Hello again, and welcome to the 4th chapter of my story. To those who reveiewed the earlier chapters, I appreciate it. Starting with this chapter I'll give the chapter title before the actual chapter starts. And yes, the chapters are named after musical terms, which may be reused throughout the story.

-- Da Capo --

Thellin was sitting in his counseling office that they had prepared for him. It was small with barely enough room for two people but still had a desk stuck in the middle with three chairs around it. There was a window behind where Thellin was sitting and underneath the desk was a change of clothes. After Thellin had gotten the package from the principle yesterday he had retired to his apartment and since there was no real reason for him to be at the school extra early today he had taken a little bit of time getting there.

Setting up his office was easy, since he didn't have much to put up in it. After all, it wasn't exactly like he could put his degree from his magic academy up on the wall nor any of the posters from the magic world he had. Yet, the office was sort of cozy and Thellin thought that it might not be so bad spending time with students in the office. However, as first period came to an end, he had a rather unexpected visitor who made a rather unexpected entrance.

Bursting into his office at full speed was Negi who had a somewhat panicked look on his face, "Thellin! I need advice." Very slowly, underneath the desk, Thellin clenched his hand into a fist.

"What's wrong, Negi?" Thellin angrily began thinking of something rude to say to Negi for when Negi told him something that was obviously unimportant to anyone but Negi, and there were a lot of things that came to mind.

"Uhm …" Negi stepped into the room, closing the door beside him as Thellin thought, 'what a horrible lead up to a stupid problem.' Negi took a deep breath and blurted out all at once, "Yesterday one of my students was in trouble and the only way to save them was to use magic and I looked around and I thought I saw that no one was there but someone was there and they saw me use magic and it was Asuna-san from my class and my memory erasing spell backfired but she agreed to keep it a secret for now and wanted me to help her figure out what Takamichi thought about her but even when I did that I did it wrong and even though she agreed to keep it a secret for now I don't know how long she'll keep it a secret and I don't know what to do!" Thellin calmly stood up from his seat.

"So, let me clarify this into proper English. You're an idiot. Asuna found out you're a mage, and you're asking me for help?" Negi nodded, he had a look of being helpless deflated and his eyes spiraled with his despair as Thellin sighed. "Listen, Negi, do you know what we call problems like this?" Negi shook his head, eagerly waiting for the answer, "They're called NMP."

Negi had a confused look on his face, "NMP?"

Thellin nodded, "Yep, NMP. Not my problem. Sorry."

"But, it is!" Thellin cocked an eyebrow at Negi who started twiddling his thumbs.

"Alright, explain."

"Well, you see, since Asuna knows I'm a mage, it's only going to be a little while before she figures out your one too since we both showed up at the same time and the class knows we're both from the same school, so she could expose you too."

Thellin put his right hand up to his head, pushed on his temples, then ran it through his hair before finally asking, "Negi, do you plan these things out or make it up as you go?" Negi's look was a combination of apology and guilt as he attempted to apologize. "Whatever, we'll burn that bridge when we get to it, how long do you think we have until she blows our cover?"

"Hmm," Negi thought for a moment then said, "I don't think she's going too." Thellin slowly clenched his hands into a fist again to relieve some of his anger.

"So, after such a big build up, you don't even think she's going to reveal us as mages?" Negi nodded his head, "And you felt the need to tell me you fu-" he paused momentarily and regrouped, "screwed up, why then?"

Negi looked a little more cheerful with an expression that seemed to be saying 'I was being nice' and said, "I thought that you would want to know what happened so you weren't suddenly surprised if Asuna-san started asking you about or talking about magic."

Thellin sighed and said, "While I appreciate the thought, I just want you to remember something for me, Negi." Negi curiously asked what it was and Thellin replied, "Just remember that paybacks are hell. Oh, and revenge is a dish best served cold. Be a good thing to remember that one too." Negi looked a little confused.

"Okay, I think I can remember those. Why though?"

Shrugging and looking the other way out the window Thellin said, "Oh, no reason."

"But, what should I do now?" Negi looked nervous and Thellin just sighed.

"Listen, don't worry so much about it. If you don't think she's going to tell anyone try not to agitate the situation but if you think that she's going to tell someone try and convince her not too. Try not to make a big deal out of being a mage and just see how things play out for now."

Negi smiled and said, "Okay, I can do that. Thanks for the advice, Thellin!" Negi left the room and after he was out of sight Thellin put his head into his folded arms with a disheartened sigh.

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When he was at the magic academy Thellin had excelled in two fields of spells, one of which was sensory related spells. He could use spells that both inhibited, enhanced, and even changed a persons senses. This set of spells had been very useful to him, as eliminating your image, smell, and any sound you make could render you practically invisible, which is how he was now walking around the Mahora Juniour High girl's dorm without anyone noticing.

His first stop was the room in which Negi was staying. He grinned as he listened to the conversation inside and whispered in a silenced voice, "Enhance." Even though he hated to admit it, Thellin knew Negi fairly well and one thing he knew about Negi was that the kid did not like bathing. A little enhancement to Asuna's ability to smell and pretty soon …

"That's it, your taking a bath even if I have to force you!" Asuna exited the room with Negi in the direction in which Thellin assumed was the bath. Thellin grinned an evil, malicious grin and went around from room to room casting enhancement and changing spells on the various girls in class 2-A to make them feel or smell dirty and grimy. Barely 5 minutes after Negi had left nearly all the girls in 2-A were on they're way to the bath as Thellin snuck out of the dorms and headed back to his apartment.

Chuckling to himself, Thellin said, "That'll teach Negi to annoy me."

The next morning after first period had ended Thellin was sitting in his office again, reviewing some of the various papers and books that he was supposed to read before he actually started meeting with students one on one, when Negi came into his room again. This time he looked stressed as he sat down saying, "Thellin, something bad happened last night and I need advice again."

Motioning for Negi to sit down and putting his right hand over his face Thellin quietly mumbled to himself, "Bloody f--in' hell."

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A little shorter then the other chapters, and I figure that my protrayal of Negi in this chapter might annoy some people, but when I think of the early Negi that is what I think he would do. As always, reveiws apprecaited.