I open the word processor.
"What do you know about black magic, Longg?"
The named gets up from his cushion and floats up to me.
"Is this your study? Asking me?"
That question is sarcastic, I think.
"You are a being that has lived thousands of years. An inexhaustible source of knowledge." I explain.
Longg crosses his arms.
"I have no idea about black magic. I am not Plagg."
"Who is Plagg?"
"The kwami of destruction."
I brush my hair away from my face, it is starting to overgrow.
"After collecting all the necessary information about black magic, I will do it from the kwamis. You cannot get rid of it there."
I go back to my computer.
These days I have been doing part of the group work, which counts as much as two exams. The information section has been finished and it is time to organize and present it. I have been crafting it through Drive with Alix.
I have not been able to talk to Rose and Juleka again. They seem to be avoiding me. It seems like the whole class except Alix, Chloe, and Adrien is avoiding me.
Chloe says yes, that is what they do. And I believe it. Anyway, for now I am not going to think about it anymore, it is not the most important thing in my life.
It has been stupid trying to have more friends when I have already made three and Paris is periodically attacked by a man who demonizes people. I must concentrate on solving the second.
And that is what I am doing now.
I google 'black magic'.
I get several results from people who advertise themselves as witches and who claim to do black magic for 'love'. I do not think it is love if someone resorts to those methods for it.
Still, I go in. Sales of herbs, potions, strange objects... but no explanation of what it is. However, the way it works is similar to what we know of Hawk Moth.
An object of the person and desires.
Books are also advertised, which my mother would definitely notice if I bought them.
There is a Wikipedia result:
'Black magic is the set of resources destined to achieve extraordinary powers with the explicit will to dominate or control nature or other people. At the beginning of history there was no limit between magic, science and religion. From the thirteenth century magic moved away from religion and science.
Black magic is one that is used to the detriment of an individual or to harm the world as a whole: its followers would not only seek to affect society, but also to alter all kinds of organic or inorganic matter. White magic would serve to neutralize the damage of black magic and act for the benefit of the individual or the world. Another belief is that the effects or depth of magic have to do with the ability to connect with the hierarchies of darkness.
Red magic or hematomancy is a type of magic and divination whose central component is the use of blood or other living tissue. It can also be done through sex. In contemporary Western societies, it is considered a type of black magic, mainly if living tissues or blood from third parties are used, not so much with one's own (with one's own tissues it would be considered white magic). In some cases it is oriented towards love and sexuality, but in general it is used with the aim of destroying and/or manipulating the lives of those who do not know what they are doing to them. One of the main problems with black magic is the danger posed by the Law of Return. This law implies that any mistake a practitioner of black magic may make will come back with all its destructive force multiplied by three.
Necromancy is the magic that uses the spell and control of the dead, since that term means evocation of the spirits of the dead.
Special mention also deserves the lesser-known gray magic, which would be a mixture of white and black magic with unknown purposes.'
It is useful information, but little and from an unreliable source. I need to go deeper. It is possible that a book from a library like the ones I found earlier will work for me, however I will have to locate someone who knows about the subject.
"Kagami-san, it is time for special training."
Has it been three hours already? I look at the computer clock. Indeed, it is seven in the evening. My mother is at her meeting and Longg can make all the noise he wants with his powers.
I feel bad, looking up black magic behind my mother's back, but it is my duty. I was chosen for this mission.
I go out to the garden. It is beautiful and it smells good, although the best thing is the clouds that have covered the sky since this morning.
Before Princess Fragrance, Longg got into the habit of using wind from him to blow objects in my direction and I have to cut them with a sword. Each time I takes a different one from the great collection at home, unlike the objects to be broken, which have no value.
Today I pick up the Persian sword Shamshir. I do not really know what it is for or if it would be appropriate to use it now, I do not know the story of all the swords in this house. I take it because I need to know how to handle any weapon that could end up in front of me, is what Longg said. And not all of them have the weight and size of my usual saber.
Because of that training and the physical enhancement of the suit, I was able to cut the akuma object in half at once.
Longg's new technique is shooting lightning at me.
The electricity hurts me, though Longg makes sure it does not kill me. The goal is to dodge his lightning until it reaches where he is.
