The Magic Twins Ch. 3: Miracles, Mysteries and Miseries
"Well then, we're going now," Shin says with Chin, Sizilien, and Maria.
"Yes, good luck," Merlin says. "Remember you two, in whatever you do, be prudent," Melida reminds. "We will Granny," Chin replies.
Next Location: While walking towards the Academy...
"There's nothing so far coming up in my "Search Magic", how 'bout you?" Shin asks. "Clean here as well," Chin answers.
"Sorry Shin, Chin. Making the both of you come all the way to me and Maria's homes and pick us up like this," Sizilien says.
"Well, with "Gate", it is no problem for us, so don't worry. I can't let any more danger come to you now can I?" Shin flirts. "Oh Shin," Sizilien blushes.
"Guys, seriously...," Chin comments. "This is too early in the morning to make my stomach turn," Maria adds.
Next Location: In the S-class lecture room of the Magic Academy...
"Oh Shin, Chin, good morning! Leave it to you two with girls in tow so soon after enrolling," August teases.
"Put a sock in it Aug," Shin says. "You already know why we're doing this," Chin continues.
"Can't help myself teasing you, especially you Chin. Helping Maria when she doesn't even need it," August smirks making Chin scratch his cheek for a moment due to embarrassment. "Shut it!" yells the blushing Maria.
"Good morning Shin," Julius greets. "Good morning Chin," Thor greets.
"Good morning," says the confused twins.
"Yaha! I made it right? I made it in time? Right?" says a short blond girl sliding on the table.
"You made it, but what gives with you arriving at school at the nick of time on the first day?" Maria asks.
"Ahaha sorry I'm just so looking forward to today's class that I couldn't sleep, so I slept in," says the short blondie. "What are you, a child!?" Maria retorts.
'Right, in this world, you're an adult at the age of 15 so...," Shin thought. 'I think she is...Alice Corn? Oh wait Corner,' Chin thought.
"You're all here today right?" says Alfred as he enters the classroom. "Ah Teacher!" Chin says. "Good morning!" Alice greets. "Yeah good morning to you as well. Everyone take your seats, we're starting homeroom. Once that's done, I'll show you around school," Alfred continues.
Time skip: After homeroom and the school tour...
Next Location: Outside the Academy Interiors...
"That's the quick tour. The school is broadly divided into two buildings–one of them being your classroom building, where your classes are, and the other one has the faculty offices, the student council, as well as the rooms used for the laboratory and study groups," Alfred explains. 'Study groups? Something like clubs? Interesting,' Chin thought.
"The Attack Magic Study Group, the Quality of Life study group, which produces magical gear; and the Body Language study group, which deals in mastery of strengthening magic to name a few," Alfred continues to explain. 'Ummm, isn't that the wrong idea to live as a magician in a way...?' Shin thought while seeing Julius satisfied.
"The Body Language study group, if it weren't for my duties guarding His Highness, I would absolutely choose to join that one!" Julius exclaimed while dreaming of his dream body.
"If so, don't worry about guarding me and go ahead join there," August replied, shocking Julius. "Your Highness, I'm sorry but I cannot do that," Julius replies, depressing August.
"This is a magic academy, where the authority of the royal family is neutralized while staying here. Hence, there is no reason in being tied to me at all," August replied.
"Your Highness! I'm very much appreciated!" says the cluelessly overjoyed Julius. 'He hates being escorted so he gives them peace to give himself space? Cruel,' Shin thought.
"Hey Chin, Shin, do you guys have a study group to choose already?" Alice asks. "Hmmmm, none of them piqued my interest and honestly, sound shallow from the names given, so I think I'm gonna just study and discover things myself," Chin explained.
"True, none of them would probably challenge the both of you," August added. "Hey don't say it like that," Shin rebutted. "Here's a better idea: why don't you two start your own?" August suggested.
"Hm, now that sounds splendid to me, how 'bout you Shin?" Chin asks, shocking Shin. "Hoho, a study group created by Wolford and Bowen twins? That would be fascinating," Alfred commented, with August agreeing and Shin further confused and nervous.
"Sure it would. It would be interesting to see what kind of study group that Shin and Chin would start, and what activities they'll have," August adds.
"Indeed, it would be interesting," added a female classmate named Lyn Hughes. "If you guys do, I'd join it too!" Alice confirms. "I might join too," says the woman named Yuri Carlton. "Nice idea, if I joined, I'd probably stay in S-class all the way through. Teach, what does it take to start a study group?" asked a guy named Tony Freud.
"Five or more members and a faculty advisor. Then you just need to submit a request form, and you can start one. Also, if you really want to do it, I'll be advisor," Alfred summarizes, making the class awe.
