I apologize for the recent chapters lately. I've been under stress and been having writer's block. It wasn't my intention of making the plot like the way it is. I just wanted to find a way to finish the Xatyre setting and move onto the next part, but somehow it ended up being the way it was and much longer than I intended. I also apologize for how not being able to properly portray the characters either. I'm so sorry for my lack of writing ability and creativity. (;﹏;)
Chapter 51: The Tower
Some time had pass since the recent incident and nothing out of the ordinary has occurred since then, however Rood's memories have yet to return. And the time for departure had arrived. Not long before the teleportation device, Igpellas, is ready, and everyone will be inside the Tower.
"As soon as all the students are here and accounted for, we will begin the teleportation." Orphell instructed the other professors.
Despite their reservations, the professors complied and continued on with their job.
Unlike the professors, the students had no qualms with voicing out their opinions especially amongst each other in whisper and gossip.
"I would have liked to stay a bit longer here. I still haven't seen all the romantic dating spots yet." One girl said to her friend.
"The lake was nice if only I could have gone on a boat ride with..." The friend's face immediately flushes sneaking a glance at Shicmuon.
"I wonder what the Tower is like. I'm so excited to see it. We never got to see it because of the Ishuella incident." One student spoke out loud.
"Yeah, maybe we'll get to see strong magicians like the Black Magician there."
"I'm kind of anxious to go."
Because of the incident with former Professor Heil, the students weren't able to go to the Tower as they were originally supposed to. Thus, raising up their excitement up twofold.
For others... not so much.
"In the end, we never got to recover his memories." Lapis sighed in disappointment. Some big brother he was.
"Waahhh! It pains me that Rood-nim has forgotten about me." Linus cried while glomping onto said 'Rood-nim' who was growing more and more uncomfortable in the Hereis's arms.
"Why would he need to bother remember you? Shouldn't he have more important things to remember like his identity or his past?" In Chevel's opinion, Rood was better off not remembering his clingy fanboy at all.
"Speaking of Rood-nim's past, we don't know anything about Rood-nim."
"You're right." Lapis had to agree with his lavender haired friend. Aside from Rood being the Black Magician, they (with the exception of Lapis who had no clue that Rood was the Black Magician) didn't know a single thing about Rood. Well, there were those fake documents that the Master forged for Rood, but that was all that Lapis knew about Rood (though fake).
Even Lidusis couldn't help but be curious. Rood had always been by Lidusis's side yet he knew not a single thing about the blond's past. It made him feel ashamed to be his friend yet not know anything about him.
"Now I want to know about Rood-nim's past!"
"He has amnesia as if he can tell you that now." Chevel reminded his lavender haired classmate.
"The Igpellas is ready for teleportation. All students gather within the vicinity and prepare for transfer!" A professor loudly announced.
Observing the large teleportation device, a light greenish light began to emit from the Igpellas. Chin resting on his forearms. His attention remained on the Igpellas.
*THUMP*
"Strange..."
*THUMP*
This sound... Why was his heart reacting this way?
*THUMP* *THUMP*
"... Why is this beating?"
One by one numerous of students began to appear from the Igpellas.
"Welcome students of Helios to the Tower of Magicians. With its long history, we truly welcome you."
So they were finally here. The place where all magic started from.
"So this is the Central Tower..." Lidusis said gazing at the tall vertical structures in front of him.
"It's a lot bigger than I imagined." Lapis commented.
"Who cares about that! Tower magicians or not! There's no one more stronger, elegant, graceful, beautiful, or refined as Rood-nim~" Linus squealed in awe of his idol.
Before Linus decided to blab about anymore unnecessary information, Chevel clasped his hand over Linus's mouth.
"You idiot."
This guy really knew how to cause trouble.
"Rood Chrishi? Why him? He's only a chronically ill child." Lapis was confused by his close friend's actions. Lately, Linus had been acting strangely going all touchy in Rood's personal space.
"It's nothing you need to be concerned about. He's been just stressed out from not being able to see the Black Magician. That's all." Chevel quickly lied.
From the side, Rood simply watched the three in their usual comedy routine. Despite not being on what most people would call a friendly relationship, it was plain to see that the three of them were quite close. A small but gentle smile slowly formed on Rood's face. It was times like these that Rood couldn't help but be curious about what kind of person he was before and what things were like prior to his memory loss.
!
The tranquil atmosphere was soon broken when a foreboding sensation came to Rood.
"...?"
Rood slowly turned his head back but saw nothing and shifted his head back the way it was.
Was it my imagination?
However it was far from Rood's imagination as a certain Tower magician was immediately drawn to the unique blond.
"Oh?"
Now this was interesting.
"Our eyes... Our eyes met."
