Confessions of the Magpie Wizard Book 3: Dissolution (Chapter 34) (Patreon)

Just one chapter this week, but it's as long as two normal chapters. Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Art by Rianne (@riannesketches) • Instagram photos and videos 

Chapter 34

That wasn’t the end of the night, though. Haru’s end was regrettable, but I can’t summon much guilt about his fate, looking back on it. All my failure in the hospital had changed was that he got one last hurrah. What happened next, though? That is what I wish I could leave out of the report. Still, I need to be complete.

After Maggie reaffirmed her resolve, she told me to pull over a few kilometers from the tower in a section of the dense pine forest. “Hop out. We need to have a quick chat.”

“We can’t speak in the car?” I asked as we came to a stop.

“No, we can’t.” She popped open the door and sat down on the sedan’s hood. I joined her a moment after. “You’re walking.”

“Come again?”

“We can’t be seen together, and you can’t very well be the one to return the car.”

“Then let me use your Tachibana disguise,” I said. “You still have the wand.”

“An unacceptable risk,” she said. “What if we run into him? No, it’s the only way.”

“What if someone sees me out here?”

“You were on a hike. If Ms. Jones asks, the Headmaster had you run a few laps around the forest after he had you clean his office within an inch of its life.”

“That sounds much more like Mr. Maki’s idea of a punishment.”

“After my performance earlier, she’ll believe it. Besides,” she said, her expression darkening, “I believe you were just told what would happen if you second guessed me, Holy Brother Mockingbird.”

Was it my imagination, or was the windshield warping again? What I definitely detected was Maggie’s last remnants of magical energy collecting in her hands.

I do so hate power imbalances. I hopped up and gave a smart salute. “Of course, ma’am. Lovely night for a walk, anyhow.”

A playful smile spread across her face. “Good boy.” She extended her hand expectantly, and I pulled her up. She caught me off guard and used the momentum to pull me into a brief kiss.

I felt my face flush as she sauntered over to the car. “What was that for?”

She opened the door and leaned on it. “A little reward. Just think, if you’d followed my orders to the letter, it might have been more than a little peck.”

“Are you bipolar? You just told me you couldn’t risk getting attached again! The cause coming first and all that?”

“Just because the cause comes first doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun in the name of team building.”

“Team building? Is that what they call that now?”

“It’s all business, I assure you,” she said with a wink. “I know for darn sure I won’t get attached to you. You’re safe.”

“Such a romantic,” I said.

She shrugged. “You’ll be a fun hobby. I know you aren’t getting any from Ms. Jones, and I’m twice the woman she is. It’ll be fun to see how long you take to crack.” Before I could reply, she had closed the door behind her and she was on her way. “And don’t walk on the road,” she cried after me through an open window.

It wasn’t a particularly great night for a stroll. All Heal had repaired my wounds, but I was still pretty well spent after a long day of school and a wizard’s duel. The summer air was still oppressively warm, though it was a hair cooler beneath the Headmaster’s artificially grown trees. This had the downside of blocking out the moon and stars, though I had my Merlin’s Lantern spell to light the way.

The quiet walk gave me time to think, which was the last thing I wanted or needed. I couldn’t help but play the whole encounter over and over in my mind. Was there anything I could have done differently?

I shoved that line of thought aside. It wasn’t productive. I was a devil and he a human. Killing him was natural and, indeed, my duty. He had forced me to do it too, which itself showed why mercy was a sham. The shame was that I felt shame, not in the act itself. Yet, some part of my mind wouldn’t let that shabby feeling go. Had he made a rational choice, with his head full of Maggie’s lies and manipulations? He’d operated on the theory that she loved him and would do whatever was needed to save him.

I slapped my face to clear my thoughts. I could drive myself mad thinking in circles. I needed a distraction. I decided to play around with my developing magical senses. I had any number of grievances with Maggie Edwards, but I couldn’t deny that my Mimic affinity had more layers than I’d ever suspected. I had noticed it fighting with Haru, and in the car with Maggie, that I had crossed some threshold. I could more easily intuit when an affinity was in use and get glimpses of how their magic flowed through their bodies. It seemed like I could get brief visions of a spell in action, or really focus and see the totality of somebody’s magic. I hadn’t found a productive use for the talent yet, since I didn’t seem to get much of a heads up about the danger, but progress was progress.

