TheFallenHer0: I know, right? I think, in the game, it was to protect the gemstone in the Dragon's eye that hold the past of the royal family or something? I've got it set up in these stories to where the purpose of the three mages is to protect the secrets of the royal family, a few certain treasures that are hidden in the Tower. I'll even give you a few of them. One is a book similar to the one Luca's been using of the royal family genealogy. Only, Luca's copy is like a test copy, one where names and pictures have to be manually added, and the one in the tower is far more detailed, giving names by itself and the like. Another is the gem that holds the pasts of the deceased members of the royal family. But only those who are not alive. A third is something I won't tell you exactly what it is, only that the older of the Vanished Princesses hid them there when her sister passed. Also, I love when Elias actually thinks like a kid his age. I mean, he's almost fifteen, he's not going to think as prim and proper as he acts, particularly about the girl he's smitten with. I mean, I've got guy friends his age who moon over their crushes like mad (it's honestly pretty funny). And yes, skeptical Elias is skeptical. Skeptical Elias is very skeptical.


Chapter 11 Part 2—The Tower of Sorrow

"The song's getting louder." Katalina announced a while later, her hand subconsciously tightening around mine.

"That probably means the Tower of Sorrow is nearby." I replied, doing my best to keep my voice even and refrain from revealing just how much her simple touch is effecting me.

"We're almost there! Almost there!" Was it just me or was Professor Merkulova starting to sound...desperate?

The carbuncle, which had been humming from its perch on Katalina's shoulder—which was almost right by my ear—suddenly went quiet. Katalina looked at it quizzically.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Hm? Oh, nothing!" She shook her head, "Carbuncle just fell asleep, is all."

"Ah." I acknowledge, "Finally tired that nearly endless supply of energy, did it?"

She giggled softly, "Seems so."

"Let's hurry." the professor urged, "There's almost no time. Katalina, please guide us!"

"Okay!" She said, yet again serious.

A few minutes later we came to a clearing, and there was a blue-white tower, bathed in the light of the full moon. The air was cold and tense, and it loomed over us, glaring ominously, as if saying, "You shouldn't be here. Go back to where it's safe. I can take care of myself, thank you!"

Maybe that was just my wishful thinking.

All three of us stared at the tall tower before us. So this was the Tower of Sorrow? It definitely has an accurate name. I could almost feel the sadness radiating from it. It felt like there was something that it contained that would break the heart of any who knew it. But there was also a content feeling underlying that, like sorrow that lead to happiness and peace. It was the strangest contradiction.

"Ah, the song…" Katalina said softly.

The professor looked worried, "What's wrong?"

"The song stopped. I can't hear it any more." She said, brows furrowing slightly.

"The song has…" he muttered, looking up. Then he shook his head, "This doesn't look good. Let's go. I'll lead this time." I didn't see anything wrong, looking up into the sky. I didn't feel anything particularly wrong, either. The professor headed towards the tower, and went inside.

I tugged lightly on her hand, "Katalina, let's go." We don't want to fall too far behind the professor.

"Okay." her voice was still quiet. I looked over at her. She was completely frozen, and I saw fear in her eyes. Of course. She was frightened.

"It's okay." I told her, doing my best to sound comforting and sure, "Whatever happened, I'll protect you." I repeated my vow from earlier. I won't let her get hurt. I refuse to let that happen.

She looked up at me, relief in her eyes, "Elias…" She nodded at me gratefully, a small smile on her lips.

I quickly nodded at her, then led her in the tower, making sure she was behind me. Right inside the tower was a spiral staircase that led upward as far as the eye could see. I started to wonder is there was some sort of magic going on here that made the inside of the tower larger than it appeared on the outside.

"Wow. I feel dizzy just looking at it." Katalina whispered.

"It looks like it goes on for a while, doesn't it? Stay close."

"Okay! I'm confident that I have the energy to climb these stairs!" She's trying to convince her herself of it, I can tell. I hope she does, because stair climbing, with this many, is going to be exhausting.

I withhold a smile, and can't help but tease her a bit, "That's for sure. If it's just energy you're worried about then you seem to have more than enough of that."

