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"So what happens if I add this substance to that substance? Will it explode?", I asked Hanzo-senpai. Not much of a chemistry fan but for the sake of making healing potions, I have to know the basics.
He sighed. "Well, not the one you're holding but this one."
He took the purple-colored liquid from the shelves and replaced the one I was holding.
"Oh! Alrighty then. So, it says here," while referring to my potion textbook, "Just add two drops to the mixture...Okay!"
"Wait, did you even.....!"
But it was too late for senpai to warn me as I added big drops on the mixture and white fumes started to form. I coughed it out and fanned it away from my face. "Did it work? Can I test it?" I was about to take the beaker when Hanzo-senpai quickly stopped me by grabbing my wrist.
"Not even close." He sighed again, "Did you even finish reading the whole text?"
"Wait. There's more?" I glanced at the page and yes, there was more. " Be caution that you must slowly add it by counting to 10 at each drop. Oh."
I should have read it till the end. Maybe my excitement just got me again.
"Maybe you should read the whole textbook before you start practically." He let go of my wrist, which left a red mark on it and walked towards the supply room. "Let's get this clean up before the other students arrive." He took out some cleaning supplies and gave me a rugged cloth, wondering why until I remembered I almost spilled a hazarded liquid.
I wonder how I got into this wizardry thing but I do remember how I firstly got here . My father was one of the legendary wizards in my hometown, helping reviving wilted crops and treating sick people. I always wondered to be like him, so I asked if I could be a wizard like him. He insisted on attending me to a wizardry school to learn the basics of magic so I went there, knowing my best friends joined there too. Despite their long involvement in the wizardry atmosphere, they learned a lot more than me so I have to really catch up on everything.
One day, I was attending a Levitation class, I was casting the spell to a feather when, " Takaku tobimasu ninjutsu! " (originally as Wingardium Leviosa ) The feather should be moving in a slow constant motion but instead, it zooms out towards the window, breaking through it.
'Uh oh, this isn't good.' , I thought. " Ueno Enju! ", the professor called me out angrily but I dashed outside to retrieve back the feather, "I'll be back, sensei!" I went to where the feather was headed from the broken windows. Knowing the speed, I thought I couldn't catch up but with a trail of the grass being blown at indicated this must be where it's heading. I hold on to my cloak and ran as fast as I could, following the trail.
The further I go, the more faded the trail became and as I stopped at the end of the trail, there it was. Floating out of plain sight. I covered myself with my cloak and quietly sneaked towards it, my hands had already stretched out but it must have noticed my presence as it zoomed again until I saw someone walking across me.
"Oh no. Hey, look out!!", I shouted but it was too late. The feather had already gone near towards the person. I tried to run and save him but
"Tomeru... (Freeze) " He snapped his fingers and the feather just stopped, its tip almost on his neck. I rushed toward the feather and took it, holding it tight on my hands. "T-Thank you, um, sir. I almost thought it would ki-"
My words were interrupted by his words. "Using magic to play around is against the wizardry law and the way it moves in a speed limit can be considered as odd magic or rather, dark magic." He turned his face to look at me with that expressionless look.
"So you're a freshman this year." He looked down on my cloak. In this school, our cloak colors represent our years. Mine is blue and this man here is green, which probably means he's a senior and add to that, he's a prefect. How? He wore a prefect badge on his chest! Maybe he's a really smart wizard?
"Do you even know overusing your magic is dangerous?" He asked, lowered his face to meet my eyes, "You will get expelled even for a freshman." Wow he's strict but really cool!
I backed away while held out the feather I was holding. "Then can you teach me?" I was being serious about him teaching me. I wasn't really good at magic and I need someone to assist me other than my professors. I heard a sigh was heaved, coming from his direction.
"Hold out your palm, let go off the feather. Take deep breathes and calm down, clear all your thoughts and worries from your mind. And start casting the spell. Takaku tobimasu ninjutsu ." He was demonstrating to me and the feather literally floated on a slow constant motion, just like what the textbook said!
He lowered the feather to my palm and I was nothing but amazed by it. "That was awesome! Can you teach me everything?"
