Chapter the Epilogue
"I'm bored." Karasu leaned against the back wall of his cell, glancing over at Dark Makoto, his face blank.
"Congratulations," Makoto responded.
"If they're going to lock us in prison, can't they at least leave us with a pencil and paper? Board games? Chinese finger trap?"
"That would make you happy. They couldn't have that."
"Few things make me happy." Karasu yawned. "Bloodshed makes me happy. You make me happy. Taking a nap under the shade of a tree makes me happy. Being locked up in a dungeon with flaming handcuffs on my wrists? Doesn't make me happy."
"Good for you." Dark Makoto leaned against her own back wall, glancing down at her wrists. The flames of her cuffs had been steadily licking away at her skin for at least a month now, resulting in a ring of charred flesh. Despite the pain she was being caused, the Ice Witch was usually very silent, and didn't object whenever Iori came down to taunt, blast fire in their faces, or generally just be awful (not that the two prisoners didn't deserve it).
"You can be really mean."
"Look who's talking."
"OK, you've got me there." Karasu paused. "Makoto?"
"Hm...?"
"Are you alright?"
Makoto only sighed. "Well, besides the fact that I've lost at least three pounds of flesh to the hundreds of times a day Minase shoots me in the face with a blast of fire, I'm peachy," she said.
Karasu grunted. "I'm bored."
"You said that already."
"But you haven't done anything about it. Thus, I will keep saying it until something is done."
"What are you, six?"
"Spending a long time trapped in a cage drains away one's intelligence greatly."
"Mm." Makoto yawned.
"You know, you're not nearly as fun when you're all locked up," Karasu sighed.
"Oh bother," Makoto muttered.
Karasu looked like he would continue the bantering, but he was interrupted by the sound of a door opening. Takane emerged downstairs, dressed in an elegant, multi-layered gown. Takane had only come into the dungeons on one other occasion to announced her new status as Grand Mage, so the prisoners knew this was important.
"Greetings," the Grand Mage greeted.
"Hm," Makoto replied.
"What do you want?" Karasu grunted.
Takane glared at him. "I have a proposition for you."
Karasu opened his mouth to reply, but Makoto cut him off. She knew how Karasu got when he was bored and cross.
"What is it?" the Ice Witch asked cautiously.
Takane flashed her a small smile. "I will give you three options. The first one is that you spend your lives exactly like this until you rot away to nothing in these cells."
"Yikes," Karasu mumbled. "What else have you got?"
"We will kill you." Takane's voice was even, and her face blank.
"Third option?" Makoto tried.
Takane assumed a regal posture; her back was straight, her chin tilted, and her chest out. "You will live in the academy."
Dark Makoto cocked her head quizzically. Karasu blinked.
"We will destroy the Turiavita tower so that you may not return to it, and will label it as a restricted area accessible by mages only. The two of you will be released from this dungeon on the grounds that you will not be allowed to leave the academy. The Shadow Warlock will be accompanied by one guard and one mage at all times, though who it is will vary daily to prevent manipulation over time. The Ice Witch, due to her previous history with the academy, will be supervised by only a mage, and will be allowed to visit Dark Azusa's grave if accompanied by a mage of her choice." Takane smiled just slightly. "In other words, you will become members of the academy. Heavily guarded members of the academy, but members nonetheless."
"You're joking." Dark Makoto sat up a bit. "You're actually willing to let both of us right into the academy."
"That is correct."
"Are you insane, or insanely stupid?"
"Neither. We are hospitable," Takane replied. She took a step forwards. "I do not want to launch my academy back into a war, but I do not want to shed even more blood than is necessary. If you agree to our demands, you may live a peaceful life with us in the academy."
Dark Makoto was silent. Karasu seemed shocked. Takane simply stared at them.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Dark Makoto said at last, managing a small smile at Takane. "Better than wasting away in here and facing Minase."
"I guess it couldn't hurt," Karasu sighed. "I'll just take over the academy from the inside~."
Takane shot him a glare that could rival that of the devil himself.
"...it was a joke, Takane. I was kidding."
Takane's glare relaxed, but not by much. "If either of you make even the slightest mistake, I will not hesitate to toss you back in here. If you understand that, then I will have Iori set you free."
"I get it," Dark Makoto agreed. She glanced at Karasu, who nodded. "Thanks, Shijou."
Takane smiled. "Then please wait here."
With that, the new Grand Mage turned and strolled out of the room, closing the door tightly behind her. Dark Makoto looked over at Karasu, who still seemed quite shocked.
"That's why I didn't want to destroy this place for good," Makoto admitted. "The second you step foot in this academy, you become family."
