Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 21
The next day, Persephone was running the misfits through some intense physical drills. "You call that running?! I've seen insects fly faster than that!", she yelled. Nearby, Kalego smirked beside his kouhai, amused by the show while Robin was simply impressed with her skill in demanding respect from their students. He'd nearly forgotten she was in charge of the rookies on the front lines as well as their healer.
He anxiously looked to the Iruma trio as Victoria's words echoed in his mind. "Your previous order still stands." Would she really be able to make him attack again? The thought that Persephone had a familiar capable of saving Valac and Asmodeus was a small comfort, but he sincerely hoped it wouldn't be needed.
The class collapsed at the finish line of Lamya's fitness course. "Five minutes, ten seconds! Pathetic!", she yelled. "She's trying to kill us!", huffed Jazz. "Yeah! Sensei should have to do it with us. Why doesn't he have to prove his rank?!", asked Lied, accusingly. Persephone smirked. She knew from personal experience exactly what Kalego's endurance was, but she couldn't exactly tell his students that.
"All right", said a stern, yet confident voice. Everyone looked to the source in surprise. Kalego and Robin stepped in front of their panting students with a mild stretch. The class was surprised to see him step up, but their sensei was smiling darkly and that was seldom a good sign.
"You brats think this is hard?", he smirked. They looked up at him, out of breath, and annoyed by his bravado, knowing he was about to show them up badly. Persephone said nothing, entertained.
Without argument, Kalego dragged Bars with him to the starting line. "Let's show them what real demons can do", he grinned. Amused, Persephone raised her arm as they took their places. Both men were ready.
She fired a spark of flame into the air as the starting pistol. The entire class was flabbergasted at the ease with which their teacher maneuvered the course. Robin wasn't nearly as graceful, but he was mostly keeping up. As Kalego crossed the finish line, Persephone called his time. "Two minutes!"
His students gaped at his skill. They had taken much longer and gotten pretty beat up along the way by the various obstacles and hazards. Kalego's wings folded away neatly without ever breaking a sweat. He smirked snidely at his class. "Any other questions?", he scoffed.
A full minute and a half later, Robin finally crawled out of the water hazard near the end, gasping for air, with a strange creature gnawing at his leg. Persephone looked unimpressed with his performance, shaking her head. "Rookie still needs work", she stated. Robin grinned innocently. He'd tried his best.
Irritated they had been put to shame yet again, the class grumbled amongst themselves. Persephone knew they were quietly challenging her next. Kalego called their bluff. "Don't bother. She's even faster than me", he stated.
At first, comments like, "No way!", surfaced, but we're quickly quelled by the ominous aura surrounding their guest instructor. She had completed courses like that every morning for nearly ten years in the war zone. Narnia trusted her to whip the new recruits into shape and she couldn't command their respect without proving she deserved it first.
Elsewhere, in the infirmary, Nene slowly relaxed. She had done what she could for Pandora. Sullivan, Opera, and Balam all waited for her to speak, hoping it was good news.
Wiping her brow as her wings pitched another shade darker, Nene grinned peacefully. "I've cleared her eyes again", she stated. "And her heart?", asked Shichiro, deeply concerned. Nene's smile fell slightly, but she held an even expression. "I've done all I can to suppress it. The curse isn't active now. There's still a hidden trigger somewhere, but we won't know what the curse is until it surfaces", she explained.
Pandora smiled softly in thanks as she sat up to face them. "It's a failsafe in case I ever successfully escaped", she stated grimly. Pressing her hand to her heart, she tried not to worry the others, but the look in her eyes gave her away.
Sullivan knelt in front of her as he took her hand, looking her in the eye. "Pandora-chan, what is the trigger?", he asked carefully. She glanced at Shichiro and slowly shook her head. "I don't know exactly. It could be anything - a word, a feeling, or even the snap of her fingers. Victoria never told me the secret. I guess she knew we would find a way to undo it if she had", she said glumly.
Balam looked rather troubled. Slowly, he touched Nene's shoulder. She looked up at him with empathy, knowing this was hard for him as well. "If it's attached to her heart...Am I making it worse?", he asked, shaken. Pandora's eyes misted at his tone, but Nene gently patted his hand in assurance.