"Everything? You should be learning the basics on handling magic in your first year."
"I know that but I don't know if it was just me or I couldn't control my magic".
My eyes were sparkling in front of him, making him nothing but sighing in defeat. "Fine. After classes, we'll meet in the library. I'll teach you some basics along the way."
I got all excited so I bowed deeply, showing my gratitude to his kindness. "Thank you, senpai. I'm really grateful to you for helping me! Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Ueno Enju." I held out my hand to shake his. He slowly and awkwardly took my hand, "Hattori Hanzo."
And that's how we ended up doing some practices and studying together. It's been 7 months now and I'm starting to get along with him!
After we cleaned up the room, we headed outside to our dorms. Walking along the hallways, I saw the noticeboard was covered on flyers with the same color. I took one out and read its contents while walking beside Hanzo-senpai.
" The 90th Anniversary of Mahoutsukai Gakuen Annual Dinner? "
Senpai must have noticed the flyer, or rather knew it all this time , as he explained about the one I was reading with a cold tone. "The annual dinner is held for every 10 years, as I had heard. It'll be like our usual dinner but with dances and having fun till midnight. Only that day, we get to do something outside our dorms after curfew."
Oh wow, that sounds fun! We get to be with our friends until midnight!! I guess I was lucky that this held in my first year. "Are you going, senpai?", I have to ask. You can tell from his expression that he's not a party person.
"As long as it doesn't involve my studies, I'm not." Yeah, I was right.
"Maybe you should go at least for this one? I mean, this is your last year and you should at least have some fun while you're at it." I thought that would change his mind because what I said was true but the only reply from him was a shake of his head.
"I rather not. The atmosphere is too noisy and I couldn't concentrate on certain stuff in a crowd."
'I guess he's an introvert?' , I thought. I'm not letting him hear it.
"Well, if you think that's the best for you, I won't force you. Since this is my first year, I should check it out! My friends would probably be there too." I don't know if I already told senpai about my friends as he gave me a look of disbelief.
"Oh, I haven't told you, have I? Hehe. Yeah, most of my friends are here and their magic is more extraordinary than mine." I looked at my palm, reflecting my past magic trials. "They're all great wizards. I wish I could do better like them." My hand formed to a fist, feeling the energy of magic flowing in me.
"Well, I think I should go ask them if they're going, I'll see you later, senpai." Without him replying, I ran straight to my dorm. "Hmm...."
During the event, everyone was wearing their casual clothing with their cloaks on, laughing and enjoying themselves with their friends. Entering the dining hall with decorations hanging on every corner with various food aligned on the tables, I was excited for what's to come!
Just as I'm about to find my friends, someone had been calling out from behind me. "Enju."
"Eh? EH?! Hanzo-senpai?! I thought you're not coming."
"I just finished my homework and my roommate has been begging to come along so I had no choice."
"I see. Well, I hope you're not forcing yourself too much."
"I'm fine. If I think it bothers me, I'll just go straight to my dorm."
"Okay! Then, let's have fun!"
Hanzo-senpai and I sat down together when the principal silenced us, announcing a ritual dance will commence accompanied by a group of students with their outfits. As the music cued, they danced gracefully on the dance floor. Their clothes, so beautiful and elegant, with their green ribbons fluttering around them while they twirl. I was kinda curious what they are so I asked Hanzo-senpai.
"The ritual dance is a performance as a blessing for the magical elements and spirits. Only for those who have the qualified magic and the approval of the principal can join the ritual." He briefed it while watching the performance. That sounds really cute and important at the same time.
As I continued watching, one of the dancers looked familiar, my eyes gone wide. "That's Kyara and Ennosuke!", I exclaimed but in a low voice so I wouldn't disturb the others.
"Friends of yours?"
"Yeah! Childhood friends even. I didn't know they could dance though, haha. They do look cute with each other." I looked at them, a sudden tight feeling on the chest can be felt. I quietly looked at Hanzo-senpai, who's still watching the performance.
'I wonder, would it be weird, if I want us to be like them?' , I asked in my thoughts. 'Though, of course, I guess it won't happen.'
