Embers of the Past

by Bethany Atwood

  “Thanks to you and our dragon friends, we pushed them back, forced them to retreat, I know some of your fellow students were injured during the fight, but I’m happy to say there were no major injuries, our burgeoning combat medic students lent a hand in seeing to that. While I cannot say if the Eartheners will attack again, I am confident that you all will succeed as you did today should they do so. As a school treat, I have elected to cancel mid-term exams, I trust that you all will continue to study hard despite the lack of exams, and your efforts today showed that. Now, with that said, I hope you all find it within yourselves to enjoy the rest of the day.”

  As Amethyst seats herself back at the staff table, conversations arise once again, the current mood a more positive one thanks to the headmistress’s words. Demetri grins over at Malchion before looking to Mer’ania, who notices his smile and quirks an eyebrow.

  “Did you hear that? No mid-terms! I never did like those big exams, I’m sure Kagura will be elated to hear that as well.” He muses, Mer’ania unable to resist giving a soft chuckle in response.

  “Oh, I’m positive she will be, she always does well on tests but getting a break from them is something she’d enjoy.” The demoness quips, returning her attention to her pasta afterwards. Once she, Demetri, and Malchion finish their meals, the trio head up to the medical ward, many of the beds occupied by various students including a familiar brunette who grumbles as she attempts to eat using her left hand.

  “Hey there Grins.” Kagura looks over as Demetri greets her with that familiar nickname, her expression brightening when she notices Mer’ania and Malchion with him.

  “Hey you three, came to visit little old me?” She teases while her smile grows, the three settling beside her bed while she adjusts her position in it. “My right arm is out of commission for a bit, Demetri’s help earlier means I won’t be in here for so long, though while my arm heals and scarring forms they need to keep the skin wrapped, and to ensure I don’t stretch the skin while it heals I have to keep my arm in a sling.”

  “It’s a good thing the worst of the injuries from this morning were just burns, gashes, and impact bruises, nothing major.” Kagura scoffs as Malchion speaks, gaze falling off to the side slowly.

  “I didn’t want a second scar that matches my left arm’s, but things happen. I’m just glad none of you guys were hurt, I’d rather be the one suffering instead of having to see you guys be miserable.” Mer’ania’s smile softens as Kagura speaks, a hand reaching over before stroking along her cheek lightly.

  “I wish you weren’t, Kags… I hope you know how proud of you I am, even with how much anxiety everything has been giving you, you still fought, you didn’t hesitate to charge in, protect first year students, and show those Eartheners who they’re messing with.” The demoness’s smile slowly regrows as she speaks, Kagura beginning to blush before glancing off to the side with a meek expression forming.

  “I couldn’t just do nothing… Even with how afraid I am of them, how much anxiety they cause me, I had to fight, if I didn’t, I could’ve been hurt worse, other students would’ve been hurt… It’s not something I’d ever want to do again, at least not until I’m more confident in my skills, and I don’t know if I’ll ever stop being afraid of them, of what they’ve done or will do… But I’m glad I was able to fight, even just this once.” Kagura sighs softly before brushing a few strands of hair out of her face, eyes drifting across the three at her bedside before she looks towards the tray over her lap.

  “Also… Being right handed right now is the worst, it’s hard to do things using my left hand…”

  “Like eating?” Demetri interrupts, a cheeky smile forming as he leans forward slightly. Kagura groans and sighs once again, looking to him with a deadpan expression while Mer’ania and Malchion chuckle.

  “Yes, Demetri, like eating. I woke up before lunch, so I’m starving, yet it’s not exactly the easiest thing to eat soup when I’m right handed and I keep fumbling the spoon each time I go to take a bite.” She dryly says, drawing out more laughter from the three at her side. “It’s not funny! I’m really hungry and I keep spilling soup…” While Kagura pouts and puffs out her cheeks Mer’ania leans down, grabbing the spoon and scooping up some of the soup before bringing it to the brunette’s mouth, the spoon being accepted before a sigh escapes.