"Guys wait, hold for a sec," Shin halts. "Shin, if you're going to start a study group, I'll join it too," Sizilien says, shocking Shin. "I'll join too if you guys start one, but that will mean you will still pick and drop us off home, since we'll be doing things together," Maria adds, giving Chin an idea.
'Say yes, say yes, say yes, say yes,' Chin thought while staring at Shin, making him even more nervous.
"If you're the group's president and vice president, what would we even do?" Thor asks, making Shin nervous while Chin more enthusiastic.
"How about the Hero Study Group?" Alice suggests. "Huh, what do you mean?" Shin asks. "You'd tell us about Master Merlin and Mistress Melisa!" Alice explained, shocking Shin. "I don't think so," Chin answers, depressing the pouting Alice.
"Well, there is a study group that follows the exploits of the Wise Man and the Guru," Alfred points out, shocking both Shin and Chin.
"Then how about we work mastering all kinds of magic with Wolford and Bowen as our focus?" Lyn suggests, surprising both Shin and Chin. "We'll call it the Ultimate Magic Study Group," Lyn declares.
'You're killing me Lyn!' Shin thought. "Hm, not how I would expect, but better than how I would name i—," "Please stop," Shin begs while shaking Chin. "Sure, that would be perfect for the both of you," August agrees.
"The Ultimate Magic Study Group! Sounds super duper!" Alice exclaims, shocking Shin. "Then, can you decide the subject matter after class? All wanting to join raise your hands," Alfred suggests with everyone in favor. "It's not "ultimate" anything," Shin laments.
Next Location: In a certain meeting room in the royal palace…
"This is bad, Demon appearances have increased this much in the last year?" retorted one official.
"Why is that? If demons are proliferating, there should be more of a commotion throughout the kingdom," another official points out.
"However, I've never even heard any rumors of that happening," answers the first official. "What's the meaning of this, Dominic?" asked Diseum.
"If you will look over the daily reports, I'm sure it will be clear. The daily increase in demons has been incredibly slight. It's been little by little, within the margin of error, but it's definitely been increasing," says the official named Dominic Gastor, distressing Diseum.
"The way it's been increasing, slowly enough to avoid our notice, this is nothing more than my own personal speculation, but I get the impression that it's artificially induced," Dominic states, shocking everyone in the room.
"Impossible, there is no way this predicament could be man-made!" angers the other official. "Your Majesty, these are unusual circumstances, we need an immediate investigation," Dominic urges.
"Alright, enlist the Demon Hunter's Society and thoroughly investigate this!" Diseum commands and dismisses the meeting.
Next location: In the Rietsburg Estate…
"Kurt! Kurt, are you here!?" yells Count Rietsburg, motioning to Kurt's appearances. "What is it, Father," Kurt asks.
"Don't "what is it" me! I've received a summons to His Majesty! You know why don't you?" Count Rietsburg asks before grabbing Kurt's collar. "What were you thinking!? You know that throwing your standing around at the academy is forbidden, don't you?!" he retorts.
"With all due respect, Father, we are a chosen people. It's not right to be treated on the same level as commoners," Kurt replies.
"Kurt, wh-what are you saying?" Count Rietsburg asks only to be shoved away by Kurt. "I am a chosen person! A special person! And yet everyone else disrespects and defies me! There's no way I can stand for that!" Kurt yells, shocking his father.
"It's him, yes, everything started going wrong after he showed up. I can't do as I please with my girl, and moreover, if His Highness is taking their side, it's all the more reason to–," "Kurt!" nagged Count Rietsburg as he punched Kurt to the ground. "I can't turn a blind eye to a statement like that! I have to think about how to punish you! Somebody, lock Kurt in his room!" yelled Count Rietsburg. 'What's gotten I to you, Kurt…,' he thought.
Time skip: The next day…
Next Location: At the Academy…
"What, Kurt got grounded?" Shin asked. "Yeah. Apparently the Rietsburg family contacted the academy this morning," August replied. "He needs to stay down and reflect, it will disturb the learning atmosphere," Chin says while reading a booklet about ancient script and definitions.
"If I can ask, why does Kurt have that attitude? He's not allowed to throw the weight of his family name around right?" Shin asks.
"Honestly, we're at a loss ourselves," Julius answered. "We went to the same middle school that he did, but his behavior was never anything like this," Thor explains. "Then it seems something changed his heart and mind in the latter," Chin guesses.
"Not something, someone. He started acting differently after he went to Mr. Schtrom's lab," Thor says. "Come to think of it, that's right," August says.
"Who's this "Mr. Schtrom"?" Chin asks.