After the performance ended, the cheery atmosphere continued. I was just chatting with my friends, enjoying the fun when my eyes turned to the entrance and found Hanzo-senpai went out. 'Oh, did he get bored?' But seeing his expression, it doesn't look like he's getting tired with the party.
"Um, guys. I gotta go."
"What. You're gonna miss the next thing!", Ennosuke exclaimed.
"Just let her go, maybe she got bored over your lame story.", Kyara interrupted.
"Why you!!!" Both of them glared at each other so I quickly stopped them before the worse.
"N-No, it's not like that. I enjoy your story but I have something to do in my dorm so I'll see you later." Before they replied, I rushed to the entrance to find Hanzo-senpai.
"Strange. I remembered she finished all of her homework before the annual dinner. Did she skipped one?!", Kyara got confused, wondering Enju's sudden behaviour.
"Oh no, did I miss him?", I got a little worried if I missed him. Walking through this long hallway is a lot more troubling to find a single man. I sighed. You know what, I give up. I've been looking for him for who knows how long by now. Maybe he did go to his dorm. Feeling a little disappointed, my feet started to walk to my dorm when my eyes darted to a long shadow figure cast on the ground. I followed the direction and my eyes went wide. It's him. The person I was looking for. The man I got worried of.
I stood there for a bit, admiring the beautiful portrait of him bathed in the moonlight through the wide-opened balcony. I was too stunned to see him outside, looking up to the sky. Without impulse, my feet started to move on its own, to the direction of the person I'm madly into and stood beside him, staring at the night's beauty. Hanzo-senpai was quite surprised by my presence but he didn't try to cast me out.
Okay, this is the worse part. We're both just standing side by side, but it felt awkward with this silence.
'Okay, Enju. Calm down. Just, think of something to talk about. School? No, that'll make it a little boring. Personal life? But I don't think he's the type to talk about himself. Think, Enju, THINK!'
Fighting inside my head to start a conversation, suddenly Hanzo-senpai started to let out his voice, a low and deep voice. "You probably think that I'm not into socializing in big crowds, do you?"
"Eh? Oh no! It's just....I thought maybe you got sleepy and went to your dorm to get some rest so I just wanna ask if you were.
He chuckled and asked, "Were you worried about me?"
"Well, I wouldn't say th-"
"You shouldn't. You should be looking after yourself more. You're still new to this wizardry and needed more practice before you could control them." He was wearing a smile on his lips, still staring at the dark sky. "You won't be needing me once I'm not here. Start being independent and not rely on others too much. That's what makes everyone successful."
His words pierced through my heart. Why did he sound so sad?
I turned my whole body to face with hands clenching.
"You're wrong. Being alone without guidance is not how you become successful. You need someone to help show you the right path and guide them so they could understand everything. You taught me a lot of stuff and now, from thinking that magic was a difficult thing to take, you made me think that magic is like the blood in our veins. Once we can control them and use it wisely, we can make them a useful trick for our daily lives."
I slowly took a step forward and took his hand, making sure he's looking at me eye to eye. "No matter what you think, no matter how good you are, you still need someone to look after you. What if you got too worked out by studying and didn't get your sleep?"
"My roommate would usually force me to sleep if I did."
"T-Then what if you were too tired and fainted in the hallway?"
"Someone would carry me there."
'Senpai, please!' I screamed in my thoughts.
"But still, there would be someone who's worried about you. You really are a smart person, everyone praises your hard work and looks up to you. But knowing you're not looking after yourself would worry more. Please, you can rely on me, just this once. Only for this year, before you go."
Hanzo-senpai's eyes went wide, surprised at my sudden seriousness. I looked down with embarrassment but those are my true feelings and I want him to understand my intentions.
"Enju..." He whispered my name. My heart had been beating so fast, not to tell with the way he called me. His other hand slowly held out to the back of my neck, bringing me closer to him, closing the gap between.
'Wait, is he going to...?' , I asked myself but I let those thoughts lingered in my mind, letting him come close to me to find the answers. Before our lips even touched,
"Argh!!"