"Family, huh?" Karasu smiled slightly. "Maybe I'll like it here after all. But if they don't let me go outside every once in a while, I'm going to go insane. I can't stand so much kindness in one sitting."
"Haha." Makoto rolled her eyes, smiling. "Let's join the family, Karasu."
"Sounds like a plan to me, Makoto."
*.*.*.*
Iori yawned and leaned back in her chair, resting her feet on the table. She had met up with Chihaya, Makoto, and Yayoi for a quick tea break after releasing the prisoners. After being relieved of her duties as Grand Mage about a month ago, Iori had dedicated most of her time to either punishing the prisoners (especially Dark Makoto, though she had a personal grudge against both of them) or spending time with her friends. Any extra time was spent helping Mami refine skills and practicing herself.
"Looks like we're finally going to be in peace forever, huh?" Iori sighed. "It's been a while since I was able to develop a regular routine."
"I sure hope so," Chihaya agreed. "I can't help but be a little bit wary of releasing the prisoners into our academy, but I trust Shijou-san's judgement."
"Takane-san is so wise and mysterious," Yayoi gushed. "I really admire her~."
"Me too," Chihaya admitted. "...not to mention Shijou-san's...kuh...!"
"Her...what?"
"Nothing," Chihaya insisted. Iori swore she saw the Ice Mage cover her chest briefly before quickly changing the subject. "How about the new mages...and conjurer? Is everything going well?"
"Yeah," Iori agreed. "Mami's doing really well. She's bounced back a lot since Ami's death. She gets along really well with Dark Mami and Dark Ami."
"Ai-chan is doing wonderfully! She leanred how to make a light portal before I did!" Yayoi cheered. "I'm so proud of her, but it feels weird to be taught by my student~..."
"Ryo's been doing great," Makoto said. "He can make full-sized tornadoes now. And Yukiho hasn't blown off a door in months!"
The cafeteria door creaked open before Iori could respond. All four heads turned to see who it was—and were surprised to see Dark Makoto emerging with Ritsuko watching over her. Iori immediately jumped to her feet. Chihaya tensed. Makoto glared at her. Yayoi waved.
Ritsuko escorted the Ice Witch to the table, where she promptly sat down in Iori's now-unoccupied chair. Iori hissed at her.
"...you guys operate way different than we do," Dark Makoto said quietly. "Even though we deserved to die, you invited us into the academy."
"Don't make me regret that," Iori muttered.
Dark Makoto slowly stood up, but instead of moving aside to let Iori sit down, she trapped the Flame Mage in a sudden hug. Iori yelped.
"W-what are you doing, stupid?!"
"Apologizing." Dark Makoto smiled slightly. "I'm sorry...Iori."
Iori blinked. "Sorry for...?"
"Killing Minase."
"I thought I was Minase."
"Not anymore."
Iori went quiet. Dark Makoto released her after a moment and went to Chihaya. Chihaya stood almost immediately, and opened her arms to accept a hug as well. Dark Makoto obliged.
"You've made a lot of mistakes. No one can deny that," Chihaya said quietly. "But you could have killed me, and you didn't. You could have killed all of us. When we agreed to free Karasu, you could have killed us anyway. You had so many opportunities you passed up. And so...on account of the friendship we shared, I'm glad to welcome you back to the academy."
"Thank you," Dark Makoto breathed. "...I can call you all by name, can't I?"
"Of course. If you want."
"Good. ...you were a great Grand Mage, Chihaya. It'd be a shame to kill you off too early."
"You're hilarious." Chihaya did let loose a small chuckle despite herself, just as Dark Makoto released her and went to greet her light copy. Admittedly, Chihaya missed the days of old when she and Iori could spend hours engaged in playful banter with Dark Makoto.
Makoto stood up and faced Dark Makoto. The two of them stared at each other for what seemed like forever until Makoto broke the ice with a flying tackle that sent Dark Makoto flying onto the ground. Dark Makoto screeched in anoyance, but it didn't take long for her to realize that this was a hug.
"You're a jerk."
"I know...?"
"But I still forgive you." Makoto beamed. "By the way, your turn."
It took Dark Makoto a moment to realize what Makoto meant. "I haven't had enough time to think of one. I've spent the last month of my life in a prison cell."
"Well, I'll take it since it had the word 'life' in it. But seriously, come prepared next time!"
"Sorry."
Slowly, Makoto climbed off of her dark copy and held out a hand to hoist her off the ground. Dark Makoto took it. The two exchanged a small smile before Makoto passed Dark Makoto off to Yayoi.