"Rood?" Being the closest person to Rood, Lidusis was the first one to notice the peculiarity of Rood's actions. Amnesia or not, Rood wasn't one to look behind him without reason. Since most people usually do that when they feel someone's gaze upon them. "Are you okay?"
Before Rood could answer Lidusis's question, an obtuse meddler had to cut in their conversation.
"Rood Chrishi." A Tower magician called out to Rood with a two other Tower magicians behind him. "Please come with us for a medical examination."
"Medical examination?" Rood repeated.
"Yes. We have received notification of your condition. This will be nothing more than a medical diagnosis. This is all to regain your memories again and therefore require your utmost cooperation."
When he puts it that way, then there wasn't much Rood could say since he couldn't exactly say no to that.
"If Rood-nim is going, then so am I!"
"Oh no, you don't! If anyone's going, it's me! It's for times like these that Big Brother is h—"
"Request denied." The Tower magician immediately responded before Lapis could finish. From his actions, it was likely that he simply ignored Lapis's presence or didn't care about what Lapis had to say.
As for Lapis, he was left stupefied in his shock.
"This examination is only for Rood Chrishi. No other entry is allowed. No exceptions."
"No way!" Linus childishly whined not wanting to be separated from his idol.
"Just let him go." Chevel straight up said to Linus. "It's not like they're going to do anything weird to him. It's just an examination. Besides, they might be able to find a way to recover his memories. And even if they don't, it's not like there's nothing to lose."
"I know that. But wherever Rood-nim goes, I want to go to! And more importantly, I'll get to know more things about Rood-nim like his height, weight, eyesight, chest measurements, likes, dislikes, favorite animal, favorite color..."
"Half of that stuff you just ask him yourself..." Chevel lightly retorted. About halfway he stopped talking about things related to physical examinations. It slightly creeped him out.
Chevel wasn't the only one to be creeped out by Linus's obsession as the Tower magicians didn't have anything to say in response to Linus's rambling.
Leaving aside Linus's disapproval, Rood was escorted by the Tower magicians to another section of the Tower for his examination. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Just the standard physical examination procedures and a few questions regarding his memories. From what they've gathered so far, it didn't look like Rood's mind was damaged in anyway with the exception of his lost memories. Other than that, they didn't find any physical irregularities with Rood's body like poor eyesight or distortion with his central nervous system.
Once that was done all that was left was to return Rood back with his fellow peers. That job was assigned to a single Tower magician.
The Tower magician was in the lead followed by Rood a few feet not too far behind. Both parties remained quiet during the whole time in the corridor.
Footsteps were heard in the distance as a lone Tower magician came rushing over to his fellow associate slightly panting out of breath.
"T-Trouble!"
The Tower magician who was escorting Rood gave a small glance behind him to Rood before walking a bit ahead with his companion. Now that the two of them had some privacy with Rood earshot away, they could get down to business.
"It's terrible. The..."
"!" This was a big shock for Tower magician who was in the dark until he heard this. "Is that true?"
His colleague nodded in confirmation erasing all doubts he had.
If that really is the case, then he didn't have time escorting a kid back to his classmates. No helping it.
The Tower magician walks over to Rood.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will have to withdraw from my current duty as a pressing matter has arose that needs our dire attention. As a result, I will not be able to accompany you back to your peers. I trust that you will be able to make it back on your own."
No other way, Rood was left on his own since the Tower magician who was escorting him had urgent business to take care of. It wasn't hard maneuvering around the hallways. After all, that Tower magician did leave Rood with directions back to where the rest of the students were. So finding his way back would have been a piece of cake. Or at least, it should have.
He didn't understand how, but somewhere along the lines, he ended up getting himself lost. With so many turns and corridors connected, it wouldn't a be a surprise if he made one or two wrong turn.
According to the instructions he received from that Tower magician, he should turn a left at the end of the hallway Rood just entered. However instead, Rood was faced with a hallway that turned right.
Well, it was official. He was lost.
Rood couldn't help but curse his lack of direction as he blankly stared at the wall. This was a problem for Rood.
"Hum-hum. Hmhm-hum. Hmhm-hmhmhm-hum~"
It was then that Rood heard a soft, cheerful humming. At the sound of the humming, Rood turned his head to see a white cloaked figure in the distance. Rood's face brightens up seeing the white robed figure.
A Tower magician! He was in luck. The Tower magician could help Rood get directions back to his classmates.
Rood walks over to the Tower magician.
"Excuse me, but could you..."
The Tower magician flinched at Rood's voice.
Instead of letting Rood finish his question, he bolted right away as if he were avoiding the plague. This left Rood in a slight daze. Usually, most people wouldn't expect someone to run away when you try calling out to them.
