Black Haze

Suspicion

Suspicion

“Ah, Ezekiel?” Professor Khan called me over.

            I slowly walked towards her. “Yes…?” I asked in a small voice.

            “Please deliver these papers to Professor Orphell,” she said. “He should be somewhere outside or near the outside of the building.”

            “Yes ma’am,” I said, talking the stack of papers from her. Celestial stayed close to me. “Let’s go,” I told her, gesturing my head towards the outside. “Help me find Professor Orphell.” I walked out with Celestial until she stopped. “What is it?”

            She pointed upwards. “He’s up there…” she whispered and quickly dropped her arm.

            I looked up and she was right. Professor Orphell was with Professor Deon, perched upon the top of the school. They were looking downwards, watching and observing something… but what? “Let’s go,” I said to Celestial. “Let’s go see what they’re looking at.”

            We walked towards the area they were watching and encountered Rood Chrishi, the Hereis I’d seen before, Shicmuon, and two other Hereis. I looked up at the Professors and realized that they were watching Shicmuon closely.

            I walked forwards and felt a the presence of a magic barrier. The professors most likely set it up, but why did they allow us to watch? Unless… they wanted witnesses… Considering what I’d seen before, they weren’t pleased with Shicmuon. It was only natural for someone to try to get rid of someone they didn’t like.

            I watched as the two Hereis fought with Shicmuon. Shicmuon was sitting with crossed arms, clearly displeased with them. Was he going to destroy the building?

            One of the Hereis boiled with anger as Shicmuon stood up and walked away. The Hereis clenched his teeth. He touched his magical bracelet and chanted some words. “Who do you think you are,” he growled, “treating me like a moron?” Magic flowed from his bracelet.

            “Oi, Ezekiel, shouldn’t we—” Celestial was cut off as Rood pushed the Hereis forward and hid behind him.

            Celestial and I stared at Rood as the magic from the bracelet was completely nullified. With one look, it would’ve looked like the Hereis stopped the attack, but Rood complicated things. I couldn’t tell if the Hereis stopped the attack or if it was Rood himself.

            Shicmuon walked past the Hereis and Rood stared uncertainly at him. Shicmuon turned his head to look, but Rood quickly turned the Hereis around out of panic and shock.

            “H-Hadelio! Get out of the way!” the two Hereis shouted.

            So his name is Hadelio.

            “Why you! Where do you think you’re going?”

            Hadelio calmed them down as Shicmuon walked away with his hands in his pockets. They muttered a few words as Rood stood behind him, thinking. I could only stare.

            “We should go,” Celestial muttered.

            I shook my head. “I think… it’s fine if we cause a small ruckus.”

            Celestial sent me an alarmed look. “Wha—”

            I raised my head and gaped at the Professors. I parted my lips and shouted, “PROFESSOR ORPHELL! PROFESSOR KHAN WANTED ME TO GIVE THESE PAPERS TO YOU!” I shouted so loud that Professor Deon, who was so startled, nearly fell off of the building had Professor Orphell not pulled him back.

            The professors hurriedly got off of the building. Professor Deon shouted to me, “Y-yes! Please meet us at the bottom!”

           

Professor Orphell took the papers from my hands. He didn’t speak. However, when I was about to leave with Celestial, he said, “Take off your hoodie.”

            I paused. “Run,” I whispered to Celestial. I counted to three as Professor Orphell took steps forward. One. Two. Three. Then, as quickly as possible, Celestial and I dashed down the hallways, away from the professors.

            Professor Deon shouted at us to stop, but we didn’t. We ran until we were surrounded by other students. Some stared with wonder as to why we were running for our lives, but Celestial and I only breathed to catch our breath.

            “Why’d we run?” she asked.

            “Because I don’t want to be seen,” I said, still catching my breath. “And, if I seem suspicious, I’ll somehow get involved with the matter the Association, the Tower, and Helios and burying themselves in. I need as much information as possible.”

            “Let’s go to class. We’ll be late,” Celestial suddenly said. She pulled me into the classroom where I nearly froze.

            Shicmuon was standing there, glaring at everyone. He was a Hereis. So why was he in the Idun class? Was he looking for something or someone?

            Celestial and I sat down in our seats, uneasy. “Is that him?” she whispered.

            I nodded. “He’ll try to annihilate you if you displease him, so be careful.”

            “I know that.”

            Professor Orphell cleared his throat. “For the duration of the special, larger classes, he will be in your class, Hereis Asujin Baldwin.”

            Asujin Baldwin? The hell? That’s not his name… Helios was probably trying to hide his identity. After all, he was a first rank magician, and he was known for fighting with the Black Magician.

            Celestial must have noticed it, too. I only shrugged to let her know that I knew. On the other hand, everyone exclaimed with surprise and the girls were filled with joy. They thought he was good-looking, and I didn’t blame them. He was, but his expressions made me feel slightly terrified.

            I glanced back as Dio and Lidusis questioned Rood about Shicmuon. Rood only dropped his head with misery. Why?

            Professor Orphell then spoke. “Originally at Helios, the students are separated as an Idun, Claud or a Hereis and classes are held separately according to the ranking system, but, because of the classes clashing with each other, there have been problems with the system, big and small.”

He continued on with having classes with the Hereis and etc. Then he said, “But, Baldwin is a special case, so, in order to help him adjust faster, he’ll spend a bit more time with you outside of the practical lessons so I hope you can be friendly towards him. Nothing will change much because of this so don’t worry too much. Your temporary seat will be—”

            Shicmuon suddenly took a step forward. He began to walk towards our direction. However, he wasn’t exactly looking at me – he was looking at Rood. He snatched Rood’s book away and said, “I think… right here… will be perfect.” Rood could only hold a miserable and shocked expression on his face.

            “…Alright,” Professor Orphell said. “Baldwin will officially be part of our class starting tomorrow. If anyone has questions about the special classes we’ll be having, please come see me.”

After classes, Celestial and I were in class, talking like everyone else.

            “…Hey.” Celestial sent me a cautious look. “Don’t you feel that? Magic was used.” The building suddenly shook, and she was right.

            Quickly, she and I left the room without being seen. We ran outside and looked up to see the thing we’d been suspicious of – the black thing. It had appeared.

            Why is it here?