The school hall was buzzing the same way it was right before every morning assembly. Kleopatra looked around at her schoolmates chattering happily away, eager to get their last-minute gossip in before the school day began. She turned away from the podium to face the wall as the principal waited by the side, holding his papers. They did not know. Not yet.
“Good morning,” the principal’s solemn voice drifted to her ears. “It has fallen to me to deliver some tragic news. One of our Necromancy students, Orpheus Caesar, has passed away in an unfortunate accident. Necromancer Orpheus was a humble student…”
Kleopatra felt stares from her fellow student council members as the principal droned on with his eulogy. She looked at them in bewilderment before realising how wet her face was. The student council president wiped her eyes and hurriedly excused herself before she embarrassed herself further. Kleopatra decided to leave her vice president to read out the announcements of the day. She wasn’t in any condition to speak to the school today.264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg9IMg2mBB
The school roof was as peaceful as always, except for the lone figure sitting on the ledge this time. Kleopatra normally would have been concerned if it were a regular student, but not this one. This one was capable of flying.
“Skipping morning assembly?” She tried joking, but only managed to inject as much humour as an undertaker at a funeral. “That’s against the school rules, y’know.”
“Then I’ll see you in detention as well, Miss President.”
Kleopatra sat down beside Felix.
“If there’s anything I can do…” she started, but her voice drifted into nothingness. Who was she kidding? There was nothing anyone could do for a boy who had lost everything.
“I buried Marcia myself, and Orpheus’s funeral was held over the weekend,” Felix said. “It was organised by your father; Orpheus’s family was just there for the food.”
Kleopatra cast her gaze downwards.
“I don’t see why not.” Felix shook his head, laughing dryly. “It’s not like he doesn’t have nine other Druid siblings who can carry on the family business as usual. Orpheus was always the oddball of his family, anyway.”
“I’m so sorry, Felix.” Kleopatra’s voice wavered. “I could’ve done more— As student council president, I should’ve done more for my students… But I—”
“No, Kleo. Thank you for doing so much for us.” Felix leaned back, looking at the sky as he closed his eyes in pain. “I’ve always thought that if I were strong enough, I could protect anyone. If I were powerful enough, I could help anyone.”
Kleopatra looked at him silently.
“But I was wrong.” He shook his head and chuckled slightly. “And now, everyone I loved is gone. All because I was a fool to believe only I had the power to make things right.”
He turned to Kleopatra with tears in his eyes.
“Y’know, when I joined the Guardian Council, they told me that there would always be a risk of death. I knew that, and I accepted that! But…” His voice dropped again. “I didn’t think it would happen to anyone else but me. It didn’t matter how strong I was or how competent I was. I’m no hero. I’m barely even a good person. All this time, I’ve only been fighting for myself. I was just too stubborn to see it...”
Kleopatra pursed her lips. What was she supposed to say to that? Felix was right on all accounts, and she knew not how to comfort him.
“What do you plan on doing from now on?” she asked lamely.
“What I should be doing, being a good student and staying in school.”
Kleopatra stared at him, concern written all over her face.
“What? Oh c’mon. Don’t look so sceptical, Miss President.” Felix laughed. “What else can I possibly do from now on? It’s not like I can go back to the Guardian Council after my whole vigilante act. Thanks for speaking up for me, by the way.”
A different look of determination knitted his brows and etched itself on his face.
“I still have my whole life ahead of me; I know that much.” The boy stood up, turning back to the roof doors. “And I intend to live it responsibly from now onwards.”
Kleopatra broke into a warm smile.
~ ~ ~
A shadow drifted by in the warm, late afternoon sun. Footsteps, placed one after another in a slow, deliberate pace, flattened the overgrown grass gently, almost as though they were afraid to hurt it. The figure walked along the path, keeping a respectful wide berth from the tombstones around him. And then he stopped.
“Hey.”
Felix knelt, placing a wand on the slab of granite with the name ‘Orpheus Caesar’ carved onto it.
“You forgot this, my love.” The boy smiled slightly. “This place is pretty nice. Maybe one day, I’ll be buried here with you.”
His eyes drifted to the white lilies lying on a nearby grave as a small smile formed on his lips. “And with Marcia.”
Felix waved his hand casually, and the dried leaves obscuring Orpheus’s photograph were blown away by an invisible force.
“School was good today. No one bothered me, and Alchemy Test—” He punched his palm victoriously. “Nailed it. You should have seen how easy it was, man. You know what? We should celebrate that.”
A can of beer flew into his hands, sizzling softly as Felix cracked it open. He raised it to his friend’s tomb and brought it to his lips.
But his mouth refused to open.
Tears stained the granite as the boy set his can down loudly. Felix trembled, choking in the merciless waves of misery washing over him again.
His fists pounded weakly on the floor, cursing himself for not being strong enough to keep his emotions in. Berating himself for failing to put on a show in front of Orpheus. He had never felt so alone in his life. He had never felt so helpless before.
Dammit… I promised I wouldn’t cry—
Felix’s eyes shot open again, suddenly aware of a nearby presence. The boy hurriedly wiped away his tears and turned to the red-haired man watching him quietly from behind.
“Here to send me to the gaols?” His voice turned cold instantly. “You should have brought more than just yourself.”
Warlock Vulcan unfolded his arms and walked towards the boy. His figure towered over him as usual, but Felix did not flinch.
“Let’s see… going AWOL, attacking your colleague, multiple counts of aggravated assault— of a criminal, no doubt. But still, an assault nonetheless,” the man said. “Given normal circumstances, you’ll be charged with at least ten years.”
The boy’s facial expression remained neutral.
“But what happened to you is anything but normal.” Vulcan placed a hand on his shoulder. “And besides, I doubt we have a gaol that can hold an exceptionally strong Tier Five like you.”
Felix scoffed audibly. He was not exactly planning to resist arrest if Vulcan was really about to take him in, but he was still grateful for his leniency. The boy moved aside, giving way for Vulcan to kneel and pay his respects.
He turned around silently to leave—
“I’m sorry, Felix.”
“Of course you are,” the boy snapped. “Everyone is when they’re by a tombstone, even if they never cared for the deceased when he was still alive. Spare me your false words, Vulcan. I’ve had enough to last a lifetime.”
“You’re right. I failed you,” Vulcan said. “And I won’t make any excuses for myself anymore. I… I didn’t treat you seriously. I was so preoccupied with my own responsibilities that I failed to see how much more weight was on your shoulders. I was too late, and I wasn’t there when you needed my help most.”
Felix’s jaw tightened.
“I won’t ask for forgiveness; I know I don’t deserve it.” Vulcan bowed his head. “But I pray you give me a chance to apologise, even if you won’t accept it.”
The boy breathed heavily and closed his eyes.
“I’m not unreasonable, Warlock Vulcan. I’m just grieving,” Felix said. “I never blamed you for my loss. And I don’t intend to dwell in darkness any longer.”
He looked to the sky. “There is so much more light in this world than I know. I’ve just never bothered to look for it.”
“I’m grateful, sir. Truly,” he said, nodding at Vulcan. “For all you have done for me. For all of us. So don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine from now on.”
“You’re still part of the Guardian Council, y’know?” Vulcan said. “I never intended to kick you out. So if you want— Only if you wish— You’re still welcome back here.”
Felix walked out of the gates wordlessly.
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