Paladins & Necromancers

Chapter Four: Crimson on Black

    Hawks's wings wouldn't stop twitching. He needed to fly — it felt the same as breathing. It seemed like he would curl up and die if he couldn't take to the sky. Each of the crimson feathers on his back begged for it. Unfortunately, at that moment, his hands were tied.

    Literally.

    He tried to put his signature smirk on his face — smug, relaxed, bored even. "Are the restrains really necessary, Doc? I pinky promise I won't run away."

    The doctor sighed, filling a syringe with some clear and sharp-smelling liquid. "For the hundredth time, that's not what they're for. Stop squirming."

    He was trying. He really was. However, the task was a bit difficult when there was a three-inch long needle about to stab into his neck, no matter how many times it's happened. "Yeah, yeah, whate— ahh!" He was cut off as he jolted in shock, the needle now in his flesh. "That fucking hurt!"

    The doctor rolled her eyes. "That's why I told you to stop moving, airhead." She pressed down on the back of the syringe, inserting the fluid into Hawks's bloodstream. "Now, was that so hard?"

    If his hands weren't tied, he would give her the middle finger.

    "Two more. Maybe try staying still during these ones."

    Or maybe a punch in the nose.

🝯

    "The results are here!" Kurogiri called from the kitchen. He set the letter down on the table for Tomura to retrieve later before heading to the closet to put away a stray shoe. He hummed quietly, his head clear for once. He bent down to the shelf, searching for the pair.

    "How is my heir, Kurogiri?"

    The mist man froze in place, looking down at the golden pendant at his neck. Master, Kurogiri replied silently, dropping the shoe.

    All For One remained in expectant silence. 

His results for the magic school just came in. It's highly improbable that he didn't make it in with his scores, the servant added hastily, beginning to fidget like a little boy caught stealing from the cookie jar. All Might's coming in this year. It could be a golden opportunity.

    Although his face was unseen, Kurogiri could feel the grin on the face of All For One. "Good. And how about our little friend in the Paladin course?"

    "His family has yet to report," Kurogiri murmured. It took him a moment to realize he had said it out loud. He cleared his throat, shutting the closet door. It might be another day or so.

    With that, the presence of All For One faded to the back of Kurogiri's mind. He didn't need anything else. The mist man's shoulders slumped in relief as he leaned against the wall. All For One and an associate of his were the ones who brought him back to life — and they could choose any time that him breathing was a privilege he didn't deserve. The golden pendant around his neck glimmered, a magic amulet that contained the remnants of All For One's soul. He ran his shadowy hand across the surface, feeling his fingers shake slightly. Soon it would be passed to Tomura. Soon, it was his burden to bear.

    Instead of relief, a pit formed in Kurogiri's stomach.

    "Did Master contact you?"

    Kurogiri jumped, startled by the voice. Tomura stood at the table, staring at him. The letter from UA laid in his gloved hands, the single-use crystal ball inside weighing the edge down. His red eyes fell from his caretaker's face to the vessel containing his master. The warping mage could sense complicated emotions coming off the boy in waves — fear, awe, loyalty, hate. It all swirled into something that weighed his charge down in a way no one so young should be. So when Kurogiri opened his mouth, he said what he thought might put the boy at ease.