A sudden pained cry was heard from Hanzo-senpai. "Senpai?! Senpai, are you okay?! Can you hear me?!" He grimaced in pain. I was about to touch him when,
"Don't come near me!!", he warned me as I stopped from what I was doing. He was panting, sweating and groaning in pain. I want to help him but I wasn't sure what was hurting him and what caused it.
"Pocket." He said, still holding onto the pain. "My. Cloak pocket. Small. Bottle." I quickly reached for his pockets to find the bottle. But there was none of it. "There's nothing."
"That must be the last one. Argh!"
" Senpai! " Last one? What does that mean?!
"Go. Find some help. Quick."
"I'm not gonna leave you here!"
" Just go!! "
I quickly swinged his one arm over my shoulder, carefully standing him up. "I am not gonna leave you here in that state."
I carefully carried him inside and searched for someone, anyone to help us. Luckily, our school nurse was on her way to the infirmary and bumped into us. We quickly brought Hanzo-senpai to the infirmary and laid him down on one of the beds. "Will he be okay, nurse?"
"He probably needs some rest. He looks really exhausted. Were you two from the dinner hall?"
"Oh, no! I, um, was just on my way to the dorms and, uh, found him lying on the ground."
I had to lie. If I told her the truth, things would get even worse. I looked over Hanzo-senpai's painful face. He's been gripping his hair the entire walk. What really happened?
"Let's leave him here for now. I'll look after him so you should go back and rest."
"Thank you. I will." I looked back at him and bowed my head. "Good night, senpai."
Days have passed since the incident, I've been coming to the library after class, as per usual to study. As I entered and looked around, the library was a little empty than it used to.
'Right. Hanzo-senpai is still in the infirmary.'
I had been visiting him early in the morning to check his condition. From what I saw, he was still panting, just like from last night. The nurse said she informed his dorm father about his current state so he'll be staying in for quite awhile. I guess our lessons together may need to put hold on for a while too.
As I was observing the books on the shelves, one title in particular caught my attention.
" Illusional Concepts? " I took out the book and started reading on the floor. It was all about how people create different illusions to confuse their opponents, either by their naked eyes or in their minds.
"Interesting. If only I can perform this. Hey, senpai. Can we-!" Wait. I forgot. He's not here. I heaved out a sigh in disappointment, still wondering how Hanzo-senpai is doing. Is he gonna be okay? Is the pain still lingering inside him? Though, speaking of which, what caused the pain to come on him? Did someone cast a spell on him while he wasn't looking? But he did ask me for a small bottle. Was he cursed?! But that can't be it.
"Urgh!" I ruffled my own hair, confused on all the questions inside my mind. Should I go ask him myself? Though, he might try to avoid them and tell me to forget about it. I sighed again and hugged my knees on the floor. What were you hiding, senpai?
Back at the hallway, the school nurse was carrying a tray of medical potions and ice wrapped in cloth from the kitchen to aid Hanzo. She was on her way to treat him, hoping it will ease the pain as she remembered he was groaning in pain for the entire night. He must had been seriously hurt. But what actually caused it? She had never encountered this kind of disease, even she couldn't tell.
Once she opened the infirmary door with her one hand, she carefully carried the tray with her other hand. "I've brought you some potions to ease your pain."
But as she turned to face him, she dropped the tray and her face was frighten by what was in front of her. The human was not on the bed, but the bed sheets, however, were scratched and torn into pieces.
"Oh dear. Did someone...?!"
I walked out of the library, with a borrowed book I read before in hand, to visit Hanzo-senpai once more. Thought that we could study while we wait for his recovery.
'He should still be in there. The nurse would have told me if he isn't.'
However, my thoughts jinxed, as students were crowding the school noticeboard with fear and worry.
'Don't tell me the practical trial results came out? But that's a bit too fast, we just did that last week.'
I rushed through the crowd.
"Excuse me, but can you tell me what's going on?" I tried asking one of them and finally, a girl who was still looking scared answered me.
"Haven't you look at the board?! Hanzo went missing!"
Wait, what?! It can't be! I just went to see him in the infirmary earlier this morning! Did something happen to him? Did someone actually ambush him? Oh, no. This is bad. This can't be happening.