Using a magical affinity is hard to describe to non-wizards, much like I imagine sight is hard for somebody born blind to really wrap their head around. It was new to me, too, since I had always used Mimic reflexively. Looking in the direction I imagined the Tower to be in, I opened myself to Mimic. I couldn’t see any real stars of the tower through the trees, but the aura of hundreds of wizards in the distance was almost as good. I had no idea who was who, and I couldn’t make out any fine details, but I could see them. Most were motionless on the dormitory levels, though a few flitted about on the other floors. It was beautiful in its own way.

Unfortunately for me, Mimic did require magical energy to power, and I was running low after my battle with Haru. I could feel the beginnings of Wizard’s Desolation coming on and I knew better than to chance it. When a wizard’s magic runs out altogether, the body attempts to convert chemical to magical energy to power further spellcasting, which is a losing battle. It is not a matter of if you pass out, but when. Worse, once you do wake up, Wizard’s Desolation feels like a particularly nasty hangover that is quite immune to any medicine to relieve. I reluctantly turned off my Merlin’s Lantern, since I decided I was better off walking through the dark woods than fainting in them. I took some more steps, trying to remember how the path had looked while lit, but I found myself walking face first into a pine tree.

“How lovely,” I said, rubbing my smarting nose. “Well done, Malthus, now you get to feel your way home through kilometers of woodland! A wonderful end to a wonderful day.” At least my annoyance gave me something to focus on besides the aftermath of my battle.

I don’t know how long I worked my way through the darkness. I wished Maggie had kicked me out near one of the training areas. The simulated desert would have been wide open and easy to navigate. By and by, I noticed that the shadowy shapes were beginning to regain some of their definition. I thought at first that I had acclimated to the darkness, but I could see some light peeking through a nearby copse of trees.

I weighed my choices. I could either go the opposite way and avoid detection, but possibly get completely lost, or go see who was out there. I decided on the latter. I was exhausted and sore, and I didn’t want to add hours to a trip that was already excruciatingly slow. I was sure I didn’t look too beaten, despite my earlier exertions, a lovely little side effect of All Heal. It was bound to be a few of my fellow students having a bonfire. There was nothing suspicious about me showing up to join them by the fire. Plenty of students went on hikes in the forest, since we had been confined to the grounds.

I entered the clearing with a spring in my step that I hoped didn’t look too forced. “Good evening, everyone! I hope you don’t mind me intruding, but I got a little turned around…” I trailed off and bit back a curse.

Two people were cozying up on a blanket near a glowing light spell I didn’t recognize. It reminded me of a Svalinn’s Mercy, only perfectly spherical and producing enough light to turn the inky darkness into twilight.

Mariko straightened up and scooted away from an irritated looking Paul. “Soren? What are you doing out here? Kiyo said you were with the headmaster.”

I considered bolting away then and there. What had Kiyo told them? I couldn’t exactly check with her. Could I artfully get out of the conversation? It was going to be a dangerous discussion, no matter when it occurred. Perhaps once I’d had a chance to rest, an excuse would come more easily?

“That’s a funny story,” I said, sitting down on a convenient stump. I was tired of running and sneaking around. The day was already a complete nightmare. Why fight it and look more suspicious? “How much did Kiyo tell you?”

“Sounds like we weren’t the only ones trying to get a little privacy,” said Paul. “Glad we got caught by you and not the headmaster. You’re not going to interrupt us.”

“N-not that we were doing anything,” interjected Mariko.

“Like heck we weren’t,” said Paul with a playful lilt in his voice.

“That’s something best kept private,” said Mariko, disapproval in her voice.

“Why’re you keeping secrets from Mags? He’s the one that set us up. Besides, Kiyo told you what they were up to.” Paul let out an appreciative chuckle. “Every night! Man, you’re a legend!”

“I told you that in confidence, Paul!”

“It’s not like he didn’t know, he was there for it.” He gestured at me. “Makes me wish Mariko could turn invisible. That way, we wouldn’t have to sneak around in the woods.”

I could see Mariko’s face redden, even in the faint light of the orb. “Paul, please, you’re embarrassing me.”

“You know you like it,” he said. “Mags, we had something going on, so it’s nice seeing you, but we were… Babe, what are you doing?”

“Something’s off,” said Mariko. She got up and walked over to my stump, earning me an annoyed glare from Paul. She hunkered down next to me and met my gaze. “Soren, are you alright?”

“Of course, I am,” I said too quickly to be convincing. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You look exhausted.”

“The headmaster had me running circuits around the woods,” I said. “He didn’t say when to stop, though, and I lost my way in dark.”

“That sounds more like something Mr. Maki would do,” said Mariko.