"Hey!" she pouts indignantly, "It is just me who is thinking you're insulting me again?"

"It's just you." I sighed. Tease, not insult. I look over at her, "I'll try my best to go at your pace."

"Huh? Oh. Right. Okay!" She nods, smiling at me. Oh gosh...if she keeps doing that my knees won't let me make it to the top. Then she frowns slightly, "But where is Professor Merkulova?"

"Ah." I realize something, "He's quite a ways ahead of us." I looked over at her, and decided to tell her something of the suspicious feeling that's been growing in the pit of my stomach for a while, "Doesn't it feel like the professor's been in a hurry since we got to the tower?"

She contemplates it a second before answering, "Yeah. He said all along that there's not much time, but…"

"What does he mean, in the first place, when he says 'there's not much time'?"

"Maybe he thinks Professor Schuyler is going to come chasing after us?" She suggests.

"Do you really think so?"

"I don't know." she admits.

"What? Didn't you ask Professor Merkulova beforehand?!"

"N-no…" and there's the stutter. Geez.

"Really, people like you," I mumble, mostly to myself, "Do you only act on your feelings?"

"I-I'm sorry…"

I sigh, "Whatever. Let's hurry and catch up to him before we get let too far behind." We both start climbing the stairs, keeping a steady pace for a while. But after six or so minutes, Katalina is panting with effort.

"Everything looks the same no matter how far up we go…" she groans.

"Yeah." I reply, a bit tired myself, "I can't even tell if we're actually going up anymore."

She suddenly sounds scared, "There's no way that this stair is enchanted, is there? I mean, how long are we going to have to climb this thing for?" I was about to reply that I couldn't sense any magic on the stairs, but the moment she'd finished speaking, there was a loud cry.

"Was that the professor just now!" she yelps.

"Quick!" I start running up the stairs, "Let's go!" We reach an end—finally—a large room that could not normally fit in the confines of the tower, and I look around. "Professor Merkulova?!" My eyes catch on something and I freeze.

"Are you all right?! Where are you?!" Katalina calls, then notices what's frozen me. "No way...what is that?!"

"It's a chimera!" I gasp.

"A chimera?" How in heck does she not know what those are?!

"For goodness sake!" I snap at her, "What have you been studying?!"

"Chimera." says a new voice, "A chimera is a dignified magical creature that is said to possess the head of a lion, the body of a mountain goat, and a snake as a tail."

"What was that?" I ask, even thought I think I already know the answer.

"Oh, er…"

"It's me!" And that would be Grim peeking out from her bag. Why in the world did she bring the grimoire?!

"What?! You still haven't returned it?!" I checked that out! If it's late I'm the one who gets in trouble!

"I returned it, then borrowed it again." She explains sheepishly.

"You do the strangest things, don't you?"

"Weird things?!" Grim cried out, "What do you mean 'weird things'?!"

The chimera yowled and we all snapped back to the importance of the situation. "Hold on!" she scolded Grim, and, partly, me. "Now isn't the time to argue!"

I watched as the professor threw a fireball at the beast. But the moment the fire hit it, the flames completely dissipated.

What?!" Katalina exclaimed, "It had no effect?!"

"What is this thing…?!" I was starting to panic on the inside. If a teacher couldn't do anything to stop it, what luck did we have?

"I'm going to try and talk to it!" Katalina declared. Wait, what?

"Don't be an idiot! What are you thinking?!" I was nearly yelling at her, "A chimera is far different from a normal animal! It's a beast that exists solely for combat!"

"But we can't just go on like this!" she shouted back. Uh-oh. It seems the chimera heard us, because it just turned it's head in our direction.

"Opps…" Grim winced. Opps is right. "This doesn't look good." He disappeared into her bag again.

"Huh?!" Katalina glared at her bag, "Wait a second, Grim! Help me out here!"

I pulled her behind me as the beast yowled again, "Get down!" I raised my wand, "O sacred light, become a piercing arrow! Sangitta Lumen!" I waved my wand. Nothing happened. Absolutely nothing. "Wha—!"

