Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 27 Silver Mist

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
After band practice, Plutus and I made our way out of the school, the campus quieting down with just a few scattered students lingering over their work. The afternoon air felt cool, and I was enjoying the silence when a question popped into my head. I looked over at Plutus who still grumpy as ever.
 
"Paano mo napahinto ang oras kanina?"
 
Kailangan ko pa tumingala para lang makita ang mukha ni Plutus. Jusko, higante ba ang isang 'to at napakatangkad? Nag mumukha tuloy akong elementary student kapag katabi ko siya. 
 
"It’s one of my abilities," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
 
"Napaka-angas! If I had that power, I’d probably rob a bank or something. Freeze time, grab the cash, and-"
 
He cut me off with a hard glare. "You lunatic," he muttered, shaking his head like he’d just heard the wildest thing.
 
"Do you even hear yourself?"
 
"Bakit? Praktikal na panahon ngayon," pagrarason ko na ikinangiwi niya.
 
"Practical?” he scoffed, crossing his arms. "Only someone as ridiculous as you would think ‘robbing a bank’ is practical."
 
"Ayaw pa, hati naman tayo sa makukuha," ngisi kong turan sa kan'ya. 
 
"Crazy evil witch," bulong ni Plutus bago kami nakarating sa parking lot. 
 
When we reached the parking area, I waited for him to hand me the helmet as usual, but he just looked me up and down, a look of distaste settling over his face.
 
"You look filthy," he said flatly, crossing his arms. "I don’t want you getting your germs on my bike. Take the bus."
 
My jaw dropped. "Ako, madungis?!" I protested, stomping my foot as he turned away, completely unmoved.
 
"Yeah, yeah," Plutus said lazily, slipping on his helmet. "Go on—get going. Bus is that way." He shooed me off with a dismissive wave.
 
 
Napakakapal naman talaga ng apog ng prinsipe na 'to. Ang linis-linis ko kaya, napaka-arte lang talaga niya. Dahil sa sobrang inis ko, sinigawan ko ito nang humarurot ito sa dinadaanan ko.
 
"Ma-flat sana 'yang gulong mo, neat-freak!" I huffed and turned on my heel as I headed towards the bus stop. 
 
