Chapter the Twenty-Eighth

Iori sighed, reclined on her bed. She was exhausted, and rightfully so. Chihaya had told her all about what had happened while she had been under Karasu's control, and the distraught mage learned she had killed her beloved student, Ami.

Not only that, but Dark Iori had been killed, causing Iori to lose a large chunk of her power. She'd set up all the injured in various spots around the room and waited about a day for everything to calm down, but she knew she had to make her announcement soon.

"...hey, everyone?"

The wizards and mages looked up from whatever they were doing. Iori sat up and scooted against the wall. She sighed.

"First of all, I want to apologize for...well, yeah."

Mami looked away. Ai and Yayoi trapped her in a quick hug.

"Second of all, congratulations to all of you. You all fought bravely. I'm proud of you."

Makoto perked up. Yukiho looked very pleased. Hibiki grinned.

"Lastly...as you know, even though I just took over the role, I can no longer be your Grand Mage."

The room went silent. They had all known this was coming, Yayoi especially.

Iori took a deep breath. "Takane?"

Takane blinked. "Yes, Grand Mage?"

"Come over here."

Takane slowly advanced over to Iori. Iori stared at her for a minute.

"Shijou Takane, the Shadow Mage, I hereby declare you the new Grand Mage of Namuko Academy. May your wisdom and good judgment help us through many a crisis."

Takane gasped. "You are serious?"

"Yes."

"Thank you very much, Flame Mage. I shall do my best." Takane smiled slightly, then lifted her chin in authority. She was a good mage for the job. "As custom dictates, you shall finish up any charges for the day."

"I can't believe I was only Grand Mage for a few months," Iori groaned. "Well, whatever. Takane, I'm gonna let you decide what to do with the prisoners. As for the rest of you..."

"Yeah?" Hibiki called, sounding slightly excited.

"You all fought really well. You were brave, and strong. And if your teachers say so, I think some of you deserve to be promoted to mage."

"But our mages are all alive," Eri reminded her.

"I know that!" Iori snapped. "The mage doesn't have to be dead for you to be promoted. It's just that most of them died before we were ready!"

"W-wait, really?" Eri cocked her head.

"Wizards become mages either once they have proven themselves worthy of their element, or once their mage dies. Today, many of you have proven to me that you are capable of becoming a mage. Talk to your teachers about it."

"Yes, Flame Mage," the magicians chanted.

The wizards spread off to sit with their teachers. Carefully, the group discussed who they thought was ready to become a mage and who was not. When they had finished, the mages looked over at Iori and waited.

"OK, we'll start with Chihaya. Is Eri ready?"

Chihaya stood up. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "She can't create ice yet, but her skills with liquid water are impeccable."

Eri blushed, embarrassed by the positive attention.

"I'll start teaching her about ice, and once she's started learning that, she'll be ready," Chihaya continued. "For now, she's a very strong wizard, and should be proud."

Eri muttered something under her breath about how embarrassed she was, but she seemed pleased nonetheless.

Iori nodded. "Ritsuko?"

"The only 'wizard' I have is Dark Ritsuko, and she's already a greater witch," Ritsuko reminded Iori.

"Right," Iori muttered. "OK then, how about you, Yayoi?"

"I think Ai-chan is ready," Yayoi admitted. "I mean, she was really good today, and she did help us out."

Iori nodded slowly. "You think she's ready to be a Sun Mage?"

"Uh-huh. She knows everything I knew when I was promoted."

"You were promoted due to a death." Iori allowed a moment of silence for everyone to remember Miki, despite the fact that she herself hadn't been very fond of the last Sun Mage. "But, if you say so. Alright, Makoto!"

"They're both ready." Makoto looked over at her two students, smiling proudly. "Any of you who watched them would have been able to see that. At the very least, Ryo deserves it. Yukiho's done really well considering I suck at teaching and she lost a lot of power, but I understand if you think she's not quite ready."

"Give Yukiho a little more time," Iori instructed. "Like Eri. I can admit that I've seen she's a strong wizard, but I don't think she's quite mage material just yet."

"She did have the courage to hunt down the elite squad," Chihaya put in. Yukiho smiled.

"Courage doesn't make a mage," Iori replied bluntly. "...hey, Yukiho. You're doing good, so don't feel bad."

"Thank you, Iori-chan," Yukiho said pleasantly. She smiled at her teacher, then at Ryo, who grinned back.

"Alright. Ai and Ryo are ready. Takane?"

"Hibiki is ready."

"What?!" Hibiki shot up, her body rigid with excitement. "B-but, my heart! I'm not supposed to be able to be a mage!"

"You are not supposed to, yes," Takane agreed. "But I can think of no wizard who fought better or harder than you."

"But—"

"Hibiki." Takane stared evenly at her student. Hibiki shrank away slightly. "There is not much more I can teach you. You have worked wonderfully past your injury and have achieved things no wizard at your supposed level should be able to achieve."

Iori shrugged. "Well, I have to admit, she's right."

"What about me?" Yumeko whined. "I was out there!"

"You hardly did anything!" Iori snapped.

"You guys made me come in here and wait it out! I was totally prepared to lose my life fighting for the academy, or something like that!"

"There is still much you have to learn," Takane said gravely. "You are brand new. Do not forget that."

Yumeko opened her mouth as if she would argue, then she realized Takane was right and dipped her head.

Takane smiled. "That is all."

