Teito sat on his bed staring at the clock ticking away. He had his ears plugged with his fingers as his eyes never wavered from the moving hands. Ten minutes.It's been a few days since Frau stopped him from leaving. With each passing minute Teito felt more caged and more anxious. He had been avoiding Frau as much as he could, hiding in his room until mass started, which would begin in ten minutes. He had decided to go to the library today to do something productive while he is trapped here. He wanted to research all he could about kors. Nine minutes and ten seconds. Fuck.
Teito gave up waiting and left. They are probably already at mass anyways.Luckily, Teito didn't encounter anyone on his way to the library. When he went in, he paused. The library was even larger than the dining room and the back rooms combined, well at least that he could see. There were rows upon rows of bookcases that reached over twenty feet. The entire room was shaped in a massive circle, with ladders on wheels attached to each bookcase. Teito looked up to see more than five floors that stretched back out of sight. The room ended in a clear dome-like ceiling that let natural sunlight in. Wow… How the hell am I supposed to navigate this place?In the center floor was the "Help" desk which was also surrounded by four computers.
Teito walked over to the desk and saw posters next to the computers detailing instructions on how to search the library database. He entered in "kor" into the search bar and waited for the results to come up. Over a thousand results… Great.He randomly clicked one and looked where to find it. Third floor, aisle "S".
Teito went over to a spiral staircase a bit behind the desk and made his way up. Finding aisle "S" wasn't too hard since all the rows were in alphabetical order. There were six rows of shelves packed with books. Teito sighed and grabbed a book at random, flipping it open and skimming through. Not seeing any extensive detailing he put it back and grabbed another. Again, no luck. He ended up grabbing five books and hauling them over to an empty wooden table that was next to a window. He sat in the sunlight, reveling in the warmth, and cracked open the first book.
It gave the same information that he already knew: messenger of the God of Death, formed contracts, took souls, etc. He paused at one line, "After three wishes are granted, the kor takes the soul and the wisher becomes a Wars." Wars?He skipped to the index and went to the appropriate section. Wars is what the wishers life energy converts them into, becoming completely tainted. Also known as Warsfeil. They eat souls and have a cloud of despair around them that affects everyone nearby. The Wars gain their strength from eating souls, becoming stronger after each one. In the early stages they still resemble a human. They are vicious and loyal to no one other than the God of Death. Teito scratched his head and went back to the index, looking of the "God of Death".
The God of Death, also known as Verloren. Something twinged inside Teito, recognizing the name. But when he tried to follow the thought he found nothing. Verloren committed a crime in Heaven and fled to earth, creating despair in the hearts of everyone and plunging the world into chaos. The Chief of Heaven sent seven powers down, the Seven Ghosts, to seal Verloren.
Teito moved on to the next book. It was a history book of the area, probably in the wrong place. He looked through it quickly. It was about a war 10 years ago. There were two powers in the world. One under the protection of The Eye of Raphael, called the Barsburg Empire. The other was under the protection of the Eye of Mikhail, called the Raggs Kingdom. Both made a pact to keep peace, but 10 years ago the Raggs Kingdom broke it trying to get both eyes. The Barsburg empire destroyed them. Teito's entire body suddenly hummed, his fingertips tingling. A sharp jab of pain shot through his right hand. Teito gasped and held it close to his chest, staring at it. The pain faded along with the humming that left him bewildered. He shook his head and went back to the book.
After a while a headache formed rather quickly, pounding against his skull and setting an ache behind his eyes. Teito groaned and rubbed his forehead. He closed the book, he had reached the fourth one not finding much of anything else. He had no idea what time it was. Teito closed his eyes and rested his head in his arms. It was quiet in the library, a peaceful sort of quiet. It made him relaxed and comfortable for the first time in days.Maybe they won't find me here…Doubtful. Teito felt as if eyes were always watching him. Too lazy to get up, he waited for one of the bishops to find him. What he didn't really expect was to fall asleep and to fall asleep so deeply.
