Magnostadt Academy of Magic

Chapter 8: To Protect or To Be Put Behind

"Sigh. School is getting harder by the day, I can barely keep up."Aoi said.

"You think so? It's not that hard if you ask me." Shinoa replied taking a bite of her omelet.

"Everything is alright but Hand-to-Hand Combat is something I'm not really good at really," Aoi said to the group.

"If that's the case Shinoa and I could help you," Aine said to Aoi before taking a bite out of her pig blood curd.

" Really?! Thanks!" Aoi cheered.

"Erina do you need help with anything?" Riko turned to Erina. Erina however, was quiet looking like she was in a daze. Her unfinished lunch lied on top of her lap looking liked it wasn't touched that much. Everyone stared at Erina waiting for her to answer the question. Aine who was sitting next to Erina nudged her arm, although it for a brief moment Aine saw a flash of pain course through her eyes before disappearing.

"Huh?" Erina looked up from her lap, questioning on why everyone was staring at her. "W-what is the matter?"Erina stuttered out.

"Are you okay?You look like you've seen a ghost."Riko said worryingly. Aine continued to look at Erina as she stuttered out an answer.

"Y-yeah just tired that's all," Erina said trying to put an ease on the group's worries. But Aine quickly stood up from her seat grabbing Erina's hand and walking out of the lunchroom with the girls following behind her."W-wait Aine!S-stop!"Erina tried to stop Aine but it was futile as Aine was slowly becoming suspicious and angry. Aine made Erina follow her to an empty classroom with the other 3 girls following in.

"Sit.Down.Now."Aine demanded, her red eyes looked as if it glowing but Erina just thought it was just her being terrified so much of Aine's silent anger. Erina sat down on a chair Riko had quickly got from the room.

"Riko hold on to her shoulders. Aoi lock the door." Aine commanded. Riko quickly did as she was told while Aoi put a spell on the door. Shinoa watched worried about what was going on but trusted Aine enough to not do anything bad. Aine kneeled down gently and stared at Erina with gently and caring eyes like she was never mad in the first place.

" Erina can I please look at you?" Aine pleads softly holding her hand. Erina widened her eyes in horror as she realizes where Aine was getting at. Erina quickly began to struggle to get out of Riko's grip but Riko's grip kept firmly her in place.Few minutes passed and she became tired from struggling. Aine patiently waited for Erina to calm down while kept glancing at the clock behind her.

'13 more minutes til lunch ends, gotta hurry.' Aine looked back at Erina seeing that she calmed down a bit.

"Erina you are my dear friend regardless if we only knew each other for 2 and a half months. Please trust me." Once again Aine pleaded to Erina. Erina kept quiet for a while until she nodded. Aine slowly pulled up Erina's sleeve only to see purple and blue marks on her arms. Aine's jaw tightened seeing this as anger slowly lit up again slowly. Aoi, Shinoa, and Riko's eyes went wide in horror seeing this, wondering who would do this to such a kind person.

"Who did this?"Aine spoke slowly trying not to get her anger control her. Erina looked away before answering softly.

"Diana...Jones...a third year.."Erina got out. Aine stood up slowly before taking a deep breath in. Touching the back of her left hand where a black dog symbol was she spoke slowly."Talbis." A black line like appeared before it began swirling around Aine and Talbis materialized."You called?"

"Can you find someone just by their magic spells?" Aine asked. Talbis shook its head causing Aine to sigh. Pondering on how to find the Diana girl Aine didn't realize Riko was behind her until a hand was on her shoulder. Riko held up her black phone where it showed a dot on a map.