"In our third of middle school, he transferred in as a magic teacher, claiming to be exiled from the empire," Thor explained. "He took anyone who was half-decent with magic and invited us all to visit his laboratory, which sounded shady so all of us except Kurt turned him down," August adds.
"He might be blind, because he has a patch covering both his eyes, but he acted normally. He might be using a special kind of magic which let him sense inorganic objects that had no magic," Thor explained.
"Some unique kind of search magic? Now I'm curious," Chin comments.
"A magician with an eyepatch over both eyes, in exile from the empire?" Shin Shin repeats.
Next Location: In the Rietsburg Estate's Entry Hall…
"Ah, Mr. Schtrom! Thank you for coming over!" Mrs. Rietsburg pleads.
"It has been too long, Mrs. Rietsburg. How is your son doing?" Schtrom asks.
"Oh I don't even know what's happening anymore! How could my boy end up like this! My husband is trying to discipline Kurt...the way things are going, I fear my boy will…," she sobs.
"I see, he looked up to me as his teacher. I'll go and have a word with him," Schtrom assures.
"Please do! You're the only one I can turn to! Please bring him back to his senses!" Mrs. Rietsburg begs, leading him to Kurt's room where he is bound in ropes.
Next Location: In Kurt's room…
"What's the matter Kurt?" Schtrom asks. "Mr. Schtrom," he replies.
"Well isn't this a pretty pathetic sight?" Schtrom retorts while applying "Sound-proofing Barrier" magic in the room. "I told you that you are somebody special, didn't I?" Schtrom asks. "Yes," Kurt answers.
"Your station and abilities are special. There's nothing you can not obtain," Schtrom affirms.
"But I didn't manage to get the girl! Because he, no, they, stood in my way!" he rebutted.
"Oh, I see. So they're hindrances to you, are they? Well then, listen to me. I want you to teach these hindrances a lesson. After all, you are special" Schtrom asks and commands while infusing an ominous magic into Kurt before leaving the room and Estate. "Kurt, dance as best as you can for me," he mutters.
Time skip: Around the middle of noon…
Next Location: In the School Cafeteria…
"So Shin, Chin, what are you going to do about coming and going to school?" August asks.
"What we're going to do?" Shin asks. "Yes, Kurt has been grounded at home, so there's no longer any danger at the academy or on the street now right?" August explains.
"That is true," Chin says, slightly saddening Maria. "There might not be any need for an escort now," Shin says, shocking and saddening Sizilien.
"I suppose that's true...he's an escort after all," Sizilien says with her face downcast.
"But there's no harm walking them home and back here normally right?" Chin replies.
"True, I mean our houses are in the same direction," Shin says.
"Oh yes! Y-you're right! We do live in the same direction! There's nothing weird about us walking to school together!" Sizilien explained with joy. "Ah! I'm sorry, I beg your pardon," Sizilien whimpers with Maria agreeing with her.l
"Jeez, overexcited as always," Maria smirks. "Ah I'm not! How about you!? Won't you too if it's Chin stops walking with you around too?" Sizilien retaliates.
"H-huh, I don't know what you're talking about Sizilien," Maria denies while hiding her blush, letting their band except a blushing Chin explode in laughter.
"Impressive Shin, saying "be with me" like that in front of everyone. That's something I could never do," August commented, making Shin blush and Sizilien blush harder.
"That isn't what I said right?" Shin asks, with Sizilien bright as a tomato.
"You should try to be a bit more on the offensive Chin, you won't know that Maria would fawn over someone else next time," August teases, getting Chin and Maria startled and flustered.
"Well, I do walk her to school as well as regularly as Shin does, but I just feel not like the reliable kind of guy compared to him, hehe," Chin explained.
"What are you talking about! You are reliable, I mean, being Shin's brother and assisting him, I find that as one reason to prove that you are reliable!" Maria exclaimed, then snaps back and turns bright as a tomato. "Please forget what I said guys," Maria pleads making everyone except a flustered Chin laugh.
"Well jokes aside, walking to school together is a good thing, and both Klode and Messina are fine-looking young ladies. So they're bound to attract unsavory characters," August agrees.
"Then they should say their prayers for crossing us," Chin says with firm scary tone, giving everyone chills.
"Well, if they do, our search magic will detect them," Shin says. "Really? How?" Maria asks.
"How? You can usually tell when someone is directing ill will at you right?" Shin asks.
"No, we can't sense ill will with search magic," Thor answered.
"Well, um...Thor, have you ever hunted a demon before?" Shin asks.
"No, of course I haven't. I just barely got out of middle school," Thor replies with Lyn agreeing.
