Chapter 23: Research
'Where...'
'Why... my body...'
'I'm mad...? No that's not...me.'
A school setting and my old body? What is this? Who is this? That anger, it was him. I felt his anger. Are we connected?
'Who are you?'
"Nova...Nova wake up..."
"Nova!"
My eyes opened but my body wouldn't move. Next to me were my teammates each with a relieved expression on their faces. Melody was holding my hand while tears dripped down her face and onto my hand. When she noticed my weak smile she cried even more.
"I thought you were dead!"
I used all of my will power just to move my arm to her head and placed my hand on top of her.
"You can't get rid of me that easily."
"Stupid..."
The others and Mr Willows came to my side. Mr Willows took out a glass bottle and poured it down my throat, instantly showing results. I could move my body with less strain although, it wasn't back to perfect condition yet. I sat up slowly with help from Melody.
"Mr Willows, what is it you gave me?"
"A mana elixir, it restores some of the mana you used up but it won't restore all of it. You're lucky, most would have died from how drained of mana you were."
Jack came over and knelt beside me, "Thank you nova, for believing in me."
"I should be thanking you. Without your gravity magic we probably would have lost."
Cynthia was smirking, "This is touching and all but I don't have all day."
"What? You going to go take someone's virginity succubus?"
"Who you calling a succubus, Cutting Board!?"
"What was that? I couldn't here you over your inflated ego."
"You little—!"
"Both of you, be quiet!" Mr Willows interrupted our little spout and sighed heavily. "Can't you get along?"
We simultaneously responded, "No."
"Fine, fine, just leave the fighting until after school okay?"
"...Fine."
"Alright, Warren's team come here."
Warren, Michael, Crystal, and Terra stood in front of Mr Willows with their heads down.
"Would any one of you like to take responsibility for the loss? All of you will be expelled if no one takes accountability."
There was only silence until Warren spoke up, "As leader I take full responsibility for the loss."
Warren's teammates looked at him with shocked expressions, almost as if they had seen a ghost.
"Warren... chose two of your teammates to be expelled."
Before they could even express their shock Warren spoke, "Terra and Crystal, they burdened the team as a whole. The added weight and the constant need for each other was unreliable and slowed us down. She's your sister, not your child."
"Terra and Crystal, you are both expelled, effective immediately."
"I-I see. Lets go, Terra."
"Good luck guys..."
And with that they left the campus. Seeing them like this made me question myself but I quickly regained my composure. In a battle, one has to know when to retreat, even if that means leaving someone behind.
'This was the only way... wasn't it?'
Mr Willows broke the cold silence, "Now that that is over with, It's time to announce the next and final test; a tournament!"
"..."
"Oh come on! no response at all!? Geez, what a tough crowd. Anyways, as I was saying, in a weeks time a tournament will be held with all the enrolling students as participants. There will be many watching how you will preform. Your performance will determine what class you will be in and whether or not you are excepted into Thorn Hill. In addition, there will be scouts from influential guilds at the tournament to see if you have what it takes to become in league with them. So don't give up hope just because you lost, don't give up until the list of students excepted is posted. I will see you all in one week, train well. You are dismissed."
***
'I have one week.'
I returned home with Melody that day and asked my parents to help me find some books. It was then that I realized what the third story was for, it was a library. It wasn't as big as a public library but there were still many shelves full to the brim with old and new looking books. I asked Melody to help me since I trust her and It would be boring to do this alone.
"So why are we looking through these books, Nova?"
"I need to find books on legends. Any and all of them. Also I want to learn more of this world and of its magics which is why I need your help."
"But why me? You can ask your parents. I'm sure they know more than me."
"Melody, you're the only one that I trust with this information, can you keep what i'm about to tell you a secret?"
"Of course I will."
I told her about my dream and the strange hooded figure that wants me to find them. I left out the rest, I can't risk her getting hurt.
"Is that why you were so tired that day?"
"Yeah, I couldn't sleep after that."
"I see, I'll help you on one condition."
"I'm going to regret this, what's the condition?"
Melody store at the ground, her ears burning bright red, "G-go on a d-d-date with me."
I sighed, "That's all? Sure, I'll go on a date with you."
Melody instantly jumped with delight, "Really?!"
I smirked, "You're pretty cute when you're excited."
"S-shut up and help me look for some books!"
"Sure thing, Your Highness," I took an over exaggerated bow and went to look in the opposite direction.
There were countless books on each shelf all with different genres and styles but one in particular called to me. I could see it sparkling like a firecracker but it had a calming vibe to it. I picked up the book and as soon as I did the sparks disappeared.
'That's odd, there's no author?'
The cover of the book had four dragons, each in their own quadrant. I recognized one of them to be Atlas so they must be the four dragons. I noticed a gemstone in the middle of the four quadrants. It was cut into a rhombus and was very hazy but not quite white. It looked as if it was glowing, talking even. I touched the gemstone and it started to glow brighter. It floated just above my right ring finger then wrapped a gold ring around the finger. Slowly, it descended and imbedded itself into the gold ring, letting the light it was emitting drain away into nothingness. Nothing felt different about me except for the new ring on my finger. I ignored it for now and opened the book but every page was blank except the last.
It read 'Even Fate Has A Destiny.'
I figured the book would be important so I put it in my room when no one was looking and went back to search for more books of interest but found none.
"Melody, lets call it a day. It's getting late anyways."
"Yeah, you're right."
We walked down the stairs to the first floor where everyone was seated at the dinner table.
Elena noticed us first, "You're just in time! Come sit before the food gets cold."
We sat in our usual spots and began to eat. Markus was being hisself as usual, so why did he suddenly go silent? He had a frightened expression and was staring at my new ring.
Elena noticed, "What's wrong Markus?"
"A-ah, it's nothing! I just zoned out a bit, excuse me."
He got up and left for the bathroom still sweating nervously.
'He's hiding something and I'm going to find out what.'
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