Again, so long to update a chapter. But I'm working on it! ^^ thanks for reviews/comment/faves/follows!
She is tall, beautiful, and smart.
A perfect being that no one but a Goddess deserve.
Says the book.
Seriously, all the book says about Eli is too good to be true. Dia might have exaggerating it a bit, though perhaps Nozomi couldn't say that anything the book says about Eli is a lie.
Her eyes are deep and her gaze told me that she is looking for the perfect girl she wants to love.
But how can she know who is her perfect lover?
The next sentence she can read in the book.
I see…
Nozomi thought.
This book is pretty much a book that serve her fan's fantasy.
She continued in her mind.
When I imagine those words, I feel like she is gazing at me.
She continued again.
"Ah, what a beauty!"
Said a person in the book.
"How could anyone be as beautiful as you?"
The person in the book continued.
"If I only I have two hearts, I'll give you one of them. But I only have one, thus I can only keep this for myself, so that I can appreciate your beauty as I live."
"Fret not, my dear." Said another person in the book.
"You can keep your heart for yourself, as I do not need them. There's only one woman in my eyes, thus your being is not within my list."
The other person continued.
Wow, a rejection? That's quick!
Nozomi thought.
But considering from the way the other person reject, it sounds like the person who appreciate the beauty of the other person is someone who is not a 'woman'.
Those words are harsh, but true. The Grand Magister only fall in love with one woman and her only. She told me that she is been looking for her. A person with a pair of romantic emerald eyes, purple hairs flowing like a long river and her skin is as fair as the flesh of unripe peach.
Somehow, Nozomi feels like she fits with the description.
"I've been looking for her, so you shall never touch what belongs to her." said the other person in the book which appear to be the 'Grand Magister'.
"Very well." Said the first person which appear to be a man.
He respectfully gestured to the Grand Magister.
"It's rare to me, as a prince, to be rejected by someone. I have not known anyone with that specification, but, I wish to know, how could a perfection choose that someone more than a perfect prince like I?" he continued.
"She has a value that you can't have. A value that no one can buy. I will never tell you, but once what the omen says comes true, you will see."
Somehow, Nozomi feels like the books is starting to sound like just a mere fantasy story. But anyhow, this book says that Eli promise a prince about an omen that going to happen then the person she is in love with (which might be her), will show something that no one else can possess.
What is it?
What is 'something' that I have but no one else can't have?
She asked to herself.
"Her first magic will be a magic that could put Kakuni and Mizukuni to peace, then her last will be a magic that could unite the whole nation. She will create miracles, and you will be one of the witness."
The Grand Magister in the book continued.
Nozomi reads further, all the information that she gets in the first chapter is about the Grand Magister refusal to almost every person in high places. She also learned that Grand General Sonoda is not the only Grand General existed. Apparently, there are so many Grand General, they are only the lead of a military area. Grand General serves under an Emperor while Grand Magister serve under the Great Grand Enchanter. Though if the country is led by a Great Grand Enchanter, a Grand General will serve under the Great Grand Enchanter as a representative for the Emperor.
Meanwhile, there's another group that everyone needs to pay attention to. The Spies. Even though they were sworn to keep themselves as the secret agent, they still needs to be acknowledged by the great grand enchanter as they who will gain information.
Apparently, Nozomi's family name is written in the book as one of the previous great grand enchanter's advisor. Then Dia also explained about the great grand enchanter who are fond of her advisors especially on Kazuha Toujou.
Nozomi feels like it's clear about why she is an important person. Not only because her mother is a high-enchanter, she is also a formerly advisor of the previous Great Grand Enchanter. There are a lot of things happening back then, Nozomi belives she couldn't keep up with them. Maybe she should borrow this one book and read it at her room?
But, this book seems to be sealed with the library's lock.
"Excuse me…!" Nozomi tried to call anyone who can help her with this matter.
"Yes…?" A voice heard from somewhere.
That voice doesn't sounds like Ruby's voice. Maybe she is Ruby's friend?
"Can I help you zura?" she asked.
Zura…?
"Uhm… yes, I'm… Toujou Nozomi, a new student. I want to borrow this book but-…"
"Aahhh! Toujou Nozomi-sama, right? Grand Magister Ayase wants you to pick a few books from here. Let me get the package for you." The voice cuts in.
Nozomi would want to ask what sort of books Eli is borrowing for her, but maybe she will needs them either way.