Yayoi and Dark Makoto went in for an embrace at almost the same time. They stayed that way for what seemed like forever.
"I missed you," Yayoi admitted.
"You too," Dark Makoto sighed. "I'm sorry. I should have stayed on your side."
"I couldn't hurt you, and you couldn't hurt me, so I guess we were kinda on the same side. Except you beat my student up."
"She attacked me too, so I guess we're even," Dark Makoto stated. "...I'm glad to be part of the academy again."
"I'm glad to have you back." Yayoi grinned.
Slowly, the two separated from their hug, smiling briefly at one another. Chihaya and Iori went to Dark Makoto's side. Chihaya held out her hand, and Dark Makoto took it.
"Welcome home," the Ice Mage breathed. "Dark Makoto."
Little did anyone know that Karasu and his assigned guard, along with Ai and Hibiki, had been watching the group for quite a while. Hibiki and Ai whispered back-and-forth a couple times while Karasu stared at his former Turiavita co-worker.
"Home, huh...?" The Shadow Warlock smiled slightly. "I think I can get used to that."
*.*.*.*
Chihaya yawned and lifted her pen, gazing at the blank page of her notebook. Since retiring as Grand Mage and inviting Turiavita into the academy, Namuko Academy had been in a period of peace. The peace was so assuring that Chihaya had taken the focus off her magic for a while and had taken up writing in a journal as a hobby of sorts. Smiling down at the empty page, she placed her pen on the book and began to write.
March 17, 2020
This peace has lasted for well over five years now. There has been no foul activity from either Karasu or Dark Makoto. They spend most of their time either together, or with Minase-san and I. Minase-san and I have taken to having frequent get-togethers with Takatsuki-san, Dark Makoto, and Shijou-san. Lately, they've mostly conisted of Minase-san and I trying to pry information out of Dark Makoto about her love life. So far, all we can gather is that she and Karasu have a steady, friendly relationship. I highly doubt it stops there. Maybe I'll have Makoto join us, and we'll all gang up on her until she spills the beans. Makoto is very good at annoying people until they give in and tell her what she wants to hear.
I think about that final battle almost every day. For instance, why choose Minase-san to attack us with? Why didn't Dark Makoto just use the full extent of her power and kill us all in one strike? Why didn't she kill Makoto or me, even when she had the chance? They are questions I may never know the answer to.
Hagiwara-san and Eri have been promoted to mage. Yumeko-san is only a month or so away. It feels so good to be able to promote mages when they are ready instead of when one of us dies.
Speaking of mages, Makoto followed in Kotori-san's footsteps and became a guard to the Grand Mage. She still works as a full-time messenger and is sometimes chosen as the mage to accompany Karasu or Dark Makoto, and Ryo-san and Hagiwara-san rely heavily on her guidance. But she does wonderfully as a guard, and has protected Shijou-san from potential assassins, robbers, and even attempted sexual assault. I had never realized how many petty crimes go on when we aren't involved in a decade-long war.
Takatsuki-san and Minase-san joined up with a team of masons and carpenters to rebuild the three villages that were destroyed. Namuko looks more beautiful than ever. I just wish my parents could have come back so I could apologize to them. I refuse to use Shjou-san's abilities, and refuse even more to use Karasu's.
While I'm on the topic of Karasu, he's done surprisingly well under supervision. There have been no reports of attempted manipulations, and he's hardly even used his powers. We've decided to allow him time outside, but we're always careful to keep a close eye on him.
I look forward to a long era of peace and tranquility. I hope our new mages will be able to learn everything there is to know. And Namuko Academy will again become a school for training young wizards.
If evil ever again rises, we will meet it head on. I'm not afraid of the future anymore. I'm just wary of it.
There's no need to be afraid. My academy is strong. Our academy is strong.
We are a team.
We are a family.
We are...Namuko Academy.
And we will never fade.
FIN!
(A/N: AND THAT'S THE END~! Sorry about spelling errors. Still no spell check. Gyaah.
This book was my baby. I put a lot of work into pulling everything together. The end was rushed because I needed to end it, but I like how it turned out.
Oh gosh, it was so hard to end because seriously, I have a major crush on Karasu. If he were real, I'd marry him. So I really didn't want to kill him, but he kinda had to die, but then I was like "NO! NEGOTIATE!"
And this happened.
So yeah!
Thanks for reading! I love you guys~ 3
This series will now go on hold for a long time, so don't get your hopes up for those ficlets I keep talking about.
BYE~
EDIT: Fixed all the whacky formatting for you guys. You're welcome.)
