
"Takamichi?" Kyoya ventured.
Negi's blush grew deeper. "A family friend. He worked with my parents."
Kyoya noted the name down for further research as the recording continued.
"It's good that you've made new friends so quickly. I remember that you were always by yourself here in Meridiana. If I remember correctly, you and Xan became friends because he was the only boy that those fearsome kicks of yours couldn't chase away. At least this time, there wasn't any physical violence involved."
"Nat onii-chan!"
"Though you joining a Host Club of all things was something no one had expected. Xan still has some bruises from tripping down the stairs after I told him."
"I didn't trip!" a distant voice echoed.
Nathan Springfield gave an amused smile. "That Host Club sounds like it's filled with quite the interesting characters. Maybe one of them might be your first partner. Mages often find their partners while on their graduation tasks, so your one might be close by…hopefully you'll find 'the one' before your training is complete."
And there it was again. 'Partner'. Kasanoda had mentioned to Kyoya the other day and seemed to be under the impression that the Host Club were all Negi's partners.
"Onii-chan! You know I'm too young for that!" Negi said.
Hunny turned to the mage innocently. "You came to Japan looking for a partner, Negi-chan?"
Negi turned red once again. "Nothing like that! Okay...maybe, kind of. I'll explain later. It's a western magic thing."
"I'm eager to meet your Host Club when we come over to visit so don't be ashamed to introduce your Big Bro Nat! As for becoming a better host…" He placed a finger to his cheek, exactly the same as Tamaki's thinking pose. "I don't have much of a clue! AllI can tell you is to stick to the basic principles: be polite, stay respectful, and keep smiling even if you want to kick them in the gut - and also don't sneeze. If worse comes to worse, just take them out for a date. Very few can resist the Springfield Charm."
He winked again then grinned. "Anyway, things back here have been the same as always. Xan's back for the weekend, apparently all the hustle and bustle in London was getting a bit much for him. He sends his regards. The shop's been doing well, that little mishap was easily sorted out, so don't worry yourself over that. I've sent you some of your favourite blends with a couple new ones I've been trying out. They're mostly mundane so feel free to share them with your Host Club friends. As for your familiar…" He took a deep breath, visibly gathering his patience. "...the girls at Meridiana know to watch out for him, so there haven't been that many 'incidents'. I haven't seen him in a couple of days but knowing that rat, he's probably hiding in some poor girl's drawer. I'll have to hunt him down later. Otherwise, he's been behaved, by Chamo standards.
Was there anything else...ah yes! Your little query is interesting. Logically, it would be unlikely given that they're older that you but Einstein did say that all time happens simultaneously, so it's a possibility. Just make sure you have permission before you try to dig up long forgotten memories. One last note," His expression hardened slightly, brow furrowing and lips dropping as he became more stern. "I know you aren't happy with what you were born with and I know that what we've been trying hasn't been showing as much progress as you would have liked. Just be patient, results will show eventually. You know your doses and you know that your body will need a break. Be sensible with these things, if not for yourself, for me. Please Negi?"
He sat up, the smile returning to his face. "I think that's everything! Stay safe and don't forget that telephones are still a thing! Until next time, see ya Negi!"
The image of Nathan Springfield faded away as the recording ended. Negi was solemnly quiet, staring down at the once again blank piece of paper.
That letter, especially that last section, was definitely supposed to be private yet Negi seemed to be happy giving near strangers free leverage with this new information. The rest of the Host Club might not do anything with it but information was a power that Kyoya hoarded.
The twins sneakily placed themselves on either side of Negi.
"That was really nice, meeting your onii-chan and all…"
"But what's this business about finding a partner?"
The mage was immediately flustered. "It's...um, well-"
"He was talking about the Pactio System, wasn't he?" Kanazuki interjected.
"He was, thank you Reiko-san." Negi said, visibly relieved as the twins eased away. "If you may recall, a mage is vulnerable while they are in the middle of an incantation. While some choose to circumvent that with faster casting or physical prowess, most choose find a partner. It comes from an old legend, the First Mage of Verpertatia and the knight that served at her side. That reflects most relationships through the Pactio System. In exchange for a portion of the mage's power, the partner will protect and support the mage. Mostly from physical combat but now a days, it's akin to having a secretary."
"So Takashi or Kyo-chan would be what Negi-chan is looking for in a partner." Hunny said brightly. "I know, why don't you guys become partners now!"
Negi, Kanazuki and Nekozawa all flushed.
"Right now? Right here?" Nekozawa said.
"That would be indecent." Kanazuki muttered. "And with so many people around…"
"And care I remind you, I'm too young to have a partner!" Negi said. "Besides you need a third party, someone to bind the pactio, a pactioner. The closest person I know is Chamo and there's no way I'm bringing him back here."
The conversation ended there as the toll from the clock warned the hosts that their customers would be arriving in less than an hour.
Between making sure that the magical antiques weren't going to set off around the guests, preparing the sweets and teas and altering the costumes to fit with the new 'magic' theme, Kyoya was able to pull Negi aside for a moment.
"I think you should know that physical examinations will be in two days." Kyoya informed.
Negi's eyes widened slightly but the mage remained composed. "I'll have something prepared."
"The Host Club often likes making a show of the examinations and it's highly likely that the twins will drag you in. If you can make an illusion similar to before, I can arrange for another doctor to see you privately."
"How did-" Negi stopped and took a breath. "What's the catch?"
"Just concern for your well being, that's all."
Negi gave a wry empty smile. "I'll manage something."
Then he turned away.
{~~~}
A shout out to Akuma-Heika for reviewing the most recent updates and even going back to some of the older chapters.
Nat's letter was definitely longer than it should have been but now the Host Club know what a pactio is (but not how they're made). Instead of a short transition scene, it made up the bulk of the chapter. I'll aim for chapters to be around the 3k mark for now but expect the length to fluctuate.