After a while;
Nozomi is left waiting in the Library's lobby. The name of the Librarian Mistress is Kunikida Hanamaru. She spends her lifetime in library and apparently, she remembers almost everything inside the books which is listed in the library.
Eli told Hanamaru to give Nozomi some basic magic books and a few volumes of history book. She isn't sure how they will be, but perhaps, if those books are as exciting as Dia's book, she will read them very carefully.
"Alright, there we go, your books are ready-zura!" Hanamaru said excitedly as she slam a tall pile of book on her table.
"T-Thanks…" Nozomi said nervously. She wonder if she could read all those books. Perhaps she might be getting bored after a while.
"It's amazing. Grand Magister Ayase actually gives you all the required book you need for the whole semester-zura." She said.
Did she really? In that case, this books might mean nothing much.
"These are only the new prints we left behind. She already sent the previous prints in your room-zura."
Alright, wow. There might be more of them.
"Truly, you must be the person she has been waiting for, Nozomi-sama!" Hanamaru said.
She knew that, but, does everyone know this?
"Aaah, I'm jealous. I wish there's anyone who will buy me a lot of books. No wonder 'Our Secret Swings' series are the most hit literature around the school. Everyone must be really wanting to be the Grand Magister's girl-zura." She said enviously.
"Please tell me, do you have another copies of Our secret swings series I can borrow?" Nozomi asked.
"Ah, well, Grand Magister Ayase told me that I don't need to deliver you those. She said, she already requested Dia-san to send them to your room-zura."
It's already in her room? Then what's the point of looking for them somewhere else?
"Oh, also, Grand Magister Ayase also told me that you should be careful on your way. We heard that someone has found ghoul remains in Kazuha's office. They assume someone must have dealt with it, but it still trigger alerts on every section."
"Ericchi said that?"
"Yep, I met her when I was picking up the books she want me to send you-zura."
"Where is she now?"
"I'm not sure, but she might be teaching in class right now. Some people said she is pretty boring as a teacher, always too discipline and rarely bring her students to field. But some says she is very good because she knows almost everything they want to know-zura."
Always have positive and negative, a very normal thing to happen.
"Ah, now that you reminded me. she told me that she want to give you a private class, so your class only happen at night while you can take a break for the whole day-zura."
"What? That doesn't sounds fun!" Nozomi said.
"Hehe, joking. That wasn't what she said. She said, after your class, you'll have to report to her so that she can give you lesson at night if you need her-zura."
It sounds fishy now, but she probably want to keep quiet. She believes the 'lesson' she is going to get at night going to be a different lesson than what everyone knows as 'lesson'.
"Now, what are you going to do next?" Hanamaru asked her.
"I'm not sure. I think I lost my track. There were a lot of people looking for their class and needs, then Kanan-san pulled me to that secret room in the library, then I just happen to be a little curious then… uh… I don't know what next."
"Ah, I see. It seems she made you skip a lot of things today. But at least Grand Magister Ayase covered half of your needs already. The first thing as a beginner enchanter is to pick their books, then purchase a familiar and next to purchase your equipment. After you get everything you need, you have to pick your class and decide your focus."
"I understand about picking my books, but.. familiar? Focus? Equipment? Please explain me about that again."
"Hehe, as what you know, we have the branches of magical studies. Elementalist, Alchemist, or Magister. Fourth if you remain undecided until the last semester of your beginner year. High Enchanter branch is more like a religious branch than a magical study. They are equal to priest, except they are magical-zura."
Ah, Nozomi gets it now. Basically, they who decide to not focus on any study will graduate as a high-enchanter. They probably going to make people believe about going to school and learn magic is something they truly need in life. No wonder they are respected by peoples.
"Then as for familiar and equipment, you don't need to worry about that. Grand Magister Ayase has picked them for you. Should be in your room too-zura."
"If that's the case, maybe I should go to my room and check everything I've got in there."
"You should. Hehe, besides, I doubt you have any money right now. You need them if you want to go around this school-zura."
She is absolutely right.
"I'd be taking some money from you if Grand Magister Ayase didn't pay for you-zura." Hanamaru said with playful giggle.
"Eh? I need to pay for books too?"
"Of course, except for this time since the Grand Magister bought it for you. You need to pay if you are renting too. But if you are reading it here, you don't need to pay unless you damaged the book-zura."
Basic of the basic. Nozomi understand that fully.