"What the...what's wrong?!" Katalina seemed baffled. I felt baffled. Why didn't it work?! Sure, I'm a bit panicked, but not the point where I'm too scared to work magic! "Why isn't it working!" I cried. "O sacred light, become a piercing arrow! Sangitta Lumen!"

It didn't work. Again. "What's going on?!" Katalina sounded worried.

"What does this...does this mean we can't use magic?!"

"W-what?!"

The beast growled. "There's no time! Katalina! Use your primitive spell!"

"I, ah…" she hesitated, then tensed up in determination, "STAY AWAY!" A gust of wind surrounded her, but it wasn't as strong as it had been back in the forest. "Why?" she exclaimed, "It's not working at all!"

I froze as the thing tensed for a moment before charging. Straight at me. It's eyes bore into me and I was frozen, hundreds of thoughts streaming through my mind at the same time. So this is what the paralysis predators cause feels like.

I vaguely heard Katalina scream my name. I blinked and snapped out of the trance as she came in front of me, blocking the eyes of the beast from my own, "Katalina?" She fell forward and I lurched forward to catch her. We both tumbled to the ground. Her bag went flying, the contents scattering. Katalina whimpered and I groaned. Ow. I had fallen on top of her, and when that thought registered, I shifted off of her. My eyes widened, "Katalina?!" She looked like she was about to pass out. And was covered in red. A red that was all over my front, as well.

"I'm glad...you're okay...Elias…" she mumbled. She glanced down at her blood-covered hand. Her eyes widened.

"Hey! What happened?!" I felt ropes of panic wind around my chest, squeezing tighter with each passing moment. What do I do? She's bleeding...oh, there's so much blood…

"I'm fine." she insists weakly, "It's just a scratch…"

"It doesn't look like 'just a scratch'!"

"No, really, I'm okay…"

"You're always don't this, acting like like everything's okay all the time!"

"Elias…"

"I'm sorry!" I choked back a sudden sob, "It's my fault! It's my fault that you…!"

She looks me dead in the eyes in a moment of lucidity, "No. It's not your fault, Elias."

I shook my head, trying to clear it, "Anyway, I'll cast and emergency healing spell for you!" I then called over to the professor, seeing as my stupid magic went kaput. "Professor! Professor Merkulova! Katalina is…!" But something about him look different. His expression was blank.

"Elias."

"Professor?" What happened to him? I followed his gaze to where he was staring at Katalina's scattered things, specifically...the Persona Mirror.

"Why do you have this?" the professor said. The Mirror started to glow, meaning he was being reflected. It began speaking in his voice.

"Everything has gone according to plan. Katalina could hear the song and was able to guide me to the Tower of Sorrow. She's such a good kid. So pure and innocent...so easy to trick." I stiffened. I had suspicions. And for once, I hate to admit I was right. But the Mirror wasn't done yet. "Well, someone uninvited also tagged along, but...even so. It's just as I was told. The song really does lead here. And once we actually entered the Tower, my plan was practically complete. I had already sealed the magic of that nuisance, Elias. I'm a bit sorry to do this to the two of them, good kids, really, but they're going to have to fight the chimera."

I felt a cold wave of terror—I was far beyond fear and panic at this point. "No, it can't be...Professor, you...?!" He was just going to leave us? Leave Katalina, who was really hurt? I would kill him right now if I could!

"No…" Katalina's voice was getting weaker.

"Tck! This mirror, it's…!" The professor's face twisted terribly and he tried to stomp on the Mirror. But his foot could get more than a foot close to it. It was a valuable magic tool—did the idiot professor think it wouldn't be covered in protective spells? "Arg...well, never mind. I need to get going anyway." He looked over at us. With his expression, I could hardly believe he was the same person, the professor that everyone liked so much. "Everything will be mine. Goodbye, Elias, Katalina, and good luck. You'll need it." He rushes up the continuation of the spiral stairs that are on the opposite side of the room.

