The air was cold and humid, the clouds were dark on the horizon, and the trees rustles as the wind pushes through them.
I lean back and rest myself on a tree, the open book in my hand lies open, it's pages flips freely with the wind.
A new sound appears, one that doesn't naturally belong here. Looking down the hill, I spot Michelle heading towards me with noticeable difficulties in her steps alongside her laboured breath. She doesn't bother to try and hide her current state of exhaustion.
"Thought I'd find you here", she stops halfway through and tries to catch her breath, "couldn't you pick a place closer to the school?".
"nope, too much distraction there", I tell her. With the unexpected guest, I take my books and shove them inside my bag, shutting it tightly as further safety measures.
After another minute of catching her breath, Michelle continues her approach and finally arrives beside me and leans on the tree. "Keep this up and you'll grow to be a hermit", she remarks.
Michelle pauses and looks ahead towards the vast sea of trees all around us. Her breath has started to calm down now, leaning on the tree still, she relaxes and let's herself enjoy the scenery. I wouldn't blame her, with the Sorcerer's Stone still busted, walking here by foot is tiring.
"I was searching for you", she begins again, "you got a visitor back at the school"
"someone's looking for me?", I ask incredulously.
"mhm, why the surprise?", she asks. Standing up straight, Michelle pats the dust off her back and extends her hand towards me, "come on, before the wolves arrive".
The walk back was mostly silent, with Michelle leading the way through the densely packed forest while humming a tune I'm accustomed to. Her long brown hair waving with the wind, and her pace is almost skipped. As we pass through the forest, I can soon see the towering structure of Luna Nova appearing on the horizon. First to come into view is the bright green glow of the sorcerer's stone, one that was under heavy maintenance mere days ago.
Indeed, it was malfunctioning. But the reason for it was mistaken for awhile. You'd thought that a certain Japanese girl was responsible, but really, the school actually owes her gratitude. When I was back at Yen's Forest, Akko managed to break a ley line cable somewhere within the school, basically a thing that enhances the distribution of magic from the sorcerer's stone around the school, terribly furious, miss Finnelan quickly puts a heavy punishment to the poor witch not before giving her an earful. But as the workers arrives and begins to fix the broken Ley Line cable, they discovered that a large part of them are terribly damaged, and not because of Akko, but by the effects of time. The workers discovered that a great amount of them are rusted beyond repair and needing immediate replacement, which explains the heavy overhaul the workers did days ago. The quartermaster claimed that if they hadn't discovered the rusted cables, the damages would've been terribly dire, far worse than a single cable broken, and the Sorcerer's Stone itself might've suffered damage that the school would've been unable to afford the fix. So basically, Akko had managed to save the school by breaking one of the cables and making the workers discover the already rusted cables across the school.
The world works in mysterious ways.
As if thinking the same thing, Michelle suddenly breaks the silence and speaks what's on her mind, "yep, that's why we went all organic back home".
She must be referring to the Sorcerer's Stone back in her home, her solitary tower in the middle of the forest that is Yen's Forest—the place I first took my magical training under her.
Indeed, I was her apprentice there for a while, learning the basics of magic. Michelle was essentially my first introduction to real magic education before I ended up here in Luna Nova.
It wasn't the easiest being an apprentice under someone like Michelle. Her teaching methods were pretty… brutal, for lack of better word
"you say that as if you took any part in whatever happened back home", I point out.
To explain, her sorcerer's stone is naturally encased within an ancient tree hidden deep within Yen's forest, it's connected to everything within Yen's forest, and as such it is quite literally the heart of the forest. It's not something that's taken and put somewhere where it naturally doesn't belong; placed on a tower for a school to harvest it's power. I heard Michelle's mother discovered the sorcerer stone in Yen's forest in a stroke of pure luck when she was but a young witch, and when she finally returned in the future she casted a protective spell so that none might trespass it's domain and taint the stone's purity, she greatly believed in limitations, and that witches do not control the ways of magic, but the exact opposite.