"Alright, I think that's all I want to know. I'll be going to my room now."
"Ok, bye-bye-zura!"
Maybe Nozomi should ask what with the –zura on every end of her sentence later.
In the dorm;
Nozomi doesn't know where exactly her room is, luckily for her though, she met a nice girl named Chika. Her family seems to be the one who run this dorm.
"…there are not much people going to the dorm at this time of hour. But you are a special student. Grand Magister Ayase booked your room long ago and no body ever live in that room since seven years ago. But we always keep it clean until now." Chika explained.
"Do you always keep everyone's room clean?"
"Only on vacant room or booked room. After you start to use a room, that room is no longer our responsibility. We have an instructor that control the hygiene of each room every week though, so make sure to always keep it in clean state."
"Will there be a harsh punishment?"
"A penalty, yes. You will have to clean the whole dorm too when the instructor found your room to be dirty, whoever you are. Even a richest family can't stop the instructor when the related student didn't clean their own room."
"Wow."
"Hehe, don't worry though. It's easy to know when the instructor will pay a visit to your dorm. She always pay a visit to our office first then to the elite's dorm, by then everyone will announce her visit secretly and quickly clean up their room before she inspect the student dorm."
"Who is the inspector anyway? Is she famous?"
"Hehe, the inspector is no other than Ohara Mari, the new lead chairwomen of this school. Back then when we still have great grand enchanter, she is the inspector of the dorms. I never see her directly since she always have her whole body covered with her costume. But sometime I get the feeling that she is actually three different persons. They are all strict though. She usually came with only two advisors and they always take turns too."
Now that sounds like they are actually the three advisors and one of them always pretend to be the great grand enchanter. Is there a story behind that?
"Ah, here it is, your booked room." Chika said as she stopped in front of a room with double door.
"This room has been renovated for more than once. The Grand Magister paid for those renovations too. I hope you can enjoy this room." She continued as she unlocked the door. Nozomi approached her and as she notices the detail of the whole room.
White painted stone walls, wooden panels on the lower part plus the wooden furnitures elegantly placed around the room. Everything else are purple and white: the bed cover, the table cover, the sofa, the curtain, and the chair's pillow. What else is here.. the bookshelves? Contain a lot of books. They are all over the room too.
She enter the room and the first thing she notice after her first step in the room is the painted picture of herself along with Eli behind her. They are wearing a queen and king-like dresses, but a strange detail caught her attention. Why is she holding a chain which also held by Eli? Then why there's a ball-like object under her long skirt?
Is this picture refer to their first meeting in a prison?
"I'll take my leave now, Nozomi-sama." Chika said as she gestured.
"Ah, alright, thank you, Chika-chan." Nozomi replied.
"Take care!" Chika said before she left her.
Nozomi closed the door. Now that she is all alone, she should start thinking about what exactly she wants to find out in this room. She doesn't have any time limit, right? Besides, this is her room, she has all the liberty to touch anything she wish. Maybe she should start with the— wardrobe.
Why a wardrobe seems to be the most interesting place lately? Nozomi wonder if she has anything that she wants to see inside it.
With the decision is set, she decides to head to the wardrobe, open it and find out that this might be a similar wardrobe that she saw in Eli's room, except it's empty and she can see a mirror that doesn't even show her reflection. Can she really call this as a mirror?
The first thing she notice is that the reflection shows a similar objects to what behind her, but are those really belongs to her? Nozomi decided to get a little closer and closer then by the time she touched the mirror…
"Boo!" Eli's image appeared from the mirror.
"Ericchi!" Nozomi jumped back.
The blonde giggled at her.
"There-there, you need to be ready for that all the time." She said.
"I could've hit you if I didn't realize that's your voice as soon as I heard you!" Nozomi replied.
"Really? Do you always hit people when you are surprised?"
"Sometimes!"
"That's good then. I'll make sure to give you a mace or something heavier." Eli replied playfully.
"Why are you surprising me anyway?" Nozomi pouts.
"Why? Well, I just find you to be cute when you are curiously looking through the mirror. You didn't realize that this mirror connect to my room. It only can objects which is not in contact with living object. Better check for those insects when you notice a missing book in the mirror."
"I don't mind insects! They are not that bad!"
"Huh? Really? I just find them a little too crawly for my taste."
"I'll bring them to your room as a revenge for surprising me today!"