"Love is never a curse, Shichiro-kun. If anything, I'm sure you're speeding her recovery. Mummy's proud of you", she said with a kind grin. He seemed to relax a little, but he was still clearly worried.
Sullivan and Nene stepped aside to finalize their plans while Opera mentally took notes. It had been decided that it would be safest for all of Victoria's main targets to retreat to a series of powerful barriers. The problem was that they still needed to perform their jobs. Luckily, a break was coming up quickly. If the school could get through the end of the week without incident, everyone would relocate to the principal's home. It was risky gathering together, but riskier apart. At least there was safety in numbers.
Balam sat beside Pandora with a faint grin. He remembered what she had told him about not having to be strong for her, but he still wanted to. Pulled from his thoughts, he blushed as she affectionately leaned against his arm. "Isn't it exciting? We'll get to spend a whole week together!", she said with cheer. Finally calming, he was grateful for her kind words. She always did know how to put him at ease.
Halfway through the day, Balam received a visitor at his lab. Robin was checking in as ordered, but he had ulterior motives, as well. As the duo sipped their tea, his burning questions finally spilled over.
"Senpai?", he ventured. Balam listened carefully. He knew there were still things Kalego hadn't told their kouhai. "If only they got along better", he thought. He knew his best friend was far too stubborn for his own good.
"Victoria said something a while ago that's been bothering me", began Robin, staring into his tea. "I had asked her why Kalego was so important and she said something about a family grudge. What I don't understand is...what does Delkira-sama have to do with any of it?"
Balam stared in mild surprise. He hadn't expected that. Glancing aside, he asked, "Have you talked to Kakego-kun about this?". Robin shook his head. No shock there. Taking a deep breath, Balam debated on where to begin.
"The Naberius family has always been loyal to the crown. At one point, so was the Victoria clan. They used to be great spies, able to infiltrate without being detected with their abilities. A few generations ago, they decided to favor power over allegiance... They got involved with the underworld syndicates and became powerful criminals in their own right", he began.
Robin was intrigued, but that seemed to have little to do with recent history. Thankfully, answers weren't far off. Balam stared aside as he thought about how much he should say. Regardless, Kalego wasn't likely to tell their kouhai much, if anything.
"The previous generation set their sights high. Ai's mother figured that if she could control the king, Delkira-sama would become a puppet monarch, and she could be the one pulling the strings… I doubt she could have pulled it off by her curses alone. He would have easily been too powerful… I don't know all of the details, but she managed to get help from within the court. Kalego's father caught wind of her scheme and when he stepped in to stop her… They killed each other."
Robin was shaken by what he had just heard. "Their parents...killed one another?", he repeated, unsure he had heard it right. Balam solemnly nodded.
"Ai's father denounced any knowledge of the coup and tried to reinstate the clan back into the nobles, but it didn't work. He vanished not long after that. I guess people knew better than to ask questions about it at the time. A lot of loyalists basically celebrated his downfall… Victoria first attacked Kalego-kun at that meeting when they were just kids. She's been alone and vengeful ever since."
Robin swallowed hard. He didn't want to feel sorry for her, but a lonely, confused little girl had grown into a monster with delusions of grandeur. It was too late to help her now; There was no salvation for such a twisted soul.
Balam looked at him in question. Robin was being unusually quiet. He looked deep in thought. "How do we stop her?", he asked, completely serious. He knew little of what crimes Victoria had actually committed, but he knew it was already too much. If she succeeded in killing Pandora or Lamya-san, it wouldn't bode well for the future.
Balam sat quietly thinking. He knew they needed a plan to defeat her. They just hadn't settled on one yet. Keeping a calm demeanor, he replied, "The first step is removing your primary curse. Once that's done, we'll move Pandora-chan and Kalego-kun to a secure area while we work out what to do next."
"That's it?", uttered Robin, disappointed. After everything they had been through, he expected a more grandiose plan. "For now", said Balam carefully. He was being cautious not to say too much. There was no telling whether or not Victoria was listening.
Another spell of silence drifted in. Curious about other things, Robin tried asking about Persephone, but Balam respected his friends' privacy. He only said to ask Kalego himself, knowing he was unlikely to learn anything. Yet it was better that way. If there was the slightest odds that his best friend could be happy again, he wanted to give him that chance without anyone else meddling.