Compared to hers, the popularly depicted traditional Luna Nova is less traditional than us.
"witches do not own magic…", Michelle begins.
"…magic is magic, it's not owned nor controlled by anyone", I finish, "yes, yes, I heard that a million times".
I couldn't see it from back here, but I can feel her smiling at her own words.
As we approach the school grounds, I begin to spot a familiar face not far from the school's massive entrance. Amadeus stands in wait, his back facing us as he gazes upwards towards the towering structure of the school, apparently studying it's impressive architecture. Though as I near him, I notice the dark brown hood he's wearing.
"must be an interesting wall", I say as I near him, "now why are you—".
At this, Amadeus turns to face us, and as he does, I notice his once smooth face is now riddled with bandages, covering his most of his left cheek and all the way down to his chin.
"—Merlin's beard what the hell happened to you?!", I exclaim.
"stop overreacting jeez! It's not that bad!", Amadeus pleas, pulling his hood closer to cover his face further, "just a small accident all right? Nothing to make a fuss about".
"what kind of accident? My god I didn't know you could look worse, man!".
"very mature", Amadeus fakes a laugh, his hands still holding on to his hood, "I was just practising transmutation and accidentally broke a mirror in the process, glass shrapnel, little, demonic sharp things cut my face good".
I cringe at the thought of having to suffer through that.
"I actually feel sorry for you".
"thanks, I guess". Amadeus mutters before letting go of his hood. "but this isn't why I'm here you know?".
Amadeus shifts his gaze towards Michelle, who quickly holds both her hands up in response and retreats a pace back. "All right, all right, boys stuff! I'll be on my way!"
Michelle turns and quickly enters school, closing the door behind her and now leaving only the two of us here.
I turn to face Amadeus, brows furrowed. "I didn't invite you here, did I?"
"No, I came here in my own accord".
Amadeus glances around us, his eyes curiously scanning the school fields and the people found around here. "Reminds me of one of the school I went into a year ago".
"One of the many where you got transferred away, I reckon?"
"The teachers were a pain", Amadeus says, a far too bright smile on his face.
…
As soon as we enter my room, a familiar bubbling noise emerges as Francis swims happily when he notices my return.
"Oh, goldfish", Amadeus says.
The young apprentice takes off his hood, revealing once again his bandaged face. It certainly looks bad, from the size of those bandages at least, though however deep the cut I might never know. I'm tempted to further study his wounds and ask him more about it, but I figured he wouldn't wear the hood if he wanted to talk about it and I soon made the better judgment.
"That's Francis, Frank Francis the Third", I tell the boy. "Now, do you want something? I don't know how long you'll stay but I can make a drink or two, something like tea, if you want".
"no, I'm fine". Amadeus politely declines. He continues to approach the goldfish, absently staring at the fish within and proceeding to knock the fishbowl a few times with his finger.
"ah that reminds me, lunch for him". Leaving the two, I went about to search for the can of fish food within my cupboard. I was immediately stopped however, when I hear Amadeus call to me in a low, almost whispering voice.
"You know, I called Marcus".
I immediately stop on my tracks. Not facing him, I ask, striving to sound as calm as possible, "Yeah? How'd it go?"
"He told me nothing! I'm not surprised, though, he's always like that when I start being nosy about what he does at work. I really don't like that but hey, what can I do? It sounds like another one of his confidential work stuff".
I huff out air, relieved that my lie then worked up well.
I'm more than glad that Amadeus won't put his inquisitive nose around me anytime soon.
Regardless, I note a bit of worry in the boy's voice.
"He's going to be fine, Amadeus".
Amadeus quickly throws his gaze away. "I know, I know, I was just worried", he expresses. "I didn't think much about it until I found out people died that night".
I frown and hide it by facing away. Indeed, I was on the same boat as Amadeus. I didn't think much about everything that happened until after I realize some good people lost their lives that night.