I do it at least ten times: Drop to the ground, roll. He hits me. Dodge, throw myself to the ground, roll, dodge. He hits me. Zigzag running. He hits me.
I learn a lot from today's lesson.
"Let's take a selfie." Chloe proposes.
She opens the inner camera of her mobile phone and presses up against me.
On her screen, she reflects how she pouts, as if she is going to blow a kiss, and winks.
I appear too, with my serious expression that Chloe says is scary.
"No, no. Don't do that." she advises me. I smile. "That's worse. You have to relax."
I cannot get it. I am not very photogenic. At least not from photos where you have to look anything other than intimidating.
I have never taken pictures with friends. Family portraits, with my mother and grandparents, yes. School photographs too, but none in an informal context.
Taking pictures of myself is a bit awkward.
"I am relaxed."
"Well, you don't look like it."
Look who is talking.
"Think about… how beautiful and rich you are. It's what I do."
I am not that shallow. Chloe places too much importance on appearances.
On vacation we got to know each other a little. I have found that she is very superficial, frivolous and materialistic in an unphilosophical way.
She talks a lot about clothes and makeup, although she has also told me that she used to be friends with Sabrina and Adrien. I have never seen her converse with the first and only once with the second. She says that she does not care.
"You aren't thinking about how beautiful and rich you are."
"No."
"Well, think about when you win in fencing, surely you do it a lot. Or imitate me."
I have been told I do not look nice when I win at fencing.
Do I imitate her?
I try. Chloe lets out a laugh.
"That doesn't suit you." She is silent for a moment and she looks at my whole face. "You know? Do what you want. You'll be my friend who is scary."
We have time to take our picture before Mrs. Bustier enters. The English teacher has left a lot earlier than he was supposed to and we have had some free time.
I sit in my chair and wake Alix up again. I think she might have narcolepsy.
"Today we will not have class!" she announces happily. Does she make you happy she doesn't teach? "We'll have a group photo!"
She is excited about it, I guess.
"Oh, look how well. And I with marks of having slept."
"You do not have..." Alix turns so that I can see her face well. "Yes you do."
"Well, It can't be helped."
Bustier gestures for us to follow her and leaves the classroom.
We all get up.
"Are we going to be able to put ourselves where we want?" Chloe asks, clinging to me.
"I do not think so, in my previous school they put the girls on the right and the boys on the left. The teachers went to the center."
She glares at the one closest to her, Nathanael, who sits as far back as us, putting him at the end of the row. He shrinks.
When we get to the patio I see that we are not the only class.
They have prepared a bench, a space and a platform in the back. A photographer speaks loudly with a thick accent. More than mine. I think he is Italian.
A class is arranging for their photo to be taken. The man corrects a lot.
Is that Aurore?
Juleka's voice distracts me.
"I won't be able to do it."
I look for her with my eyes. She is talking to Rose, Mylene, Marinette, Alya and Sabrina. Her friends, among whom she has not wanted to include me.
She tells them about her insecurity. Because that is what friends are supposed to do: support each other. At least that is what my app says.
"Of course you can." Marinette encourages her. "This time it will work out for you, believe me. We will all help you."
She shakes her head.
"No, I'm cursed. I told you before, if I try to take a picture, things will happen. And if by any chance the picture gets taken, I'll be blurry or something. This is not going to go well."
The previous class ends.
We are next.
The photographer, an expert on the subject, places us: the shortest on the bench, the tallest standing in the hole and the middle ones on the platform. Since we are fifteen, he has divided us into three groups of five.
Alix, Rose, Max, Mylene and Marinette have sat on the bench. Adrien, Juleka, Kim, Ivan and Nino are standing in the middle. Chloe, Nathanael, Alya, Sabrina and I are on the platform. Our tutor is on the left and the director on the right.
Somehow, Juleka has ended up in the center.
"One moment! This can not be. How come I'm in the corner and Juleka is in the center? I'm Chloe Bourgeois. I should be in the center."
"Chloe, calm down." I advise her.
She crosses her arms and pouts.
The man changes us so that she is in the center, but in her row.
"Do you think this is a suitable place for me?" Chloe complains again. "You can see her head more than me. I have to be in the middle really."
Marinette turns from her bench.
"That doesn't matter, we will all be in the photo. Who cares who is in the middle?"