"Can't it be a little nicer? Chocolate sounds good."
So people in this world knows chocolate. That's good. Means that Nozomi is not a beginner on everything.
"You're not going to get that for a punishment!" Nozomi said as she puffed her cheek.
Eli giggled at her.
"My, but I'm about to punish you for not attending your first class."
"Eh?" Nozomi flustered. She believes she didn't get any information about her first class.
"Where were you?" Eli asked with her serious face.
Should she tell her that she was getting dragged by Kanan and having a little adventure of her own?
"I was…" Nozomi pauses. She can see Eli is waiting for her answer.
"…lost." She continued. Nozomi couldn't even tell her what happen to her today. What if she react negatively for that?
"You're not involved in any sort of politic, right?"
"No… I don't even understand them." Nozomi winks her eyes as she hopes that Eli will explain her a bit about it. After being dragged by Kanan, saved by Kisame who told her that she needs to keep her political image, and reading a little bit of Dia's work, she is starting to be curious about them.
"Sheesh, didn't I told you that you're not allowed to reveal yourself? There are plenty of people looking for you."
"I knew that, I was attacked by—…"
"The ghouls." Eli cuts in.
"Yes."
"And someone saved you."
"Yes."
"Expected. But let me tell you something. Ghoul is not always a wild being. Some students are able to summon them. When you are saved back then, you might be saved by your own attacker. Many peoples want to be your friend, you know. Especially they who has a political background."
"But it doesn't make sense, why would Kisame attack me and saved me? She could've just attack me. She doesn't like me, right?"
"There we go, I got her name."
Crap, Nozomi should not have said that.
"Kisame, huh? She has been nagging you then?"
"She said I shouldn't act like her friend. There's a political game she is playing with right now."
"Of course." Eli nodded.
"Let me explain you a bit. Kisame Azura is the youngest in Azura family. Azura family is always on the high-priority in this school because of everyone trust on the family. When anything need a care taker and an Azura family apply for that, the whole school will automatically choose them. Even though something like that still happen in this school, that priority is starting to fade as the school acknowledged some other talented students."
"Then, about why Kisame never allowed to be a high-enchanter?"
"Because she is using a forbidden magic and refuse to unbind herself with the forbidden spirit."
"A forbidden spirit?"
"Yes, called as Samebito. A shark yokai."
Nozomi has read about him somewhere. But she believes that Samebito wasn't a mean yokai.
"I don't know why Samebito is a forbidden spirit, I heard he isn't mean at all."
"While it's important to see from the personality, we are still living in a world where rule is everything. Also, I need to remind you that not every yokai is allowed to be bind with. A yokai that has broken the rule shouldn't be binded with."
"What if they break the rule after they are bind?"
"Then both has to face the consequence. That or the master take the blame."
"What about Kisame? Did she bind with him before or after?"
"After. She never said her reason, but either way, her family is protecting her. They want Kazuha-san to not let her pass the exam to prevent her spirit bind revealed."
"What's the connection?"
"When you graduate as a high enchantress, you have to show that you are bind with a spirit and a familiar in a ceremony to display one's capability."
"Ah, right, familiar, now that you talk about it. I need to find a familiar. I think Hanamaru told me that you have one for me."
"You do. I got you a magical Tanuki!" She said playfully.
Magical Tanuki? Could that be…
"Don't tell me, it's the Tanuki that could use his—…"
"I'm not going to allow such a perverted creature be on your side. I'm the only pervert you need." Eli cuts in.
Nozomi remain silent.
"You're about to say a Tanuki with a giant pocket dangling between his legs, right?"
She can't even deny that she was thinking about that, but not that she wants to focus on that right now. She rather focus on what Eli said. It's like she is admiting herself as a perverted being.
"Sheesh, she's a female tanuki, she is magical and she can even mimic your appearance detail. Almost all familiars are." Eli said with a little annoyed smirk on her face.
"I already bought her, she should be somewhere in your room. It might takes a while to bond with her, maybe a little scratches will have to happen until then." She continued.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, I can remember how troublesome it was to own my familiar. It was a nine-tailed fox with white furs." Eli said.
Nozomi once again stay in silence. She wonder if her familiar relates to what Eli is right now.
"My, that was long ago. I wonder what happen to her now."
Probably mixed with her right now. That's all Nozomi can think of.
"Anyhow, your familiar favorite food is kind of expensive. I hope you don't mind if you have to share your meal with her for the sake of your economy."