Amadeus notices my return and takes the can from my hand, twisting the lid open, he sprinkles the can's contents into the fishbowl.
"It just sounds like something serious, you know? And it doesn't help that I know about it, I feel like I would've been better if I didn't eavesdrop you folks and know about all this".
He pauses, his eyes evade me. "I guess I should say sorry?"
"Maybe this'll stop you from eavesdropping ever again, then", I say dryly. "You're worried about your old man, I get it, but he'll be fine, he knows what he's doing.
I sure hope he does, because it's not just his wellbeing on the line here!
Really, why the hell is Amadeus worried? He shouldn't be the one worried about this, I should be the one worried here dammit.
Amadeus's quiet expression makes me unable to read what's on his mind or what he thinks of my suggestion. Amadeus is lost in his thoughts as he gazes silently towards the fish bowl, still holding the can of fish food on his hand. His absent look forces me to stop what he's doing. Grabbing his hand, I stop him from overfeeding my friend.
"That's enough", I say.
Amadeus turns to me and blinks a few times, as if he's just awoken from a brief sleep. Forcing a smile, he pulls his hand back as I release his hand from my grip.
"right, sorry", he doesn't let go of the can, he fumbles it on his hands as he continues. "I was just thinking about what sort of crazy thing Marcus got himself into this time".
Amadeus seems pretty lost in his own head today.
I briefly look away, trying to think exactly how will I distract him and make him worry less about all this. I'm thinking how to be a good friend right now/
Unfortunately the only thing in my head today is... well, blood magic, so unfortunately for Amadeus...
"You know, Amadeus, I've been looking up more on blood magic. In fact I was in the middle of doing so when you called me here".
"I thought you said to forget about…" Amadeus's words trail off as I leave him.
I take off my bag and place it on the desk, opening it, I place the books I've been reading lately and push them towards Amadeus to see. I wait and say nothing as I do this, waiting for his reaction to come instead.
"Dark Arts?", Amadeus reads.
His tone, to my relieve and delight, lacks cautiousness. Without a hint of hesitation, Amadeus takes one of the books and flips through the pages with interest. I didn't expect that he's one of those rare people who lets their curiosities get the better of them, and has at least once tried their hand on these kinds of knowledge.
He lifts the book for a closer look, now properly interested with it. "well you've been busy".
I push the book I've been interested in closer to him, tapping it's hard cover to get his attention, "Down the rabbit hole", I remark.
Seeing the book, Amadeus pauses and stops flipping through the pages of the one he has on his hands. He eyes the white covered book cautiously while I say nothing, instead, just like before, I wait for his own reaction first. Curious of how will he react.
Opening the white covered book, Amadeus skims his finger through the aged paper as he studies the book's content. He says nothing the entire time, and I took the chance and walk towards my cupboard, intending to prepare myself a warm beverage.
Steam escapes from the green pot, the sizzling sound soon fill the quietened room. I can't see Amadeus's face with my back turned to him.
The teabag hangs suspended within the cup, spreading it's dark red into the warm water.
Eventually, I break my silence. "This white blood magic, this blood healing, it's something else I tell you. A form of magic that could heal all kinds of ailments, can you imagine that?"
"it's gone though", Amadeus reminds me. "Poof, no one practices it anymore".
"yeah, maybe it is, but remind yourself of London. A stone that was claimed to be one of the strongest blood catalyst in the world appeared on our doorstep. Imagine what we could find next!"
"Yes, but like, it's broken", Amadeus says dryly. "Also you did just say forget about what happened then, you should listen to your own advice, dude".
It hurts, the cold fact and my hypocrisy, so much that I act in denial and pretend I didn't hear him.
The teaspoon clinks against the cup's interior repeatedly, echoing the same noise over and over again through the quite room. "I'm not gifted when it comes to magic". I say, intentionally not explaining further on that. "So things like these, ones that give some sort of alternative always interest me".