"Magic powers of Demons are sort of sinister, abnormal and gruesome. It somehow can be distinguished with normal instincts like regular people. Search magic is the extension of your senses, in other words," Chin explains.
"Wait, so you mean," "Wolford, Bowen, have both of you hunted demons before?" Thor and Lyn ask. "Yes we have," Shin answers, shocking everyone except Chin.
"Just curious, how old were you guys when you first did hunted them?" Tony asks. "Ten years old," Chin and Shin answered together, shocking everyone in their table.
"They're both bears if I recall, were they?" "Yes they were," Shin and Chin answered, further scaring everyone.
"They're both about three meters tall, I cut off one of their heads," Shin answered. " But I smashed it's head, so that its fur can be stripped in one go," Chin continued, both of them shocking their group.
"I think we got carried away again," Shin says, with Chin embarrassed. "Um, which part were you surprised with?" Shin asks. "All of it," the group answered.
Next Location: In the Exterior Hallway of the academy…
"We have study group orientation in the afternoon, but we've already decided we're going to start the Ultimate Magic Study Group," Alice complains.
"It is a waste of time to have them tell us about study groups," Yuri comments.
"Let's let things happen patiently, I mean, maybe Teacher didn't mention anything else important about study groups," Chin answered. "Well, if you say so," Yuri smirked.
"Yes, if we all refuse, it will incur resentment," Julius added.
"Ug! Shin, did you feel that?" Chin asks as he stopped walking. "What's wrong Chin?" Maria asks.
"Yes, ill will is directed at us, but where?Shin asks. "At the garden to our right," Chin answers pointing at the figure exuding a murderous aura. "Wait, isn't that, Kurt!?" Chin exclaimed, shocking the entire group.
"Gragh!" Kurt yelled as he fired a huge "Fireball" at the group, only to be blocked by Chin's "Geyser Barrier" (new name for the "Waterfall Barrier" in the previous chapter XD) shielding the whole group.
"Everyone, use the magic energy in your uniforms and channel them to Chin!" Shin yelled while Chin's shielding and scalding his hands.
"What kind of spell was that?! A barrier?!" Tony exclaimed.
"Chin! Your hands!" Sizilien points out. "Don't worry, I can heal myself," Chin says as he summons "Living Water"a spell that envelops his hands and heals them, comforting both Sizilien and Maria.
"Shin?" Chin motioned. "Yeah, what's he doing here?" Shin asked
"I thought he's supposed to be grounded!" Maria exclaimed.
"But he's here now, positively trying to kill us," Shin answered. "Yup, that was attempted murder, so there's no way we can let this slide," August adds.
"Damn you, damn you, damn you all!" Kurt roared, spreading his demonic aura.
"Um, Aug, do you think he's in control?" Shin asks. "No I don't," August answered.
"It's bad right?" Chin asks while pulling out his enchanted baton and transformed it into a bo staff. "Yes it is," August answers.
"Damn you, damn you, damn you, damn you, damn you!" Kurt roars as he begins to demonize and shock the entire group.
'Is this for real?! He has demonized!' Shin thought.
"August, please take everyone here and inside then get out of here, now," Chin replies preparing his offensive stance with his staff at his back with Shin unsheathing his enchanted sword.
"Wait, Shin, Chin, don't tell me," "We've got to stop him one way or another before he causes anymore harm," Shin answers August.
"That's crazy! You guys get out too!" August yelled. "We can't let a demonoid run loose in the capital," Shin continues.
"Then let me help," "What are you talking about, you've never hunted a Demon before," Shin says to August.
"So we're just in the way?" August asks. "Yes, you are," Shin answers. "Is that right?...We're getting out of here, right now!" August yells.
"No way! We can't leave Shin and Chin to handle this!" Sizilien answers. "But then we'll just be in the way, so we have to go now!" Maria says painfully while dragging Sizilien with her. "Chin, please, don't die, you hear me!" Maria yelled.
"Yes, Maria," Chin smirks activating "Mana Arms"–a spell that uses mana to form a weapon–to form spearheads at the tips of his bo staff.
"Everyone, get out and run, but you two go tell the teachers about this right now," August commands.
"At least she, I mean, they are safe now," Chin says. " Yeah, now then, let's do this Kurt!" Shin cries.
"Graaaaaaaagh!" Kurt roars as he charges to Shin and Chin and uses a "Dark Fireball", that was extinguished by Chin's "Jet Water Beam" before being flung away by his staff's shaft, but landing safely. "Now Shin!" Chin yelled.
Motioning Shin to fire three of his "Pale Blue Sparks" at Kurt, making him lose balance and fall down. "Wait, did that actually do some damage? I meant to slow him down," he thought.