  “Oh, Grins, we got some good news during lunch.” Demetri begins, Kagura eating another bite of the soup before turning her gaze towards him. “The headmistress said mid-term exams are cancelled as a treat for us all thanks to how hard everyone fought earlier.”

  “No joke, seriously? That’s awesome!” Kagura begins to grin in response to the news, many of the other students in the medical ward who had overheard brightening up at the prospect of no exams. The brunette lets Mer’ania feed her another few bites of soup, then she stretches out her arm and groans softly. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to study for midterms anyway, with my right arm useless for a while I can’t exactly write, and holding a book open would be a challenge. Still… At least I can have my tome with me, and you all can visit, so it won’t be so bad staying here.”

  Mer’ania presses a kiss to Kagura’s temple before brushing along her cheek with her thumb, the brunette blushing a rosy shade while closing her eyes. “Thanks for coming to visit, by the way, I… Wasn’t sure if you all were going to come see me, or if you had other things to do.” She softly says, Demetri and Malchion smiling down at her before the angel speaks.

  “Hey, what kind of friends would we be if we didn’t come visit you while you were hurt? You’re a hero Kagura, everyone who fought today is, if it wasn’t for you and everyone else who rose to the challenge and joined the fight there might’ve been more injuries, or the Eartheners would’ve damaged the school.” Malc says joyfully, looking across the medical ward at the other students who are injured. “We’re only fourth years, sure, but if this is what a fourth year can do against invaders, just think of how strong we’ll be in our seventh year.”

  “Heh… A hero… I never thought I’d be considered a hero, the short fourth year who’s been scared senseless these past few weeks… It’s funny what a little fear can do to a person, I was more afraid of others getting hurt than I was of the Eartheners earlier, I don’t know how I’d live with myself if I froze up and let someone else get hurt, especially a first year.” Kagura leans back against her bed before closing her eyes for a few moments, a softer, more calm expression settling onto her face.

  “Want to get some more rest Grins? We can leave you alone, come visit again later or tomorrow if you’d like.” Demetri asks before an immediate nod is given, the brunette opening her eyes and looking to her friends and girlfriend.

  “Yes, please, I doubt I’ll be able to fall back asleep but I can at least try and relax… And… Guys? Thanks, I really appreciate that you came to visit.”

  “I’ll stop by later Kagura, bring some clothes and your tome, I’m sure you’d like to have other things to wear than just the patient gowns.” Mer’ania says before kissing the top of Kagura’s head, the brunette nodding before the trio turn and depart for the time being.

  “Alright soup, it’s just you and me now, I will conquer you.”

  Chapter 14: The Calm Before the Storm

  “Thank you all for convening today. It seems we’ve had to meet on short notice quite often lately.” Lady Ariel says with a dry chuckle escaping, her gaze falling between Headmistress Amethyst and her fellow councilmembers. “As you are all well aware, the Eartheners have begun their invasion, though with their lack of information they are as of yet unable to coordinate too large of an attack, save for the failed assault on Solenim Academy.”

  “Indeed. It is dire that we begin to coordinate a plan of action, we must put an end to these attacks before they gain any more information and can begin hitting us harder.” Speaking next, Samuel glances down at the papers in front of him, a slight frown visible on his face. “Through questioning the captured mages we’ve dete
rmined that they all hail from England. The other combatants in the war, Italy, the United States, and Egypt, have either not joined England as of yet, or do not wish to attack.”

  “Just England, eh? If I recall, they were the leaders in the war, they instigated the battles, the purges, all those senseless killings…” Claude muses while idly stroking his beard, eyes closing in contemplation. “Perhaps it is time to prepare for war once again. However, this time, we will be prepared. They will not be able to strike us while we are unaware, not again. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get in contact with those communities on Earth that were friendly with us, ones who treat all as equals, having allies to support us and that we could lend aid to would certainly work in our benefit.”