"What she eats?" Nozomi asked.
"Grilled meat."
Truly, that is expensive, plus, Nozomi loves that one too. They probably have to fight for who is going to eat meat in that month.
"Ah, I have to go now, Nozomi. I'll meet you tonight. Don't miss your next class."
"Wait! I don't know anything about my schedule!"
"Just look around your room, I've placed your schedule somewhere."
"Couldn't you just tell me where it is?"
"It's a place that you will see the first time you see in the morning." Eli replied before she disappeared from the mirror. She looks like in a hurry, but at least Nozomi heard her clearly.
She starts to look around again, looking for a place that she will always look at in the morning. Maybe it relates to what she did at night? Sleeping?
Then it should be somewhere around the bed.
Nozomi thought.
She walks to her bed. A big fluffy bed—and it looks somewhat kinky, to be honest. When she sat on top of it, she can feel how squishy the bed is, yet it is extremely quiet as if it's created to prevent anyone to hear her when she is moving on top of it.
Back to what she supposed to do. She keeps looking for the schedule she needs to look immediately. Left to right or right to left, there's no sign of paper with schedule around her. There are only books, books, and books. She believes she doesn't want to look through all that just to find her schedule.
Thinking from only what Eli said to her, she believes that the schedule should be easy to spot since she said that it's the first place she is looking at in the morning. But why she can't spot it yet?
She keeps searching around, again and again until she finally gave up and rest herself on top of the bed.
"Why Ericchi made such a confusing statement." She pouts.
Though before she continue to complain, her eyes spotted something on the ceiling. It's like a table of…
Schedule.
And she can't even read or reach that schedule.
How am I supposed to know if my schedule is on my ceiling, who the hell put a schedule on the ceiling? Is she expecting me to have an eagle eye?
She thought again.
Ah well.
She rolled to the side. There's a binocular hanging on her wall. She believes she can reach that easily.
Is this how I read my schedule?
She thought as she grab the binocular. Despite of the strange way of reading a schedule, Nozomi decides to just read it anyway.
The first thing she notice is that she truly missed a class today, but there's another class and the class should start in about…
3 minutes.
She doesn't even know where her class is. Maybe she should just skip everything today and tell everyone that she is a little sick to go to class today. But then, what about tomorrow? Is she going to make the same excuse?
When she is about to check the schedule for tomorrow, she felt like something is walking on her belly. Something with four legs, thick furs and…
"Aahh!" Nozomi quickly wake up from the bed.
A raccoon dog, or also called as Tanuki, curiously looking at her as if she is a very strange object to it. Could this be the familiar Eli bought for her?
It starts to sniff on Nozomi, then curiously poking her with its cute paws.
"Are you my familiar?" Nozomi asked as she quickly lifted the Tanuki which didn't even make any attempt to escape from her. It keeps looking at her with a pair of dark eyes while Nozomi also keep looking at it with her emerald eyes.
Silent.
Until the Tanuki finally disappears into fog, moving to another place and still keeping its eyes on her.
"Whoah... you're a magical one, aren't you?" Nozomi said.
The Tanuki seems to not making any response.
"Heh, what am I trying to do, of course you don't get it. You are still an animal." Nozomi continued.
When she said that, the Tanuki is making an angry gesture.
"So you understand what I'm saying? Then, let's try this. Please send me to my class with my complete equipment. I'm supposed to attend the Gatherer's Basic class."
The Tanuki quickly moves. It starts from dragging an empty bag that Nozomi didn't even know about. Throwing a few books in and adding a pencil case inside the bag. It also goes to grab a wallet and once agin throwing it in to the bag before it gives the bag to Nozomi.
"Oohh.. so you get it, but still, where's my class?"
The Tanuki remain silent.
"Don't tell me, you don't know too?"
The Tanuki sit still and starts to pretend to be dead after a while.
"Don't just pretend to be dead now. All these preparation means nothing if you don't send me to the class."
The Tanuki remain still. Nozomi rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Ah well, then I'll have to figure that myself, right? That's fine. I'll be out now." She continued before she left her own room.
Nozomi believes,
She is already late and maybe she will be excused if she tells them that she is lost. Absolutely lost with no clue or knowing where is what. Even though the school seems to be crowded, she feels like she doesn't want to ask to anyone.
Not that she couldn't, she could, but she really doesn't want to.