By the time I got home, I was beyond exhausted. I barely made it to the couch before I collapsed, falling asleep right there in the living room.
 

~~~

 
Pag-gising ko, eleven na ng gabi. Hindi man lang ako ginising ni Plutus para maghapunan. Grabe naman kasi ang topak ng isang 'yon, dapat pala hindi na ako sumama sa practice nila, hindi sana ako nag-titiis sa topak ng prinsipe na 'yon. 
 
Matapos kong maghapunan at maligo, napagpasyahan kong tumambay na muna sa sala at ipagpatuloy ang hindi namin natapos ni Plutus kagabi na gawain. Wala akong aasahan kay Plutus ngayon dahil mukhang ang sarap ng tulog nito sa kwarto niya.
 
Kumuha muna ako ng isang marker at saka isinulat sa board ang mga nakalap kong information kanina sa school.
 
Third Victim: Mara Smith (third year, known as a quiet, shy type of student)

Missing Body Part: Eyes

Details: Mara is found dead in the library. Both of her eyes are missing.
 
After I wrote everything, I sat cross-legged on the floor, books scattered around me. Inabot ko ang isang hardbound book at sinimulan itong basahin. I’d torn through every text I had, searching for anything about that elusive silver mist, but I found nothing. 
 
Frustration burned in me. I slammed the book shut and leaned back against the couch, closing my eyes and letting out a long, tired breath. Then, an image of that stranger flashed in my mind, his words echoing. 
 
"They all carried traces of a certain kind of magic. Old, forgotten magic."
 
My eyes shot open. Forgotten magic. Of course. I scanned the living room, rifling through the books I’d tossed aside, until my hand closed on a dark red, hardbound volume.

Ancient Magic.

How had I forgotten? 
 
My father’s family was known for their research on old magic.
 
I sat down, staring at the cover, my pulse quickening as I traced the letters. Almost holding my breath, I opened it and flipped through its aged pages, their scent musty and comforting.

My hands stopped in the middle of the book. My heart nearly jumped when I read the title of Chapter 54: Lang’s Magic, the Aethera Veil. Then I started reading what's written on it. 
 
The Lang family has always been known for their distinct magical signature, an ancient, hereditary form of magic known as the Aethera Veil. This unique magic can be traced in every spell or magical act performed by a Lang's family member.
 
The Aethera Veil leaves behind a faint, shimmering residue that is invisible to the untrained eye. However, with the use of special detection potions, it manifests as a soft, silvery mist. This mist lingers briefly after spells are cast. 
 
There are a few key traits that the Aethera Veil has, but there's an exceptional trait known as umbral precision, a level of extraction magic that allows practitioners to remove objects, essences, or even body parts with absolute surgical accuracy. This trait is so advanced that even if a body part is extracted, the magic leaves no trace of disturbance, no torn flesh, and not a single drop of blood is ever spilled. 
 
Instead, the affected area appears eerily untouched, as if whatever was removed simply ceased to exist. This makes the Aethera Veil a feared and respected magic within the Lang's family, as it enables practitioners to conduct intricate rituals or sinister extractions with a chillingly clean and undetectable approach.
 
I gasped after I was done reading the content. Oh my gosh... Hindi ako makapaniwala na matagal ng gumagamit ng dark magic ang family ni daddy. 
 
But wait....
 
Muli kong binalikan ang isang paragraph, 
 
'This unique magic can be traced in every spell or magical act performed by a Lang's family member.'
 
Only a Lang can perform this kind of magic... Ibig sabihin, isang Lang ang pumapatay sa campus? 
 
Then suddenly, I felt the room spinning as I clutched the book, every breath makes it harder and harder to take. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it, then another, and another. I tried to scream, to call out for anyone, but no sound came. The silence crushed down on me, wrapping tight around my throat.
 
Soon, footsteps thundered down the stairs, and Plutus appeared, his face struck with panic and worry.
 
"Ottilie?!" His voice was sharp, but there was an edge of fear. He rushed to my side, scooping me into his arms. "Hey, breathe, Ottilie. Look at me!"
 
I gasped, trying to catch any air, my chest heaving. My eyes watered as I met his gaze. Plutus snapped his fingers, and out of nowhere, a glass of water appeared on the table.
 
"Drink," he commanded, pressing the glass to my lips. "You have to calm down."
 
I took a sip, the cool water soothing, and gradually my breathing steadied. The room stopped spinning, and Plutus’s face became clearer. He didn’t look away, his gaze sharp yet gentle.
 
Without thinking, I leaned forward, burying my face in his chest, letting out the sob I’d been holding back. His arms wrapped around me, hesitantly at first, then he began tapping my back in a comforting rhythm.
 
"It’s… it’s my family," I choked out between sobs. "A Lang did this… all those people, those deaths… they’re because of someone in my family."
 
He held me tighter, letting me cry as he stayed silent, just listening.
 
"My best friend…" I gasped, feeling the fresh pain hit me again. "And the other students… all of them… namatay sila dahil sa kagagawan ng pamilya ko."
 
Plutus’s hand moved to the back of my head, gently pressing me closer to his chest as he said quietly, "I don’t care who they are, evil witch. It’s not you. You hear me? It’s not your fault."
 
I cried harder, every ounce of fear and guilt spilling out. Eventually, the exhaustion was too much, and my eyelids grew heavy.
 
When I could barely keep my eyes open, Plutus lifted me carefully and carried me to my bedroom. He laid me on the bed and pulled the blanket over me. Just before he turned to leave, I heard him mutter under his breath, so low I barely caught it.
 
"That scared the shit out of me, evil witch."
 
 

To be continued...