In total, over 400 people were killed, both civilians, police, and Magic Knights. The riot, initiated through a gunshot by an unidentified subject, ended up as a brutal and bloody conflict. Brutality on both sides, as well as the mechanics of crowd crush, led to an unprecedented loss of lives that day. The entire city block had to be shut down completely in order to subdue everything, and it remained closed for the clean-up operation.
Along with the 400 that lost their lives, there were over 300 more casualties. Occurring only a week after the spark, it was considered the worst riot in the history of Asia. And it seemed that things could only get worse from this point onwards. I had reported whatever information I could to the mages association, specifically about the fact that the riot had been started from within by a mage who fired the first shot. I had also reported the fact I had gotten an up-close look at the person who was responsible, and I gave them a description of how he looked, as well as the fact that he was acting suspiciously. Still, with how occupied the Mages Association was with trying to quell the public and with the rebuild, they probably wouldn't be able to pay that tip any attention.
And the questions from the public were endless indeed. The whole situation was caught on many different cameras from many different people, and it painted a very incriminating picture for not only authorities but especially for the Magic Knights, who had been in the area. The videos that had been quickly posted to social media after the event showed the crowd protesting when suddenly a gunshot was fired, and a woman was set ablaze at the very front of the crowd. No matter what way you tried to see it, it looked like the police and Magic Knights had completely overreacted. After which, the sound of multiple more gunshots being fired was heard, and then everything descended into chaos after that.
The videos showed the brutality up close. Many questions arose as to why the Magic Knights didn't use their 'magic' to handle things more peacefully. I knew it was because their mana was being jammed from somewhere; however, there was no way of proving that to the public, so the narrative emerged that the Magic Knights simply didn't want to handle things peacefully. Their image was being destroyed by the media, and there was nothing that they could do about it.
All because of that one man who incited the riot from within. My thoughts were dominated by him. Not only because he was the main cause behind this whole situation, but also because he had done something to me. When I confronted him, he had used some dark aura to knock me out. Even after I woke up later in a relocated hospital, the doctors said that there were mysterious readings in my body that couldn't be explained. That information wasn't taken well by Kami, who yelled at me for a long while. Ms. Jackson and Hikaru also had their rounds of yelling at me. It turns out Yuri had to be the one to save me by using mana switching himself to get to my collapsed body and bring it back. After which the rest of the hospital was smoothly evacuated.
Many people were disappointed with me; however, my mind was mainly occupied with the image of that white-haired knight on that majestic white steed. I had only seen her for a split moment; however, the image of her was ingrained in my mind so deeply that I would never be able to forget. Her tall, slim, but strong figure. The long white hair that shone in the sun. Her radiant golden armor covered every last part of her body. Thoughts of her dominated my mind, and I came to the conclusion that she had to be one of those higher beings. Just like the witch of vainglory, she was a being with higher dimensionality that, for some reason, decided to lower her divinity to interfere with the real world. And what's more, she showed herself to me directly. A taunt? A message? A warning? I didn't know, and honestly, I was sick and tired of not knowing anything.
It seemed like no matter what I did, I only ended up with more questions and worries, and the solutions seemed farther and farther away. At this point, I was sure that I would never come across anything that even slightly resembled an answer to all the problems that had arisen so far. And despite the fact that I couldn't buy a single clue, my mountain of problems was only getting higher and higher with every day. And of course, my list of growing problems would only increase even more as things went on. I was very quickly being overwhelmed, and I didn't know how much longer I could continue to push forward.
I had finally been discharged and was on the way home when I finally broke down to someone. Not Kami; she was staring out the window, refusing to even look in my direction. Figures. I deserved it as well.
Raiden: I know I made a whole bunch of promises about following my goal, and never giving up, and achieving freedom and all, but I really can't see things through anymore. I want to roll over and close my eyes and let everything become some other poor soul's problem.
Ariel: Oh, really? How cowardly of you. Already throwing up the white flag, even though you haven't even done a single thing yet? You've just been discharged. This should be when your efforts kick up in intensity, not when you give up.