"what do you mean, alternative?".
I stop my stirring to answer him. "the brown, the brown book, I think it's page 224. I think".
Amadeus says nothing and complies, switching books and flipping through the pages until he finds the one I mentioned. Soon the sound of pages being flipped stops, indicating he's found it. Taking a moment, Amadeus finally reads the title aloud.
"blood fuel …".
I let myself turn to see the young wizard, the book still in his hands, he slowly lifts his head up to look at me. "Ew?" He winces, I shrug in reply
Amadeus returns his attention to the book, he begins reading through the chapter as I continue my explanations.
"it's a very rare type of magic even in the past, even back then when blood magic was not uncommon most still considered it a myth", I begin, stopping briefly to let him understand each of my words, and the next, "It's quite simple, really, a conversion of blood into magic, I believe you're well informed on the law of transmutation, it's as such, a law of equal exchange".
"yes but this is different", Amadeus suddenly cuts me, a frown on his face. "This uses blood for the exchange, that's gross, and wrong".
"Really? In my opinion it's not that morbid", I say, leaving the tea behind I approach Amadeus, joining to take a look at the book he's holding.
I stop when I notice the flat look Amadeus is giving me. Here I realize just how unsettling and creepy my answer was. More nervous than before, I hold up my hands and resume approaching the boy, saying "Stay with me".
I flip through the pages, fumbling a few times, trying to find where my point lies in an attempt to convince Amadeus that what I'm recently obsessed with isn't something creepy. I realize how nervous I'm growing as I realize I'm running out of ways to convince him.
"it's not something out of bedtime stories, they're not vampires and the likes…", skimming my finger through the aged paper, I stop and point to one passage, "…long ago, it was supposedly used by clandestine cults, hidden all around the world, and just wizards today, there's the bad, and the good… and the ugly. You can use other human's blood, if you're that sort of person of course, but if you're not, then an alternative lies on other creatures, magical creatures to be exact. Or even better: yourself, if you're into that 'self-sacrifice' stuff", I explain, without lifting my gaze from the book, I can guess just how Amadeus is eyeing at me at the moment.
Amadeus doesn't seem to buy any of this. His frown only tightens and in reaction I feel nervous sweat rolling down my temple as I further fumble over what I say. I realize I'm running out of convincing lines.
"N-Now I know what you're thinking, but it seems that there are certain types of creatures, made, or bred, for this purpose and this purpose only, as bloodletting beasts. Even wild beasts can be used to fuel this magic, but of course, mythical creatures seems to hold more magic in it's blood, or so the book said! it's not far different than hunting if you think about it".
I stop on my tracks, honestly not having anything more to say to defend my odd obsession. Meanwhile Amadeus gives me a silent, judging stare. I fumble before it and have to look away, twirling my fingers together in nervousness.
Amadeus finally ends the tense silence, "you read that much?"
"yes, yes I did?", I answer, facing him again, dumbfounded by his odd question", I was curious and it's a pretty fun read".
"Fun read", Amadeus repeats, as if trying to make me aware of what I just said. "And why are you even doing this? I doubt anyone would allow you to do something like this even if you could somehow pull something like this off, yet you read through this all so religiously?"
Shit. That's a good point.
My eyes trail away from the boy as I couldn't find any comeback.
Amadeus doesn't stop. "I thought you looked unusually happy today but I didn't expect it's because of this!"
He waits for any response from me, which is nearly none. His point is sound, and I really have no reason to do what I do, based on his limited perspective that is.
I fumble the teaspoon over my fingers, trying to fumble through the mess which is my brain as I try and make up some sort of excuse.
"I um…. Oh no, I forgot about the tea!".
Retreating from Amadeus, I scurry over to where I left the tea. It's not cold yet, thankfully, and the heat is somehow exactly what I was aiming for. Lifting the cup, I take a good sip of the tea, the mild sweetness and warm drink quickly warms my cold body.
