Black Magic

Waking Up

Chapter 9: Waking Up

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Kyungsoo was eased from his slumber by the pleasant rumble of a deep voice.

"When was the last time you Changed?" it inquired softly.

Kyungsoo stretched languidly, slowly blinking himself awake. Before he could dredge up a reply, another voice, this one younger, more hesitant, answered.

"Um...I don't know..." The person was dragging the words out slowly, as though trying to buy himself some time to think about his response. "A couple of months maybe?"

Kyungsoo sleepily shifted onto his side, still completely out of it. As he moved a sharp jab of pain lanced up his leg, and he was suddenly much more awake. He lifted his blanket and glanced at his knee, the source of discomfort. It was throbbing, the shallow wound reopened from where he'd just dragged it along the rough fabric of the sheet.

Oh, right.

He slowly removed his head from beneath the cover.

He'd fallen asleep in the infirmary.

Kyungsoo's eyes widened in sudden panic and he fought the urge to jump out of bed and race out of the room. How long had he been out? Why hadn't Kai woken him--?

Kyungsoo quickly glanced past Chen and the people surrounding him, searching for Kai's familiar form on the neighboring bed... but it was obviously empty.

The little prick was gone.

Kyungsoo relaxed back against his pillow with a silent moan, hands fisted in his blanket, and glared up at the ceiling with murderous intent; he knew (and so did Kai) that he was going to get hell from his teachers for skipping classes.

"He's lying," a familiar voice intoned, and Kyungsoo stilled, becoming vaguely aware that maybe now wasn't the best time wake up anyway. Despite the gentle voice from earlier, the atmosphere between Chen and his questioners seemed rather strained.

This was a conversation Kyungsoo probably shouldn't be listening to.

Yup, I should just go back to sleep.

He slowly closed his eyes and relaxed against his cot, truly attempting to fall back into unconsciousness.... But he gave up after a grand total of 5 seconds. He was too curious.

Kyungsoo slowly cracked is eyelids, surreptitiously examining the figures in the room.

Kris was standing at the end of Chen's bed, arms folded so that his purple cloak was pushed back to rest on his shoulders. Next to him was another student, a Water Dragon judging from the blue of his outfit. An elderly man, whom Kyungsoo assumed was the Master Healer (and owner of the soothing voice), completed the small posse.

Chen's face was currently turning a deep crimson, and Kris's steady purple gaze seemed to be the reason.

Kyungsoo sympathized with the injured Fire Dragon. He'd been on the receiving end of that unnerving stare one too many times. Kris was no joke.

"How long has it really been, Chen?" the old man prodded, his voice friendly and non-judgmental.

Chen exhaled and stared down at his hands, clenching and unclenching them into the blankets that covered his legs. Kyungsoo could tell from Chen's body language that he did not want to be having this conversation.

"Chen?"

"Three years," the boy finally mumbled, so low that Kyungsoo wasn't sure he'd heard correctly.