Embers of the Past

by Bethany Atwood

  “I’ve taught here for eighteen years at this point, so yes, I was a professor back then. During the war, I continued lessons as I had, but any chance I got, if there was a battle brewing, I would lend my help, whether it be protecting others, or aiding the combat medics. The final battle took place in July, so school was out for the year, I’d been spending time on Earth to aid in evacuating people, suffice to say had it not been for me and many of the other teachers here there would perhaps be fewer survivors of those battles.”

  The demoness nods a few times before watching Rebecca as she begins to walk past dorms, following her along until they reach her and Kagura’s shared room. With a tap of her tome against the door lock she opens it and steps inside, making her way over to her daughter’s bed before settling onto it’s side and stroking down Seraphine’s back.

  “You should go ahead and get dressed Mer’ania, breakfast will be soon, and I’m sure you’d like to be cleaned up and comfortable beforehand.” The demoness nods and begins to tend to her normal morning routine, Rebecca gently lifting Kagura into her arms and bundling the blanket up around her shoulders.

  ~

  “Nh… My back…” Kagura quietly groans before reaching up and rubbing at her eyes, the feeling of lips pressing to her forehead drawing her attention as she looks up at Rebecca, who smiles sweetly down at her daughter.

  “Good morning darling.” Rebecca says, speaking with a softer tone to her voice, Kagura leaning in against her mother before quietly sighing.

  “Morning…? What… Time is it?” The teen questions blearily, a quiet chuckle escaping before Rebecca speaks.

  “Just after eleven, Kagura, Mer’ania told me you fell back asleep.” As Rebecca speaks Kagura recalls back to when she first woke up, remembering what woke her, that she fell and hurt her back, and what happened after.

  “Oh… I… I guess I did… I missed breakfast, great…” She bemoans, teeth gritting slightly before she huffs. “I hate missing meals…”

  “Well then you should be glad you haven’t missed lunch, though if you sit around in your pajamas all day you might miss that too.” Rebecca’s teasing is met with another huff from her daughter, who begins to pout and glances off to the side.

  “I guess I… Should get up and dressed… What happened, um… Earlier, mama? All the… The explosions…” Kagura is shushed before a vial of pain relief elixir is pulled out and offered to her, the teen gently uncapping it and sipping enough to calm the pain in her back.

  “Eartheners, they attacked the barrier again, and when that failed they attacked the train tracks. One track collapsed, the others are damaged, though those were the only things that were hit. It’s alright, though, they’re gone, they can’t get in the barrier, and we aren’t in any danger. How’s the pain? Is it any better?” Kagura nods before capping the vial and passing it back to Rebecca, who pecks her forehead once more and helps her to her feet.

  “Good, good. I’ll let you get dressed, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to come find me.” Rebecca says, Kagura’s hair being ruffled before she steps out of the room and departs downstairs. The brunette teen sighs softly before getting dressed for the day, eventually exiting herself once comfortable, black jeans, sneakers, a grey tabby cat t-shirt, and a dark green sweatshirt her attire for the day.

  “Hey Kags, over here!” As Kagura enters the grand hall, having taken her time walking down, Mer’ania calls out to her while waving as well, the smaller teen making her way over without hesitation before settling at her side.

  “Morning sleepyhead, finally decided to wake up?” Demetri teases, Kagura’s cheeks flushing red while she stares down at the table.

  “I couldn’t help it… I was tired…” She murmurs, gently leaning against Mer’ania when an arm lightly wraps around her shoulders.

  “Demetri, you’d be tired too if you were up late studying and suddenly woke up before you wanted to.” Mer’ania points out, Demetri simply grinning slightly before shrugging.

  “I know, I know, we all were abruptly woken up this morning, most people hardly seem to be in their usual high spirited moods, even with it being lunch time. Though, I can’t blame them, with these attacks… It’s like the Eartheners are mad, you know? They tried to break through the barrier, and when that failed, they attack the train tracks, seems like they’re failing to do what they want to do, so they attack something they can hit instead.”