“Headmaster Tachibana is all smiles until you cross him,” I replied. “I advise you stay on his good side. I imagine I’m in the doghouse for a while longer. Let’s not mention this unpleasantness, if you please.”

I wasn’t sure she entirely believed me, but she didn’t press further. “I can’t help with that, but I can fix this. Trivial Heal.” Runes lit up the air around her hands and tapped my nose. Her healing magic summoned my magical energy to heal the scrape I’d suffered in the dark.

My head felt like it wanted to split open as my failing magic reserves scraped the bottom of the proverbial barrel. She hadn’t put me into Wizard’s Desolation, but I was closer than I liked. Sweat slicked my brow and I gasped in surprise. I balled up my hands and clenched my pant legs, keeping a smile on my face. I couldn’t let her know.

I rose to my feet, earning me another throb from my head. My voice wavered a bit as I replied, “Thank you, Ms. Yamada. I’m right as rain. Now, about those directions home?”

Paul jerked a thumb behind him, and I could just make out a cleared hiking trail in the distance.

Mariko didn’t let me pass, though. “You’re hiding something, Magpie. What else happened?”

“I haven’t left anything out,” I said. What was this nosy woman on about? She couldn’t suspect the truth, could she? No, she was just concerned for somebody she thought was her friend.

“It’s okay to need help sometimes.” Her encouraging smile felt like a dagger in my heart. “Something is weighing on you, I can just tell.”

The fool. I was a devil! Given half a chance, I’d kill her and Paul, and dance on their bodies. I didn’t need her kindness.

And I didn’t deserve it either. Images of Haru’s lifeless corpse swirled through my head. I couldn’t have done better, blast it all! I couldn’t have. He was the author of his death, not me!  Even if I had been, what of it? He was my enemy twice over. I didn’t feel any regret over having to kill a man I’d foolishly tried to save. Pity was the Enemy’s domain, not mine. It wasn’t in my makeup to feel regret.

I had to keep telling myself that. If I let Haru in the door, so to speak, he was hardly my only kill. I’d never get anything done ever again, and I didn’t live in a world that rewarded kindness. Being around Kiyo and Mariko and all the rest was ruining me. I needed to get back home, where everything was sane and rational, and leave these unworthy feelings behind me.

“You wouldn’t understand,” I said, more testily than I had before.

Of course, for somebody who seemed to think of herself as the world’s big sister, that was a challenge. Before I could object, she’d wrapped her arms around me. “Try me, Magpie.”

My fists trembled at my sides. I tried to think randy thoughts about her embrace to distract me, but I couldn’t summon any enthusiasm about her curvaceous body pressing against mine. Her objective was clearly to comfort me. I told myself she was just a foolish woman who didn’t understand anything. She didn’t get what I was about, or even Paul’s real motivations. I almost pitied the poor, delusional thing.

Well, it couldn’t hurt to let off a little steam, could it? I could talk around my worries, if it would get her off my back. “I’m a bit homesick tonight, is all.”

Mariko gave me another squeeze. “There, was that so hard?”

“I wish I had less caring friends,” I muttered.

“Oh, come on!” Paul was over in a heartbeat, his brow furrowed. “Look, this isn’t therapy time. Mags keeps saying he’s fine. Stop mothering him. Let him get back to the Tower.”

Mariko released me and spun around, her hands on her hips. “Paul Wilson, I can’t believe you! Your friend just wandered in out of the woods tired and troubled and all you can think about is yourself!”

“I’m not going to worry about a man who keeps saying he’s fine,” said Paul. “We hardly get any time alone, and I don’t want to spend it watching Mags get more action than me!”

“I should go,” I said.

“Yeah, you should,” said Paul.

I walked towards the path as fast as I could. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite fast enough to miss their exchange.

“Paul, we talked about this before,” said Mariko, a hitch in her voice. “I don’t like it when you talk like I’m your property.”

“I’m sorry, babe,” he replied. “You know I love you so much I get crazy, right?”

“I know,” said Mariko. “You’re the best thing in my life. Just don’t treat me like a trophy.”

“Of course. It’s you and me forever, Mariko,” he said. “Let me prove it to you.”

I walked down the trail. I wasn’t slow due to my pounding headache or sore limbs, though. Paul reminded me of Maggie just then. She’d cared about Haru on some level, but she’d tossed him aside, just like Paul was bound to do with Mariko. Haru had been a right bastard, but Mariko was a sweet, delusional girl who actually believed in love and romance. In her shoes, I’d have welcomed a tryst after Hiro had broken my heart, but it wasn’t me in her shoes. She wanted something that would last, and Paul was lying to her face that he would give her that. She didn’t deserve what was coming.