While in my panicking state, a paper fluttered on top of my head. I took the paper and observed through its contents. It's the school newspaper article.
'The Disappearance of Our Elite Wizard. What could have caused this from someone who can possess great magic and the school's proud student to have gone missing?!'
I would like to know that too, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna stay here and whine about it.
In this commotion, the principal had called us to gather in the school compound to announce about the missing person. Thank god, I found my friends there. As the principal announced a new rule system, I stood in silence. What could have possibly happened to him? Didn't notice the sudden tug on my shoulder, a voice called me out of my thoughts, "Enju? What are you doing, let's go."
"Eh? Gekkamaru?"
My eyes widened. Oh, we're dismissed. Somehow, I don't feel... anything about this. Moreover, I'm more... mad? Frustrated? Why is everyone looking so calm about this? Weren't they screaming in fear after hearing the news? We're just gonna sit here and not find Hanzo-senpai? Without realizing, my fist tightened.
"I'm gonna find him. I'm gonna go Hanzo-senpai." I said in a low voice.
"You're not doing anything! You heard what the principal said. Plus, you're gonna get yourself hurt. You're still new and I'm not gonna let you go by yourself." Typical Gekkamaru for being such a worrywart.
"Exactly, because all of us should find him."
I glanced at my other friends, Kuroyuki, Kyara and Ennosuke.
"I know this is a ridiculous decision, not to mention a dangerous one. But he's someone important to me and I have to find him."
I won't get enough sleep if I couldn't stop thinking about Hanzo-senpai. So if no one's gonna find him, then I will. Gekkamaru had been wearing his worried expression the entire time but he heaved out a defeated sigh.
"No matter how we argue, I know I won't win this, am I?"
"Nah, Gekka-ni. You're the one who admits defeat to this," Kuroyuki chuckled.
"Kuroyuki!", he said angrily, "Anyways, are you sure we're going to find him?"
"Yes, I am really sure. I'm determined to find him and bring him back." If he's still alive, that is.
Gekkamaru sighed again, "Fine, but we have to plan things first. Curfew in a few hours so we have to hurry."
"Usually a magic user would leave excess essences after overusing their magic." As we walked away from the crowd, we started to plan our escape to find senpai. "Once a magic user used too much of their magic, it gives out a certain pain that can't be controlled."
"Finally you paid attention to your classes, Kuroyuki.", Gekkamaru said.
"Well, at least I do know bits of them, unlike you, struggling to understand all of them."
A pain that can't be controlled? Wait a second!
"You know, I saw Hanzo-senpai struggling in pain a few days ago. I sent him to the infirmary but even the nurse couldn't tell why before he disappeared. So maybe-"
"He left his traces after the incident.", Kuroyuki interfered. "Guess we got our first lead figured out."
"Alright, let's head to the infirmary then! Hopefully the trail is still there."
Alright, we're here, in the infirmary. Pretty sure the nurse went out with the other professors so this should be fine! However, what will be facing inside isn't. The horror sight from the torn bed sheets to the broken window glass, we're all in disbelief with the sight.
"What happened here?", I asked myself. This must be from the person who kidnapped him. As everyone gathered to the wrecked bed and placed their hands on the sheets,
Kyara voiced out, "Enju, over here!"
I hurriedly walked over to her side and felt the strong intensity of magic. 'Senpai.' But that's not all. As I placed my hand on the sheet, I could feel the magic absorbing inside me and just by then, I could... see him, or rather, a vision of his current location. It's like he's inside of something. Zooming out, there, the place where he was, in a cavern under a mountain somewhere far from the school. I'm not entirely sure where this could be, but if the essences are still visible, we could follow through to where he is now!
As I pulled my hand away, I could feel sweats falling from my forehead. I must have overused my magic again. I could tell that everyone's worried of me but gave a small smile before going back to our plan.
"Alright, I think everyone gets the idea of where he could be, so our only hope to find him is to follow the remaining trails. All we have to think of is how we could get out of here."
Ennosuke cleared his throat, "I think I got that under control."
"Alrighty then! Everyone... Let's hope for the best."