"No…" Katalina whimpers, "It can't be…"

I was completely panicked now, "So that's what it was! That 'protective spell' he cast on us before—it wasn't a 'protection spell', it was a spell that seals off our magical power!" And now it might cost the life of the girl I love. I love Katalina. I have to try and save her. I have to try! I brandish my wand, "Sanatio Aura!" Nothing. "Sanatio Aura!" Nothing! "Sanatio Aura! Sanatio Aura!" Why?! Why is it the one time I actually genuinely need magic for something of actual importance, it fails me! "Urk! I can't even use the stupid recovery spell!" I supported her in my arms, "Katalina! Stay with me!" She looked like she'd fall unconscious soon.

"Was I…" she muttered, a tear slipping out of the corner of her eye. I leaned in closer to hear her. "Was I just used by the professor?"

"Calm down, Katalina." I said, trying to calm myself. My rational mind knew that panicking wouldn't help. "Don't try to speak. It'll make it worse!"

"Professor Merkulova...I didn't know he was that sorta person…" She laughed, and it was painfully pathetic to watch, "I'm such an idiot. I should have...listened to you, Elias…" Her voice was getting weaker.

The chimera growled. "Watch out!" I scooped her up and got out of the way of the charging monster. I slipped from the uneven weight and we tumbled to the floor, rolling over each other. I heard Katalina cry out in pain. "Katalina!" I made sure my weight wasn't on her. "Dammit! We can't carry on like this much longer!" A random ball of glowing light appeared in front of us. "This is…" And, completely out of expectation, the carbuncle appeared with a pop.

"Carbuncle…?" Katalina was confused, "When did you…?" But the little fluffball ignored her and rose into the air, it's eyes opening wide. It began to sing. "Huh?" Katalina's eyes widened slightly.

"I can hear it...is this the song you were talking about?" I'm trying so hard to keep the scared quiver out of my voice. She's hurt. Katalina's hurt and I can't do a single thing about it!

I heard the chimera make a confused noise, and looked up to see it staggering unsteadily on it's feet. Was it because of the song? "The chimera's acting weird!" I told her. Then, the chimera fell to the floor in a cloud of dust, thudding loudly. "What the?!"

"What...just happened?" Katalina's voice was even softer now.

"It's asleep!" I exclaimed. The carbuncle squee'd, and I looked at it, "Did you put it to sleep?" It squee'd again.

"That's incredible...carbuncle, you...have such power…" Her voice was even weaker than before.

"Katalina!" I cried.

"This is bad! This is bad!" Grim fluttered about, clearly expressing his panic.

I pulled her into my arms, holding her as if it would save her. As if I could only hold onto her life and not let go, like I could keep it shining. But reality was hacking at that hope with a battle ax, because the warm blood was burning itself into my skin wherever it made contact. Some sentient thoughts made their way to the forefront, "We have to stop the bleeding! Sanatio Aura!" I waved my wand over her. "Sanatio Aura! Sanatio AURA!" I was shouting it now, madly, pleading for it to work with ounces of my soul that, up until this point, I hadn't known existed. "SANATIO AURA!" I gritted my teeth, feeling tears start to form in my eyes, "Why can't I do anything at a time like this?! Please! Please, somebody help us!" Her eyes were shut, only barely fluttering. I felt the first tear slip out of the corner of my eye. "Isn't there anything I can do?! I don't want to lose you! If I can't use magic when I need it the most, then what use is it? What the hell is it good for?!" I cradled her closer. She barely responded. "Open your eyes! Katalina, open your eyes! I don't need anything else, I don't want anything else, but I don't want to lose you! I haven't even told you yet! I...you...I haven't said anything yet!" Tears were freely pouring down my face, dripping down onto hers. "Katalina! Katalina, please!" I choked and couldn't say anything more, couldn't do anything but let the tears continue.

"...Sanatio Aura." I heard the faintest sound escape her lips in a shallow breath, but I couldn't hear what she said. But she grew heavier in my arms. No...no, no no no NO!

