A Tarnished Hero

Chapter 47: Underneath the Top

Before they looked to the bridge as a means of heading higher up, they searched the area first to see if they could find any other way into the giant building further beyond. They found a door just below the room where Izuku fought with the twin-headed masked sorcerer, and surprise surprise, it was locked.

He had half a mind to just break it down, but then again, this was a magical academy. Who knows what might happen if he breaks something as sacred as a door leading deeper into the building. He tried that before in Stormveil Castle, and the following experience didn't go so well. And the funny thing is, when he came back to the same door after dying what could be called a slow and horrifying death, the damn thing was fixed and locked!

He sometimes questioned the sanity and inner-workings of this fantasy world, but Melina was quick to tell him to stop and just roll with it. When he came back with the key in hand, nothing bad happened, and the next time he came back again, the door was already wide open.

The less he questioned it, the better. That was relayed to Katsuki quite well and the ash blond didn't see the reason as to continue the train of thought if Izuku was already giving him warning bells in his head.

At least there was a way to open it by going to the top of the room and jumping off the balcony to the other side and opening it from behind. Of course, they had to knock out a sorcerer who was sleeping on the job after they had woken him up from the harsh landing their boots made. As for how he slept through the entirety of their fight earlier, he didn't know, but he wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

With the door opened, Izuku marked it for further exploration since it led to the rooftops of some of the buildings, which wasn't the point of his climb right now. But there was another door at the top floor, and it was also locked. He looked around it and saw that it connected to the building further up and he let out a long and suffering sigh.

Why couldn't things just be simple?

Which led to now, with both Katsuki and Izuku looking at the vast expanse of the fog below, and a broken bridge that led to the main gate of the giant building further up.

"That's a long fuckin' drop." The ash blond remarked as he stared at the white abyss that blanketed his vision. "You sure this a good idea? I don't think you know how to fly."

"Eh, if I fall, you can continue waiting in that giant room until I'm back. Who knows, you might learn more about the magic you're trying to use." Izuku shrugged and stared at the two arches that connected the ground they were standing on to the broken bridge. Without further ado, he dropped down and landed with his legs almost slipping due to the surface. Fortunately, he managed to not fall by dropping to his knees and hugging the arch for dear life.

"Oi! Don't fuckin' fall! You hear me!" Katsuki yelled from above. "I don't want to be waiting for your sorry ass again!"

"Don't worry, I ain't falling to gravity this time." Izuku swore as he slowly stood himself up. Heights had made him quake his boots at one point in his life, but now? It was barely an inconvenience. Walking along the arc, he reached the bridge and stood on solid ground. A loud bang from behind caught his ears and he turned, seeing Katsuki flying through the air as he landed right beside him.

"You really need to find something that makes you fly." Katsuki commented with an eye roll. "There's magic and fucking magic in this world, and you still didn't find anything that makes you fly? What about a glider? Magical wings?"

"... Okay, you might have a point there." Izuku hummed as he mulled the thought in his head. Only for it to be cut short when the bridge shook. And then the sound came. Craning his neck to the main gate, his eyes widened when he saw a giant boulder rolling down towards them. "Ah shit!"