3) For Whom the Haunted Bell Tolls

Chapter 3

That night at Negi, Asuna, and Konoka's dorm room, everyone is at the small table eating sushi and sashimi for dinner. Matt ate his last sushi roll and begins to ask a question.

"Tell me girls," Matt said as he is wiping his mouth with a napkin, "how did you guys become Negi's partners in the first place?"

Asuna and Konoka glanced at Matt, carrying a sushi roll in their chopsticks. The girls looked back at each other and grinned.

"I guess there is no reason to keep our secret hidden," said Konoka happily.

"I'll start off," said Asuna. "You see, when Negi arrived at the academy on the very first day, I saw him using his magic powers to rescue a student of Negi's named Nodoka who fell off the stairs. I was surprised, and I thought having a magician with me could change my life."

"That's what you have thought," Matt replied, "but you became friends with Negi. What happened next?"

"Remember how Negi tries to erase your memories when you found out about his sorcery secret?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, Negi did try that on me, but it never works on me."

"Really, Asuna? Why and what happened?

"I didn't know exactly why the erasing didn't work on me, but I later discovered I have the ability to neutralize magic. After I kept Negi's secret and found out he is training to become a high-rank Magister Magorum, I aided Negi in a battle that one night, and I entered a probationary contract with him. The contract was completed, and I received this." Asuna pulled out her pactio card and showed it to Matt. "A pactio card, proving I have received Negi's magical powers and is his magical partner."

"That's incredible if I do say so myself." Matt turns to Konoka. "So how did you get your's Konoka?"

"Mine? Well, I became Negi's partner when an incident happened during our trip to Kyoto."

"An incident?" Matt questioned again.

"Mm-hmm, I was a magical key to awakening an old and terrifying demon that was about to rule the world. But thanks to Negi and my best friend Setsuna, I was free from harm. I became Negi's partner when he was suffering from a major injury, and I made a contract to heal Negi's wounds."

"A magical key? Wait, does that mean Konoka, you're actually a…"

"Yep, I'm a magical being as well."

"But she's not the only one," said Asuna in a calm matter.

"What do you mean?" Matt asked and heard. He paused for a moment and then he twitched. "Wait, you mean Asuna, you're also…"

"That's right Matt, I'm also a magical human too. But in truth, if you keep it a secret like Negi's, I'm really the Princess of the Twilight Imperial."

Matt was so amazed that he shook his head in astonishment. "A magical princess!? Wow, am I a lucky fellow to run into special people like you. Tell me, how does ordinary school girls like you, are actually magical guys."

Konoka explained every detail to Matt that she was part of the Kansai Magic Association and a princess of the old world. She also explained how Chigusa kidnapped Konoka for her evil ambitions. Her father wanted Konoka to live a "normal" life, despite the fact that she has great potential magical par within her.

Asuna gave the whole story about her true identity: Asuna Vesperina Theotanasia Entheofushia, the last being of her fallen country. She told Matt how she was used to "delete" and seal the Magical world by the evil the Mage of Beginning, a powerful magical lord.

After their talk, Matt was dumbfounded and understood every detail of Konoka and Asuna's story. "Wow, incredible…" Matt said with a grin. "Who would've thought I met two legendary magical princesses without noticing it. Am I glad to be your friend." He then turns to Negi. "And Negi, you're also one lucky wizard to have these high powerful girls as your partners."

Chamo hops onto the corner of the table that's between Matt and Negi. "Speaking of partners Matt," said Chamo pulling a cigar, "how would you like to enter a contract with Negi?"

Negi and the girls are a little shocked to hear what Chamo suggested. Matt, however, took Chamo's question and paused for a moment. "Contract? You mean you want me to become one of Negi's partners?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, not only you're smart, but if you have magic powers, you might become a stronger and smarter man. You might have incredible sorcery skills. Entering a contract means you get to have your own kind of skillful magic. Having magic is like your handy-dandy charm." Chamo looks up in the ceiling when his eyes turned into yen signs. "Not only that, but I'll make 50,000 ermine dollars more."

"Why you little…" said Asuna in irk.

"So what do you say, Matt? Wanna become an extra partner of Negi? It'll be great! And I'll be rich!" It seems Chamo's greedy desire was going his way, but…

"No thanks…" Matt replied calmly.

Chamo froze, and his rich dream award is shattered. Negi and the girls are shocked at Matt that he disagrees with the offer. Matt calmly takes one of the mackerel sashimi pieces and eats it.

"I'm surprised," said Asuna. "I thought you would agree since you were astounded by magic."

"Yeah, all of us partners would take this opportunity offer," said Konoka. "Why not you?"

"Yeah, Matt-aniki," Chamo said in grief. "Why not?"

Matt swallows his sashimi and exhales. He replies, "It's not because I don't like having magic, or I don't want to do it. I just rather be skillful and special the way I am." He places his chopsticks and dish on the table. "You have incredible magic powers, and I have a superior mind. If I use magic, my smartness abilities would be sitting on the sidelines doing nothing. I'm a guy who likes to solve mysteries and puzzles without taking any shortcuts, like magic. It may sound like I'm a killjoy, but I'm actually doing what's right in my heart. A wise friend told me, 'Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.' We all have our own special talents and abilities, but to become powerful, we must work together and rely on our family and friends. Besides, I have you magical guys on my side, and you have me. With my superior intelligence and your proficient magical skills, we make a great team."