Then a blue and white light wrapped itself around her, and I heard the carbuncle make a low, prolonged humming sound. There was a warm, gentle breeze that surrounded the two of us and the carbuncle. Before my eyes, the scratches on her started to close and fade. "Carbuncle?" Her eyes fluttered open slightly, and she looked at the carbuncle, which was sitting on my shoulder, glowing. Even the blood, which had been everywhere, was slowly fading into nothing. "Is this...the healing magic of the wind?"

"Katalina…" I whispered.

She looked up at me, "Elias...I…"

"You...you tried to cast a recovery spell on me, didn't you? It was a terrible healing spell, but carbuncle reflected it, and it healed your wounds." I felt a sort of blissful emptiness start to sweep away what had been total painful panic a moment ago. She's okay...Katalina's okay. I got up and helped her to her feet.

"Does that mean I'm all better now? Well then…" she breaks into a grin, "I did it, didn't I? I performed a magic spell!" I stared at her, unsure of what to do. First she was dying and now she's smiling that entirely hypnotizing smile. She took ahold of my hand and danced a bit in place. "Maybe I really can use magic when I actually need to! Did you see it, Elias, did you see it?!"

Then it hit me. I'd practically confessed my undying love to her less than two minutes ago. I felt my face instantly flush and I looked to the side, "Wha...? You're such an idiot!" Oh gosh...I still have tear stains on my face, don't I? And I can't wipe them away without making it way to obvious that they're there! So, as I usually did to hide my embarrassment, I scolded her, "Why did you try to protect me?!"

"Why?" She sounded like it haven't even occurred to her. Idiot. Sweet, beautiful idiot. "Because…" I heard her footsteps, and then she was suddenly in front of my face.

I jumped, "W-what?!"

"Because I like you."

My mind went blank. "What?!" No, she, no...really? Oh gosh...what do I do? What do I do?! I'm panicking here! Authoress, you're always butting in! Help me!

Authoress: No! You always reject me when I comment! You can fend for yourself, you awkward taco!

What in the heck is an awkward taco?! Gah! Nevermind! She's no help!

I swear, when Katalina said that my face became ten times redder...and I'm not even sure how possible that occurrence is!

Then her eyes widened, like what she said had registered in her own head. "W-well...I mean…I mean I like you as a fellow! Like, um, like..." she laughed awkwardly. As a fellow? What in heck was that supposed to translate to? Why do some people, girls in particular, need a translator to be understood? They're supposedly speaking the same language, but I am really doubting that at this point.

What should I do? Should I tell her my feelings? Is this the right time? I always thought it be extremely different, with flowers and a walk and all that sort of stuff, but… "Katalina." Aw, to heck with it.

I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly. "Really, I've never met someone as weird as you. Excepting Selene, of course." She giggled a bit and hugged me back. I'll think about all the over-thinking later. Right now, I'm just glad she's okay. And heck, her heart's beating as loudly as mine is. We're equals in this moment, holding each other, relieved the other isn't hurt.

I heard someone—or something, to be precise—chuckle, "Well, isn't this a lovely sight to behold." Carbuncle gave a happy squee.

"I-it's nothing!" I hastily let go of her as the crimson coloring returned to my face. Dang you Grim! You ruined it!

"Y-yes! It's nothing at all!" Katalina seconded, nearly as red-faced as I was as she looked at her feet.

A few moments of awkward silence later…

"By the way," Grim began, "is it really fine to let that professor go?!"

Katalina and I jerked simultaneously. "Y-yeah! Professor Merkulova!" she exclaimed. I'd forgotten about him. Opps.

I felt my teeth grit, "We can't let him get away like this." He was going to pay for hurting Katalina. "He'll said he'll take everything he wants."

"I'm still having trouble believing it. All this time, it was Professor Merkulova who was after the Tower's secret, not Professor Schuyler." Katalina was downtrodden, shoulder's slumped.

"That was probably his plan all along. That's why he used you, Katalina. It's not your fault—you've got a good heart. You just wanted to help. And it's not too late to do just that."

She looked up at me, gratitude in her eyes, "We have to stop him."

I met her gaze, "Yes." We both nodded at each other, determined. "Let's go."