Chloe leans in until she is as close to her as possible.
"Shut up, Dupain-Cheng!" she yells at her. She looks like my mother when she got akumatized. Until now, I have never heard her speak so violently to someone. "This has nothing to do with you."
Marinette stands up and puts her hands on her hips.
"You are trying to annoy Juleka, of course it has to do with me."
"Of course you are going to go where you are not called to make yourself the heroine of the world."
I understand now Marinette always tries to help others, even when they have not asked her for help.
Alya stands up and grabs the collar of Chloe's shirt. She tries to let go of her.
Is no adult going to do anything? No, they just stare in amazement. Alix? She is playing rock, paper, scissors with Kim. Someone else? Nobody gets involved.
Well, I am not going to let Chloe get hit, no matter how childish she behaves.
I step off the platform and open Alya's hand. I have more strength than her. I push each one to her place.
"That is enough."
I imitate my mother: cold look (although she does not look), cold tone, some violence on my face. It is an expression I have practiced for a long time. I direct it at Alya.
She leans back. Marinette sits down on the bench quickly. I go back to my seat and pull Chloe to my side.
"That is it, Chloe. Not fight. Nothing happens because you are not in the center."
"Yes it happens." she whispers. She looks like she is going to cry. ¿Why is it so important? Is she exaggerating? She believed that Rose was an exaggeration and she was akumatized.
"I'm going to take the picture now. Don't move."
The man hits the button, but nothing happens.
"Oops, I've run out of battery. I'm going to find another."
Juleka speaks to Bustier in a low voice and leaves. Chloe follows her. What is she going to do?
I look at Alix. No, she is not going to get involved. She keeps playing games with Kim. Now there is also Max.
I go to follow Chloe and Juleka, but Adrien grabs my forearm.
"Where are you going?"
Huh? Why is he asking me that?
"To talk to Chloe."
I do not know why I say that. He does not care what I do. I get off. He grabs me again.
"Look, I don't know how you managed to become friends with her, but trying to change her won't work." He warns. "She will see that as a threat and will drive you away. It's what she did to me. I haven't seen her talking to anyone else. She would be alone."
I think he is sad. I do not know why, but he should not try to stop me.
"I am different from you, Adrien. The reasons why she has rejected you do not have to coincide with my person."
I let go and go in the direction they went. They are in the bathroom?
Juleka runs out of said room with tears in her eyes. What happened?
I walk in and see Chloe with both hands on the sink and her head down.
"What have you done?" She does not move a bit. "That was not kind. You have made her cry."
"Who says I have to be nice? She has never been to me." Chloe replies in a low voice. "I am not Snow White. She thinks I'm the Evil Queen. And it is true."
She stops leaning on the sink and turns to me.
I take a step. I am not going to let her walk away like Adrien.
"No, you are not." I do not know much about her, but I think so. She has never given me that feeling that happens even with strangers. "And if you want others to see it too, you have to fight. Fight against that prejudice. You cannot let anyone besides you decide your personality."
She sighs and crosses her arms. According to my app to make friends, that gesture means a barrier.
"You have tried it and it has not worked for you. What makes you think that I do?"
I want to answer her, but I cannot. I never know what people think, I have a hard time knowing when they feel uncomfortable. I do not know how they will react. I am so mean I need an app.
Suddenly there are screams from outside. We are both alarmed and peek out.
A tall girl who looks like a pink clown is shooting people and making them her clones.
An akuma.
I have to transform, but not here. I have to find another site.
I run across the yard. Chloe does not say anything and she does not follow me either. I have to find a place where no one else would hide.
The akuma fires randomly. I dodge some of her lasers.
I push a girl just before it reach her. We roll on the ground.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
I get up and keep running. The girl follows me.
"I am Kagami."
"Erika."
We finish the patio and enter a corridor. There is no one here.
"Do you know where everyone is hiding?"
She was away, so it is possible she knows where people have gone.
"In the changing rooms."
"Then hide in the director's office. Get away from the crowds."
She nods and runs.
"Where are you going, Kagami-san?" asks Longg.
I look both ways down the hall. there is no one anymore
"Here."
I transform and walk out of the hallway. I have already used all my powers at least once. Today I am more confident.
"Cool!" shouts Alya's voice. "Ryuko has come to my school!"
