United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 31 - Aaron

Aaron, who had been listening silently the whole time and trying not to explode with rage, almost laughed at the tracker's ridiculous assumption. This boy, the same Shadowbeast that had attacked, abducted, and killed several people? The same Shadowbeast who had burst into Aaron's room and tried to kill him? The demonic monster with horns, teeth, and wings? The one that looked nothing like this boy, who was also apparently Falte's son? 

Amy was deluded. She had seen the beast as well, though it had been Aaron and Emily who were attacked directly. She had to know that what she was saying was absurd. From what Shintaro had explained, Shadowbeasts were mindless, shadowy monsters - not sixteen year old boys that actually held sanity. 

"Are you stupid?!" Falte burst out, glaring at Amy as if she'd just slapped him in the face. His eyes were like daggers as he stared dangerously at the tracker, who was still standing next to Kai.

Amy's hard frown didn't vanish, like she knew that she was right even though she was making the wildest assumptions about the poor boy. "I'm not stupid," Amy said, crossing her arms again. "I may have a somewhat idiotic and naive personality, but when it comes to things like this, I'm not stupid." 

"So explain what on earth makes you think that this is the Shadowbeast," Aaron snapped at her, leaning back in his chair. He let his eyes slide across the room and found that Shintaro wasn't looking accusingly at Amy - he was staring at Kai's bloodstained bandage with narrowed eyes. 

"Shintaro," Aaron exclaimed roughly, "you seriously can't be considering this. Amy, this is ridiculous. This boy is a human being with a mind. On top of that, he's Falte's kid. What on God's green earth makes you suspicious of him?" 

Amy completely ignored him, uncrossing her arms again to point at the wrapped wound. "Shintaro, that's exactly where you drove your Light spear, remember? That night we chased the Shadowbeast to the fortress. You pierced through his shadowy form, creating that wound." 

Shintaro didn't look up at her, though it was obvious that he was listening. He was still staring narrowly at the bandage, his expression hard and confused - but it was slowly shifting to realization. Finally, he looked up at Amy's face, his narrow yellow eyes confused and skeptical. 

"That is indeed where my Light spear pierced the beast," he said thoughtfully, slowly, "but how could this teenaged boy be the same Shadowbeast?" 

Aaron leaned back in his chair, biting back the urge to say "This man has some sense." Everyone else seemed to be considering Amy's words, even Marcus, who Aaron knew to be stubborn until he was proven wrong. The king was studying the bandage as well, then looking up at Kai's face skeptically.

Amy made an impatient gesture with her hands. "How should I know? I hardly know anything about magic. I just know that it's no coincidence that this boy has an injury in the exact same spot that you attacked the Shadowbeast." 

Shintaro narrowed his eyes again, sliding his gaze to Kai, who was looking from Amy to Shintaro in startled confusion and terror. He looked like he was ready to bolt at any sudden movements, but Falte's hand, which was wrapped around his, was holding him in place. 

"Is this true, Kai?" Ruby asked from her spot behind the desk, and Aaron was surprised to hear the even calmness in her voice. He would have expected her to burst out in either shock or rage - possibly both - at this assumption. Maybe she was skeptical about this theory, like Aaron was. 

Kai turned his confused eyes to her, opened and closed his mouth a few times, and came up with nothing. He was trembling from head to toes now, his free hand clenched in a fist and hovering uncertainly in front of his wrapped stomach.