"Come on!" We both hurried to the stairs, running up them as fast as we could.

…. …. ….

"Are we...not there...yet...?" Katalina gasped between pants.

"Just a bit further." I told her. I could see what appeared to be the end of the staircase.

Carbuncle made an odd squee sound. "Carbuncle, what's wrong?" Katalina asked it. The creature looked up the stairs, then back at her, then up the stairs again. The two of us followed its gaze. There was a white carbuncle hopping down the staircase.

"Wh-what the..?" Katalina was confused. Again.

"It's another carbuncle. A normal white one." I said, a bit confused myself. And then there were none.

I wish.

Down the stairs came over a hundred white carbuncles. "W-what is this?!" I don't know, Katalina. I'm as baffled as you are.

There it is! "Katalina, look! We're at the top!" We had reached the end of those blasted stairs. Professor Merkulova stood in front of a large door, and more and more of the white carbuncles were appearing from sun knows where.

"Professor Merkulova!" Katalina shouted. The professor jumped and whirled around to face us.

"Katalina! Elias!" He yelped, "I didn't think you'd catch up so quickly…"

"What on earth are you planning?!" I yelled at him.

The professor smirked, "Don't you know? On the other side of that door lies the Dragon of Time. Whoever sets the Dragon of Time free from its stone will gain incredible power!"

"Incredible power?" Uh, didn't he know that Dragons aren't like faeries, and can't give power or magical gifts to others?

"That's the Tower's secret?" Katalina said.

"How's that? Isn't it amazing?" The professor smile was disturbed, twisted, "I've been falling short my whole life, but with this I can become the creator of a whole new world! I personally will announce the end of Gedonelune as we know it, and become Loran Merkulova, Great Mage and King of the new kingdom!" He laughed, sounding like an evil genius. Really? That was kind of cliche. Even so, it was creepy as heck. "Can you even imagine something so beautiful?" I think that beauty is only in your eye, creep.

"Professor…" Katalina sounded like she pitied him. I suppose that was justified, seeing as it was his weakness that drove him to desire power. I had the same insecurity—the feeling of never being good enough. Never matching up to everyone else. But, I realized, it wasn't there so much anymore. Katalina had proven to me that I shouldn't feel that way. What I wanted to feel was worthy of her admiration. That's what mattered to me now.

"But," the professor continued, "you came in the nick of time, Katalina."

"What?"

"You see, I can't get past this door, so I'm at a standstill. Take a look. The door reads: 'I will only open to those of royal blood, those of fae blood, or for those who the fae have deemed worthy to gift with power. Those not royal must sing the song of the fae to enter into this chamber.'"

"What does that have to do with me?" Katalina's brow furrowed in confusion, "I'm no royal. And what's that mean, of fae blood or fae gifted?"

"It's that song...you can hear it, but none of us can. Only those of fae blood, a halfling born between a human and a fairy, or those whom the fae give special gifts to can hear it. You're human, but at some point, a fairy deemed you worthy to gift with magic. Could any of your family members use magic?"

"N-no…"

"Then why can you, hmm? Because a fairy gave you magic, most likely, when you were two young to remember. It's why you can talk to and understand animals. That's fae magic. You can open the door, Katalina. That's where you come in. If you sing the guiding song, it'll open!"

Katalina's hand gripped mine tighter. I don't even remember when she grabbed it. I squeezed it back. "No way!" she shouted, "I'm not singing anything for you!"

The professor's smile drooped, but then returned, even more maniacal than before, "I told you to sing! Funus Capis!" A rope made of light streamed out from his wand and wrapped itself around Katalina, lifting her up, pulling her hand from mine. She screamed.

"Katalina!" I cried. She was too high up. I couldn't reach her.

"Sing!" The professor cried, "Sing the song!"

I automatically whipped out my wand, "Merkulova! Stop it! Acies Ventos!" Nothing happened. Crap! I'd forgotten my magic was sealed! "Dammit! I still can't do anything!"

Katalina screamed my name.