My legs carried me back to the clearing before I ordered them to, but I agreed. I knew what I was bound to do. I wasn’t a moment too soon. They had moved back to the blanket, their limbs intertwined. She clung to his shirt almost desperately as he kissed the nape of her neck and slid up her sweater.

“Paulkins…”

“Mariko…”

I coughed loudly, bringing their intimate moment to a crashing halt. “Did they change the meaning of forever while I wasn’t looking? I thought it lasted longer than the end of the school year. You ought to tell the dictionary people.”

“The hell are you doing, Mags?” hissed Paul.

Mariko sat up, pulling her sweater back into place. “Soren?”

Well, I’d done it, and now I could only press forward. “I’m sorry to tell you this, my dear, but you’ve been taken advantage of. You think much more of Mr. Wilson than he does you.”

Mariko froze like a startled deer. “What are you talking about?”

“Paul has never been sincere. He joined your club to get a crack at your charms. He thinks you are, and I paraphrase, pleasant, but a tad boring. He’s simply been counting the days until you put out. He told us all about how soft your, ah, ‘pastries’ were.”

“Pastries?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

“You’re a smart girl, you can read between the lines. He then intends to leave you once he’s had his fun.”

“You’ve got a sick sense of humor,” said Paul, hopping to his feet. He jabbed a finger in my chest, but I didn’t blink. For once, I had the moral high ground. It was a strange sensation, but it had a power in it. “You’re the one who set us up, and now you’re showing up with this bullcrap? What’s wrong with you?”

Mariko padded over to us and put a steadying hand on Paul’s arm. “That can’t be right. Soren, why are you doing this?”

“What I should have done months ago. Paul, what do you think of Mariko’s pacifism?”

He cocked his head at me. “I mean I don’t agree, but I don’t see the harm in it.”

“Funny, I seem to recall you calling her a demonkin tease once. Was that another Paul Wilson?”

Mariko reacted like she’d been struck. “Paul, did you really say that?”

“You kept going after Hiro and leading me on! I was a little pissed off, so what?”

Her hand covered her mouth. “That isn’t a little pissed off. That’s…” She took a step back. “My ‘pastries?’ Is that all I am to you?”

“Baby, it isn’t like that,” he said. “I talk a big game with the guys, but everyone does it.” He reached out for her, but she took a step towards me.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I told you how much it hurts when someone calls me a demonkin. I can’t believe you could do that to me!”

“I’m not the bad guy here!” Paul shouted in Mariko’s face, making her shrink back.

“Paul, please,” she sobbed.

“Don’t even! Don’t you even cry! You’re lucky you’re stacked, or nobody’d put up with your garbage! You talk on and on about being peaceful, but I know what it is! You’re too good to fight with the rest of us because your feelings get hurt seeing a little blood. If you won’t kill a demon, you are a demonkin! And you!” He whirled around to face me. “You goddamn hypocrite, you’re banging Kiyo and Ms. Edwards and God knows who else! What do you care what we do?”

“How dare you? It’s all been for her!” I think that’s what I said. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I stepped forward and cocked my arm. I didn’t care that I was on my last legs. I couldn’t punish Maggie for calling me untrue, and Paul would make a fine stand-in.

Mariko latched onto my arm, just barely holding me back. “No! I’m not worth fighting over!”

“You finally said something smart,” spat Paul. “You aren’t worth it.” He glared at Mariko. “My knee’s better. I can play football again. I’m out of your boring ass club, and your boring ass life.”

“Good,” she cried out, her voice croaking. “I wouldn’t want you to waste time on a demonkin!” I don’t know if he heard, though, since he had already vanished into the pitch-black darkness.

It was my turn to hold her. I don’t know how long we stood there before she got ahold of herself, but that patch of my polo was sodden by the time she was done.

“How long did you know?” she asked, her voice surprising me after the long silence.

“Too long,” I said.

She took a step back, removing her glasses to clean them on her sweater. “Why did you come clean now?”

“I’ve done many things I’m not proud of tonight. I didn’t need more regrets”

She sniffed loudly. “I know you. You wouldn’t regret being caught with Kiyo that much. You weren’t running laps. What is this really about?”

If I’d had any magic left in my body, I might have blown her head off then and there. Luckily for her that I didn’t have the energy for words or magic. Instead, I walked away in silence. She didn’t follow me, thank The Dark Lord for small favors.

Sleep came to me easily that night. The only blessing in a horribly botched day.

***********

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