The girl runs towards me with her mobile phone raised. She is recording, for her Super Triple Blog. She is putting herself in danger.
"Make a statement. What do you think about today's akuma? And about your partners?"
I am working, I am not going to do interviews.
"Hide."
But it is late. Alya is covered in pink light and becomes a clone of the akuma.
She sees me and fires the beam at me. I dodge them easily. I used to be able to, and now that I have greater agility, energy and speed, I could be there all day.
But that is not the question, but what is the object?
Until now, the akumas have had it on an item that did not fit their suit or weapon. Bunnyx says that patterns are the key. Nothing is out of place in the pink clown costume. So it is the weapon.
She has a thing in her hand that is the one that launches the pink rays. I have to take it off.
I draw more lightning and draw my sword. I attack the feet. If I smashed her huge platforms, I could make her fall harmlessly.
She jumps as if she is much lighter than she looks and falls across the yard. She opens the locker room door and there is a lot of screams.
She is going to keep shooting civilians. I must protect them, they cannot do it by themselves and they need me. Although it appears to be harmless, it seems that people are terrified of looking like a pink clown for an indefinite period of time.
I enter the common area between the locker rooms and push aside Nathanael, who was about to receive one of those rays. She does not stop shooting, missing.
He hangs his head. I cannot help but ask him.
"You are scared of me?"
He vehemently denies.
"I'm shy." He says at low volume. I believe him.
The akuma fires again and I push the lockers on her.
"Everybody get out of here right now!" I point to the door. "If you have not been affected by the akuma yet, go away."
People run again, making hysterical screams.
Now I have to lift the lockers to grab the item.
"I'm trapped."
That voice is Adrien's.
Step over the metal mountain. On the other side, Adrien's left leg is trapped. He tries to break free, but he does not have enough strength. I do have it.
I lift the locker that traps him and he can get out, although he cannot walk, so I pick him up and carry him out of here.
For a moment I stop to think. The logical thing would be to leave him here, in the courtyard, however it is my fault, so I take him to the hospital.
"Why are you taking me? You have to fight the akuma. I am not that important."
He is red. I guess being carried across the middle of Paris by a superheroine on rooftops is a bit embarrassing.
"Adrien, you are a person who has been hurt because of me. I would not have a clear conscience if I did not take you. Also, akuma only makes people look different. Nobody is in danger of death."
"Do you know who I am?"
Wow. That was a slip. Certainly, Adrien makes me more relaxed than usual. I put it down to his good-natured face.
"Of course. You are famous."
He opens his mouth wide, making a silent 'Oh'. Then he smiles. He is too distracting, so I look straight ahead. We cano't fall off a roof.
"You know me!"
"I know who you are. I just said it."
"But now we know each other officially and it has been roaring."
I look at him again. Has he made a bad joke?
"Yes... I have to perfect it. People don't really like puns."
I smile. I do not force myself, I feel like it. I do not look at him as I do so, I do not want to see the look of disgust on his face.
"I do like them. My jokes are also bad. I guess I am not used to typical humor."
We arrive at the hospital and my presence causes a stir: patients in the waiting rooms talk to each other and take pictures, more arrive because of the noise. The doctors are alarmed, they may think that something serious has happened.
I turn to the doctor who seems to have more authority in the room.
"Notify the police of a new akuma attack. So far, the powers of attorney presented do not imply any damage to public or private property or to people. It changes the appearance of people, and like the previous ones, it has greater physical qualities, so be careful with that." I inform with the greatest possible seriousness. I deposit Adrien in a chair. He has a red face. "Adrien, I will come see you when I am done with her."
I go back to school. The akuma has escaped from his metal tomb and now attacks the gym. These students have not yet escaped and the ones I saved have not spread the word.
Where are Bunnyx and Queen Bee?
"Now that you'll all look like me, you'll remember me!" exclaims the akuma "To Reflekta! Let's see how you avoid seeing me now?"
Reflekta lets out a laugh.
A little narcissistic, but not that dangerous.
A purple butterfly appears in front of her face. I am not the only one planning.
Bunnyx pulls me and hides me. Where was she?
"The item is her weapon." I inform her.
"That kind of eyeball in her hand?" I nods. "I had assumed. And what are her eyes about, by the way? Is it some kind of occult tarot symbology or something?"