  “Honestly, Demetri, who knows? All that I’m sure anyone can agree on is that the Eartheners are trying to strike here, though it’s unclear why. Maybe they want to destroy Solenim and prevent another generation of mages from learning?” Malchion suggests, nibbling at a bite of pasta afterwards with a hum.

  “I’m sure we could sit here all day and try to figure out why they’re attacking, but it wouldn’t do us much good. With the weather starting to get better, at least we’ll be able to go outside soon, and that dragon returned as well an hour ago, so we know the school is better protected.” Demetri once again speaks before turning his attention to the meal in front of him, Kagura deciding to tune everything out and attempt to focus on eating. Gradually the various conversations fade from the morning’s events to more positive topics, though that does nothing to assuage Kagura’s anxiety, food hardly able to be a benefit despite how much she normally enjoys eating.

  As students finish eating they begin filing out of the grand hall, Kagura and her friends near the back of the cluster of students, everyone splitting off in different directions as they traverse the school. However, when she reaches the third floor, Kagura branches off, Mer’ania and the others unaware of this until they reach the fourth year common area and notice her absence.

  “… Did any of you notice Kagura leave?” Malchion questions, Demetri and Mer’ania shaking their heads slowly. “… It probably doesn’t help that she’s so short and can hide amongst the crowd more easily. Where do you think she could’ve gone?”

  “If I had to guess… Since we can’t go outside just yet, most likely the library. It’s the weekend though, she usually spends this time relaxing and not studying.” Mer’ania muses, sighing soon after before starting to move. “I’m gonna go find her.”

  ~

  Mer’ania glances around upon stepping into the library, looking to see if Kagura is anywhere near, but her first glance reveals nothing and so she steps in further and begins to look down the rows of bookshelves. It takes her a few minutes but she finally spies the diminutive brunette seated on the floor against a bookshelf, her attention captivated by the book in her hands.

  “Hey, Kags? Whatcha reading?” She softly asks as she approaches her, Kagura moving slightly as if acknowledging her, yet not turning her gaze away from the book.

  “It’s a book on the basics of enchanting.” Kagura says before flipping to the next page, a frown able to be seen. “Why does this have to be so complicated… Stupid runes…”

  “Oh, I see… Um… Why are you reading a book about enchanting? That’s not something we’d learn about until sixth year.” Mer’ania’s question is met with an exasperated sigh, Kagura seeming rather at odds with the book in her grasp.

  “I want to protect my family… Maybe if I can learn enchanting and figure out shield enchantments, then I can protect our house… Mom will be safe, we’ll all be safe…” Mer’ania goes slightly wide eyed at Kagura’s response, recalling what Professor Melangreve had told her a few hours earlier.

  “Kagura… I don’t know if that’s a good idea… Enchanting magic is advanced stuff, even sixth years only start learning the basics of runes and crafting the enchantments, you aren’t able to actually produce any until seventh year…” She starts to say, gently seating herself at Kagura’s side before continuing, “I know you’re afraid, we all are, but… Even if you were able to learn to enchant, we’re still in school, I doubt you could convince your mother to teleport you home just to put up enchantments, and the tracks are damaged… Everything is handled right now, you know that, we don’t h
ave any reason to worry.”

  “No reason to worry? Sure, I’m here, mama’s here, we’re safe, but what about mom? What if those bastards attack Lunaria? What then? I can’t lose her, I can’t lose anyone else, I refuse… I will do everything I can to keep her safe, to keep our home safe… If only this damn magic wasn’t so hard…” Kagura exclaims, grumbling out the last few words before slamming the book shut and grimacing.

  “Kagura, please… I know you want to keep her safe, I know what you lost in the first war, but you can’t do this alone, no one can, this isn’t a fight anyone can win on their own… I don’t want you getting hurt, you mean the world to me, as much as my parents and siblings do, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I let you do something reckless and you got hurt in the process.” Mer’ania speaks with a soft tone, both to mind the library’s rules and to keep what she’s saying more private, Kagura growing misty eyed before burying her face in her hands.