Raiden: Yeah, and that's why I'm so utterly miserable right now. It's been such a short period of time, and yet I feel like there's no hope for me. How am I supposed to fight against gods and eldritch horrors when I can't even fight my own lack of will?
Ariel: Ahh, I get it. Well, then, would you like some tea?
At her offer, I perked up a little bit, thinking she was saying that she could bring me back into that dimension I was in once before. Unfortunately, that was just me getting too excited.
Ariel: I'm kidding. Unfortunately, even if you do find a way to enter that dimension yourself, at the moment you won't be able to. Currently, it's in the process of being rebuilt, as certain someones weren't very happy that I showed you that place earlier that you were supposed to see it.
Raiden: Do you think that's why that white knight showed herself to me? Maybe my actions have set my destiny off course enough to warrant them having to come down in the flesh to fix it.
Ariel: That....Isn't even an outlandish thing to assume.
I had said that as a joke, but Ariel had told me that it wasn't even that crazy to assume, which did nothing to help the already shitty day I was having.
Raiden: I'm just confused. Right now, there are so many things I need to do, and the world itself is going through so much shit as well. I mean, that whole riot? What the fuck was that? What was up with that red-eyed dude? Are things going to be okay, especially with all the riots popping up globally? How long will the 7 grand magic academies be able to play all buddy-buddy in order to prevent a genuine worldwide rebellion from non-mages? What about Prometheus and the Fangless Python? Just how much of that were they behind?
Ariel: I'd say it's better for you to focus on only one thing at a time. Pick something and put all of your energy into that, and it will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed with everything going on.
Raiden: Yeah, good advice on paper, but that brings up the question, "What do I focus on?" The reason I can't focus and feel overwhelmed is because I have so many things to worry about and so many things that bother me. So how can I just pick one to focus on?
Ariel: Well, let's take a look at what day it is. Friday. Two days from now, Theta Magic Academy will reopen. Preparing to re-enter school life can be the one thing that you choose to focus on.
Raiden:..........
Ariel: Not a fan, I see.
Raiden: Just kill me if my situation is so bad the only thing I can look forward to is going to school.
Ariel: There are lots of things to do at school. You'll be meeting up with your friends again as well. Not to mention, you'll be preparing for the Seven Star that was announced. You'll have lots of things to keep you busy.
I let small sparks of lightning dance between my fingers. Outside the window, the sun was setting. Slowly, I was beginning to recognize the buildings and streets we passed by.
Raiden: It feels more than just a bit dystopian that it's still going to happen despite the current situation of the world.
Ariel: You should know that it's only because of the current situation of the world that the Seven Star is still going to happen.
Raiden: Doesn't make it not dystopian. Anyways, schools are off the list. I don't want to think about that place anyways.
Ariel: Hmmmm? Then how about letting it all out?
The lights on the bus flickered momentarily.
Raiden: What are you talking about?
Ariel: Remember what we had discussed on the first day of your stay at the hospital?
A lot was going on that day, so it took me a moment to recall what she was talking about.
Raiden: So, you want me to take all of the problems that I currently have and dump them on the first unsuspecting person willing to listen?
Ariel: Yes. Preferably, the first, the second, and the third. Talk. Just talk, and let your emotions out. Have a little bit of release, and I can assure you you'll feel 10 times better than ever.
I sat in silence, seriously considering her advice. The only thing stopping me was the fact that I knew if I started talking, I probably wouldn't be able to stop. And there were so many things I wasn't ready to tell another person yet.
Slowly, I turned to look at Kami, who was still staring out the window and trying to ignore me.
Raiden: Let's see if she still loves me enough to let me do that.
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We arrived home a few minutes later, opening the door to the familiar air of our house. It was in the same, perfect condition that it had been in on the morning of the beginning of the whole incident at the castle of dreams. In fact, the table was the same way it was when we left. I remembered that whole morning, and pain shot through me. During that time I had decided to distance myself from Kami, and I was being a horrible person. That morning we shared a silent breakfast and didn't speak to each other at all on our way to the Magic Academy.