Teito was sitting on the fountain in the courtyard, staring down into the water again. It was dark out and the stars were shimmering on the surface of the water. He felt peaceful and calm. Until something moved under the water, ripples destroying the reflection of the sky. Teito frowned. A face slowly pushed its way from the water to stare straight to Teito's soul with violet eyes. Teito yelped and fell back away from Ayanami. He crawled backwards on all fours, watching as Ayanami stepped out of the water in full military uniform, an evil grin on his face. His hands were clasped behind his back and he stalked towards Teito.
"You think you can hide from me, boy?" He grinned wider and wider until his face ripped open to a gaping, bloody hole. Teito stared in horror as skeletal wings protruded from his back. Teito jumped to his feet and ran. He shot down a random corridor, flying past a million doors. It got darker and darker, and Teito could hear the clicking of boots close behind him. Suddenly, he was at a dead end. He randomly opened a door nearby and threw himself through it. Teito found himself in the basement of the academy, covered in blood and surrounded by dead bodies. There were three living people in the room. Teito, Miroku, and a woman.
"Kill all emotion and fight, Teito Klein!" Miroku shouted. Teito approached the cowering woman, raising his blades. He gripped them in the middle, both ends curving off in front and behind him, four feet long. The woman was screaming against the wall, begging him for her life. Teito felt nothing. He raised his blade and slit her throat, blood spraying from the wound and onto his face. He turned to see the approving grin on Miroku's face. The floor suddenly opened up beneath him and he fell into blackness.
To land on his feet in a classroom. He was in the academy still, alone. Or so he thought.
"Teito?" He turned to see Mikage behind him. He wore the students uniform. Teito looked down at himself to see matching clothing. He looked up again, tears falling from his eyes.
"Mikage?" Mikage tilted his head and smiled warmly at him. He ran forwards and threw his arms around the boy. "Mikage…" The room darkened and he heard dripping. Mikage gasped in his ear and stumbled backwards. Teito gaped at the blood pouring from Mikage's stomach, dripping onto the floor and quickly forming a puddle. "Mikage!" Teito reached for him but his hand passed through Mikage's body, as if he was a ghost. Then he vanished.
"Teito?" Teito froze at the garbled sound and turned slowly. Mikage was behind him again. His face was half gone, eyes rotted. Where his lips should have been were black teeth. His uniform was torn in several places and covered in dirt. Bone poked through torn and dead skin. The smell hit nostrils a moment later, causing him to gag and fall to his knees. "Tei-to?" Mikage opened his mouth wider, blood pouring out. Teito screamed-
And jerked awake, gasping and falling backwards in his chair. He rolled and sat up, running both hands through his hair.
"What the fuck, what the fuck." He kept mumbling to himself, over and over. A voice interrupted his panic.
"You okay kid?" Frau was squatting in front of him, arms on his knees. Teito fell silent and just stared up at him with wide, unfocused eyes. Frau waved a hand in front of his face, his brow furrowing in concern. "Hey, kid." He snapped his fingers inches from Teito's face. Still no reaction. "Oi! Teito!"
Teito jerked backwards and blinked multiple times. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, composing himself. When he opened his eyes again, Frau was still in front of him looking at him with a worried gaze.
"What?" Teito glared half-heartedly. Frau stood and held out his hand. After a moment of hesitation Teito took it and stood and slightly wobbly legs.
"Nightmare?"
"Yea."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not particularly." Frau frowned at Teito's response. "How did you find me here anyways?"
"I'm psychic."
"Bullshit." Frau chuckled.
"Come on brat, let's go get dinner." Dinner?Teito glanced out the window to see that the sun had already set.
"Oh." He ran a hand through his hair once more and followed Frau.
Frau POV
When he had found him, thanks to Castor, Teito was sound asleep on the table. Frau seated himself across from the boy and picked up a book. Researching kors, huh?It's good that the kid is showing curiosity about what he's up against. Frau put the books away and returned to the table, propping a fist under his chin. He became bored fast. He switched between tapping his fingers or feet lightly to a random rhythm. Soon enough he found himself regarding Teito. His face was relaxed, far more than it ever is when he's awake. After a while it started twitching. Next, the boys fingers twitched as well and his hands slowly curled into fists. Should I wake him up?The kids brows scrunched and his mouth turned into a frown. He started mumbling. The only thing Frau could make out was possibly a name, "Mikage". I wonder who that is… The person after him?Teito seemed to get more and more distressed. Frau jumped as Teito suddenly jerked awake with a gasp, falling backwards. Frau was on his feet in an instant, kneeling in front of the boy.
