"You cannot...be the thief," said a puzzled Negi.
"Why cannot I be?" said the thief.
"It is...it is...you...," stuttered Nodoka.
"But why?" asked Negi shaking his head.
"Because...boya. Everyone in your party has to realize that this is not a role playing game. This is real and if you make a mistake. There is no second life or do overs. Also Mizayaka-san has to realize that if she wants to be with you that this is how dangerous it can get. Actually now that I think about it. This is tame compared to what would happen," said Eva.
"I still do not get why target her and not the others? And I told you that I preferred no one got involved from the start. But, circumstances unfortunately were designed for the pactios. Well most of them," sighed Negi.
"Precisely most. I can understand Setsuna-san, Asuna-san, and even Konoka-san. But to drag the other four into this world? Ayase-san, Haruna-san, Chisame-san, and this girl here should have stayed away," said Eva.
Nodoka shaking not out of fear but out of anger. "You know," said the bookworm, "that besides my confession and the pactio, I think I can be very useful to Negi-sensei."
"You think you do? Hardly! Without that book, your magic skills are barely there. You are not physically capable to fight. You faint too easy and might I add, you blush too much when boya is around." smirked Eva.
"I may blush. I may be weak physically. I may not have the level of magic that even Yue-san has. But, what I have that others may not have...a willingness to accept Negi-sensei's abilities no matter what," said Nodoka.
"We may see if you are willing to accept his abilities in the future," laughed Eva knowing if Negi continues being her disciple what may happen.
"So you think you picked on the weakest member?" asked Nodoka.
"I know I have. Like I have said. Without your artifact, you are nothing. If I wanted to, I could have booted you out of this group long time ago. But, I am curious about your artifact enough that I let you hang around. The other weakling is Chisame-san, but at least, physically she may be able to get away. You cannot Nodoka-san," replied Eva.
"So what? If our group sticks together, everyone different abilities co-exist and strengthens each other. I may not be in the front line when fighting starts, but I like to think I am a important complimentary piece to the group of information gathering," said Nodoka fidgeting with her fingers.
"Hmpf! Whatever! Right here and now will demonstrate you are not needed Mizayaki-san. That is why I took the rose," said Eva.
"No you will not master. I will not let you ever lay a hand on her. She is not your disciple. She and Yue-san asked you in the very beginning to train them. You declined. They are my students and I guess disciples. You will have to go through me." said a disgusted Negi.
"Fine then. This time I am stronger then you. And you still cannot hit me even in training. You think you can? Always wanted a rematch. Good if I win, I will be sucking your blood a lot more then normal. And Mizayaka-san has to leave the group for good and give up her pactio item. And also she can never ever be alone with you so that means...boya will undoubtedly fall for someone else other then you...Nodoka-san," laughed Eva evilly.
Meanwhile watching in their cells, the girls were very quiet watching the television monitor.
"She is...that BITCH...how could she do that to Negi-sensei. Next time I see her, I...will beat her to death," said a furious twin bell wearing Asuna.
"She is already dead," responded Konoka giggling.
"Should have known it was her all along. She has the capability to do this despite her powers not fully there," said Setsuna.
"But! How will Negi-sensei deal with this knowing that it is his master?" asked Yue.
"You do not have faith in him?" asked Haruna.
"I do, but..." hesitated Yue.
"He had Asuna-san last time he fought her right? But bookworm is not a physical fighter, so how can they prevail?" asked Chisame.
"Well do not forget that Chacha-san was with Eva-chan. Negi-kun may have to protect Nodoka-san while trying to fight Eva-chan. I suspect that somehow twisted in Eva-chan's logic that this may be a good lesson for everyone to learn," sighed Setsuna.
"I do not care if it is a lesson. She had not right to trap us here and lead Negi-kun on a goose chase with that rose. She should have did it different," complained Asuna.
"I agree, but if this is how things are in the magical world. We will have to face some similar things. Negi-sensei cannot protect each and everyone of us. We will have to get stronger mentally and physically if we all want to follow Negi-sensei," lectured Yue.
"Look the fight is about to begin," said Chisame.
"Master I do not agree with this method. You put your classmates into dangerous situations...again," said Negi.