  “War… I had hoped when the first war ended that we could avoid more conflict, but it seems the Eartheners insist. For now… While we prepare for war, we must bolster the security of our homes, our towns. If we can continue to hold off the Earthener attacks, prevent them from causing any damage, then we can adequately prepare to bring the fight to them. They do not get to harm us anymore, any of us.” Everyone nods in agreement as Ver’ena speaks, their gazes falling to Amethyst who patiently watches from nearby. “Headmistress, what we ask of you now, we do not ask lightly. This is not a conflict we wanted, but it is a fight we will finish.”

  “Of course, councilmembers. I will once again lend myself to the war effort, wherever you need me I will fight, but until that moment I will continue to lead our fine school, and protect my family.” Amethyst bows towards the council members once she falls silent, a step back being taken afterwards.

  “You may leave, Headmistress, we will keep you informed of the plans as they are developed.”

  ~

  “Hello Sanctus, this is Maria Villos with your news at noon. There continue to be scattered attacks by Eartheners across the planet, though these attacks are quelled with ease and the Eartheners rounded up for questioning. After last week’s attack on Solenim Academy and the other attacks in surrounding areas, the Eartheners have increased the frequency of their appearances, though it seems they lack the knowledge of our planet they need to sustain a larger attack. At present, there is no cause for alarm, if you see an Earthener please report them to your local mage police station.”

  “Bah… Why is there never anything new to report…” Kagura grumbles out as she swipes off of the news feed she’d been watching on her tome, Mer’ania gently stroking along her left arm while she speaks. “At least those bastards aren’t getting anywhere with their attacks, though they need to just learn to go away.”

  “I’m just glad they aren’t successful with what they’re doing, we pushed them back when they attacked here, that shows they aren’t as strong as they’d want us to think.” The demoness softly says, eyes falling closed momentarily.

  “Yeah, well… I still wish they’d just give up…” Before she can say much more a nurse approaches her bed, both her and Mer’ania looking up at him as he smiles down to her.

  “Good afternoon Kagura. You’ve had quite the speedy recovery, so I’m happy to say you may return to your dorm today.” He explains with a cheery tone, immediately undoing the sling her arm is in before beginning to unravel the bandages around it. “As with your other arm, you’ll need to care for the scarring regularly, but it’s healed up plenty, suffice to say.” Once the bandaging is removed Kagura glances down at her right arm, eyes widening slightly as she looks over the burns now covering much of the lower portion.

  “Right, right… Nothing new to me, just… More I have to focus on.” She sighs out, taking a few moments to move her arm and bend it a few times. The nurse continues to smile while watching this, his tome being pulled out after a minute before he taps at the screen.

  “Alright, you may get dressed and leave whenever you’d like, please have a wonderful rest of the day.” The nurse soon walks off to tend to other patients, Kagura glancing over to the bundle of clothes Mer’ania had brought with her when she visited. The demoness pulls the curtain closed around the bed, then settles back into her seat, Kagura immediately undressing out of the patient gown and changing into more comfortable clothes.

  As she dresses, she thinks back to the events of the past week, the attack on Solenim, the attacks all around Sanctus, being visited by her friends and mother while she recovered, and still being given lesson notes and assignments to tend to. Despite how much she feels this couldn’t have been expected, a nagging thought in the back of her mind keeps telling her this was inevitable, the attacks were almost certain to come sooner if not later. While she’d only been seven when the first war came to a close, now, at sixteen, she knows exactly how accurate the memories are to what is happening now.

  “Alright Mer, I’m ready.” With a plain dark blue t-shirt pulled on over black jeans, and red sneakers now adorning her body as well, Kagura swings her legs off the bed and pushes herself up to her feet, a sigh escaping before she brushes stray hair away from her face. Mer’ania smiles before securing the brunette’s hair into two loose pigtails, the smaller teen giving the demoness a firm hug afterwards. Taking her hand, the two depart the medical ward together, electing to walk in silence for now in favor of idle chatter.

  ~

  “Hey Grins, how’re you holding up?” As Mer’ania and Kagura settle at the table Demetri, Esmerelda, and Malchion are seated at the elf grins and waves over to her as he voices a greeting.