For our safety. And for Hanzo-senpai's safety.
A day has passed and here we are, standing upon the cavern the vision showed me. Oh, right. You must be wondering how we got out of the quarters. Ennosuke somehow found secret chambers to the outside border, so thanks to him, we're here now! And who would have thought this cavern is somewhere among a civilized area?!
I took deep breaths to calm myself before heading inside the cavern. It's a dark and damp cavern, like any normal cavern, but the deeper we go, the brighter it gets as we can see the lines of lava flowing on the walls of the cavern. We all split up to find the man we're looking for, from every corner of the area to the top of the ceiling as high as we can reach. Where is he? His magic traces trailed to here, he's supposed to be here somewhere.
Just then, I felt a sudden presence behind me. Everyone was looking behind me, knowing I was right. As I turned to see who it was, I could feel the colors on my face drained.
"Hanzo-senpai!!"
It was him, walking toward us wobbly and out of energy. His face looked so tired like he didn't get any sleep. His hair was all messy, his arms full of bruises. What happened to you?! He must have recognized my voice as he slowly faced me with a surprised expression. "Enju...."
I, on the other hand, was really glad he's still alive, I almost started crying. I took a step forward to get close to him but,
"Stop! Don't. Come any closer."
His voice was hoarse. I halted from moving, staring at the man I was looking for all this time in worry.
"Just. Don't come. Any closer. Argh!!"
He fell to his knees, groaning in pain. My legs just moved on their own as I rushed to his side without thinking.
"Enju, wait!", Gekkamaru was too late as I was already by senpai and held his shoulders.
"Enju... I told you. Don't come any closer! "
Hanzo-senpai held out his hand on me and instantly cast a spell to throw me away. Thankfully, Gekkamaru caught me in his arms.
"Are you okay?!" I nodded, a sudden dizziness started to feel in my head.
"Guys, I think you should hurry!", Kuroyuki exclaimed. I looked to the direction and my eyes got wider as a dark shadowy aura seeped out of Hanzo-senpai and started to form like. Him! But with glowing green eyes and a sinister smile. Everyone had cast a spell to form a weapon (same as the game) , getting ready to fight. Gekkamaru helped me stand before casting his weapon out.
"Cast your weapon, Enju."
"But wait, we should think this out-!"
"This isn't him, Enju! Can't you see?!"
The others had started their fight with the Hanzo alike. I knew that isn't Hanzo-senpai, I just know! But I was still struggling to either fight him or talk things out. I grimaced in defeat and casted my pair of daggers. Gekkamaru went first before me, striking and dodging from every hit the creature cast.
He then started to cast a spell, which shook the ground, revealing homunculus made of rocks. We were surrounding as we could feel our backs touching each other.
"What are we gonna do now?!", Kyara asked while throwing her chigiriki to the rock homunculus that was coming close to her. Everyone was too distracted to avoid the homunculus from us. I was facing myself to the Hanzo alike and suddenly looked down to Hanzo-senpai, the real Hanzo-senpai, lying on the ground lifelessly.
I looked around, trying to figure out a plan.
"Guys, I have a plan."
"Then tell us already!", Ennosuke cast fire on his claws and stroked the figure.
"You guys distract these things and cover my back." and gave one of the figures a slice on the head.
"Don't tell me you're gonna face that thing alone?!" Gekkamaru screamed as he slashed the figure on the torso.
"Don't worry. I think he wants me to face him." I faced the Hanzo alike, seeing him smirking on me as if he agreed to what I said.
"You can't change her mind now, Gekka-ni. Just go with it." Kuroyuki gave the figures a slash of his scythe.
"Fine! But be careful! We'll help you distract these.....things."
Alright, now that everyone agreed, it's time to take action! Everyone, with every move they got, destroyed every figure, giving me room to run toward the Hanzo alike. I cast again my twin daggers and jumped towards the alike to give him a piece of mine. Now that we're alone, not surrounded by those bunch of rock people, it's time to end this. I gave my all to fight with this creature while him, casting and throwing everything he got to me as his target.