What if she meets a ghoul again?
What if she talks to a wrong person?
And What if she made herself looks stupid?
All those questions in her mind greatly influence her to avoid any socializing with random person.
"Waiiiittt thereee!" a very loud shout heard from the distance. Nozomi tried to ignore it, just like how she ignores all the crowd around her.
"Hey! You! Purple head!" the voice shouted again.
There are plenty of people with purple head, right?
"Oi! Big boobs!"
There are plenty of people with big boobs.
"I said, stop! You! Beginner!"
There are plenty of beginners.
"Fine! I'll look for your name!" the voice said again. Nozomi keep going through the crowd, she didn't even see if everyone are starting to look at her.
"Nozomi Toujou!"
Now that's her name. She turns around and she can see a pretty tall girl with blonde hair pointing at her. She is carrying a big book on her hand.
"You're a student, right?! Shouldn't you be in your class right now?!" she asked with a very high-pitched voice. Nozomi also notice that she is still using that foreign-like intonation when talking.
"I'm lost." Nozomi replied innocently.
"Is that so?! Then, why don't you just look at the map?! You should own one already!"
She doesn't own any map right now. The only map she saw was the world map in Grand General's discussion. Nozomi couldn't even say anything to save herself now.
"No?! No respond?! Then come to my office! I'll have to give you what you deserve! Class-skipper!"
Nozomi can't believe this;
But this is supposed to be her first day to school and she is in a big mess already. Maybe this is not as messy as what happened in the ship back then, but, this is another mess and she can't say that it's not a big deal.
What if she is put to prison again? What if she get a bad reputation? Or… what if she is about to be executed? Just like what she is looking at right now?!
No… this is not a real execution.
She thought as she keep her eyes on a painting which looks like an animated picture. There's a man on the chopping block, his head fell off after the executor drop his giant axe. Nozomi wonder why a picture like that existed in this room which supposed to be Ohara Mari's room. Ohara Mari is a chairwoman of the school, worse, she is the lead of the chairwomen. If a chair woman is as sadistic as this…
"Ohh! No! John is at it again!" Mari said after she returns to the room. She quickly grab a fabric from the floor near the painting and covered it.
"I'm sorry. My familiar John likes to see the moving pictures." She said.
"Come down, John!"
Just what kind of familiar named 'John'…
"Pu-koo!" A mini rooster hopped down from the bookshelves across the painting.
"I'm sorry about John. You saw that, right? It was a record of yesterday's execution."
So it was a real execution! Except it was yesterday's record.
"A member of Azura family who we captured finally executed today. He was our student's father."
Azura family… Nozomi knows a bit about them.
"He was sentenced for his rebellion in the court. We can't believe we had to do that just to keep our political stability on balance."
"What exactly happened?"
"Huh? I don't think you are in position to ask that! But anyway, since you are here, I'll tell you. It's better than leaving this room with curiosity, right?" Mari said as she sat down on the desk near her.
"Azura family was a respected member, but since our discovery about their rebellion, they are starting to lose public's trust and we had to slowly dismember their role in school. The former Great Grand Enchanter disappears and the school can't make any decision. We tried to hold the line, but public want an execution to the member of Azura family who is rebelling. Kazuha Toujou, your mother was seeking for aid to the Grand Court, but apparently, the Grand court couldn't accept her request and we all had to execute him."
"Last week, the Azura family announced that they are no longer capable of fully supporting the school due to the incident, but they are gaining a few supports from some other families. A lot of their new allies sounds fishy to us, but if Azura family truly loyal to the Great Grand Enchanter, they'll be using this moment as a chance to inflitrate the enemy's secret."
Maybe this is the political drama Kisame is talking about.
"But all that are just our thoughts, ok? We don't know for sure. Politic is harsh and dynamic. A lot of things can change and happen so suddenly. If you don't understand, I suggest you to keep your distance from any Azura family."
"Basically, they are on the grey area?" Nozomi asked.
"Grey Area, maybe, but their Grey Area almost looked like a dark area to us. Last week, their youngest member, Kisame Azura was found to be binding with a forbidden soul. None of us believes that, but since it was our historian who figure that out, we can't say that it's a fake rumor. Grand Magister Ayase also made a confirmation and she is also making a big turn by stopping all special treatment toward the Azura family. Even Ayachi is no longer our special lecturer. She is only a mere lecturer who work under your mother's watch."