  “I’m fine, Demetri, they released me from the medical ward so I figured I’d come have lunch before it ended.” Kagura turns her attention to the food in front of her, spending a fair amount of time deciding what she’d like to eat while listening to the others talk.

  “Fine is… Good, better than bad at any rate. How’s the arm?” Esmerelda’s question is met with a slight grimace from the brunette, who unceremoniously holds up her right arm and shows the scarring lining it.

  “As good as it could possibly get… They did what they could, and now I’m scarred further, but it’s just scarring, it’s not like I lost my arm.” After muttering her reply Kagura huffs softly, serving herself some stew before distracting herself with it.

  “Does it hurt? I mean… Does it hurt anymore?” As Demetri speaks Kagura clenches her eyes shut, expression quickly souring but before she can snap at him Mer’ania wraps an arm around her shoulders and lightly tugs her against her side. This helps to calm the diminutive brunette, who sighs once more before opening her eyes.

  “No, Demetri, it doesn’t hurt anymore. I don’t want to talk about my arm, I just got out of the medical ward, and all anyone can talk about is my arm… Please, don’t ask anything else.” She says with a softer tone, electing to focus on her food in an attempt at brightening her mood.

  “Right, sorry Kagura…” With conversations dying off for the time being, everyone decides to return to eating, an awkward tension in the air. Though, before long, chatter picks up again, this time a more positive topic.

  “So… Guys. Aren’t you all glad the weather is starting to get nicer? It’s still cold, sure, but at least it’s sunny out, so we can go outside instead of spending all our time indoors.” Malchion quips to ease the tension, a chorus of agreements echoing out after a few moments.

  “Definitely, I don’t mind the cold, I’m just glad the snow is gone.” Kagura replies before savoring another bite of her stew, the demoness seated beside her smiling.

  “I couldn’t agree more. It gets so stuffy being indoors all the time, being able to go outside and walk, see the sights, it’s refreshing.” As she speaks Mer’ania glances out the large windows on the sides of the grand hall, warm, inviting sunlight filling the room through the stained glass. “It’ll be even better when Spring rolls around, then it’ll be warm out and we won’t need to bundle up to be outside.”

  “I so can’t wait. Summer is almost as nice as Spring, though the heat is not exactly my favorite thing.” Esmerelda says with a chuckle, Malchion nodding in agreement with his sister before sig
hing.

  “Best part about summer is the break from school, three months of fun, sun, and no homework.” Kagura grins over at Malchion slightly when he falls silent, a soft, cheeky smile that causes him to frown. “Oh come on Kagura, not everyone here likes learning as much as you do, don’t give me that smug smile.”

  “I have no clue what you’re talking about Malc, what smug smile?” The brunette teases with that grin only growing, the others beginning to laugh at her antics while Malchion just groans.

  “Alright you two, we could sit here all day and watch you tease each other, or we could all head outside and make use of the sunshine? I know which one I’d personally prefer.” Mer’ania hums out, Kagura looking to her before nodding.

  “Sounds like a plan Mer, though teasing Malc is fun I’d rather enjoy the sunshine.”

  ~

  “Say, Kagura…”

  “Yes, Demetri?”

  “What’s it like?”

  Kagura quirks an eyebrow over at Demetri in response to his question, the bait being taken as she replies.

  “… What is what like?”

  “Oh, you know, being so short.”

  The moment Demetri’s words leave his mouth Kagura lobs a couch pillow at him, using a burst of air to send it right into his chest. He catches the pillow with a chuckle, teasingly smiling over to her.

  “Not funny. Being short sucks, everyone and everything is bigger than I am, I can’t reach the high up shelves, it’s dumb. It would be better if I was a taller human, but noooo, I’m stuck being so short.” She grumbles out, Mer’ania chuckling and giving her a gentle squeeze around the waist.

  “True, Kags, but being your size does have it’s advantages. You can hide more easily, you blend into crowds better, you’re easier to carry, sure you may not be able to reach things that are higher up, but you can still do a lot.” The demoness points out, Kagura huffing quietly and looking off to the side for a few moments.