  “I can’t… I can’t lose anyone, I won’t… Not anymore… Not again…”

  Chapter 12: The Business of Misery

  “Good morning Sanctus, this is Dem’arian coming to you with your morning news. Earthener sightings have increased in the past week in all nations of Sanctus, though with our dragon friends visiting the Eartheners have left as quickly as they arrived. It is unclear what their intentions are, but for the time being there is no cause for alarm. Repair efforts are currently underway at Solenim Academy after the recent explosions that damaged the tracks leading to the school. Sources report the explosions were caused by Eartheners, though at present they have ceased any further attacks. And now we go to Sarah with the weather.”

  Mer’ania closes the news app on her tome before tucking it away and looking to Kagura, who is carelessly seated sideways on an armchair, both legs over an arm, the shorter teen distractedly blowing stray hair out of her face repeatedly.

  “Hey, Kags, something on your mind?” The demoness questions, Kagura glancing over towards her before resuming blowing her hair away from her face.

  “Lots of things, it’s called thinking.” She dryly replies with the most deadpan expression she can muster, Mer’ania chuckling softly before nudging her shoulder.

  “I’m serious Kagura, is something bothering you?” Mer’ania persists despite Kagura’s rather dismissive response, the brunette huffing quietly before closing her eyes.

  “Mer, you know what’s bothering me. It’s the same thing that’s bothered me for a week now. So what if the Eartheners are being chased away by the dragons, they’re still coming, and I doubt anything will make them stop. If they want war, I’m sure they’ll get their wish, but that’s not something I want to have to experience again.” Kagura bemoans quite audibly, teeth gritting together before she groans.

  “Headaches again?” Mer’ania frowns as she watches Kagura attempt to deal with her newfound pain, Kagura nodding slowly before pressing a hand to her forehead. “When was the last time you’d gotten stress headaches so frequently?”

  “At least five years ago… I haven’t been this stressed in a long time, and I hate it… Nightmares, headaches, panic attacks… I’m miserable, Mer, I feel horrible and I hate this so, so much…” Mer’ania frowns worriedly as Kagura grimaces and clenches her head, slowly moving over to her before kneeling down and pressing a hand against her forehead.

  “Maybe we should go get some fresh air… The snow has cleared for now, so we can at least go to the courtyard, think you’re up for that?” The demoness’s suggestion is met with Kagura sighing and swinging her legs off the arm of her seat, a nod given as she stands up.

  “Sure, Mer… It’s stuffy in here, getting some air would be nice…” Kagura takes Mer’ania’s hand before starting to walk along with her, her other hand rubbing at her temple every so often when a spike of pain hits her. Descending stairs and weaving their way around halls, the two meander about towards the courtyard, but before they reach it they’re sent toppling over by the ground beginning to heavily heave and shudder.

  The shaking lasts for a minute before subsiding, Mer’ania slowly pushing herself up into a seated position before looking to Kagura, who in contrast is laying on her front and groaning.

  “Kagura? Are you okay?” Kagura slowly begins to move, head turning so she can look at Mer’ania and reveal that her nose is bleeding, though not heavily. “Kagura, your nose!”

  “I know, Mer… I saw the blood, and I can feel the pain… I really hate earthquakes…” The brunette grumbles out before pushing herself up so she can rest against her knees and lower legs, a hand running against the underside of her nose afterwards. “I’ll meet you out at the courtyard Mer, I’m gonna go visit the medical ward and get my nose taken care of.”

  Mer’ania nods and gives Kagura a quick peck to the forehead, then heads out to the courtyard as she had planned, the few students around talking about the earthquake. She settles onto a bench underneath a tree, then lightly combs through her hair with fingers before perking up slightly as Demetri comes outside, looking considerably panicked.

  “Demetri? What’s going on?” Demetri immediately looks to Mer’ania as she addresses him, making his way over before glancing around.

  “The barrier around the island is down.” Mer’ania quickly gains a worried frown as Demetri speaks, eyes widening as she looks downward. “That earthquake, it damaged the runes that create the barrier, the headmistress and some of the professors are inspecting things right now, Professor Calum said it can be repaired, but… They don’t know how long it will take. Getting enchanting mages on short notice is already a tough task as it is, so it could be weeks.”