"I will admit that they are my classmates, but they are also your partners training in the magical field. With that said, they are open game to do whatever I want with them. Hell they all still think that this is a fairy tale. They should realize that this is very serious thing that they are venturing in to. They will see things that they probably should not see. If any of them break down mentally, that could spell disastrous for you boya. I figure that they needed a hard lesson to learn so they can make their decision base on what could happen to them," lectured Eva.
Negi simply stood across Eva shaking his head. Nodoka was taking in Eva's words to heart.
"Shall we start this dance...boya?" snickered Eva.
"As you wish...master," replied Negi disgusted.
"Where are the others?" asked Kaede.
"Have no clue?" replied Ku Fei.
"Strange that they have disappeared. We should search for them," quipped Kaede.
Ku fei responded, "Sure! That good idea. They may need our help."
"Boya just a reminder. You remember when Chachazero said she could freely move within here? Guess what? I am more powerful now then when we fought on the bridge," cackled Eva.
"You do not mean you got your powers back?" asked Negi.
"Tch! Hardly but enough that I know I shall win...this time," smiled Eva.
"I do not think so Eva-chan," replied Nodoka.
Eva shot Nodoka a nasty glance.
"And what makes you so confident? I can wipe you out without moving a muscle," said Eva.
"True you could do that, but Negi-sensei still will prevail," smiled the bookworm confidently.
"Ah love. The greatest and the weakest of weapons against someone. That is why I cannot stand you Miyazaki-san. You should have never been interested in boya. And...you should never been his partner...AT ALL," sneered the evil undead doll master.
"What...do you mean? Should have never been his partner," asked Nodoka shivering all of the sudden.
"You are probably the weakest physically. Your pactio kiss was a fluke. If it was not for Ayase-san, you would never been here at all. Because my dear...you lack strength in yourself. If boya was not here, no matter how well you could read my movements from your book, I still would beat you to a pulp. And I may even have a little drink...of your blood," laughed Eva.
"YOU WILL NEVER HARM HER!" yelled Negi.
"Ah, I have not forgotten you boya," smiled Eva.
Nodoka replied, "You think I am so weak-minded to let you talk down on me? I do not care if you were once the most powerful undead magi doll master. You were beaten because you fell in love with Negi-kun's dad. That was not your weakness Eva-chan. That changed you into a better person. I bet Nagi-san saw that in you and put you here until you understood what he wanted from you. But, you fought it and rebelled until Negi-kun showed up. We all saw you change even more. If Negi-kun gets severely injured or dies, it will hurt...even you. So that is why I am trying my best. So that I do not lose him. So I confessed my feelings. I know I probably should not have, but you know what eva-chan? I am glad that I did tell him how I felt. I do not have any regrets. I know you probably have too many regrets stored away. But look at Negi-kun. Will he be the biggest regret for you now?" lectured Nodoka sternly.
"Librarian do not lecture me on regrets and feelings. I have lived too long to remember many. If the boya here dies, so what? Like I am attached to him?" commented Eva.
"You do know you are...," said Nodoka as she stopped at the last word.
Eva blushed and recited her opening spell incarnation, "Atrum glacies perfringo centum partis."
Negi swooped down and picked up Nodoka into the air.
"I am sorry professor for being a burden to you and everyone else," weeped Nodoka.
"Hardly a burden. You are a beginner after all. We do not know each strengths and weakness yet. And physically you are fine just the way you are," smiled Negi.
Nodoka blushed as she wiped a tear away from her eye.
Eva dashed after them and spouted, "Glacies clausus of atrum parietis. Subsisto lemma."
All of a sudden a big thick wall of ice was in front of Negi and Nodoka.
All you heard was a thud as both hit the wall and were falling to the ground. Negi grasped Nodoka's hand and pulled her to him as she clung to him tightly closing her eyes.
"Deus of ventus , tribuo mihi. vestri ops nare," recited Negi as they hovered a couple inches off the ground.
"Well boya, I see you are getting quicker with the spells," said Eva.
"Master, you have not seen anything," smiled Negi.
"Then bring it," snickered Eva.
A/N: Sorry for not updating this sooner, but was sick yet again and the holidays arrived sooner then I wanted. Hoped everyone enjoyed their holidays.