The rest of the day was uneventful until after the last bell. A strange voice had spoken over the intercom and the broadcast batra couldn't explain where it had come from. Those who knew that voice, glared in contempt. It was Victoria and she was proving how resourceful she could be. She had made it into the school yet again.
She'd spoken a long, strange spell. When it ended, no one quite felt like themselves. Fast students became slow, the strong felt weak, and the skilled turned into stumbling amateurs. Whatever curse she had cast, it left everyone prone to danger.
The teachers carefully eyed their wards, instructing them to go straight home. In the courtyard, under Kalego's keen watch, the misfits were leaving while discussing the strange event. Even they had been affected.
Jazz kept dropping his things, Elisabetta was acting shy, and the ever dodgeful Iruma was running into really obvious stuff. Asmodeus fussed over him, but it soon became clear even his flames were out of whack. Clara panicked nearby as nothing fun came from her pockets. All she could pull forth was sundry school supplies, no candy or toys.
Kalego focused on that trio mostly, knowing they were already a target, but he had help in his vigilance. Persephone helped direct and calm panicked students. One thing didn't sit right with him besides Victoria's meddling. Robin was late to check in.
Kalego carefully scanned the ambient vantage points without raising suspicion. Surely that idiot hadn't fallen under her spell again so easily. Persephone called his name. Following her line of sight, he spotted his kouhai.
Robin was on the roof, not far away. Blood soaked his clothes, stemming from his neck, evidence Victoria had paid him a visit. She'd clearly drained both his blood and his willpower. Gritting his teeth, Kalego readied himself for anything. Erecting a barrier would be useless against 'bullseye', but he had other options at his disposal.
"Go, but try not to completely blow off his arm. It's harder to put back on if you do that", said Persephone, sensing his anxiety. He smirked gratefully and took alight without a word, leaving his class in her care, blissfully unaware of the danger.
Iruma tried to calm Clara nearby. She was upset that her fun had been interrupted. Even Azzkun assured her that their magic would likely return to normal soon. In mid sentence, Iruma slapped his neck. "Ow!" Looking into his hand, a very bizarre bug twitched from the impact.
"What is that?", inquired Azz, curious. "I was hoping you knew", ceded Iruma nervously. Trying not to draw attention to the roof, Persephone stepped over to see why the trio was lagging behind compared to the other students. She paled at the sight of the crushed insect. It's iridescent wings and golden proboscis were very telling in her mind. Even worse, its abdomen was swollen with blood.
"Iruma, did that insect bite you by chance?", she asked carefully. "Yeah. It kind of hurt", he admitted. She quickly grabbed his arm and hauled him close for inspection. "What are you doing to Iruma-sama?!", spat Azz. Looking at the purple rash spreading across his neck, she grimaced. "This is bad", she uttered, thinking allowed.
"Oooh, Irumachi! I didn't know you could change colors!", said Clara, ignorant of the jeopardy her friend was in. Asmodeus looked worried as he also saw the spreading spot. "Is it bad?", asked Iruma nervously. He felt perfectly fine. Why did everyone look so concerned?
"The rash is spreading. That means it has already bitten someone else", stated Persephone, trying to keep them calm. "What does that mean? Is it some kind of mutant mosquito?!", panicked Iruma. She smiled gently as she touched his face.
"You'll be fine as long as nothing happens to - ", she began, stopping at the realization. Her gaze immediately turned to Bars, the nearest source of readily available blood. Trying not to stare or alarm the trio, she quickly tried to slow the symptoms. She worked swiftly, getting the rash under control.
"It's a rare, parasitic insect, not native to this region at all. It has the unusual ability to link its hosts", she explained, focusing her mana. "Is that bad?", asked Clara. "Only if something bad happens to the original host. Any damage they take will be mirrored in anyone else bitten afterward until the rash vanishes in a few days", she said.
Annoyed that her spells weren't working well, she ordered, "Asmodeus, call Kalego-sensei. Tell him to stand down." He was confused by her orders. He hadn't even noticed their sensei leave. Still, he obeyed.