Remembering his original goal, Rood snaps out of his daze and proceeds to chase after the fleeing Tower magician. The Tower magician's abrupt actions kind of peeved Rood a little. Running away from someone as soon as they talk to you was quite rude. It didn't take long for Rood to reach arm's length of the Tower magician before he continued to tackle him down to the floor.
"Ow! That hurt!" The Tower magician cried out in pain when his face met with the hard ground. "What was that for?!"
The Tower magician turned his head around to see who the culprit was. His pistachio colored eyes met with Rood's blue eyes. His eyes slightly widened in surprise. His breath hitched. Now this was something he didn't expect. He didn't think he'd meet the child that caught his eye so soon like this. Was it coincidence or fate?
"Uhm, excuse me, but... I'm lost. So can you help me find my way?" Rood asked the Tower magician. Getting a good look at his face, he didn't expect to see such a young Tower magician. The Tower magicians he's seen were way older than him yet this guy didn't look that much older than Rood. In fact, if he wore a Helios uniform, Rood probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between. Unlike the other Tower magicians, this guy had a more sort of childish atmosphere around him.
"Well, what a coincidence... So have I..."
Huh? Now this was perplexing for Rood. He was lost too?
"You see I've seen to have lost my way as well. Can you hear it?"
What's with this guy? Is he stupid? He was a Tower magician, right? How could he get lost in a place where he works? And hear what? The air? Something in Rood told him that there was more to this guy that meets the eye. I've got a bad feeling about this.
*Step* *Step* *Step*
Multiple footsteps heading towards their direction could be heard. Without warning, the Tower magician grabs Rood by his wrist and drags him over a nearby corner. He finally had some free time to himself, and he wasn't going to let it end so soon.
As soon as Rood and the Tower magician are gone, two more Tower magicians enter the now empty scene.
"Looks like he's not here either."
"Really, where did the first Tower master go?"
Against his better judgement, Rood didn't really want to follow this strange man. However he was still lost so he couldn't just ditch the guy and look for someone else to get directions when there wasn't anyone else to ask.
"Uhm, where are we going?" Rood had already spent a lot of time wandering around aimlessly. Anymore and the others will probably worry.
"Don't worry I know where we're going." The Tower magician assured Rood who wasn't pleased with his answer.
Rood didn't ask him about that. He clearly asked him where they were going.
"I really need to meet up with my friends soon." Rood was doubtful whether this guy was going to least bit helpful. It doesn't look like he has his head screwed on right honestly.
"It won't take long. I know everything here."
Not too long ago he just said that he was lost... was what Rood wanted to say but kept it to himself.
"We're here." The Tower magician announced standing before a dead end.
!
Yep, this guy is a weirdo... Forget this. Rood was better off finding someone else for directions. "Uh... I think I know the way around now so..."
The Tower magician's eyes narrowed at Rood's withdrawing form.
"Thanks for your help, but I'll be going now."
"No." The Tower magician grabs Rood by his wrist once more and drags him over to the wall.
"?!"
"Let's go together."
"Hey! Wait...!" Huh?
As soon as the Tower magician touches the wall, mana begins to flow from the wall. But that wasn't the most shocking part as the Tower magician phased through the wall as if he were a spirit or ghost of some sort.
This is...!
Too long. He was gone too long. If he had gone to simply take a simple medical examination, he wouldn't have been gone this long. Something must have happened. All sorts of depressing thoughts ran through Lapis's head. His constant pacing back and forth wasn't helping either. Not for him or for the floor.
"Argh! What's taking so long?! He should be here by now! I knew I should have gone with him! Who knows what could be happening to him as we speak?!" Lapis's pessimism gets the better of him deluding his mind with various of imaginary scenarios. "Alright, better go check up on him."
As Lapis took a step forward, his oxygen supply was suddenly cut off. A tight rein around his neck was choking the life out him.
"Hold on." Chevel advised the talentless repeater, one hand over the back of Lapis's collar. "He's probably still in the middle of that examination. Just wait for him like a good, faithful dog."
"You jerk! Who are you calling a dog?!" Lapis barked right in front of Chevel's face once the latter released his grip on his collar. "And what do you know anyway!"
Plenty... Chevel mentally retorted. For one, he knew the young blond's identity as the famous Black Magician. And second, Chevel would sooner find a third eye growing out of his forehead than finding out anything physically wrong with the child other than height issues.
"Aren't you even the least bit worried about him, you coldblooded brute?!"
"It hasn't even been an hour, and you're acting like he's been missing for days!"
"One hour! Two hours! Does it make a difference!"
This guy needs help... Somehow, Chevel can't help but worry about Rood's future.