I do not know.
"You have a plan?" She asks.
"I was trying to think of one, but so far I only have to dodge lasers and take the weapon from her. My strong point is not making plans."
"No matter. I think we have enough with that. This girl is not lethal. We should go out now and fight."
It is true. The first almost crushed us both, the second almost shattered me, and the third almost drowned her. By comparison, Reflekta looks like a puppy.
Bunnyx and I peek out, getting ready to leave, but see Queen Bee approaching the akuma by lowering her top's cord onto her.
Some of the people that Reflekta has transformed react very brazenly.
"What? But what the hell are they doing?" Bunnyx complains "She'll find out. People are dumb." Bunnyx turns to me. "We have to distract. Queen Bee has thought of a plan."
Seeing us, Reflekta stops changing people to pay attention to us.
"Bunnyx, give me your miracle or I'll change your look." She threats.
"If you change my appearance you will never be able to obtain the miracle." reasons Bunnyx.
Well it is true. Queen Bee is about to catch up to her. She has been too slow. Approaching an enemy from behind should be a bit faster.
A butterfly is drawn on Reflekta's face. Queen Bee lowers her arm with her spinning top, but the akuma raises her and turns her.
Queen Bee falls to the ground. Her paralyzing power is gone.
"This is the warning." Reflekta tells Bunnyx. She does not seem to care about me. That will be a mistake, like Princess Fragrance. "If you don't give me the miracle, I will transform the other" she threatens pointing at me.
Then she makes a big jump that seems to make her fly and she disappears.
"I will follow her."
For the second time today, someone stops me.
"No. We have to make a plan." Bunnyx decrees. "Really. Today we are being a bit of a disaster. We have underestimated the enemy."
"The plan was to leave me in a one on one against Princess Fragrance. This time it will work too, I already know how to dodge her."
She shakes her head.
"This time my umbrella cannot be your shield. If it hits something we are touching we will become the same as her."
"Mirrors." says Queen Bee. Bunnyx and I look at each other and then at her. "What she has in her hand is a mirror. The power of it is the reflection, making us all one of its own. You have to find mirrors and use them as a shield."
"Yes. And to attract her we could go to a television network. I would be the bait, since she wants my miracle." adds Bunnyx.
They are right. It is a good idea. I think I am too impulsive.
"Where we fight Climatika." suggests Queen Bee.
"I can think of something even better: the rival network, instead of that asshole."
"So we recorded ourselves telling Reflekta to come to where we are?"
The two nod.
The three of us head to said network, which apparently, Bunnyx knows where it is. I think Aurore appears here now.
There are no clones in the building yet. We tell them what we want to do and they help us, even giving us mirrors. They talk that they are going to increase a lot of audience.
On camera, Bunnyx promises that she will deliver the miracle to Reflekta to save me.
"Do you really think that appearance is so important?" She comments once the three of us are alone.
"Appearance is very important!" replies Queen Bee.
This discussion is absurd and I am not going to get involved. Several minutes pass in which I ignore them both and focus on the double doors leading to the room.
We continue on the set. The main condition of the network is to record the fight to broadcast it live. Fortunately, they have not started broadcasting yet, in case Reflekta finds out about our plan.
The double door to the room opens and the akuma enters. This seems too easy. The cameras turn on and I feel their lenses on me.
The three of us run to Reflekta and she does not move. Something happens here.
Queen Bee and Bunnyx notice too.
"It's not her!" warns the second.
I watch where the network staff are, in case the akuma catches up with them.
"Who are you?" Queen Bee asks the clone sharply.
"Andre Bourgeois." The mayor laments. "Sorry. She told me that she would return my appearance."
"What? Our mayor is willing to sacrifice the city to an akuma for himself?" Queen Bee clenches her jaw. She is upset and so am I.
I look at Bunnyx. She smiles!
"Our greatmayor."
That is sarcasm. The cameras record everything. It will not be good publicity for the elections, which are soon.
"Where is the real one?"
"I don't know. She said that he would enter the other way."
The three of us put alert. Queen Bee in front of the two, she has already been affected.
A laugh is heard from the direction in which the mayor has come. Reflekta is entering.
"Has she entered through the same place as her decoy?" Bunnyx asks.
