The Scepter of Marahuyo

Chapter 046

“What are they offering him? What do they need from him?” I ask Aicelle.

“He didn’t say. He just said that he’s stupid, so he’s not meant for it.”

“So if it is a mage, that means the killer really is inside the Academy?”

“Yes, that’s why we need to leave tonight, Holly. The Academy has become more dangerous. Ethan, Cara and Al are outside.”

“And Olivia?”

“She declined. As a non-mage, she said she’ll not be culled. Besides, an ear within the Academy is better than nothing at all.”

“But we can’t just leave the others.”

“That’s exactly why we need a plan to fight back. We are lucky we are graduates already, but for the others, they’ll have no choice but to stay and hope that whoever it is, they won’t be included in the culling.”

I feel dizzy, as if my world is breaking down again.

“If you can’t leave tonight without raising suspicions, be very aware. But if you think your life will be in danger. Leave. Is that clear?”

I nod.

“So? Are we going to count on your help?” she asks again.

“Can you, at least, give me time to think? I can’t just…”

Aicelle sighs and I feel the disappointment coming.

“I—I’ll help in any way I can! But I can’t join the Scepter selection! Anything, just not that!”

I’ll die for sure! I’d like to scream but stop myself.

“I get it, Holly. You’ve done so much already for us. I really hope you will help us. We need you to be our starting trump card. You need to become Benia’s Scepter while we try to become Caltra’s and Gollandt’s and other nation’s Quads. But if that’s not something you want, we’ll respect your decision.”

I frown. She’s wrong. I have done little for them. I hold tightly in her hand. How can I be so selfish? My friends are all asking for my help and all I am thinking about is living with Aaron for the rest of my life.

“Don’t be guilty.” Aicelle taps my head and whispers, “You love him that much, huh? I just hope he loves you just as much as well.”

Aicelle deactivates the glamour-type trinket and sits from my bed. And without looking back, she leaves my room.

****************************

I couldn’t sleep properly that night. I know that whoever it is, he’ll not kill again in just a few days' interval. But in every sound and movement, I find myself wide awake. It’s early the next morning when I finally gave up on proper sleep. I go directly to the Academy admin and take care of all my things and exit clearance. Now that I am officially a mage, I can just wait for my designation or certification to become a traveling mage. But before that, I need to fend for myself. Yes, I have a home with Aaron, but I can’t travel from the inn to the Quad’s office every day.

It’s already late in the afternoon when I finish transferring all my things to my room. It is a small room, but this time, I don’t need to share it with anyone. I am on the fifth floor of a vast apartment complex. There are no elevators, but the stairs can be a form of exercise for the mages.

I sit on my desk chair that overlooks the town. If I stand up, I can see the busy street below. It’s a humble beginning. I let my eyes scour over my room—at the couch on my left, desk behind me, a small table in the center, and a small bed on my right. I wish I could show this room to Aaron. My eyes stayed on the bed. We can’t do it in such a small bed, right? Maybe I should replace it? I hit myself. Damn, I’m becoming such a p*rvert.

I stand up. Now that everything is fixed, I can visit the inn again. I am about to leave when someone knocks on the door. I open it to reveal Cara. I let her in. I have an inkling what she is here for. I look at the walls. Good thing that no vines are on it.

“Good afternoon, Holly,” she says and pulls me closer to her.

Then, she activates the same trinket that Aicelle uses the night before. She approaches me and suddenly hits me across my face. I instinctively touch my cheeks. I am about to get angry when Cara starts to cry.

“Demetrio, he...” she sobs. “He loves Aicelle! Those two are together! That’s why he rejected the offer!”

I grimace, more because of the pain on my cheek, rather than the revelation. Demetrio is dead. Whether they are friends or lovers, it will not lessen the pain.

“Demetrio is a privileged asshole. But that’s before he changed. His family is powerful, but his ideas differ from that of his family. Did you know that he’s excommunicated by his own family for falling in love with a poor mage?”

I didn’t know. Even before my previous timeline, I don’t care about the sob stories, especially not the ones about romance. My life revolves around only one thing, my skill as a mage.

“Aicelle is hurting and yet she…” she wails, and it's becoming hard to understand her. How can she join the Scepter selection if she can’t control her emotions? But rather than being disgusted as I should have been in my previous timeline, I reach up to her and hug her to my chest, as if feeling the same pain as her.

Cara cries on my chest. Why does she feel so much for other people when she can’t properly impart her own feelings? She gently pushes at me.

“Aicelle might not have told you, but her life is in danger, Holly.”

My eyes widen. “Aren’t all our lives in equal danger?”

“No. Now that Demetrio is dead, I’m sure his family will blame her for it.”

“That’s impo--” I stop myself. Is it different in other families?

“Holly, please. The others will not say it, but we really need you to become Benia’s Scepter. We need you to become the foothold. I’m here to persuade you. I know you’re hesitant because of Aaron, but please. We need at least three Scepters in three countries. It doesn’t need to be Benia. You can be Caltra’s Scepter.”

I swallow. Three Scepters? How huge do they think this is? I look at what Cara's holding. She must have stolen the trinket from Aicelle just so she can safely talk to me. And I’m sure she knows about Aaron having the qualification to join Caltra’s Ruler selection. But I’m sure he will not pass. He’s a sweet man and very direct. He can’t compete against a Selection that focuses on cunning. Aaron as Ruler and me as his Scepter, it will never happen.

Cara holds my hand. “Please, Holly, I’m begging you.”

“Like what I said to Aicelle, please, give me time.” I squeak. What am I saying? I should reject her! Else, I will end up the same way.

“But for how long?! Time’s running out! The Scepter application is due by next week.”

“Then give me at least next week, please. I can’t, just--”

I slump to the ground, afraid and confused. It’s painful. I don’t know what to do. Please don’t force me towards my death. Aaron is my only chance of happiness, but now I’m being forced to give that up for my friends. If they only knew that once I join the Scepter selection, I’ll die, what will they say? Is this really my fate? To be hated by everyone or to die at Olivia’s hand?

So, I weep, and our position reverses as Cara holds me in her arms.

To be continued…