Iori nodded. "Alright, um...I'm the last one. Yeah, I think Mami's ready. She's done a lot of maturing since she first started, and she knows how to control her power now. Sound good, Mami?"

Mami nodded slowly. Everyone knew how downtrodden she still was after Ami's demise.

Iori looked down. "...Alright. Ryo, Ai, Hibiki, and Mami, come over here."

The four wizards obeyed, chattering excitedly amongst each other. Iori looked up and gestured for Mami to step forward. Mami obeyed.

"Futami Mami, you have proven your abilities as a fire wizard, and are worthy of moving on to the next level. From now on, you are a Flame Mage. May your fiery enthusiasm pave the way for a glorious reign as mage."

"Thanks, Iorin," Mami muttered. She managed a smile. Iori smiled back at her.

"Perk up! You're a mage! Do you have any idea how lucky you are to have been crowned by the great Iori-chan?"

"Sorry, Iorin. Mami's just not feeling it without Ami around," Mami said quietly. Iori's smile faded.

"Me neither," she admitted. "...Ai, come here."

Ai bounced forwards and stuck out her hands. Iori took them.

"Hidaka Ai, you've shown that with determination and a can-do attitude, anything is possible. Your skills with the light of the sun have shown that you are worthy of becoming a mage. So from now on, you will be known as a Sun Mage of Namuko Academy. May the blinding light of your joyous nature light your path towards a long reign."

"Thank you Grand Ma—er, Flame Mage-san!" Ai squealed. "I won't let you or Yayoi-san down!"

Iori grinned. "Good. Ryo, you're next."

Ryo took a deep breath and stepped forwards. Iori smiled at him. He smiled back, holding out his only remaining hand to Iori. She took it in both of hers.

"Akizuki Ryo, while you've only been training with that Makoto for almost a year, and who knows how she managed to get you to this point—"

"Hey!" Makoto cut in indignantly.

Iori ignored her. "—you've shown that your abilities have only grown, and will continue to grow. And so it is that I pronounce you a Wind Ma—wait a second, what do WE call our men?"

There was silence.

"...um...I don't think we ever decided," Chihaya admitted.

"For a second, I completely forgot I was the only boy in your academy," Ryo admitted.

"I don't want to go with 'warlock' because that will make me think of Turiavita," Iori muttered. "...well, we'll figure it out later! For now, you're feminine enough to be a mage!"

Ryo looked upset.

"...I'm kidding. Kinda. Anyone have any ideas?"

"Sorcerer?" Yukiho tried.

"Wind Sorcerer...doesn't have a ring to it."

"Shaman?" Ritsuko suggested. "Wind Shaman doesn't sound too bad."

"That sounds too...voodoo, you know?" Iori sighed. "It just doesn't fit the academy."

"Enchanter?" Makoto called.

"Too long," Iori complained.

"I'm fine with just being a mage," Ryo admitted. "...as long as none of you rub it in my face or anything like that."

"We have to be special like Turiavita!" Iori insisted. "Um, more suggestions!"

"Conjurer?" Chihaya tried.

"It's too hard!" Eri whined.

Iori sighed. "Alright, alright. We'll stick with mage for now. Ryo?"

"Yes?"

"Let's try this again." Iori took a deep breath. "Then, from now on, you will be a Wind Mage. At least until we think of something else to call you. ...by the way, how do you do a charge for a wind magician?"

"Want me to do it? I promoted Makoto," Chihaya called.

"You can't. I'm the Grand Mage until tomorrow." Iori sighed. "Alright, you know what? We're starting over after I do Hibiki. Go wait at the back of the line."

Ryo blinked, then sighed and went to wait behind Hibiki. Hibiki practically jumped forwards, joy clear on her face. Iori grabbed her hands.

"Ganaha Hibiki, despite your heavy injury, you have worked hard and accomplished things you never should have been able to accomplish. And so it is with great pride that I pronounce you a Shadow Mage of Namuko Academy. May your determination and strongwill aid you on your journey of magedom."

"...that had nothin' to do with darkness."

"This is hard! Leave me alone!"

Hibiki just shrugged, giggled, and ran to tackle Takane in excitement.

Iori beckoned Ryo forwards again. He stepped closer. Iori reached for his hand. He let her take it.

"Alright, let's try this again," Iori began. "Akizuki Ryo, from now on you'll be known as a Wind..."

"Just go with conjurer, it's better than nothing," Makoto insisted.

Iori sighed. "Yeah, OK. Wind Conjurer. Doesn't suck too bad." She looked at Ryo to gather his opinion. He just shrugged. "Alright. May the wind of success blow at your back as you work on a long reign as...conjurer. And that was terrible. Chihaya, how do you do this?!"

"You know, you don't always have to say something about their element," Chihaya pointed out.

"Too late now." Iori groaned and flopped back on her bed. "I'm tired. Everybody go away so I can take a nap. ...Except Chihaya and Takane, they can stay if they want."

Ritsuko gathered up the group and ushered them outside. Takane and Chihaya hung back in the room. The new mages (and new conjurer) chattered with their teachers excitedly.

Iori stared at her ceiling. "They're in your hands now, Takane."

"Yes." Takane smiled at her. "Thank you."

"You're the best fit for the job," Iori said. "You're strong, you can't lose power due to the death of someone on Turiavita's side, and you're wise. I look forward to seeing how you do."

Takane nodded slowly. "...Iori, there is something I wish to discuss with the two of you."

"Yeah?"

"It is about the prisoners..."