Chapter 35.

PART 1.

Hatori is finding the library to be a relaxing place. Though he has learned the spell which reads the text to him, and has even mastered it enough that only he can hear it, his training with Zeko doesn’t give him many chances to just sit and read a book. Most of the time, he’s too exhausted to actually even think about it.

Though the exams are going on right now, and someone might wonder, why exactly isn’t Hatori preparing for them, instead of reading a book? Hatori is sick of going over his material for this year’s exam. He has been giving exams since he was four, and he has gotten pretty desensitized to it.

While other kids worry and fret about their tests and their marks, Hatori doesn’t give them much importance. There was an exam previous year. There is an exam this year. There will be an exam next year. Why worry about something like that, which manages to appear every year without a fail, and annoys the hell out of him?

He could be learning new spells, or maybe working with his foci. Maybe improve his carving, or read some books of magic. Given how much he has learned, some of them are bound to start making sense to him by this point.

Instead, he is stuck reciting the facts like a machine, and performing easy feats of magic like levitating something, and looping it in a circle, which he learned to do a year and a half ago, when Zeko woke up his magic.

At least the stories of the mages are just as interesting. He personally is loving the story of this story of an immoral sorcerer, who usually acts like a bashful and innocent guy. But he actually takes apart the houses and castles of his enemies, and sells every single tile.

Meanwhile, a gaggle of girls enters the library, upsetting the silence. Hatori was sitting right in the middle of the library, so they saw him immediately. “Oh wow. I didn’t know you could actually read without the eyeballs.” Said one of the girls, causing the rest of them to giggle.

Hatori senses around. There’s no one in the library. Even if there were an adult around, it is very unlikely that they would interfere on his behalf. So Hatori ignored their comments with practiced ease. Children and adults have been making fun of him for as long as he could remember. This isn’t anything new to him.

More importantly, the immoral sorcerer is binding his enemies by the use of promissory notes. Hatori doesn’t know what that is, but he realizes it must have to do something with banks when he saw the sorcerer mention interest rates, and, more specifically, the vile, contemptable, illusive mess called compound interest.

“Say, shouldn’t he be getting ready for the exams right now? I’m sure he needs all the help he can get for passing them.” Another round of laughter ensues, and once more, Hatori ignores it.

Why would he pay attention to such stupid children (He forgets that he himself is a child sometimes) when the sorcerer is weeping in joy after amassing the huge fortune?

‘Getting rich is worth it. No one can mess with you when you have money on your side.’ He thinks. ‘Though I wonder. Do all the strong mages have lots of money in this world? Master Zeko seems to be quite loaded. I must ask him about this.’

“Looks like his ears are also bad along with his eyes.” Said one of the girls, the first one who made a comment on Hatori. “Seriously, give it here. You can’t read, you’re not fooling anyone.” She snatches the book from Hatori’s hand.

The reading spell breaks, and Hatori is left stupefied for a moment. Then he realizes what happened, and gets up from the chair furiously. The girl tries to say something, but Hatori lunges for the book. The girl turned around, and tried to get away, but Hatori appeared out of nowhere in front of her, she felt as if she received a large shock, and the girl passed out.

Hatori senses the other girls. They would come after him now. Though he couldn’t see himself right now, the other girls can. To them, he looks like a monster, with missing eyes and electricity sparking around his body, and his hair standing straight on his head. When he took a step towards them, they broke, and started to run.

Remembering the page where he got interrupted so rudely, Hatori returns the book to its place, and leaves. His mood to read has now vanished. Why can’t people leave him alone? Not for the first time, he cursed his life, and his disability.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

PART 2.

The matter gets to the general Sundar. Apparently, his wife is not happy that some boy of unknown class hurt their daughter. “We must do something about it, or else the other children will start bullying our children. She’s a delicate flower; she won’t be able to handle the roughness of these low-class boys.”

The general shook his head. Some little electrocution is hardly going to hurt anyone. That might be a problem in the magicless world on the other side. But here, the children are stronger, and can handle some damage like little shocks of electricity.

He completely ignored his wife’s protestations. “Are you listening to me? You must take action. This cannot be allowed to happen. We must set an example!”

“Tell me Anupama,” said general, making his wife wince. Whenever he uses her name, it never means anything good. “Are you willing to deal with Zeko?”

Anupama remains silent. “Because let me assure you. If I get involved over some children’s spat, he can make our lives very difficult.”

In a huff, Anupama leaves the study of Sundar. ‘Oh how I miss you, my boy…’

Outside of the study, their daughter waits expectantly. “Well?” She asked.

“You’re father won’t take any action.” Anupama said. Looking at her unhappy face, she assures her daughter. “He might fear that idiot Zeko. But we don’t. Be patient, Ramya, you will have your chance of taking revenge on him.”

Ramya smiles. “And no one can complain if I did it myself.” She finally understands her mother’s point.

“Exactly!”

PART 3.

Josh and Raven burst into the room, where Zeko is lecturing Hatori. “Do you have any idea what you have done?” They asked together.

“What?”

“You hurt the general’s daughter.” Said Raven, while Josh gesticulated.

“Who?” Hatori doesn’t remember.

Both of them looked at each other. “Don’t you remember what you did in the library today?”

“Oh. I didn’t realize she got hurt.” Said Hatori. “I just took the book out of her hands.”

“Dude, you shocked her.” Josh couldn’t believe his ears. “You really don’t remember doing that?”

“No. Not at all.” Said Hatori honestly.

“Well, she’s spoiled. No doubt she has already complained to the general. They won’t find your body if he gets angry with you.” Josh was very scared for his friend.

“Sundar won’t get involved in some children’s spat.” Zeko reminds them of his presence. “And if he did, then you’ve got me on your side kid. You do remember what I did to Joshis, don’t you?”

Hatori remembers the loud explosion, which reduced the seat of power of Joshi family to rubble. “Just take a day off today. And don’t worry about a thing.” Zeko pats his shoulder. “You boys take care of him, alright?”

“Yessir.” They said together, and took Hatori away.

Hatori is already showing signs of elemental magic. This isn’t unheard of. In an emotionally volatile state, even an adult mage can lose control of their magic, so children having some magical fits is nothing new. But having the signs of elemental magic in those fits, in an awakened mage like Hatori, no less, this means only one thing.

“I’ve got one hell of a student.” He chuckled while rubbing his palms. “Let him return from the academy. I can finally take his training up another notch.”

PART 4.

After Hatori’s exams are concluded (he passed naturally; we can only envy his confidence and intelligence) he goes shopping with Zeko.

They needed to buy the textbooks for this year, and Zeko also bought him some enchanted items to protect him. After his revelation of elemental magic, Zeko is sad to let him go like this. He would have loved to explore it further, but then again. The academy has very flexible rules. If Hatori performs well, he can get the chance to explore his talent further.

Two days later, Hatori and his friends are gathered at a reserved spot in the City of Throne, waiting for their transportation to arrive. A ship descends from the sky, and after the children get over their awe of it, they climb aboard, beginning their next step in the journey to become a mage.

(end.)