Ignoring his phone, Kalego landed with a thump behind Robin on the roof. He clearly wasn't amused. There was no telling if he would hold back or not. "Don't do it, Bars", he warned, stepping closer. Robin's marked eye shone brightly. His body wasn't his own, but he still had his mind this time.
"Senpai, whatever I'm about to do, you have to stop me. I don't care what it costs", he stated firmly. Kalego smirked at his choice of words. For once, they were in agreement. It was a teacher's duty to protect their students, even if it meant laying down their lives.
Robin stared pleadingly as he summoned his bow, tears in his eyes. He hated being Ai's puppet. He felt so weak from blood loss that he was near blacking out, but he held on in an attempt to foil her plans. If Kalego hadn't showed up, he'd intended to simply step over the edge. It was a long way down from the tower roof, but he was determined to keep their students safe.
Kalego's phone went off again. He peered down at Persephone in annoyance. She had Iruma seated on the ground and seemed to be frantically waving at him. What could she possibly want at a time like this?
"Last chance, rookie", said Kalego, returning his focus to his now armed kouhai. Robin had an arrow notched, shaking in his hands. Sighing deeply, Kalego reached out a single finger, a spell forbidden by Sullivan, but he had little choice. A simple touch shattered all of the bones in Robin's left arm. As he fell to his knees in anguish, his mana evaporated, a grateful grin on his face as he blacked out.
A shrill scream belted out below. Kalego quickly darted his gaze. His eyes grew wide at the sight. Iruma was lying in a pool of blood, his arm torn to shreds, almost like it had exploded. Azz's white clothes were covered by the spray from the eruption. Clara was crying loudly while Asmodeus had fallen backward in shock. Persephone was working as fast as she could to stop the bleeding.
Gritting his teeth, Kalego picked up Robin's limp body and dialed Nene as he glided down. Seeing the remnants of the insect on the ground and the strange rash on Iruma's neck, he pieced together what had happened.
Clara grabbed him, a desperate, blubbering mess, pleading for him to do something. "Seeenseeiiii!!!", she sobbed. She stared as he dropped Robin to the ground and jumped into action. He'd quickly removed his coat as a makeshift tourniquet, tying off the hemorrhaging limb.
"Asmodeus, get Valac out of here!", he snapped, applying firm pressure to Iruma's gaping wound. The boy's arm was barely attached. Now he was glad that he had held back. Robin would be in a cast for a while, but Iruma was younger and weaker, as well as secretly being human, something his sensei didn't know, but all of those factors played a part in the severity of the damage he sustained by proxy thanks to Victoria's little bug.
Breathless, Azz pulled Clara out of the way, letting the adults work hard to save their soul mate. He stared with horror as he clutched Clara's face tightly against himself so she wouldn't see just how bad things were. She fought to get loose, but shielding her eyes and mind was the only thing he could do at the moment.
He looked up with relieved tears as Lady Nene rushed to Iruma's side. "What happened?!", she gaped, assessing her patient. Persephone grit her teeth as she barely managed to ebb the blood flow. "That isn't important right now. We're running out of time!", she spat. "How long do we have?", inquired Nene, tense. "About thirty seconds", stated Persephone grimly.
Nene nodded, fully understanding the urgency. "Kalego-kun, keep the pressure on. Per-chan, take my hand." Both demons complied seamlessly. In a flash of powerful mana, Azzkun stared in wonder at what was happening before his eyes. He thought maybe he was hallucinating from shock, but prayed he wasn't.
Lady Nene and Lamya-sensei had simultaneously summoned strong familiars, combining their rare powers to actually turn back the clock. A phoenix and wolpertinger seemed to dance in slow motion around Iruma. A huge pulse of mana blew out debris as the spell collapsed.
"Did we do it?", asked Persephone, hopeful. Nene smiled in relief. "Exactly one minute was reversed. The damage is undone, but he'll bear the pain just the same", she replied. Kalego fell to the ground in sheer mental exhaustion.
A deep gasp, followed by a deafening scream rang out as Iruma opened his eyes, clutching his mended limb. The excruciating agony was sending him into convulsions.
"Kalego, the kids!", said Nene sternly. Understanding, he got to his feet and carefully flew Azz and Clara away, not allowing them to look back. He'd left Iruma in good hands. Bars was still out cold, but they would ensure his healing after the boy was stabilized.
To be continued...