“I’m worried about Rose…” Elizabeth lowered her teacup as she looked over the courtyard garden from the balcony. She looked to Charlotte who placed her teacup on its saucer which rang with a subtle clang. “Ever since Arthur left all she does is hole herself up in that study and reads. The only times she's not in there is when she's eating, visiting us, or attending social salons…”
“Mhm, you know how attached she was to Arthur. She’ll come to eventually if not when he returns, Liz.” Charlotte tried to reassure Elizabeth with words but she didn't feel any better.
“Ugh, I tried to get her to spend time doing other things but she's obsessed! I mean… even I feel like my daughter is a little too attached to Arthur; I think she might have a brother complex…” At this Charlotte burst out in laughter. “Char, it’s not funny!” Though Elizabeth also began to giggle at their conversation.
“Haha! Haaa… oh it's fine, it's embarrassing to admit but I was quite similar to Rose during the time I was growing up in my home country. I was overly attached to my elder brother, I followed him everywhere and always tried to mimic him. That's just how some little sisters are haha, she will ease up as she gets older.”
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“Hey, Arthur, you should try actually coming to class sometimes.” August, lying face up in his bed, rolled on his side to face Arthur, who was writing at his desk.
Arthur let out a deep sigh and without looking in August's direction he replied “You keep bothering me about that, is me showing up really that important to you?”
“Yes! Come on! I want to experience academy life with my best friend! I want to do normal things with someone who treats me like a normal person! You are the only one in this academy who has the gall to tell me I’m an idiot when I’m being an idiot. And we are graduating in half a year… after we graduate I won’t have a lot of time to act like a normal person before I’m made emperor.”
Arthur finally looked at August who had a complicated expression. “Fine.”
Though Arthur would be too embarrassed to admit it, he was moved that August thought so dearly of him. Due to Arthur's isolative tendencies, he had very few acquaintances let alone friends so he thought he needed to hold on to the few connections he did make.
“Wait, really!?” August excitedly shot up at Arthur's compliance.
**
“Okay class, today we will be learning about curses! Now, what do you all remember about curses from last year?” The professor scanned the students who raised their hands to answer and deliberated on who to choose, that was until he noticed a particular student who was in attendance. “Arthur nice of you to join us! Why don't you give us a run down on curse magic!” Arthur raised his head and looked towards the professor that called his name. The professor had a tall and thin build, his face was narrow which made his large nose stand out. Resting comfortably on the bridge of his nose was a pair of round glasses with a thin metal body.
“Of course Professor Gibbly. Curse magic usually refers to the magic that is used to cause negative effects on the target. There are two main ways curse magic is mobilised, the first is the act of casting a curse array on the body of the target, this can be either done with a normal spell array or using a medium such as a curse mark to house the curse algorithm- sorry I mean pattern. The second way would be deploying the curse from a distance using a medium. For more effectivity, a medium that is related to the target or even a body piece such as hair is recommended. The medium will take on the curse array and will act as a bridge between the magic and the target. Though the latter method is less effective it is safer as deploying a curse array takes longer than deploying regular magic.” After concluding his explanation Arthur sat down and continued to pretend that he was reading his textbook.
“W-Well done, Arthur! That was correct and thorough.” The professor then picked up a piece of chalk and began to draw what seemed to be an array on the blackboard. “This here is a simple curse array! Now does anyone know what this array does? Arthur! How about you answer this one as well.” Arthur who was slightly annoyed that the professor called on him twice obediently stood up, walked down to the blackboard, and asked for the chalk.
“At first glance, one would assume this curse was a simple speed debuff. But if you look closely you will see that at these points.” Arthur proceeded to circle three points inside the array. “You will see that these three points alter the activation sequence and rearrange the array to give a completely different effect. So, the final result would be the target of this curse losing the ability to see.” Arthur handed the chalk back to professor Gibbly and headed back to his seat leaving a dumbfounded professor.
**
“What are you doing?” August asked as he peered over his friend's shoulder.
“I’m drawing.” During the day's classes, Arthur who was almost falling asleep out of boredom needed something to keep himself distracted. And that's when he began doodling; he discovered that he found it quite fun. Up till this point, Arthur had never tried doing anything artistic so his drawings were… well, let's say less than impressive.
“You draw? I thought you were only interested in studying magic.” August analysed Arthur's drawing to the best of his ability but he couldn't for the life of him figure it out. “So, what exactly are you drawing..?”
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Arthur looked at him for a second slightly embarrassed at his own incompetence and mumbled. “..y s…er…”
“What?”
“My sister. Listen! I know it's not exactly the best drawing but I’m trying!” Annoyed at August’s nosiness Arthur stuffed the drawing into one of his desk compartments and called it a day.
“Wait! I wasn't making fun of you or anything I genuinely couldn't tell what it was! Ah, wait.” He realised that it didn't sound any better. “Oh well.”
**
“Young master Alexander! The preparations are almost complete!” A group of mages were kneeling in front of Alexander who had a wine bottle in his hand. As he poured the fiery liquid down his throat he maniacally laughed. The mages wearily looked at their lord worried about his declining mental stability.
