Seventh Spell: The Wand and the Wizard
"Okay, I've got the wand," Haru said, holding his camphor wand with the dragon heartstring core. "So now do I purchase it?"
"Not quite," Yashinoki said. "We need to make sure it works. Just wave the wand."
"Where?"
"Any place in the shop."
Haru pointed the wand at the pile of sticks closest to him and waved it. To his surprise, the sticks went flying into the air before raining back down.
"Looks like I was wrong," Yashinoki realized. He took the camphor wand back and held out the other wands in his hand to Haru once more. "Try again."
This time, Haru grabbed a wand that was black and slightly bent.
"Interesting," muttered Yashinoki. "That wand's made of black pine with a fenghuang feather inside, meaning it's creative and virtuous."
So Haru waved the wand at a dusty corner of the store, but all it did was scorch the dust. From there, Yashinoki changed out some of the wands in his hands before having Haru choose from them with his eyes closed. Yet despite this, the ten wands Haru picked afterward ended up still causing minor damage.
"Man, I must be having an off day!" Yashinoki remarked, changing out the wands in his hand to a completely new set. "Usually, it's a one-in-done deal."
"I'm sorry," Haru apologized.
"You need to free your mind from whatever's troubling you, and feel the magic pulsating in these wands," Yashinoki advised. "When it's a strong enough pull, reach for it!"
Frustrated, Haru closed his eyes again. His mind was tormented by so many questions about this new world he found himself in, but he was also still coping with the deaths of his adopted parents and stepsister Daichi being kidnapped by Warumo. Thinking about them brought him towards the edge of despair, though he felt something that was tugging him away from it. As his hand reached out, he touched something that felt warm. Looking at the wand he held, it was a deep brown with some lighter streaks.
"That one's made from the plum blossom tree with urushi laquer and its core has kirin hair," Yashinoki explained. "Let's see if this one works."
Haru anticipated disappointment, but he fought against it as he waved the wand. Unlike the other wands, this one emitted a bright yellow glow which spread to Haru's hand and all over his body. The sensation was nothing like Haru had felt before, as he felt both powerful and at peace.
"Now that's curious," Yashinoki said, placing a hand against his chin. "That wand is protective and pure like the kirin whose tail hairs lie inside. But your father also had a wand with hair from the same kirin, yet he used it for terrible things."
"So what does that mean?" Haru wondered. "Am I going to end up like him?"
"Not necessarily," Yashinoki replied. "Your blood may be tainted, but your soul is your own to do with what you want. In other words, you're not your father."
Suddenly, Higa came into the shop. This made Haru purchase the plum tree wand and walk over to him.
"Did you pick your wand?" asked Higa.
"Yep," Haru nodded.
"All right, then let's go."
"Before you leave, Higa-San, would you please clarify something for me?" Yashinoki said. "The young boy was telling me he was taken care of by a Manai family after his disappearance eleven years ago, but you're the one showing him around. Is there a reason his adopted Manai parents couldn't accompany him?"
"They're dead," Higa said bluntly. "Warumo killed them."
While Yashinoki gasped in shock, Higa led Haru out of the shop and back onto the main street of Tateroji. Neither of them said anything as they went to a ryokan-style inn where Higa paid a room to rent for the next two weeks.
"I wouldn't go around casually telling your story to everyone," Higa warned. "You never know if the person you're talking to might be a spy for Warumo."
Haru grimaced. "So you're saying I shouldn't have said anything to that wand maker guy?"
"No, he's harmless—though a bit of a busybody. I'm just saying from now on, you should be careful about who you tell your story to."
"Okay." Haru sighed. "This has been a weird day for me, and I know that's an understatement."
"You're taking it in better than I expected," Higa complemented. "I actually went through a similar experience when I was your age. Couldn't stop crying for a whole week."
"Did you lose someone close to you?"
"My own father. He was the coolest guy around, even more than me. So like you, I vowed to get my revenge on the guy who killed him."
"And did you succeed?"
"Yes,…and no," replied Higa. "I lost more than I bargained for. Now I'm paying for it."
"By working for Mahoutokoro's headmistress?"
"If it weren't for her, I would probably be rotting in Azkaban Prison right now."
Just as Haru was about to ask him what Azkaban Prison was, Higa got up from the matted floor of their room and opened the sliding door to leave.
"Just sit tight," Higa said. "I sent a reply to the Mahoutokoro letter while you were at Yashinoki's, and I'm hoping they respond soon."
"How long does it usually take?"
"Usually day or two, depending on how swift the crow delivering the mail is."
"Wait, mail is sent by crows? Is that why you can bring a crow as a familiar to Mahoutokoro?"
"Not just that, but they're also really smart and capable of mimicking."
"Should I get a familiar?"
"Maybe," Higa shrugged. "It wouldn't hurt to have one, though you'll still have to take care of it like a pet."
Before Higa could leave the room, he bumped into someone in the hallway.
"Pardon me," Higa apologized. But when he saw who it was, he immediately bowed his head. "Maki-Sensei! I didn't see you there."
"There's no need to apologize on my behalf, Higa-San," the man Higa bumped into said. "It was I who was not looking ahead. So what brings you here?"
Higa paused and said, "Kind of a long story."
"Oh, I see. Then let's discuss it in your room."
Before Higa could protest, Maki stepped into the room. Haru was awestruck as he stood in the presence of a tall man with a finely featured face, long silken black hair tied into a loose ponytail, and wearing a dark-blue robe.
"Hello, Haru Ryuji," Maki smiled. "I'm glad to finally meet you."
To be continued…