"No. There is something I can do! I'll protect you!" I called to her. I jammed my wand into my pocket and started to run, full speed. I put my arm back as I neared the professor, then jerked it forward in a powerful motion. The palm of my hand collided with the side of his nose. I felt cartilage sickeningly squish beneath my hand. It was broken, that's for sure. Ugh...that felt disgusting. The professor fell like a brick. He was out like lit a torch thrown into a lake.

"Well done, well done!" Grim piped up. So he's back.

"Elias?!" Katalina yelled, "The ropes are fade….ahhhh!"

"Katalina!" I sprinted, even fast than before, to catch her. I made it in time. I caught her in my arms and stumbled backwards a bit before regaining my footing. She was heavier than she looked.

Her eyes had been screwed shut, but when she opened them I smiled at her. Oh gosh...she's okay…

"Elias…" her eyes were wide as she looked up at me.

"Made it in time." The relief was evident in my sigh. My eyes were caught with hers. She had such wonderful eyes. I don't think I've ever seen eyes that are as rich a brown as hers are. My mother and oldest brother had brown eyes, but they were faded in comparison with Katalina's. Her pure, almost liquid brown eyes.

"Being young is so nice…" Grim sighed. Gah...! I hurriedly put Katalina down. What was I doing?

"I'm glad you're okay…" I said, all awkward.

"Y-yeah...thanks for that…"

Authoress: Aw! You're so adorable when you're awkward, Eli!

Ugh. She's back again. Where were you earlier, when I actually needed you?

Authoress: Hey! It wasn't easy writing that little fight scene! I was at lunch! I had to ask a few of my friends how they'd describe hitting someone like that. ...Mostly because a couple of them had before. Not randomly, there were good reasons, but I still was milking them for information! Action scenes are hard for me! I'm a dialogue person!

Whatever. Go back to writing the story! This chapter is almost over! And you've got homework!

Authoress: Meanie! See if I leave the last bit of this until tomorrow!

I watched as Katalina's eyes lit upon something by her feet. "Elias, this is…"

"...Professor Merkulova's wand." I finished. I took a step forward and lifted my foot up. Then I slammed it down, snapping, crushing the wand. A blue light surrounded my person. I clenched and unclenched my fists, feeling suppressed power running through them. My magic was haywire, probably because it wanted to be used. "It definitely feels like my magical power came back."

"Ah, I'm glad." She smiled at me.

I smirked, "Yeah. Just in time. Let's test it." I pulled out my wand and turned towards the unconscious professor. "Funus Captis!" Ropes of light flowed out of the end of my wand and encircled around the man, tightening and lifting him into the air. I waved my wand and directed the bundle to a nearby pillar, and caused it to stick there with magic. "We should be all right leaving him there. Let's report it to the headmaster."

"Sure." she agreed. She paused, then said something else. "But the professor, was he really so power hungry? I mean, you said that once, didn't you? That magic equals power?"

"Yeah, well, that is what I thought. But I never thought of it as controlling power. But let me revise what I've said: Magic alone is not power." I amended.

"Then what does magic mean to you, Elias?"

"To me, magic is…" but I was cut off by carbuncle, who had started to sing. It was joined by all the other, white carbuncles. It sent a powerful wave of magical energy through the air.

"W-what is this?!" Katalina yelped, stumbling under the sudden force. The room was vibrating!

"Agh...my ears feel like they're going to fall off!" I clamped my hands around my ears, and she did the same. Then, a moment later, the music stopped. But then the ground began to shake.

"What is it this time?!"

"Look!" I gasped.

"The door! It opened!" Indeed, the large door into the inner- and upper-most room of the Tower of Sorrow had opened of it's own—or of the magic's—accord.


Fun Fact 13: Okay, as we all know, after all this is over, Professor Merkulova is no longer a professor. I had originally planned to have Klaus replace him for that last semester of the year. But then I realized that he's still in school. He'll be the teacher the next year, seeing as he graduates after the next semester. I'll be having an OC replace Merkulova for that last semester. She's not key in Elemental, really, but she'll be important in Vincent's side story (it takes place in the Spiral universe, but it mostly takes place before he's at the academy for the King of Fairies arc).