Asuna dragged Negi into their dorm room as Nodoka followed them in.
"What is the matter?" asked Negi.
"You will see. This also concerns bookworm too," said Asuna.
Nodoka twiddling her fingers asked sheepishly, "Also concerns me?"
"Yeah Yue stopped by and is inside our room," responded Asuna.
The door opened as Yue was sitting on the couch with her wand out.
Negi saw two envelops on top of the table.
"Yue-san, what is going on?" asked a confused bookworm.
"You and the professor each received a mysterious envelop. Yours was delivered to our dorm room and the professor's one over here. I ascertained that the envelops are magically sealed. Apparently only you and Negi-sensei can open them," explained Yue.
"What have you got bookworm involved in you stupid kid," exclaimed Asuna.
"Asuna that will not help in this situation. It was actually your involvement with the idea of the rose that propelled this," said Yue.
"Well...I...," murmured Asuna.
Nodoka reached for hers until Negi stopped her by holding her hand. Both blushed as Asuna and Yue looked at each other.
"Let me inspect the envelop first. Could contained a magical trap," said Negi.
Konoka and Setsuna walked inside the room giggling. Setsuna looked at the envelops and became serious. Konoka did not know what was going on.
"Um...what is going on?" asked Konoka.
"Two envelops delivered to Nodoka-san and Negi-sensei earlier today," said Yue abruptly.
Konoka took one of the envelops and looked over it as Setsuna was becoming worried.
"There is some strange writing on the envelop. It is not Japanese nor English," said Konoka as she carefully put it down on the table.
Negi took his and looked at the writing. It said:
'r asgre grows dywyllwch ag 'r anelw chan a 'n ddrud beth. At argeisia ymhellach ai bucheddau ewyllysia bod i mewn beryg.
Negi calmed himself down and recited a spell to open the envelop. Inside was just a pink rose petal that was encased on the outside of silver. A tiny sheet of paper fell onto the table. Negi picked it up and read in Welsh:
Pob un ddiwrnod a adwyau betal ewyllysia adfeilia.
Nodoka looked at the petal that Negi was holding and began to tear up.
"That is my rose whoever is destroying. They will be caught," sniffed Nodoka.
Yue picked up Nodoka's envelop and handed it to Nodoka. Once Nodoka touched the envelop it opened. A silver chain dropped into Nodoka's lap. A little note fell slowly from the envelop as Nodoka caught it. It read in Welsh:
'r Necklace ewyllysia achlesa , ag 'r rhosyn , rhywun s asgre.
Nodoka looked puzzled. Yue looked over at the note and she could not make out what was written.
"Looks like it is in Welsh," said Yue.
Nodoka gave Negi the note. Negi scanned it over.
"Please give me the necklace," asked Negi.
Nodoka gave him the necklace. Negi enchanted a bind spell between the necklace and the silver/pink rose petal. He gave Nodoka the necklace back with the petal attached.
"Please wear it until this is over," commented Negi.
Nodoka put the necklace on as everyone else watched. The petal glowed under the lights of the dorm.
"That is so beautiful," said Konoka.
"Is it alright to do that professor. We do not even know who delivered the envelops," said Setsuna.
"There must be a reason why the items were sent along with the notes," said Asuna.
"There is no evil aura surrounding the necklace or the petal charm," responded Negi.
Nodoka did not know what to say or do. Yue looked at the rose petal charm with suspicious intent.
"We have to find the rose thief right away," said Asuna.
"I will find whoever did it Asuna-san. Whoever it is targeting Nodoka-san and me. Less people the better," said Negi.
"I want...to say something," said Nodoka.
"What is it bookworm?" said Asuna.
"It is my responsibility to get the rose back from the thief who stole it. No one else should be involved. If they get injured I would feel really awful," said Nodoka.
"Alright I guess," replied Asuna.
Yue saw some inner strength developing inside her best friend. Could Negi be the cause?
Nodoka and Yue left the dorm room and headed toward their dorm room as Yue had to get ready for work.
Outside patrolling the school grounds where you can find Mana and Setsuna hard at work overseeing the students and anything that may invade.
"You think Negi-sensei looks alright to you?" asked Setsuna.
"I really do not have a clue. Have not been around the kid much since the festival," responded Mana holding her gun closely.
"He just looks drain from all that has happen since he arrived," said the young bird demon.