Negi, Chamo, and the girls were amazed at what Matt stated. Not only were they surprised, but they understood Matt's point of view. Chamo hates to admit it, but he completely agrees and endures the rejected offer. "Alright… I understand," said Chamo as he moaned a little. "Are you sure you don't want to?"

"Positive Chamo, and even though I found out about all of your magical secrets, I swear and vow to myself, I will never reveal to anyone about you and his partners. Cross my heart." Matt crosses his chest where his heart is.

"I'm glad Matt," said Asuna happily. "I thought you didn't want to use magic because it was sudden. But it turns out you were doing what's best for you and all of us."

"Were proud of you Matt," said Konoka delightfully. "Thanks."

"Aw, don't mention it," Matt said shyly as he scratches his head. "By the way, just being curious, how do you become a partner with Negi?"

"Well Matt," Negi replied, "Chamo makes this magic circle around me and my chosen partner. Then I create a chant to approve my partner is worthy, and then the contract becomes official, making my partner have magical powers. The chosen partner also gains an artifact when the contract is complete."

"When did you all became Negi's official partners?"

"Around the time after all 31 of us completed our Jr. High school graduation ceremony," Konoka answered.

"Yeah, but before that, they were probationary partners that time," said Chamo with a snicker.

"Probationary?" Matt wondered as he got a cola can and opens it. "I remember you said something about that. What's the difference between probationary and official?"

"Probationary Pactios are kinda like Permanent Pactios, except since Negi was only a magister in training, the pactios are temporary and he can have as many optional partners at the time. I have to create a magic circle, and there's only one way that Negi can get a partner during a probationary contract."

"Yeah, and what's that?" Matt starts to sips his cola.

Chamo snickered and then puckered his lips. "He had to do a smooching on his students."

Matt widens his eyes, and he quickly did a spit-take. Matt coughed and pounded his chest. He shook his head and yells, "SAY WHAT!?"

Asuna wasn't pleased with this. In fact, she is embarrassed and furious. She grabbed Chamo and started to pound and squishes him onto the floor. "You little rat! You had to tell that to an honest gentleman like him! You're such a little panty thief DEVIL."

"AAHH! Ane-san, stop! I give up!" cried Chamo as he waved his arms and legs while suffering from Asuna's ferocious grip.

Matt leans next to Negi and whispers to him, "I'm glad you can make official pactios, and I'm glad I declined the offer. Otherwise, if I made a probationary pactio with you…" Matt paused the moment and made an embarrassment face. "…Eh, I rather not think about it." Matt watches Asuna pummeling Chamo throughout the whole dinner. "But I'm surprised you kissed these girls at your age. That's pretty manly."

"Uh, I wouldn't think it is 'manly' Matt," said Negi as his face turned a little red.

Somewhere out on the city streets that night, the librarians, Nodoka, Yue, and Haruna, are walking back to the dormitory after finishing their shift on Library Island. The streets were quiet and the buildings were dark and empty.

"Man was there a lot of books we have to put away," said Haruna moaning. "It is a total pain that all that hard work costs us the whole day. We didn't even get to see this Matt Oda."

"It's okay, Haruna," Nodoka replied quietly. "I don't mind if we try to see Matt Oda again tomorrow."

The librarian trio walks up to a clock tower, the same tower where the victims were taken inside from a strange phenomenon. The trio looks at the clock tower, seeing it as a haunted steeple.

"This… this is the clock tower from the reports," said Nodoka who is a little bit scared.

"This clock tower was built at least a hundred years ago as a timekeeper to all the people here in this part of the city," stated Yue staring at the tower. "It was a reliable clock tower to alert the people for their time schedule. But today the tower is pretty much useless now that everyone has watches and their own clocks. Some people say that around this time at night, there is a ghost living in the top of the tower."

"Just like in the reports from the witnesses and police report files," said Haruna. She turned to Yue. "Do you really think there is a ghost?"

"Possible, after all, magic and mystic creatures exist, since we have Negi," Yue replied. "Am I right?"

While the two were discussing, Nodoka looks up at the top of the clock tower seeing the bells inside. Then at that moment, she saw two glowing white balls appearing in the shadows inside at the top of the tower where the bells are kept. Nodoka kept staring at the white balls in fright. The white balls flashed not too brightly, and Nodoka's eyes became hypnotized. She couldn't move but kept staring at the white balls for a long time. When her arms dropped, she dropped her briefcase on the ground and got Haruna and Yue's attention. The two looked Nodoka all dazed and hypnotized. Haruna snaps her fingers at her, while Yue waves her hand in front of Nodoka's face.

"Nodoka, Nodoka! Hey, wake up." Yue commanded.

"Nodoka! Hey, snap out of it!" Haruna yelled.

The two made contact Nodoka, and she shook her head. "Wha… What happened?" Nodoka wondered as she was confused about what she was doing. She looked at her two friends that were both worried, and then she looks back at the top of the tower that the two balls were gone. "What was I doing?"

"I don't know, but I'm glad you're back with us," said Yue in relief.

"Yeah, now let's go home," said Haruna. "This tower is now giving me the creeps."

The trio started to walk back to the dorm. As they were walking back, the two white balls glowed again from the tower as is watches the librarians walking away.