United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 28 - Shintaro

When Shintaro had teleported Amy, the relentless boy, and himself back to Ariel, he hadn't expected to feel the sharp pain of Dark Magic sparking throughout the teleportation spell. Though it was strong, the abrupt, stabbing throb was gone almost as quickly as it came. Shintaro hadn't expected the boy to try to defend himself using his magic, and the outcome had only resulted in both himself and Shintaro reeling in pained shock. While Amy had blinked at them both in startled confusion, the boy began kicking and screaming through his hysteria and pain, struggling to break free of Shintaro's hold on his wrist. 

After Shintaro had quickly brushed away the lingering throb in his chest, he'd marched toward the stairs to bring the kid to the king and queen - and Abby, who seemed to be the only one who actually knew about this boy. If Chase knew him, he either didn't remember or didn't care to remember, though Shintaro wasn't sure why Chase "wouldn't care to remember". His son was a sweet boy, which made Shintaro wonder if this boy had done something to upset Chase in some way. 

While Shintaro had practically dragged the boy through the halls, the screaming and struggling didn't cease. Shintaro had to make to sure to keep a bit of magic at hand, just in case the boy tried to teleport away. However, the captive seemed to know that if he tried anything, Shintaro's Light Magic would counter it. He was only kicking and yelling in frantic panic, though it was getting him nowhere. 

When Falte had appeared, the boy had abruptly stopped everything and stood utterly still for a few moments. Even Falte had frozen, like icy hands had taken ahold of his body and paralyzed him. His creamy brown eyes had flown open wider than Shintaro had ever seen them, and the boy continued to stare at him for a little bit longer. 

But when the boy began struggling again, Falte didn't move. His mouth was pressed in a thin line, his jaw clenched, and his hands closed into fists at his sides. His eyebrows were high on his face in an expression of shocked disbelief, but Shintaro didn't know what Falte couldn't believe about this. 

"Falte, come on, man," Amy was saying worriedly as she peered at him in concern. She had moved in front of Shintaro and was standing a few feet to Falte's left. "Seriously, are you okay? Can you hear me? Should I get someone? Or something? Like water? Or that Esther lady?" 

Shintaro was still trying to keep the boy from breaking away, and because his concern for Falte was momentarily distracting him, the frantic captive almost managed to slip away twice. Shintaro finally whirled impatiently toward the boy, pushing him against the nearest wall roughly and slamming both hands on his shoulders. 

"Listen up, kid," he said lowly, in a dangerous tone. "You need to take a breath and calm down. I have no intentions of hurting you, and if anyone tries to do so without good reason, I assure you, their actions will not go unnoticed. You are not going to die, and right now I have other concerns. So you will stand right there silently, and if you move, there will be consequences." 

The boy's dark brown eyes were wide and frightened as he blinked up at Shintaro. His mouth opened as if he was going to argue; but almost as soon as he opened it, he clamped it shut again and shrank against the wall, breaking eye-contact. 

Shintaro slowly lifted his hands away from the boy's shoulders, noticing with a small pang of pity that the boy winced. When the terrified captive didn't bolt, Shintaro slowly turned toward Falte again, grateful that his command had worked - but he also felt bad that he'd had scared the poor kid. 

Falte's eyes had apparently followed the boy's movements, because his head was turned toward the boy against the wall now. But this time his mouth was opening and closing, and he was stuttering a few unintelligible words. 

Amy, who was still standing next the adviser, looked to Shintaro with open hands, her face frantic. "What's wrong with him?!" 

"I don't know," Shintaro said as evenly as he could. In truth, he didn't know - and he didn't want to guess what was happening. Though Falte had always been a healthy man, there were plenty of problems that could swoop in as quick as an arrow. Shintaro just hoped that it wasn't that.