"good tea, nice brand, very nice taste, very nice indeed, only 3,99" I mutter.
"Jericho—".
"I'm just curious alright?!", I abruptly exclaim, nearly spilling my tea as I do so and surprising Amadeus, "Look, just imagine how cool it is to—".
"use blood to fuel magic?", Amadeus completes my sentence, his arms crossed and brows arch as he observes me.
I lift a finger as I was about to continue with another paragraph to correct, or sugar coat his too barbaric assumption. I was about to, but looking at his expression, I believe that his question is not the kind meant to be answered.
Instead, all that could escape me was a forced and nervous chuckle
Amadeus sighs at this, giving a look that screams 'I thought you're supposed to be the mature one among us'. He says, "You're crazy sometimes you know that?"
"any grand wizard needs a touch of madness, my dear Amadeus", I say with lifted chin—a false display of confidence. Amadeus doesn't respond, his judging stare persisting on me. Eventually I gulp and have to make change of our conversation.
"I know you didn't ask for it but while we were squawking earlier I unconsciously made tea for two, so you have no choice but to drink it".
"what, what? oh fine", Amadeus sighs, it was a relieved sigh, but I presume it's one caused by his uncomfortable feeling towards the current topic and his want to escape said topic. He snaps the book closed and places it on the desk, "just give me that and I'll try and forget everything you just said".
He takes a sip of his tea. After a moment he says, "I thought I'd be more relaxed going to you today".
The sun is starting to set once we're outside, the forest path that Michelle and I took earlier has vanished under the dark canopies of the forest as the sun hangs red in the sky, which signals the closing of the school gates. Flocks of witches flying on their brooms appear at the distant red horizon, returning from their out of school activities outside of the school grounds.
Amadeus already has his broom extended to it's flight size on his hand, adjusting his leather gloves, the apprentice wizard turns to me,
"well, didn't realize it's this late", Amadeus muses.
Without a word of spell, Amadeus merely throws his broom lightly into the air, and just like that the broom levitates in front of him. But before he mounts, he pauses shortly and turns towards the scenery before us.
"almost magical isn't it?".
"mhm, I'd buy a painting of this", I say, "not the cheap ones, ones that are expensive and I'll hang it on my room".
I see no reaction from him to my lame attempt at humour. Amadeus mounts his broom and begins his slow ascent, and for the first time since I met him, the apprentice wizard looks down on me like a knight would to his squire. Pulling his broom, he now faces the broom away from the school, "just… don't do anything stupid in my absence".
"define stupid".
Amadeus sighs. Putting on his goggles, he adjusts it and prepares his take off. He points at me and says with narrowed eyes, "also, just stop reading weird things".
Amadeus pulls the broom away and with a kick the broom flies off away from the school, leaving a small trail of dust for me to bite, which I presume he did that on purpose. Forcing to supress a smile, I return his farewell and wave my hand to the departing apprentice, who's now but a silhouette against the red backdrop.
Well, can't say I handled everything today perfectly.
Before I could return inside and to my own thoughts, I notice a trio of witches approaching here towards the school doors, all with brooms laced with equally coloured blue ribbons rested on their shoulders.
Between the three, Diana was the first to notice me, "good evening, Jericho", she greets.
"evening is good", I reply.
I'm both surprised and honestly unprepared when I notice both Hannah and Barbara lacking her usual look of disgust once they catch me in their field of view. Even more astonishing is their decision to leave their team leader behind as they scurry ahead towards me. Knowing them, I keep my expectations low.
Barbara was the first to speak, she does so in a hushed yet eager tone. "hey hey, who's your friend?", she asks.
"eh, why ask?", I absently return the question.
"he's kinda cute", Hannah adds.
I blink a few times, trying to wrap my head around what I just heard. Eventually, the initial surprise leaves me once I thought about it and understand where they're coming from. Putting a finger to my chin, I say, "Hm, yes, he's sort of the baby of my group".