We were all too busy killing and slashing, not knowing the army of those rock things coming toward me. I focused myself on my target, trying to figure out how to get rid of him from Hanzo-senpai's body. Just then, as I looked at the creature, it was groaning in pain, the same time as Hanzo-senpai did!
Wait a second, why do I feel like I've seen this before?
" Illusions are formed as their caster or anything they desire, be it their movements or behavior. They'll confuse its opponent for any kind of reason as a decoy or doubling. To remove the spell, one must kill the caster or just beg for them to do so as only the caster can control their illusion. "
I remembered, it's from the book I read in the library!
But that means...No, there's no way I'm going to kill him. I cast a spell on my daggers, revealing a bright shining light coming out from them and charged towards the figure.
"Release Hanzo or have a taste of this! " The creature quickly casted a ball of dark void and charged towards me as well. We closed the gaps between us and collided our spells, creating a serious push-and-pull situation. I held on to the opposite force and pushed towards it, as well as him pushing towards me. But I didn't realize, the creature held out his other hand, secretly casting another void ball and strike on me vulnerably.
I was too stunned but suddenly, I was suddenly pushed aside by a heavy figure and fell to the ground. I heard a cry from beside me and when I looked up, it was Hanzo-senpai, the Hanzo-senpai, being struck by his own illusion's cast. The figure too was screaming in pain until it vanished, leaving Hanzo-senpai lying on the ground. I was relieved that he's alive and safe which made me feel exhausted with that sudden big spell and fainted. The voices of my friends calling out to me fades into the unknown.
I slowly opened my eyes, suddenly surrounded by darkness.
Am I dead? Or maybe just me being exhausted. I walked forward, looking around to find the way out of here, until my eyes darted to a human figure in front of me. That tall posture facing his back to me, with that green hair.
"Senpai?" That's the first thing that came out of my mouth and I was right, as the figure turned to face me, with a surprise look on his face.
"Senpai!" I ran towards him and hugged him without hesitation. I could tell he was surprised but he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me back. After seconds passed, we broke our hug but I was too happy to see him right in front of me.
"I'm so glad you're still alive. Everyone in school had been worried about you. What happened? Who did this to you? Did someone curse you and sent you here? How's your injury?"
Worry had been controlling my emotions when I saw Hanzo-senpai, but all he answered was silence, just looking at me with a sad expression. I checked his injuries and didn't seem to be there so I was relieved.
"Come on, senpai. Let's go back. We'll get to a clinic while we're at it." I took his hand and dragged him to follow me. "Do you know which way is the exit or somewhere we could get out of here?"
I glanced at him but he's been silent ever since I found him. "Senpai, are you okay? You've been quiet. I know that's how you usually do but I don't think this silence is something you always do. Is there something in mind?" I slid my hand to his wrist and held his hand, looking to his eyes as I waited for his reply. Finally, I heard a sigh so deep from the man I was waiting for,
"Kill me."
"....Huh?" Did I hear that right?
"You. Have to kill me, Enju."
"Why? We don't have to! I mean, that thing is gone now. We should be okay with it."
"It's not okay, Enju!", he let out his anger on me and sighed, "Do you know what that thing was?"
I looked at our feet, "An illusion?"
"And what are they?"
"Some sort of like a caster’s doppelganger?"
"Correct. And the only way to remove the spell, is to-"
"Kill the caster as only they can control their illusion.", we said in sync.
"I can tell you've been studying while I was gone." then he chuckled in a low tone.
"But we don't have to! It said we can also just tell the caster to remove it. You were the thing's caster which means we don't have to deal with it again!"
"Enju, listen to me!", he gripped both of my shoulders, making sure I'm focusing on him.
"I'm not just an ordinary wizard." He looked me in the eye. His eyes wavered as he was still holding this hidden emotion from me, but he sighed again and told me, the things I shouldn't have heard.