"Wolford, damn you. Bowen, damn you, damn you!" Kurt roared.
'A demonoid that can speak?!' they thought. "This isn't what Gramps mentioned to us!" Shin says. 'I thought they are supposed to lose all sense of reason!' Chin thought.
"I'll kill you, I'll kill you all!" Kurt roared as he fired another "Dark Fireball"at Shin, which was extinguished by Chin's "Geyser Barrier", then charges and kicks Chin as he shields with his staff to the ground, causing him to hit the wall, just not sedating him. "Guhagh!" Chin grunted from the strike.
"Chin!" Shin yelled as he hovered with his "Jet Boots" and used "Lightning Bolt" on Kurt, damaging him. "Maybe he hasn't totally become a demonoid yet, Chin!" Shin motioned to Chin, who stood with the help of his staff while healing with his "Living Water" spell.
"I'm fine, anyways, there ought be a way to return his senses somehow, got one?" Chin asks, charging in front of Shin to deflect Kurt's "Dark Fireballs".
"Maybe if I can control the erratic magic that is demonizing Kurt...," Shin answers. "Sounds like a plan, but I don't know if that can work," Chin comments.
"Wolford...Bowen!" Kurt roars while gathering magical power from the environment, causing his aura to slowly expand, about to explode.
"Oh no, he's gathering up magical power into himself to create an explosion! It will destroy this academy! Come!" Shin yells preparing his sword.
"Let's do the "Human Sling"!" Chin suggests. "Right!" Shin says as he hops and crouches on the shaft of Chin's staff.
"Hyyyyyyaahhhhh!" Chin cries as he swings and slings Shin toward Kurt, piercing through his barrier and beheading him, letting his head and body fall bleeding on the ground, dissipating the demonic aura.
"That blast would've could've costed part of the academy, ugh...," Chin grunted as he fell on his knees while holding on to his staff as Shin dropped his bloodied blade. 'I've...never killed a person before,' Shin thought.
"Never thought we had to kill him, but it is for everyone, including Sizilien and Maria," Chin assures. "I know, but, just what is going on in this world...that it had to be this way...?" Shin laments.
"Shin! Chin! Are you guys alright!?" August yelled, getting their attention while running to them.
"Shin! Are you, are you hurt!?" Sizilien asks as she examines Shin's body. "I'm fine, thank you," he answered.
"Chin! Are you alright!? You took many blows out there!? Just what were you thinking!?" Maria nagged at Chin before hugging him very tight.
"It's alright now Maria, all's well ends well," Chin assures. "But still, can't believe you two actually defeated a demonoid," Maria comments.
"Wait, you guys watched all that?" Shin asks then stares down at Kurt's corpse.
"Wasn't there anything else I could do?" Shin asks. "There are, but we just don't know them yet unless we researched hard enough, Shin. Circumstances have gotten out of hand," Chin explained, standing up with Maria's help.
"That's why we are going to form the Ultimate Magic Study Group to do that," August agrees with everyone nodding in agreement.
"But he was stalking you...and even turned into a demonoid...but still...," Shin stutters. "Oh Shin...," Sizilien whispers.
"Shin, Chin, seems like things are going to get rough for the both of you now," August says.
"How so, I thought the rough part was dealt with, right?" Chin asks. "Huh?" Shin responded.
"This is the second demonoid appearance in all of history. It's a huge deal, and the whole kingdom, but you two resolved it just like that," August explained.
"Your Highness!" Julius shouted from afar while running towards August. "Are you alright?" Thor asks.
"We got a report of a Demonoid! Where is the–," said one of the royal guards.
"He's the one lying over there," August points out.
"Wait, you don't mean you brought him down!?" exclaimed the guard.
"No, it wasn't me. Everyone listen up! The demonise was brought down by Shin Wolford and Chin Bowen, grandsons of Merlin the Wise Man and Melida the Guru!" August announced as he pointed at Shin and Chin, shocking the guards.
"Oraaaaaa! They took down a demonoid! That's the Wise man's grandsons for you! Our new heroes: Shin Wolford and Chin Bowen! Shin! Chin! Chin! Shin! Chin!" the guards cheer and cry.
"Why do I feel like I got an upset stomach right now...," Chin commented, making Maria laugh.
"Uh, no, I mean...wha–," 'is this what he meant by "rough"?' Shin trailed off.
-To be continued
Author's note:
If you guys are wondering how Chin looks like:
-Hair: Same features and color like Erk from Fire Emblem 7, except orchid in color.
-Face: similar to Shin's, but looks less confident than Shin.
-Body structure: similar to Shin's
That's all for today, see you guys next time! XP