"My Setsuna-san, are you falling for the professor to?" asked the shrine maiden.
"No...nothing like that. It is just I am concerned for his well-being. He is just a kid," said Setsuna.
"Granted he is just a kid, but he has some of the girls swooning over him. Plus he has potential since his father was famous," said Mana with a little smile.
"Yeah he does have some of the girls swooning," laughed Setsuna blushing a little because she was attracted to the teenage Negi.
"Well I do not know why the old man dean wants us patrolling when he knows nothing will show up," said Mana.
Setsuna shrugged as both went into the woods.
The red-headed, twin bell wearing, hot temper Asuna dashed into Library Island. A screetch sound was heard for the busy library as everyone stopped doing what they were and looked toward the place where the sound came from.
"Have you...seen Ne...gi-sensei...around?" asked Asuna out of breathe.
"No I have not. Yue-san have you?" asked Haruna.
"No!" replied Yue.
Asuna put her head down on the counter and trying to catch her breathe.
"Why what is up?" asked Haruna.
"Another envelop came for him. Do not know about bookworm," said Asuna.
Yue looked at her watch.
"In about two hours we get off," said Yue.
"Get off!" snickered Haruna.
Yue blushed.
"Anyway, we will look for him if he is still missing," said Yue.
Asuna smiled but she was worried. She had a shiver hit her spine. There was something that he has not told her. Asuna waved and ran out of the library toward Eva's.
A couple hours later Yue and Haruna went to their dorm expecting to see Nodoka studying. Yue carefully opened the dorm door expecting an envelop on the entrance floor. There was none.
"No envelop?" asked Haruna.
"Apparently not!" replied Yue.
There was no hint of Nodoka ever being inside the room.
"I wonder if she could be with him," said Yue.
"Jealous?" asked Haruna giggling.
"Will you stop that," said Yue.
"Should we go search for her and the professor?" asked Haruna.
"Yes!" said Yue as she and Haruna changed into comfortable clothing.
There was no trace of Nodoka on the campus of Mahora Academy. It was like she vanished into thin air.
"Not again," said Yue shaking.
"It will be alright," reassured Haruna.
"No it will not be alright. She does not have a strong enough pactio item to defend herself. Her magical capabilities is not even near my level nor even your drawing abilities," said Yue.
"You are right, but it is Nodoka-san after all. She is smart enough to think things through as long as it does not pertain to the professor," replied Haruna.
"Just worried what mental condition she will be in. The first disappearance she almost collapsed mentally. She said she saw Negi dying and it felt so real to her that she could not do anything about it," said Yue.
"She is tougher then you give her credit. She has gain strength not only through this past year with Negi-sensei, but she gained strength with you," said Haruna.
Yue tried to smile.
Asuna ran by the duo as she put on her brakes.
"Have not found any sign of Negi-kun. Have you found any sign of bookworm?" asked Asuna.
"No we have not. Should we talk to the dean about this?" asked Yue.
"What will he do? He did not do much before Chao's plan until Negi-kun had Konoka-san and Setsuna-san talk to him," said Haruna.
"Point taking. But, I guess we should let Eva-chan know that her precious disciple is missing," said Yue making a sour face.
"Now why did i not think of it?" said Asuna.
"Because girl you are the lowest rank student in our class," snickered Haruna.
Asuna, Haruna, and Yue headed off toward Eva's.
In a hazy field Negi Springfield stands confidently with his staff by his side surveying the surroundings. He sees a figure of a person ten yards away on the ground motionless. He cautiously approaches the shadowy figure. He bends down to see Nodoka Miyazaki curled in a fetal position. He checks to see if she is breathing as he puts his face next to hers. She opens her eyes.
"Are you alright Nodoka-san?" asked Negi.
Nodoka blinked twice and realized how close Negi lips were to hers and blushed.
"Yes professor I am alright," replied Nodoka.
Negi sat up onto his knees as Nodoka rolled over onto her back and looked up.
"Is this fog?" asked Nodoka.
"Afraid it is. Can hardly see far," replied Negi.
Nodoka sat up with her legs crossed.
"Where are we?" asked the bookworm rubbing her eyes.
"Apparently in a field that once held a magic battle," replied the little professor.
Negi got up from the ground and helped Nodoka to her feet.
"What should we do professor?" said Nodoka.
"Can you use your pactio to see if anyone is here with us?" said Negi.