"Do you know where my mother is? I happen to… uhm.. encounter the fake one." Nozomi asked.
"We called her. Don't worry, we already check her and she is the real Kazuha. But for real, why those ghouls are starting to be here anyway. Putting that aside, she'll be here to listen to my complain about you."
"About my skipping class behavior?"
"Exactly. You skipped the first one too, right? We got the report."
"I swear, I didn't know. I was completely lost."
"No-no-no-no. Nozomi-sama. Even though you are our special student right now, you still has to follow our rule and making such a pathetic excuse is not an option for you! I might be a free spirit, but I'm strict to my work. You have to at least follow the school's rule and study as clever as possible."
"Study as clever as possible?" Nozomi wondered.
"Yep, I won't force you to study hard, I prefer you to study as clever as possible. Skipping your first day of school is not clever, you know. If you want to skip school, at least do it when no one will notice. That will be—…"
"What the heck you are saying now, Mari-san?" someone cuts in.
"Ooooh! Dia!" Mari greeted her as she enter the room.
"Excuse me but I have to stop whatever you two are talking about right now."
"Why?! She was about to hear me out about—…"
"About how to ditch class? No, Mari. We are not teaching her how to ditch class. Also, we need a hand with something urgent. You need to talk to some people outside the wall. They are looking for the Azura family, I told them that they need to be more specific—no, more like, I told the guard to always ask specific detail when there's a guest looking for our member, but they started to attack our guards and now we got a little mess out there."
"Then, why don't you just summon Ayachi?"
"We did, but she ran away instead. She said, she refuse to meet anyone right now."
What's going on now? It seems that the Azura family is very… problematic.
"Kisame also told us the same thing, when we tried to track for them, both of them are gone along with the rest of Azura family."
"Hmm… then something is certainly smells as bad as my old sweaty socks." Mari said.
As soon as Mari about to leave, a three legged crow flew in through the window. Nozomi is the only one who notices it.
"Ah! Mari-san!" Nozomi called her.
Mari turns to her.
"Oh! Yatagarasu! A message from the Grand General then!" Mari said as she quickly accept the letter carried under its talons.
"Wow! Fantastic! The Grand General wrote an emergency notification so neatly!"
"M-Mari! That's not even the right reaction! Give it to me!" Dia quickly snatched the letter from Mari. She reads it very quickly and she widen her eyes as a reaction to what she read.
"Mari! I have to go! Take care of Nozomi-sama for me!" Dia said as she quickly ran away from the room.
"Ohh! Okay! Well, Nozomi-sama, would you like to read it too?"
Nozomi has no choice, she is too curious to not read it.
"Dear Head Principal,
We are on alert mode, our scout informed us that a massive amount of undead soldiers heading to the city. Please prepare all the mages, set up all defense equipments and prepare for the worst. This is not a regular undead attack. Someone is behind this mess."
That doesn't sounds like something to be fascinated on, but Nozomi has to admit that Umi made a very neat handwriting.
"Hmmm… while Dia is on her way to prepare all those needs, I think I should prepare you to face the worst. But first, I'll introduce you to my magic. I'm a mirage wizard. I can control illusion, disorient time, and reality, creating phantom, and use them as my weapon. This is no ordinary magic, only the elite enchanters learn it."
Alright, and…?
Nozomi said in her mind as she nod.
"So just listen to what you hear and ignore what you see. If you can't ignore what you see, you'll be confused."
"Alright, that sounds easy enough." Nozomi said.
"Good! Are you ready!?" Mari asked excitedly.
"Yep." Nozomi nodded.
"Paaarfeeect!"
Did she mean perfect?
Either way, Nozomi dragged out by Mari. As the door opened, Mari told her to keep going forward. Then just at the time she steps out of the room, a copy of herself and Mari went to the left while she and another Mari walking forward.
"To the right." Mari said. Nozomi walk to the right, but then there's another her and Mari keep walking forward.
She doesn't understand why she has to do something like this.
"Up here." Mari said when she point upstairs.
Nozomi agreed as her eyes set on the copy of her walking down stairs with another Mari. This is indeed so confusing—but magical. It's amazing.
"Oh No, I guess we will get a little trouble here. Just keep moving forward, ok? Never doubt." Mari said.
Nozomi nodded even though she is once again clueless about what will happen. As she saw a couple of guards who are looking at her and Mari— the copy of her and Mari who makes quite a scared expression and turn around to run back down stairs while the real her and Mari keep moving forward.