“Good! In six months I better hear that he disappeared off the map! If you fail your heads will- hic will roll!” Alexander threw the empty bottle which shattered against the wall causing a passing servant to flinch in response.
“Don't worry my lord! We’ve set up s-class magic along the path that Arthur will take as he returns from the academy! It is said that whoever gets caught up in this magic is lost forever! Not even we know where he will end up!”
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“You’ve gotten better.” I move another piece on the board in response to my opponent's counterattack. Humans… such fascinating creatures. This board game, for example, their creativity knows no bounds.
“I was surprised you left your dungeon- sorry I mean your castle. Though, it's more of a dungeon. It's almost been a century since you last ventured into the world, can I assume something big is going to happen?” My opponent spoke in her usual carefree tone. She had long fiery red hair coupled with a pair of deep emerald-like eyes. She wore a black cloak with her favourite mask that resembled a fox. But I guess it suits her as she is as cunning as a fox.
“Don't pretend you don't know. I’m not oblivious to the fact you’ve been keeping an eye on me. I guess some things never change. But yes, things are finally set in motion. Ah, that's checkmate.” I moved my final piece to win the game which seemed to annoy her, she was never as good as me, not now or a hundred years ago.
“Well, I knew you were aware anyway. But what I don't understand is why you are so fixated on that human child. I know that you are a weirdo who has an odd fixation on those creatures but that doesn't explain your constant surveillance of the child.”
“Well, do you by chance recall those fairy tales our parents would tell us as children? Specifically, those referring to a certain demon?” A unintentionally displayed a slight grin as she realised what I was referring to.
“Wait… you don't mean… that right?! But that’s just a story! A myth! And if he does exist how does he have anything to do with that child?!” She stood up slamming her hands against the table causing the pieces on the board to topple.
“Now, now. Where is the fun in just telling you? If you want to know so bad figure it out yourself.” Seemingly annoyed she didn't respond but simply left the table. She glared at me as gathered an enormous amount of mana.
“I don’t know what you are planning and honestly I don't care. That is as long as it doesn't affect my lord.” She compressed all the mana she gathered into a single spot causing a tear in reality to form.
“I see you are still using that inefficient method of instant transportation. Sure, it's flashy but the mana usage is astronomical.” Annoyed she stepped through closing the tear behind her. I couldn't help but laugh. I stood after fixing the fallen game pieces and walked towards the balcony pushing the large doors open revealing the desolate plains of blood-red sand.
——————————————
“Pss! Arthur..! You awake…?” August stared into the dark ceiling due to him being unable to fall asleep.
“Yes… what is it.” Arthur groggily replied.
“What’s your sister like..?” August had always been curious about Arthur's sister as he seemed to care about her deeply. But Arthur rarely talked about personal things so August had very little information on Rose.
Arthur stayed quiet for a second before answering. “Her name is Rose and she has long luscious hair that starts snow white and ends in a vermillion red, which if I think about it for a second makes no sense as it changes colour after a certain point. I think there's a magical aspect to it. She has a small nose and is 162cm tall, she has pale white eyes, long eyelashes and thin eyebrows, and she has an angelic face, luckily she inherited those genes from her mother.”
August thought for a second at this vast amount of information he’d just heard. “The amount of detail is a little weird, but how do you even know her height after not seeing her for almost three years?”
“I have a contracted familiar that's with her.”
“So you are surveilling her..?” I mean, I get caring for a sibling because I have a little sister I care about also but that's a little creepy. “Don’t you think that's a little odd?”
“I’m only doing it because I am at the academy. I have to protect her no matter what.” Arthur mainly thinks this because of what he let happen during the hunting competition and he wouldn't be able to forgive himself if something happened to her again.
“Hmm, isn’t that usually the parent's job..? I don't see why you specifically have to protect her to this degree.”
“You don't understand. When we were younger… I caused her to be involved in an accident which took her ability to use her legs! I took away her ability to walk! To run! She’ll never be able to run through the city streets having fun with her friends! If she ever gets married she’ll never be able to walk down the aisle! I stole so much from her!” Arthur didn't know why he said this, maybe the guilt he’d never been able to vocalise over the years had built up and finally burst or maybe he was simply tired. But, due to his exhausted state, he couldn't hold back the tears he had long held back in fear of anyone seeing. “S-So, it is my responsibility to make sure she can at least enjoy what she has left.”
August was speechless, he had never seen Arthur be so emotional in all their time together. He always saw Arthur as this perfect level-headed, sometimes weird person. Because of this, he forgot that Arthur was a person who had their own vulnerabilities and problems just like anyone else. “Ah… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have commented on something I knew nothing about. Hey… if you ever need to talk or something you can count on me! I know I’m not the most reliable person but I can at least listen.” Neither of them continued the conversation. Arthur was too embarrassed about his outburst and August felt like bringing up Arthur's past trauma anymore would be like opening pandora's box.
To Be Continued.