"I was still a child, still new to this wizard thing like you now, I don't know anything about controlling, casting and just followed by the books. At one time, my previous professor was teaching us illusions. I wasn't good at it back then so I asked him if he could teach me from scratch. He told me it was impossible for a minor like me but he gave me suggestions to help me get my magic to be properly controlled. I don't know why I was so naive back then, I just agreed to it and at that time, he did a ritual on me, said it would help me get my magic working and stronger, then in an instant, I was covered in a black void, surrounding me like a snake curling around a branch and suddenly, I felt stronger, powerful and I can use my magic easily but it got out of control. It wrecked the place and all the other professor's including the principal found out about it. I told them what happened and they fired the professor, sending him away from the school."
I felt bad for Hanzo-senpai. He was still an innocent little boy, determined to learn about magic, but he ended up in that mess and became... this. He continued his story while I was in thought,
"The principal checked on me that the power I got was followed by my emotions. The only way to avoid it from coming out is to control my feelings so I wouldn't hurt any other people. So I ended up not showing much of my emotions to others. It went well during my years there. Being serious in my studies, get along with my companions. Until I met you."
He looked at me, lowered his hand from shoulder to hold my hands, entwining our fingers, "The moment I met you and spent our days in our little world, I was captivated with your personality and sweetness. I haven't felt those kinds of emotions in me for so long. But I was too into you, I forgot about the dark power I was trying to hide it. One night, I was asleep and suddenly, I started sweating and my head felt heavy like thousands of heavy weights on my head. I was reaching out to turn on the lamp on my nightstand but some kind of dark I can't even describe wrapped around my hand. Not only that, but my whole body was surrounded by it. My roommate thankfully woke up and cast a vanishing spell on the dark matter. I explained everything to him, about how I got it, and he willingly helped me by making the pain relief potions so I could calm down and prevent the dark matter from coming out."
"So that's why you were struggling about a bottle that other day.", I said with a sad tone. He lifted my chin to face him as he talked in an apologetic tone.
"I know this must be hard on you. But you have to kill me. This is the only way I could save you from my mistakes."
"No."
"You can learn magic without interruption."
"No!"
"So please, cast a spell, any spell, to get rid of me."
" No, I'm not leaving you this time! " Tears started to form in my eyes, trying to hold them from falling but a teardrop did fall from my eyes. He wiped itp away with his thumb.
"I'm sorry, Enju. But this is for your own good. I'll cause more trouble to the others again. Please."
I can't help but let my tears flow from my eyes. His face came close to my forehead and kissed on it. "Please. For me. And for you."
He stepped back from me, leaving some space for me to calm down. Once I was done crying, I looked at him but he smiled with those sad eyes and nodded his head. I quietly mumbled a spell and started shining with a dagger in hand. I last glanced at the man I love, with his look of no regrets. He must have been ready for this moment. I had no choice but to close my eyes and stab him in the heart. Tears started to form again, like it was a bucket full of them and the only words that came out from his mouth was "Thank you."
Light started to glow on us and I found myself opening my eyes, revealing my friends staring to my face.
"Enju! Oh thank god, you're okay." Everyone was sighing with relief once they saw me blinking. I struggled to get up and came to mind, I asked them, "Where's Hanzo-senpai?"
They went silent.
Everyone looked at each other, giving looks either they should tell me but Kyara was the one who broke the silence. "He's.......gone." She looked to her side, I followed suit and saw his body lying without moving a muscle. I slowly walked towards him and kneeled beside him while stroking his hair. There, I saw the wound. The spot where I…..I brought my forehead to his, feeling the cold temperature from his side. "Good night, senpai."
Five years had passed, we were in the dining hall, celebrating our senior years. I finally mastered my wizardry magic and became one of the graduated wizards. Talking with a few other friends, one of them noticed something on my chest, "Hey, Enju. What's that? I've seen you wearing that the whole year."
"Oh, this?", I touched the dangled piece of cloth I made into a pin. "It's something valuable to me, you don't have to know."
"Aw, I wanna know where you get that."
"Sorry hehe."
Once they left to meet another group, I walked outside of the hall and towards the balcony, where the starting of the incident happened, and the last place we were before his disappearance. I leaned onto the railings and looked up the night sky with stars twinkling up above.
"Senpai, I finally did it. I'd studied so hard, practiced hard and finally got what I wanted. I hope you're still watching me from up there."
I hope. We'll get to see each other again.