I am not going to give her a break. None of us do.
I attack at her feet, Bunnyx at her torso and Queen Bee at her hands. She fires at us and both Bunnyx and I use the mirrors to deflect the lasers from her.
Reflekta falls to the ground, we immobilize her. This fight has been too easy. We have not even used our powers. It should not have taken us this long to defeat her.
Queen Bee grabs the gun from her. She breaks it and crushes the butterfly, certain that she has killed it. But when she opens her hand, the dark butterfly continues to fly. She jumps up and I catch it. I look at my partners. They look scared. I am too.
I squeeze the butterfly in my fist until my nails dig into my palm. It is dead when I open it.
Reflekta transforms into Juleka and her victims regain her appearance.
I am running away before the reporters can ask questions. I have to see Adrien.
I quickly arrive at the hospital and ask for Adrien reception. They tell me that his father, who has been called for being a minor, has demanded that they put him in a room, despite not being chronically ill. The receptionist does not know Adrien's status.
No one questions my visit. It comes with being Ryuko that I am allowed things that other people are not.
Adrien is surprised to see me.
"You have returned."
He is sitting on a hospital bed, his legs outstretched.
"I said I would."
"I know you said it, but I thought you would be too busy."
I sit in the chair next to the bed.
"How are you?"
He changes the surprise for a smile, similar to the ones Alix usually puts on, although without being crooked.
"Well, with some shock, because when that locker fell on me I saw the lightning. But being here is like a breath of fresh air."
How long has he been thinking all those puns? He seems very proud of himself.
"What do you have?" I ask seriously.
I am worried about him. What if he has broken a bone? What if he cannot fencing again? And he making jokes.
He drops the smile. He may have noticed my uneasiness.
"They haven't done anything to me yet. I'm not going to die, so until my father comes they can't touch me."
That does not alleviate any concern. Uncertainty is never good.
"Sorry." I apologize. I put my hands in my lap and squeeze them.
Adrien places one of his on my fist. It is a comforting gesture, according to my app to make friends. He should not be the one to comfort me.
"Nothing happens. You've stopped the villain, which is the important thing."
But he has so many things to do. His father forces him to do various sports and to be a model. He is strict like my mother. I do not know what kind of repercussion such an imprudent act of mine can have on his life.
"I will pay the bills." I offer.
He denies with the head.
"No. Needless. Really, nothing happens." he smiles. "Actually, I'm glad you're here. I am the only civilian who has received special treatment from one of the Triple Super superheroines."
His smile is rare. He seemed really happy before.
"You are in pain."
He opens his mouth to speak, but someone beats him to it.
"What are you doing here?" It gives me a chill. The owner of that voice always gets it. "Being a superhero doesn't give you any right to invade my son's hospital room."
I turn towards the entrance of the room and there is Gabriel Agreste. A man my mother hates and who has given me a strange feeling every time I have seen him. A bad feeling.
He walks into the room with slow, imposing steps.
I get over the feeling. My mother told me that I should never lower her head if this man speaks to me. I imitate her.
"Under normal circumstances, it would be true. But since I was the cause of his son's admission to the hospital, I have to be here." I explain. "I am willing to pay all the hospital bills."
Mr. Agreste smiles. He looks like Kim's, only he is sinister, unlike the young man's.
"With banknotes that have serial numbers? What a bad superhero." He says scathingly. "I don't want your alms. I have enough money to buy this entire hospital."
I have nothing else to say. This man will not yield and I have not submitted to him.
I stand up and turn my head to Adrien. I try to tell him with my eyes that I will see him again. I do not know if he will understand.
"We will meet, Mr. Agreste."
I'm not going to put any characters that don't work. If I put them in, it's because they will do something. What I say is Wikipedia, it really is.
Replies to comments:
Hi Linettye!
Thank you. I agree that the way the writers have acted has been horrible and I don't like the way they have destroyed everything with the intention of us not liking Chloe. That they have brought in even more characters to destroy her even more is simply absurd.
I remember more or less. Everyone does it wrong except Marinette, who has to show off.
The thing to make her more aggressive (not that there were any signs of that before) is part of the plan so that we stop liking her. What they did not think is that there would be people like me who would stop watching the series for just that reason.
Thank you so much.
Until next time.