"You okay kid?" Teito was mumbling to himself. When he looked up Frau froze. His eyes were unfocused and full of fear and horror. Teito's expression chilled him to the bone, it was an expression he has seen and one he has worn himself. It is the expression of one who has looked into the face of death.
Frau shook his head to bring himself back to the present. They had reached the dining hall. Teito was silent beside him, his face carefully closed and guarded. Frau sighed and they went inside.
Teito POV
The next few days passed slowly. He avoided sleeping as much as possible, afraid of reliving the nightmare. He would keep himself awake until he passed out into a dreamless sleep. He forced himself to eat at each meal but didn't put effort into interacting with anyone, even the nuns. Frau kept a close eye on him, a constant frown on his face. Teito went to bathe and thankfully the nuns picked up on his somber mood and let him be.
He constantly wandered around, the library not even able to calm him. He visited Razette a lot. She sang to him and changed her face to try and cheer him up. One time she changed to Frau's face and made the most ridiculous expressions, actually getting Teito to laugh.
There was a sort of tension in the air that had everyone on edge. It was like the calm before a storm. Bishops were posted at all entrances to keep watch and others patrolled the halls. All Bishop trainees underwent practice combat against both kors and humans. When Teito asked Frau, Labrador, and even Castor about what was going on, he received no answers. He didn't like being kept in the dark.
So Teito wandered some more. He found himself getting closer and closer to where mass was held. He found seven alcoves, all of which held large statues. They all were large, cloaked figures. Teito went into one. The figure was holding a scythe, like the reaper, and a plaque named it as "Zehel". The others were "Fest", "Profe", "Relikt", "Vertrag", "Ea", and "Landkarte". The Seven Ghosts..
Teito heard singing and an organ playing. It echoed through the halls. He began following the music, but before he got very far a lance of pain spiked through his head. Not again…He fell to his knees, his vision fading.
Teito looked up at his father, a large golden necklace hanging on his chest. It was wide with an intricate design around a red stone. Metal tassles hung off of it that clinked together whenever his father moved.
"Teito, I'm going to say this only once. Pay attention." His father reached up and pulled the red stone off of the necklace. He grabbed Teito's right hand and held the stone over it. A red light swirled around it as it merged with his hand, disappearing underneath the skin. "Listen." His father continued, "The Eye of Mikhail holds our history within it. And now you do. You hold the history of Raggs. Someday you will understand." Teito looked up.
"Me?"
"Yes, Teito. It is your Destiny."
Teito slowly opened his eyes and stood. I'm from the Raggs Kingdom?Lost in his thoughts, he walked away from the music and back to the courtyard. He held up his right hand and looked at it. He pushed down at the skin, feeling for a bump of any kind. But there was nothing, just a normal hand. He sighed and sat at the fountain, disappointed that Razette wasn't there. She was at mass. A wave of nausea passed through him. He felt like he was being watched, and not by friendly eyes.
Teito looked up and around him, his eyes settling on a cloaked figure. It was sunny outside yet every part of the person was covered. He was surprised the bishops let him pass. The figure lifted their head, letting the sunlight fall on their face. Teito's heart lurched in his chest and his stomach clenched. Mikage…He was here. Across the courtyard. Staring at him. Teito stumbled to his feet, his eyes never leaving the boy.
"Mikage…" He whispered. Mikage turned and walked down a corridor. "Mikage!" People looked over at his shout but Teito ignored them and ran after his friend. This can't be happening, this can't be true…He followed shadows and trails of cloak. Mikage was waiting for him, holding open a door. When Teito caught up, he slipped inside the room. Teito hesitated. Then ran over and threw himself into the room. His breath caught in his throat and he bent at the waist, hands over his mouth. It was like he was in his nightmare again, but this time he wasn't dreaming.
Mikage stood on a bridge in a giant room, the cloak gone. And he looked zombified; flesh rotting, bone showing, and eyes milky white.
"Mikage?" Teito asked in a broken whisper. Mikage grinned.
"Teito."