I'd thought girls would fall for those tall, manly muscly types of men, but apparently, short and adorable also fits the bill. Unfortunately I'm neither.
I feel thankful when I notice Diana re-joining the two and effectively cutting our conversation with. "We do enjoy to spend further time with you here, but if you'll excuse us, Jericho, it's been a terribly long day and we'd like to head back to our dormitories immediately".
"I'm getting inside as well", I say.
In our walk back inside, I notice Hannah slowing down her pace so she could walk side by side with me. "Sooo, Jericho, who was he anyway?", she asks, eyes attentively on me, something I've never seen her do under normal circumstances.
"a colleague".
"is he a wizard friend?", Barbara joins in, she was quick to correct her loud question and continues with a lower hushed tone, yet with equal enthusiasm, "is he like… from another academy?".
The two girls now has me surrounded, sandwiching me like this is some sort of interrogation tactic. With me in the middle, they hope to squeeze out any small information as they possibly could. I'm beginning to realize the terrors those people who are interrogated by the Guardians might feel, more so if it's done by these two. I'm beginning to feel uncomfortable with them being so close to me.
"you could say that, I think", I answer. Both of them seems to notice my short, dismissive, and rather annoyed answers, which in turn makes them more and more inclined to press on.
"heh, maybe he's scared of competition", Barbara whispers to her friend, loud enough for me to hear, perhaps it was intentional even.
"competition? How ridiculous, it's not a competition if he loses right away!" Hannah quietly laughs.
I puff my cheeks and face away from the two, forcing myself to just stare to the corridors in front of me. Meanwhile, the two girls don't cease her interrogation on me, poking me with endless questions surrounding Amadeus and another about, in Barbara's words, 'any other cute wizard friends I have'.
After a long overdue sigh, I face them again and answer, "No, Barbara, I don't know anyone else, and no, Hannah, we're not friends for that long so there's really nothing much for me to say about him, aside from him being a nicer person than me, generally, maybe".
"not a hard feat to accomplish", Hannah with a smirk.
I narrow my eyes at her. Frowning, I say, "you barely spend time with me".
Author's Notes: Little Witch Academia the Chamber of Time got delayed : (
hello everyone! It's your favourite author once again, now I know that this chapter is short, but I sort of prefer it that way. Because if you're like me, writing incredibly long chapters makes reviewing and correcting it terribly tiring and boring to be honest. I just hope that I can keep making moderate length chapters while still keeping a feeling of connection between the chapters. I've been actively trying to cut the length of my next chapters, so this is also the reason as to why the shorter chapters. I'm never a good storyteller, not even in my native language let alone English! So bear with me as I try and find the perfect balance of length and effectiveness. And also I'm trying to find that sweet style of dialogue, if you care enough of this story you'll find the way I write dialogues is slightly different now? I don't know if it's significant enough to make a change honestly.
And another, I've been meaning to further review or even further fixing my earlier chapters, I keep saying that, but it's easier said than done to be honest.
Oh and about the delayed game, I'm honestly not that upset about it, I mean, that really means that the developers and publishers had the same idea and they care for the game and see it unready, better have a delayed complete game than a ready but half-baked game. Also I'm immune to delays, I'm still waiting for Mount & Blade 2 Bannerlord to come out, and if you know how long that game has been in the TBA section, you'd know I'd survive a weak delay like this. I'm still waiting and faithful 3
Last but always not least, don't be scared to follow and favourite this special fanfic, and of course leave a review, doing so really helps me in understanding what the hell I'm doing wrong and what the hell I'm doing right! So leave a review, I won't bite I promise.
Also also again, before the meme is too dead, can someone make a Somebody Toucha Ma Spaghet meme but edit it so Croix replaces the bear? Thanks in advance.
P.S. Hannah and Barbara won't be a playable character in the game, I'm sad : (
P.S.S.S. I will drink from your skull : )