It was almost midnight. Mirai and the principal spent a good chunk of their afternoon and night so far going over all the reports about what happened during the special test for the special class from everyone that they could find when there was a sudden knock on the door that surprised both of them a little.
“Enter…” The principal said. Soon a very tired Mathias got in and pretty much crashed into the free sofa.
“Good night? I know that we told you that you could come to us at any time but it is awful late. Did something happen?” Mirai asked, clearly worried.
Mathias just sat there for about a minute before responding.
“What do you do when something you believed to be true with all your heart suddenly is confirmed to be a lie?” Mathias asked back. It seemed like he was barely in the room as he spoke.
“That depends on what exactly we are talking about.” The principal interjected.
After another minute of silence, Mathias talked again.
“Are any of you two religious? Do you believe in a god or gods?” He tiredly asked
“Can’t say I do.” Mirai casually said.
“There are indeed higher powers out there. To that I can attest but nothing that would be a god. When people think of gods they think of someone who can control reality in some way. There are indeed various individuals and beings that reached that point and are or were worshiped as gods but they are only that, individuals or beings. I hope that answers your question.” The principal explained.
There was another long minute of silence before Mathias spoke again.
“How many people are you two ready to sacrifice to keep Mia alive?” Mathias asked. It came out as seriously and maliciously as he was tired.
“What do you mean?” The principal asked, barely holding his anger.
“All that happened will come to light. They will try everything to have her and when that fails someone will try something stupid and everyone around her will pay the price.”
“Who are these people you are talking about?” Mirai asked.
“Everyone who's anyone. Anyone who wants power. Anyone who doesn’t want a walking disaster near them… I think you get the point.”
“Let’s say powerful people come for her again. What do you expect of us?” The principal asked.
“I came here because I need someone to take the choice out of me. Nobody saw or felt what I did. I…We…I have not been able to sleep since I returned because what I was told I have to do and what I think is right is keeping me awake.”
“Explain yourself.”
“Principal…There is something inside Mia. The best way to describe it I can say is that it is a god. When her wolf died, she let it loose for a moment…If…If…” Mathias suddenly began to panic a little. He covered his eyes with his hands and after a few seconds he calmed down.”If that thing goes out of control there will be nothing left. It was pure dumb luck that everyone is still alive. That thing inside Mia would have killed us if we weren’t moved.”
“And what do you think should be done?”
“We can’t let that thing out in any way necessary. Be it by removing the problem or making sure that the problem can’t manifest itself.” Mathias said coldly.
“Are you suggesting we just kill your classmate?” Mirai angrily asked.
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“That is why I am here. I am the only one who truly understood what happened. I talked with everyone and besides thinking that it was a powerful attack, they couldn’t identify more than that. I also know I am not going crazy, I asked a lot of people to check me and they all said I am alright. What I saw is not something that can be controlled by us. We can’t ever be on the wrong side of that thing. We need to either be 100% committed to it or against it. There will be no middle ground if we want to be safe.”
After a few moments of silence, the principal began to talk.
“So, if I asked you to kill Mia right now, would you?” He coldly asked.
“Yes.”
“And after you succeed. What would you do?”
“I would kill myself. Because that would be the second time I sacrificed the same companion who did nothing but try to protect me.” Mathias said without flinching.
“Then I guess we will have to stay on Mia’s good side, right?” The principal said a little more jovially.
“Can you make the kingdom do that?”
“I usually don’t throw my weight around like that but I am the personal professor of the royalty so I think I can make that happen.”
“Do you swear it?” He asked very seriously.
“Are you doubting me?”
“DO YOU SWEAR IT? On your pride as a man! As her Master! On your family! DO YOU SWEAR THAT YOU CAN MAKE SURE THE KINGDOM WILL NEVER BE HER ENEMY!?” Mathias asked very aggressively as he got up. He was equal parts panicked and desperate.
“I do. Now calm down young man.” The principal said as he suddenly teleported to Mathias' side and put his hand on his shoulder. Stopping the teenager from moving. Soon he calmed down and sat on the sofa again.
After a minute or so, Mathias finally calmed down. He put his hands up to cover his eyes as tears began to fall from his eyes.
“Mathias, are you alright?” Mirai said as she suddenly jumped toward him.
“I’m so happy. I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t strong enough so I had to choose the option that left most people alive. Even after hearing that most of us did indeed basically sell her out to the enemy, she still called us friends. She still tried to protect us ignoring any danger to her life. And in the end, we are all here because of her. That last attack she did wasn’t her, at least not completely and now someone who doesn’t think I am going crazy swore to me that I will never have to fight against it.” Mathias said, as he cried.
“It’s alright, Mathias. You can rest easy now.” The principal said.
“She is incredible, ain’t she? My dad told me that he became a Royal Guard because my mom works at the castle and he wanted to be near her and protect her. I trained to follow his steps because I too wanted to protect my family but they will be so angry with me when I tell them what I did. They always told me that there is more to family than blood. That I shouldn’t be so fixed on it or I would miss something and now I understand. I probably could fight like her if it was for my family…She, Mia, she saw us as her family, right?” Mathias said and asked with a smile even as tears still fell from his eyes.
“Probably. She only sees people in three groups as far as I am aware. People she likes, people she doesn’t care about and people she hates. I can say that you are part of the first group.”
“...Principal. I think we need some lessons to differentiate what is expected to what is morally and socially correct on the battlefield.” Mathias said as he began to stop crying.
“Why that?” Mirai asked.
“Because if another idiot like me finds himself in a situation like the one I experienced. He might try to follow the basic rules of the military and sacrifice a friend…”
“I will keep that in mind. But I think it’s time for you to go back to your home and sleep.” The principal said.
“Yeah…I will be going.” Mathias said as he stood up and walked to the door. Just before he left he said one last thing. “In the morning Shishen and Narissa will come. They…They are a mess. Please try to help them, I don’t think I can do more than I did.”
After Mathias left, Mirai and the principal sat again and began to talk.
“Never thought I would see our stoic Mathias like that…” Mirai said.
“How would you feel being the only person in the world knowing that the world will end?”
“...Probably not very good.”
“Another thing to add in the file of my disciple…” The principal said, amused.
“Do you believe him? That Mia has a god inside her?”
“I believe the part that there is something there, but not a god. They wouldn’t dare to confront me.” The principal casually said.
“Did know you were that strong.”
“Most gods are weaker than people believe. They usually are just people being worshipped and people die very easily.”
“Only two left now…”
“Let’s hope it’s not as bad as he said.”