Kami walked towards the table, setting her things down on it. I, on the other hand, entered the room more slowly. My gaze was locked on the paintings that covered our wall. Specifically the portrait of Kami. It reminded me of the paintings I had seen in the museum of that Castle. At the time, I had a gut feeling that those paintings and the Latin phrases inscribed next to them had some sort of major meaning. I couldn't understand them, but I knew they were important.
A sense of déjà vu came over me as I stood in front of these paintings.
"Raide"n I snapped out of my daze when I finally registered Kami shouting for me.
"Uh, yeah." I hurried into the house, where I saw Kami in the kitchen, already brewing tea.
"Jeez, you sure are good at zoning out. Maybe that's why you can never follow any sort of rules. Because you literally never hear them."
She was still very angry about my decision to head out instead of evacuating. I couldn't blame her either. Still, it was now or never for me to ask.
"You want tea?"
I hated tea. Kami knew that. However, she was going to brew some for me anyway, so I knew there was no fighting it.
"Yes." I lied.
"Kami?" I asked tentatively.
"Yes?" She replied, a slight bit of annoyance in her tone.
"Can we talk?"
She looked up at me in a bit of shock. She then pointed to the couch.
"Yeah, sure, I'll be there once I'm done.
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5 minutes later, Kami returned to the room with two cups of green tea in her hands. She set one down for me before sitting on the seat right next to me. I was thankful for that. I didn't know if I'd be able to talk if I had to do it with her staring at me from across the table.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Well, I guess I should start with an apology. I'm sorry." I thanked God for all the times Ms. Jackson made me speak. It showed in the fact that I didn't stutter now. "I'm sorry for everything. All the times I gave up and pushed you away instead of doing what any respectable big brother should. I showed you a cowardly side of me that you should have never seen. I let you cry and get hurt and turned my back on it all. I'm truly sorry for that."
I could feel Kami's body tense with shock and emotion, but I continued to push forward. Now that the words had begun to flow, I needed to ride that wave, or I wouldn't be able to finish at all.
"And, I know it's selfish of me to ask this, after I failed you so horribly, but I hoped you could just listen to a little bit of what I want to say. There's just been a lot going on, and I've felt overwhelmed, and I just needed someone to listen. And I needed to tell you the truth. Whether or not you can accept all of it is up to you."
Not even pausing for a breath, I jumped right back into it. "Firstly, about that day when I was out with Hikaru and the others, I ignored your questions, but it's time you know the truth. On that day— For the first time, I paused. I didn't want to speak of that moment again. If I did, then that would make it real. However, at that moment Kami placed her hand on top of my shaking one. With that strength, I finally got out what I wanted to.
"I got drugged. One of the 5 people who ended up attacking the academy later on, her name was Eve. She drugged me and then kidnapped me, and after that, she...she... I didn't want it to happen. But it did. I was drugged the entire time, so I can barely remember it, but it happened." I could feel the tears begin to flow down my face. Kami's grip on my hand was death tight. She was shedding tears as well. However, she didn't interrupt. Instead, she allowed me to keep speaking. I kept going on despite that.
"And I hid it from you because I was scared and ashamed, but most of all, I didn't want to believe that it had happened. It made me feel like I was less, and I hated that fact. I didn't want to validate that horrible time, so I hid it from you and myself and tried to go on lying to myself, but it was brought to my attention, and I couldn't ignore it anymore. Same thing with our past. The truth behind everything was revealed to me, and at the time I just kind of absorbed it, but now the weight of everything has returned, and now it's threatening to crush me!"
"Mom and Dad! Or just Dad! I don't know, but they lied! They hid stuff, and they lied, and they betrayed our trust and wiped memories, and I still just can't believe all of it! I don't know what to do anymore! The weight of the world feels like it's going to fall onto me, and I have no way to escape from under its crushing pressure! I don't know what to do, Kami! I'm scared. I don't know who to ask for help, and I don't know whether I can pull myself together in time to face the world! I don't know, and it's- its been threatening to overwhelm me! And- and- and- and-"
I could go on no longer, however. Kami wrapped her arms around me, and together we cried for a long time, each one of our presences comforting the other.
It was a cathartic moment of release. One I had been chasing.
CRACK!!