Black Haze

Uncertainty with Trust

Uncertainty with Trust

“Hmph, wake up.”

            I heard voices all around me. I struggled to open my eyes. My body ached with the pain I’d received from healing Dio.

            “Wake up, you worthless girl.”

            I was about to snap at the words when I saw Shicmuon in my field of vision. I was confused, but then realized that he was gripping my robe. I was dangling a few inches off the ground, which didn’t quite bother me. However, I was befuddled.

            “What happened?”

            “You passed out.” I turned and saw Rood Chrishi, still wearing the robe. “You… I recognize you.” He hasn’t seen my face yet. “You can close that door, can’t you?”

            I raised my eyes above to see a purple door beginning to open. I didn’t answer Rood. I glanced behind me and saw a silent Dio. I tried to relax but I couldn’t. Something seemed off about the Tower’s Magicians that surrounded us.

            “What’s going on?” I demanded.

            “…” Shicmuon narrowed his eyes at me. “Blackie, I’ll kill you.”

            “I’m getting tired of hearing those words,” Rood spoke. “Anyone can cry that all night long, but will they? Your existence is no better than that of a three-year old’s.”

            “Why are you so angry?” Shicmuon asked. “I’m not sure why, but I feel like I should send you a greeting…”

            “Stop talking,” Rood said, “and show me through your actions. See if you… Can kill me.”

            There was a dark glint in Shicmuon’s eyes as he effortlessly dropped me. I felt my heartbeat rapidly increase. Shicmuon, don’t you dare… I thought it over. Why wasn’t Rood awakened? It was most likely undone when the barrier broke. So, he needed someone powerful… Shicmuon.

            I touched my necklace. “Stop them both,” I whispered to Celestial.

            In an instant, a dimension door opened. Celestial stepped through, safely covered by a robe like me. “I thought things were getting out of hand,” she calmly said, “but I didn’t think it’d get this bad.” Shicmuon seemed to stop moving upon seeing her. “The Tower makes me sick right now. Although…” She raised her head at Orphell’s direction. “Maybe someone can stop whom he works for.”

            “You didn’t answer my question,” Rood said to me. “You can close that door, can’t you?”

            I still didn’t answer. I used my magic to hear what the man and Orphell were saying. What I heard didn’t please me. It would be great if I could kill that man, I thought, scowling. I hoped Professor Orphell would do something good.

            “Normally,” the man began, “before an actual [door] opens, we break it with a stronger force. But with the powers we currently have… I don’t think it’s possible. It may be, if we have two or three first rank magicians…”

            “But we do!” Professor Orphell interjected. “Perhaps even more than that, if my assumptions are correct.”

            Is he talking about Celestial and I? How does he know we’re both of first rank?