  “If the barrier is down… How are we gonna be protected against the Eartheners? The only thing stopping them was the barrier, it didn’t seem like they could teleport onto the island with it in place, but… Now that it’s gone, what’s to stop them from striking?” She questions, Demetri’s own frown doing nothing to ease her worries.

  “I don’t know, Mer’ania… The Eartheners all seemed to be afraid of the dragons, maybe they’ll have another come reside on the island… Selanius returned a few days ago when the snow began to melt, so she’s still going to be around, perhaps having her and another dragon around will scare off the Eartherners, at least long enough for the tracks to be repaired.”

  Before Demetri can say much more Kagura steps out into the courtyard, glancing over to him and Mer’ania before approaching both.

  “Hi Demetri, why the long face?” She questions, a bandage resting over the bridge of her nose and the blood cleaned from her face.

  “Hey, Grins… You know that earthquake that just happened? It sort of knocked out the barrier around the island.” Kagura snorts in amusement at his words, lightly brushing her hair back before frowning.

  “Funny joke, Demetri. The barrier is rune based, an earthquake can’t just destroy it, especially when Eartheners failed to do so using their magic.” Demetri’s expression darkens further before he looks off towards Mer’ania, who is similarly frowning herself.

  “Kagura, you do know runes can be destroyed, right? The runes holding the train tracks up aren’t affected by earthquakes because they’re off the ground, but the barrier runes were damaged. We may not learn about runes and enchanting until sixth year, but I know they can be destroyed and damaged.” Picking up on the seriousness in his tone, Kagura’s frown rapidly begins to grow, her eyes widening and face falling pale at the same time.

  “W… Wait… You’re… Serious?” Speaking softly, and with a noticeable fear in her voice, Kagura takes a slow step back, finding her heartrate beginning to increase as she does. “But… How are we going to protect against… Against them now? Without the barrier…” Beginning to hyperventilate, she looks around the courtyard rapidly, her senses lost to anxiety once again. Mer’ania moves towards Kagura, as if to embrace her, but before she gets close enough the brunette turns and runs back into the school, showing considerable speed for her size.

  “Kag
ura! Wait!” Mer’ania calls out for Kagura, but in vain, the smaller teen disappearing into the school. Grimacing slightly, she looks to Demetri, who nods, then turns and runs into the school herself, wracking her brain as to where Kagura could have ran off to. Thinking back to when she found her hiding in the library she makes her way there, walking in instead of running as she had been, though when she searches the rows of shelves she doesn’t find the diminutive teen, a tense exhale of breath being given before she leaves.

  The next place she thinks to check is their shared dorm, though that turns up empty as well, the demoness again trying to think of where Kagura could have ran off to. Two ideas come to mind after a minute of intense thought, and so she immediately heads out to the grounds outside of the school, finding a few teachers continuing to survey the damage to the runes.

  “Damn it Kagura, where are you…” Muttering to herself, she walks a lap around the outside of the school, spending a fair amount of time looking around to see if Kagura is anywhere in sight, but ultimately she doesn’t find her, retreating back into the school with a heavy sigh. She slowly walks the halls as she heads to the teacher’s dormitories, and before long she reaches the sizable side building, a knock being given upon a specific dorm’s door once she reaches it.

  “Oh, Mer’ania, hello there.” Professor Melangreve says with a small smile able to be seen, a faint yet recognizable sound coming from within the room.

  “Hi Professor Melangreve, have you seen Kagura at all? Demetri told her that the barrier had fallen, and… Well, she panicked and ran. I haven’t been able to find her anywhere, and I’m worried.” Rebecca nods before glancing backwards into the room for a few moments, a sigh escaping as she looks back at Mer’ania.

  “She’s in here, though I fear she’s not in any right state of mind. She’s jittery, to say the least, the most I’ve been able to do is help calm her breathing and give her space and time to rest, though she’s been crying for the past few minutes.” As Rebecca speaks she steps outside and closes the door, glancing around for a few moments before continuing. “I haven’t seen her like this in a long time, Mer’ania. She’d been getting anxious recently, thanks to the Earthener appearances, but with the barrier protecting us she’d been able to calm herself. Now that it’s gone for the time being, I fear she worries the Earthener’s will appear and attack.”