She wonder if no one can see her right now, but maybe she is not that invisible since a few flying ghostly figure are looking at them through the giant window.
"Run!" Mari said as she drag her faster. Nozomi quickly move her feet as she realized that she just left her copy behind.
This kind of magic is amazing.
"We don't have much time now. Looks like they already plan everything so neatly." Mari said.
"So what are we going to do?"
"I'll have to take you there no matter what." Mari said.
"Where?"
"The altar. That's where your magical soul kept, Great Grand Enchanter Nozomi-sama. Once you reunite yourself with the other you, you might start to remember things and also able to do some magic, but in the same time, the enemy will know your location and this school will be doomed."
"What? This school will be doomed you say?"
"I can't explain much right now. To the left!" Mari dragged her to the left quickly as the other copy of her and Mari keep running to the other way. She can see a few ghouls are chasing after them.
"Dia must be working on putting the whole school on alert. There won't be any students and teacher left behind. We might lost a few soldier mages though, but that's their job, to save other's life."
Sounds… sad, Nozomi hopes everyone can be fine after all this mess is over.
"The school is going to be surely the first target while the rest of the city will take at least medium size of impact. I can see in the future that a risen dragon will fly above us. It will be huge and it will bring a massive amount of undead above its body."
Sounds like a disaster, but again, why is she in such kind of situation now? Also, that will only happen if she took the other her in the altar, right? If she don't, everything will be fine, right?
"I won't take it if it only bring disaster!" Nozomi said.
"It has to happen, because if you don't, they will kill you first."
"Why are they focusing their eyes to me? I can just give it to them and tell them to stop bothering us all."
"Great Grand Enchanter Nozomi-sama! That's pathetic! We will never give something we protect to our enemy! Either way, they will kill us because they will never have enough!"
Greed, right. Just like what every villain looks like. Why she forgot about that.
"So it's better to protect than to give up, right?"
"Yes! But still! What they want from me?" Nozomi asked.
Mari took a deep breath as she stops on a rooftop with her. Looks like this is the last of their magical escape.
"Great Grand Enchanter Nozomi-sama, what they want from you is unclear. I don't understand their desire either, but please, whatever they want, never give them what they want. Because if they do something as far as this, then it must be very important to them and they shouldn't have it." She continued.
Nozomi took a moment to think. Her eyes set on the sight of every single person making their progress to evacuate. Some soldiers are preparing catapults and ballista. From there too, she can see Grand General Sonoda commanding the whole soldiers to help everyone making their escape.
At the other side, High Commander Honoka giving a spiritual support to the soldiers, Dia is listing the students who are about to be evacuated, Kanan helping some teachers to list their important belongings, Eli is talking to someone who look like her sister, they might be talking about something very important right now, Kotori is helping her mother with setting up the alchemy ammo for the soldiers who will be left behind, and lastly, Maki is watching over her soldiers to set up every equipment and traps around the school. It looks like this is going to be real—so much more real than the one she witness on the sea.
Those soldiers might be about to face their end today and so might be some innocent living in the city. How could she talk like it was something so easy to be given? Everyone are trying so hard to defend what belongs to her.
"You are right, sorry." Nozomi nodded.
"There we go. Now, Great Grand Enchanter Nozomi-sama, once you are there, quickly approach the biggest mirror in the center of the altar. Talk to yourself and tell yourself that you want to become one again. Do it as soon as possible before the one behind this mess find you."
"Got it. So what I'm going to do now?"
"Jump down."
"Wait, am I going to do that by myself? Then, what are you going to do?"
"I have something important to be done. I'll talk to you once everything is over, ok?"
"Alright." Nozomi nodded.
The two walk closer to the fence, looking down toward the crowded ground, the sun almost set, the red sky turn darker while the clouds spread their shadow. A lot of creatures starting to show their form, one of them is a gigantic dragon with rotten wings and wounded crown. He must be the risen dragon.
"Nozomi-sama…" Mari called her. Nozomi wonder if that calling means that she has to jump down now.
"Chao." The playful smile drawn on her face, she pushed Nozomi down. When Nozomi feel like she is no longer on the ground she was on, she also feel like she is starting to see a different place. The whole vision change and she is thrown into a giant room with altar— a very familiar altar. She has seen this before, but... where was it again?
See you next chapter!