"I could but I would need to know their face," replied Nodoka.
A male voice within the fog replied, "No need Professor Springfield. Indeed there is someone here with you two."
"Explain why we are here and who you are? Nodoka-san get behind me," said Negi holding his staff.
Nodoka got behind Negi.
"My are we defensive. You already should know professor why you are here. A certain rose is waiting for you if you find it," said the male voice as it approaches Negi and Nodoka.
A silver haired boy stands in front of Negi and Nodoka.
"You cannot be him. Eva-chan beat you in Kyoto. You...," said Negi stunned.
"The shinso day-walker did win the fight but not the battle Negi," said the image of Fate.
"Is he the person that abducted Konoka-san in Kyoto?" asked Nodoka.
"Well yes," said Negi.
"Um...professor?" asked Nodoka as she had her pactio item out.
"What is it Nodoka-san?" asked Negi.
"If this is a person, then he is not showing anything in my book," replied Nodoka.
"That could only mean he is not the real Fate," said Negi.
"Even if she is right professor. I could still be him," winked the silver haired boy.
"Then let me see if you are the real thing," replied Negi.
"Then bring it Negi Springfield," replied the other boy.
"Sagitta Magica Serius Fragterius," yelled Negi.
"That is not going to cut it boy. Seen it defeated it without breathing," said the silver haired boy.
"Yuuis Tempestus Fragrans," spouted Negi.
"That is a little better boy, but my master will make sure you can do better then that. I bid farefell," as the image of Fate disappeared within the mist.
Negi collapses into Nodoka's arms. She hugs him tight making sure he will not fall.
"Thank you professor for protecting me," whispered Nodoka as she closed her eyes.
Negi had his eyes closed and held onto her and whispered, "You are welcome."
"I do not know where boya could be Asuna-san. You can let go of me or else," said Eva.
"Or else what?" said Asuna.
"Asuna-san let us go. Apparently Eva-chan has not seen them," said Yue.
Nodoka was holding Negi on the floor of the library where she first hid him that the bookshelves fell on them and Nodoka almost first kissed Negi.
"He looked so cool fighting and protecting me. Whoever it was sent us here," said Nodoka as she caress Negi's face within her hand.
Negi still was asleep in her arms as she just let him. Nodoka lean down to kiss his lips, but hesitated because it was not right that she take advantage of him. She simply kissed his forehead and had her eyes closed.
"Was it just a dream? The image said something about the rose is waiting," said Nodoka softly.
"No Nodoka-san it was not a dream. You will get that rose back. Thank you for your help," replied Negi awaken.
"It was nothing," smiled Nodoka as Negi got up.
"Shall we go back to the dorm so they will not have to worry?" asked Negi.
Nodoka took Negi's hand and smiled as they left the library.
"You heard the rumor that Negi-sensei ran away with Nodoka-san?" asked Madoka.
"No, but what if it is true?" asked Kakizaki.
"That would really mess the class up. And my dream of having him in five years," said Sakurako.
"You still going on about that?" asked Madoka.
"Yeah I am," smiled Sakurako.
"What do you mean Negi-sensei is missing?" asked Ayaka.
"The cheerleaders heard a rumor that Negi-sensei was missing?" said Chizuru.
"But, my dream. My future husband cannot be," said Ayaka as she collapsed to the floor on her knees.
"The cheerleaders also said he ran off with Nodoka-san," said Chizuru.
"That...that...girl better have not seduced my beloved professor," replied Ayaka.
"Do not be dramatic. He is only ten years old," said Chizuru.
"He is still our professor. Despite his age, he is more mature then some in our class," replied Ayaka.
"So how did it go with the boy?" asked a voice.
"It went fine. He protected her vigorously. She even managed to tell him that it was not the real Fate," said the other voice.
"Really? So they worked as a team sort of. Very interesting indeed. I think I am liking this bit by bit," said the first voice.
"Do you think you really are going to hard on those kids?" said the second voice.
"Hell no. If Nodoka-san wants to close to him, she has to see him in real combat and know the consequences of her loving him," said the first voice.
"I understand!" said the second voice.
A/N: Envelops translation-The heart grows dark with the loss of a precious thing. To seek further or lives will be in peril.
Negi's message inside the envelop-Each day that passes a petal will fall.
Negi's spell against Fate image-Magic Barrage-17 arrows of Thunder.
Negi's second spell-Thunder Tempest.